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.
Res Ipsa Loquitur and Proximate Cause in Philippine Electric Accident Cases
How the Supreme Court applied res ipsa loquitur and proximate cause principles to hold an electric cooperative liable for electrocution injuries.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Philippine Murder Conviction
How the Supreme Court affirmed a murder conviction, ruling that credible eyewitness identification outweighs the inherently weak defense of alibi.
Reconveyance and Good Faith: Protecting Land Ownership in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies reconveyance actions, good faith purchasers, and why registration alone does not vest land ownership in the Philippines.
Attorney's Fees and Quantum Meruit: Fair Compensation for Legal Services in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts determine reasonable attorney's fees and quantum meruit principles, with insights from a Supreme Court ruling on contractual obligations.
Mining Rights and State Control: The Limits of Exploration Permits in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on exploration permits, vested rights, and state control over mineral reservations under the Mining Act.
Handwriting Analysis and Election Disputes: Protecting the Sanctity of the Ballot
The Supreme Court clarifies when handwriting analysis may invalidate ballots in election protests, stressing that no two persons write alike.
Reinstatement vs Separation Pay: Defining Strained Relations in Illegal Dismissal Cases
When can an illegally dismissed employee be denied reinstatement due to strained relations? The Supreme Court clarifies the rule.
Illegal Dismissal, Retirement Age, and Employee Benefits: Key Lessons from Ondevilla v. Colegio de San Juan de
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on constructive dismissal, optional retirement, and CBA benefits for managerial employees in this Philippine labor case.
When Loan Restructuring Terms Must Be in Writing: The Marcopper Case
A Supreme Court ruling on why unwritten conditions in loan restructuring cannot be enforced, and the binding nature of written agreements.
Rape of a Mentally Retarded Person: Court Upholds Conviction and Justice
The Supreme Court affirms the rape conviction of a man who sexually assaulted a mentally retarded woman, clarifying the rules on consent, evidence, and penalties.
GSIS Held in Contempt for Delaying Payment of Permanent Total Disability Benefits Under RA 8291
Supreme Court cites GSIS for indirect contempt for delaying payment of a member's permanent total disability benefits under RA 8291.
Contempt of Court: Upholding Judicial Authority and Enforcing Final Judgments
The Supreme Court held GSIS in indirect contempt for delaying payment of a final disability award, reaffirming that final judgments must be obeyed.
Deed of Sale Presumed Valid Absent Clear Proof of Fraud
Supreme Court clarifies that notarized deeds of sale enjoy presumption of authenticity; challengers must present clear and convincing evidence of fraud.
Liberty vs Military Authority: Balancing Rights in the Philippine Armed Forces
Supreme Court ruling on a general's preventive suspension and arrest, clarifying due process and injunctive relief in military discipline cases.
Probable Cause and Witness Credibility in Preliminary Investigations for Murder
Supreme Court clarifies how prosecutors should weigh witness credibility and probable cause in murder preliminary investigations.
Public Hearing Imperative Invalidating Ordinances Without Community Input
A municipal ordinance imposing goodwill fees without a valid prior public hearing is void, the Supreme Court rules.
Upholding Judicial Authority: Dismissal for Sheriff's Misconduct and Disobedience
A sheriff who levied on property not owned by the judgment debtor and defied court orders was dismissed from service for grave misconduct and insubordination.
Dacion en Pago Perfecting Ownership Despite Prior Encumbrances
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on dacion en pago, mortgage liens, and the right to compel surrender of a certificate of title.
Arbitration Prevails: Upholding Agreements Amid Contractual Disputes
The Supreme Court affirms that arbitration clauses survive main contract disputes, reinforcing the doctrine of separability in Philippine law.
Protecting the Innocent: The Vital Role of Testimony and Medical Evidence in Statutory Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a qualified rape conviction, explaining how a child victim's credible testimony and medical findings secure justice.
Protecting Marital Property: The Necessity of Spousal Consent in Property Sales
Learn how the Supreme Court protects conjugal property from unauthorized sales by one spouse, and why buyers must verify spousal consent.
Prescription in Reconveyance: Clarifying the Four-Year Rule for Actions Based on Threat and Intimidation
The Supreme Court clarifies when the four-year prescriptive period runs in reconveyance actions based on threat and intimidation, not fraud.
Safeguarding Election Integrity and Due Process in COMELEC's Ballot Appreciation
The Supreme Court clarifies when COMELEC's internal ballot appreciation requires notice and how due process applies in election contests.
When Love Fades Psychological Incapacity VS Marital Disaffection IN Philippine LAW
The Supreme Court clarifies when a spouse's emotional distance is psychological incapacity under Article 36, and when it is simply a failed marriage.