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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VAT Refund Claims: Strict Compliance with Invoicing Requirements Required
Philippine Supreme Court rules strict compliance with VAT invoicing requirements is mandatory for input VAT refund claims on zero-rated sales.
Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies strict chain of custody rules for drug evidence under RA 9165, requiring police compliance and integrity preservation.
Jurisdictional Thresholds in Collection Cases: Learning from Cabrera v. Francisco
How courts determine jurisdiction in collection cases, using the Supreme Court's ruling in Cabrera v. Francisco as a guide.
Death of Accused Pending Appeal Extinguishes Criminal Liability and Civil Liability Ex Delicto
The Supreme Court clarifies that an accused's death before final judgment extinguishes criminal liability and civil liability arising from the offense.
Moral Ascendancy in Rape Cases: Supreme Court Affirms Stepfather's Conviction
The Supreme Court affirms a stepfather's rape conviction, explaining moral ascendancy, victim-survivor credibility, and increased damages in G.R. No. 271812.
Unregistered Land Sales: Priority Rights and a Lawyer's Ethical Duty
When a lawyer buys his client's land, bad faith and conflict of interest can void the sale. Learn the rules on unregistered land priority.
Conflicting Land Titles in the Philippines: Prior Registration vs. Identity of Property
In VSD Realty v. Uniwide Sales, the Supreme Court remanded a land dispute to settle which of two conflicting titles traced back to the genuine OCT No. 994.
Ghost Purchases and Public Trust: When Oversight Reliance Fails in Graft Cases
The Supreme Court affirms graft convictions for ghost purchases, clarifying when public officers cannot rely on subordinates' work to escape liability.
When a Torrens Title Is Questioned: VSD Realty v. Uniwide and the Remand for Fact-Finding
The Supreme Court remanded a decades-old land dispute to the Court of Appeals to determine which of two conflicting titles traces back to the genuine OCT No. 994.
Jurisdictional Boundaries When Agrarian Disputes Fall Under DAR Secretarys Authority
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when DARAB lacks jurisdiction over CLOA cancellation cases and why the DAR Secretary must resolve them.
Upholding Client Loyalty Disciplinary Action FOR Attorneys Representing Conflicting Interests IN THE Philippin
A lawyer cannot represent opposing clients even in unrelated cases. The Supreme Court explains the rule on conflicting interests and its consequences.
When Administrative Tribunals Overstep: COSLAP Jurisdiction and the Dream Village Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies COSLAP's limited jurisdiction over land disputes involving titled government property reserved for public purpose.
The Three-Day Rule: Strict Compliance for Seafarer Disability Claims
Philippine Supreme Court affirms strict three-day post-employment medical exam rule for seafarers claiming disability benefits; failure forfeits claims.
When a Deaf-Mute Eyewitness Testifies: Credibility and Positive Identification in Robbery with Homicide
The Supreme Court affirms a robbery with homicide conviction based on a deaf-mute eyewitness's credible testimony and positive identification of the accused.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Rape of a Mentally Retarded Person and the Extent of Legal Safeguards
In People v. Rosales, the Supreme Court affirmed that knowledge of a victim's mental disability makes rape a qualified offense, raising the penalty and damages.
Limits of Authority: When a Verbal Agreement Doesn't Guarantee Land Sale
Supreme Court ruling on COSLAP jurisdiction, Torrens title, and why long occupation of government land does not create ownership rights.
Strict Compliance with Publication Rule Is Jurisdictional in Title Reconstitution
Philippine Supreme Court rules that failure to strictly comply with the 30-day publication requirement in reconstitution cases deprives courts of jurisdiction.
VAT Refund Claims: Strict Invoicing Rules and the Definition of Capital Goods
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies strict invoicing requirements and capital goods definition for VAT refund claims in Bonifacio Water Corporation case.
Rape and Consent: Why Love Does Not Justify Sexual Assault in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling affirms that being sweethearts is not a license for non-consensual sex, upholding rape convictions and clarifying the sweetheart defense.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Murder Conviction
Supreme Court rules positive identification by credible eyewitnesses outweighs denial and alibi defenses in murder cases.
Breach of Trust Convicting a Father for the Qualified Rape of His Daughter
The Supreme Court affirms a father's conviction for eight counts of qualified rape, explaining how moral ascendancy replaces force in incestuous rape.
Betrayal of Trust: Convicting a Father for the Rape of His Daughter in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms a father's conviction for eight counts of qualified rape of his minor daughter, explaining the rules on credibility, force, and penalties.
Reasonable Doubt: When Inconsistent Police Testimony Overturns a Drug Sale Conviction
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect after police witnesses gave conflicting accounts of a buy-bust operation, breaking the chain of custody.
Corporate Control vs Government Sequestration: Defining Jurisdiction in Intra-Corporate Disputes
When a sequestered corporation faces an intra-corporate dispute, which court has jurisdiction? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules.