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.
Rape of a Mentally Disabled Victim: How Courts Assess Force and Intimidation
The Supreme Court explains how force and intimidation in rape are measured when the victim is mentally disabled, citing the Dumanon case.
Airport Security Checks and Your Rights: The Johnson Case Explained
Understand your rights during airport security frisks in the Philippines, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Johnson.
Campus Press Freedom vs School Authority: Balancing Student Rights and Institutional Discipline in Philippine
How the Supreme Court balanced campus press freedom under RA 7079 with a school's disciplinary authority in Miriam College v. Court of Appeals.
Invalid Promulgation of Judgment: When Philippine Courts Fail to Follow Procedure
Philippine Supreme Court explains what makes a valid promulgation in absentia and when the accused's right to appeal accrues.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: SSS Coverage for Farmworkers in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a "pakyaw (piece-rate) basis considered an employee entitled to compulsory Social Security System (SSS) coverage? The ruling is a reminder that the label used b
Due Process and Eyewitness Identification: Safeguarding Fair Trials in Philippine Courts
How Philippine courts test eyewitness identification for impermissible suggestion, and why due process demands fair procedures in criminal trials.
Attempted Robbery With Homicide: Key Lessons From a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
Understand the special complex crime of attempted robbery with homicide under Philippine law, using insights from People v. Macabales.
Navigating Inheritance for Distant Relatives in the Philippines: Understanding the Rule of Proximity
Learn how Philippine intestate succession works for distant relatives, including the rule of proximity and who inherits when no immediate family exists.
Accretion vs. Avulsion: How River Course Changes Affect Land Ownership in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law treats land gained or lost through river shifts—accretion, avulsion, and erosion explained with the Bagaipo case.
When Self-Defense Fails: Unlawful Aggression and Reasonable Necessity in Philippine Law
When does self-defense hold up in Philippine courts? The Supreme Court explains unlawful aggression and reasonable necessity in People v. Dela Cruz.
Bouncing Checks and the Importance of Written Notice: Domagsang v. Court of Appeals
The Supreme Court rules that a mere verbal demand is not enough to convict under the Anti-Bouncing Check Law—written notice of dishonor is required.
Third-Party Claims in Philippine Execution Sales: Protecting Your Property
Learn how spouses and third parties can protect their property from wrongful execution sales in the Philippines, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Naguit v. Court of Appeals.
Rape Conviction: Consent, Intimidation, and Victim Testimony in Philippine Law
How the Supreme Court weighed intimidation, delayed reporting, and victim credibility in affirming a rape conviction.
Prescription of Falsification: When the Clock Starts Running Under Philippine Law
Learn when the prescriptive period for falsification of public documents begins under Philippine law, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Recebido v. People.
Prescription for Falsification of Public Documents: When the Clock Starts
Learn when the prescription period begins for falsification of public documents under Philippine law, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Recebido v. People.
Expired Business Permit and Court-Ordered Reopening: The Mathay v. Felt Foods Rule
When a business permit expires, courts generally cannot compel an LGU to allow reopening—even if the closure order was questionable.
Reviving Expired Judgments in the Philippines: The Terry Case and Contempt Limits
Learn when Philippine judgments expire, how to revive them, and why contempt cannot enforce stale court orders under the Terry ruling.
Murder or Homicide: Understanding Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law from People v. Templo
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a sudden attack amounts to treachery—and when it is only homicide, not murder.
Credible Eyewitnesses vs Weak Alibis: Key Insights From a Philippine Murder Case
Learn how Philippine courts weigh credible eyewitness testimony against weak alibis in murder cases, with practical insights for legal professionals.
In Rape Cases, a Child's Testimony Can Be Enough: Lessons from a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
A child's testimony alone can convict in rape cases. Learn key rules from People v. Segui on credibility, alibi, and damages.
Positive Identification in Philippine Criminal Law: Why Witness Testimony Is Key to Conviction
How the Supreme Court reaffirmed that credible witness testimony outweighs alibi and denial in rape convictions, shaping Philippine criminal law.
Certiorari Deadlines and the 60-Day Rule: Lessons from Pahimutang v. Court of Appeals
Understand the 60-day certiorari filing rule, proper remedies under Rule 45 vs. Rule 65, and finality of judgments in Philippine courts.
Decoding Marginal Deposits: How Contract Clarity Prevents Banking Disputes in the Philippines
Learn from Security Bank v. Transworld how ambiguous trust receipt terms on marginal deposits led to a decade-long dispute.
Protecting Your Right to Appeal: Discretionary Dismissal for Docket Fee Deficiencies in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts may dismiss appeals for unpaid docket fees, but dismissal is discretionary, not mandatory. Learn when deficiencies are excusable.