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.
Prosecutorial Discretion vs Court Authority: Navigating Criminal Case Dismissals in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the balance between prosecutorial discretion and judicial authority in dismissing criminal cases after information is filed.
Voluntary Resignation and Bonus Entitlement: What Philippine Employees Should Know
Learn when resigned employees lose their right to CBA bonuses under Philippine law, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Attorney Withdrawal Upholding Client Rights AND Ethical Obligations IN THE Philippines
When can a lawyer withdraw from a case in the Philippines? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on attorney withdrawal and client protection.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: What Philippine Law Requires
Philippine law requires both just cause and due process for valid dismissal. Learn the rules from Aquinas School v. Magnaye.
Insurable Interest: Can a Landlord Claim Insurance on a Tenant's Property?
Philippine Supreme Court rules a landlord cannot claim fire insurance proceeds on a tenant's merchandise without insurable interest. Learn the key principles.
Property Rights in Cohabitation: Ownership Rules for Unmarried Couples in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law divides property for unmarried couples, the limits on donations, and key lessons from the Agapay case.
When Can a Seaman Be Dismissed: Understanding Seafarer Rights and Obligations
Learn the legal grounds for dismissing a seaman in the Philippines, plus the rights and obligations of seafarers under Philippine maritime law.
When Can a Judge Be Disqualified for Bias? Impartiality in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a judge's rulings amount to disqualifying bias, and why adverse decisions alone are not enough.
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.
Parricide in the Philippines: Proving Intent in Family Killings
Understand parricide under Philippine law and how courts prove intent in family killings, with lessons from a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Overlapping Land Titles in the Philippines: Resolving Ownership Disputes
Learn how Philippine courts resolve ownership disputes involving overlapping land titles, foreclosure, and tenant rights under agrarian reform laws.
Succession and Labor Claims: Can Employee Claims Survive the Death of an Employer
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether employee money claims survive an employer's death and who bears liability.
Amending Pleadings When CAN YOU Change Your Legal Strategy
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when courts must consider late answers and jurisdictional challenges in summary procedure cases.
Self-Defense Claims in Parricide and Rape Cases: What the Supreme Court Says
A father convicted of raping his daughter claimed self-defense. The Supreme Court explains why this defense fails in parricide and rape cases.
Establishing Paternity in the Philippines: Evidence Beyond DNA
How Philippine courts prove paternity without DNA tests, using letters, birth certificates, and conduct, as shown in Pe Lim v. Court of Appeals.
When Court Errors Are Not Misconduct: The Tallado v. Racoma Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when a judge's error is a judicial matter, not administrative misconduct, and warns against harassment suits.
Establishing Legal Marriage and Legitimacy in Inheritance Disputes: Balogbog v. Court of Appeals
How Philippine courts presume marriage and legitimacy in inheritance disputes, and what evidence can prove filiation when records are lost.
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.
Quantum Meruit: When a Contractor Can Recover Payment Without a Formal Contract
Philippine Supreme Court explains when contractors can recover payment on a quantum meruit basis even without a written contract.
Why a Victim’s Testimony Can Be Enough to Convict in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court explains when a rape victim’s sole testimony suffices for conviction and why resistance is not always required.
Employee Transfers: Understanding Employer Rights and Limits in the Philippines
Learn the rules on employee transfers in the Philippines—when employers can validly transfer workers and what limits the law imposes.
When Silence Speaks Volumes: Eyewitness Testimony and Credibility in Philippine Murder Cases
The Supreme Court affirms murder convictions based on a lone eyewitness's testimony, explaining why silence during a crime does not destroy credibility.
When Can a Bank Seize Funds? Understanding Set-Off Rights in the Philippines
Learn when Philippine banks can legally seize deposits through set-off, and the limits on this right under Philippine law.
Illegal Dismissal: When Can an Employer Terminate an Employee in the Philippines
Philippine law requires just cause and due process for valid termination. This case explains serious misconduct and loss of confidence rules.