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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Conspiracy and Treachery in Group Attacks: Key Lessons from People v. Conde
How the Supreme Court applied conspiracy and treachery doctrines to hold a participant liable for murder in a group stabbing.
Execution Pending Appeal: When Property Deterioration Justifies Immediate Enforcement
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on execution pending appeal, redemption rights, and when immediate enforcement is justified to prevent property deterioration.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding Convictions in Child Rape Cases Despite Minor Inconsistencies
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape convictions, clarifying rules on information defects, alibi, and victim credibility in incest cases.
Bad Faith Litigation: When Filing Suit Leads to Damages
Philippine Supreme Court rules on when filing an unfounded lawsuit constitutes bad faith, exposing litigants to moral and exemplary damages.
Upholding Integrity IN Notarial Acts A Lawyers Duty AND THE Limits OF Administrative Complaints
Malicious Prosecution Claims Must Wait for Final Acquittal, High Court Rules
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a malicious prosecution suit may be filed, requiring final termination of the criminal case first.
Guardianship and Estate Rights: Resolving Inheritance Disputes Over Unauthorized Property Sales
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when heirs can redeem property sold on execution and how courts protect estate rights in inheritance disputes.
Premature Filing Malicious Prosecution Requires Prior Acquittal
Filing a malicious prosecution case before the criminal action ends in acquittal is premature. Learn the rules from this Philippine Supreme Court case.
Eyewitness Testimony and Alibi in Murder Cases: Lessons from People v. Orio
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification against alibi and denial, and when treachery or abuse of superior strength qualifies a killing as murder.
Conspiracy and Homicide: How Group Violence Establishes Criminal Liability
The Supreme Court explains how conspiracy in group violence makes every participant liable for murder, even without inflicting the fatal wound.
Defining Managerial vs Supervisory Roles for Union Membership in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between managerial and supervisory employees for union membership eligibility under the Labor Code.
Rape by a Stepfather Figure and the Limits of Information in Imposing the Death Penalty
A rape conviction upheld, but the death penalty was reduced because the qualifying circumstance was not properly alleged.
Judicial Misconduct Upholding Integrity and Independence in the Philippine Judiciary
Supreme Court clarifies remedies for landowners vs. NHA in expropriation cases, emphasizing proper legal procedures and constitutional challenges.
When Reinstatement Isnt Required Philippine Supreme Court ON Separation PAY IN Labor Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when separation pay substitutes for reinstatement in illegal dismissal cases, balancing worker protection with employer realities.
Ballot Interpretation Upholding Voter Intent in Philippine Elections
How the Supreme Court applied the neighborhood, idem sonans, and intent rules to uphold voter intent in a barangay election protest.
Burden of Proof When Inconsistent Testimony and Physical Evidence Lead to Acquittal in Murder Cases
Philippine Supreme Court acquits murder accused where witness testimonies conflicted and physical evidence contradicted the prosecution's theory.
When Barangay Conciliation Is Not Required: Court Ruling on Real Property Disputes
Supreme Court clarifies when barangay conciliation is not required before filing real property cases in court.
Acquisitive Prescription: When Possession Becomes Ownership Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains when possession ripens into ownership through acquisitive prescription, and why tax declarations alone do not prove title.
Attorney Negligence: Upholding a Lawyer's Duty of Diligence and Competence
A lawyer's failure to file briefs caused a client's case to be lost. The Supreme Court suspended him for one year.
Barangay Conciliation and Jurisdiction: When Prior Settlement Is Not Required
Learn when prior barangay conciliation is not required before filing a case in court, based on a Supreme Court ruling on gross ignorance of the law.
Barangay Conciliation Not Required When Parties Live in Different Towns
The Supreme Court fined a judge for dismissing an ejectment case on barangay conciliation grounds when the parties lived in different municipalities.
Breach of Trust: A Lawyer's Duty to Account for Client Funds Promptly
The Supreme Court suspended a lawyer for failing to promptly account for a client's money, affirming that lawyers hold client funds in trust under Canon 16.
Lawyers Must Promptly Account for Client Funds: A Lesson from A.C. No. 5019
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for failing to promptly account for client funds, reaffirming the fiduciary duty under Canon 16.
Judicial Corruption Upholding Integrity IN THE Philippine Judiciary
The Supreme Court reprimands a judge for impropriety, misdemeanor, and gross ignorance of law in Tapiru v. Biden.