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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Preventive Suspension Under the Anti-Graft Law Is Mandatory, Not Discretionary
Preventive suspension of public officials under Section 13 of R.A. 3019 is mandatory once a valid information is filed. The Court explains why.
Graft and Corruption in the Philippines: When Court Personnel Exploit Public Office for Private Gain
A Supreme Court ruling on a court interpreter's extortion of a litigant shows how graft and corruption in the Philippines is punished.
Breach OF Trust A Judges Duty IN Handling Cash Bail AND THE Anti Graft LAW
Graft and Grave Misconduct: Court Officer Dismissed for Fixing a Court Decision
Supreme Court dismisses a clerk of court for extorting money to fix a court decision, affirming strict integrity standards for court personnel.
Upholding Public Trust: The Limits of Amending Criminal Informations in Anti-Graft Cases
When can a judge amend a criminal information? This case clarifies the limits of judicial discretion in anti-graft proceedings.
Gifts to Public Officials: Defining Corrupt Practices Under Philippine Law
Explaining when gifts to public officials violate the Anti-Graft Law, and why the gift's value is not always an essential element.
Public vs Private Funds: Defining AFP-RSBS and the Reach of Anti-Graft Laws
The Supreme Court clarifies when military pension funds are public funds, affecting Sandiganbayan jurisdiction over graft cases.
Public Official Liability and Conspiracy in Administrative Graft Cases
Explaining when public officials face administrative liability for errors, and when conspiracy or bad faith must be proven.
Navigating Jurisdictional Boundaries Civil Claims VS Graft Prosecution
Reviving the Pursuit of Justice: Prescription in Anti-Graft Cases and the Ombudsman's Duty
The Supreme Court clarifies prescription rules for anti-graft cases and the Ombudsman's duty to investigate, not dismiss, based on valid laws.
Good Faith Reliance on Subordinates Can Defeat Anti-Graft Charges Against Public Officials
Supreme Court rules a public official who relies in good faith on subordinates' certifications cannot be prosecuted for graft absent evident bad faith.
Defining Public Officer Scope of Ombudsman's Jurisdiction in Anti-Graft Cases
Supreme Court clarifies Ombudsman jurisdiction over public officers in anti-graft cases, defining who qualifies as a public officer.
Public vs Private Sector: Defining Government Control in Anti-Graft Cases
When is a government employee a public officer? The Macalino case clarifies jurisdiction in anti-graft prosecutions.
Ombudsman’s Authority to Prosecute Cases Beyond the Sandiganbayan’s Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court clarifies that the Ombudsman may prosecute graft cases in regular courts, not only before the Sandiganbayan.
Good Faith and Emergency Purchases: When Public Officials Escape Graft Liability
Explore how the Supreme Court protected a public official from graft charges, citing good faith and emergency procurement during a blood shortage crisis.
Behest Loans, Prescription, and Ombudsman Discretion in Anti-Graft Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies the discovery rule for behest loan offenses and the Ombudsman's broad discretion to dismiss complaints lacking probable cause.
Judicial Overreach Reassessing Ombudsmans Discretion In Anti Graft Prosecutions
When can courts overturn an Ombudsman's finding of probable cause? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of prosecutorial discretion.
Prosecutorial Discretion vs Anti-Graft: Defining Undue Injury in Public Office
The Supreme Court clarifies when a prosecutor's error becomes a crime under the Anti-Graft Law, explaining the element of undue injury.
Probable Cause and Judicial Discretion in Anti-Graft Cases: Odin Security Agency v. Sandiganbayan
The Supreme Court explains when courts may dismiss criminal cases for lack of probable cause and the limits of certiorari review in graft cases.
Prescription in Anti-Graft Cases: When Does the Clock Start Ticking?
The Supreme Court clarifies when the prescriptive period for anti-graft cases begins, distinguishing discovery from commission of the offense.
Unmasking Corruption: Statute of Limitations and the Discovery Rule in Graft Cases
When does the 15-year prescription period for graft cases begin? The Supreme Court explains the discovery rule for behest loans.
Acceptance Over Demand: Graft Conviction Hinges on Actions, Not Words
In Peligrino v. People, the Supreme Court ruled that receiving a gift or benefit suffices for graft conviction under Section 3(b) of RA 3019, even without an express demand.
State Witness Credibility: The Imperative of Unbiased Testimony in Graft Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on witness credibility, bias, and the weight of testimony in criminal cases.
Ombudsman’s Probable Cause Finding in Anti-Graft Cases: When Courts Will Not Interfere
The Supreme Court affirms the Ombudsman’s broad discretion in determining probable cause for anti-graft charges, limiting judicial review.