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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Spousal Consent and Conjugal Property: When a Sale Without Permission Is Void
Learn when a spouse can sell conjugal property without consent in the Philippines, and why such sales are void under the Family Code.
Lawyer Suspended for Using Colleague's Name Without Consent in Court Filings
Supreme Court suspends lawyer for two years for forging colleague's signature and using his name in a civil case without authorization.
Spousal Consent in Property Leases: What the Supreme Court Ruling Means
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that leases of common property without written spousal consent are void. Learn the rules and practical safeguards.
Consent in Rape Cases: Insights from People v. San Pedro (G.R. 219850)
A landmark Supreme Court ruling on consent, evidence, and proof beyond reasonable doubt in rape cases involving a deaf-mute complainant.
Oral Contracts of Sale: Validity and Enforceability Under Philippine Law
When is a verbal sale agreement binding in the Philippines? Learn the rules on validity, enforceability, and vitiated consent from a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Understanding Consent and Force in Rape Cases: Insights from Philippine Jurisprudence
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies force, threat, intimidation, and the "sweetheart theory" in rape convictions under Article 266-A of the RPC.
Consent and Intoxication in Rape Cases: Key Lessons from Philippine Jurisprudence
Philippine law on rape and intoxication: when severe drunkenness or unconsciousness negates consent, and why credible testimony can convict.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: Why Prosecutors' Consent Matters Under Rule 116
The Supreme Court voids a drug conviction where the trial court approved a plea bargain over the prosecution's objection, reaffirming Rule 116.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: Why Prosecutorial Consent Matters
The Supreme Court clarifies that plea bargaining in drug cases requires prosecutorial consent; courts cannot force a plea agreement over the prosecution's objection.
Understanding Void Transfers Protecting Conjugal Property Rights IN THE Philippines
A look at when transfers of conjugal property without a spouse's consent are void, and how courts protect family property rights.
When a Notarized Deed of Sale Fails: Consent Is Key in Philippine Property Transfers
A notarized deed does not guarantee a valid sale. The Supreme Court explains why genuine consent is essential in property transactions.
Understanding Consent AND Credibility KEY Factors IN Philippine Rape Convictions
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: Why Prosecutorial Consent Matters
The Supreme Court clarifies that plea bargaining in drug cases requires the prosecutor's consent, and explains the limits of A.M. No. 18-03-16-SC.
The Prosecutor's Consent in Plea Bargaining: Insights from a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a prosecutor's consent is indispensable for a valid plea bargain in drugs cases.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: Consent Rules, DOJ Circulars, and What the High Court Settled
The Supreme Court clarifies when prosecutors must consent to plea bargains in drug cases and why courts cannot strike down DOJ circulars on their own.
Voidable vs Void Contracts: What Spousal Consent Means for Property Sales in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that sales of conjugal property without spousal consent are voidable, not void, under the Civil Code.
Co-Ownership and Property Rights in the Philippines: The Racho Case on Consent
The Supreme Court clarifies when co-owners may sell inherited property and why consent of all heirs is required before partition.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: The Supreme Court’s Stand on Prosecution Consent
A guilty plea to a lesser drug offense needs the prosecutor’s consent. Learn the rules and what the Court said in People v. Reafor.
Seafarer Disability Rights: Consent, Compensation, and the 120/240-Day Rule in Maritime Law
A seafarer's right to consent to medical treatment and how it affects disability claims under Philippine maritime law.
The Sweetheart Defense in Philippine Rape Cases: What the Supreme Court Teaches Us
The sweetheart defense cannot justify rape. Learn what the Supreme Court ruled and why consent matters in Philippine law.
Consent in Child Sexual Abuse Cases: The Bangayan Ruling Under RA 7610
The Supreme Court's Bangayan ruling clarifies when consent matters for victims aged 12 to 17 under RA 7610.
Consent and Intimidation in Rape Cases: Lessons from a Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court acquitted in a rape case, showing how weak proof of force or intimidation can defeat a criminal charge.
Understanding Qualified Trafficking in Persons: Consent and Vulnerability in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains how consent does not negate trafficking when victims are vulnerable minors recruited for sexual exploitation.
Understanding Consent and Force in Rape Cases: Insights from Philippine Supreme Court Rulings
A look at how Philippine courts evaluate force, threat, and intimidation in rape cases, and why the "sweetheart defense" rarely succeeds.