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.
Conjugal Property vs Exclusive Property: What Philippine Law Says
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish conjugal property from exclusive property, and why inherited assets stay separate even during marriage.
When Stockholder Disputes Belong to the SEC: Garcia v. Court of Appeals
A stockholder's damages suit against another stockholder may still be an intra-corporate dispute under SEC jurisdiction, not regular courts.
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.
Final Judgments Are Immutable: Goking v. Villaraza on Execution Limits
A final judgment cannot be altered through a motion for execution. Goking v. Villaraza explains the limits of post-judgment remedies.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Rape of Persons Deprived of Reason in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms that rape of a mentally incapacitated person can be proven through circumstantial evidence, securing justice for voiceless victims.
Family Disputes and Property Rights: Extrajudicial Settlements and Reconveyance
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when family members must attempt compromise before suing and how reconveyance works for wrongfully registered property.
Lease Abandonment and Tenant Rights: The Paterno v. Court of Appeals Case
The Supreme Court's ruling in Paterno v. Court of Appeals clarifies when a tenant's departure amounts to lease abandonment and what it means for landlords and occupants.
Witness Testimony and the Standard of Proof in Philippine Criminal Law
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony against denial and alibi in criminal cases, explained through a murder conviction.
The Duty to Prosecute Appeals: Why Inaction Can Get Your Appeal Dismissed in the Philippines
Philippine law requires appellants to actively prosecute their appeals. Learn why waiting for court notices can lead to dismissal.
Management Prerogative in the Philippines: Abolishing Positions Legally
When can a Philippine employer abolish a position without facing illegal dismissal claims? The Supreme Court explains the limits of management prerogative.
Void Contracts: When Lack of Consent Invalidates a Sale
A sale by an unauthorized board is void. Learn the consent requirement in Philippine contract law from this Supreme Court ruling.
Corporate Identity Crisis CAN A Company Sue Under AN Unregistered Name
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a company can sue under an unregistered corporate name, explained in plain language.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: When Can You Skip It?
The Supreme Court explains when exhaustion of administrative remedies is required and when courts may excuse it.
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.
Labor-Only Contracting: Identifying the True Employer and Protecting Workers' Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies labor-only contracting, true employer liability, and workers' rights under the Labor Code.
Motion for Reconsideration: Why a Notice of Hearing Is Crucial in Philippine Courts
A motion for reconsideration without a notice of hearing is pro forma and will not stop the appeal period. Learn the rule and the De la Peña case.
When Judges Err in Sentencing: Gross Ignorance of the Law Explained
Learn when a judge's sentencing error becomes gross ignorance of the law, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on indeterminate penalties.
Execution Pending Appeal in Philippine Election Protests: When Can a Winner Take Office Immediately
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when execution pending appeal is allowed in election protests, and why COMELEC can stop a premature assumption of office.
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.
When Is a Lawyer Liable for a Missed Appeal? Lessons from Sattar v. Lopez
The Supreme Court clarifies when a lawyer may be disciplined for a missed appeal, and when the client's own neglect is to blame.
Ejectment Case Immediate Execution and Tenant Rights in the Philippines
Learn how prescription and proper summons affect ejectment cases in the Philippines, and what tenants and owners should know.
Understanding Timeliness in Filing a Petition for Certiorari in the Philippines
Learn the reasonable period rule for filing certiorari petitions under Rule 65, as explained in Philgreen Trading v. Court of Appeals.
Failing to Object to Evidence: Waiver Rules in Philippine Criminal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains why silence on inadmissible evidence means waiver, and how death before final judgment extinguishes liability.
Civil Liability After Death of Accused: Quasi-Delicts in Philippine Law
When an accused dies before final judgment, criminal liability ends. But civil liability may survive through quasi-delicts. Learn the rules.