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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Moral Damages for Defamation: When Insulting Words Violate Human Dignity
The Supreme Court affirms moral damages for public humiliation under Article 26 of the Civil Code, protecting human dignity beyond criminal defamation.
Continued Possession Prevents Prescription in Land Reconveyance Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: an action for reconveyance cannot be barred by prescription when the plaintiff remains in possession of the disputed land.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Murder Conviction
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction where eyewitness positively identified the accused, rejecting alibi and denial defenses. Learn the legal rules.
Overtaking at a Curve: Determining Negligence and Liability in Vehicular Accidents
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on overtaking at curves, negligence presumption, and common carrier liability for passenger deaths.
Summary Procedure and Motions for Reconsideration: Scope of Prohibited Pleadings Clarified
A judge may validly act on a motion for reconsideration of a dismissal order in summary procedure cases, as clarified by the Supreme Court.
Positive Identification Overrides Alibi: Examining Witness Credibility and Delayed Reporting in Criminal Convi
The Supreme Court affirms a homicide conviction, rejecting self-defense, and clarifies the rules on witness credibility and delayed reporting.
Statutory Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Lack of Physical Evidence
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, ruling that an intact hymen and lack of physical injuries do not negate carnal knowledge.
Motion for Reconsideration Under Summary Procedure: The Lucas Doctrine
When can a litigant file a motion for reconsideration under summary procedure? The Supreme Court clarifies the exception for dismissal orders.
Forgery in Land Sales: Upholding Final Judgments Against Claims of Extrinsic Fraud
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a buyer who admitted a deed of sale was forged cannot later overturn the final judgment by claiming extrinsic fraud.
Diplomatic Immunity vs Defamation: The Liang Case and Limits of Official Acts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on ADB staff immunity, defamation, and why diplomatic immunity is not absolute for criminal acts.
Judicial Employees and Immorality: Ethics Standards in the Philippine Judiciary
Supreme Court dismisses two court employees for illicit affair, reaffirming high moral standards for judiciary personnel.
Exit Polls and Free Speech: The ABS-CBN v. Comelec Ruling
The Supreme Court struck down Comelec's total ban on exit polls, affirming that free speech and press freedoms protect election-day surveys.
Execution Pending Appeal: Financial Distress Alone Is Not a Good Reason
The Supreme Court clarifies that a corporation's financial distress is not, by itself, a "good reason" for execution pending appeal.
Official Duty vs Personal Liability: Defining Immunity in Defamation Cases
Can a diplomat or international organization worker claim immunity for defamation? The Supreme Court clarifies when official duty ends and personal liability begins.
Breach of Trust: Safeguarding Employee Rights in Termination Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on dismissal of court employees for immorality, highlighting integrity standards and due process in administrative cases.
Official Immunity vs Individual Accountability: Limits of Protection in Defamation Cases
When does diplomatic or organizational immunity shield a person from criminal defamation? The Supreme Court clarifies the boundaries.
Judicial Overreach Defining Jurisdictional Boundaries IN Marriage Solemnization
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies judges' authority in marriage solemnization, ruling on jurisdiction limits and administrative liability.
Police Power and Civilian Employees: Defining Authority Within the PNP
Supreme Court ruling on NAPOLCOM Resolution 93-032: civilian PNP employees cannot exercise police powers reserved for uniformed personnel.
When a "Sale" Is Really an Equitable Mortgage: Lessons from Aguirre v. Tupas
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a deed of absolute sale is presumed an equitable mortgage under the Civil Code.
Life Insurance Contracts: When Does an Application Become a Binding Agreement
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a life insurance application becomes a binding contract, using Perez v. BF Lifeman as guide.
Rape Conviction: Credibility of Testimony and the Nuances of Penetration
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on the victim's credible testimony, clarifies penetration nuances, and adjusts penalties and damages.
Incestuous Rape: When a Father's Betrayal Warrants the Death Penalty
The Supreme Court affirms the death penalty for a father who raped his 12-year-old daughter, underscoring the gravity of incestuous rape under Philippine law.
Exit Polls and Free Expression: The ABS-CBN v. Comelec Ruling
The Supreme Court ruled that Comelec cannot totally ban exit polls, as they are protected by freedom of speech and of the press.
Eminent Domain: Necessity, Procedure, and the Writ of Possession in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when the government may expropriate private land, the necessity requirement, and the rule on writs of possession.