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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Treachery and Voluntary Surrender: Navigating Criminal Liability in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains how treachery qualifies murder and voluntary surrender mitigates liability, using Rivera v. Court of Appeals.
Amended Complaints and Officer Liability in Corporate Disputes
When can a plaintiff amend a complaint to seek new relief? When are corporate officers personally liable? The Supreme Court clarifies.
Limits of Certiorari in Appealing Police Misconduct Decisions in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when certiorari may review police misconduct rulings, emphasizing factual findings and credibility assessments.
Radio Broadcast Permits Maintaining Operations AND Avoiding Frequency Recall
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Sudden Attacks and Murder Convictions
Learn how treachery qualifies killing as murder in the Philippines, explained through the 2000 Supreme Court ruling in People v. Obosa.
Dying Declarations and Precise Identification in Philippine Criminal Law
Explore how Philippine courts treat dying declarations and why precise identification matters in criminal cases.
When a Franchise Expires: Object of Sale and Royalty Fees Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether royalty fees continue when the assigned franchise right expires, interpreting contract intent.
Reasonable Doubt and Eyewitness Credibility in Philippine Murder Appeals
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on positive eyewitness identification, explaining when alibi and alleged discrepancies fail.
When Circumstantial Evidence Convicts: Homicide, Not Murder, in People v. Santos
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction and why treachery must be proven, not presumed.
Rescission of Contracts: When Can You Back Out of a Deal?
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a party may rescind a contract, the effects of rescission, and what restitution requires.
Can a Pauper Litigate Before the Appellate Courts? The Martinez Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies that indigent litigants may seek pauper status before appellate courts, ensuring free access to justice.
Upholding Justice Over Technicality When Courts Must Excuse Procedural Lapses
The Supreme Court reminds appellate courts that dismissing appeals on mere technicalities, like a nine-day delay, can be grave abuse of discretion.
Eyewitness Testimony vs Alibi: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
When no eyewitness exists, circumstantial evidence can convict. Learn how the Supreme Court weighed it against alibi in a Philippine homicide case.
Access to Justice: Litigating as a Pauper in Philippine Courts
Explaining how indigent litigants can sue or defend for free in Philippine courts under the Rules of Court, with practical guidance.
Corporate Officer Liability When Can a Company Executive Be Held Personally Responsible
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when corporate officers can be held personally liable for company obligations and acts.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Lack of Physical Injuries, Consent, and Intimidation Analyzed
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, ruling that lack of physical injuries and absence of resistance do not negate rape when intimidation is present.
Understanding Double Jeopardy and Void Judgments in Philippine Criminal Cases
Learn how Philippine courts treat double jeopardy, void judgments, and conditional guilty pleas through this Supreme Court ruling.
Correcting Manifest Errors in Election Returns: The Angelia Case
How COMELEC can correct obvious tallying errors in election returns even after proclamation, and why due process still matters.
Credibility in Rape Cases: How Mental Capacity Affects Testimony Admissibility
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction despite the victim's moderate intellectual disability, clarifying credibility standards for witnesses with mental limitations.
Escalation Clauses in Philippine Real Estate Mortgages: Limits and Borrower Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on mortgage escalation clauses, unilateral interest rate hikes, and borrower rights to refunds.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: When a Sudden Attack Is Not Enough
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden attack qualifies as treachery in murder cases, and when it does not.
When Judges Face Administrative Complaints: Lessons from Tallado v. Racoma and Dating
The Supreme Court dismissed administrative complaints against two RTC judges, clarifying that errors in judicial discretion are not grounds for administrative liability.
Justice Delayed IS Justice Denied Understanding Judicial Delay AND Inefficiency IN THE Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on optional retirement, separation pay, and backwages in illegal dismissal cases involving managerial employees.
Can Administrative Dismissal Extinguish Criminal Liability? A Philippine Case Study
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that dismissal of administrative charges does not extinguish criminal liability under Article 89 of the RPC.