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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
SEC Revocation of Securities Registration: Due Process in Corporate Filings
Supreme Court clarifies when SEC may revoke a corporation's securities registration for reportorial lapses without a separate hearing.
SEC Revocation of Securities Registration: Due Process in Administrative Regulation
Supreme Court clarifies when SEC may revoke securities registration without a separate hearing, distinguishing regulatory from quasi-judicial powers.
Bigamy Conviction Upheld Despite Void Second Marriage Understanding Fraud AND Legal Consequences
Supreme Court affirms bigamy conviction of second spouse who knowingly married a man with a subsisting marriage, ruling she cannot escape liability by claiming her own fraudulent marriage was void.
Consent and Doubt: When Inconsistent Testimony Leads to Acquittal in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a rape accused, ruling that inconsistent victim testimony and doubtful circumstances create reasonable doubt.
Ancestral Domain vs Resettlement: Calauit Island Land Rights Resolved
Supreme Court rules CADT issuance renders Calauit settlers' eviction case moot, recognizing Tagbanua ancestral domain rights.
Clerks of Court Upholding Fiscal Responsibility and Timely Remittances of Judiciary Funds
The Supreme Court holds court personnel accountable for delayed fund remittances, imposing fines for neglect of duty.
Surety Bond Liability and Due Process in Wrongful Attachment Cases
Learn when surety bonds can be enforced after wrongful attachment, and the due process rules that protect sureties in Philippine courts.
Demolition Orders and Due Process: Key Lessons from the Alangdeo Case
The Supreme Court invalidated a demolition order in Alangdeo v. City Mayor of Baguio, reinforcing due process and legal safeguards for property owners.
When a Final Judgment Violates the Law on Bouncing Checks: Correcting an Excessive Penalty
The Supreme Court corrected an excessive fine in a final BP 22 conviction, showing when final judgments may be modified.
R.A. 8532 Extends DAR Authority to Issue Notices of Coverage Beyond 1998
The Supreme Court clarifies that R.A. 8532 extended the DAR's authority to issue Notices of Coverage beyond the original 10-year CARP period.
Sumbilla v. Matrix Finance: When Courts Correct Excessive Penalties in Final Bouncing Check Cases
The Supreme Court relaxed the finality rule to correct an excessive fine in a BP 22 conviction, protecting debtors from penalties beyond the law's limits.
Writ of Amparo Not a Shield for Deportation: Mison v. Gallegos
The Supreme Court clarifies that the writ of amparo covers only extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, not ordinary immigration detention.
Rape by Sexual Assault: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Incest Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies how rape by sexual assault is proven and penalized when a father assaults his minor daughter.
Upholding Due Process and Proving Employer-Employee Relationship in Philippine Labor Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases and the four-fold test for employer-employee relationship.
Illegal Dismissal: Proving Just Cause at the Time of Termination
When can an employer validly dismiss an employee? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on just cause, due process, and burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases.
Acts of Lasciviousness: When a Minor's Testimony Suffices and How RA 7610 Applies
A father's conviction for acts of lasciviousness affirmed—when a child's lone testimony suffices and how RA 7610 sets the penalty.
Reconstitution of Title Requires Authentic Decree, Not Mere LRA Certification
Supreme Court clarifies that reconstitution of lost titles needs authentic sources; a decree unavailable in LRA records cannot support it.
Loss of Earning Capacity: The Necessity of Competent Proof in Philippine Criminal Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that loss of earning capacity in criminal cases requires competent proof, not self-serving testimony.
Probable Cause and Estafa: Balancing Judicial Discretion and Individual Rights in Criminal Arrests
Learn how the Supreme Court balances probable cause requirements and individual rights in estafa cases, from arrest to attachment.
VAT Refund Denials: Why "Zero-Rated" Must Appear on Invoices
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on VAT refund claims: strict invoicing rules, including the "zero-rated" imprint, determine success.
When Dismissing an Appeal for Missing a Memorandum Is Wrong: Sanico v. People
The Supreme Court ruled that a trial court cannot dismiss a criminal appeal solely for failure to file a memorandum, as this violates due process.
Redemption Rights and Bank Foreclosures: What GE Money Bank v. Spouses Dizon Teaches Us
Partial payments during the redemption period do not perfect a mortgagor's right to redeem foreclosed property, unless the bank's conduct clearly induces reliance.
Upholding Client Trust Attorney Suspended FOR Neglect AND Misuse OF Funds IN THE Philippines
A lawyer who fails to file a case and refuses to return client money faces one-year suspension. Learn the rules on client funds.
Counsel's Receipt of Motion for Execution as Notice of Decision: Due Process Implications
When a counsel receives a motion for execution referencing a decision, that receipt can serve as effective official notice of the decision, even without formal service.