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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Burden of Proof in Firearm-Related Murder: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on proving unlicensed firearm use in murder cases and the prosecution's burden of proof.
Accretion vs. Reclamation: Philippine Supreme Court Rules on Artificial Land Claims
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that artificially filled land is not accretion under Article 457, settling ownership disputes over man-made extensions.
Moral Ascendancy in Rape Cases: When Power Substitutes for Force Under Philippine Law
How the Supreme Court ruled that moral ascendancy can substitute for physical threat or intimidation in rape cases, protecting vulnerable victims.
Security of Tenure for OFWs: Why Illegal Dismissal and Void Contracts Matter
A Supreme Court ruling affirms that overseas Filipino workers enjoy security of tenure, and contracts violating this right are void.
Illegal Dismissal: Backwages and Separation Pay Computed Until Final Judgment
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that backwages and separation pay for illegally dismissed employees run until the judgment becomes final, regardless of who appealed.
Upholding Management Prerogative Employee Transfers AND Constructive Dismissal IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employee transfers and probationary dismissals violate security of tenure and due process.
Safeguarding Rights: Strict Adherence to the Chain of Custody in Drug Cases
In People v. Jaafar, the Supreme Court acquitted an accused after police failed to follow the mandatory chain of custody rules under Section 21 of RA 9165.
Caveat Venditor: Housing Developers Bear Responsibility for Hidden Defects
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on developer liability for hidden structural defects under Civil Code warranty and PD 957.
Protecting Seafarers' Permanent Partial Disability and the Right to Compensation
Supreme Court rules seafarers can claim permanent partial disability benefits even if injury is curable or not in POEA schedule.
Liberal Interpretation of Procedural Rules in Intellectual Property Appeals
Supreme Court rules that administrative tribunals like the IPO may liberally apply procedural rules, allowing substantial compliance with certification requirements.
When Can an Agent Delegate Authority? The Rule on Substitution Under Philippine Law
Philippine law presumes an agent may appoint a substitute unless prohibited. Learn the rules, limits, and risks from a Supreme Court ruling.
Finality of Judgment and Computation of Backwages in Illegal Dismissal Cases
When do backwages stop accruing in illegal dismissal cases? The Supreme Court clarifies the rule on finality of judgment.
Corporal Punishment vs Child Abuse: Where Philippine Law Draws the Line
The Supreme Court clarifies when disciplining a child crosses into child abuse under RA 7610, using a whipping case as the benchmark.
Economic Hardship Is Not a Valid Excuse to Breach a Lease Contract: Iloilo JAR Corp. v. Comglasco
A lessee cannot invoke economic crisis or financial difficulty to escape a lease contract. The Supreme Court clarifies Article 1267 limits.
Reconstitution of Titles: Strict Compliance With Legal Requirements Is Mandatory
A Supreme Court ruling on title reconstitution underscores that strict compliance with RA 26's jurisdictional requirements is mandatory, or proceedings are void.
Appeal Bonds: Financial Hardship Is Not a Valid Excuse for Non-Compliance
The Supreme Court rules that financial difficulty alone cannot excuse an employer from posting the full appeal bond required under the Labor Code.
Mortgage Agreements and Due Diligence: Protecting Buyer Rights in Condominium Developments
The Supreme Court clarifies when a civil case and an administrative complaint constitute forum shopping, protecting claimants' rights to pursue multiple remedies.
Witness Credibility and Treachery: Key Lessons from a Philippine Murder Conviction
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, explaining how witness credibility and treachery are assessed in Philippine criminal law.
Just Compensation in Agrarian Reform: Balancing Landowner Rights and Valuation Guidelines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that courts must apply DAR valuation formulas in agrarian just compensation cases, not rely solely on market values.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: Religious Affiliation and Shari'a Court Jurisdiction
Can a municipality be considered Muslim for Shari'a court jurisdiction? The Supreme Court says no, reversing a Shari'a District Court ruling.
Myocardial Infarction and Employee Compensation: Proving Causation in Occupational Diseases
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when myocardial infarction is compensable under the Employees' Compensation Program and what claimants must prove.
Overcoming Title Presumptions: The Imperative of Clear and Convincing Evidence in Land Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why clear and convincing evidence is required to overturn a free patent and certificate of title.
Defining Seafarer Disability Rights: The Limits of Medical Assessments in Maritime Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a seafarer's disability is permanent and total, and why the company physician's assessment prevails.
Judicial Accountability: Defining the Boundaries of Gross Ignorance of the Law
When does a judge's legal error become gross ignorance of the law? The Supreme Court clarifies the standard in Ortega v. Judge Dacara.