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.
Rape Conviction Based on Credible Testimony: People v. Suyat
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining when a victim's credible testimony alone can prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Upholding Corporate Governance: Limits of Stockholder Suits and Board Discretion
The Supreme Court clarifies when derivative suits may proceed and when courts must respect board discretion in corporate management.
Ballot Box Integrity is Key: Safeguarding Election Results in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Rosal v. Comelec: ballots must be proven untampered before they can overturn election returns.
Retirement Plans and Security of Tenure: Voluntary vs Compulsory Retirement in the Philippines
When does a retirement plan violate security of tenure? The Supreme Court explains the difference between voluntary and compulsory retirement.
Finality of Land Registration Judgment Prevails Despite Delayed Decree Issuance
A land registration judgment becomes final after 30 days and binds the whole world, even if the decree is issued decades later.
Quieting of Title and Summary Judgments: What Philippine Property Owners Should Know
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified when summary judgment is proper in quieting of title cases, and what this means for property owners facing ownership disputes.
Challenging Election Results: Pre-Proclamation Controversies and Void Proclamations
Learn when a pre-proclamation controversy can be filed after proclamation, and why a void proclamation is no proclamation at all.
Serious Physical Injuries in the Philippines: The Pilares Case Explained
Understand serious physical injuries under Philippine law through the Pilares case, including penalties, evidence, and self-defense considerations.
Land Title Registration in the Philippines: Overcoming the Presumption of Public Land
A Supreme Court ruling on land registration in the Philippines explains why proving alienable public land requires more than a surveyor's notation.
Lump Sum Land Sales: Boundaries vs. Area Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on land sales, tenancy, and why property boundaries matter more than area in lump sum transactions.
DOLE Compliance Orders and Jurisdictional Limits in Labor Disputes
Explains when DOLE regional directors may issue compliance orders exceeding P5,000, and why annulment cannot replace a lost appeal.
Judicial Impartiality in Philippine Courts: When Should a Judge Inhibit?
A Supreme Court ruling on when judges must inhibit from cases where their impartiality might be questioned, explained in plain language.
Lost Goods in Customs Custody: Government Liability and Revival of Judgments
A guide to government liability for lost goods in customs custody, revival of judgments, and legal interest rules under Philippine law.
Redemption Denied: Why Tender of Payment Is Crucial in Philippine Foreclosure Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains why a borrower must actually tender payment to redeem foreclosed property—not just file a case.
Judicial Accountability in the Philippines: When Judges Fail Their Duty
Supreme Court ruling on judge who resigned amid administrative cases shows accountability persists even after resignation from the judiciary.
Lack of Property Rights: Why a Valid Claim Is Essential to File a Case in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts require a valid claim or property right to file a case. This article explains the rule and its practical implications.
Judicial Delays and Judge Liability: Lessons from Dela Cruz v. Judge Vallarta
A Philippine judge fined P11,000 for gross inefficiency in resolving motions, plus P5,000 for contempt—what this means for litigants and judicial accountability.
Perjury in the Philippines: Proving Willful Falsehood in Legal Statements
The Supreme Court explains when a false statement under oath becomes perjury, requiring willful and deliberate intent beyond mere error.
Illegal Strikes and Return-to-Work Orders: What Philippine Labor Law Requires
When can a strike be declared illegal in the Philippines? The Supreme Court explains the binding effect of assumption and return-to-work orders.
When Can Courts Compel the Ombudsman to Prosecute? Mandamus Limits Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies that mandamus cannot compel the Ombudsman to file criminal charges, as prosecutorial discretion remains with that office.
Unconscionable Interest Rates: How Philippine Courts Protect Borrowers
Philippine courts void unconscionable interest rates as against public policy. Learn the rules, jurisprudential standards, and practical protections for borrowers.
Perjury in the Philippines: When a False Statement Is Not a Crime
The Supreme Court explains why negligence, not malice, in a sworn statement does not amount to perjury under Philippine law.
Voluntary Agreement IS KEY Understanding Valid Arbitration IN Philippine Barangay Dispute Resolution
Learn how the Supreme Court treats compromise agreements as binding law, and how filing a second case can constitute forum shopping.
Final Judgment IS Final: Understanding Forum Shopping AND Res Judicata IN Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies when a final DAR order becomes immutable and why Rule 47 annulment cannot replace a timely appeal.