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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Excessive Bail Violates Right to Due Process: Lessons from Magsucang v. Balgos
A judge's excessive bail demand can violate an accused's right to due process. Learn from the Magsucang case.
Dismissal for Illness: Employer Must Prove Disease Grounds and Due Process
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an employer may validly terminate an employee due to disease, and the separation pay owed.
Impartiality on the Bench: Overcoming Bias Allegations in Philippine Courts
A notary public's duty to verify signatories personally is sacrosanct. This case explains the consequences of failing that duty.
Upholding Notarial Duties: Consequences for Improper Document Acknowledgment
A notary public who acknowledges a document without the signatories appearing before him violates the law on notarial acknowledgment and faces suspension.
Challenging Local Tax Ordinances: The 30-Day Appeal Rule Under Section 187
Taxpayers must appeal to the Secretary of Justice within 30 days of a local tax ordinance's effectivity or lose the right to challenge it in court.
Lawyer's Neglect of Appeal Brief Leads to Six-Month Suspension
When a lawyer obtains extensions to file an appeal brief but fails to submit it, the client suffers—and the lawyer faces discipline.
Just Cause vs Due Process in Employee Dismissal: The Rosario Ruling
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a valid dismissal cause without procedural due process makes termination ineffectual, not illegal, and orders backwages.
When Counsel Dies: Attorney-Client Obligations and Appellate Deadlines in Amatorio v. People
The death of counsel does not excuse missed appellate deadlines. Amatorio v. People clarifies the binding effect of notices sent to law firms.
Accountability in Public Service: Delay in Remittance of Funds and Its Consequences
The Supreme Court rules on grave misconduct for delayed remittance of fiduciary funds by court personnel, emphasizing strict accountability in public service.
Due Process and Timeliness: Strict Enforcement of Motion Hearing Rules in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts strictly enforce Rule 15, Section 5 on motion hearing dates. Learn how a pro forma motion can waive due process rights.
Due Process in Land Disputes: Why Fair Resurveys Matter for Property Owners
The Supreme Court reminds courts that relocation surveys in land disputes must respect due process—both parties need notice and representation.
Balancing Ombudsman's Discretion With Due Process, Grave Abuse, and Probable Cause in PCGG Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when the Ombudsman's dismissal of complaints constitutes grave abuse of discretion, using the Bataan nuclear plant case as a prime example.
Corporate Rehabilitation Stockholder Approval: When a Majority Vote Suffices
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate rehabilitation petitions need only majority stockholder approval, not two-thirds vote.
Sufficiency OF Complaints Before THE Ombudsman Protecting Public Interest AND Ensuring DUE Process
Incestuous Rape: Proving Each Count Beyond Reasonable Doubt
The Supreme Court clarifies that in incestuous rape cases, each separate charge must be proven beyond reasonable doubt, not just the overall pattern of abuse.
Upholding Due Process: Strict Adherence to Summary Procedure Timelines in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts must strictly follow summary procedure timelines. Learn how the Supreme Court enforces these deadlines to ensure speedy justice.
Incestuous Rape: The Standard of Proof for Multiple Charges in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that finger insertion and licking do not constitute rape under the old law, but may be acts of lasciviousness.
Due Process in Lawyer Discipline: Formal Investigation Required Before Sanctions
Supreme Court remands lawyer disciplinary case to IBP for formal investigation, underscoring that due process requires a full hearing before sanctions.
Agency and Real Estate Sales: The Necessity of Written Authority
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why an agent's authority to sell land must be in writing, or the sale is void.
Rape Conviction Intact Hymen AND THE Nuances OF Attempted VS Consummated Rape Under Philippine LAW
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that an intact hymen does not negate consummated rape, and distinguishes attempted from consummated rape.
When a Judge Dies During an Administrative Case: Due Process Prevails
A judge's death during a pending administrative complaint ends the case—due process demands no posthumous proceedings.
Breach of Trust: Revisiting Intrafamilial Rape and the Limits of Legal Proof
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction despite an intact hymen, but reduces the death penalty to reclusion perpetua for a defective information.
Fair Trial Rights in Philippine Criminal Cases: What the Dy Case Teaches
The Supreme Court clarifies due process, arraignment, and fair trial rights in criminal cases through the Dy ruling.
Incestuous Rape: Supreme Court Upholds Convictions, Reduces Death Penalty
The Supreme Court affirms incestuous rape convictions but reduces death sentences to reclusion perpetua, clarifying penalty rules and victim rights.