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.
Jurisdictional Threshold Resolving Agrarian Disputes in Ejectment Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when ejectment cases must be referred to agrarian courts, and the importance of hearing jurisdictional issues.
Corporate Officer Liability When Can a Company Executive Be Held Personally Responsible
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when corporate officers can be held personally liable for company obligations and acts.
Jurisdictional Boundaries Resolving Employer Employee Damage Claims IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that labor arbiters, not regular courts, have exclusive jurisdiction over employer damage claims arising from employment.
Defining the Boundaries of Rape: Penetration vs Attempt in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when rape is consummated versus merely attempted, requiring proof of penile entry into the labia.
Tax Exemption Boundaries: PAGCOR Privileges and the Perils of Misrepresentation
Supreme Court clarifies that PAGCOR's tax exemption on importations does not automatically extend to concessionaires, and warns against fraudulent claims.
Union Dues and Attorney's Fees: Protecting Employee Rights in Collective Bargaining
The Supreme Court clarifies when attorney's fees can be charged to union members and the strict rules on check-off deductions.
Circumstantial Evidence and Eyewitness Testimony in Rape of a Minor: People v. Torejos
The Supreme Court affirms a death sentence for rape of a three-year-old, clarifying evidentiary rules on witness credibility and circumstantial proof.
When Judges Notarize: Limits on Ex Officio Notarial Powers in Property Cases
A judge's unauthorized notarization of a private property document leads to a fine, clarifying ex officio notarial limits.
Judicial Overreach: When a Judge Solemnizes Marriage Outside Jurisdiction
A judge who solemnized a marriage outside his court's jurisdiction and failed to register it was fined P5,000. Learn the rules.
Judicial Overreach Defining Jurisdictional Boundaries IN Marriage Solemnization
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies judges' authority in marriage solemnization, ruling on jurisdiction limits and administrative liability.
Diplomatic Immunity vs Defamation: The Liang Case and Limits of Official Acts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on ADB staff immunity, defamation, and why diplomatic immunity is not absolute for criminal acts.
Tourist Duty Free Shops v. Sandiganbayan: Limits of PCGG Sequestration and Litis Pendentia
The Supreme Court clarifies when litis pendentia applies and the limits of PCGG sequestration powers over corporations.
Injunctions and Property Rights: Safeguarding Possession in Philippine Law
Philippine law protects possession through injunctions and property rights. This article explains how courts balance these interests.
Security Guard's Dismissal Ruled Illegal: Probationary Status and Sister Companies Explained
A security guard absorbed by a sister company becomes a regular employee; first-offense infractions cannot justify dismissal.
Due Process in Elections: When COMELEC Cannot Invalidate Votes
The Supreme Court nullified COMELEC's cancellation of a candidate's nickname votes for lack of notice and hearing, reaffirming due process in election cases.
Philippine Election Districting: Ensuring Fair Representation in Local Governance
How the Supreme Court upheld COMELEC's power to divide provinces into Sangguniang Panlalawigan districts, and what "equitable apportionment" really means.
Execution Pending Appeal in the Philippines: When Can a Judgment Be Enforced Immediately?
Learn when Philippine courts may allow execution pending appeal, the good reasons required, and the safeguards protecting a losing party's right to appeal.
Navigating Philippine Election Disputes Understanding Comelec AND Hret Jurisdiction
A clear guide to the division of authority between the Commission on Elections and the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal in election contests.
Territorial Integrity First: Why Boundary Disputes Must Be Resolved Before Barangay Plebiscites
Philippine Supreme Court rules boundary disputes are prejudicial questions that must be settled before barangay creation plebiscites can proceed.
Philippine Land Registration: Why Imperfect Titles Need Perfect Proof
A Supreme Court ruling on land registration shows why tax declarations and possession alone cannot confirm imperfect titles over public land.
Illegal Dismissal vs Constructive Dismissal: Union Formation and Employee Rights
Understand illegal dismissal versus constructive dismissal through Mark Roche International v. NLRC, a landmark Philippine labor case on union formation.
Think Before You Share: Understanding Republication Libel in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when sharing or republishing a news article becomes libel, and the crucial role of malice.
Confessions to Media in Philippine Law: The Domantay Case on Custodial Investigation
When are confessions to media admissible in Philippine courts? The Domantay case explains the limits of custodial investigation rights.
When Courts May Reopen a Criminal Case After Evidence Is Closed
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a trial court may reopen a criminal case after the parties have rested, and the limits of that discretion.