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.
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Electoral Protests: COMELEC's Power to Correct Errors and the Essence of Due Process
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on COMELEC's authority to correct canvass errors and what due process truly requires in election cases.
Loss of Appeal: The Duty to Submit to Court Jurisdiction
When an accused appeals a conviction but refuses to surrender to court authority, the appeal may be dismissed for abandonment.
Corporate Officers' Apparent Authority and Breach of Warranties in Stock Sales
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on corporate president's apparent authority to bind company and breach of warranty claims in stock purchase agreements.
When Can a Corporate President Bind the Corporation? Lessons from Inter-Asia v. Asia Industries
A corporate president can bind the corporation even without board authority under apparent authority. Learn the rules from this Supreme Court case.
Judicial Overreach: The Limits of Preliminary Investigation in Election Offenses
When a judge conducted preliminary investigation on an election offense, the Supreme Court ruled this exceeds judicial authority and constitutes gross ignorance of the law.
Parental Authority and Child Abuse: Defining the Limits of Incestuous Rape
In incestuous rape cases, the victim's minority and relationship to the offender must be proven beyond reasonable doubt for the death penalty to apply.
PCGG's Authority to Vote Sequestered Shares: Lessons from the ETPI Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when the PCGG may vote sequestered shares, balancing state interest and stockholder rights.
Judicial Misconduct When Notarization Exceeds A Judges Authority
Judicial Accountability When Judges Notarize Outside Their Authority
A Supreme Court ruling reminds judges that the power to notarize ex officio is narrow, and that notarizing a document without the affiant present is a serious breach.
Judicial Overreach Limits MCTC Authority in Libel Cases
The Supreme Court reminds judges that only specific courts may conduct preliminary investigations in libel cases under Article 360.
Judicial Independence VS Ombudsmans Authority Protecting Labor Arbiters From Unwarranted Criminal Prosecution
The Perils of Premature Enforcement: Upholding Jurisdictional Boundaries in Contract Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when execution pending appeal is proper, who decides if an appeal is dilatory, and the limits of trial court authority.
Executive Power vs Legislative Domain: Defining Reorganization Authority in Philippine Sports Governance
A 2003 Supreme Court ruling on EO 81 clarifies the President's power to reorganize the Executive Branch and transfer agency functions.
Judicial Authority and Limits: A Judge's Jurisdiction After Temporary Reassignment
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on a judge's notarial powers, the limits of judicial authority, and the importance of following SC Circular No. 1-90.
Agency and Real Estate Sales: The Necessity of Written Authority
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why an agent's authority to sell land must be in writing, or the sale is void.
Jurisdictional Estoppel: When a Party Can No Longer Question a Court’s Authority
Explaining the doctrine of estoppel by laches and when a party is barred from questioning a court's jurisdiction after actively participating in the case.
Drunkenness on Duty: Defining Unruly Behavior and Disciplinary Authority in the Philippine Judiciary
Court employees must observe strict decorum. Habitual drunkenness is a less grave offense under Civil Service rules, with clear penalties.
Checks and Balances When Regional Prosecutors Overstep Local Authority in Preliminary Investigations
When can a regional prosecutor take over a city prosecutor's case? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of supervision and control.
Harbor Pilot Fees Interpreting Scope AND Authority IN Maritime Services
Parental Authority vs. Abuse: How Philippine Law Protects Children in Rape Cases
In People v. Abellano, the Supreme Court affirmed a father's death sentence for raping his 14-year-old daughter, ruling that parental authority substitutes for force.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Parental Authority vs Incestuous Rape in Philippine Law
A father raped his two daughters. The Supreme Court affirmed conviction but reduced the death penalty to reclusion perpetua for failure to allege the victim's age.
Navigating Toll Fee Hikes in the Philippines: Understanding Provisional Adjustments and Your Rights
The Supreme Court explains provisional toll rate adjustments, the TRB's authority, and the proper remedies for motorists challenging fee increases.
Clerk of Court's Unauthorized Release Order: A Case of Misconduct
A clerk of court who issued a release order without judicial authority was held liable for misconduct. Learn the limits of court personnel powers.