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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Fencing in the Philippines: Knowledge and Presumptions Under the Anti-Fencing Law
Explaining the elements of fencing under P.D. 1612, the presumption of knowledge from possession, and how receipts can rebut it.
Supervening Events: When Can a Final Judgment Be Set Aside in the Philippines
Philippine law on when a final and executory judgment may be set aside due to supervening events, explained through Flores v. Court of Appeals.
Labor Only Contracting in the Philippines: Protecting Workers' Rights
Learn how Philippine law distinguishes labor-only contracting from legitimate job contracting, and what protections workers have against illegal schemes.
Double Jeopardy in the Philippines: Can You Be Tried Twice for the Same Crime?
Understand the double jeopardy rule in the Philippines, its constitutional basis, and how courts apply it to prevent repeated prosecution for the same offense.
When Can a Bank Seize Funds? Understanding Set-Off Rights in the Philippines
Learn when Philippine banks can legally seize deposits through set-off, and the limits on this right under Philippine law.
Navigating Retirement: Understanding Compulsory Retirement Clauses in the Philippines
Can a company retire an employee before age 60? The Supreme Court explains when compulsory retirement under a CBA is valid.
Judge's Authority in Marriage Solemnization: Jurisdiction and Validity Rules
Learn the jurisdictional limits of judges solemnizing marriages in the Philippines and the mandatory presumptive death proceeding under the Family Code.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Using Force Becomes Justifiable
Philippine law allows self-defense only under strict conditions. Learn the rules, the limits of proportionate force, and key lessons from a Supreme Court case.
Attempted Rape in the Philippines: Elements, Intent, and Legal Consequences
Learn the legal distinction between consummated and attempted rape in the Philippines, including the elements of intent, overt acts, and interruption.
Eyewitness Testimony: How It Can Make or Break a Murder Case in the Philippines
How a single eyewitness's positive identification can secure a murder conviction, and why courts trust credible testimony over denial.
Forged Deeds and Property Rights: Understanding Acquisitive Prescription in the Philippines
Can a forged deed ripen into ownership through prescription? The Supreme Court explains why bad faith blocks acquisitive prescription on titled land.
Rape and Incest: When Family Betrayal Meets Justice in the Philippines
A Philippine Supreme Court case on a son raping his mother, explaining the rules on credibility, denial, and penalties for incestuous rape.
Probable Cause in the Philippines: What You Need to Know
Learn how Philippine courts define probable cause, why it matters in criminal cases, and what the Drilon v. Court of Appeals ruling means for you.
Illegal Dismissal: When Can an Employer Terminate an Employee in the Philippines
Philippine law requires just cause and due process for valid termination. This case explains serious misconduct and loss of confidence rules.
Investment or Loan? Understanding Estafa and Fiduciary Duty in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when a failed investment becomes estafa under the Revised Penal Code, and why fiduciary duty matters.
Union Disaffiliation in the Philippines: Know Your Rights Under the CBA Freedom Period
Understand when a local union can validly disaffiliate from its mother federation under Philippine labor law, based on the ANGLO vs. SAMANA BAY ruling.
Ejectment Cases and Ownership Disputes: Navigating Possession Rights in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts resolve possession disputes, the limits of final judgments, and what the Price Mansion case teaches about ownership claims.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: Unlawful Aggression and the Cabiles Case
Philippine self-defense law requires unlawful aggression, reasonable force, and no provocation. The Cabiles case shows how courts test these elements.
PNP Accountability When Law Enforcers Commit Murder in the Philippines
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction of four PNP members, holding police accountable for extrajudicial killing and escape from custody.
Establishing Employer-Employee Relationship Is Key to Illegal Dismissal Claims in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why proving employer-employee relationship is essential before an illegal dismissal case can prosper.
Citizenship and Election Law: Reclaiming Governance Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court ruled on citizenship, repatriation, and election law in Frivaldo v. COMELEC, affirming that a repatriated Filipino can hold public office.
Accretion vs Reclamation: Understanding Land Ownership Rights in the Philippines
Philippine law distinguishes accretion from reclamation for land ownership. Learn the rules, burdens, and practical implications.
Confessions and Conspiracy: Understanding Robbery with Homicide in the Philippines
A look at how Philippine courts treat extrajudicial confessions, conspiracy, and robbery with homicide, based on a 1996 Supreme Court ruling.
Illegal Dismissal: Employee Rights and Employer Obligations in the Philippines
Learn the rules on illegal dismissal in the Philippines: when termination is valid, the need for due process, and the employee's right to reinstatement and backwages.