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.
When Can an Employer Assign Tasks Outside Your Job Description? Philippine Labor Law
Philippine law limits management prerogative. Learn when an employer can assign tasks outside your job description and your rights.
Injunctions and Property Rights: When Courts Will Intervene
A clear property right is essential for an injunction. The Supreme Court explains the rules in Far East Bank v. Court of Appeals.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Application and Implications
How Philippine courts apply treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, explained through the 1996 Supreme Court ruling in People v. Caritativo.
When Can You Justifiably Use Force: Self-Defense in the Philippines
Learn the legal requirements for self-defense in the Philippines, including the elements of unlawful aggression and how courts assess justifiable force.
Consequences of Neglecting Fiduciary Duties: A Guide for Philippine Government Officials
Learn how a judge's four-year delay in remitting court funds led to a P20,000 fine for gross neglect of duty.
Estafa vs Breach of Contract: When a Civil Wrong Becomes a Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies when failure to return leased property crosses from civil breach to criminal estafa, requiring criminal intent.
Judicial Efficiency Consequences FOR Judges Delaying Case Resolutions IN THE Philippines
Learn the consequences for judges who delay case resolutions in the Philippines, citing the Supreme Court's ruling on gross inefficiency.
Liquidated Damages in Lease Agreements: Enforceability and Practical Implications
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when liquidated damages in lease contracts are enforceable and how courts treat penalty clauses.
Self-Defense and Treachery: Understanding Criminal Liability in Philippine Law
A look at how Philippine courts weigh self-defense claims against treachery in murder cases, using the Lapura ruling.
State Witness vs Prosecution Witness: Key Differences in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the legal distinction between a state witness and a prosecution witness in criminal cases.
Rape Conviction Based on Victim's Testimony: Understanding Credibility in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a rape conviction can rest solely on the victim's credible testimony, and why force or intimidation is judged from the victim's perspective.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Philippine Corporate Officers Are Personally Liable
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers can be held personally liable for labor claims, explaining the doctrine of piercing the corporate veil.
The Alibi Defense Proving Physical Impossibility in Philippine Criminal Law
Learn how Philippine courts test alibi defenses through physical impossibility, using the 1996 Bautista case as a guide.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Attack
Learn how Philippine courts define treachery, why it qualifies killing as murder, and what Patrolla v. People teaches about intent and attack.
Probable Cause and Issuance of Arrest Warrants: The Roberts Case Explained
When must a judge examine records before issuing warrants? The Roberts case clarifies probable cause and arrest warrant rules.
Labor-Only Contracting: When a Supplier of Workers Is Just an Agent of the Employer
Understand labor-only contracting in the Philippines and when a manpower supplier is deemed a mere agent, making the principal employer liable.
Treachery in Philippine Law: When Does an Attack Qualify as Murder
The Supreme Court explains when a killing is treachery-qualified murder and when it remains only homicide, with practical guidance.
Proving Treachery in Murder Cases: Lessons from People v. Ocsimar
The Supreme Court clarifies that treachery must be proven as clearly as the crime itself, and a stab from behind does not automatically qualify as murder.
Understanding Substituted Service and Extrinsic Fraud in Philippine Ejectment Cases
Learn how Philippine courts treat substituted service of summons and extrinsic fraud in ejectment cases, based on a 1996 Supreme Court ruling.
When Can Witness Testimony Lead to Acquittal: A Philippine Case Study
Learn how Philippine courts weigh witness credibility, hearsay exceptions, and declarations against penal interest in criminal cases.
Hearsay Exceptions: When Can a Third-Party Confession Clear Your Name?
A third-party confession can be hearsay evidence—but only admissible if the declarant is unavailable and trustworthy. Learn the rules.
Circumstantial Evidence Proving Guilt Beyond A Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Courts
How Philippine courts use circumstantial evidence to convict beyond reasonable doubt, explained through People v. Danao.
Can a Judge Act as Notary Public? Limits on Judicial Notarization in the Philippines
Philippine judges may notarize documents only within official functions. Learn the limits, the Asis ruling, and practical compliance tips.
Contempt of Court: Navigating the Boundaries of Respect and Legal Advocacy in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a motion for judicial inhibition crosses the line into direct contempt, and what lawyers and litigants should avoid.