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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Clean Hands Doctrine Bars Relief in Alleged Illegal Land Ownership Case
Philippine Supreme Court applies clean hands doctrine to deny claims based on alleged illegal foreign land ownership arrangements.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Victim Testimony and Deadly Weapon in Rape Cases
Supreme Court affirms rape convictions, ruling credible victim testimony suffices and a proven knife threat justifies exemplary damages.
Fair Election Practices: Candidates Responsible for Donated Political Ads
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on candidate liability for donated political advertisements under the Fair Elections Act and COMELEC rules.
Finality of Foreclosure: Rights and Duties After a Mortgage Default
What happens after a mortgage default and foreclosure sale becomes final? The Supreme Court clarifies the mortgagor's rights and duties.
Judicial Immunity and Unsubstantiated Administrative Complaints Against Judges
Philippine courts dismiss administrative complaints against judges when the allegations are unsupported and the acts complained of are judicial in nature.
Legislative District Creation Population Thresholds and the Limits of Projections
The Supreme Court struck down RA 9591 creating Malolos City's legislative district, ruling that unverified population projections cannot satisfy the 250,000 constitutional threshold.
Who Can Contest Property Taxes: Defining Legal Interest in Real Estate Assessments
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who may protest real property tax assessments and what "legal interest" means under the Local Government Code.
Population Projections and Legislative Districts: The Malolos Case
The Supreme Court struck down a law creating a Malolos City legislative district for relying on an invalid population projection. Learn the rules.
Agency and Mortgage Law: When an Agent’s Signature Does Not Bind the Principal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an authorized agent’s mortgage signature binds only the agent, not the principal, and the role of laches.
Population Projections and Legislative Districts: The Malolos Case on Constitutional Compliance
The Supreme Court struck down RA 9591 creating Malolos' lone district, ruling that unreliable population projections cannot satisfy the 250,000 constitutional threshold.
Landowners Can Withdraw Revalued Compensation Pending Agrarian Dispute Resolution
Supreme Court affirms landowners' right to withdraw revalued compensation pending appeal in agrarian cases, citing just and timely payment principle.
Ejectment Case Recall of Writ of Execution Due to Supervening Event
When can a court recall a writ of execution in an ejectment case? The Supreme Court explains the rule on supervening events.
Selling Subdivision Lots Without a License: Criminal Liability Under P.D. 957
Selling subdivision lots without an HLURB license is a crime. A later license does not erase liability, explains the Supreme Court.
Selling Subdivision Lots Without A License Hlurb Authority AND Criminal Liability Under PD 957
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that selling subdivision lots without an HLURB license is a crime, and a later license does not erase liability.
Cooperative Members' Deposit Interest Exempt from Final Withholding Tax: DCCCO v. CIR
The Supreme Court ruled that cooperatives need not withhold 20% final tax on members' deposit interest, citing social justice.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Safeguarding Individual Rights in Drug Possession Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug possession accused, stressing proof beyond reasonable doubt and unbroken chain of custody under RA 9165.
Rape Conviction Upheld: The Value of Consistent Testimony and Immediate Reporting
Supreme Court affirms qualified rape conviction, underscoring how a child victim's candid, consistent testimony and corroborating medical evidence establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Credible Testimony and the Sweetheart Defense
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, explaining how credible victim testimony outweighs the sweetheart defense in Philippine criminal law.
Passport Validity and Deportation: Re-Entry Requirements for Deported Aliens in the Philippines
A deported alien who re-enters without a valid passport and prior consent may face deportation. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Step Parent Rape Upholding THE Testimony OF A Child Victim
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on the credible testimony of the victim, rejecting the sweetheart defense.
Waiver by Acquiescence: The Perils of Delay in Lease Agreement Disputes
A Supreme Court ruling shows how failing to promptly contest a lease violation can waive contractual rights — a cautionary tale for landlords and tenants.
Postgraduate Degrees and Civil Service Eligibility: Supreme Court Clarifies Qualification Standards
The Supreme Court ruled that a postgraduate degree in any related field does not conflict with a professional license requirement like the Civil Engineer licensure under RA 1080.
Upholding Timeliness in Tax Appeals: The Significance of Adhering to Statutory Deadlines
Learn how the Supreme Court reinforced strict compliance with statutory deadlines in tax appeals and why missing them can be fatal.
Tax Amnesty and the Mandatory Recording of Investigations: CIR v. Ariete
The Supreme Court ruled that BIR's failure to record an investigation in the Official Registry Book allows taxpayers to avail of tax amnesty benefits.