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.
Acquisitive Prescription and Double Sales: When Long-Term Possession Confirms Ownership
A Supreme Court ruling on how prior possession and good faith determine ownership in double sales of land.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, ruling that the victim's positive identification outweighs the accused's weak defense of alibi.
Judicial Integrity Imperiled When Judges Betray Public Trust Lessons From Falsified Court Decisions
When a judge fabricates annulment decisions without proceedings, the Supreme Court shows why dismissal and disbarment follow.
Sound Mind Prevails: Upholding Testamentary Freedom in Will Probate
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that forgetfulness does not equal unsound mind, and oppositors bear the burden in will probate cases.
When Onboard Recreation Becomes Work-Related: Seafarer Disability Claims Under the POEA-SEC
The Supreme Court clarifies when injuries from onboard recreational activities are compensable under the POEA-SEC and the Bunkhouse Rule.
When a Case Becomes Moot: The Stradcom v. Laqui Ruling on Preliminary Injunctions
The Supreme Court explains the moot and academic doctrine in Stradcom v. Laqui, showing how a preliminary injunction expires with the main case.
Cooperatives No Longer Exempt From Court Fees: The 2012 Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court denied cooperatives' exemption from court and sheriff's fees, reaffirming judicial independence and fiscal autonomy.
Prescription Period for Illegal Dismissal: The 4-Year Rule in Philippine Labor Law
Illegal dismissal claims prescribe in four years, not three. Learn the rule and how refiling a case interrupts prescription.
Land Registration: Proving Possession for Imperfect Titles Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies what evidence proves open, continuous possession for land registration under the Public Land Act and Property Registration Decree.
Bouncing Checks and Civil Liability: Why You Can't Sue Separately for a BP 22 Violation in the Philippines
Learn why a bounced check can lead to estafa prosecution, not just BP 22, and what this means for your civil remedies.
Litis Pendentia and Forum Shopping in Philippine Law: The Cabreza Case
Learn how the Supreme Court applied litis pendentia and forum shopping rules to bar a second suit over the same conjugal property dispute.
When a General Manager Is Not a Corporate Officer: Jurisdiction Over Illegal Dismissal Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies when a corporate officer is really an employee, and who has jurisdiction over dismissal disputes.
Probating Foreign Wills in the Philippines: A Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to probate a foreign will in the Philippines, including the legal requirements, court process, and practical steps for heirs and executors.
Judicial Ethics: Sheriff Dismissed for Accepting Payoffs in Landmark Philippine Ruling
Supreme Court dismisses deputy sheriff for accepting kickbacks from a newspaper publisher in exchange for judicial notice assignments, reaffirming strict ethics for court personnel.
Moral Integrity in Public Service: Court Employee Sanctioned for Immoral Conduct
Court interpreter fined P50,000 for illicit affair with married man. Resignation does not erase administrative liability in the judiciary.
Illegal Dismissal vs Abandonment: Supreme Court Clarifies Employer's Burden of Proof
The Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases and what constitutes abandonment of work.
Nogales v. People: When Obscene Files in Computers Are Forfeited Even Without Conviction
Supreme Court rules hard disks containing obscene materials are forfeited and destroyed under P.D. 969 even if criminal case is dismissed.
Accountability in Public Office: Understanding Malversation of Public Funds in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains the elements of malversation of public funds and why restitution does not erase criminal liability for accountable officers.
Just Compensation in Expropriation: Upholding Fair Market Value for Property Owners
Philippine Supreme Court affirms that just compensation in expropriation is based on fair market value, not tax or zonal valuations alone.
Probationary Employee Rights: When Misclassification Makes You Regular From Day One
Learn how the Supreme Court protects probationary employees from unfair dismissal and when lack of clear standards makes you a regular employee.
Timely Transcript Submission: Court Stenographer Suspended for Delayed TSNs
Supreme Court suspends court stenographer for chronic TSN delays, underscoring that efficiency and compliance with Administrative Circular No. 24-90 are mandatory in the judiciary.
Reconstitution of Lost Title: Supreme Court Clarifies Rules on Destroyed Land Records
Supreme Court clarifies rules on reconstituting lost land titles when registry records were destroyed by fire, easing documentary requirements.
Reconstitution of Lost Titles: Supreme Court Clarifies Evidence Rules in Faustino Co Shu Kiam v. Republic
Supreme Court clarifies reconstitution of lost titles, ruling on evidence standards for owner's duplicate and ROD certifications under RA 26.
Disqualification vs. COC Cancellation: Timelines That Decide Election Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies the critical distinction between election disqualification petitions and petitions to cancel certificates of candidacy.