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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Safeguarding Suffrage: Voter Registration Deadlines and Comelec's Authority
The Supreme Court upholds Comelec's authority to enforce the 120-day voter registration ban under RA 8189.
Parental Authority vs Child's Well-Being: Redefining Attempted Rape Boundaries
Supreme Court clarifies when rape is attempted, not consummated, and splits appellate jurisdiction in father-daughter abuse case.
City of Quezon v. Lexber: Contract Validity Despite Procedural Lapses
SC rules city contracts valid when entered under statutory authority, even without prior council appropriation.
Rape, Parental Authority, and Moral Ascendancy in Child Abuse Cases
How moral ascendancy and parental authority establish force in rape cases, and why the Supreme Court reduced the death penalty.
Sheriffs Cannot Pierce the Corporate Veil: Levying Corporate Property for a Stockholder's Debt
A sheriff who levies on corporate property to satisfy a stockholder's personal debt acts beyond authority. The Supreme Court explains why.
Curbing Forum Shopping Coslaps Jurisdiction AND Respect FOR Court Authority
Incestuous Rape: When Parental Authority Cannot Shield a Father's Crime
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction but rules that unalleged qualifying circumstances bar the death penalty.
Breach of Trust: Upholding Rape Conviction in Cases of Familial Abuse
A father's rape conviction upheld by the Supreme Court, explaining how parental authority substitutes for violence in incest cases.
Consent and Credibility in Rape Cases: How Philippine Courts Establish Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
In People v. Serrano, the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction and explained how courts weigh a victim's testimony, parental authority, and proof of penetration.
When a Clerk of Court Oversteps Judicial Power: Limits on Court Personnel Authority
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that clerks of court cannot approve bail or order releases—judicial powers reserved for judges alone.
Rape Consensual or Forced: Evaluating Delayed Reporting and Parental Authority in Incest Cases
Supreme Court ruling on incestuous rape, delayed reporting, and admissibility of a child victim's res gestae statements.
Sheriff's Misconduct in Property Seizure: The Limits of Execution and Abuse of Authority
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on sheriff's excessive levy, irregular auction sale, and abuse of authority in enforcing writs of execution.
Incestuous Rape and Parental Authority: When Consent Is Invalid in Familial Sexual Abuse Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on incestuous rape clarifies that a father's moral ascendancy and threats invalidate any claim of consent from a minor daughter.
Rape and Parental Authority: When Stepfathers Exploit Familial Trust
The Supreme Court affirms that a father's moral ascendancy over his minor daughter makes rape a betrayal of trust, but requires qualifying circumstances to be alleged for the death penalty.
Sheriff's Abuse of Authority: Limits on Force in Executing a Writ
The Supreme Court fined a sheriff P5,000 for using acetylene torches and force to enforce a writ of execution, setting clear limits on a sheriff's authority.
The Perils of Verbal Land Deals: Why Written Authority Is Non-Negotiable in Philippine Real Estate
Learn how the Supreme Court protects small property owners from expropriation and why written authority is crucial in Philippine land deals.
Parental Authority and the Burden of Proof in Philippine Illegal Recruitment Cases
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on large-scale illegal recruitment, the burden of proof, and why parental authority matters in criminal cases.
Campus Press Freedom vs School Authority: Balancing Student Rights and Institutional Discipline in Philippine
How the Supreme Court balanced campus press freedom under RA 7079 with a school's disciplinary authority in Miriam College v. Court of Appeals.
Limits of Judicial Authority: Understanding Preliminary Investigations in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that judges conducting preliminary investigations cannot reclassify crimes—that power belongs to the prosecutor.
PAGCOR’s Authority Unveiled: Navigating the Limits of Gambling Franchises in the Philippines
The Supreme Court rules PAGCOR’s franchise covers gambling casinos, not jai-alai. A landmark case on legislative franchises.
Judicial Misconduct and Bail Irregularities: Safeguarding Due Process in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling on undue delay and abuse of authority clarifies judicial duties and due process in Philippine courts.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Mental Incapacity, Paternal Authority, and Rape Conviction in Philippine Law
In Brondial, the Supreme Court affirmed a father's death sentence for raping his 12-year-old daughter, ruling that parental authority substitutes for force.
Breach of Trust: Parental Rape and Child Protection Laws in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court affirms death penalty for father who raped his 12-year-old daughter, clarifying parental authority and rape laws.
Limits of Guardianship Court Jurisdiction and Preliminary Attachment Under Philippine Law
A guardianship court exceeded its authority by issuing preliminary attachment. The Supreme Court clarifies jurisdictional limits and judicial accountability.