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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Negligence in Keeping Records Leads to Dismissal: Colegio de Sta. Rosa-Makati Case Analysis
Philippine Supreme Court affirms dismissal of school physician for gross negligence in keeping student medical records. Learn the legal standards.
Upholding Drug Sale Conviction: Integrity of Evidence Despite Procedural Lapses
Supreme Court affirms drug sale conviction, ruling that procedural lapses under Section 21 do not automatically render seized drugs inadmissible if chain of custody remains intact.
Rape Conviction Upheld: The Critical Role of Victim Testimony and Consent in Philippine Law
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, explaining how credible victim testimony establishes force and lack of consent under Philippine law.
Failure to Prove Monetary Obligation Justifies Dismissal With Prejudice in Small Claims Case
Supreme Court rules that failure to prove a claim by preponderance of evidence warrants dismissal with prejudice in small claims cases.
Breach of Contract Remedies for Condominium Delivery Delays in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law protects condominium buyers when developers delay delivery, including refund rights and interest rules under PD 957.
Enforcing Final Judgments: Legal Interest and the Doctrine of Immutability
A look at how final judgments accrue legal interest and why the doctrine of immutability bars modification.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: What People v. Cerdon Teaches About Evidence Integrity
The Supreme Court explains when lapses in the chain of custody of seized drugs will and will not invalidate a conviction under RA 9165.
Enforcement Deadlines: Understanding the Five-Year Rule for Executing Court Judgments
A final court ruling is not the end of the story. Philippine law sets strict deadlines for enforcing judgments, and missing them can cost a winning party the case.
Tenant Estoppel: Why a Lessee Cannot Deny the Landlord’s Title in Lease Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court explains tenant estoppel rule under Rule 131, Section 2(b), and why lessees cannot deny their landlord's title.
Company Doctor's Assessment Upheld in Seafarer Disability Claims
The Supreme Court ruled that a seafarer who fails to refer conflicting medical findings to a third doctor is bound by the company-designated physician's disability rating.
Writ of Amparo Not a Substitute for Child Custody Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that the writ of amparo cannot be used to resolve child custody disputes, reaffirming its limited scope.
Upholding Ethical Conduct Attorney Suspended FOR Deceit AND Neglect OF Client Funds
Lawyer suspended two years for misrepresenting himself, neglecting a client's visa case, and failing to return P350,000 in legal fees.
Comelec Divisions, Jurisdiction, and Preliminary Injunctions in Election Protests
The Supreme Court clarifies when a Comelec division's interlocutory order may be assailed via certiorari and the validity of Special Divisions.
OFW Illegal Dismissal: Full Salary for Unexpired Contract, Not Just 3 Months
The Supreme Court affirms that illegally dismissed OFWs are entitled to full salaries for the unexpired portion of their contracts, striking down the three-month cap as unconstitutional.
Attorney Suspended for Misrepresentation and Failure to Return Client Funds
Supreme Court suspends lawyer for two years for misrepresenting as immigration lawyer and failing to return P350,000 client funds.
Reinstatement Rights: Full Backwages Until Actual Reinstatement for Illegally Dismissed Employees
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that illegally dismissed employees are entitled to full backwages until actual reinstatement, not just until judgment promulgation.
When an Employee's Damage Claim Belongs in Regular Courts, Not Labor Tribunals
The Supreme Court clarifies when an employee's claim for damages based on quasi-delict falls under regular court jurisdiction, not the Labor Arbiter.
SEC Authority Over Pre-Need Plan Sales: Due Process and Cease and Desist Orders
The Supreme Court upheld the SEC's power to issue cease and desist orders against unregistered pre-need plan sales without a prior hearing in Primanila Plans v. SEC.
Breach of Trust: Defining the Boundaries of Qualified Theft in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the elements of qualified theft and the proper penalty, emphasizing grave abuse of confidence in a cashier's pilferage case.
Upholding Real Estate Mortgage Validity Forgery Claims AND DUE Diligence IN Banking Transactions
Supreme Court Upholds Ombudsman’s Dismissal of Criminal Complaint Against Labor Officials
The Court affirms the Ombudsman’s discretion to dismiss criminal complaints, finding no grave abuse in the labor officials’ challenged orders.
Upholding Drug Convictions: Chain of Custody and Regular Performance of Duty in Narcotics Cases
The Supreme Court affirms drug convictions, clarifying that minor lapses in Section 21 procedure do not automatically invalidate seizures when evidence integrity is preserved.
The Duty of Disclosure: Honesty in Seafarer Employment Contracts
A Supreme Court ruling on how concealing a pre-existing illness in a seafarer's PEME can bar disability claims, even when the 3-day reporting rule is excused.