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.
Protecting Your Property From Confiscation: Third Party Claims in Philippine Criminal Cases
Learn how third parties can protect property from confiscation in Philippine criminal cases, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Sea Lion Fishing Corporation.
Party-List Registration and Religious Affiliation: COMELEC's Jurisdiction Explained
When can COMELEC cancel a party-list's registration for being a religious front, and when does the HRET take over? The Supreme Court clarifies.
Buy-Bust Operations and Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: People v. Soriaga
The Supreme Court explains why minor lapses in drug evidence handling do not automatically mean acquittal in People v. Soriaga.
Buy-Bust Operations and the Chain of Custody: Ensuring Integrity in Drug Cases
A Supreme Court ruling explains why minor lapses in drug evidence handling don't automatically mean acquittal in buy-bust cases.
When Refusing a Boss's Order Is Not Willful Disobedience: Lores Realty v. Pacia
Supreme Court clarifies what constitutes willful disobedience under Article 282 of the Labor Code and when an employee's refusal is justified.
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.
Conditional Certifications vs Bank Guarantees: When a Bank Is Not Liable
Supreme Court clarifies when a bank's conditional certification of a credit line application does not constitute a binding bank guarantee.
Illegal Sale of Shabu: Credible Testimony and the Chain of Custody Rule
The Supreme Court affirms a shabu conviction, explaining how credible witness testimony and preserved evidence outweigh lapses in the chain of custody.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Integrity of Evidence Under RA 9165
Explaining People v. Presas on the chain of custody rule in drug cases—when lapses in procedure do not automatically break the prosecution's case.
Facilities vs Supplements in Wage Disputes: Key Distinctions Under Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the legal distinction between facilities and supplements in computing wages, and when employers may deduct their value.
Security of Tenure, Constructive Dismissal, and Floating Status in Security Agencies
When a security guard's floating status exceeds six months, the law treats it as constructive dismissal. Learn the rules from this Supreme Court case.
Cityhood Laws and Equal Protection: The League of Cities Doctrine
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of 16 cityhood laws, ruling that Congress validly exempted certain municipalities from higher income requirements.
Evidence Rules in Philippine Administrative Cases: The Atienza Case Explained
Administrative bodies in the Philippines follow relaxed evidence rules. Learn what Atienza v. Board of Medicine means for professionals facing administrative scrutiny.
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.
Upholding Drug Convictions: Integrity of Evidence Over Procedural Lapses
The Supreme Court affirms a drug conviction, ruling that minor procedural lapses in Section 21 compliance do not automatically invalidate seized evidence.
Sufficiency of Information in Criminal Cases: Ensuring Fair Notice to the Accused
How Philippine courts test whether a criminal Information sufficiently informs the accused of the charge, with lessons from a drug case.
Buy-Bust Operations and Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: What People v. Quiamanlon Teaches
The Supreme Court explains when lapses in drug evidence custody do not defeat a conviction under RA 9165.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Proper Evidence Handling Matters
The Supreme Court explains the chain of custody rule in drug cases and when lapses in procedure will not defeat a conviction.
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.
VAT Refund for Foreign Tourists Upheld: Equal Protection and Tax Classification Under RA 12079
The Supreme Court upholds RA 12079's VAT refund for foreign tourists, ruling it does not violate equal protection or uniform taxation.
Due Process in Philippine Tax Assessments: The Critical Role of the Preliminary Assessment Notice
Philippine tax assessments require a Preliminary Assessment Notice; without it, the assessment is void for denying due process.
Correcting Errors in Your Birth Certificate: A Guide to Philippine Law
Learn how Philippine law handles corrections to birth certificate entries, including the difference between clerical fixes and substantial changes.
Construction Disputes: Substantial Completion and Liquidated Damages in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when 95% substantial completion bars liquidated damages in construction disputes under CIAP rules.
Custodia Legis and Garnishment: The BSP v. Judge Lanzanas Ruling
Funds in custodia legis cannot be garnished without court approval. The Supreme Court's ruling in BSP v. Judge Lanzanas explains why.