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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Balancing Zealous Advocacy AND Honest Conduct Limits TO Protecting Client Interests
A lawyer’s duty to protect a client has limits: the Supreme Court reprimands counsel for using false statements in demand letters.
Accountability in Conspiracy: Shared Criminal Intent Under Philippine Law
How Philippine courts infer conspiracy from concerted acts, making each participant equally liable for murder even without direct evidence of a prior agreement.
Breach OF Trust AN Employees Dismissal FOR Dishonesty AND THE Limits OF Employer Discretion
Grave Neglect of Duty in Public Office: The Samson De Leon Case
When does a public official's inaction become grave neglect of duty? The Supreme Court clarifies the standard in this administrative law case.
Protecting Seafarers: Upholding Disability Claims Despite Company Doctor's Assessment
Supreme Court rules seafarers can dispute company-designated physician's fitness assessment with independent medical evidence, protecting their disability claims.
Challenging Residency Claims: The Supreme Court on Election Eligibility
A candidate's one-year residency requirement for local office demands clear proof of domicile, not just property ownership or voter registration.
Confessions and Conspiracy: Probable Cause in the Batasan Bombing Case
The Supreme Court explains why a co-accused's confession alone cannot establish probable cause for conspiracy in the Batasan bombing case.
Banks Must Exercise Higher Diligence: Land Bank v. Poblete on Mortgage in Bad Faith
When a bank accepts a mortgage over property it failed to verify, it risks losing protection as a mortgagee in good faith.
Good Faith and Land Titles: Protecting Innocent Purchasers in Real Estate Disputes
When is a bank a mortgagee in good faith? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on forged deeds and land titles.
SEP Clearance and the Limits of Certiorari: When Administrative Action Is Not Quasi-Judicial
The Supreme Court clarifies when an SEP Clearance from the Palawan Council is an administrative act, not a quasi-judicial one, and why certiorari is the wrong remedy.
Deceit and Syndicated Estafa: Distinguishing Simple Estafa From Large-Scale Swindling
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when fraud against a bank is simple estafa, not syndicated estafa under PD 1689.
Entrapment vs Instigation in Illegal Drug Sales: Key Distinctions from a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court distinguishes entrapment from instigation in drug cases, explaining why a buy-bust arrest remains valid when criminal intent originates from the accused.
Double Jeopardy and Speedy Trial Rights in the ASEAN Street Lighting Case
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on double jeopardy, speedy disposition, and amended informations in Braza v. Sandiganbayan.
Finality of Judgment vs Newly Discovered Evidence in Homicide Cases
When a conviction becomes final, can newly discovered evidence reopen the case? The Supreme Court explains the limits.
When a Sheriff's Silence Becomes Discourtesy: Lessons from a 2013 Administrative Case
A sheriff's failure to respond to a litigant's letters constitutes discourtesy, even when other charges fail. Learn the standard.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Ensuring Justice for Unexpected Attacks
The Supreme Court explains treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, using a 2013 case to clarify sudden, unprovoked attacks.
Technical Malversation: Intent Not Required for Illegal Use of Public Funds
Supreme Court clarifies that illegal use of public funds under does not require intent, only the diversion of funds to another public purpose.
Circumstantial Evidence and Conspiracy in Robbery with Homicide: People v. Lamsen
How the Supreme Court upheld convictions for robbery with homicide based on eyewitness testimony, circumstantial evidence, and conspiracy.
Judicial Accountability vs Erroneous Judgments: Protecting Judicial Independence in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on judicial accountability, erroneous judgments, and the constitutional protection of judicial independence.
The Writ of Amparo: Understanding Procedural Requirements for Protecting Constitutional Rights
A guide to the writ of amparo's procedural rules, based on De Lima v. Gatdula, explaining why strict compliance matters.
Dual Office Holding: Constitutional Limits on Executive Appointments
Supreme Court rules Cabinet members cannot hold concurrent offices, even temporarily, under Section 13, Article VII of the Constitution.
Retrenchment Validity: Balancing Employer Prerogative and Employee Security of Tenure
The Supreme Court clarifies the requisites for valid retrenchment and when quitclaims bar illegal dismissal claims in Pepsi-Cola v. Molon.
Unsigned Contracts and Oral Plan Changes: When Additional Construction Costs Are Recoverable
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when contractors can recover extra costs from unsigned contracts and orally approved plan revisions.
Fair Trial vs Judicial Efficiency: Balancing Rights in Marcos Era Asset Recovery
How Philippine courts balance fair trial rights against judicial efficiency in complex asset recovery cases from the Marcos era.