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.
Defying Court Orders Consequences OF Disobedience IN THE Philippine Justice System
The Supreme Court clarifies that repealing a penal law does not erase criminal liability when the offense is reenacted, affirming a child pornography conviction.
Seafarer Death Benefits: Work-Related Illness and Employer Liability in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the disputable presumption of work-relatedness for seafarer death benefits under the POEA-SEC, shifting the burden of proof to employers.
Attorney’s Lien vs. Client’s Rights: When Can a Lawyer Withhold a Passport in the Philippines?
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of an attorney’s retaining lien, ruling that lawyers cannot withhold a client’s passport or other essential documents.
Financial Abuse Under VAWC: Why Intent Matters in RA 9262 Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that financial abuse under RA 9262 requires proof of intent to cause emotional anguish, not just denial of support.
Qualified Rape and Moral Ascendancy: When Trust Becomes a Weapon
How moral ascendancy can substitute for force in rape cases, and why abusing a position of trust over a minor leads to qualified rape.
Land Title Registration in the Philippines: Navigating Ownership Complexities
The Supreme Court clarifies how RA 11573 affects land registration applications, shortening the possession period to 20 years before filing.
Employer and Vehicle Owner Liability: Solidary vs. Vicarious Under Philippine Law
When a driver causes an accident, liability depends on presence. Learn the difference between solidary and vicarious liability.
Theft vs. Robbery in the Philippines: The Element of Force Explained
Understand the difference between theft and robbery under Philippine law, and how the element of force affects criminal liability and penalties.
Motion to Withdraw Information: When Courts Must Assess Evidence Before Dismissal
Courts must independently assess evidence before granting a motion to withdraw information. Learn the rules from a recent Sandiganbayan case.
Insanity Defense in Philippine Law: When Mental Illness Excuses Criminal Liability
The Supreme Court clarifies when insanity exempts an accused from criminal liability under Article 12 of the Revised Penal Code.
Understanding Qualified Trafficking in Persons: Insights from a 2023 Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court affirms a conviction for qualified trafficking in persons, explaining the elements of the crime and how courts prove them.
Economic Abuse Under RA 9262: Intent Matters in Denial of Financial Support Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that willful intent to cause anguish, not mere financial hardship, is required for economic abuse convictions under RA 9262.
Unlawful Detainer: How Tolerance Affects Property Rights in the Philippines
Learn how tolerated occupancy can become unlawful detainer when the owner withdraws permission, based on a 2023 Supreme Court ruling.
Local Tax Assessments After Corporate Restructuring: Who Pays?
Supreme Court rules on who bears local business tax liability when a government corporation's operations transfer by law to another entity.
Foreclosure Publication Rule: Why Missing the Notice Voids the Sale
Failure to publish a foreclosure notice under Act No. 3135 is a jurisdictional defect that invalidates the sale, as Baclig v. Rural Bank of Cabugao shows.
Judicial Clemency in the Philippines: When a Dismissed Judge Can Be Forgiven
The Supreme Court explains the rules on judicial clemency and when a dismissed judge may recover retirement benefits.
Proving Online Abuse: Social Media Evidence in VAWC Cases
Supreme Court clarifies how to prove authorship of social media posts in VAWC cases and raises penalties when ICT is used.
Forged Donation Municipality Liable FOR Taking Private Land Without Just Compensation
Supreme Court rules a municipality must pay just compensation when it builds a road on private land under a forged deed of donation.
Forged Signatures and Municipal Liability: Just Compensation for Illegally Constructed Roads
When a municipality builds a road on private land based on a forged deed, the owner may be entitled to just compensation rather than removal of the road.
Defective Summons and Voluntary Appearance: Due Process in Property Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when defective extraterritorial summons can be cured by voluntary appearance—and why due process still protects the defendant.
Defective Summons Voids Trustee Appointment: Key Lessons from Diversified Plastic Film v. PI-One
Defective summons can void court proceedings. Learn the jurisdictional limits and SPV Act requirements from this Supreme Court ruling.
Probating a Foreign Will in the Philippines: Lessons from a Landmark Case
Learn the formalities for probating foreign wills in the Philippines, from a landmark Supreme Court case on foreign law proof.
Discernment in Juvenile Justice: Key Lessons from CICL XXX vs. People
Understand how Philippine courts determine a minor's discernment and criminal liability, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in CICL XXX vs. People.
Winning the Lottery Without a Ticket: Contract Law and Games of Chance in the Philippines
The Supreme Court ruled that a damaged lotto ticket doesn't bar winning the jackpot if the bettor proves selecting the winning combination.