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.
Missed Deadline NOT Justice Denied When Excusable Negligence Saves A Labor Appeal IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court rules on when a late labor appeal may be excused due to honest mistake, and when separation pay replaces reinstatement.
Caveat Emptor in Philippine Law: The Fule Case on Buyer Beware in Property and Jewelry Deals
Philippine law applies caveat emptor—buyers must inspect goods before purchase. The Fule case shows how failure to verify authenticity can defeat fraud claims.
Superior Strength in Murder: How Conspiracy Establishes Criminal Liability
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how conspiracy and superior strength qualify a killing as murder, with practical legal takeaways.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: When a Public Facebook Post Becomes a Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies when public social media posts constitute psychological abuse under RA 9262 and how ICT use raises penalties.
Quasi-Delict vs Criminal Negligence: Civil Liability in Philippine Accidents
The Supreme Court clarifies when a driver's negligence creates civil liability under quasi-delict, even without a criminal conviction.
When Can You Appeal a Writ of Execution? NLRC Jurisdiction Explained
Learn when the NLRC can review a writ of execution, and how an execution that varies a final judgment may still be appealed.
When Is a Spouse's Debt Chargeable to the Conjugal Partnership
Supreme Court clarifies when a husband's surety agreement binds the conjugal partnership, distinguishing corporate debts from family obligations.
COMELEC's Power to Prosecute Election Offenses: Independent Authority Affirmed
Supreme Court affirms COMELEC's exclusive authority to prosecute election offenses, ruling that deputized prosecutors cannot override its decisions.
Club Membership Disputes: When Suspension and Due Process Collide
A Supreme Court ruling on club suspensions, delinquent lists, and the limits of due process in private associations.
Patent Infringement in the Philippines: Who Can Sue and Why a Patent Matters
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that only patent holders or their successors can sue for infringement, not mere first inventors.
When Real Property Tax Assessments Can Be Challenged: Lessons from Callanta v. Ombudsman
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when property owners may challenge real property tax assessments and the limits of city assessors' authority.
Admissibility of Extrajudicial Confessions in Philippine Criminal Law
Explore when extrajudicial confessions are admissible in Philippine courts, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Jerez.
Converting Partial Disability to Total Disability: GSIS v. Balais Explained
When can partial disability benefits be converted to total? The Supreme Court's ruling in GSIS v. Balais provides clear guidance for Filipino workers.
Res Judicata in Philippine Law: How Prior Judgments Affect Future Claims
Learn how the doctrine of res judicata bars relitigation of decided cases and affects future legal claims in the Philippines.
Complex Crimes in the Philippines: Component Offenses and Illegal Detention Explained
A 1998 Supreme Court ruling explains when an accused charged with a complex crime can be convicted of a lesser included offense like slight illegal detention.
Litis Pendentia in the Philippines: Stopping Duplicate Lawsuits
Learn when Philippine courts dismiss duplicate lawsuits for litis pendentia, the requisites, and how to prevent splitting a cause of action.
Attorney Negligence Consequences of Missing Deadlines in Philippine Law
Learn how missed legal deadlines and attorney negligence affect cases in the Philippines, with insights from Supreme Court rulings on procedural rules.
Security of Tenure in Government Service: When a Defective Appointment Prevents It
A government employee's security of tenure depends on a valid, completed appointment. Corpuz v. Court of Appeals explains the rule.
Substantial Justice vs Technicality: When Can Appeal Deadlines Be Relaxed
The Supreme Court explains when late appeals may be allowed despite rigid rules, balancing technicality against substantial justice in Trans International vs. CA.
Preponderance of Evidence: Winning Your Civil Case in the Philippines
Learn how the preponderance of evidence standard works in Philippine civil cases, and why failing to meet it means losing your case.
Eminent Domain in the Philippines: Balancing Public Use and Private Property Rights
The Supreme Court clarifies when local governments may expropriate private land for socialized housing, and the due process limits on eminent domain.
Heirs and Nephews: Who Inherits When a Relative Dies Without a Will
Philippine intestate succession rules determine whether a nephew or more distant relatives inherit from a deceased person's estate.
In-Court Identification in Rape Cases: People v. Pacistol (G.R. 119074-75)
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how a victim's credible in-court identification can secure a rape conviction despite flawed police line-up procedures.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Protecting Children and Understanding Consent
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, explaining how the law protects children and how consent is treated in such cases.