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.
Real Action vs Annulment: How Courts Determine Proper Docket Fees in Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when an annulment of sale case is a real action requiring higher docket fees based on property value.
Court Stenographer Dropped From Rolls: The Duty of Judicial Personnel to Maintain Accurate Records
Learn when a court employee can be dropped from the rolls for unsatisfactory performance, and why accurate court records are a public duty.
Lost Inheritance: Proving Kinship in Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why heirs must prove kinship to claim inherited property, and the limits of Torrens title challenges.
Estafa AND THE Timing OF Deceit Cardenas V People
Drug Sale Conviction Affirmed: Entrapment Evidence and Legal Presumptions in Shabu Cases
Supreme Court affirms drug sale and possession conviction, explaining buy-bust operations, entrapment evidence, and presumptions in Philippine drug cases.
Estafa and the Timing of Deceit: Lessons from the Cardenas Case
When must deceit exist for estafa by postdated check? The Cardenas ruling clarifies the timing requirement under Article 315.
Dropping from the Rolls for Unsatisfactory Ratings: Court Stenographer Case
Supreme Court affirms dropping a court stenographer from the rolls for two consecutive unsatisfactory performance ratings, citing public service demands.
Ejectment Jurisdiction Resolving Ownership IN Unlawful Detainer Cases
Courts may provisionally resolve a plaintiff's death and ownership issues in ejectment cases to determine possession.
Quasi-Delict Liability in Vehicular Accidents: What the Supreme Court Ruling Means
Learn how the Supreme Court applied quasi-delict rules in a vehicular accident case, clarifying negligence, vicarious liability, and damages.
Finality vs Jurisdiction: Resolving Property Disputes in the Philippines
Understand how Philippine courts resolve property disputes, where finality of judgments and jurisdictional rules intersect, and what this means for litigants.
Breach OF Trust Disbarment FOR Attorneys Misappropriation OF Client Property
Entrapment vs Instigation: When Buy-Bust Operations Are Valid in Philippine Drug Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains the difference between valid entrapment and unlawful instigation in buy-bust operations, using Cruz v. People.
Statutory Rape: Protecting Children and Ensuring Due Process in Criminal Law
A father's conviction for statutory rape upheld, but due process requires every element—including relationship—be alleged in the information.
Navigating Investment Incentives: The Finality of BOI Decisions and Appellate Procedure
The Supreme Court ruled that a denial of an income tax holiday by the Board of Investments must be appealed to the Court of Appeals, not the Office of the President.
SPV Law Notice Requirements: Protecting Debtor Rights in Asset Transfers
Learn how the SPV Law's notice requirements protect debtors when banks transfer non-performing loans to special purpose vehicles.
Treachery in Murder: What the Supreme Court Requires for Conviction
The Supreme Court clarifies treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, explaining what evidence proves it and why evident premeditation failed in this case.
Ancestral Domain vs Public Land: Resolving Indigenous Land Claims in Forest Reservations
Supreme Court clarifies NCIP jurisdiction over ancestral land claims but upholds protection of forest reservations from private claims.
Supervisory Negligence: Clerks of Court Held Accountable for Monitoring Court Funds
Philippine Supreme Court holds clerks of court liable for simple neglect of duty for failing to supervise a cashier who misappropriated court funds.
Retrenchment Requisites: When Economic Downturn Does Not Justify Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the strict requisites for valid retrenchment, including proof of losses and 30-day notice rules.
Upholding Comelec Discretion in Pre-Proclamation Controversies
The Supreme Court affirms Comelec's broad discretion in dismissing pre-proclamation disputes, emphasizing limited scope of review and proper remedies.
Burden of Proof in Illegal Dismissal: Why Employers Must Justify Termination
Philippine law places the burden of proof on employers in illegal dismissal cases. Learn the rules and practical takeaways.
Breach OF Public Trust Dismissal FOR Malversation AND Dishonesty IN THE Judiciary
Defining Regular Employment: The Case of Dealco Farms and the Comboys
The Supreme Court clarifies the test for regular employment under Philippine labor law, emphasizing the employer's business nature and the employee's role.
Redemption Rights When A Sale Disguises A Loan Equity Prevails
When a bank finances a subdivision project, it cannot ignore buyers who already paid for lots. The Supreme Court explains why.