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 Penalties: Evasion of Sentence Requires Prior Imprisonment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: prescription of penalty starts only when a convicted person escapes from actual imprisonment, not from hiding.
Prescription of Penalties: Why Actual Imprisonment Matters in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when prescription of penalties begins—only after a convict actually escapes from imprisonment.
False Credentials Lost Promotion Integrity IN Public Service
Supreme Court dismisses court employee for falsifying educational credentials in Personal Data Sheet, affirming public office as a public trust.
Self-Defense and Treachery: Understanding Murder in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies a killing as murder under Philippine law.
Eyewitness Identification vs. Alibi: The Weight of Positive Testimony in Murder Cases
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification against alibi defenses, explained through a 2002 Supreme Court ruling on murder.
Reasonable Doubt Acquittal in Rape with Homicide Based on Circumstantial Evidence
Supreme Court acquits rape-homicide accused where circumstantial evidence failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Administrative Complaints Against Judges Must Wait for Judicial Remedies to Be Exhausted
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that administrative complaints against judges cannot substitute for available judicial remedies like appeal or certiorari.
Flight as Evidence of Guilt in Philippine Criminal Cases: People v. Lobrigas
When does running away or escaping detention prove guilt? The Supreme Court explains the legal weight of flight in criminal cases.
Substantial Compliance Prevails When Procedural Rules Meet Substantive Justice
Supreme Court ruling on substantial compliance with non-forum shopping certification requirements in corporate cases.
Treachery Defined: How Philippine Courts Determine Unfair Advantage in Murder Cases
Learn how Philippine courts define treachery in murder cases through the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Hammer.
Possession vs Ownership: When Courts Decide Who Owns Property
Philippine Supreme Court explains when unlawful detainer courts may resolve ownership issues and how lessees claim improvements.
Contractual Obligations Upholding Agreed Upon Interest Rates in Construction Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court affirms 2% monthly interest on unpaid construction balance, enforcing contractual stipulations between owner and contractor.
Proving Minority in Qualified Rape Cases: The Ochea Standard
In People v. Ochea, the Supreme Court ruled that failure to prove the victim's minority bars conviction for qualified rape and the death penalty.
Stock Transfer Recording Requirement for Corporate Recognition as Stockholder
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why transfer of shares must be recorded in corporate books before a transferee can compel issuance of stock certificates.
Judicial Misconduct Dismissal FOR Undue Delay AND Disregard OF Supreme Court Directives
Learn how the Supreme Court disciplined a judge for undue delay and ignoring Court directives, reinforcing accountability in the judiciary.
When Proof of Age Fails: Simple Rape Instead of Death in People v. Ochea
The Supreme Court reduced a death sentence to reclusion perpetua because prosecutors failed to prove the victim's minority in a rape case.
Upholding Electoral Due Process: The Illegality of Suspending Proclamation Without Clear Evidence
The Supreme Court rules that suspending a winning candidate's proclamation without due process and clear evidence violates election laws and the people's will.
Treachery Defined: Ensuring Justice for Victims of Sudden Attacks in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies treachery and self-defense in sudden attacks, affirming that bare claims of self-defense cannot overcome clear evidence of guilt.
Finality of Judgment: Court Warns Against Repeated Motions to Evade Execution
Supreme Court warns litigants against filing repeated motions to delay execution of final judgments, citing abuse of judicial processes.
When a Sudden Attack Becomes Murder: Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden, swift attack qualifies as treachery, converting a killing into murder under Philippine law.
When a Lawyer's Mistake Can Be Excused: Client Rights and Attorney Negligence in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when attorney negligence binds clients, and the exceptions that protect clients from a lawyer's gross mistakes.
Illegal Dismissal Case: Why Salary Deductions Defeated a Theft Claim
Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal: employer's theft claim failed because goods were paid via salary deductions and due process was not observed.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Vague Date in Information: People v. Cantomayor
The Supreme Court upheld a father's rape conviction even though the information alleged only "on or about the year 1990," clarifying when the date of the crime really matters.
Wrongful Dismissal Reinstatement and Backwages for Illegally Terminated Employees
Learn the rules on illegal dismissal, reinstatement, and backwages under Philippine labor law from a Supreme Court case.