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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Upholding Government Authority When Public Interest Overrides Private Land Claims In Expropriation
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on expropriation, public interest, and limits of private land claims against government authority.
VAT Refund Apportionment When Exempt Sales Affect Tax Credit Claims
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when VAT refunds on capital goods must be apportioned if a taxpayer also has exempt sales.
CARP Coverage and Due Process: A.Z. Arnaiz Realty Ruling on Land Exclusion
The Supreme Court clarifies due process in agrarian reform and the standards for excluding cattle ranches from CARP coverage.
Treachery in Group Attacks: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Murder Cases
How the Supreme Court upheld murder convictions based on positive identification and treachery in a group attack, explaining key evidentiary rules.
Judicial Overreach: Defining the Boundaries of Contempt Power
The Supreme Court clarifies that dismissal for forum shopping requires identity of parties, causes, and reliefs—not mere procedural missteps.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Broken Seals Can Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because the prosecution failed to prove the chain of custody of seized shabu. Learn the rule.
In Rape Cases, Credible Victim Testimony Prevails Over Uncorroborated Alibis
In People v. Alegre, the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction where the victim's credible testimony and the physical evidence outweighed an uncorroborated alibi.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why the Prosecution Must Prove the Seized Drugs' Integrity
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because the prosecution failed to prove the chain of custody of seized shabu, explaining the strict evidentiary rule.
Reorganizing Religious Entities: Converting a Corporation Sole into a Corporation Aggregate
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on converting a corporation sole to a corporation aggregate via amended articles, not dissolution.
Employer Liability for Employee Negligence: The Rule on Vicarious Responsibility in the Philippines
Philippine law makes employers solidarily liable for employee negligence unless they prove diligent selection and supervision. Learn the rule from a Supreme Court case.
Contractual Obligations and Delivery Disputes: When Factual Findings Prevail
Explore how the Supreme Court upheld factual findings in a delivery dispute, reinforcing the binding nature of trial court determinations in contractual obligations.
Resignation vs Constructive Dismissal: What Philippine Employees Must Prove
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when preventive suspension and resignation amount to constructive dismissal, and what employees must prove.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Ensuring Evidence Integrity for Conviction
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because the prosecution failed to prove the chain of custody, emphasizing evidence integrity.
Self-Defense vs Conspiracy: Criminal Liability in Group Violence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense is available in group violence and how conspiracy affects criminal liability.
Intent vs Action: Distinguishing Attempted From Frustrated Homicide in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a stab wound amounts to attempted rather than frustrated homicide, and the proof required.
Torrens Title Prevails Over Unregistered Deed in Possession Dispute
Supreme Court clarifies that a Torrens title gives the registered owner a better right to possession than an unregistered deed of sale.
When a Lawyer's Negligence Does Not Amount to Extrinsic Fraud: Amihan Bus Lines v. Romars
The Supreme Court clarifies when a lawyer's mistakes can justify annulment of judgment, and when clients must bear the consequences.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Mental Retardation and the Assessment of Force and Consent
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a rape charge built on force and intimidation does not require the victim's mental retardation to be alleged in the information.
Protecting Minors: Why Anger or Resentment Cannot Justify Rape Accusations in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that rape accusations against minors cannot be dismissed as products of anger or resentment, upholding conviction based on credible testimony.
Attorney Negligence and Extrinsic Fraud: The Limits of Legal Recourse in Philippine Law
When a lawyer's negligence costs a client the case, can the judgment be annulled? The Supreme Court clarifies the rule on extrinsic fraud.
Subrogation Rights Protecting Banks in Loan Agreement Reversals
When a bank pays another party's debt, legal subrogation may let it recover. Learn how the Supreme Court applied this rule.
Extrinsic Fraud and Attorney Negligence: Due Process in Philippine Courts
When does a lawyer's negligence amount to extrinsic fraud? The Supreme Court clarifies the rule in Amihan Bus Lines v. Romars.
Right to Information vs Confidentiality in Professional Exams: Antolin v. Domondon
The Supreme Court balances the constitutional right to information against confidentiality rules for professional licensure exams in Antolin v. Domondon.
Valid Warrantless Arrest Upholding Drug Conviction Based on In Flagrante Delicto
Supreme Court affirms drug conviction, ruling warrantless arrest valid when suspect caught in flagrante delicto exchanging shabu.