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.
Motion Denied Understanding Defective Notice OF Hearing IN Philippine Courts
Philippine courts demand proper notice of hearing in motions; defects can lead to denial. Learn the rules and practical tips.
Judicial Accountability When Archiving Cases Constitutes Gross Ignorance of the Law
A judge who archived criminal cases instead of forwarding them to the prosecutor was fined P30,000 for gross ignorance of the law.
Cityhood Laws and Equal Protection: The League of Cities Doctrine
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of 16 cityhood laws, ruling that Congress validly exempted certain municipalities from higher income requirements.
When Archiving Criminal Cases Becomes Gross Ignorance of the Law: Ricablanca v. Barillo
A judge's duty to transmit preliminary investigation records to prosecutors, explained through the Supreme Court's ruling in Ricablanca v. Barillo.
Direct Contempt of Court: Limits, Penalties, and Remedies Under Philippine Law
Learn the limits of direct contempt in Philippine courts, including penalties, due process rights, and remedies like certiorari.
Docket Fees and Jurisdiction: The David Lu Case on Actions Incapable of Pecuniary Estimation
Learn how the Supreme Court's David Lu ruling clarifies docket fees and jurisdiction for actions incapable of pecuniary estimation in Philippine courts.
Condominium Common Areas: When Utility Installations Inside a Unit Belong to the Corporation
Learn when electrical panels and utility installations inside a condominium unit are common areas under RA 4726 and the master deed.
Understanding Novation in Philippine Contract Law: When Can Agreements Be Modified
Learn when a new contract can replace an old one under Philippine law, based on a 2011 Supreme Court ruling on novation.
Fresh Period Rule in Criminal Appeals: Understanding the Limits of Judicial Overreach
The Supreme Court clarifies that the Neypes fresh period rule applies to criminal appeals, ensuring uniform treatment for accused persons.
Bail Before Formal Charges: The Limits of Judicial Discretion
A judge's verbal grant of bail without written application, deposit, or release order constitutes a violation of Rule 114.
Mortgage Priority Good Faith Trumps Subsequent Attachment In Property Disputes
Supreme Court ruling on mortgage priority, good faith, and why unregistered attachments don't defeat prior real estate mortgages.
Redundancy Dismissal in the Philippines: When Is It Legal? The Culili v. ETPI Case
The Supreme Court explains when redundancy dismissal is valid, what employers must prove, and the cost of missing procedural due process.
The Fresh Period Rule: Reconciling Procedure and Justice in Appeals
The Supreme Court extends the Neypes fresh period rule to criminal appeals, ensuring uniform 15-day appeal periods and protecting the accused's right to appeal.
When Public Use Fails: Reclaiming Expropriated Land in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when former owners can reclaim expropriated property after the public purpose is abandoned.
The Fresh Period Rule for Appeals in Philippine Criminal Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court applied the fresh period rule to criminal appeals, giving accused persons a full 15 days from denial of post-judgment motions.
Proving Actual Damages: The Standard for Compensation in Philippine Contract Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the strict standard for proving actual damages in contract disputes, requiring clear and convincing documentary evidence.
Evidence Rules in Philippine Administrative Cases: The Atienza Case Explained
Administrative bodies in the Philippines follow relaxed evidence rules. Learn what Atienza v. Board of Medicine means for professionals facing administrative scrutiny.
Eyewitness Reliability Scrutinizing Identification in Criminal Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms murder convictions based on a lone eyewitness, clarifying standards for witness credibility and identification in criminal cases.
Plagiarism in Judicial Decisions: What the Del Castillo Resolution Means
The Supreme Court clarifies that plagiarism in judicial decisions requires malicious intent, distinguishing judicial writing from academic standards.
Intervention Denied: Protecting Court Efficiency in Property Disputes
Supreme Court clarifies when intervention in property cases is improper, emphasizing court efficiency and the need for direct legal interests.
Dismissed Appeal: The Perils of Non-Compliance with Rules of Court
A dismissed appeal shows why strict compliance with Rule 44 on appellant's briefs is mandatory, not optional.
Lease Rescission Rights and Structural Defects: Key Lessons from a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a lessee may rescind a lease for structural defects and when damages may be awarded.
Conviction for a Different Crime: When Courts Can Convict You of an Uncharged Offense
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a conviction for an offense not charged in the Information is valid under the Rules of Court.
When Courts Overturn Convictions: Lessons on Evidence and Reasonable Doubt
The Supreme Court acquits a rape convict, explaining when appellate courts may disregard trial court credibility findings and why prosecution evidence must stand on its own.