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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Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding the Testimony of Child Victims in Statutory Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, detailing how courts assess child victim testimony and award damages.
Delayed Remittance of Court Funds: When a Clerk of Court Faces Administrative Liability
A clerk of court kept court funds for nearly a year. The Supreme Court explains why delay alone is gross neglect of duty.
When the Ombudsman Cannot Intervene in Appeals of Its Own Decisions
The Supreme Court rules the Ombudsman cannot intervene in appeals of its decisions, preserving its role as impartial adjudicator.
Ombudsman Cannot Intervene in Appeals of Its Own Decisions: Impartiality in Administrative Cases
The Supreme Court rules the Ombudsman cannot intervene in appeals of its own decisions, preserving impartiality in administrative cases.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Ensuring Justice for Victims of Sudden Attacks
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden, unexpected attack qualifies as treachery, raising homicide to murder under Philippine law.
Prior Physical Possession Prevails in Forcible Entry Cases: Lagazo v. Soriano
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that prior physical possession, not ownership, decides forcible entry cases. Learn the rule from Lagazo v. Soriano.
Party Expulsions and Due Process: When Can a Political Party Remove Members
The Supreme Court clarifies that political party expulsions are internal matters, not subject to constitutional due process requirements.
Employer Liability for Employee Negligence: Proving Due Diligence in Philippine Law
When can an employer be held liable for an employee's negligence? The Supreme Court explains the due diligence defense in Philippine Hawk v. Lee.
Bank Secrecy vs Qualified Theft: Balancing Financial Privacy and Criminal Prosecution
The Supreme Court clarifies when bank deposits remain confidential under R.A. 1405 even in criminal cases, and why evidence must match the charge.
Loss of Confidence as a Valid Ground for Dismissal: When Employers Can Terminate Trusted Employees
The Supreme Court clarifies when loss of confidence justifies dismissing managerial employees, requiring only some basis, not proof beyond reasonable doubt.
The Weight of Eyewitness Testimony: Evaluating Credibility in Vehicular Negligence Cases
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness accounts and evidence in vehicular negligence cases, explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Due Diligence in Mortgage Transactions: Protecting Landowners From Fraudulent Transfers
When a bank accepts a mortgaged property with suspicious title transfers, it cannot claim good faith. Learn from this Supreme Court ruling.
Eminent Domain and Just Compensation: Lessons from City of Iloilo v. Javellana
The Supreme Court clarifies when just compensation is reckoned in expropriation cases and penalizes the government for delayed payment.
Inventory of Estate: Donated Property Must Be Included for Collation Among Heirs
Supreme Court rules donated property must be included in estate inventory for collation, even if the deed was not notarized or registered.
Parricide Conviction Upheld: Circumstantial Evidence and Defenses of Accident and Intoxication
Supreme Court affirms parricide conviction based on circumstantial evidence, rejecting defenses of accident and intoxication in spousal killing.
Affinity Survives Death But Not Falsification: Estafa and Article 332
The Supreme Court rules on whether a son-in-law can invoke the Article 332 exemption from criminal liability for estafa after his wife's death.
Perpetual Employment Contracts: Labor Rights and Management Prerogatives Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court rules on perpetual employment contracts, labor arbiter jurisdiction, and the balance between worker protection and management rights.
Supreme Court Upholds Judiciary’s Exclusive Power Over Legal Fees, Denies GSIS Exemption
The Supreme Court denies GSIS’s claim of exemption from legal fees, affirming the judiciary’s exclusive rule-making power under the Constitution.
Contractual Obligations Survey Requirement Prevails Over Rescission Rights IN Land Sale Agreements
Supreme Court rules survey obligation in land sale contracts prevails over rescission rights, clarifying breach requirements under Philippine law.
Separation of Powers: Court Upholds Its Authority Over Sequestered SMC Shares
The Supreme Court reaffirms the separation of powers doctrine in denying reconsideration of its ruling allowing the conversion of sequestered SMC shares.
In Land Sales, Survey Duty Prevails Over Payment Deadlines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a seller must survey land before demanding payment, and when rescission is improper.
Safeguarding Elections: Upholding Comelec’s Discretion in Automated Election System Implementation
The Supreme Court affirms Comelec’s discretion in awarding the 2010 automated election project, rejecting speculative challenges to the PCOS system.
Supreme Court Nullifies Dinagat Islands Creation: Land Area and Population Rules Under the Local Government Co
The Supreme Court struck down R.A. 9355 creating Dinagat Islands for failing the Local Government Code's land area and population requirements.
Entrapment vs Instigation: Defining the Boundaries in Drug Sale Convictions
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between valid entrapment and unlawful instigation in drug cases, affirming a buy-bust conviction.