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.
Philippine Energy Disputes: DOE vs ERB Jurisdiction Over Power Connections
The Supreme Court clarifies which agency—DOE or ERB—has jurisdiction over disputes involving direct power supply and disconnection in the Philippines.
Child Testimony in Rape Cases: Supreme Court Upholds Victim-Centric Approach
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on a child's credible testimony, clarifying that an intact hymen does not negate rape.
Understanding Contracts of Sale vs Contracts to Sell in Philippine Property Law
Learn the key differences between contracts of sale and contracts to sell under Philippine law, and why the distinction matters for property buyers and sellers.
Unreliable Eyewitness Testimony: How Philippine Courts Determine Credibility in Criminal Cases
Philippine courts weigh witness credibility, not just testimony quantity. Learn how the Supreme Court evaluates eyewitness accounts in rape cases.
The 90-Day Rule for Judges: What It Means for Speedy Justice in the Philippines
The 90-day rule requires Philippine judges to decide cases promptly. Learn how it works, what happens on delay, and the lessons from a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Complex Crime vs Separate Offenses: When Multiple Murders Are Not a Single Crime
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when multiple killings form one complex crime or separate offenses, and the effect on penalties.
Lost Your Appeal Understanding Certiorari AND Final Judgments IN Philippine Courts
Learn how Philippine courts treat petitions for review on certiorari, final judgments, and due process in administrative proceedings.
Time Is of the Essence: Prescription and Laches in Philippine Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how prescription and laches bar property claims filed decades after a sale with pacto de retro.
Unfounded Misconduct Claims: Protecting Public Servants From False Accusations
Learn how Philippine jurisprudence protects employees from baseless misconduct allegations and requires employers to prove just cause for dismissal.
Improvident Guilty Plea in Capital Offenses: When a Conviction Still Stands
A flawed guilty plea in a capital case doesn't automatically void a conviction if prosecution evidence independently proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Proving Your Case Even Without a Termination Letter
Illegal dismissal can be proven even without a termination letter. Learn the rules from a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Land Ownership in the Philippines: Why Possession Isn't Always Nine Tenths of the Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains when lengthy possession of public land cannot ripen into private ownership, and why free patents prevail.
Legal Interest Rates in the Philippines: When Does 6% vs 12% Apply
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when 6% or 12% legal interest applies—loans and forbearance versus other obligations. Learn the rules.
Permanent Total Disability in the Philippines: Employee Rights and Compensation
Understand permanent total disability under Philippine law, how it differs from partial disability, and what the GSIS vs. Bella ruling means for employees.
Probation Revocation in the Philippines: Why Non-Compliance with Court Orders Can Lead to Imprisonment
Probation is a privilege, not a right. Learn how ignoring court orders can lead to revocation and imprisonment in the Philippines.
When Is a Sheriff Liable for Wrongful Execution? The De Guzman Rule
Philippine law shields sheriffs who execute judgments in good faith and with an indemnity bond. Learn the rules on wrongful execution and third-party claims.
Heirship First, Claim Later: Proving You're an Heir Before Filing Property Disputes in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why heirs must first be declared in special proceedings before filing property reconveyance cases.
When a Confirmed Flight Doesn't Extend Ticket Validity: Cervantes v. PAL
Learn from Cervantes v. PAL: confirming a flight does not extend a ticket's validity, and agents cannot bind the airline beyond their authority.
Does Your Case Die With Your Client? Survival of Actions and Attorney's Fees in the Philippines
When a client dies before judgment, does a lawyer's claim for fees survive? The Supreme Court explains the rule on survival of actions.
Strictly Observe Deadlines: Why Missing Appeal Periods Can Cost You Your Case in the Philippines
Learn how missing appeal deadlines or filing late comments can affect your case, and why courts may relax procedural rules only in exceptional circumstances.
Docket Fees Matter: Ensuring Court Jurisdiction in Philippine Civil Cases
Learn how timely filing and docket fees affect court jurisdiction in Philippine civil cases, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Demata v. Court of Appeals.
Employer-Employee Relationship and the Control Test: Lessons from Villa v. NLRC
The Supreme Court's ruling in Villa v. NLRC clarifies the control test in employer-employee relationships and the rules on evidence in illegal dismissal cases.
Unraveling Conspiracy in Philippine Murder Cases: Collective Guilt and the Limits of Self-Defense
How the Supreme Court applied conspiracy doctrine and rejected self-defense in a murder case where three men ganged up on a victim.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: When Can New Evidence Be Introduced on Appeal?
When can an employer introduce new evidence on appeal in a dismissal case? The Supreme Court explains the limits of due process.