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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Evident Partiality in Philippine Arbitration: When Courts Can Vacate an Award
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the "evident partiality" standard for vacating arbitration awards, distinguishing it from mere errors in weighing evidence.
Psychological Incapacity Under Article 36: The Quilpan Ruling and the Totality of Evidence Standard
The Supreme Court clarifies psychological incapacity under Article 36, emphasizing totality of evidence over psychiatric examination requirements.
When Eyewitness Identification Fails: Reasonable Doubt and the Burden of Proof in Philippine Criminal Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a robbery-homicide accused, ruling that unreliable eyewitness identification creates reasonable doubt. Learn the legal standards.
Understanding Solidary Liability in Audit Disallowances: Lessons from Lozada v. COA
The Supreme Court clarifies solidary liability for audit disallowances, explaining how COA may collect from any liable officer.
Understanding the Limits of Preliminary Injunctions in Property Disputes: A Guide for Property Owners and Lend
Learn how Philippine courts determine just compensation in agrarian reform cases, including the role of DAR formulas and the time of taking.
Lost Land Title Replacement: RTC, Not DARAB, Has Jurisdiction Over CLOA Titles
Supreme Court clarifies that the RTC, not the DARAB, has jurisdiction over petitions to replace lost owner's duplicate certificates of title, even if the title originated from a CLOA.
Understanding the Burden of Proof in Breach of Warranty Cases: Lessons from a Supreme Court Ruling
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies bad faith, solidary liability, and the burden of proof in breach of warranty cases involving defective goods.
Piercing the Corporate Veil in Labor Cases: When Owners and Related Companies Can Be Held Liable
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts can pierce the corporate veil in labor disputes and hold owners and related firms solidarily liable for judgments.
Navigating Administrative Discipline in Philippine Courts: Understanding the Boundaries of Authority
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the limits of a clerk of court's authority to approve leave applications and the proper framework for disciplining court personnel.
Quiet Title Actions and Jurisdiction: When Courts, Not DARAB, Decide Land Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when regular courts, not DARAB, have jurisdiction over quiet title actions involving alleged tenants.
Understanding Gross Negligence and Due Process in Employee Termination: Insights from a Landmark Philippine Ca
The Supreme Court clarifies probationary employment standards, performance appraisal, and due process in termination cases under Philippine labor law.
Navigating Probable Cause: Warrantless Vehicle Searches in the Philippines
A solitary tip cannot justify an intrusive warrantless vehicle search in the Philippines. Learn the probable cause standard from Evardo v. People.
Judicial Misconduct and the Importance of Propriety: A Landmark Case on Ethical Standards in the Judiciary
A judge's off-bench conduct matters. The Supreme Court fined a magistrate P50,000 for slapping a quarantine officer and allowing his sons to maul him.
Understanding Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Key Lessons From a Landmark Supreme Court Case
The Supreme Court explains statutory rape elements, penetration standards, and age proof in People v. Ordaneza.
Libel in Media: When News Reporting Crosses Legal Boundaries
The Supreme Court clarifies when news reports become libelous and why denying a motion to quash is not appealable via certiorari.
Due Process in Administrative Proceedings: Lessons from Barroso v. COA on Solidary Liability
The Supreme Court nullified COA's solidary liability ruling against a university president who was never made a party, reaffirming due process rights in administrative cases.
Salary Increases in GOCCs: Understanding the Legal Boundaries After Small Business Corporation v. COA
The Supreme Court clarifies when salary increases in government-owned corporations violate the EO No. 7 moratorium and who must return disallowed amounts.
Quasi-Delict Liability After a Vehicular Accident: Lessons from Laza v. Standard Insurance
The Supreme Court clarifies when a driver is negligent in a collision, the rules on vicarious liability, and what it takes to overturn factual findings on appeal.
Attempted Rape with Homicide: Circumstantial Evidence and the Cabornay Case
The Supreme Court affirms that circumstantial evidence can convict in attempted rape with homicide, clarifying the standards under Philippine law.
Quasi-Delict Claims and Negligence: Supreme Court Affirms Insurer's Subrogation Recovery
Supreme Court clarifies negligence standards in vehicular accidents, affirming insurer's right to recover repair costs from negligent driver and vehicle owner.
Lascivious Conduct Involving Minors: Legal Standards and Defenses in the Philippines
Understand how Philippine courts define and penalize lascivious conduct against minors, including key defenses and evidentiary rules.
Navigating Corporate Disputes: Lawyer Responsibilities and Ethical Boundaries
A Supreme Court ruling on lawyer conduct in corporate board disputes, highlighting duties to courts and ethical limits of advocacy.
Substantial Evidence in Administrative Cases: The Mahinay Case Explained
Learn how the Supreme Court's ruling in the Mahinay case clarifies the substantial evidence standard in administrative cases against public servants.
Bank Fraud Liability: Why Due Diligence Goes Beyond Checking the Title
A bank that relies solely on a clean title may still be a mortgagee in bad faith. Learn the due diligence standard from a 2021 Supreme Court ruling.