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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Eyewitness Testimony and the Standard of Proof in Murder Convictions: People v. Watamama
The Supreme Court clarifies when eyewitness testimony suffices for conviction and why treachery must be proven, not presumed, in murder cases.
Reconstitution of Lost Title: Supreme Court Clarifies Rules on Lost Owner's Duplicates
Supreme Court clarifies when courts may grant reconstitution of lost titles and what evidence suffices under Republic Act No. 26.
Fraternity Violence and Eyewitness Identification: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How the Supreme Court upheld convictions for fraternity violence based on positive eyewitness identification despite masks and chaotic circumstances.
Falsification of Public Documents: Balancing Expert Testimony and Due Process
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how NBI expert reports and due process rights interact in falsification preliminary investigations.
Restitution After Judgment Modification: Fairness in Executed Judgments
When the Supreme Court reduces damages after properties have been sold at execution, how are parties made whole? The Eserjose case explains restitution rules.
When Do Government Employees Lose Their Right to Allowances After Integration
Explaining when COLA and other allowances are deemed integrated into basic salary under the Salary Standardization Law, citing Land Bank v. Naval.
Bargaining in Good Faith: The Fine Line Between Firm Positions and Unfair Labor Practices
When does a company's hardline stance in CBA talks become bad faith bargaining? The Supreme Court clarifies the line.
Due Process Prevails When Land Registration Cases Cannot Disguise Revocation of Donation Claims
The Supreme Court nullified a land registration case that was actually a disguised claim for revocation of donation, upholding due process.
Contempt of Court: Balancing Due Process and Judicial Authority
Explore how the Supreme Court balances due process with judicial authority in contempt cases, ensuring fairness and order.
Loafing in Public Service: Consequences for Neglecting Duty
A Supreme Court ruling explains when unauthorized absences during office hours constitute loafing and the penalties that follow.
Falsifying Time Records: A Breach of Public Trust in the Philippine Judiciary
Court interpreter suspended six months for falsifying daily time records to attend law school. The Supreme Court rules on dishonesty, due process, and public accountability.
Seafarers’ Disability Claims: Abandoning Treatment and the POEA-SEC Rules
Explore the Supreme Court ruling on seafarers' disability claims, emphasizing the POEA-SEC requirements and the consequences of abandoning treatment.
Due Process and Technicalities: When Courts Must Decide Cases on the Merits
The Supreme Court reminds courts that procedural rules serve justice, not defeat it, in this ruling on late appeals and verification requirements.
Breach of Duty, Misuse of Judiciary Funds, and the Consequences for Court Personnel
A Supreme Court ruling shows how clerks of court who delay remitting judiciary funds face serious administrative liability, even if they later pay the amounts back.
Non-Diminution of Benefits: When Employer Practices Become Enforceable Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on non-diminution of benefits—when employer practices ripen into enforceable rights under the Labor Code.
Ombudsman’s Discretion vs Due Process: Balancing Preventive Suspension With Individual Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on preventive suspension, due process, and the limits of Ombudsman discretion in administrative cases.
Judicial Accountability: Balancing Efficiency and Due Process in Court Management
A Supreme Court ruling on judge accountability shows how administrative efficiency must yield to due process and evidence-based discipline.
Mootness Prevails When Subsequent Actions Render Court Decisions Unnecessary
Attachment Liens Priority Rights AND Protection IN Property Disputes
Learn how prior attachment liens survive property transfers and title cancellations, and why courts must preserve these encumbrances.
Protecting Workers Rights Employer Interference AND Unfair Labor Practices
Supreme Court clarifies the proper remedy for challenging the Labor Secretary's assumption of jurisdiction over strikes in industries vital to national interest.
Upholding Convictions in Drug Cases: Balancing Evidence and Constitutional Rights
Learn how the Supreme Court balances evidence and constitutional rights in drug cases, and what this means for accused persons.
Forum Shopping and Attorney Sanctions for Relitigating Settled Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court sanctions lawyer for forum shopping in relitigating settled estate property claims, explaining the rules and consequences.
Conspiracy and Illegal Drug Transportation: Upholding Accountability in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms that conspiracy to transport illegal drugs can be proven by surrounding circumstances, not just express agreement.
Upholding Notarial Duties: Consequences for Negligence in Document Authentication
The Supreme Court reminds notaries public that notarization is no empty act, and negligence carries serious professional consequences.