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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Breach of Trust in Employment: Proving Dishonesty for Valid Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when loss of trust and confidence justifies employee dismissal, requiring substantial evidence of dishonesty.
Judicial Ethics: When Should a Judge Inhibit From a Case
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a judge must inhibit from a case to preserve impartiality and avoid the appearance of bias.
Rape Conviction and Identification: Understanding the Burden of Proof in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies proof beyond reasonable doubt in rape cases, distinguishing positive identification from mere speculation.
Bail in the Philippines: When Is a Hearing Required in Capital Offenses
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that bail in capital offenses requires a hearing, even if the prosecution recommends bail.
Termination of School Administrators: Qualification Standards and Due Process
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when schools may terminate administrators for lacking qualifications, and the due process required.
Employers Burden of Proof in Justifying Loss of Trust and Confidence in Employee Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that employers must prove just cause for dismissal based on loss of trust and confidence, not merely allege it.
When Can a Mortgage on Public Land Be Void: DBP v. Court of Appeals
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when mortgaging land under a free patent application is void and what makes a mortgage valid.
Incestuous Rape: Fear Explains Delay in Reporting Sexual Abuse
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how fear and terror in incestuous rape justify a victim's delay in reporting sexual abuse to authorities.
Arrastre Operator Liability: Understanding the Limits of Responsibility for Lost Cargo
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when an arrastre operator is liable for lost cargo and how management contracts limit that liability.
When Can Eyewitness Testimony Alone Convict in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence, not just eyewitness testimony, can convict an accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Estate Allowances: Who Can Receive Support During Probate in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who may receive support allowances from a decedent's estate during probate proceedings.
Labor-Only Contracting: When the Principal Is the Real Employer in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains labor-only contracting, employer liability, and separation pay rules in Magnolia Dairy v. NLRC.
Labor-Only Contracting: When a Manpower Agency Hides the Real Employer
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on labor-only contracting, employer-employee relationships, and separation pay for authorized dismissals.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Credibility of Witnesses and the Weakness of Alibi in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, explaining why witness credibility prevails over alibi and how trivial inconsistencies do not destroy a complainant's testimony.
Land Disputes When Informal Agreements Fail Understanding Property Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why informal land agreements without formal deeds do not defeat ejectment suits or transfer ownership.
Self-Defense vs. Unlawful Aggression: The Limits of Justifiable Force in Homicide Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies self-defense requirements and when sudden attack does not constitute treachery in homicide cases.
Breach of Contract vs Warranty: Prescription in Construction Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a construction defect claim is breach of contract (10-year prescription) versus hidden warranty (shorter periods).
Ejectment and Rent Control: When a Month-to-Month Lease Expires in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when landlords can eject tenants under month-to-month leases covered by rent control laws.
Serving Summons to Foreign Residents: Protecting Your Rights in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how summons must be served on nonresident defendants in property cases, protecting due process rights.
Retroactive Application of Subdivision Laws Protecting Home Buyers in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains why P.D. 957 protects home buyers even for contracts signed before 1976.
Understanding Intent in Murder Cases: When Can a Killing Be Reduced to a Lesser Crime
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on intent, treachery, and penalty computation in murder cases under the Revised Penal Code.