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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The Insanity Defense: Establishing the Boundaries of Criminal Responsibility in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies self-defense and treachery rules in a murder appeal, reducing conviction to homicide with precise legal standards.
Jurisdictional Boundaries Customs Authority VS Regular Courts IN Cargo Abandonment Disputes
Workplace Boundaries: Defining Acts of Lasciviousness and Consensual Acts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when sexual acts are rape, not consensual, and why workplace familiarity does not imply consent.
Jurisdictional Boundaries Ensuring Proper Venue IN Philippine Election Disputes
Philippine election disputes require strict adherence to jurisdictional rules; this case clarifies which courts have authority.
Simple Neglect of Duty: Defining the Boundaries of Accountability for Court Employees
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when court employees may be held liable for simple neglect of duty and unauthorized absences.
Forum Shopping and Foreclosure: Navigating Jurisdictional Boundaries in Mortgage Disputes
When properties in different provinces are foreclosed, filing separate suits to stop each sale is not forum shopping. The Supreme Court explains why.
Self-Defense and Homicide: The Boundaries of Justifiable Force in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense fails and why a killing without treachery is homicide, not murder.
Simple Misconduct vs Grave Misconduct: Ethical Boundaries for Court Personnel in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on DTR falsification by court personnel clarifies grave misconduct penalties and mitigating circumstances.
Treachery and the Passage of Time: Examining the Boundaries of Murder in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that a brief pause between an argument and a fatal shooting does not negate treachery, affirming a murder conviction.
The Boundaries of Self Defense When Force Becomes Unlawful Aggression in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense is valid and when force becomes unlawful aggression in criminal cases.
Judicial Overreach Approving Bail Outside Jurisdictional Boundaries 2
Supreme Court clarifies venue, exhaustion of administrative remedies, and limits on injunctions in environmental cases.
Navigating Jurisdictional Boundaries Civil Claims VS Graft Prosecution
Motion to Dismiss Clarifies Court's Duty and the Boundaries of Prescription
A look at how the Supreme Court clarified the proper appellate remedy from COSLAP decisions and the boundaries of prescription in land disputes.
Self-Defense and Treachery: The Boundaries of Justifiable Force in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies killing as murder under Philippine law.
The Perils of Premature Enforcement: Upholding Jurisdictional Boundaries in Contract Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when execution pending appeal is proper, who decides if an appeal is dilatory, and the limits of trial court authority.
Judicial Ethics: The Boundaries of Simple Misconduct for Judges in Philippine Law
A lawyer's unauthorized notarization and certification of documents leads to suspension, clarifying the limits of professional conduct.
Boundaries Defined Resolving Land Disputes in Sales of Real Estate
Lessees cannot question a landlord's title to land, even if they claim the property belongs to the State.
When Loss of Confidence Leads to Illegal Dismissal: Defining the Boundaries of Managerial Prerogative
Explore how the Supreme Court defines the limits of managerial prerogative in labor cases, focusing on loss of confidence as a valid ground for dismissal.
HLURB Jurisdiction vs Unlawful Detainer: Defining the Boundaries in Property Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when the HLURB has jurisdiction over subdivision lot disputes and when ejectment cases belong in regular courts.
Forum Shopping and Civil Liability: Clarifying the Boundaries of Legal Redress
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a criminal case and a civil suit for damages can proceed at the same time without amounting to forum shopping.
Upholding Decorum: Court Employees and the Boundaries of Professional Conduct
A Supreme Court ruling shows why judges cannot approve bail outside their jurisdiction, and what happens when judicial authority is exercised beyond its limits.
Custodial Responsibility Deliberate Failure to Return a Minor and the Boundaries of Trust
The Supreme Court clarifies when a custodian's failure to return a minor becomes a crime under Article 270 of the Revised Penal Code.
Probationary Employment: Defining the Boundaries of Employer Discretion in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies probationary employment rules, six-month period computation, and abandonment of work in CALS Poultry v. Roco.
When SEC Actions Overstep Legal Boundaries: Injunctions and Prejudgment Remedies
A look at when courts can issue injunctions against SEC actions and the limits of prejudgment remedies in Philippine securities regulation.