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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Moral Ascendancy as Violence: Rape Conviction Upheld in Father-Daughter Incest Case
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction of a father, ruling that a parent's moral ascendancy substitutes for violence and intimidation in incestuous rape.
Supreme Court Suspends Lawyer for Willful Failure to Pay Just Debts
The Court ruled a lawyer's deliberate refusal to pay unpaid rent and utility bills constitutes gross misconduct warranting suspension from practice.
Valid Substituted Service and Child Support Rights in Philippine Family Law
Supreme Court ruling on valid substituted service of summons for OFW parents and the right of illegitimate children to support.
Good Faith and the Exercise of Legal Rights: When Demands for Rent Don't Amount to Abuse of Rights
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that sending demand letters to assert property rights, done in good faith, is not an abuse of rights under Article 19 of the Civil Code.
Upholding Lease Agreements When Non-Payment of Rent Justifies Ejectment
Learn when non-payment of rent justifies ejectment under Philippine law, and why consignation matters for tenants facing disputes.
Hospital Liability for Consultant Doctors: The Doctrine of Apparent Authority
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on hospital liability for consultant physicians' negligence under apparent authority and corporate negligence doctrines.
When Apparent Authority Binds a Corporation: Lessons from Filipinas Life v. Pedroso
When can a corporation be liable for its agent's unauthorized acts? The Supreme Court explains apparent authority and ratification in Filipinas Life v. Pedroso.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding Justice for Victims of Parental Rape
Philippine Supreme Court affirms conviction for qualified rape committed by a father against his minor daughter, emphasizing the law's protection for vulnerable victims.
Lease Termination: Lessors Can Still Collect Rent After Lessee Default and Abandonment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lessor rights when lessee defaults and abandons leased property, clarifying remedies for unpaid rent.
Lease Agreements: VAT Liability and Inflation Adjustments Clarified
Supreme Court clarifies when lessors may pass on VAT and adjust rent for inflation under lease contracts.
Protecting Consumers: Illegal Disconnection and Utility Company Liability
Supreme Court ruling on Meralco's liability for illegal disconnection without notice, and the limits of differential billing claims.
Upholding Contractual Obligations: Lessee's Duty to Pay Rent and Repair Under Philippine Lease Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Mercury Drug v. Republic Surety clarifies when a lessee may suspend rent payments and the binding effect of contractual repair obligations.
Intrafamilial Rape and the Erosion of Parental Authority: Lessons from People v. Ceballos Jr.
The Supreme Court affirms that a father's grave abuse of authority in raping his daughters erodes parental trust and warrants the heaviest penalties.
Security Deposit Forfeiture and Lease Improvements: The Florentino v. Supervalue Ruling
The Supreme Court limits security deposit forfeiture in lease contracts and clarifies when lessees may claim reimbursement for improvements.
Parental Moral Ascendancy IN Rape Cases Proving THE Qualifying Circumstance
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Parent Companies Can Be Held Liable for Franchise Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when courts may disregard corporate fiction and hold companies liable for obligations of related entities.
Incestuous Rape: How a Parent's Moral Influence Can Substitute for Force
The Supreme Court explains how a father's moral ascendancy over his child can replace force or intimidation in incestuous rape cases.
Concurrent Jurisdiction Safeguarding Minors Across Regions in Habeas Corpus Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that family courts share concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court in habeas corpus cases involving custody of minors.
Custody of Minors and Habeas Corpus: Understanding Court Jurisdiction in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that family courts and the Court of Appeals share concurrent jurisdiction over habeas corpus petitions involving custody of minors.
Ombudsman's Discretion to Prosecute Public Officials: Galario v. Ombudsman
When can the Ombudsman charge a different offense than what was complained of? The Supreme Court explains in Galario v. Ombudsman.
Intent vs Action: Differentiating Attempted From Frustrated Murder in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a stabbing is attempted, not frustrated, murder—and why the subjective phase matters.
Urban Land Reform Preferential Rights and the Deforciant Tenant
Explaining when a tenant loses preferential rights under PD 1517 and becomes a deforciant with no right to the land.
Upholding Consumer Rights: Proper Procedure for Electric Service Disconnection in the Philippines
The Supreme Court ruled that electric cooperatives cannot disconnect a customer's service without prior notice and differential billing, even when meter tampering is suspected.
Concurrent Jurisdiction in Administrative Cases: Protecting Teachers' Rights Under RA 4670
The Supreme Court clarifies how the Ombudsman and DECS share jurisdiction over administrative cases involving public school teachers.