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.
Conditional Land Donations in the Philippines: Reversion Rights and Valid Sales
When a conditional land donation fails, when can the donor validly sell the property? The Supreme Court explains reversion rights.
Unlicensed Firearm Use in Homicide: Navigating Philippine Law After RA 8294
The Supreme Court clarifies that under RA 8294, using an unlicensed firearm in a killing is an aggravating circumstance, not a separate crime.
Verbal Promises and Real Property: Why Oral Land Donations Fail in the Philippines
Oral donations of land are void under Philippine law. Learn why verbal promises cannot transfer real property ownership.
Ministerial Duty vs Discretion: When a Clerk of Court Must Act and the Consequences of Refusal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a sheriff's duty to execute a deed of sale is purely ministerial, and the penalties for refusal.
Implied Trusts in Philippine Property Law: When a Titleholder Is Not the True Owner
Learn how implied trusts work under Philippine law, the gift presumption for children under Article 1448, and key lessons from Morales v. Court of Appeals.
Admissibility of Confessions in Philippine Criminal Law: A Case Analysis
Learn how Philippine courts assess eyewitness credibility, delay in reporting crimes, and damages in murder cases through this case analysis.
Land Registration in the Philippines: Why Newspaper Publication Is Mandatory
Why newspaper publication is a mandatory requirement in Philippine land registration, and how failing to comply can invalidate your application.
Property Rights in Cohabitation: Ownership Rules for Unmarried Couples in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law divides property for unmarried couples, the limits on donations, and key lessons from the Agapay case.
Redemption Rights Under the Public Land Act: A Guide for Heirs and Mortgagors
Learn how the two-year redemption and five-year repurchase periods work for foreclosed Public Land Act properties, and what heirs should know.
Self-Defense and Voluntary Surrender: Key Lessons from a Philippine Murder Case
A Philippine Supreme Court case clarifies when self-defense fails and voluntary surrender mitigates murder liability. Learn the rules.
Extrajudicial Settlements and the Protection of Minor Heirs' Rights in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts protect minor heirs in extrajudicial settlements, and why a minor's share cannot be lost through prescription or laches.
Common Carriers and Passenger Safety: The Standard of Extraordinary Diligence in Philippine Law
Philippine law requires common carriers to exercise extraordinary diligence in ensuring passenger safety. This article explains the legal standard and its practical implications.
Principals Liability FOR Contractors Wage Violations KEY Protections FOR Workers IN THE Philippines
When can a principal be held liable for a security agency's failure to pay minimum wage? The Supreme Court explains joint and solidary liability under Philippine law.
Failing to Object to Evidence: Waiver Rules in Philippine Criminal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains why silence on inadmissible evidence means waiver, and how death before final judgment extinguishes liability.
Accretion vs. Foreshore Land in the Philippines: Who Owns Newly Formed Land?
Philippine law distinguishes accretion from foreshore land. Learn who owns newly formed land along rivers and seas under the Civil Code and the Spanish Law of Waters.
Judicial Recusal: Understanding Bias and Impartiality in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies when judges must inhibit and why late motions to disqualify are frowned upon.
Spanish Land Titles in the Philippines: P.D. 892 and Why They No Longer Prove Ownership
Spanish-era land titles lost their force under P.D. 892. Learn the registration deadline, the San Pedro ruling, and what evidence now counts.
Robbery With Homicide: Understanding the Composite Crime in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that robbery with homicide is a single composite crime, regardless of how many people are killed.
Partitioning Property Proving Ownership AND Avoiding Legal Pitfalls IN THE Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts handle partition actions, ownership disputes, and prescription from the Catapusan case.
Homicide vs Murder: Intent and Aggravating Circumstances in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when a killing is homicide, not murder, and how aggravating circumstances affect the penalty.
Mandamus vs. Quo Warranto: Choosing the Right Remedy for Public Office Disputes
Learn when to file mandamus or quo warranto in Philippine law, and how the Supreme Court's ruling in Garces v. CA guides the choice.
Builder in Good Faith in the Philippines: Rights Under Property Law
When can a mistaken builder claim good faith under Philippine law? The Supreme Court's ruling in Pleasantville clarifies the rights of builders and landowners.
Implied Trusts and Prescription: What the Esconde Case Means for Property Owners
Learn how implied trusts work in the Philippines and why delay can bar your property claim, based on the Supreme Court's Esconde ruling.