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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Attempted Robbery With Homicide: Liability When the Robbery Fails
The Supreme Court explains when a failed robbery that ends in death becomes the complex crime of attempted robbery with homicide.
Discretion of the Justice Secretary and Limits of Judicial Review in Preliminary Investigations
The Supreme Court clarifies the Ombudsman's limited role in reviewing prosecutors' findings and the boundaries of judicial review in preliminary investigations.
Establishing Filiation: The Imperative of Conclusive Evidence in Inheritance Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on proving filiation in inheritance cases, highlighting the need for conclusive evidence and final judgments.
Partnership vs Guarantor: Who Bears Liability in a Business Venture?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the line between a partner and a guarantor in business, and who bears liability when the venture fails.
Prosecutorial Discretion vs Anti-Graft: Defining Undue Injury in Public Office
The Supreme Court clarifies when a prosecutor's error becomes a crime under the Anti-Graft Law, explaining the element of undue injury.
Rape and Credibility: Evaluating Testimony in the Face of Physical Disability
Physical disability alone does not negate rape liability. The Supreme Court affirms conviction, explaining how credibility, not disability, decides rape cases.
Sheriffs' Duty to Execute Writs Promptly and Liability for Neglect
Sheriffs must execute writs with dispatch; delay is gross neglect of duty. A Supreme Court ruling on sheriff accountability.
Treachery in Criminal Law: When a Frontal Attack Constitutes Murder
The Supreme Court explains when a frontal attack still qualifies as treachery, elevating a killing to murder in the Philippines.
Breach of Trust: When a Lawyer's Actions Lead to Ethical Misconduct
When a lawyer solicits a client's letter then uses it against them, the Supreme Court says it is misconduct.
Probable Cause and Judicial Discretion in Anti-Graft Cases: Odin Security Agency v. Sandiganbayan
The Supreme Court explains when courts may dismiss criminal cases for lack of probable cause and the limits of certiorari review in graft cases.
Judicial Efficiency Upholding Timely Resolution Mandates IN Election Protests
Court rules judges must decide election protests within 30 days of submission, imposing fines for inexcusable delay.
Bank Liability for Premature Foreclosure and Dishonored Deposits
When can a bank be liable for damages? The Supreme Court rules on premature foreclosure, dishonored checks, and bad faith.
Mayoral Prerogative vs Police Professionalism: Understanding the Limits of Local Executive Power in Police App
A look at how the Supreme Court balances a mayor's appointment power with the need for police professionalism and legal limits.
Court Decisions vs HLURB Rulings: Judicial Precedence in Mortgage Validity Cases
When a court decision and an HLURB ruling conflict, which prevails? The Supreme Court clarifies the hierarchy and finality of judgments.
Redemption Rights Upholding Timely Redemption IN Foreclosure Cases
Explaining the one-year redemption period in extrajudicial foreclosures and why a redemption made on the last day is valid.
Attorney’s Lien in the Philippines: Can It Attach to Real Property?
Philippine law limits attorney’s liens to judgments and client documents—not land. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
The Perils of Mistaken Identity: Alibi and Witness Credibility in Murder Convictions
A Supreme Court ruling on how positive identification outweighs alibi, and the consequences of mistaken identity in murder cases.
Beyond the Logbook: Upholding Employee Rights in Administrative Cases
Explore how the Supreme Court protects employees' rights in administrative cases, ensuring fairness beyond mere documentation and procedural compliance.
Upholding Workplace Conduct: Carrying Firearms in the Hall of Justice and Employee Rights
The Supreme Court rules on a court employee carrying a firearm in the Hall of Justice, finding misconduct and oppression while protecting employee rights.
Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Robbery With Homicide: The Marquez Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when robbery with homicide is proven beyond reasonable doubt, and when illegal possession of firearm charges fail.
Cameras in Court: The Estrada Trial and the Right to a Fair Hearing
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on live TV coverage of the Estrada trial, balancing public information against the accused's right to a fair trial.
When the Smoke Clears: Differentiating Robbery With Homicide From Illegal Firearm Possession
A bus holdup leads to a key ruling on when a gun found elsewhere cannot prove illegal possession, and how robbery-homicide is charged.
Balancing Fair Trial Rights and Public Access: The Estrada Trial Audio-Visual Recording Ruling
The Supreme Court's 2001 ruling on the Estrada trial balanced fair trial rights with public access, allowing delayed audio-visual recordings while prohibiting live broadcast.
Interpleader Actions Resolving Rental Payment Disputes Between Claimants
When two parties claim the same rental payments, an interpleader action can resolve the conflict. The Supreme Court explains its limits.