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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Election Contests and Jurisdiction: When the HRET Takes Over from COMELEC
The Supreme Court explains why election contests involving proclaimed congressional winners belong exclusively to the HRET, not the courts.
Electoral Tribunal Jurisdiction: Proclamation Is the Decisive Factor in Election Contests
The Supreme Court clarifies that once a congressional candidate is proclaimed, the HRET, not the COMELEC, has sole jurisdiction over election contests.
Rehabilitation Courts Have Limited Jurisdiction Over Insurance Claims of Corporate Debtors
Supreme Court clarifies that rehabilitation courts cannot adjudicate insurance claims filed by the distressed company against its insurers.
Airport Frisking and Drug Transportation: Upholding Convictions on Reasonable Searches and Chain of Custody
The Supreme Court affirms a drug transport conviction, ruling airport frisking is a valid search and the chain of custody of seized shabu was unbroken.
Forum Shopping and Protection Orders: Avoiding Conflicting Rulings in Custody Disputes
When a mother filed for a protection order in another court while a custody case was pending, the Supreme Court clarified the limits of forum shopping.
Guilt Beyond Doubt: Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms murder convictions based on circumstantial evidence, explaining when such evidence suffices to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Victim Credibility in Rape Cases: Delay in Reporting and Lack of Medical Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a rape victim's testimony alone can sustain a conviction, even with delayed reporting and no medical evidence.
Treachery and Evident Premeditation in Murder: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Conviction upheld where treachery and evident premeditation were proven; circumstantial evidence sufficed to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Land Registration Denied: Proving Possession Since June 12, 1945
The Supreme Court clarifies the strict requirements for land registration under P.D. 1529, emphasizing the need for clear proof of possession since June 12, 1945.
Voice Recognition as Positive Identification in Philippine Rape Cases
How voice recognition helped convict a rapist whose face was covered, and what this means for Philippine criminal law.
Doubt in Drug Cases: How Evidence Tampering Can Overturn a Conviction
When seized drugs weigh less at the lab than at inventory, reasonable doubt arises. The Supreme Court explains why.
Losing the Right to Appeal: Understanding Finality of Judgments in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a convicted person who misses the 15-day appeal period loses the right to appeal—and why counsel's negligence binds the client.
Guilty Pleas and Kidnapping for Ransom: The Improvident Plea Doctrine in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when a guilty plea to a capital offense is improvident, and how independent evidence can still sustain a conviction.
Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence and Ensuring Fair Trials
The Supreme Court clarifies that minor lapses in drug evidence handling do not automatically invalidate a conviction if the chain of custody remains intact.
The Weight of Witness Testimony: Conviction on Circumstantial Evidence in Rape Cases
How Philippine courts weigh witness credibility and circumstantial evidence in rape convictions, explained through a 2013 Supreme Court ruling.
Credibility of Rape Victim Testimony Overcoming Recantations and Delay in Reporting
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why a rape victim's credible testimony prevails despite delayed reporting and claims of consent.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Intimidation Overcomes Lack of Physical Resistance
Philippine Supreme Court rules that intimidation, not physical resistance, is key in rape cases, upholding a conviction based on a knife threat.
Sandiganbayan Jurisdiction Over Private Individuals in Marcos Ill-Gotten Wealth Cases
The Supreme Court rules the Sandiganbayan has jurisdiction over private individuals in cases involving recovery of Marcos ill-gotten wealth.
Upholding Client Loyalty Attorney Suspended FOR Conflict OF Interest IN Estate Case
A lawyer's switch from representing heirs to opposing the same heirs in one estate case leads to a three-month suspension for conflict of interest.
Eyewitness Credibility: When Testimonial Inconsistencies Do Not Destroy a Homicide Conviction
The Supreme Court explains why minor inconsistencies in eyewitness testimony do not automatically destroy credibility in homicide cases.
Salary Standardization vs Water District Autonomy: Reconciling Compensation Policies
The Supreme Court clarifies that water district general managers' salaries fall under the Salary Standardization Law, not PD 198.
Breach of Trust When Good Faith Fails in Public Office
A governor's conviction for violating RA 3019 shows that reliance on officials' assurances does not excuse sidestepping procurement rules.
Zoning Laws and Agrarian Reform: When Local Ordinances Conflict With National Land Policy
When local zoning reclassifies agricultural land, approval by the HLURB is required—otherwise, CARP coverage still applies.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Force and Consent in Sexual Assault Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, clarifying that voluntary presence in a motel does not equal consent to sex.