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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Understanding Complex Crime When ONE ACT Leads TO Multiple Felonies IN The Philippines
Learn how Philippine law treats a single act causing multiple felonies, using the robbery-with-homicide ruling in People v. Silan.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Employer's Burden of Proof and Employee Rights
Learn how the Supreme Court protects overseas Filipino workers from illegal dismissal, emphasizing the employer's burden of proof and due process rights.
Labor-Only Contracting: When a Supplier of Workers Is Just an Agent of the Employer
Understand labor-only contracting in the Philippines and when a manpower supplier is deemed a mere agent, making the principal employer liable.
Unregistered Land Rights Trump Mortgages: Due Diligence for Banks in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on State Investment House v. CA: banks must inspect property beyond Torrens title or risk losing to unregistered buyers.
Illegal Dismissal Burden of Proof on Employers and Quitclaims in the Philippines
In illegal dismissal cases, the employer bears the burden of proving valid termination, and quitclaims do not automatically bar employees from pursuing claims.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Can You Justifiably Use Force?
The Supreme Court explains the three requisites of self-defense under Article 11 of the Revised Penal Code and when using force is justified.
Illegal Dismissal: Understanding Backwages and Separation Pay in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law computes backwages and separation pay for illegally dismissed employees, based on a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Back Wages vs. Separation Pay: Employee Rights When a Business Closes in the Philippines
Learn when Philippine employees get separation pay but not back wages after business closure, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Bail in the Philippines: When Is a Hearing Required in Capital Offenses
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that bail in capital offenses requires a hearing, even if the prosecution recommends bail.
Perjury in the Philippines: False Statements in Legal Documents Explained
Learn how Philippine courts define perjury, what makes a false statement criminal, and why withdrawing a petition does not erase liability.
Rape Conviction Despite Intact Hymen: The Legal Definition of Rape in the Philippines
Philippine law does not require a broken hymen to prove rape. Entry into the labia is enough. Learn the legal definition.
When Lack of Resistance Negates a Rape Charge: Understanding Consent in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a complainant's failure to resist can cast reasonable doubt on a rape charge, and what this means for proving force and intimidation.
Rape Conviction and the Weight of Credible Testimony: Protecting Victims' Rights in the Philippines
How the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction, underscoring the power of a credible victim's testimony and the limits of the alibi defense.
Handling Court Funds: Duties and Liabilities of Court Personnel in the Philippines
Supreme Court ruling on a clerk of court's liability for mishandling consignation deposits, fiduciary funds, and JDF collections.
Navigating Administrative LAW Exhaustion OF Remedies AND Cabinet Approval IN THE Philippines
Understanding Res Judicata: How a Previous Case Can Affect Your Legal Rights in the Philippines
Learn how res judicata bars re-litigation of settled cases in the Philippines, its elements, and practical implications.
When Can Eyewitness Testimony Alone Convict in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence, not just eyewitness testimony, can convict an accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Builder in Good Faith in the Philippines: Rights Under Property Law
When can a mistaken builder claim good faith under Philippine law? The Supreme Court's ruling in Pleasantville clarifies the rights of builders and landowners.
Implied Trusts and Prescription: What the Esconde Case Means for Property Owners
Learn how implied trusts work in the Philippines and why delay can bar your property claim, based on the Supreme Court's Esconde ruling.
Can a Judge Act as Notary Public? Limits on Judicial Notarization in the Philippines
Philippine judges may notarize documents only within official functions. Learn the limits, the Asis ruling, and practical compliance tips.
Labor-Only Contracting: When the Principal Is the Real Employer in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains labor-only contracting, employer liability, and separation pay rules in Magnolia Dairy v. NLRC.
Contempt of Court: Navigating the Boundaries of Respect and Legal Advocacy in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a motion for judicial inhibition crosses the line into direct contempt, and what lawyers and litigants should avoid.
Estate Allowances: Who Can Receive Support During Probate in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who may receive support allowances from a decedent's estate during probate proceedings.
Land Disputes When Informal Agreements Fail Understanding Property Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why informal land agreements without formal deeds do not defeat ejectment suits or transfer ownership.