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.
Philippine Security of Tenure: Why Fixed-Term Employment Can't Sidestep Regularization
The Supreme Court strikes down a fixed-term contract scheme that blocked an employee's regularization, reaffirming constitutional security of tenure for Philippine workers.
When Witnesses Can't See: Proving Robbery With Homicide Through Circumstantial Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how circumstantial evidence can prove robbery with homicide even without eyewitnesses to the killing.
RTC vs. MTC Jurisdiction: Filing Property Partition and Deed Annulment Cases
Learn when property partition and deed annulment cases belong in the RTC or MTC, based on Russell v. Vestil.
Complex Crime vs Separate Offenses: When Multiple Murders Are Not a Single Crime
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when multiple killings form one complex crime or separate offenses, and the effect on penalties.
Lost Your Appeal Understanding Certiorari AND Final Judgments IN Philippine Courts
Learn how Philippine courts treat petitions for review on certiorari, final judgments, and due process in administrative proceedings.
Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale: Supreme Court Upholds Protection for Filipino Workers
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of an unlicensed recruiter for illegal recruitment in large scale and estafa, protecting overseas Filipino workers from fraudulent schemes.
Improvident Guilty Plea in Capital Offenses: When a Conviction Still Stands
A flawed guilty plea in a capital case doesn't automatically void a conviction if prosecution evidence independently proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Legal Interest Rates in the Philippines: When Does 6% vs 12% Apply
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when 6% or 12% legal interest applies—loans and forbearance versus other obligations. Learn the rules.
Redefining Guardian in Philippine Rape Law: Supreme Court Clarifies Scope and Penalty
The Supreme Court narrows the definition of in RA 7659 should be given a restrictive interpretation, referring to a legal or judicial guardian. While Congress did not explicitly qualify the term, the
Docket Fees Matter: Ensuring Court Jurisdiction in Philippine Civil Cases
Learn how timely filing and docket fees affect court jurisdiction in Philippine civil cases, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Demata v. Court of Appeals.
Unraveling Conspiracy in Philippine Murder Cases: Collective Guilt and the Limits of Self-Defense
How the Supreme Court applied conspiracy doctrine and rejected self-defense in a murder case where three men ganged up on a victim.
Credible Witness Testimony: How Philippine Courts Convict in Murder Cases
Philippine courts can convict on the testimony of a single credible witness. This article explains the rule and its limits.
Force and Intimidation in Rape Cases: Why Silence Is Not Consent (People v. Marabillas)
Explaining how Philippine courts define force and intimidation in rape, and why a victim's silence or lack of resistance does not mean consent.
Misappropriation vs Private Property: Understanding Malversation in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that malversation requires public property. A mayor's custody of a private gun is not malversation.
Lost Your Land Title in the Philippines? Understanding Reconstitution and RA 26
Learn how to reconstitute a lost or destroyed land title in the Philippines under RA 26, and what documents courts require.
Dismissal of Court Cases for Lack of Prosecution: When Is It Justified in the Philippines
Philippine courts may dismiss cases for lack of prosecution, but only for valid reasons. Learn the rules and limits from a Supreme Court ruling.
Proportionality in Employee Discipline: When Dismissal Is Too Harsh in the Philippines
Philippine labor law requires penalties to fit the offense. Learn when dismissal is disproportionate and how the Supreme Court applies this rule.
Upholding Moral Standards Teacher Dismissal FOR Immorality IN Philippine Schools
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling on dismissing teachers for immoral conduct and the legal standards for moral fitness in Philippine education.
Consent Is Key: Why the Sweetheart Defense Fails in Philippine Rape Cases
The Supreme Court explains why a supposed love affair cannot justify rape, and why consent must be proven, not assumed.
The Irrefutable Confession: How Counsel and Corroboration Cement Convictions in Philippine Courts
A counsel-assisted, voluntary confession carries strong weight in Philippine courts, especially when corroborated by independent evidence. This case explains why.
Meal Breaks Outside Company Premises Do Not Constitute Abandonment of Post
Philippine Airlines v. NLRC clarifies that employees may take meal breaks outside company premises without being guilty of abandonment of post.
When Managerial Discretion Becomes Defiance: Willful Disobedience in Philippine Labor Law
Explore when a manager's independent judgment crosses the line into willful disobedience, a valid ground for dismissal under Philippine labor law.
Cashier Negligence and Liability: Safeguarding Public Funds in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on cashier negligence and accountability for lost public funds, with rules on safekeeping and COA relief.
When Personal Conduct Becomes Professional Misconduct: Upholding Integrity in Public Service
A branch clerk of court's extramarital affair and abandonment of family led to dismissal, showing how private misconduct affects public office.