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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Judicial Delay: The Duty of Judges to Decide Cases Promptly in the Philippines
Philippine judges must decide cases within 90 days. This article explains the rule, the consequences of delay, and practical lessons from a Supreme Court ruling.
Landowner Consent Is Essential in Agricultural Leasehold Transfers
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why a tenant cannot transfer leasehold rights without landowner consent, and the consequences of unauthorized assignment.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Employee Rights and Employer Responsibilities
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal, employee abandonment, overtime pay, and employer duties in termination cases.
Prescription for Falsification of Public Documents: When the Clock Starts
Learn when the prescription period begins for falsification of public documents under Philippine law, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Recebido v. People.
Murder or Homicide: Understanding Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law from People v. Templo
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a sudden attack amounts to treachery—and when it is only homicide, not murder.
Statutory Rape vs. Rape by Force: Key Distinctions in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the key differences between statutory rape and rape by force, and why a victim's age matters most.
Battling Court Delays: Understanding Summary Procedure Violations in the Philippines
A judge's fine for granting extensions and delaying a forcible entry case—what the Supreme Court ruling means for speedy justice.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Protecting Children and Upholding Justice
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the elements of statutory rape, the need to prove the victim's age, and the rules on force and damages.
Bigamy and Annulment in the Philippines: When Can a Civil Case Stop a Criminal Charge
Learn when a civil annulment case can suspend a bigamy prosecution, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Arthur Te v. Court of Appeals.
In Rape Cases, a Child's Testimony Can Be Enough: Lessons from a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
A child's testimony alone can convict in rape cases. Learn key rules from People v. Segui on credibility, alibi, and damages.
Sheriffs and Judges: Upholding Impartiality and Integrity in Public Service
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's delay in resolving cases underscores the ethical duties of court officials and the importance of timely justice.
Finality of Writ of Possession in Foreclosure: Res Judicata in Philippine Property Law
Understand how res judicata bars relitigation of a writ of possession in foreclosure cases, based on a 2000 Supreme Court ruling.
Upholding Judicial Impartiality: Lessons from a Judge's Delay in Deciding Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's delay in resolving cases underscores the duty of magistrates to act with dispatch and impartiality.
Pleading Pitfalls: How Incorrect Wording in Rape Informations Can Impact Penalties in the Philippines
Learn how defective wording in rape informations can affect penalties, based on Philippine Supreme Court rulings on criminal procedure.
When Self-Defense Claims Fall Short: Credibility in Philippine Homicide Cases
A Supreme Court ruling explains why self-defense claims fail without credible evidence, and when murder is reduced to homicide.
Philippine Lease Agreements Upholding Tenant Rights Despite CO Ownership Claims
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lease terms, co-ownership, and tenant rights in commercial property disputes.
Decoding Land Title Errors: How Philippine Courts Rectify Mistakes in Property Descriptions
When a land title's technical description differs from the deed of sale, courts can order correction. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling.
Judicial Misconduct and Bail Irregularities: Safeguarding Due Process in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling on undue delay and abuse of authority clarifies judicial duties and due process in Philippine courts.
When Can Judges Notarize Documents? The Villareal Case on Ex-Officio Notaries
A Supreme Court ruling on when MTC judges may notarize documents, and the limits of their ex-officio notary powers.
When Can a Philippine Judge Act as Notary Public? Limits and Unauthorized Practice of Law
Philippine MTC judges may notarize only court-related documents, not private deeds. Learn the limits and penalties from a Supreme Court ruling.
Combating Judicial Delay: Ensuring Speedy Justice in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling on judge accountability for undue delay, reinforcing constitutional mandates for speedy disposition of cases.
Credibility of Deaf-Mute Witness Testimony in Rape Cases: Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
How the Supreme Court affirmed rape convictions based on a deaf-mute eyewitness's testimony, setting rules on witness credibility in Philippine criminal law.
Public Bidding vs. Right of First Refusal: Fair Competition in Government Asset Sales
Supreme Court ruling on how the right to top a bid undermines competitive public bidding in government asset sales.
Positive Identification Trumps Alibi: Witness Credibility in Philippine Murder Cases
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification against alibi and denial in murder cases, explained through a Supreme Court ruling.