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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Navigating Property Disputes: The Crucial Role of Assessed Value in Determining Court Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court clarifies res judicata and jurisdiction rules in property disputes, emphasizing the importance of assessed value in determining which court has authority.
Negligence on the Road: When Employer Liability Intersects With Employee Conduct
A Supreme Court ruling on bus driver dismissals clarifies negligence as just cause, procedural due process, and the limits of settlement authority.
Disbarment for Deceit: Upholding Ethical Standards in the Legal Profession
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for immorality, clarifying that only the Court can discipline lawyers and that compliance must be actual.
Treachery in Multiple Shooting: How a Cascade of Violence Proved Guilt
When one sudden attack fells several victims, treachery may qualify each offense—explaining the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Oandasan.
Judicial Impartiality: A Judge's Duty to Disqualify in Cases Involving Relatives
The Supreme Court clarifies when judges must disqualify themselves from cases involving relatives, even at the warrant stage.
Procedural Due Process in Employment Termination: The Right to a Hearing
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that employers must provide a hearing or conference, not just written notices, before validly dismissing employees.
Citizenship Revocation and Deportation: Due Process in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court nullified a deportation order based on flimsy evidence, underscoring that citizenship revocation demands substantial proof and due process.
VAT Refunds for Ecozone Enterprises: The Cross Border Doctrine Explained
Supreme Court clarifies when ecozone enterprises can claim VAT refunds and how the Cross Border Doctrine affects input tax claims.
Betrayal of Trust: Supreme Court Upholds Conviction in Father-Daughter Rape Case
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of a father for statutory rape of his 9-year-old daughter, clarifying the rules on alibi, denial, and damages.
Qualified Theft Conviction Upheld: When Circumstantial Evidence Proves Guilt Beyond Doubt
The Supreme Court affirms a qualified theft conviction based on circumstantial evidence, explaining when such evidence suffices to prove guilt.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Statutory Rape and the Primacy of Victim Testimony in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on circumstantial evidence and the credible testimony of a 16-year-old victim who was rendered unconscious during the assault.
Reinstatement Salaries After Business Closure: Employer Liability Rules
When a company validly closes, can workers still claim reinstatement salaries from a reversed Labor Arbiter ruling? The Supreme Court explains.
Immutability of Judgments: When Final Decisions Stand Firm
Explaining the immutability of judgments through LBP v. Hababag, Sr., where the Supreme Court denied reconsideration and clarified interest rules.
When Selling Another’s Property Is Not Estafa: The Ison Case
The Supreme Court explains when a false claim of ownership does not amount to estafa, and why the prosecution must prove deceit beyond reasonable doubt.
Misrepresentation in a Contract to Sell Does Not Automatically Mean Estafa
The Supreme Court acquitted a seller of estafa despite a false claim of ownership, showing that not every misrepresentation in a contract is a crime.
Accountability for All: Criminal Liability and Kidnapping for Ransom Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on kidnapping for ransom clarifies liability of principals and accomplices under Article 267, RPC.
Boundary Disputes Between LGUs: When the RTC Can Take Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may hear LGU boundary disputes even without prior sanggunian settlement.
When Defective Informations Can Be Amended: Lessons from a Libel Case on Venue and Publication
The Supreme Court clarifies when defective informations in libel cases may be amended before arraignment, and when dismissal is proper.
Land Retention Rights Disqualification Due to Extensive Land Ownership Under Agrarian Reform Law
A landowner with 68 hectares of agricultural land cannot claim retention rights under agrarian reform law, explains the Supreme Court.
Voluntary Resignation vs Illegal Dismissal: What Corporate Restructuring Means for Employee Rights
When is a resignation truly voluntary? The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction in Malixi v. Mexicali Philippines.
Voluntary Resignation vs Illegal Dismissal: Employee Rights in Corporate Restructuring
When does a resignation become involuntary? Learn how the Supreme Court distinguishes voluntary resignation from illegal dismissal in corporate transfers.
Who Represents the People? The Solicitor General's Exclusive Authority in Criminal Appeals
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that only the Office of the Solicitor General may appeal criminal cases, not private complainants.
LRTA v. Pili: When a Government Agency Answers for a Subsidiary's Labor Debts
The Supreme Court clarifies when a government-owned corporation can be held liable for the monetary claims of a subsidiary's employees.