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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Employer Liability: Proving Payment of Wages and Benefits in Employee Claims
Learn how Philippine courts weigh employer evidence in labor claims, and why DOLE certifications alone may not prove payment of wages and benefits.
Reasonable Doubt, Chain of Custody, and Presumption of Innocence in Drug Cases
A look at how Philippine courts apply the presumption of innocence and the chain of custody rule in drug cases, and what this means for accused persons.
Eyewitness Credibility and Collective Liability in Criminal Conspiracy: Establishing Individual Guilt
Learn how Philippine courts assess eyewitness credibility and collective liability in criminal conspiracy cases, and what this means for individual guilt.
Challenging Drug Convictions: Credible Testimony and Evidence in Illegal Drug Cases
How Philippine courts weigh police testimony, chain of custody, and PDEA authority in drug cases.
Certiorari as a Substitute for Appeal: Navigating Procedural Missteps in Philippine Courts
Learn when certiorari can replace an appeal in Philippine procedure, and how the Supreme Court treats loss of trust and confidence in dismissals.
Reformation of Instruments: Proving True Intent Beyond Notarized Deeds
Explore when Philippine courts allow reformation of a notarized deed and why clear, convincing evidence is required to override its presumption of regularity.
Warsaw Convention Limits Philippine Courts' Jurisdiction Over International Air Travel Claims
Philippine courts lack jurisdiction over claims arising from international flights under the Warsaw Convention, as shown in Lhuillier v. British Airways.
When Can a Foreign Corporation Sue in the Philippines? The Cargill Case
The Cargill ruling clarifies when an unlicensed foreign corporation may sue in Philippine courts and what "doing business" means.
Treachery and Self-Defense: Examining the Boundaries of Criminal Liability in Philippine Law
A look at how Philippine courts weigh self-defense claims and treachery, and why the burden of proof matters in criminal cases.
The Weight of Eyewitness Testimony: Evaluating Credibility in Vehicular Negligence Cases
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness accounts and evidence in vehicular negligence cases, explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling.
The Limits of Self-Defense: Establishing Unlawful Aggression in Homicide Cases
Explore how Philippine courts require clear proof of unlawful aggression for self-defense claims, using a 2010 murder case as guide.
Double Sale or Ownership: Resolving Property Disputes in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts resolve property disputes, from double sales to registration issues, and what the Diaz v. Republic ruling means for landowners.
Motion for Reconsideration: A Necessary Step Before Filing Certiorari
Learn why Philippine courts require a motion for reconsideration before a Rule 65 certiorari petition, as shown in this Supreme Court ruling.
Judicial Immunity and Unsubstantiated Administrative Complaints Against Judges
Philippine courts dismiss administrative complaints against judges when the allegations are unsupported and the acts complained of are judicial in nature.
When Courts Must Decide Independently: Withdrawal of Criminal Informations in the Philippines
Philippine courts must independently assess prosecutors' motions to withdraw criminal informations, not merely adopt the Secretary of Justice's recommendation.
Speedy Trial Rights Balancing Justice AND Practicality IN Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies that the right to speedy trial is relative and flexible, not a rigid counting of days.
Protecting Minority Shareholders When CAN A Derivative Suit BE Dismissed
Learn when Philippine courts may dismiss a derivative suit, the strict rules on service of summons, and how jurisdiction protects minority shareholders.
Reconveyance and Good Faith: Protecting Land Ownership in the Philippines
A look at how Philippine courts handle reconveyance actions, good faith purchasers, and the limits of Torrens titles in land disputes.
Accountability for Group Actions: Establishing Conspiracy in Criminal Law
Understand how Philippine courts determine conspiracy in criminal cases, when group liability attaches, and why mere presence or evasion of arrest does not equate to guilt.
Unconscionable Interest Rates: When Courts Step In to Protect Borrowers
Philippine courts can reduce excessive loan interest rates. Learn how the Supreme Court protected borrowers from unconscionable terms.
Attorney's Fees and Quantum Meruit: Fair Compensation for Legal Services in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts determine reasonable attorney's fees and quantum meruit principles, with insights from a Supreme Court ruling on contractual obligations.
Navigating Improvements on Another's Land: Understanding Builders' Rights in Philippine Property Disputes
Learn how Philippine courts handle improvements built on another's land, including the landowner's options under Article 448 of the Civil Code.
Illegal Recruitment and Estafa: When Overseas Job Promises Turn Into Crimes
Learn how Philippine courts punish syndicated illegal recruitment and estafa, based on a Supreme Court ruling on fake overseas job schemes.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: Proving Unlawful Aggression for Justification
Learn how Philippine courts test self-defense claims, focusing on the indispensable element of unlawful aggression, from People v. Aburque.