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.
Venue in Deficiency Claims: A Personal Action After Foreclosure
The Supreme Court clarifies that an action to recover a mortgage deficiency after extrajudicial foreclosure is a personal action, not a real action.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Victim Testimony Prevails Over Minor Inconsistencies
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, ruling that minor inconsistencies in victim testimony do not impair credibility when the essential facts are clearly established.
Trust or Time: Prescription in Disputes Over Inherited Shares
Supreme Court clarifies when prescription and laches may bar claims over shares held in implied trust, remanding Dy Sun-Ong v. Dy Sun for trial.
Insurance Claim Denied for Drunk Driver: Proving Intoxication in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when insurers may deny claims due to driver intoxication and the evidence required.
Writ of Amparo Not a Shield for Deportation: Mison v. Gallegos
The Supreme Court clarifies that the writ of amparo covers only extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, not ordinary immigration detention.
Tax Amnesty and Economic Zones: Puregold Case on VAT and Excise Tax Liabilities
Supreme Court ruling on RA 9399 tax amnesty covering VAT and excise tax liabilities of Clark ecozone enterprises.
Falsification of Private Documents: Where Venue Lies Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that venue for falsification of private documents is where the falsification occurred, not where the document was used.
Res Judicata Bars Repeated Lawsuits for the Same Breach of Contract
A single breach of contract gives rise to only one cause of action. Learn how the Supreme Court applied res judicata to bar a second lawsuit.
Prior Possession Is Key in Philippine Forcible Entry Cases
Philippine forcible entry cases hinge on prior physical possession. The Supreme Court explains why in Alcedo v. Sagudang.
Upholding Workers Rights Interpreting Employment Contracts IN Favor OF Labor
The Supreme Court clarifies when a seafarer's disability becomes total and permanent, and how CBA conflict-resolution clauses bind the parties.
Breach of Trust: Understanding Malversation of Public Funds in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains the elements of malversation under Article 217 of the Revised Penal Code, including the presumption of misappropriation when funds are not forthcoming upon demand.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Lack of Seclusion: People v. Nuyok
The Supreme Court affirms rape convictions based on circumstantial evidence, ruling that seclusion is not an element of the crime.
Protecting Workers Employers Faulty Systems Cannot Justify Employee Penalties
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled that employers cannot penalize workers for systemic failures beyond their control.
Barangay Settlement Enforcement: MCTC Jurisdiction and the 10-Day Rule
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified enforcement of barangay amicable settlements, including MCTC jurisdiction and the binding 10-day repudiation period.
Acts of Lasciviousness: When a Minor's Testimony Suffices and How RA 7610 Applies
A father's conviction for acts of lasciviousness affirmed—when a child's lone testimony suffices and how RA 7610 sets the penalty.
Perfecting Appeals: The Strict Requirements for Employers in Labor Disputes
Employers must strictly comply with appeal bond and deadline rules under Article 223 of the Labor Code or risk losing their appeal entirely.
Retroactivity of Laws Protecting Vested Retirement Benefits of Military Personnel
Supreme Court rules PD 1638 cannot retroactively strip vested retirement benefits of military retirees under RA 340.
When Can a Bank Deposit Real Property Instead of Cash to Lift an Attachment?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that under Rule 57, only cash deposit or counter-bond can lift a writ of attachment.
Probable Cause and Estafa: Balancing Judicial Discretion and Individual Rights in Criminal Arrests
Learn how the Supreme Court balances probable cause requirements and individual rights in estafa cases, from arrest to attachment.
Transparency in Election Surveys: Balancing Free Speech and Fair Elections
The Supreme Court upheld COMELEC's power to require disclosure of election survey funders, including subscribers, under the Fair Election Act.
Novation Requires Clear Creditor Consent Protecting Banks IN Debt Assumption Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on debt assumption, assignment of credit, and the need for creditor consent under Civil Code.
Assignment of Contractual Rights: Consent Requirements and Third Party Obligations in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when contractual assignment binds the debtor and when assignee consent is required under Civil Code.
Self-Defense and Double Jeopardy: Key Lessons from People v. De Leon
The Supreme Court's ruling in People v. De Leon clarifies the strict requirements for self-defense and the absolute protection against double jeopardy in Philippine criminal law.
When Public Interest Meets Private Contracts: The SM Land v. BCDA Ruling on Development Projects
The Supreme Court ruled that government agencies cannot cancel accepted unsolicited proposals by invoking public interest, upholding contractual obligations.