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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Ascendancy and Abuse: Examining Parental Authority in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction, explaining how parental authority can substitute for force and intimidation.
Local Business Tax on Dividends and Interest Earned by Holding Companies
Supreme Court ruling on when holding companies are exempt from local business tax on dividends and interest income under the Local Government Code.
Recanted Testimony: When Prior Statements Overrule a Witness's Change of Heart
The Supreme Court explains when a recanted testimony deserves scant consideration and why prior statements can convict.
Judicial Admission Can Prove Lack of Firearm License in Illegal Possession Cases
Supreme Court ruling: an accused's own admission in court can prove lack of a firearm license, without needing a PNP certification.
Fathers Can File VAWC Petitions for Abused Children Against the Mother
The Supreme Court clarifies that fathers may seek protection and custody orders under RA 9262 on behalf of children abused by their mothers.
Supreme Court on BOC Overtime Pay: Shifting Schedule Valid, Ban on Private Payment Void
The Supreme Court ruled on the validity of BOC overtime policies, upholding the 24/7 shifting schedule but voiding the ban on charging private entities before RA 10863.
Adultery and Disbarment: When a Lawyer's Private Conduct Ends the Legal Career
The Supreme Court disbarred a lawyer for an extramarital affair, affirming that gross immorality in private life warrants the ultimate professional sanction.
Unlawful Arrests and Inadmissible Evidence: Protecting Constitutional Rights in Illegal Possession Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court acquitted a man for illegal firearm possession due to an unlawful warrantless arrest and inadmissible evidence.
Corporate Officers Criminally Liable for Customs Fraud: Fernandez v. People
Corporate officers cannot hide behind a corporation to escape criminal liability for customs fraud, the Supreme Court ruled in Fernandez v. People.
Theft of Company Property: Balancing Employee Rights and Employers' Disciplinary Prerogative
Supreme Court clarifies when theft of company property justifies dismissal, balancing employer discipline with proportional penalties for erring employees.
Balancing Local Authority and National Mining Rights: The Luisito Marty Case
A mayor's refusal to issue mining permits tested the line between local autonomy and national mining law. The Supreme Court's ruling explained.
Dying Declarations vs Res Gestae: Hearsay Exceptions in Philippine Murder Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when a victim's dying words are admissible—as a dying declaration or as res gestae—in a murder conviction.
Trust Receipts and Estafa: Upholding Criminal Liability for Breach of Trust
Supreme Court clarifies that failure to turn over goods or proceeds under trust receipts is estafa under PD 115, not mere civil liability.
Trafficking in Persons for Prostitution Is a Crime Even If Intercepted Before Exploitation
Supreme Court clarifies that recruitment for prostitution constitutes trafficking in persons even if the intended exploitation is intercepted.
Divorce Abroad and Filipino Spouses: Recognizing Foreign Judgments Under Article 26 of the Family Code
The Supreme Court clarifies when Philippine courts recognize foreign divorces obtained by Filipino spouses and their alien partners under Article 26.
Corporate Officers Cannot Hide Behind Corporate Veil in Customs Fraud Cases
Supreme Court ruling on corporate officer liability for customs fraud through misdeclaration and undervaluation of imported goods.
Heirs of Landowners Under CARP: No Separate Retention Rights After 1988
Supreme Court rules heirs of landowners who died after 1988 cannot claim separate retention rights under CARP; only the decedent's five-hectare limit applies.
Regular Employment Status and Illegal Dismissal: Employee Rights After Probation
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when probationary employees become regular and the rights they gain against illegal dismissal.
Co-Ownership and Ejectment: When a Co-Owner Can Be Evicted for Forcible Entry
A co-owner who forcibly takes exclusive possession of common property can be ejected. Learn the rules on co-ownership and forcible entry from a 2022 Supreme Court ruling.
Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied: The Right to Speedy Disposition of Cases in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when inordinate delay violates the constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases, with practical guidance.
Human Trafficking Consent and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act
The Supreme Court clarifies that a victim's consent is irrelevant in human trafficking cases under RA 9208, as amended by RA 10364.
Foreign Divorce Recognition: Proving Japanese Law in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies proof requirements for recognizing foreign divorces, remanding a Filipina's case for further evidence on Japanese law.
Speedy Disposition vs Protracted Process When Delay Deprives Justice in Anti-Graft Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when delay in preliminary investigation violates the right to speedy disposition, distinguishing mere mathematical reckoning from actual prejudice.
Speedy Disposition Right Prevails Over Six-Year Delay in Fertilizer Fund Scam Case
The Supreme Court ruled that a six-year delay in preliminary investigation violates the constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases, warranting dismissal.