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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Moral Ascendancy in Rape Cases: Consent and the Legal Threshold
How moral ascendancy replaces force in rape by a stepparent, and why proving the victim's age matters.
Dismissal of Appeal: Fugitive Status Bars Access to Judicial Relief
A Supreme Court ruling explains why an accused who jumps bail loses the right to appeal and seek relief from the courts.
Civilian Courts Prevail Over Military Tribunals for Non-Service-Connected Crimes
Supreme Court clarifies that military personnel accused of murder face trial in civilian courts, not court-martial, under R.A. 7055.
Construction Contract Disputes: Owner's Change Orders Justify Contractor's Delay in Payment Claims
Philippine Supreme Court rules contractor entitled to payment despite delays caused by owner's change orders and additional works.
Judicial Accountability: The Price of Delay in Rendering Decisions
This article examines the Supreme Court's ruling on the consequences of delayed decisions and the importance of judicial accountability in the Philippine legal system.
Death Benefits and Seafarers' Willful Acts: Employer Liability in Maritime Law
When a seafarer dies by suicide, employers may avoid death benefits if they prove the death resulted from a willful act.
Default Judgments: Balancing Procedural Rules and Fairness in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may declare a defendant in default for late answers, balancing strict procedural rules against fairness.
Novation Requires Clear Intent: Upholding Lease Agreements in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that novation of a lease into a deposit requires clear intent, not mere inference from circumstances.
Contractual Obligations vs Agrarian Reform: Upholding Lease Agreements in Agricultural Land Disputes
Supreme Court rules on binding lease addendums in agrarian reform lands, emphasizing contract mutuality and prescription under RA 3844.
Breach of Trust: Upholding Employers' Right to Terminate Managerial Employees in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers may validly terminate managerial employees for breach of trust, examining the legal standards and evidentiary requirements.
Payment to Authorized Agent Extinguishes Debt Even After Contract Termination
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when payment to an authorized agent extinguishes a debtor's obligation, and how courts treat issues tried with implied consent.
Loss of Trust and Confidence: When Can Philippine Employers Dismiss Managerial Employees?
The Supreme Court in Manese v. Jollibee clarifies the less stringent standard for dismissing managerial employees for loss of trust and confidence.
Banks Duty TO Depositors VS Third Party Claims Navigating Conflicting Interests
Mandatory Arbitration Prevails Upholding CBA Provisions IN Seafarer Disability Claims
Accountability for Band Robbery and Kidnapping: Upholding Victim Rights and Public Safety
Supreme Court affirms convictions for robbery by a band and kidnapping for ransom, clarifying penalties, damages, and the weight of witness credibility.
Estate Administration: Legal Heirs Preferred in Appointment of Administrator
Supreme Court clarifies that legitimate heirs have priority in estate administration, and co-administrators may only be appointed in exceptional circumstances.
Wage Deductions VS Post Employment Claims Protecting Employee Rights
Learn how the Supreme Court protects employee rights in wage deductions, labor-only contracting, and illegal dismissal cases under Philippine law.
Duty to Bargain Union Representation Despite Pending Cancellation Proceedings
Philippine Supreme Court rules on duty to bargain despite pending union cancellation, labor-only contracting, and illegal dismissal.
Freedom OF THE Press VS Integrity OF THE Court Striking THE Balance IN Contempt Cases
Accountability in Armed Robbery and Kidnapping: Defining Roles and Liabilities
A look at how Philippine courts assign criminal liability to each participant in armed robbery and kidnapping-for-ransom, based on a 2012 Supreme Court ruling.
Norkis Trading v. Buenavista: Labor-Only Contracting and Employer Status
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on labor-only contracting, employer status, and the binding effect of DOLE findings in Norkis Trading v. Buenavista.
Buy-Bust Operations and Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Key Lessons
A Supreme Court ruling explains why strict compliance with chain of custody rules matters—and when minor lapses won't defeat a drug conviction.
School Discipline and Due Process: Balancing Rights in Fraternity Membership Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies due process standards in student discipline, affirming schools' authority to penalize fraternity membership.
Heir Exclusion and Property Sale: Validity and Rights in Estate Settlements
Learn how excluding heirs voids an extrajudicial settlement, the sale's partial validity, and heirs' rights in estate distribution.