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.
Voluntary Retirement vs Illegal Dismissal: Employee Rights in Downsizing
When does a retirement package become a forced exit? The Supreme Court clarifies the thin line between voluntary retirement and illegal dismissal.
Retrenchment Rules in the Philippines: When Cost-Cutting Becomes Illegal Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court explains when retrenchment is illegal: employer must prove losses, use fair criteria, and follow notice rules.
Forced Resignation Is Illegal Dismissal: Casa Cebuana v. Leuterio
Forcing an employee to resign without due process is illegal dismissal. Learn the two-notice rule from Casa Cebuana v. Leuterio.
Striking a Balance When Justice Requires Flexibility in Procedural Rules
The Supreme Court explains when courts may relax mandatory procedural rules, using a bank's late pre-trial brief as the case in point.
Why Police Procedure Matters: Acquittal in Drug Cases and the Weight of Evidence
A buy-bust operation's failure to follow Section 21 of RA 9165 led to an acquittal. Learn the rules on evidence integrity.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Broken Links Mean Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over broken chain of custody, underscoring the strict rule on preserving evidence integrity.
Proximate Cause Prevails: When a Plaintiff's Own Negligence Bars Recovery in Vehicle Accidents
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how a plaintiff's own negligence as proximate cause bars recovery, even with defendant's contributory negligence.
Equitable Reduction of Liquidated Damages in Construction Delays: Balancing Contractual Obligations and Fairne
Philippine Supreme Court explains when courts may reduce liquidated damages in construction delay cases, balancing contract terms with equity.
Judicial Ethics: When Judges Squabble, Both Face Administrative Liability
A Supreme Court ruling on two RTC judges fined for a public altercation shows why decorum is a non-negotiable judicial duty.
Insurance Policy Lapses Reinstatement Approval Required Before Death
A lapsed life insurance policy requires company approval during the insured's lifetime for reinstatement; payment alone is not enough.
Duress vs Free Will: When Fear Does Not Excuse Criminal Liability
Philippine Supreme Court explains when uncontrollable fear excuses a crime and when it does not, in a murder case.
Forfeiture of Retirement Benefits for Serious Misconduct: Due Process in Termination Cases
Supreme Court ruling on when employers may forfeit retirement benefits for serious misconduct and what due process requires in termination.
Heirs Obligation Estate Debt Survival Beyond Death IN Philippine LAW
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that debts survive death—heirs inherit obligations but only up to the estate's value. Learn the rules.
Constructive Possession When Contraband in a Shared Space Implicates Guilt
Philippine Supreme Court explains when drugs found in a shared space can still prove constructive possession and guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Sangguniang Bayan Concurrence in Municipal Appointments: A Mandatory Requirement
The Supreme Court ruled that municipal appointments require Sangguniang Bayan concurrence; without it, the appointment is invalid regardless of tenure.
Surety Bond Validity: The Impact of Accreditation on Appeal Perfection in Labor Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled that a surety bond remains valid if the bonding company was accredited at the time of issuance, affecting labor appeal perfection.
Indigency Status Corporations Cannot Claim FEE Exemption Despite Aiding THE Poor
Philippine Supreme Court rules corporations cannot claim indigent litigant fee exemptions, even when serving the poor. Learn the legal basis.
Broken Chains: Safeguarding Drug Evidence and Protecting Rights in Philippine Law
When police fail to mark seized drugs immediately and prove custody, the accused may be acquitted. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling.
Treachery Defined: How Surprise Attacks Determine Murder Convictions in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains how sudden, unexpected attacks constitute treachery, qualifying a killing as murder under Philippine law.
Limits of Abuse of Superior Strength: Redefining Attempted Homicide in the Philippines
Supreme Court clarifies when abuse of superior strength qualifies a crime, reducing a conviction from attempted murder to attempted homicide.
Chain of Custody Imperative: Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to broken chain of custody, stressing the need to immediately mark seized drugs.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails Safeguarding Against Child Abuse Accusations
Explore how the Supreme Court acquitted a barangay tanod of child abuse, emphasizing that proof beyond reasonable doubt must anchor convictions.
When Can a Generic Term Like "Ginebra" Be Protected as a Trademark?
The Supreme Court clarifies when a generic word like "Ginebra" may acquire trademark protection through secondary meaning, and why preliminary injunctions demand a clear right.
Court Personnel and Immoral Conduct: When Private Acts Become Administrative Liability
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how court employees' private immoral conduct can lead to administrative sanctions and suspension.