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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Silence Isn't Always Acquiescence: Child Rape Victims and the Validity of Delayed Reporting in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms that delayed reporting by child rape victims does not weaken credibility, explaining why silence is not acquiescence.
Bouncing Checks and Broken Promises: When Estafa Is Proven Beyond Reasonable Doubt
The Supreme Court clarifies when issuing bouncing checks amounts to estafa, and why a spouse is not automatically guilty by association.
Disbarment for Misusing Blank Checks: Dishonesty and Abuse of Authority
A lawyer who filled up borrowers' blank checks and filed baseless criminal cases was disbarred for gross misconduct and dishonesty.
Dual Citizenship and Electoral Eligibility: Clarifying the Requirements for Public Office
The Supreme Court clarifies that dual citizens by birth may run for public office by merely filing a certificate of candidacy, without renouncing foreign citizenship.
Navigating Appeals: Jurisdictional Errors and Lost Rights in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on res judicata, indispensable parties, and mortgagee good faith in property disputes.
Reconveyance Actions and Good Faith: Clarifying Property Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains res judicata and good faith in reconveyance actions, protecting banks that rely on court-issued titles.
Judicial Accountability: Consequences of Failing to Comply With Court Orders
Supreme Court clarifies that judges who ignore Court directives face administrative sanctions, even if underlying complaints lack merit.
Jurisdiction Over Arbitral Awards: The Role of Regional Trial Courts in PCHC Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that PCHC rules cannot vest RTCs with jurisdiction to review arbitral awards; proper remedies explained.
Retrenchment Balancing Employer Rights AND Employee Protection During Economic Downturns
The Supreme Court clarifies when retrenchment is valid, what criteria employers may use, and what employees can expect during economic downturns.
Importation vs Transshipment: When Seized Goods Cannot Be Released Under Bond
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when transshipment claims fail and seized goods cannot be released under bond due to fraud.
Falsifying Personal Data Sheets: Dishonesty in Public Service and Its Penalties
The Supreme Court ruled that falsifying entries in a government employee's Personal Data Sheet constitutes dishonesty, but mitigating circumstances may reduce the penalty of dismissal.
Res Judicata and Forum Shopping: When Repeated Lawsuits Over the Same Land Dispute Are Barred
Philippine Supreme Court explains forum shopping rules and when dismissal for failure to prosecute is too severe a sanction.
Upholding Contingent Attorneys Fees When ARE They Enforceable
When are contingent attorney's fees enforceable in Philippine labor cases? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules in Masmud v. NLRC.
Certiorari and Summary Procedure: When Dismissal for Failure to Prosecute Is Too Harsh
A look at when Philippine courts may relax procedural rules on dismissal for failure to prosecute, based on a 2009 Supreme Court ruling.
Psychological Incapacity Reassessing Marital Nullity Under Article 36 of the Family Code
The Supreme Court clarifies that psychological incapacity under Article 36 need not fit rigid molds, urging a case-by-case, totality-of-circumstances approach.
Labor-Only Contracting: When a Principal Becomes the True Employer
Supreme Court ruling on labor-only contracting and when a principal becomes the true employer of contractual workers.
Judicial Misconduct and Substantial Evidence in Administrative Cases
A judge was suspended for soliciting P100,000 to fix cases. The Supreme Court explains the substantial evidence standard in administrative cases.
Upholding Ethical Conduct: Disciplining Court Employees for Unprofessional Behavior
The Supreme Court reminds court employees that courtesy and self-restraint are duties of public service, disciplining two sheriffs for verbal abuse of a litigant.
Double Jeopardy and Police Accountability: When Amending an Information Is Allowed
Explaining when an amended criminal information does not trigger double jeopardy, through a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on police killings.
Senate Authority vs Individual Rights: Defining Limits of Legislative Inquiries in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the scope of Senate inquiry powers in Dela Paz v. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, balancing legislative authority with individual rights.
Enforcing Final Judgments: Accounting for Unlawful Rental Collection After Foreclosure
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that final judgments may be executed even if the exact amount is unstated, allowing courts to conduct hearings for accounting.
Upholding Jurisdictional Limits THE Finality OF Reconstitution Proceedings AND Title Cancellations
Malversation Conviction Upheld: Signature on Audit Report as Evidence of Accountability
The Supreme Court holds that a municipal treasurer's signature on a COA cash examination report is an acknowledgment of accountability for public funds.
Defining the Employer: Coca-Cola's Control Over Contracted Salesmen
When is a contractor a labor-only contractor? The Supreme Court clarifies employer liability and control over contracted salesmen.