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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Protecting the Vulnerable: Statutory Rape and the Credibility of Child Witnesses in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on statutory rape shows how Philippine courts weigh a child victim's testimony and why minor inconsistencies do not destroy credibility.
Labor Appeals When Justice Outweighs Strict Deadlines In Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on labor appeals, strict deadlines, and when substantial justice prevails over procedural rules.
One-Day Late Appeal in Labor Cases: When Courts Excuse Procedural Lapses
Supreme Court rules a one-day late appeal in labor cases may be excused to serve justice, explaining the exception to the mandatory appeal period.
Mining Disputes and Contract Validity: When Courts Take Over From Arbitrators
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when regular courts, not the Panel of Arbitrators, have jurisdiction over mining contract disputes.
Navigating Mining Disputes When Courts NOT Arbitrators Decide Contract Validity
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when regular courts, not the Panel of Arbitrators, have jurisdiction over mining contract disputes.
Statutory Rape Conviction Upheld: Impotence and Alibi Defenses Fail
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, rejecting impotence and alibi defenses, and explains how courts weigh victim testimony.
Perfecting an Appeal: Timely Payment of Appeal Fees Is Jurisdictional
Understand why paying appeal fees on time is a strict jurisdictional requirement in Philippine courts, based on a 2009 Supreme Court ruling.
Voluntary Appearance and Summons: Protecting Property Rights in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a defendant's court filings waive defective summons, protecting property rights in quieting title cases.
Death and Legal Representation: How Estate Claims Proceed in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on estate claims, probate jurisdiction, and why the value of the decedent's estate determines which court hears the case.
Voluntary Appearance and Motion to Dismiss: When Filing Confers Jurisdiction in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when filing a motion to dismiss without raising lack of jurisdiction constitutes voluntary appearance.
No More Extensions for Certiorari Petitions: The Strict 60-Day Rule Under A.M. No. 07-7-12-SC
The Supreme Court clarifies that courts can no longer grant extensions for Rule 65 certiorari petitions after A.M. No. 07-7-12-SC deleted the allowance.
Contractual Obligations Prevail Interpreting Collective Bargaining Agreements in Labor Disputes
When CBA terms are clear, courts enforce them literally—even if the employer later finds the deal unfavorable.
The Perils of Duplication: Forum Shopping and the Dismissal of Redundant Lawsuits in Property Disputes
When a party files multiple suits over the same property and issue, Philippine courts may dismiss all of them as forum shopping. Learn the rules.
Navigating Property Disputes When CAN Metropolitan Trial Courts Decide Ownership
Hierarchy of Courts: When Direct Resort to the Supreme Court Is Not Allowed
The Supreme Court explains the hierarchy of courts rule and why direct petitions for certiorari must first go to the Court of Appeals.
Dismissal for Undue Delay: A Judge's Accountability for Timely Case Resolution
Explore how Philippine courts hold judges accountable for undue delay in resolving cases, and what this means for litigants seeking timely justice.
Prosecutors Discretion in the Philippines: When Courts Can Intervene
When can courts review a prosecutor's or the Ombudsman's decision? The Supreme Court explains the limits of judicial intervention.
Correcting Typographical Errors Valid Execution Despite Misstated Property Address
A typographical error in a judgment's dispositive portion does not render it defective or unenforceable. The Supreme Court explains how courts may correct such errors.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Statutory Rape and the Testimony of Child Victims in Philippine Law
A look at People v. Obero, where the Supreme Court upheld a rape conviction, affirming how courts assess a child victim's testimony and the finality of judgments.
Ending Perpetual Trusts Balancing Testamentary Freedom AND Property Rights IN THE Philippines
Philippine law limits how long trusts can last. This article explains the rule against perpetuities and how courts balance a testator's wishes against property rights.
Double Titling Risk: How Courts Balance Finality and Preventing Land Ownership Errors
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts balance finality of judgments against preventing double titling and land ownership errors.
Judicial Overreach When Injunctions Exceed Legal Boundaries
The Supreme Court rules that courts cannot dismiss just compensation cases based on DARAB rules that conflict with RA 6657.
Shareholder Derivative Suits: Venue and Procedure Under Philippine Rules
Learn how Philippine courts determine venue for shareholder derivative suits and why procedural choices like certiorari vs. appeal matter.
Ejectment or Agrarian Dispute? How Philippine Courts Decide Who Has Jurisdiction
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a land dispute was treated as an ejectment case, not an agrarian matter, and how jurisdiction is determined.