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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Abuse of Authority: A Judge's Unlawful Order for Warrantless Arrest
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on buy-bust operations, warrantless arrests, and the limits of judicial authority in drug cases.
Fixed-Term Contracts vs Regular Employment: What Employers and Workers Must Know
A Supreme Court ruling explains when fixed-term employment is valid and how it differs from regular employment under Philippine labor law.
Silence Isnt Always Golden: Admissibility of Confessions in Philippine Homicide Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on extrajudicial admissions, hearsay, and circumstantial evidence in homicide prosecutions.
Waiver of Rights: The Importance of Asserting Your Right to Cross-Examine Witnesses
Learn why failing to cross-examine witnesses and perfect an appeal on time can be fatal to your case, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Silence Is Not Consent: Rape by Intimidation and the Limits of a Guilty Plea
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains why a victim's silence and fear do not equal consent, and why a guilty plea in a capital case needs more than a warning.
Treachery and Self-Defense: Examining the Boundaries in a Homicide Case
A Supreme Court ruling in a 1995 stabbing case clarifies how Philippine courts evaluate self-defense claims and the qualifying circumstance of treachery.
Perils of Independent Action: Why Government Agencies Must Heed Legal Counsel
A Supreme Court ruling reminds government agencies that the Solicitor General is their counsel of record, and that ignoring counsel can cost them their case entirely.
Reelection Does Not Erase Criminal Liability for Prior Misconduct
Philippine Supreme Court ruling that reelection condones only administrative liability, not criminal charges under the Anti-Graft law.
Guilt by Association: Circumstantial Evidence and Flight in Philippine Criminal Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how circumstantial evidence and flight can establish criminal liability, explained in plain language.
Deficiency Judgments in Foreclosure: When a Lender Can Still Collect After the Auction
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling confirms that lenders may recover any shortfall after an extrajudicial foreclosure sale — the debtor remains liable for the unpaid balance.
Standby Letters of Credit Stand Outside Corporate Rehabilitation Stay Orders
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why standby letters of credit are not covered by rehabilitation stay orders and remain enforceable against issuing banks.
Reliability of Poseur Buyer Testimony in Drug Sale Convictions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a single poseur buyer's testimony suffices to convict in illegal drug sale cases.
Constructive Dismissal: Demotion and Salary Reduction as Grounds for Illegal Termination
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on constructive dismissal through demotion and salary reduction, explained in plain language for employees and employers.
Accountability for Murder Conspiracy and the Limits of Alibi
A Supreme Court ruling on murder conviction, eyewitness identification, treachery, and why alibi fails against positive testimony.
When a Stabbing Spree Is Homicide, Not Murder: The Treachery Requirement
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a killing during a heated quarrel, without proof of treachery, is homicide—not murder.
Prescription and Co-Ownership: When Long Possession Extinguishes Partition Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a co-owner's long, exclusive possession can extinguish the right to demand partition through prescription.
Disobeying Court Orders: The Limits of Excuses in Contempt Cases
A Supreme Court ruling shows that hiding pending criminal cases and misusing the title "Attorney" can cost a Shari'a Bar member his privilege to practice law.
Enforcement Delayed: Prescription and Revival of Judgments in Philippine Property Disputes
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains the five-year and ten-year deadlines for enforcing judgments, and the consequences of delay.
Homeowners' Open Space Claims vs Subdivision Rules: When Laws Apply Retroactively
Supreme Court ruling on whether P.D. 957's open space requirement applies retroactively to subdivisions approved before 1976.
Sudden Violence or Planned Attack: Homicide vs Murder in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a sudden, anger-fueled stabbing is homicide, not murder, because treachery was not proven.
Negligence and Security Protocol: Defining Duty in Judicial Premises
Supreme Court ruling on security guard negligence in judicial premises, explaining duty standards, simple neglect, and penalties under civil service rules.
Judicial Accountability: Undue Delay and Disobedience as Less Serious Offenses
Explore the Supreme Court ruling on Judge Villegas, fined P20,000 for undue delay and defiance of Court directives.
Contracts and Consent: How Limited Education and Fraudulent Inducement Can Void a Philippine Contract
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how fraud, undue influence, and limited education can invalidate contracts, shifting the burden of proof.
Bank Liability for Forged Checks: When Final Judgments Stand Firm
Supreme Court ruling on bank liability for forged checks, signature verification duties, and why depositors aren't estopped by bank statement notices.