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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Property Disputes and Compromise Agreements: Lessons from the BASECO Case
A look at how the Supreme Court treated compromise agreements and property rights in a dispute involving the Province of Bataan and sequestered BASECO assets.
Understanding Forum Shopping: Protecting Legal Integrity and Client Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies forum shopping rules, penalizing a lawyer with two-year suspension for refiling a dismissed labor case.
Abuse of Rights in Philippine Law: A Case Study on Mortgage and Property Transactions
The Supreme Court clarifies the abuse of rights principle under Article 19, showing when a bank employee's blunt remarks do not amount to bad faith.
Self-Defense and Homicide: Key Lessons from a Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense fails in homicide cases and the penalties that follow.
Understanding Forum Shopping: A Philippine Lawyer's Duty to Avoid Duplicative Suits
The Supreme Court explains forum shopping and res judicata through a lawyer's two-year suspension for filing a duplicative labor case.
Bank Manager Discretion and Personal Liability: Insights from Philippine Banking Law
When can a bank manager be personally liable for losses? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of managerial discretion and solidary liability.
Robbery with Rape and Grave Threats: Key Lessons from People v. Bueza
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how credible testimony can prove robbery with rape and grave threats, even without physical injuries.
Proving Legitimate Filiation: Key to Winning Philippine Inheritance Claims
Learn how the Supreme Court's ruling in Bernardo v. Fernando clarifies what evidence proves legitimate filiation for inheritance claims.
Understanding the Insanity Defense: Key Insights from a Recent Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
A look at how Philippine courts assess insanity as a defense, based on a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that clarified the test for legal insanity.
Just Compensation in Agrarian Reform: Lessons from a Landmark Philippine Case
A Philippine lawyer's suspension highlights the rules on just compensation, finality of judgments, and the limits of DARAB authority.
Understanding Judicial Impartiality: Bias and Inhibition in Philippine Election Protests
The Supreme Court clarifies the standards for judicial inhibition in election protests, explaining what bias truly means and why rulings must not be mistaken for prejudice.
Judicial Accountability and the Limits of Inhibition Motions in Election Protests
The Supreme Court clarifies when judges must inhibit and why delay claims alone cannot prove bias in election cases.
Understanding Dislocation Allowances Legal Insights AND Implications FOR Government Employees
The Supreme Court ruled on incentive allowances for government employees, clarifying limits under Philippine law on additional compensation.
Judicial Authority and Bank Liquidation: Understanding the Limits of Court Intervention
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when judges overstep their authority in bank liquidation proceedings, and the consequences of doing so.
Judicial Misconduct: The Consequences of Bribery in Philippine Courts
A court stenographer's dismissal for soliciting money from a litigant shows the strict ethical standards for Philippine court personnel.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: The Supreme Court’s Stand on Prosecution Consent
A guilty plea to a lesser drug offense needs the prosecutor’s consent. Learn the rules and what the Court said in People v. Reafor.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Force, Identification, and Damages in People v. Talmesa
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, detailing the elements of force, witness credibility, and the proper award of damages.
Conflict of Interest in Legal Practice: The Fine Line Lawyers Must Navigate
When can a lawyer's business venture become a conflict of interest? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on lawyer loyalty and competing businesses.
Understanding Theft in the Philippines: Key Insights From a Landmark Supreme Court Case
A look at how the Supreme Court clarifies plea bargaining rules in drug cases and what this means for criminal procedure in the Philippines.
Conditional Release of Imports: Supreme Court Upholds DTI Rules on Testing and Certification
The Supreme Court upholds DTI's conditional release rules for imported goods, clarifying testing and certification requirements under Philippine law.
Understanding Rape Convictions: Victim Testimony and Legal Standards in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, clarifying how victim testimony, force, and identity are assessed under Philippine law.
PAGCOR Tax Exemptions: When a Casino Licensee Still Pays Income Tax
The Supreme Court clarifies that PAGCOR's tax exemptions under PD 1869 do not automatically cover licensees operating their own casinos.
Lawyer Encroachment and Ethical Boundaries: Lessons from Sevandal v. Adame
A Supreme Court ruling on lawyer encroachment clarifies ethical boundaries when two attorneys claim the same client, with suspension as penalty.
Understanding Disturbance Compensation in Land Conversion: Insights from a Philippine Supreme Court Case
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on disturbance compensation claims in land conversion, including prescription periods and evidentiary requirements.