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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Conjugal Property and a Spouse's Debts: What the Dewara Case Teaches
Learn when conjugal property can be used to pay one spouse's debts, fines, or indemnities under Philippine law.
Conspiracy and Criminal Liability: Understanding Murder Through Treachery in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains how conspiracy, positive identification, and treachery determine criminal liability for murder in the Philippines.
Bigamy in the Philippines: When a Second Marriage Is Void From the Start
Philippine law voids any second marriage contracted while a prior civil marriage subsists. Learn the rules, limits of Muslim divorce, and who may sue.
Robbery With Homicide and Conspiracy: Philippine Law Explained
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies liability for robbery with homicide, conspiracy, and penalties under Article 294 of the Revised Penal Code.
Impeachment and the Dual Requirements of Filing and Referral in Philippine Law
Explains the Supreme Court's ruling on the two distinct requirements for a valid impeachment complaint under the Constitution.
Homicide vs Murder: When Spontaneous Fights Rule Out Treachery in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when treachery does not apply in spontaneous altercations, reducing murder to homicide.
Rape Conviction Based on Victim's Testimony: Philippine Law on Crimes Against Children
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape with homicide convictions based on circumstantial evidence and victim testimony in crimes against children.
Simulated Bidding and Falsification: Public Officials' Liability Under Philippine Law
Supreme Court ruling on public officials liable for falsified bidding documents and graft under R.A. 3019 in simulated procurement.
Direct Contempt of Court: Limits, Penalties, and Remedies Under Philippine Law
Learn the limits of direct contempt in Philippine courts, including penalties, due process rights, and remedies like certiorari.
Understanding Novation in Philippine Contract Law: When Can Agreements Be Modified
Learn when a new contract can replace an old one under Philippine law, based on a 2011 Supreme Court ruling on novation.
When Words Are Not Libel: Understanding Defamation in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that insulting or offensive words are not automatically libel; defamation requires imputation of a crime, vice, or defect.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: Understanding the Limits of Justifiable Force
Philippine law recognizes self-defense, but the burden of proof lies on the accused. Learn the legal limits of justifiable force.
Client Responsibility Prevails: The Binding Effect of Counsel's Negligence in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a client is bound by counsel's negligence, and the duty to monitor one's case.
Acquittal in Rape Cases: Reasonable Doubt and Witness Credibility in Philippine Law
How inconsistent testimony and reasonable doubt led to an acquittal in People v. Bongat, a landmark Philippine rape case.
Navigating Drug Sale Convictions: Evidence and Inconsistencies in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on drug sale convictions underscores the critical role of chain of custody evidence in Philippine criminal cases.
Attorney Suspended for Deceitful Land Sale: Ethical Standards in Philippine Law Practice
Discover how a lawyer's deceptive land sale led to suspension, and learn key ethical rules for Philippine attorneys.
Excise Tax Refunds: Who Can Claim for Petroleum Products Sold to International Carriers
Learn who may claim excise tax refunds on petroleum products sold to international carriers under Philippine law, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
When Are Warrantless Arrests and Searches Legal in the Philippines
Learn when Philippine law allows warrantless arrests and searches, the legal limits, and what to do if your rights are violated.
Psychological Incapacity Under Article 36: What the Supreme Court Requires for Marriage Nullity
The Supreme Court clarifies the strict standards for proving psychological incapacity as a ground for declaring a marriage void under Philippine law.
Self-Defense and Treachery: Key Distinctions in Philippine Criminal Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies killing as murder under Philippine law.
Immediate Execution of Damages in Intra-Corporate Disputes: What Philippine Law Says
The Supreme Court clarifies that awards for moral damages, exemplary damages, and attorney's fees in intra-corporate cases are not immediately executory.
Hotel Liability for Lost Vehicles: Necessary Deposits Under Philippine Law
When a hotel valet loses a guest's vehicle, who pays? Philippine law on necessary deposits and the Durban Apartments ruling explain.
Protecting Your Property: Understanding Sheriffs Authority and Preventing Wrongful Levy in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law protects property from wrongful levy, using the PFDA case to explain exemptions and legal remedies.
Chain of Custody and Drug Cases: Ensuring Integrity of Evidence in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why the chain of custody rule is essential in drug cases, and what prosecutors and police must prove.