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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Priority in Land Registration: Vigilance Determines Ownership
Learn how priority in land registration and vigilance, not filing date, determine ownership under Philippine Torrens system.
Forum Shopping and Res Judicata: Boundaries in Property Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies when filing multiple cases over different properties constitutes forum shopping, and when it does not.
When Quitting Is Not Illegal Dismissal: Voluntary Abandonment in Philippine Labor Law
A barber who left work and filed for illegal dismissal without seeking reinstatement was found to have abandoned his job. Learn the rules.
Sheriffs Must Not Accept Funds From Litigants: Ethical Limits Explained
A sheriff accepted money from a litigant to facilitate a court order. The Supreme Court ruled this was misconduct, even without personal gain.
Identifying Perpetrators Upholding Convictions IN Robbery With Rape Through Credible Witness Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms robbery with rape convictions, ruling that credible witness identification prevails over alibi and minor inconsistencies.
Abandonment in Labor Disputes: Defining Intent and Action
Understanding how Philippine labor law defines abandonment—requiring both intent to sever and unequivocal acts—and why employers must prove it.
Strikes and Dismissal: When Illegal Acts Forfeit Employment Status in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when illegal strikes and violent acts during a strike can lead to valid dismissal or forfeiture of employment.
Treachery in Concerted Attacks: Establishing Liability in Group Violence
How Philippine courts determine criminal liability when multiple persons attack a victim, using the Alberto Blanco murder case as a guide.
Rape Conviction Stands Even If Accused Claims Consensual Affair
A claim of a romantic relationship does not negate rape if force was used. The Supreme Court explains why consent matters.
Preliminary Attachment and Corporate Officer Liability in Fraud-Based Collection Cases
Learn when Philippine courts allow preliminary attachment for fraud and when corporate officers face personal liability in collection suits.
Breach of Contract When a Bank Fails to Deliver Property Ownership
A 26-year property dispute shows how laches, notarized deeds, and documentary custody determine ownership rights in Philippine land cases.
Attachment and Fraud: When Promises Fail to Secure Preliminary Remedies
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when fraud justifies preliminary attachment and limits on dissolving the writ.
When Alibi Fails and Positive Identification Prevails in Kidnapping Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on kidnapping, alibi defense, and illegal possession of explosives explained in plain language.
Upholding Witness Testimony Positive Identification Over Alibi IN Murder Conviction
Lease Renewal Clauses: Mutual Consent vs Unilateral Option Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a lease renewal clause requires mutual consent rather than a unilateral lessee option, with practical guidance.
Distinguishing Homicide From Robbery With Homicide: Intent Is the Decisive Factor
The Supreme Court explains when taking a victim's property after a killing is theft, not robbery with homicide.
Living Wills and Inheritance Rights: When Relatives Can Intervene in Estate Proceedings
Explains when a testator may probate a will during lifetime, and when relatives or creditors may intervene in estate settlement.
Contractors Lien vs Preliminary Attachment: Rights in Construction Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a contractor's lien applies and how preliminary attachment works in construction payment disputes.
Overtaking at a Curve: Determining Negligence and Liability in Vehicular Accidents
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on overtaking at curves, negligence presumption, and common carrier liability for passenger deaths.
Moral Damages for Defamation: When Insulting Words Violate Human Dignity
The Supreme Court affirms moral damages for public humiliation under Article 26 of the Civil Code, protecting human dignity beyond criminal defamation.
Positive Identification Overrides Alibi: Examining Witness Credibility and Delayed Reporting in Criminal Convi
The Supreme Court affirms a homicide conviction, rejecting self-defense, and clarifies the rules on witness credibility and delayed reporting.
When Official Duty Shields a Lawyer from Personal Liability for Conflict Claims
Explaining when government lawyers cannot be held personally liable for alleged conflicts of interest under the Anti-Graft law.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Murder Conviction
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction where eyewitness positively identified the accused, rejecting alibi and denial defenses. Learn the legal rules.
Continued Possession Prevents Prescription in Land Reconveyance Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: an action for reconveyance cannot be barred by prescription when the plaintiff remains in possession of the disputed land.