Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Challenging Residency Claims: The Supreme Court on Election Eligibility
A candidate's one-year residency requirement for local office demands clear proof of domicile, not just property ownership or voter registration.
Protecting Seafarers: Upholding Disability Claims Despite Company Doctor's Assessment
Supreme Court rules seafarers can dispute company-designated physician's fitness assessment with independent medical evidence, protecting their disability claims.
Good Faith and Land Titles: Protecting Innocent Purchasers in Real Estate Disputes
When is a bank a mortgagee in good faith? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on forged deeds and land titles.
SEP Clearance and the Limits of Certiorari: When Administrative Action Is Not Quasi-Judicial
The Supreme Court clarifies when an SEP Clearance from the Palawan Council is an administrative act, not a quasi-judicial one, and why certiorari is the wrong remedy.
Confessions and Conspiracy: Probable Cause in the Batasan Bombing Case
The Supreme Court explains why a co-accused's confession alone cannot establish probable cause for conspiracy in the Batasan bombing case.
Double Jeopardy and Speedy Trial Rights in the ASEAN Street Lighting Case
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on double jeopardy, speedy disposition, and amended informations in Braza v. Sandiganbayan.
Finality of Judgment vs Newly Discovered Evidence in Homicide Cases
When a conviction becomes final, can newly discovered evidence reopen the case? The Supreme Court explains the limits.
Circumstantial Evidence and Conspiracy in Robbery with Homicide: People v. Lamsen
How the Supreme Court upheld convictions for robbery with homicide based on eyewitness testimony, circumstantial evidence, and conspiracy.
Technical Malversation: Intent Not Required for Illegal Use of Public Funds
Supreme Court clarifies that illegal use of public funds under does not require intent, only the diversion of funds to another public purpose.
Deceit and Syndicated Estafa: Distinguishing Simple Estafa From Large-Scale Swindling
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when fraud against a bank is simple estafa, not syndicated estafa under PD 1689.
Entrapment vs Instigation in Illegal Drug Sales: Key Distinctions from a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court distinguishes entrapment from instigation in drug cases, explaining why a buy-bust arrest remains valid when criminal intent originates from the accused.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Ensuring Justice for Unexpected Attacks
The Supreme Court explains treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, using a 2013 case to clarify sudden, unprovoked attacks.
Judicial Accountability vs Erroneous Judgments: Protecting Judicial Independence in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on judicial accountability, erroneous judgments, and the constitutional protection of judicial independence.
The Writ of Amparo: Understanding Procedural Requirements for Protecting Constitutional Rights
A guide to the writ of amparo's procedural rules, based on De Lima v. Gatdula, explaining why strict compliance matters.
Dual Office Holding: Constitutional Limits on Executive Appointments
Supreme Court rules Cabinet members cannot hold concurrent offices, even temporarily, under Section 13, Article VII of the Constitution.
Unsigned Contracts and Oral Plan Changes: When Additional Construction Costs Are Recoverable
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when contractors can recover extra costs from unsigned contracts and orally approved plan revisions.
Supervisory Status and Union Formation: Defining the Rights of Capatazes in Labor Law
The Supreme Court rules capatazes are supervisory employees who may form their own union separate from rank-and-file workers.
Due Process vs Valid Dismissal: Balancing Employee Rights and Employer Authority in Termination Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies the requisites for valid retrenchment, distinguishing authorized causes from procedural due process in termination cases.
Trademark Infringement: Why Likelihood of Confusion Is the Core Element
The Supreme Court acquits a jeans tailor of trademark infringement, explaining why likelihood of confusion is the heart of the offense.
Retrenchment Validity: Balancing Employer Prerogative and Employee Security of Tenure
The Supreme Court clarifies the requisites for valid retrenchment and when quitclaims bar illegal dismissal claims in Pepsi-Cola v. Molon.
Trust Receipt vs. Loan: When a Security Agreement Becomes a Debt
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a trust receipt arrangement is actually a loan, affecting liability and criminal exposure.
Shore Leave and Seafarer Death Benefits: When Work-Relatedness Fails
Supreme Court rules a seafarer's death during shore leave is not automatically work-related; explains the causal connection required for death benefits.
Buy-Bust Operations and the Chain of Custody: Ensuring Integrity in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court explains why the chain of custody matters in buy-bust drug cases and when its breach can defeat a conviction.
Retirement Benefits: Reconciling Prior Obligations With Employee Entitlements
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how retirement pay is computed when employees were retrenched, rehired, and had prior debts to the employer.