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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Bouncing Checks and Corporate Liability: When Can a Corporation Be Sued?
Supreme Court clarifies that a corporation can be sued separately for civil liability from bounced checks even if the signing officer is acquitted.
Challenging Buy-Bust Operations: Supreme Court Upholds Drug Conviction
Philippine Supreme Court affirms drug sale conviction, rejecting frame-up defense and clarifying warrantless arrest rules in buy-bust operations.
CARP Coverage Disputes: DAR Secretary Has Exclusive Jurisdiction Over Registered CLOAs
Supreme Court clarifies that CARP coverage disputes belong to the DAR Secretary, not DARAB, even when a CLOA is already registered.
Truthfulness in Personal Data Sheets: Consequences of Dishonesty in Government Employment
A Supreme Court ruling on a court employee's dishonest PDS shows how concealment of past administrative offenses can end a government career.
DNA Evidence and Paternity: Establishing Paternity Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Rape Cases
How the Supreme Court first applied the DNA Rules to confirm paternity and uphold a rape conviction.
Voluntary Resignation Bars Seafarers Claims Understanding Contractual Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how voluntary resignation affects seafarers' claims for sickness allowance and disability benefits under POEA contracts.
Treachery and Intent in Philippine Criminal Law: The Nuances of Murder
The Supreme Court explains how treachery and conspiracy qualify a killing as murder under Philippine criminal law.
Sweetheart Defense Fails: Rape Conviction Upheld Without Proof of Consent
Philippine Supreme Court rejects the "sweetheart theory" in rape cases, affirming that love affairs do not justify sexual violence without consent.
Due Process and Good Faith: When Clubs Cannot Foreclose on Membership Shares
Supreme Court rules a non-stock club's sale of a member's share for unpaid dues violated due process and good faith.
Seafarers Disability Claims: Weighing Company Doctor vs Independent Medical Opinion
Philippine Supreme Court rules on seafarer disability claims when company physicians and independent doctors disagree, favoring the worker's evidence.
Philippine Supreme Court Upholds Cigarette Tax Classification and Uniformity
The Court upholds the constitutionality of the cigarette excise tax classification system under RA 9334, rejecting equal protection, uniformity, and unfair competition challenges.
Sheriff Dismissed for Grave Misconduct and Dishonesty Over Bail Bond Dealings
Supreme Court dismisses a sheriff for grave misconduct and dishonesty after he pocketed money meant for a complainant's bail bond.
Enforcing a Final Disbarment Ruling: The Doctrine of Immutability of Judgment in A.C. No. 12880
The Supreme Court enforces a final disbarment decision, citing the doctrine of immutability of judgment and holding a lawyer in contempt for defiance.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Imprecise Dates in Information
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction despite vague dates in information, clarifying that exact date is not essential element of rape.
Condominium Rights: Exclusive Use vs Unrestricted Construction on Common Areas
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that exclusive use of a condominium limited common area does not permit unrestricted construction or leasing to third persons.
Double Jeopardy and Prioritization Defense in Malversation and Graft Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when prioritizing payments excuses non-remittance of GSIS funds and when double jeopardy applies in graft cases.
Homestead Patents and Mortgage Restrictions: Protecting Family Lands From Encumbrances
The Supreme Court voids mortgages on homestead lands made within five years of patent issuance, protecting family properties from premature encumbrances.
Probable Cause vs Prosecutorial Discretion: The Metrobank v. Gonzales Ruling on Trust Receipt Estafa
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of the Secretary of Justice's power to reverse probable cause findings in trust receipt estafa cases.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: The Meaning of "Ample Opportunity to Be Heard"
The Supreme Court clarifies that a formal hearing is not always required before dismissing an employee—what matters is a meaningful opportunity to be heard.
Liability on Roads When Foresight Falls Short
When a bank manager treated a personal check as cash in the vault, the Supreme Court clarified liability under the Anti-Graft Law.
Loss of Confidence in Philippine Labor Law: When Employers Must Prove Just Cause
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers may dismiss for loss of confidence and what due process requires in termination cases.
NTC Cannot Cancel Broadcast CPCs: The Dual Franchise and License Regime Explained
The Supreme Court rules the NTC has no power to cancel broadcast licenses issued to legislative franchise holders, clarifying the dual regulatory regime.
Trust Receipts and Estafa: What Philippine Businesses Should Know
Supreme Court clarifies probable cause standards in trust receipt violations under PD 115, safeguarding financial transactions in the Philippines.
Due Process in Dismissal: What the Supreme Court Really Requires
A 2009 Supreme Court ruling clarifies that a formal hearing is not always required before an employee is dismissed — only a genuine chance to be heard.