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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Optional Retirement Pay Must Meet Labor Code Minimum, SC Rules in University of Cebu Case
Supreme Court rules company retirement plans cannot give less than the Labor Code's 22.5 days per year of service minimum.
Retirement Benefits: Labor Code Prevails Over Inferior Company Plans
Philippine Supreme Court rules company retirement plans cannot provide benefits lower than the Labor Code's minimum under Article 287.
Conditional Sales and Default: When Unpaid Balances Void Property Claims
A buyer who fails to pay the balance in a contract to sell loses rights to the property, as the Supreme Court affirmed in Mandin-Trotin v. Bongo.
Safeguarding Liberty: The Vital Witness Requirements in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to secure required witnesses during inventory, reaffirming strict compliance with Section 21, RA 9165.
Attorney Disciplinary Actions: When Private Misconduct Leads to Disbarment
The Supreme Court disbarred a lawyer for gross immorality, dishonesty, and deceitful conduct, clarifying the boundaries of professional conduct.
Antedating Court Documents: Supreme Court Dismisses Sheriff for Grave Misconduct
The Supreme Court dismissed a sheriff for antedating affidavits, ruling that tampering with court records is grave misconduct eroding public trust.
Speed Limits and Local Governance: When Public Safety Measures Fail Legal Scrutiny
The Supreme Court voids a municipal speed limit ordinance for non-compliance with publication and RA 4136, underscoring the rule of law in local governance.
Presidential Authority vs COA Oversight: Healthcare Benefits for Government Employees
Supreme Court ruling on when the President's approval of employee healthcare benefits still yields to COA audit rules and regulations.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Conviction Overturned Due to Broken Chain of Custody in Drug Case
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect after police fail to justify gaps in the chain of custody, reinforcing strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Judicial Accountability: Gross Ignorance of the Law in Issuing Unlawful Arrest Warrants
When a judge issued arrest warrants in cases where the law forbids them, the Supreme Court held him liable for gross ignorance of the law.
Presidential Power Over Public Land: Social Housing vs. Public Use
Supreme Court affirms presidential authority to withdraw public land from socialized housing disposition for public use, balancing resident rights.
Safeguarding Public Funds: The Ombudsman’s Authority in Administrative Cases
The Supreme Court affirms the Ombudsman’s power to decide administrative cases and its standing to appeal, upholding findings of grave misconduct in a sham bidding.
Reasonable Doubt in Drug Cases: Integrity of Evidence and Chain of Custody
The Supreme Court acquits in People v. Dungo, stressing that broken chain of custody and unjustified non-compliance with Section 21, RA 9165, create reasonable doubt.
Presidential Power vs Community Rights Clarifying Land Disposition in the Philippines
Supreme Court upholds President's power to withdraw public land from disposition, clarifying limits of community rights in land allocation.
Broken Chains: Safeguarding Rights in Drug Cases Through Strict Evidence Protocols
Why the Supreme Court acquitted a drug suspect when police broke the chain of custody, and what this means for fair trials.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Evidence Integrity Is Key to a Fair Trial
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to broken chain of custody, stressing the prosecution's duty to prove evidence integrity.
Reasonable Doubt and Chain of Custody: Safeguarding Rights in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect when police break the chain of custody, reaffirming that presumption of regularity cannot replace proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Safeguarding Individual Rights in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to broken chain of custody, reinforcing that presumption of innocence cannot be defeated by presumption of regularity.
Seafarer Disability Claims: When the Company Doctor's Assessment Prevails
The Supreme Court clarifies when a company-designated physician's fitness-to-work assessment binds a seafarer, even if the seafarer's own doctor disagrees.
Burden of Proof in Rape Cases: Testimony and Physical Evidence
The Supreme Court clarifies how courts weigh testimony and medical findings in rape cases, acquitting on two counts for insufficient evidence.
Land Disputes and Indigenous Rights: Reasserting RTC Jurisdiction in Reversion Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that the RTC, not the NCIP, has jurisdiction over reversion and cancellation of title cases involving ancestral lands.
Statutory Rape and Acts of Lasciviousness: Key Rulings from a 2019 Case
A 2019 Supreme Court ruling clarifies statutory rape and acts of lasciviousness penalties, damages, and procedural requirements under Philippine law.
Constructive Possession Knowledge AND Control IN Drug Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court acquits in drug cases when police fail to prove possession, knowledge, and control beyond reasonable doubt.
Clearing Title Disputes: How Ownership Rights Prevail in Property Conflicts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on property disputes, foreign ownership limits, and the proper remedy for dismissed cases.