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.
Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale: Supreme Court Upholds Protection for Filipino Workers
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of an unlicensed recruiter for illegal recruitment in large scale and estafa, protecting overseas Filipino workers from fraudulent schemes.
Unlawful Arrest and Weak Evidence: How to Fight Illegal Firearm Charges in the Philippines
Learn how unlawful arrest and weak evidence can defeat illegal firearm charges, based on a Supreme Court acquittal.
Red Flags and False Promises: How to Spot Illegal Recruiters in the Philippines
Learn how to spot illegal recruiters in the Philippines through the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Hernandez, with practical red flags and legal remedies.
When a Confirmed Flight Doesn't Extend Ticket Validity: Cervantes v. PAL
Learn from Cervantes v. PAL: confirming a flight does not extend a ticket's validity, and agents cannot bind the airline beyond their authority.
Docket Fees Matter: Ensuring Court Jurisdiction in Philippine Civil Cases
Learn how timely filing and docket fees affect court jurisdiction in Philippine civil cases, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Demata v. Court of Appeals.
Misappropriation vs Private Property: Understanding Malversation in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that malversation requires public property. A mayor's custody of a private gun is not malversation.
Locus Standi and Docket Fees: Lessons from National Steel v. Court of Appeals
Understand locus standi and docket fee rules in Philippine land disputes through the Supreme Court's ruling in National Steel v. Court of Appeals.
Original Documents ARE King Proving Forgery IN Philippine Courts Under THE Best Evidence Rule
Learn how the best evidence rule works in Philippine courts and why original documents are crucial in forgery cases.
Credibility Counts: How Philippine Courts Decide Self-Defense Claims in Murder Cases
Philippine courts weigh credibility heavily when accused persons invoke self-defense in murder cases. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Voluntary Resignation vs. Constructive Dismissal: When Management Prerogative Is Not Harassment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an employee's resignation is voluntary, and why management directives are not necessarily harassment.
Decoding Stray Votes: How Philippine Courts Uphold Voter Intent in Elections
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on stray votes, nuisance candidates, and the primacy of voter intent in election canvassing.
Supreme Court Rules on Taxability of Rental Income of Non-Profit Organizations
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when rental income of non-profit organizations like YMCA is taxable under the NIRC.
Invalid Sheriff's Sale: Protecting Property Rights in Judgment Execution
Learn from Dayonot v. NLRC why a sheriff's lack of authority voids an auction sale and what it means for judgment execution.
Unwritten Company Policy and Illegal Dismissal: The Bangloy Case
Can an employee be fired under an unwritten policy? The Bangloy case shows why written, communicated rules are vital in Philippine labor law.
Credible Witness or Coached Testimony: Why Doubt Can Acquit in Philippine Theft Cases
Explore how the Supreme Court acquitted a Meralco employee of qualified theft, emphasizing that uncorroborated and improbable witness testimony cannot prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
When Acts of God Disrupt Travel: Airline Liability for Flight Delays in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on airline liability for passenger expenses during flight delays caused by force majeure, like the Mt. Pinatubo eruption.
Buyer’s Right to Specific Performance When a Seller Backs Out of a Contract to Sell
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that sellers cannot unilaterally rescind a Contract to Sell, and buyers may sue for specific performance.
Ignorance Is No Defense: Death Penalty and Drug Importation in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms the death penalty for a woman caught importing shabu, ruling that ignorance of the drugs' presence is not a valid defense.
Loss of Trust and Confidence in Employee Dismissal: What Philippine Law Requires
Philippine jurisprudence on loss of trust and confidence as a valid ground for employee dismissal, explained through the Brent Hospital case.
Eviction and Tolerance: Understanding Tenant Rights Under Philippine Law
A 1998 Supreme Court ruling clarifies that tolerated occupants are not tenants under PD 1517 and may be evicted on demand.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Understanding Sudden Attack in Philippine Murder Cases
The Supreme Court explains treachery in murder cases through a sudden stabbing attack, clarifying the elements and legal consequences.
Navigating Dismissal Disputes: Labor Arbiter Jurisdiction in Philippine Employment Law
When does a termination dispute belong to the Labor Arbiter rather than voluntary arbitration? The Maneja ruling clarifies the boundary.
When A Back Attack Isnt Always Murder Examining Treachery IN Philippine Criminal LAW
The Supreme Court clarifies that a shot to the back does not automatically mean treachery, explaining when killing is homicide instead of murder.
Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Courts: Why Credibility Is Key in Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on eyewitness testimony, explaining how credibility, alibi, and evident premeditation are evaluated.