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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Rape Conviction Reversal: Why Victim Conduct After the Alleged Assault Matters
Philippine Supreme Court reverses rape conviction, ruling that a complainant's post-incident behavior—writing to and seeking out the accused—can cast reasonable doubt on credibility.
Public Sector Strikes: Balancing Employee Rights and Government Service
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on public school teachers' mass actions, explaining why government employees cannot strike and the limits of constitutional rights.
Forcible Abduction and Rape: When "Elopement" Is Actually a Crime
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies forcible abduction, rape, and grave coercion in People v. De Lara, distinguishing consensual elopement from criminal force.
Mandamus and Judicial Duty: Enforcing Court Orders in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on interlocutory orders, summary judgment, and the ministerial duty of courts to execute final judgments.
Indispensable Parties in Philippine Appeals: When the Government Need Not Be Impleaded
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when the Office of the President is not an indispensable party in appeals from its decisions.
Lost Court Exhibits: When Court Personnel Are Held Liable
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on sheriff's liability for lost firearms held as court exhibits, explaining duties of clerks of court.
Tenant Redemption Rights: Time Limits and Land Ownership Transfers
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on the two-year redemption period for agricultural tenants under RA 3844 and its effect on land transfers.
Expropriation in the Philippines: When Can Land Be Sold During Proceedings
Learn when landowners can still sell property during expropriation proceedings and who gets just compensation, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Appeal vs Certiorari in Philippine Courts: Why the Wrong Remedy Can Cost You Your Case
Philippine Supreme Court explains why appeal and certiorari are not interchangeable remedies, and how choosing wrong can be fatal.
Understanding Novation in Philippine Contract Law: When Does a New Agreement Cancel the Old
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a new contract cancels an old one, and why novation is never presumed in law.
Bail in Capital Offenses: The Mandatory Hearing Requirement
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains why judges must hold a hearing before granting bail in capital offenses like rape.
Employee Abandonment in the Philippines: What Employers Must Prove Before Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the two elements of employee abandonment and the required notices before termination.
Eminent Domain in the Philippines: Why RTCs Always Have Jurisdiction
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that expropriation suits are incapable of pecuniary estimation, so RTCs have exclusive jurisdiction regardless of property value.
Jurisdictional Threshold Resolving Agrarian Disputes in Ejectment Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when ejectment cases must be referred to agrarian courts, and the importance of hearing jurisdictional issues.
When Mental Illness Raises Doubt: The Estrada Case on Competency to Stand Trial
Philippine Supreme Court nullifies a murder conviction where the trial court ignored evidence of the accused's mental illness and denied a mental examination.
Unmarried Couples and Property Rights in the Philippines: Co-Ownership in Illicit Relationships
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on property co-ownership for unmarried couples in adulterous relationships under Article 148 of the Family Code.
Employee Theft and Misconduct: Legal Consequences and Employer Responsibilities in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on employee theft, grave misconduct, and employer duties in administrative cases.
Incestuous Rape Relationship as a Qualifying Circumstance for the Death Penalty
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when the father-daughter relationship in rape must be alleged in the complaint to justify the death penalty.
Unreliable Witness Identification When Does It Impact A Criminal Case
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when witness identification and conspiracy evidence fail to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Conspiracy in Kidnapping Cases: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conspiracy requires overt acts, not mere presence, to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt in criminal cases.
Contract of Sale vs Contract to Sell: Key Differences and Legal Implications
Philippine Supreme Court explains the difference between a contract of sale and a contract to sell, and why the distinction matters in real estate disputes.
Non-Compete Clauses and Preliminary Injunctions: Time Limits and Mootness in Philippine Employment Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how non-compete clauses affect preliminary injunction validity, time limits, and mootness in employment disputes.
Judicial Misconduct: Understanding Gross Ignorance of the Law in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a judge's legal errors become administrative liability for gross ignorance of the law.
Concurrent Jurisdiction and Forum Shopping: Lessons from a Copyright Dispute
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts of concurrent jurisdiction must defer to the court first acquiring jurisdiction to prevent forum shopping.