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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Land Dispute Jurisdiction: How Assessed Value Decides Where to File
The Supreme Court in Aliabo v. Carampatan explains when a municipal trial court may hear a land dispute and why assessed value determines jurisdiction.
When the Supreme Court Corrects Aggravating Circumstances in Murder Convictions
A look at People v. Cachola, where the High Court affirmed murder convictions but corrected the trial court's appreciation of aggravating circumstances.
Parental Authority vs Child's Well-Being: Redefining Attempted Rape Boundaries
Supreme Court clarifies when rape is attempted, not consummated, and splits appellate jurisdiction in father-daughter abuse case.
Rape, Parental Authority, and Moral Ascendancy in Child Abuse Cases
How moral ascendancy and parental authority establish force in rape cases, and why the Supreme Court reduced the death penalty.
Judicial Ethics Under Scrutiny: Accountability for Misconduct Outside the Courtroom
A look at how the Supreme Court treats judicial misconduct committed outside court, and what it means for public trust in the judiciary.
Prior Use and Confusing Similarity in Trademark Cancellation Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains prior use, confusing similarity, and the Paris Convention in trademark cancellation disputes.
Reasonable Doubt and Inconsistent Testimony: Acquittal in People v. Lavapie
The Supreme Court acquitted two murder accused after finding material inconsistencies between witness testimony and physical evidence, reaffirming the reasonable doubt standard.
Familial Betrayal and the Burden of Proof: Rethinking Rape Convictions in the Philippines
In People v. Freta, the Supreme Court reduced a father's death sentence to reclusion perpetua because the prosecution failed to prove his daughter's minority.
Safeguarding Confessions: The Right to Competent Counsel in Custodial Investigations
A suspect's confession is inadmissible without effective, independent counsel during custodial investigation. The Supreme Court explains why in People v. Patungan.
Docket Fees and Intervention: Y Realty's Quest for Justice in Marcos Wealth Case
A look at how the Supreme Court resolved docket fee issues in intervention cases involving recovered Marcos assets.
Sheriffs Cannot Pierce the Corporate Veil: Levying Corporate Property for a Stockholder's Debt
A sheriff who levies on corporate property to satisfy a stockholder's personal debt acts beyond authority. The Supreme Court explains why.
Beyond Words: Establishing Rape Through Credible Testimony and Circumstantial Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how credible witness testimony and circumstantial evidence can establish rape convictions.
Surety Bond Liability Limits Under Philippine Insurance Law: The R & B Surety Case
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies surety bond liability caps under Insurance Code Section 176, limiting exposure to face value plus legal interest.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Inconsistencies in Testimony Do Not Guarantee Reasonable Doubt
In People v. Caniezo, the Supreme Court upheld a rape conviction despite minor inconsistencies in the victim's testimony and corrected the penalty and damages awarded.
Res Judicata and Final Judgments: Why Property Disputes Cannot Be Relitigated
The Supreme Court explains how res judicata bars relitigating property disputes, using the Avisado v. Rumbaua case as a guide.
The Line Between Consensual Act and Rape: Establishing Carnal Knowledge Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies what constitutes consummated rape, the proof required for conviction, and when the death penalty applies.
Upholding Stockholder Rights Derivative Suits AND Corporate Governance IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies derivative suits, stockholder standing, and jurisdiction over intra-corporate disputes under RA 8799.
Boastful Rapist's Conviction Upheld: Delay in Reporting Rape Explained by Threats
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction despite a five-year delay in reporting, ruling that credible threats explain the delay.
Fraud in Land Acquisition: Government Can Revert Public Land Despite Title Indefeasibility
Supreme Court ruling on how fraud in free patent applications lets the government revert public land despite title indefeasibility.
Disputes in Real Estate: Clarifying Intent in Land Sale Agreements
When buyers and sellers disagree on what land was sold, Philippine courts look to the parties' true intent, not just the written deed.
Substantial Compliance Prevails: Due Process Over Procedural Lapses in Certiorari Petitions
SC rules substantial compliance with Rule 65 requirements can outweigh technical defects, protecting due process in certiorari cases.
Protecting the Vulnerable: A Child's Testimony Can Be Enough for Rape Conviction
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on a child victim's credible testimony, clarifying evidentiary rules for vulnerable witnesses.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails When Inconsistent Witness Testimony Leads to Acquittal
Inconsistent eyewitness testimony on familiarity and poor lighting created reasonable doubt, leading the Supreme Court to acquit a murder accused.
Reclaiming a Child Through Habeas Corpus: The Tijing Case on Establishing Maternal Rights
The Supreme Court explains when habeas corpus is the proper remedy for parents to regain custody of a missing child, and how identity and filiation are proven.