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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Child Trafficking and Sexual Abuse: Philippine Law and Victim Protection
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies qualified trafficking in persons and rape, and the strong legal protections for minor victims in the Philippines.
Case-Fixing in the Ombudsman: When Dishonesty Leads to Dismissal from Service
The Supreme Court affirms that case-fixing in the Ombudsman warrants dismissal, clarifying the standards of conduct for public servants.
Insanity Defense in Philippine Criminal Law: Defining the Boundaries of Criminal Responsibility
The Supreme Court clarifies when insanity exempts an accused from criminal liability, applying a strict three-way test.
GSIS Housing Loans and Insurance: Protecting Heirs' Rights After a Borrower's Death
A Supreme Court ruling on GSIS housing loans clarifies when Sales Redemption Insurance applies and how heirs can save a deceased borrower's property from cancellation.
Presidential Power vs Individual Rights: Amnesty Revocation in the Philippines
The Supreme Court rules on amnesty revocation, due process, and the limits of presidential power in the Trillanes cases.
Large Scale Illegal Recruitment in the Philippines: Economic Sabotage Explained
The Supreme Court affirms life imprisonment for large scale illegal recruitment, an offense involving economic sabotage under Philippine law.
Proving Unilateral Termination in Distribution Agreements: San Miguel Foods v. Fabie
The Supreme Court clarifies what evidence is needed to prove unilateral termination of a distribution agreement and recover damages.
GSIS Housing Loan Death Claims: When Insurance Lapses but Equity Survives
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on GSIS housing loans, Sales Redemption Insurance coverage, and heirs' right to restructure after a borrower's death.
Upholding Arbitration Awards: BCDA v. CJH Development and the Finality of Arbitral Decisions
The Supreme Court affirms that confirmed arbitral awards are immediately executory and cannot be modified on certiorari, reinforcing arbitration as a final dispute resolution mechanism.
Constructive Dismissal in the Philippines: When Resignation Isn't Voluntary
The Supreme Court explains when a resignation is actually constructive dismissal—a dismissal in disguise—and what remedies an employee can claim.
Drug Use in the Philippine Judiciary: When Rehabilitation Trumps Dismissal
The Supreme Court suspends a court employee for one year instead of dismissing him, signaling a shift toward rehabilitation for drug use.
Protecting Employee Rights: How Forced Resignation Leads to Constructive Dismissal
The Supreme Court clarifies when forced resignation amounts to constructive dismissal, protecting employees from hostile work environments and coercive employer conduct.
GCTA Eligibility After Conviction: Guinto v. DOJ Explained
The Supreme Court ruled that the 2019 IRR exceeded R.A. 10592 by excluding heinous crime convicts from GCTA. Here's what it means.
Gym Liability in the Philippines: Negligence, Member Disclosure, and the Slimmers World Case
Who pays when a gym member suffers a medical emergency? The Supreme Court's Slimmers World ruling clarifies negligence, causation, and member responsibility.
PAL Aviation Fuel Tax Exemption: Supreme Court Clarifies Importation Rules
Supreme Court affirms PAL's refund for Jet A-1 fuel import taxes, interpreting PD 1590's tax exemption conditions.
Simple Misconduct vs. Grave Misconduct: A Philippine Government Accountability Guide
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between simple and grave misconduct in Aragon-Mabang v. Ombudsman, a landmark 2024 ruling on public officer liability.
Tax Assessment Time Limits: How a Missed Deadline Can Save You Millions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on tax assessment prescription periods, false returns, and why the BIR's missed deadlines can invalidate deficiency assessments.
Dishonesty and Insubordination in the Workplace: A Philippine Supreme Court Case Analysis
The Supreme Court rules on serious dishonesty and gross insubordination by a court employee who tampered with her daily time record.
Treachery and Confessions: Understanding Murder Convictions in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains how treachery qualifies a killing as murder and when extrajudicial confessions are admissible in Philippine courts.
Supreme Court Clarifies Just Compensation Payment and COA's Role in Expropriation
Final and executory just compensation awards need no prior COA approval; payment is now subject to post-audit only.
Bill of Particulars in Philippine Criminal Procedure: What Enrile v. Sandiganbayan Teaches
The Supreme Court clarifies the role and limits of a bill of particulars in criminal cases, and the remedies available to an accused.
Attorney Disciplinary Action: When Offensive Social Media Posts Lead to Disbarment Risk
Learn how a lawyer's Facebook post accusing the Supreme Court of "judicial tyranny" led to contempt and disciplinary action under the CPRA.
Fiscal Autonomy Limits: When Government Corporations CAN Grant Employee Benefits
Supreme Court clarifies that government corporations like PhilHealth cannot grant employee benefits without presidential approval, even with fiscal autonomy provisions.
When Judges Overstep Authority: Due Process in Execution Proceedings
Supreme Court clarifies judicial authority in execution proceedings, dismissing administrative charges against a judge while reminding litigants of proper remedies.