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.
Graft and Corruption: Understanding Undue Injury Under Philippine Law
Explaining undue injury in Anti-Graft law through Amper v. Sandiganbayan, where a city engineer used a government backhoe for treasure hunting.
Judicial Accountability: Independent Assessment of Justice Secretary's Resolutions in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on trial courts' duty to independently assess Justice Secretary's resolutions in withdrawal of criminal informations.
The Weight of Words: Child Witness Testimony in Philippine Parricide Cases
How the Supreme Court upheld a parricide conviction based on an 8-year-old eyewitness's testimony, and what this means for child witnesses in Philippine courts.
Unintended Consequences: Criminal Liability for Foreseeable Outcomes in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on criminal liability, dying declarations, and witness credibility in murder cases under Philippine law.
Employee Transfers: Management Prerogative vs. Unfair Labor Practice in the Philippines
When can employers transfer workers without committing unfair labor practice? The Supreme Court explains the limits of management prerogative.
Bail After Conviction When Guilt Imports Denial in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape conviction, credibility of mentally weak victim, denial defense, and bail implications after conviction.
Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale: What the Supreme Court Looks At
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling clarifies what makes illegal recruitment "large scale" and why victim testimony alone can secure a conviction.
Estate Tax Collection: BIR Authority vs. Probate Court Jurisdiction
Supreme Court ruling on whether the BIR can levy estate properties without probate court approval, and the finality of tax assessments.
Leasehold Improvements: Lessee Rights and Obligations Under Philippine Law
Understand lessee rights to improvements under Article 1678 of the Civil Code, and why lessees are not builders in good faith.
Discharge of an Accomplice as a State Witness: Safeguarding Justice in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court affirms that trial courts' factual findings and witness credibility assessments are conclusive unless arbitrary, in a murder conviction.
The Power of Circumstantial Evidence in Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
When no eyewitness exists, circumstantial evidence can still convict. Learn the rules from People v. Salvame and how courts apply them.
Dynamite Fishing in the Philippines: Laws, Penalties, and the People vs. Vergara Case
Learn the Philippine law against dynamite fishing, penalties under P.D. 704, and key lessons from People vs. Vergara.
Back Taxes on Undeclared Improvements: What "Declared for the First Time" Means
The Supreme Court explains when local assessors may impose back taxes on previously undeclared building improvements under PD 464.
Complex Crimes: When One Act Causes Multiple Fatalities Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains how a single act causing multiple deaths is treated as a complex crime under the Revised Penal Code.
When Witness Inconsistency Undermines a Murder Conviction in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when minor witness inconsistencies do not destroy a rape conviction and how credibility is assessed.
Accretion vs. Foreshore Land in the Philippines: Who Owns Newly Formed Land?
Philippine law distinguishes accretion from foreshore land. Learn who owns newly formed land along rivers and seas under the Civil Code and the Spanish Law of Waters.
Judicial Recusal: Understanding Bias and Impartiality in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies when judges must inhibit and why late motions to disqualify are frowned upon.
Rape Conviction: The Nuances of Penetration and Consent in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that slight penetration suffices for rape, and intimidation can substitute for physical resistance.
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.
Juvenile Justice Understanding Mitigation AND Criminal Liability IN THE Philippines
How Philippine courts treat juvenile offenders, minority as mitigating circumstance, and criminal liability under the law.
Check-Off Provisions in Philippine Labor Law: Employer Liability for Uncollected Union Dues
When an employer fails to deduct union dues under a CBA check-off, is it liable for the uncollected amount? The Supreme Court clarifies.
Consent and Rape: Understanding the Nuances of Sexual Assault in the Philippines
The Bawar case shows how Philippine courts weigh consent, credibility, and behavior in rape cases—crucial for understanding sexual assault 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.
Buy-Bust Operations: When Is a Warrantless Arrest Valid in Drug Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains why buy-bust arrests are valid warrantless arrests in drug cases, and clarifies the rules on entrapment and searches.