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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Judicial Accountability: The Price of Delay in Rendering Decisions
A retired judge was fined P40,000 for failing to decide 139 cases within the mandatory 90-day period. This case explains the rules on judicial delay.
Entrapment or Illegal Inducement: The Fine Line in Buy-Bust Operations
The Supreme Court clarifies when a buy-bust operation is valid entrapment versus instigation, and why the chain of custody still matters.
Ignorance of the Law Is No Excuse: Contempt Penalties for Lower Courts
A judge fined P25,000 for gross ignorance after imposing a 4-month contempt penalty allowed only for a higher court. Know the limits.
Judicial Accountability: Upholding the Duty to Decide Cases Promptly
The Supreme Court fined a retiring judge P50,000 for leaving 43 cases undecided, affirming that judges must rule within the 90-day period.
Treachery Defined Ensuring Justice FOR Victims OF Sudden Attacks IN THE Philippines
Employer-Employee Relationship Defines Labor Jurisdiction in Contractual Arrangements
When does a government-owned corporation become liable for a contractor's employees? The Supreme Court clarifies jurisdiction rules.
Estafa and the Essence of Deceit: Delgado v. People Explained
The Supreme Court affirms that false pretenses, not ownership of funds, define estafa under Article 315 of the Revised Penal Code.
Judicial Accountability: The Price of Delayed Justice in the Philippines
A judge's 17-month delay in deciding a case leads to a fine, underscoring the constitutional duty to resolve cases promptly.
Judicial Accountability: The Cost of Undue Delay in Resolving Motions
When a Court of Appeals justice sat on a motion for nearly three years, the Supreme Court imposed a fine, reaffirming that judges must decide cases promptly.
LLDA's Implied Power to Impose Fines for Water Pollution Violations
Supreme Court affirms LLDA's implied power to impose daily fines for water pollution, citing its regulatory and quasi-judicial functions.
Premature Campaigning: The Fine Line Between Aspiring and Declared Candidacy in Philippine Elections
The Supreme Court clarifies when a person becomes a candidate for election law purposes, and what this means for premature campaigning rules.
Court Personnel Discipline: Incompetence, Drunkenness, and Loafing in the Judiciary
The Supreme Court ruled on disciplining court personnel for incompetence, habitual drunkenness, and loafing, imposing fines despite retirement.
Jurisdiction in Swindling Cases: How Penalties Determine the Proper Court
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains how penalties and fines determine which court hears swindling cases under the Revised Penal Code.
Hauling Contracts: Scope of Work Defines Entitlement to Extra Pay
Supreme Court rules on when hauling contractors can claim extra compensation beyond the contract price in service agreements.
Territorial Jurisdiction and Taxing Power: The Limits of Local Authority
A local government cannot tax property outside its territory. The Supreme Court explains why jurisdiction defines taxing power.
The Fine Line Between Buy-Bust Operations and Entrapment: Safeguarding Rights in Drug Cases
Understanding when a buy-bust operation crosses into entrapment, and how Philippine courts protect the accused's rights in drug cases.
Judicial Accountability: Fines for Gross Ignorance of Law and Misconduct in Contempt Proceedings
The Supreme Court fined a retired judge P80,000 for gross ignorance of the law and gross misconduct in contempt proceedings against Land Bank officials.
Warrantless Arrests When POT Sessions Justify Immediate Police Action IN THE Philippines
When can police act without a warrant? Philippine law and jurisprudence define the limits of warrantless arrests.
Judicial Ethics: When Judges Squabble, Both Face Administrative Liability
A Supreme Court ruling on two RTC judges fined for a public altercation shows why decorum is a non-negotiable judicial duty.
Treachery Defined: How Surprise Attacks Determine Murder Convictions in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains how sudden, unexpected attacks constitute treachery, qualifying a killing as murder under Philippine law.
Gross Ignorance of the Law: Judge Fined for Procedural Lapses in Summary Procedure Case
A judge's failure to apply the Revised Rules on Summary Procedure leads to a fine for gross ignorance of the law. Learn the key lessons from this administrative case.
Judicial Restraint Limits on Contempt Power and Due Process Rights
The Supreme Court fines a judge P40,000 for citing a driver in contempt over a parking space, stressing restraint and due process in contempt cases.
Workplace Conduct: Simple Misconduct and Disciplinary Actions for Employees
Learn how the Supreme Court defines simple misconduct in the workplace and what disciplinary actions employees may face for fighting or similar offenses.
Judicial Ethics: Judge Fined P40,000 for Public Humiliation of Court Clerk
Supreme Court holds judge liable for gross misconduct after threatening, vilifying, and publicly humiliating a court clerk through newspaper publications.