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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Supreme Court Reconsiderations: Minute Resolutions and Finality of Judgments in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court treats minute resolutions, second motions for reconsideration, and finality of judgments in Philippine civil procedure.
Rape Conviction Upheld Death Penalty Reduced The Importance Of Specificity In Criminal Informations
The Supreme Court upholds a father's rape conviction, clarifies the death penalty's application, and explains why vague dates in criminal informations are not fatal.
Child Testimony in Rape Cases: Why Philippine Courts Prioritize the Vulnerable
Philippine courts give weight to a rape victim's credible testimony, especially when vulnerable. Learn the rules from a 1999 Supreme Court ruling.
Novation Is Not a Get-Out-of-Jail Free Card: Understanding Estafa and Criminal Liability in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when novation can extinguish criminal liability in estafa cases, and when it cannot.
Credible Testimony in Rape Cases: Why the Victim's Account Matters
In rape cases without eyewitnesses, the victim's credible testimony can be decisive. People v. Gastador illustrates this fundamental rule of Philippine criminal evidence.
Bouncing Checks as Guarantees in the Philippines: BP 22 and Criminal Liability
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that checks issued as guarantees or deposits still fall under BP 22 criminal liability when dishonored.
Retirement Pay Law Retroactivity: When RA 7641 Does Not Apply
The Supreme Court clarifies when the Retirement Pay Law applies retroactively—and when it does not—in J.V. Angeles Construction v. NLRC.
Irresistible Force: When You Are Not Criminally Liable Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when acting under irresistible force or duress exempts a person from criminal liability, acquitting a tricycle driver of robbery with homicide.
Safeguarding Suffrage When CAN Philippine Elections GO Manual
When can Philippine elections shift from automated to manual counting? The Supreme Court explains in Loong v. COMELEC.
Retroactive Registration: How Late Filings Can Validate Labor Union Petitions in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when late union registration can retroactively validate a certification election petition under labor law.
Navigating Automatic Stay Orders Suspending Claims During Corporate Rehabilitation in the Philippines
Learn how PD 902-A's automatic stay suspends labor claims during corporate rehabilitation, as clarified by the Supreme Court in Rubberworld.
Business Records as Evidence: Proving Contractual Debt in Philippine Courts
Learn when business records like computer printouts are admissible evidence in Philippine courts, and why authentication matters in proving contractual debts.
Who Decides Homeowners Association Disputes? The HIGC and Intra-Corporate Jurisdiction
A look at a Supreme Court ruling clarifying that disputes within homeowners associations fall under HIGC jurisdiction, not the regular courts.
Navigating Homeowners Association Disputes: HIGC Jurisdiction in the Philippines
Learn when the HIGC, not regular courts, has jurisdiction over homeowners association disputes, based on a 1999 Supreme Court ruling.
Defining Rape in the Philippines: Is Penetration Always Necessary?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that full penetration is not required for rape; mere touching of the labia by the male organ suffices.
When Allowances Count as Wages: Separation Pay Computation Clarified
Supreme Court clarifies when allowances form part of wages for separation pay computation under Article 283 of the Labor Code.
Separation Pay in the Philippines: When Are Allowances Included?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when monthly allowances form part of the salary base for computing separation pay under the Labor Code.
When Supervening Events Trump Dismissal: Due Process and Equity in Philippine Administrative Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how supervening events and equity can overturn an administrative dismissal despite valid due process.
Philippine Supreme Court on Default Orders: When a Late Answer Is Excusable
The Supreme Court explains when a party's failure to answer on time may be excused and how courts should liberally treat default orders.
Protecting the Accused: The Vital Searching Inquiry in Philippine Capital Offense Cases
A guilty plea in a capital case demands a searching inquiry. The Supreme Court explains why in People v. Sevilleno.
Justice Delayed Justice Denied: Holding Judges Accountable for Court Inefficiency
A look at how the Supreme Court penalized a judge for gross inefficiency, ignorance of the law, and delay in resolving cases.
Redundancy and Retrenchment: Balancing Business Viability and Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine law allows redundancy and retrenchment as valid grounds for dismissal, but employers must meet strict legal requirements. This article explains the rules.
How Philippine Courts Assess Credibility in Child Rape Cases: The Bation Case
The Bation ruling shows how Philippine courts weigh a child victim's testimony against alibi and speculation in incestuous rape cases.
Due Process in Agrarian Reform: The Supreme Court on CLOA Issuance and Rightful Beneficiaries
The Supreme Court affirms that due process is indispensable in CLOA issuance, and explains when exhausting administrative remedies is not required.