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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Eyewitness Testimony and Reasonable Doubt: When Identification Fails in Philippine Criminal Cases
The Supreme Court acquits in People v. Galera, showing how shaky eyewitness identification and inconsistent testimony create reasonable doubt.
Conditional vs. Absolute Sale: How Philippine Courts Determine True Property Ownership
Philippine courts look beyond contract labels to determine if a sale is absolute or conditional. Learn the key rules from a landmark Supreme Court case.
Rape Conviction: Slightest Penetration Suffices; Escape Injuries Count
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that slight penetration consummates rape, and injuries from escaping the assault are chargeable to the rapist.
Perfecting Land Titles: Vested Rights and Corporate Land Ownership in the Philippines
Understand how the Supreme Court ruled on vested rights, corporate acquisition of public lands, and the limits of land ownership claims.
Contract to Sell Rescission: When Installment Buyer Protections Do Not Apply
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when Republic Act 6552 protections do not apply and how contract to sell rescission works under Civil Code.
Unmasking True Ownership: Implied Trusts and the Limits of Good Faith in Property Transfers
When a brother buys land but titles it in another's name, an implied trust arises. The Supreme Court explains when good faith buyers cannot defeat the true owner.
Rescinding a Contract to Sell in the Philippines: When Is a Notarial Act Required?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when Republic Act No. 6552's notarial requirement applies to rescinding a contract to sell real property.
Res Judicata: How Prior Judgments Impact Future Claims in Philippine Courts
Learn how the doctrine of res judicata bars relitigating settled issues, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on final judgments.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: Key Factors in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the control test distinguishing employees from independent contractors in labor disputes.
Reasonable Doubt and Acquittal: When Lack of Evidence Overcomes Presumption of Innocence
In People v. Vasquez, the Supreme Court acquitted two brothers of murder, ruling that weak prosecution evidence and physical evidence cannot overcome reasonable doubt.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Unexpected Attacks
The Supreme Court clarifies treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, explaining sudden attacks and how it absorbs abuse of superior strength.
Enforcing Compromise Agreements: A Judge’s Duty and Potential Liability
A judge who vacillates in enforcing a final compromise agreement may face administrative liability. Learn the rules from a Philippine Supreme Court case.
Bottle Ownership and Trademark Rights: Navigating Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who owns liquor bottles after sale and the limits of trademark protection under R.A. 623.
Voluntary Resignation and Bonus Entitlement: What Philippine Employees Should Know
Learn when resigned employees lose their right to CBA bonuses under Philippine law, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Lost Luggage Liability of Common Carriers in the Philippines: The Sarkies Tours Case
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies common carrier liability for lost passenger luggage, including moral and exemplary damages under the Civil Code.
Warrantless Searches and Seizures: Protecting Your Rights in the Philippines
When can police search without a warrant? The Supreme Court explains the limits of warrantless searches and the exclusionary rule.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: When a Security Guard Becomes the Rapist
Explore the Supreme Court ruling in People v. Gomez on rape conviction, victim credibility, and the evidentiary weight of positive identification.
Consent and Credibility in Rape Cases: Lessons from Philippine Jurisprudence
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling on rape underscores how victim credibility and positive identification shape convictions, offering key lessons for criminal law.
Automatic Contract Rescission: What Buyers and Sellers Should Know in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains automatic rescission in contracts to sell, buyer rights, and the dangers of laches in real estate deals.
Presidential Power vs Legislative Authority: Proclamation Validity in the Philippines
Supreme Court nullifies Proclamation No. 164 for exceeding presidential power after Congress convened, reaffirming separation of powers.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Fear and Moral Ascendancy Overcome Claim of Consensual Affair
Philippine Supreme Court affirms uncle's rape conviction, ruling that a victim's fear and an accused's moral ascendancy defeat claims of consent.
Franchise Boundaries: When NPC Can Supply Power Over Existing Franchises
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when NPC may directly supply power within areas covered by existing electric franchise holders.
Rape by an Uncle: Moral Ascendancy and Abuse of Trust in Family Dynamics
A Supreme Court ruling on uncle-niece rape clarifies how moral ascendancy and intimidation satisfy the element of force in Philippine rape law.
Breach of Trust in the Workplace: When Fraud and Falsification Justify Dismissal
The Supreme Court ruled that fraud and falsification by employees are valid grounds for dismissal, even for union officers.