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.
Negligence and Quasi-Delict: When Overtaking on the Shoulder Makes You Liable
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies negligence and vicarious liability of vehicle owners in traffic accidents under Philippine law.
Separate Crimes for Separate Drugs: Possessing Shabu and Marijuana Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: possessing shabu and marijuana at the same time and place constitutes two separate crimes, requiring two separate Informations.
Injunctive Relief and Status Quo in Foreclosure Disputes: The Dela Cruz Case
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how pending agrarian tenancy cases affect forcible entry jurisdiction and the principle of status quo.
Upholding Land Titles When Government Reversion Claims Fail
When can the government cancel a free patent and revert land to the public domain? The Supreme Court explains the limits of reversion actions.
When the Government Must Prove Its Case: Reversion, Free Patents, and the Regalian Doctrine
A Supreme Court ruling on when the government can cancel a free patent and revert land to the public domain.
Presidential Approval and Contract Validity: Limits of Executive Power in Philippine Procurement
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when presidential approval is required for government contracts and the limits of executive discretion in procurement.
Breaking Down Land Ownership Disputes When Hearsay Clouds Real Estate Claims
A Supreme Court ruling explains why hearsay evidence fails in property disputes, and how Torrens titles protect registered owners.
Self-Defense vs Treachery: When Killing Is Murder in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies killing as murder. Learn the legal rules.
CARP Coverage and Tenancy: Resolving Land Disputes Amidst Conflicting Claims and Vested Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how pending DARAB tenancy cases affect forcible entry jurisdiction and CARP coverage.
Balancing Right to Work and Employer Prerogative: Absences and Termination
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when excessive absences justify dismissal, emphasizing proportional penalties and employer burden of proof.
Lawyer Misconduct Outside Professional Duties: When Private Acts Lead to Suspension
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a lawyer's private misconduct, like road rage and firing a gun, warrants suspension from the practice of law.
Reversion Suits: When the State Must Prove Forest Land Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies the State's burden in reversion cases, protecting vested rights over land titles issued before forest classification.
Substantial Compliance in Appellate Procedure: Balancing Technical Rules and Justice
The Supreme Court relaxes technical rules in labor cases, allowing substantial compliance with Rule 65 and Rule 13 requirements.
Limits on Delegated Authority: NPC Drivers and Mechanics Association v. NPC
When board members send alternates to vote, are their resolutions valid? The Supreme Court says no—discretion cannot be delegated.
Tolerance Ends Ownership Rights Prevail In Unlawful Detainer Disputes
SC ruling: mere tolerance of occupation ends when property is sold; new owner may eject occupants via unlawful detainer.
Proving Alienable and Disposable Land: Key Lessons from Tri-Plus on Land Registration
The Supreme Court clarifies what evidence is needed to prove land is alienable and disposable in Philippine land registration cases.
The Ombudsman's Control Over Special Prosecutors: Limits on Prosecutorial Authority
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on the Ombudsman's authority over special prosecutors and the limits of prosecutorial discretion in criminal cases.
Arson and Homicide: Distinguishing Intent and Consequences in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when arson absorbs resulting deaths versus when separate homicide charges apply, using intent as the key.
Employer Liability for Negligent Employee: Quasi-Delict vs Subsidiary Liability
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers face direct liability for employee negligence under Article 2180, Civil Code, distinct from subsidiary criminal liability.
Supplemental Complaints and Forum Shopping: Lessons from Young v. Sy
The Supreme Court clarifies when supplemental complaints are allowed and why filing both an appeal and certiorari amounts to forum shopping.
Due Process and Preliminary Investigations: Balancing Rights in Philippine Law
Learn how the Supreme Court protects due process rights in Philippine litigation, including the duty to serve pleadings on counsel of record.
Public Land vs Private Claim: Military Reservations and the Limits of Land Acquisition in the Philippines
The Supreme Court voids a title over land inside Fort Bonifacio, ruling military reservations are inalienable public land.
Certiorari vs Appeal: Choosing the Right Remedy Against Shari'a Court Resolutions
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies why certiorari cannot substitute for a lost appeal, using a Shari'a court dispute as the case study.
Dower Rights and Evidence Establishing a Muslim Wife’s Entitlement to Mahr Property
The Supreme Court clarifies when a Muslim wife can claim mahr property and why procedural errors can forfeit that claim.