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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When Death and Procedural Choices End Criminal Complaints: The ABS-CBN v. Ombudsman Case
Explaining how the Supreme Court applied the Bayotas rule on death of respondents and why procedural choices in filing claims can affect criminal complaints.
Acquittal in Drug Case: Why Broken Chain of Custody Fatal to Prosecution
Supreme Court acquits drug suspect where police failed to inventory, photograph, and preserve seized shabu, breaking the chain of custody.
Sale of Conjugal Property Without Spousal Consent: Void Contracts and Heirs' Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on void sales of conjugal property without spousal consent, heirs' rights, and prescription periods explained.
Cyber Harassment: Defining Violence Against Women Through Digital Means in the Philippines
The Supreme Court ruled that sending a manipulated nude photo via cellphone constitutes violence against women under R.A. 9262, even as a single act.
Breach of Contract: The Necessity of Specificity in Contractual Violations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why a party terminating a contract must specify which provisions were violated, or face liability for breach.
Midnight Appointments and the Judiciary: The De Castro Ruling on the Constitutional Ban
The Supreme Court explains why the ban on midnight appointments does not apply to judicial posts, including the Chief Justice.
Trademark Rights in the Philippines: Prior Use vs. Registration Explained
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether trademark rights come from prior use or registration, and why distributors cannot own the marks they sell.
Executive Power vs Legislative Authority: Redefining Agency Functions and Security of Tenure
The Supreme Court upholds the President's power to reorganize executive agencies, clarifying limits on security of tenure claims.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding Convictions in Statutory Rape Cases Despite Familial Settings
The Supreme Court affirms a stepfather's statutory rape conviction, ruling that a child victim's failure to resist or shout does not negate rape.
The Perils of Crossed Checks: Navigating Holder in Due Course Status
A crossed check warns holders to verify the indorser's title. Learn how the Supreme Court applied this rule in Dino v. Judal-Loot.
Agency and Authority: Why a Written Mandate Is Paramount in Real Estate Sales
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why an agent's authority to sell land must be in writing, or the sale is void.
Proving Illegal Dismissal: The Employee's Burden to Establish Termination
Employees must first prove they were dismissed before employers must justify termination. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Publication Requirements in Extrajudicial Foreclosure: Protecting Mortgagors' Due Process
Philippine Savings Bank v. Geronimo clarifies that strict compliance with publication requirements is essential for a valid extrajudicial foreclosure.
Establishing Illegal Dismissal: The Employee's Burden to Prove Dismissal First
Employees must first prove they were dismissed before employers must justify termination. A Supreme Court ruling explains the evidence required.
Proximate Cause in Homicide: Liability for Unintended Fatal Consequences
A punch that led to a fatal fall still means homicide. The Supreme Court explains proximate cause and criminal liability under Article 4 of the RPC.
When Pawnshops Were Exempt From VAT: TFS, Inc. v. CIR
A 2010 Supreme Court ruling cancelled a pawnshop's deficiency VAT assessment and relaxed procedural rules to prevent unjust enrichment.
Reversion of Public Land: Only the Government Can Sue
The Supreme Court rules that only the government, through the Office of the Solicitor General, may file an action for reversion of public land.
When a Constitutional Question Is Ripe for Court Intervention: Defining Judicial Review Limits
Philippine Savings Bank v. Geronimo clarifies the ripeness doctrine and the burden of proving compliance with publication requirements in extrajudicial foreclosures.
Challenging Notarized Documents in Philippine Property Co-Ownership Disputes
When can a notarized affidavit be challenged in a Philippine property dispute? The Supreme Court explains the limits of notarization.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Preserving Evidence Integrity for a Fair Trial
How the Supreme Court in Balarbar v. People clarified that minor gaps in drug evidence handling do not automatically void a conviction.
Possession Follows Ownership Clearing Improvements After Land Reconveyance
When a court orders reconveyance of land, does possession automatically follow? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on removing improvements.
Workplace Misconduct: Defining the Boundaries of Just Cause for Dismissal in the Philippines
When does a fistfight outside work justify dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of just cause under Philippine labor law.
Fixed-Term Contracts vs Probationary Employment: Protecting Teachers' Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when fixed-term teaching contracts must yield to probationary employment rules under Philippine law.
Probationary Employment vs Fixed-Term Contracts: What Schools Must Prove to Avoid Illegal Dismissal Claims
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how probationary employment rules apply to teachers on fixed-term contracts, and what employers must prove.