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.
Understanding Employee Dismissal: The Role of Substantial Evidence in Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies the substantial evidence standard in labor dismissals, ruling on a nursing attendant's termination for serious misconduct.
Understanding Gross Neglect of Duty: Losing Court Evidence in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court penalized court employees for gross neglect of duty after losing drug evidence in custody.
Understanding Jurisdiction in Injunction Cases: A Guide for Property Owners and Legal Practitioners
Learn how the Supreme Court resolved a tax dispute between two LGUs, and what it means for property owners facing competing tax claims.
Understanding Self-Defense and Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Insights from a Landmark Case
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies self-defense, defense of a relative, and treachery in murder cases under Philippine law.
Understanding Robbery With Rape Legal Insights AND Victims Rights IN THE Philippines
Learn about robbery with rape in the Philippines, including legal definitions, penalties, and victims' rights under Philippine law.
Understanding the Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: A Supreme Court Ruling on Illegal Sale and Possession
Learn how the Supreme Court applied the chain of custody rule in drug cases, affirming convictions for illegal sale and possession of shabu.
Understanding Just Compensation in Eminent Domain: Insights from a Landmark Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies who pays commissioners' fees in agrarian expropriation cases, a key part of just compensation proceedings.
Understanding Tax Exemptions for Condominium Dues and Fees: A Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when condominium association dues are taxable, resolving the validity of BIR RMC No. 65-2012.
Understanding Misconduct and the Condonation Doctrine in Philippine Local Government
A Supreme Court case study on administrative misconduct and the condonation doctrine in Philippine local government.
Understanding Jurisdictional Limits in Lease Disputes: A Guide to Security Deposits and Court Competence
The Supreme Court clarifies when lease disputes over security deposits fall under municipal trial courts versus regional trial courts.
Understanding the Principle of Totality of Infractions in Philippine Labor Law
Learn how the totality of infractions principle works in Philippine labor law, explained through a Supreme Court ruling on employee dismissal.
Understanding Rape and Lascivious Conduct: Insights from a Landmark Philippine Case
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies rape, sexual assault, and lascivious conduct distinctions, penalties, and victim testimony standards.
Understanding Conspiracy and Homicide When Threats Turn Deadly
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how circumstantial evidence can prove rape with homicide and why alibi often fails.
Understanding the Elements of Rape and the Power of Victim Testimony in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains how a victim's credible testimony can prove rape, even without physical injuries or eyewitnesses.
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.
Land Rights and Oral Sales: Understanding Property Disputes in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when oral sales of land are valid, and why the five-year free patent ban on alienation matters.
Loan Restructuring and Surety Obligations: Understanding Novation and Continuing Guarantees
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when loan restructuring extinguishes a surety's obligation and the binding effect of continuing guarantees.
Understanding Contractual Breach and Damages: Insights from a Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Case
Learn how a Philippine Supreme Court case on notarial misconduct clarifies contractual obligations, breach, and damages in property transactions.
Quitclaims and Illegal Dismissal: Understanding Employee Rights and Waivers in the Philippines
When is a quitclaim valid? The Supreme Court explains the rules on waivers and illegal dismissal in Vergara v. CDM Security Agency.
PHAPi v. Medialdea: Standing and Justiciability in the Anti-Hospital Deposit Law Challenge
The Supreme Court dismissed PHAPi's constitutional challenge to R.A. 10932 for lack of legal standing and absence of an actual case or controversy.
When Can an Association Represent Its Members in Court? Standing to Sue Explained
The Supreme Court explains when an association can sue for its members, and why lack of legal capacity to sue is fatal to a petition.
Defiance and Dismissal: Understanding Illegal Strikes and Return-to-Work Orders in the Philippines
When pilots defied a return-to-work order, the Supreme Court upheld their dismissal. Learn the legal consequences of illegal strikes.
Histrionic Personality Disorder as Ground for Nullity: Understanding Marital Obligations and Psychological Inc
The Supreme Court affirms that histrionic personality disorder can be psychological incapacity under Article 36, explaining the standards for declaring a marriage void.
Foreclosure Sales and Repurchase Rights: Understanding Bank Discretion in Asset Disposition
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that after the redemption period expires, former owners have no enforceable right to repurchase foreclosed property from the bank.