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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Retroactive Application of Reduced Penalties: A Guide to R.A. 7659
When can a final sentence be reduced by a new law? The Supreme Court explains the retroactive effect of R.A. 7659 on drug penalties.
Navigating Illegal Recruitment: Protecting Yourself From Scams and Fraud
The Supreme Court affirms that illegal recruitment in large scale is economic sabotage. Learn how to spot and avoid overseas employment scams.
Conspiracy and Circumstantial Evidence: When Is It Enough for Conviction
The Supreme Court clarifies when circumstantial evidence and conspiracy can—and cannot—support a criminal conviction beyond reasonable doubt.
Judicial Impartiality in Philippine Courts: The Cold Neutrality Standard
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the constitutional requirement of judicial impartiality, emphasizing that judges must not only be unbiased but must also appear impartial to litigants.
Verbal Agreements to Sell Property: When Are They Enforceable in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when oral contracts to sell real property are enforceable and why buyers must prove readiness to pay.
Initiative vs Referendum: Understanding Direct Democracy in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains the difference between initiative and referendum, and how Filipinos can directly propose or reject laws.
Rape Conviction of Minor Niece: Supreme Court Affirms Guilt, Raises Damages
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction of a 13-year-old niece, raising civil indemnity to P50,000 and clarifying credibility rules.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
The Supreme Court explains when treachery qualifies a killing as murder, and why sudden attacks alone do not prove it.
Rape and Consent: Force, Intimidation, and the Victim's Response in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a rape victim's lack of resistance does not imply consent, especially when force or intimidation is used.
The Clerk's Duty and Timely Record Submission in Philippine Courts
A 1996 Supreme Court ruling clarifies the distinct duties of clerks of court and stenographers in transmitting case records on appeal.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
The Supreme Court explains treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, using People v. Villegas to illustrate sudden, unexpected attacks.
Search Warrants in IP Cases: Probable Cause and Specificity Rules
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies probable cause and specificity requirements for search warrants in intellectual property infringement cases.
Recanted Testimony and Conflicting Medical Reports: When Can a Rape Conviction Be Overturned
Philippine Supreme Court explains when recanted testimony and conflicting medical reports can justify a new trial in rape convictions.
Unlawful Arrest and Illegal Firearm Possession: Know Your Rights
The Supreme Court acquits a man of illegal firearm possession, ruling that police must prove lack of license and that stop-and-frisk has limits.
When Is a Killing Considered Homicide: Intent and Circumstances Explained
Understand when a killing is homicide or murder under Philippine law, using the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Layaguin.
When Silence Speaks Volumes: Eyewitness Testimony and Credibility in Philippine Murder Cases
The Supreme Court affirms murder convictions based on a lone eyewitness's testimony, explaining why silence during a crime does not destroy credibility.
Retirement Pay in the Philippines: Understanding Employee Rights Before RA 7641
Philippine Scout Veterans case explains when retirement pay was not yet guaranteed by law, and how RA 7641 changed the rules for Filipino employees.
CBA Duration and Bargaining Unit Scope After Corporate Restructuring
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on CBA renegotiation terms and bargaining unit coverage after a corporate spin-off.
Unlawful Detainer and Ownership: When Courts Can Decide Title
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that MTCs can decide ownership in unlawful detainer cases, but only to resolve possession.
Positive Identification vs Alibi: Lessons from a Philippine Murder Conviction
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification against alibi, explained through a 1996 Supreme Court murder ruling.
Preliminary Injunctions and Diplomatic Immunity: The ADB Case Explained
Learn how the Supreme Court protected the Asian Development Bank's diplomatic immunity from labor suits and what this means for legal remedies.
Diplomatic Immunity in the Philippines: Protecting International Organizations From Legal Suits
The Supreme Court explains how diplomatic immunity shields international organizations like the Asian Development Bank from local lawsuits, and why courts must respect it.
Rape and Intimidation: When Silence Does Not Mean Consent in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a rape victim's silence or lack of struggle does not negate force or intimidation, especially when threats and weapons are involved.
Proving Employer-Employee Relationship: Key Factors and Evidence in Philippine Labor Law
Learn how Philippine courts determine employer-employee relationships and what evidence matters, based on a Supreme Court ruling on seafarer death claims.