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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Control Is Key: Hospital Supervision Determines Employer-Employee Relationship With Resident Doctors
Supreme Court rules hospital control over resident doctors creates employer-employee relationship, entitling them to labor law protections.
Accountability for Illegal Logging: Possession, Liability, and Penalties Under PD 705
A look at how the Supreme Court upheld a conviction for illegal possession of lumber, clarifying liability and penalties under PD 705.
Clarifying "Forthwith" in Impeachment: The Senate's Duty to Prepare Before Trial
The Supreme Court explains what "forthwith" means in impeachment cases and why the Senate's preparation time was constitutionally valid.
Diminished Liability Distinguishing Homicide From Murder in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when abuse of superior strength fails as a qualifying circumstance, reducing murder to homicide in the Philippines.
Constructive Possession of Illegal Drugs: Proximity Alone Is Not Enough
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that mere presence near illegal drugs does not prove constructive possession; dominion and control are required.
Reasonable Doubt in Drug Possession Cases: Mere Presence at a Crime Scene Is Not Enough
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that mere presence in a friend's hut where drugs were found does not prove possession beyond reasonable doubt.
Dacion en Pago Without Consent Cannot Nullify Debt Settlement
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that dacion en pago requires mutual consent; a mere proposal or appraisal does not perfect the agreement.
Breach of Contract and Bad Faith: Airlines' Liability for Downgraded Seats
Philippine Airlines held liable for downgrading a passenger's business class seat to economy, with the Supreme Court affirming damages for breach of contract in bad faith.
Independent Contractors vs Regular Employees: Defining the Boundaries of Employer Liability
The Supreme Court clarifies when a principal is not the employer of a contractor's workers, and why the regular employment test does not apply in trilateral arrangements.
Balancing Privacy and Due Process: Evidence Admissibility in Philippine Administrative Cases
When do illegally obtained evidence become inadmissible in administrative cases? The Supreme Court clarifies constitutional limits.
Cityhood Denied: How Income Requirements Protect Local Governments
The Supreme Court struck down 16 cityhood laws for violating the Constitution's requirement of uniform criteria in the Local Government Code.
Upholding Accountability: Dismissal for Sheriffs' Neglect of Duty and Dishonesty in Handling Court Processes
The Supreme Court dismisses a judge for gross immorality and suspends him from law practice, clarifying the standards for judicial ethics and lawyer discipline.
Excise Tax Refund: Who Is the Proper Claimant Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that only the statutory taxpayer—the manufacturer—may claim excise tax refunds, even if the burden was shifted to the buyer.
Medical Negligence: The Duty to Consider Existing Conditions During Treatment
Philippine Supreme Court rules on seafarer disability claims, company-designated physician assessments, and the duty to consider pre-existing conditions.
Solidary Liability of Recruitment Agencies: Protecting Overseas Workers' Right to Fair Compensation
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on recruitment agencies' solidary liability for overseas workers' unpaid wages and the prescriptive period for money claims.
Registered Vehicle Owners Face Liability Even After Selling the Car
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why registered vehicle owners remain liable for accidents even after selling their car.
Resignation vs Termination: When a Resignation Letter Is Not Enough in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a resignation is not voluntary and how employers must prove it to defeat illegal dismissal claims.
Seafarer Compensation Rights: Work-Related Injury Claims and Pre-Existing Conditions in Philippine Maritime La
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarer compensation for work-related injuries despite pre-existing conditions, and the legal standards for disability claims.
Theft by Deceit Conviction Stands Despite Missing Testimony and Affidavit of Desistance
Supreme Court affirms estafa conviction even with missing transcript and complainant's affidavit of desistance, clarifying key criminal procedure rules.
Mandatory Suspension Safeguarding Public Service Integrity
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling on mandatory suspension of public officials and its role in preserving public service integrity.
Just Compensation in Expropriation: When Is Land "Taken"?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when property is and "adjustment factor" to account for the time elapsed since the taking.
Legality of Appointments: Balancing Appointee Rights and Preventing Midnight Appointments
The Supreme Court clarifies who may challenge a disapproved appointment and explains why the midnight-appointment ban does not bind local executives.
Motion for Reconsideration as a Prerequisite to Supreme Court Review in Election Cases
The Supreme Court rules that a COMELEC Division resolution must first be elevated to the Commission en banc before it can be questioned before the High Court.
Police Power vs Customs Authority: The Limits of Search and Seizure in the Philippines
When can police search cargo without customs authority? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits in Boac v. People.