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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Prescription of Offenses: When Filing a Complaint Interrupts the Prescriptive Period
Learn how filing a complaint interrupts prescription of offenses in the Philippines, and when the prescriptive period resumes under Article 91 of the RPC.
When a Lawyer's Second Marriage Becomes a Professional Misconduct Case
A municipal legal officer faces suspension for contracting a second marriage while his first remained valid, highlighting lawyers' duty to know the law.
Dismissal Upheld for Incorrigible Process Server: Upholding Diligence in Court Service
Supreme Court affirms dismissal of a process server for habitual absenteeism, tardiness, and failure to serve court processes.
Upholding Ethical Standards: One-Year Suspension for Lawyer's Bigamous Marriage
A municipal legal officer's second marriage while his first subsists violates lawyer ethics. The Supreme Court explains why.
Attorney Negligence and the Limits of Relief from Judgment in Philippine Courts
When a lawyer's mistake costs a client the case, relief from judgment is not always available. This decision explains the limits.
Moral Turpitude AND Attorney Discipline Infidelity AS Grounds FOR Suspension
Medical Negligence and Res Ipsa Loquitur: Liability in Surgical Procedures
How the Supreme Court applied res ipsa loquitur to hold a surgeon liable for a patient's unexplained burn during childbirth.
Formal Offer of Evidence: Why Failure Can End a Land Ownership Case
A missed deadline to formally offer evidence can doom a land dispute. Learn the rule from Heirs of Pasag v. Parocha.
Establishing Filiation: How Informal Writings Can Prove Paternity in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how handwritten letters can establish paternity and filiation of illegitimate children under the Family Code.
Serving at the Board's Pleasure: Security of Tenure for Water District General Managers in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether water district general managers serve at the board's pleasure or enjoy security of tenure.
Independent Damage Claims in Forcible Entry: Separating Possession From Subsequent Harm
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when damages from forcible entry may be claimed in a separate ordinary action rather than the ejectment case.
Dismissal for Grave Misconduct: Upholding Integrity in Court Administration
Explore how the Supreme Court upholds accountability in court administration, examining dismissal for grave misconduct and its impact on judicial integrity.
Law Students as Agents in Inferior Courts: The Cruz v. Mina Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when a law student may appear in inferior courts without lawyer supervision, and the civil aspect of grave threats.
Rape AND Moral Ascendancy When Trust Becomes Betrayal
Court employees who misuse judiciary funds face dismissal for dishonesty and grave misconduct, even after restitution or retirement.
Service of Summons on Corporations: When Courts Acquire Jurisdiction
Learn when Philippine courts acquire jurisdiction over a corporation—valid service of summons or voluntary appearance—from Orion Security v. Kalfam.
Easement Reduction on Urban Land: Balancing Public Land Rules and Development
When a free-patent lot becomes urban private land, the river easement may shrink from 40 meters to 3 meters.
When Acquittal Doesnt Always Clear THE Debt Civil Liability AND Bouncing Checks
An acquittal in a bouncing checks case does not automatically erase civil liability. Learn the rule from Samson Ching v. Nicdao.
COMELEC’s Decisive Power: Ensuring Fair Elections Beyond Procedural Technicalities
The Supreme Court affirms COMELEC’s broad authority to act decisively on election irregularities, prioritizing credible elections over procedural technicalities.
Dismissal of Appeal, Untenable Excuses, and the Boundaries of Judicial Discretion
When a lawyer's mistake costs a client the case, the Supreme Court explains the limits of relief from judgment and counsel's negligence.
Contract Rescission and RTC Jurisdiction: Lessons from Villena v. Payoyo
When rescinding a contract is the primary remedy, the case belongs in the Regional Trial Court—even if the monetary claim is small.
Piercing the Sole Proprietorship Veil: Personal Liability for Business Debts in Illegal Dismissal Cases
Learn when Philippine courts hold sole proprietors personally liable for business debts, including illegal dismissal claims, and how to protect personal assets.
Status Quo Ante Orders: COMELEC's Power to Suspend Execution Pending Appeal in Election Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court upheld COMELEC's power to issue status quo ante orders suspending execution pending appeal in election cases.
Status Quo Ante Orders of COMELEC Not Reviewable by Supreme Court
Supreme Court explains why COMELEC status quo ante orders are interlocutory and cannot be questioned via certiorari before final resolution.
False Inducement and Deprivation of Liberty: Defining Kidnapping for Ransom in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that a child's voluntary act of going with a kidnapper induced by false promises still constitutes deprivation of liberty.