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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Service of Pleadings in Appellate Courts: The Solicitor General's Exclusive Authority
In Salazar v. Romaquin, the Supreme Court clarified that the Solicitor General exclusively represents the People in appellate courts, making service on the Provincial Prosecutor ineffective.
Illegal Dismissal and Abandonment: What Employers Must Prove in Philippine Labor Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies abandonment and due process requirements in illegal dismissal cases, protecting employee rights under the Labor Code.
Birth Certificate Acknowledgment by Father Proves Filiation and Paternity
A father's signature on a birth certificate is a voluntary acknowledgment of paternity, establishing filiation without need for court action.
Falsifying Time Records: A Breach of Public Trust and Ethical Standards
The Supreme Court rules that tampering with daily time records constitutes gross dishonesty, a grave offense for court employees.
Upholding Ethical Conduct Disciplinary Action FOR Attorneys Issuing Worthless Checks
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for one year for issuing worthless checks, reaffirming that a lawyer's private misconduct can warrant disciplinary action.
Right to Speedy Disposition of Cases: A Cornerstone of Fair Trial in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains the right to speedy disposition of cases and why delays alone do not violate the Constitution.
Sexual Assault and the Definition of Rape: Expanding Protection Under Philippine Law
How Philippine courts interpret rape with homicide, custodial rights, and the evolving definition of sexual assault in criminal cases.
Right to Defense: Conviction Reversed for Denial of Opportunity to Present Evidence
Supreme Court reverses murder conviction when trial court denied the accused his right to present defense evidence after a demurrer.
Balancing Speed and Justice: The Constitutional Right to a Speedy Disposition of Cases
Understand the right to speedy disposition of cases, the balancing test for delay, and what Bernat v. Sandiganbayan means for litigants.
Desistance Does Not Automatically Dismiss a Disbarment Case Against a Lawyer
A complainant's change of heart does not automatically end a disbarment case. The Supreme Court explains when dismissal is still proper.
Eyewitness Testimony vs Medico-Legal Findings: Resolving Doubt in Homicide Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a homicide accused where uncross-examined eyewitness testimony conflicted with medico-legal findings and failed the test of moral certainty.
Revocation OF Permits When Courts Lack Jurisdiction IN Ejectment Cases
Psychological Incapacity and Annulment: Abandonment Alone Is Not Enough
The Supreme Court clarifies that mere abandonment does not prove psychological incapacity for marriage annulment under Article 36 of the Family Code.
Illegal Dismissal and Employer-Employee Relationship in Philippine Labor Law
Learn how the Supreme Court protects employee rights in illegal dismissal cases, including the employer-employee relationship test and due process requirements.
Final Judgment Immutability When Tenant Rights Collide With Court Authority In Land Disputes
When ejectment complaints lack jurisdictional facts, courts cannot rule on the merits—explained through Varona v. Court of Appeals.
Possession After Foreclosure: Why the Buyer Wins the Writ of Possession
Buyers in extrajudicial foreclosure sales are entitled to possession of the property. The Supreme Court explains why in Samson v. Rivera.
DNA Evidence and Conviction: The Yatar Case and the Standard for Admissibility
Explaining how the Supreme Court in People v. Yatar set the standard for admitting DNA evidence in Philippine criminal cases.
The Final Word: Why Timely Appeals Are Critical in Labor Disputes
Learn why meeting appeal deadlines in labor cases is crucial, and how the Supreme Court treats late appeals.
Election Protests and Mootness: When Does a Senatorial Dispute End
The Supreme Court explains when an election protest becomes moot and academic, using the Enrile vs. SET case as a guide.
Eyewitness Testimony and Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: People v. Magdaraog
How a lone eyewitness's credible testimony and proof of conspiracy can establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt in Philippine criminal cases.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: When a Child's Testimony Convicts
In Villafuerte, the Supreme Court upheld a statutory rape conviction based largely on a child's testimony, clarifying what proof of penetration requires.
Statutory Rape Conviction Upheld: Penetration, Alibi, and the Child Victim's Word
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, clarifying that slight penetration suffices and a child's candid testimony prevails over alibi.
Lease Termination and Rent Increases: Lessons from Chua v. Victorio
When can a lessor rescind a lease and raise rent? The Supreme Court explains in Chua v. Victorio.