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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Agents Cannot Acquire Principal's Property: Imprescriptible Action to Recover Trust Property
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that an agent's acquisition of the principal's property is void and the action to recover it is imprescriptible.
Seafarers Disability Claims: Substantial Compliance and Employer Duty to Assess Fitness
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarers' disability benefits, substantial compliance with POEA contract, and employer responsibility in fitness assessment.
Rape Conviction and the Death Penalty: When Relationship Must Be Alleged in the Information
The Supreme Court affirms a death sentence for rape, explaining when the qualifying circumstance of relationship must be alleged and proven.
Specific Performance and the Obligation to Transfer Clear Title: Palon v. Brillante
In Palon v. Brillante, the Supreme Court held that a seller who receives full payment must not only deliver the land but also cause the issuance of the buyer's separate title.
Overcoming Alibi and Positive Identification in Philippine Criminal Cases
How the Supreme Court treats alibi versus positive identification, using a rape case where a stepfather's defense failed.
When Can a Corporate Officer Be Personally Liable for Corporate Debt
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when corporate officers may be held personally liable for corporate obligations and the limits of the corporate veil.
Midnight Appointments by Local Executives: What the Supreme Court Said
The Supreme Court rules on whether local executives can make midnight appointments before presidential elections, explaining the limits of the constitutional ban.
When a Clerk of Court Oversteps Judicial Power: Limits on Court Personnel Authority
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that clerks of court cannot approve bail or order releases—judicial powers reserved for judges alone.
Consent and Credibility in Rape Cases: How Philippine Courts Establish Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
In People v. Serrano, the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction and explained how courts weigh a victim's testimony, parental authority, and proof of penetration.
Robbery With Homicide: How Multiple Killings Affect Sentencing in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether multiple killings in robbery with homicide warrant death penalty or reclusion perpetua.
Due Process and Foreclosure: Protecting Debtor Rights in Property Sales
A Supreme Court ruling shows how procedural rules on venue protect property owners from baseless suits, and what it means for debtors facing foreclosure.
Improper Venue Nullifies Court Decision: Jurisdiction Over Real Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that improper venue in real property cases can void a trial court's ruling and justify certiorari.
Enforcement of Foreign Judgments in the Philippines: Summary Judgment and Forum Non Conveniens
Philippine courts explain when summary judgment is proper in enforcing foreign judgments and when forum non conveniens applies.
Judicial Overreach: What Happens When a Judge Exceeds Jurisdiction in Criminal Cases
A judge issued arrest warrants after losing jurisdiction over a case. The Supreme Court ruled it was gross ignorance of the law.
Conspiracy and Positive Identification in Murder: People v. Baltazar
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, explaining how positive eyewitness identification outweighs alibi, paraffin test results, and claims of witness bias.
Land Retention Rights Prevail Landowners Choice Overrides Prior Land Transfer Certificates
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how a landowner's retention right under PD 27 can override a previously issued Certificate of Land Transfer.
Lis Pendens and Good Faith Purchasers: Property Rights After Notice Cancellation in the Philippines
Learn how lis pendens, notice cancellation, and good faith purchasers affect Philippine property rights, with insights from a 2001 Supreme Court ruling.
Gun Fights and Legal Rights: Unpacking Self-Defense Claims in Homicide Cases
A Navy captain kills in a road rage scuffle. When does self-defense apply, and when does it fail? The Supreme Court explains.
When Silence Is Not Acquiescence: Fear and Delayed Testimony in Murder Cases
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when fear justifies delayed testimony and how incomplete self-defense works in homicide cases.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Lack of Full Penetration: The Importance of Touching in Statutory Rape Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that slight penetration of the labia is enough to consummate rape, even without full vaginal penetration.
Deceptive Recruitment Establishing Guilt In Large Scale Illegal Recruitment Cases
Learn how deceptive recruitment schemes establish guilt in large-scale illegal recruitment cases under Philippine law.
Preliminary Investigation Protecting Individual Rights Before Trial
Learn how preliminary investigation safeguards individual rights before trial, as explained in a Philippine Supreme Court decision.
The Lone Testimony Upholding Rape Conviction Despite Delayed Reporting
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on the victim's credible lone testimony, despite a six-month delay in reporting the crime.
When Fear, Not Force, Proves Rape: Lessons from People v. Cuadro
The Supreme Court affirms rape convictions where a stepfather exploited moral dominance and intimidation, explaining why submission is not consent.