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.
Eminent Domain in the Philippines: Just Compensation and Due Process
Learn how Philippine law protects property owners in eminent domain cases, focusing on just compensation and due process requirements.
Ejectment Suits: Possession vs Ownership in Philippine Courts
Philippine ejectment suits decide possession, not ownership. Learn the rules from Dizon v. Court of Appeals.
Negligence Trumps Fortuitous Events: Service Shops Must Insure Customer Vehicles
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a service shop's failure to insure customer property makes it liable for loss by fire, even if the fire is a fortuitous event.
Probation After Appeal Understanding THE Waiver Rule IN THE Philippines
Learn how appealing a conviction waives probation eligibility in the Philippines, based on Supreme Court rulings and the Probation Law.
Mining Rights vs Land Ownership: What the Supreme Court Decided
A 1996 Supreme Court ruling clarifies that mining claims under the Philippine Bill of 1902 grant possessory rights, not absolute ownership over land.
Copyright Infringement: Protecting IP Rights and the Prospectivity of New Rules
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on search warrants in copyright cases and why new judicial doctrines apply prospectively.
Buyer Beware Protecting Yourself From Land Title Fraud IN THE Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts view taxpayer suits and land transactions, and what this means for protecting property rights.
Fencing in the Philippines: Knowledge and Presumptions Under the Anti-Fencing Law
Explaining the elements of fencing under P.D. 1612, the presumption of knowledge from possession, and how receipts can rebut it.
Religious Freedom vs Censorship: Balancing Rights in Philippine Broadcast Media
The Supreme Court ruled that the MTRCB may review religious TV programs but cannot ban them merely for criticizing other religions.
When Is a Police Officer Considered On-Duty? Compensation Under Philippine Law
Philippine law treats police officers as on duty 24 hours a day for compensation purposes. Learn how this affects claims under the Employees' Compensation Program.
Understanding Illegal Logging and Timber Possession Laws in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that possessing lumber without legal documents is a crime under the Revised Forestry Code, explaining key rules on seizure and confiscation.
Clerks of Court Responsibilities Liabilities and Breaches of Trust
A Supreme Court ruling on the dismissal of a clerk of court who failed to remit Judiciary Development Fund collections, and the duties of court cash custodians.
Condonation Doctrine: Can Re-Elected Officials Be Disciplined for Prior Misconduct
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether re-election condones prior administrative misconduct of local elective officials.
Highway Robbery vs Simple Robbery: Distinguishing the Elements and Penalties
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a robbery on a highway is highway robbery under P.D. 532, and when it is only simple robbery.
Highway Robbery vs Robbery with Homicide: Key Distinctions Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies when a hold-up on a Philippine highway is highway robbery under P.D. 532 or robbery with homicide under the Revised Penal Code.
Judicial Delay Consequences for Judges and the Right to a Speedy Trial in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on judge liability for trial delays and the constitutional right to speedy trial in the Philippines.
Retroactivity of Subdivision Buyer Protection Laws: PNB v. Office of the President
When do protective laws apply to old contracts? The Supreme Court clarifies P.D. 957's retroactive application to protect lot buyers from developer defaults.