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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Defining Confidential Employees: Union Membership and Collective Bargaining Rights in the Philippines
Supreme Court clarifies who qualifies as a confidential employee barred from union membership, and how bargaining units are determined.
Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale: What the Supreme Court Says About Your Rights
Learn how the Supreme Court defines illegal recruitment in large scale, what victims must prove, and the penalties recruiters face.
Who May Challenge an Execution Sale: The Real Party in Interest Rule
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who may question an execution sale and the real party in interest doctrine in civil procedure.
Navigating Land Title Reconstitution: Due Diligence and Jurisdictional Requirements in the Philippines
A guide to the strict jurisdictional rules for land title reconstitution in the Philippines, drawn from the Supreme Court's ruling in Ortigas & Co. v. Velasco.
Treachery and the Aswang Defense: Understanding Murder Convictions in the Philippines
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling explains how treachery qualifies killings as murder, even when superstition—the (folkloric evil creatures).
Dying Declarations and Homicide: When a Victim's Last Words Can Convict
The Supreme Court explains when a dying declaration suffices to convict and why the accused was held for homicide, not murder.
Interpreting Retrenchment Programs Doubts Favor THE Worker
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how retrenchment program separation benefits should be interpreted in favor of workers.
Intent Matters Distinguishing Robbery With Homicide From Separate Crimes
A look at how Philippine courts determine intent in robbery with homicide cases, using a 1997 Supreme Court ruling as guide.
Gross Ignorance of the Law: When Judges Overstep Their Authority
A Supreme Court ruling on when a judge's sentencing errors become gross ignorance of the law warranting administrative sanctions.
Confessions and Constitutional Rights: Navigating Custodial Investigations in the Philippines
Philippine law on confessions and custodial investigation rights explained through People v. Fabro, a 1997 Supreme Court ruling.
Protecting Your Family Home: Understanding Exemptions From Creditor Claims in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that a mortgage lien does not automatically give a creditor top priority once a debtor company enters rehabilitation proceedings.
Robbery With Homicide: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Law
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling explains how Philippine courts establish guilt for robbery with homicide and why alibi fails against positive identification.
Challenging Buy-Bust Operations: Protecting Against False Drug Charges in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court acquits in buy-bust drug cases when police testimony is inconsistent, protecting the accused from false charges.
Pre-Proclamation Controversies: Limits of COMELEC Jurisdiction After Proclamation
The Supreme Court explains when a pre-proclamation controversy before COMELEC remains viable after a candidate has been proclaimed and assumed office.
Due Process in Philippine Administrative Investigations: The Casuela Case and the Five-Day Bar Rule
The Supreme Court affirms that administrative investigations must respect the five-day bar rule before hearing, ensuring due process for respondents.
Substantial Compliance in Appeals: When Courts Overlook Procedural Errors
The Supreme Court ruling in Nerves v. Civil Service Commission on substantial compliance with appeal rules and why a mislabeled petition survived.
Solidary Liability of Recruitment Agencies: Protecting Overseas Filipino Workers
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on joint and solidary liability of recruitment agencies and foreign employers for overseas workers' claims.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: When Consent and Penetration Are Not Required
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling clarifies that in statutory rape, penetration need only be slight and the victim's consent is immaterial.
Acquisitive Prescription: How Long Does It Take to Claim Land Ownership in the Philippines
Learn how long you must possess land to claim ownership through acquisitive prescription in the Philippines, explained through a Supreme Court ruling.
Attempted Murder vs Murder: Proving Intent and Causation in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies how intent to kill and causation distinguish attempted murder from murder, with practical guidance.
Incestuous Rape: The Supreme Court's Stance on Parental Abuse and a Daughter's Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction, holding that a daughter's testimony deserves great weight and that rape can occur even in a crowded room.
Lumber VS Timber Navigating Illegal Possession Charges IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that illegal possession of lumber falls under Section 68 of PD 705, the Forestry Reform Code.
When Can an Employer Claim Loss of Trust as Grounds for Dismissal? A Philippine Guide
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when loss of trust and confidence is a valid ground for dismissing an employee, and when it is not.
When Courts Lack Jurisdiction Over Bouncing Checks Cases: The Rosa Uy Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies territorial jurisdiction rules for B.P. 22 cases and when lack of jurisdiction can still be raised.