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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Forcible Entry in the Philippines: Possession Prevails Over Ownership Claims
Philippine law favors prior physical possession in forcible entry cases, even when ownership is disputed. Learn how courts resolve these disputes.
Breach of Trust and Estafa: The Crucial Role of Demand in Philippine Law
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling in Barrameda v. Court of Appeals on estafa through misappropriation, the elements of the crime, and the importance of demand.
Partnership Dissolution and Receivership: Protecting Assets in Business Disputes Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains when receivership is proper after partnership dissolution, and why due process requires hearing all affected parties.
Election Disqualification: Why Strong Evidence Is Crucial to Unseat a Winner
A dismissed disqualification case shows why clear, credible evidence is vital when challenging an election winner under Philippine law.
When Can Philippine Police Arrest Without a Warrant? Know Your Rights
Philippine law allows warrantless arrests in specific situations. This article explains those rules using a Supreme Court case.
Breach of Trust: When Philippine Employers Can Terminate Employees for Loss of Confidence
Philippine law allows employers to dismiss employees for loss of trust and confidence. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Sudden Violence and Treachery: Understanding Murder in Philippine Law
A look at how the Supreme Court distinguishes murder from homicide through treachery, using a 1999 stabbing case as an example.
When Can You Sue a Building Official: Error vs. Bad Faith in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when building officials can be sued for graft—error of judgment is not enough; bad faith must be shown.
Proving Familial Ties in Rape Cases and Their Impact on Penalties in Philippine Law
How Philippine courts prove father-daughter relationships in rape cases and why this qualifies for the death penalty under Article 335.
Unmasking Conspiracy in Kidnapping: How Shared Intent Leads to Shared Guilt Under Philippine Law
Explaining conspiracy in kidnapping through People v. Sala—how overt acts before, during, and after a crime prove shared guilt.
Mitigating Circumstances in Murder and Parricide: Voluntary Surrender and Plea of Guilt Under Philippine Law
Learn how Philippine courts treat mitigating circumstances like illness and passion in murder and parricide cases, and why claims need solid evidence.
Term Limits for Philippine Mayors: When a Term Does Not Count (Lonzanida v. COMELEC)
The Supreme Court explains when a mayor's interrupted or void service does not count toward the three-term limit under Philippine law.
Mitigating Circumstances in Parricide: Illness and Passion as Defenses in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when illness and passion may mitigate parricide, requiring clear evidence of diminished willpower.
Unlawful Aggression Is Key to Self-Defense Claims in Philippine Law
Understand why unlawful aggression is the foundation of self-defense in Philippine criminal law, explained through a Supreme Court ruling.
Legal Compensation of Debts in the Philippines: When Can You Offset Dues?
Learn when Philippine law allows compensation or set-off of debts, and why unliquidated claims cannot offset condominium dues.
Date Discrepancies in Rape Cases: Substance Over Technicality in Philippine Law
Philippine courts uphold rape convictions despite date discrepancies in the information, prioritizing substantive justice over technical defects.
When Can Killing Be Justified? Self-Defense Rules in the Philippines
Understand self-defense in Philippine law—when killing is justified, the burden of proof, and key legal rules explained in plain language.
Voluntary Confessions in Philippine Law: Safeguarding the Rights of the Accused
Understanding the constitutional safeguards governing voluntary confessions in Philippine criminal procedure, and how courts protect the accused.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Why Employers Bear the Burden of Proof
In illegal dismissal cases, Philippine law places the burden of proof on the employer. Learn the rules from Austria v. NLRC.
Protecting Your Inheritance Understanding Co-Ownership and Partition Rights in Philippine Property Law
Learn how Philippine law protects co-owners' rights to inherited property, including when and how to demand partition of family assets.
Credible Testimony in Rape Cases: How Philippine Law Protects Vulnerable Victims
In People v. Dizon, the Supreme Court upheld rape convictions based on the victims' credible testimony, reinforcing protections for minors and persons with mental disabilities.
Managerial vs. Supervisory Employees: Unionization Rights Under Philippine Labor Law
Learn how Philippine law distinguishes managerial from supervisory employees and why misclassification can block unionization rights.
Protecting Employee Benefits: Non-Diminution and Publication Rules in Philippine Law
Learn how the Supreme Court protected incumbent employee benefits under RA 6758 and voided an unpublished DBM circular that would have removed them.
Navigating the Insanity Defense in Philippine Law: Burden of Proof and Presumption of Sanity
The Supreme Court clarifies the insanity defense in Philippine criminal law, emphasizing the presumption of sanity and the accused's burden to prove insanity beyond reasonable doubt.