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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Chain of Custody Breaches Lead to Acquittal in Drug Sale Case
Supreme Court acquits drug suspects after police fail to justify missing DOJ and media witnesses during inventory under Section 21.
Philippine Ports Authority v. City of Davao: Jurisdiction and Forum Shopping in Real Property Tax Cases
Explains why the CTA, not the CA, has exclusive jurisdiction over real property tax appeals and why splitting remedies constitutes forum shopping.
Exploitation of Minors: Upholding the Anti-Trafficking Law in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms life imprisonment for trafficking a minor into prostitution, clarifying that a child's consent or voluntary act does not negate liability under RA 9208.
Jurisdictional Thresholds in Property Partition: Assessed Value as Key Determinant
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that partition actions require alleging the property's assessed value to determine which court has jurisdiction.
Seafarers Disability: The 240-Day Rule and the Right to Full Benefits
The Supreme Court clarifies when a seafarer's disability is deemed permanent and total under the 240-day rule, and why a timely company-doctor assessment matters.
Safeguarding Rights: The Importance of Procedural Compliance in Drug Cases
Learn how procedural compliance protects rights in Philippine drug cases, as illustrated by a recent Supreme Court decision.
Premature Attachment of Public Funds and Provisional Remedies in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on when garnishment of government funds is premature, and why administrative complaints cannot replace lost judicial remedies.
Retirement Benefits Determine Employee Status in Constructive Dismissal Cases
A bus driver who stopped reporting for work was not constructively dismissed but still entitled to retirement pay.
Neglect of Duty: Court Personnel Accountability in Safekeeping Evidence
A clerk of court was fined P20,000 for losing a firearm exhibit under his custody. The Supreme Court clarifies accountability for court personnel.
Trademark Ownership Rests on Prior Use, But Related Goods Still Matter
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies trademark ownership via prior use and the test for related goods in SAKURA dispute.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Protecting Rights Through Strict Procedure
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over police lapses in Section 21 procedure, reaffirming that strict compliance protects the innocent.
Treachery Unproven When A Sudden Attack Doesnt Automatically Mean Murder
Supreme Court clarifies that sudden attacks do not automatically prove treachery, downgrading murder to homicide in People v. Francisco.
Quieting of Title and the Best Evidence Rule in Philippine Land Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on quieting of title, best evidence rule, and proving ownership in land disputes.
Who Can Sue on Behalf of a Closed Bank Under Receivership
The Supreme Court explains why only the PDIC, as receiver, may sue for a closed bank, and where to file cases against the BSP.
Quo Warranto and Judicial Integrity: The Sereno Case Explained
The Supreme Court's Sereno ruling clarifies that quo warranto can oust impeachable officers who lack constitutional qualifications like proven integrity.
Presumptive Death for Military Benefits: No Court Declaration Needed
Supreme Court clarifies that PVAO and AFP can process death benefits of missing soldiers without a court declaration of presumptive death.
Protecting Childhood: Upholding Conviction in Statutory Rape Cases Based on Victim Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, holding that a child victim's credible testimony alone suffices to prove carnal knowledge.
Plagiarism in Academia: Supreme Court Upholds Dismissal of UE Professors for Misrepresentation
Supreme Court upholds dismissal of professors for plagiarism, misrepresentation, and breach of trust, clarifying stare decisis and waiver rules.
Divorce Recognition Expanding Rights FOR Filipinos IN Mixed Marriages
Learn how the Supreme Court expanded divorce recognition for Filipinos in mixed marriages, allowing remarriage even if they initiated the foreign divorce.
Judicial Ethics: Scrutinizing Complaints Against Justices and the Standard of Proof
A look at how the Supreme Court handles administrative complaints against justices, using a 2018 case to explain the burden of proof.
Divorce Abroad: A Filipino Spouse's Right to Remarry After a Foreign Divorce
The Supreme Court clarifies when a Filipino can remarry after a foreign divorce, even if the Filipino initiated the divorce proceedings abroad.
Project Employment in Construction: Defining Scope and Tenure in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when construction workers are project employees, not regular employees, and what benefits they retain.
Unexplained Wealth Forfeiture of Illegally Acquired Assets Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on forfeiture of unlawfully acquired assets under RA 1379, including the burden of proof and evidentiary standards.
Immutability of Judgments in Foreclosure Interest Calculations and Redemption Rights
Supreme Court clarifies that final judgments on foreclosure interest cannot be modified, and redemption rights lapse without payment.