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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Court Efficiency and Accountability: Penalties for Mismanaged Court Records
The Supreme Court sanctioned a retiring judge and his branch clerk for years of mismanaged court records, showing that retirement is no escape from accountability.
Entrapment and Chain of Custody: Protecting Rights in Philippine Drug Cases
A 2011 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when buy-bust operations are valid and how drug evidence must be preserved.
Understanding Temperate Damages When Courts Estimate Losses in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts award temperate damages when actual losses can't be proven, based on a 2011 Supreme Court ruling.
Union Registration in the Philippines: Balancing Compliance and Workers' Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when failure to submit union reports warrants cancellation of registration, and the DOLE Secretary's review power.
Immediate Execution of Damages in Intra-Corporate Disputes: What Philippine Law Says
The Supreme Court clarifies that awards for moral damages, exemplary damages, and attorney's fees in intra-corporate cases are not immediately executory.
Buy-Bust Operations: Ensuring Integrity of Drug Evidence in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on buy-bust operations underscores why the chain of custody of drug evidence is crucial to secure a conviction.
Proof of Service in Philippine Courts: Why Proper Documentation Matters
Learn how the Supreme Court's ruling on court fund mismanagement underscores the importance of proper documentation and accountability in Philippine courts.
Self-Defense and Treachery: Key Distinctions in Philippine Criminal Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies killing as murder under Philippine law.
Extrajudicial Confessions and Buy-Bust Operations: Safeguarding Rights in Drug Cases
A 2011 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when warrantless arrests and drug evidence remain valid despite procedural lapses in buy-bust operations.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Parent Companies Face Liability for Labor Violations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when parent companies can be held liable for subsidiaries' labor violations, explained for employees and businesses.
Irrevocable Choice: Understanding Tax Credit Carry-Over in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains why choosing tax credit carry-over over refund is irrevocable under the 1997 National Internal Revenue Code.
Writ of Preliminary Mandatory Injunction in Property Disputes: Protecting Possession Rights
When can a court issue a writ of preliminary mandatory injunction to restore possession in property disputes? The Supreme Court explains in Castro v. Se.
Service of Judgment to Deceased Lawyer: Ejectment and Annulment in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court rules on validity of judgment service to deceased counsel, finality of ejectment decisions, and limits of preliminary injunction.
Lease Obligations and Unforeseen Business Permit Issues: What Tenants Should Know
A look at how Philippine courts handle lease disputes when business permits and unforeseen circumstances disrupt a tenant's operations and obligations.
Judicial Efficiency Consequences of Undue Delay in Case Resolution
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling on judge liability for delayed case resolution, highlighting the 90-day rule and its impact on judicial integrity.
Searching Inquiry and Guilty Pleas: Safeguarding Rights in Philippine Criminal Justice
The Supreme Court explains when a guilty plea requires a searching inquiry and when a conviction may stand despite an improvident plea.
Due Process Prevails: How Motions for Reconsideration Can Cure Procedural Lapses in Writ of Possession Cases
Supreme Court clarifies that a motion for reconsideration can cure a trial court's procedural lapse in granting a writ of possession without prior hearing.
Caught in the Act: Upholding Warrantless Arrests in Philippine Drug Cases
The Supreme Court explains when police may arrest without a warrant under the in flagrante delicto rule in drug cases.
False Pretenses and Failed Promises: Establishing Estafa in Employment Scams
When promises of overseas jobs fail, when is it estafa or illegal recruitment? The Supreme Court clarifies in People v. Laogo.
Supplemental Complaint Filing Fees and Damages: Key Jurisdictional Rules
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when unpaid filing fees on supplemental complaints affect jurisdiction and damage awards.
Plain View Doctrine: When Warrantless Seizures Are Admissible in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court explains the plain view doctrine and when evidence seized without a warrant can be used in court.
Estoppel by Silence in Philippine Insurance Law: When a Bank's Silence Speaks Volumes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on estoppel by silence, bank liability for unpaid insurance premiums, and corporate veil in insurance claims.
Liability for Lost Goods: Common Carriers, Negligence, and Insurance Subrogation in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on common carriers' solidary liability for lost goods and insurer's subrogation rights under Article 2207.
VAT Refund for Foreign Tourists Upheld: Equal Protection and Tax Classification
Supreme Court upholds VAT refund law for foreign tourists, ruling it does not violate equal protection and uniform taxation.