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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Certiorari Denied: Why the Wrong Appeal Mode Kills Your Case
Learn why the Supreme Court dismissed a petition for certiorari as a wrong remedy, and how choosing the right appeal mode matters.
Novation and Trust Receipts: When a Debt Restructuring Agreement Extinguishes Criminal Liability
Learn when a debt restructuring agreement novates trust receipt obligations and extinguishes criminal liability under Philippine law.
Premeditation AND Treachery Defining Murder AND Alibi Defense IN Philippine LAW
Incestuous Rape: Moral Ascendancy as Intimidation and General Dates in Informations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on incestuous rape clarifies moral ascendancy as intimidation and the validity of general dates in criminal informations.
The Weight of Eyewitness Testimony: Positive Identification vs. Alibi in Murder Cases
How the Supreme Court weighed eyewitness identification against alibi and duress claims in a murder case, affirming convictions.
Union Registration Mixed Composition Bars Legal Standing In Labor Disputes
A union with mixed supervisory and rank-and-file members lacks legal personality to file petitions in labor disputes.
Union Registration and Legal Personality in Certification Election Cases
A union must strictly comply with registration requirements to gain legal personality for certification elections. The Supreme Court explains the rules.
Preventive Suspension Limits and Employee Rights in Philippine Administrative Law
When can a 90-day preventive suspension be extended? The Supreme Court clarifies employee rights and the limits of disciplinary authority.
Finality of Compromise Agreements: Binding Share Valuation in Corporate Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on compromise agreements, finality of appraisals, and binding share valuation in corporate disputes.
Delayed Remittances Upholding Honesty AND Integrity IN Public Office
A clerk of court was fined for delayed remittances of judiciary funds, underscoring the high standard of honesty and integrity in public office.
Credibility in Rape Cases: How Minor Inconsistencies Don't Undermine Conviction
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how minor inconsistencies in a rape victim's testimony do not defeat conviction when credibility is established.
Challenging Buy Bust Operations When Reasonable Doubt Leads to Acquittal in Drug Cases
Learn how reasonable doubt can overturn a buy-bust conviction, with key lessons from People v. Surio on witness credibility and evidence.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails When Inconsistencies and Recanted Testimony Lead to Acquittal in Rape Cases
When a rape victim's testimony has material inconsistencies, plus evidence of frame-up and a recanted affidavit, reasonable doubt may compel acquittal.
When Police Officers Face Summary Dismissal: Due Process and the Limits of Extraordinary Remedies
A police officer's summary dismissal for extortion upheld despite dismissal of criminal case; certiorari and mandamus cannot substitute for appeal.
Circumstantial Evidence Sufficiency Convicting Accused IN Rape With Homicide Cases
When can circumstantial evidence convict in rape with homicide? The Supreme Court explains the rules in People v. Gannaban.
Incestuous Rape: Why Explicit Allegations Matter for the Death Penalty
The Supreme Court acquits a stepfather of rape, stressing that material inconsistencies in the victim's testimony and evidence of frame-up defeat conviction.
Statutory Rape: Why Pleading Qualifying Circumstances in the Information Matters
A Supreme Court ruling shows why prosecutors must allege both the victim's minority and relationship to the accused to justify the death penalty.
Speedy Disposition of Cases: Balancing Rights and Reasonableness in Preliminary Investigations
When does delay in preliminary investigation violate the right to speedy disposition? The Supreme Court explains the balancing test in Guiani v. Sandiganbayan.
Breach of Postal Integrity: Balancing Intent and Accountability in Public Service
A postmaster opened a widow's mail to settle debts—was it grave misconduct or good faith? The Supreme Court weighs intent.
Balancing Corporate Discretion and Regulatory Oversight: The BCDA Compensation Case
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of a government corporation's power to grant employee benefits beyond Central Bank standards.
Rape and Intimidation: When a Father's Moral Ascendancy Substitutes for Force
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on incestuous rape, moral ascendancy, and why the death penalty was reduced to reclusion perpetua.
Due Process in Attorney Disciplinary Cases: The Mandatory Formal Investigation
The Supreme Court reminds the IBP that a formal investigation is mandatory in lawyer disciplinary cases, remanding a dismissed complaint for further proceedings.
Defining Qualified Rape: The Critical Elements for Imposing the Death Penalty
The Supreme Court clarifies when rape with homicide warrants the death penalty, requiring proof of both crimes beyond reasonable doubt.
Limits of Employer Discipline: Union Office Rules and Employee Rights
Supreme Court ruling on when an employee's violation of company rules may still not justify dismissal, balancing management authority and union rights.