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.
Right to Preliminary Investigation: When the Ombudsman's Failure to Serve the Complaint Violates Due Process
The Supreme Court rules that withholding the complaint affidavit during preliminary investigation violates the accused's constitutional right to due process.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Procedural Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to broken chain of custody, emphasizing strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Input VAT in Construction Costs and Ownership Shares in Realty Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on input VAT in construction costs and proportional ownership shares in a realty joint venture dispute.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Safeguarding Evidence and Ensuring Fair Trials
The Supreme Court acquits drug offenders where police breached chain of custody rules, underscoring the need to preserve evidence integrity.
Prescription and Probable Cause: Protecting Public Officials From Stale Charges
The Supreme Court affirms the Ombudsman's dismissal of behest loan charges, clarifying prescription periods and probable cause requirements under RA 3019.
Upholding Watershed Preservation When Ancestral Land Claims Clash With Environmental Protection In Baguio
The Supreme Court rules that pending ancestral land claims do not justify injunctions against demolition in the Busol Watershed, prioritizing environmental preservation.
Probable Cause in Trafficking Cases: The Two Kinds of Determination Under Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the difference between executive and judicial probable cause in trafficking cases, and why judges should not dismiss cases prematurely.
Immediate Execution of Ombudsman Decisions: Protecting Public Service Integrity
Learn why Ombudsman dismissal orders take effect immediately despite pending motions for reconsideration, and what this means for public officers.
Taming Unconscionable Interest: Reassessing Loan Obligations and Attorney's Fees in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies how courts temper unconscionable loan interest rates and when attorney's fees may be awarded in foreclosure cases.
Self-Defense vs. Treachery: The Boundaries of Justifiable Homicide in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies a killing as murder under Philippine law.
Tenancy Rights vs. Co-Ownership: Proving Agricultural Tenancy in Land Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that tenancy is a legal relationship that must be proven by substantial evidence, not presumed from mere occupation.
Extraordinary Diligence: Carrier Liability for Misdelivered Goods
When a courier delivers to the wrong person, the shipment is legally "lost." The Supreme Court explains carrier liability and the limits of air waybill exemptions.
Conjugal Property Rights: When a Forged Donation and Sale Divide Ownership
A forged donation of conjugal property leads to co-ownership between the buyer and the innocent spouse, each holding an undivided half.
Lawyers Barred From Lupon Proceedings: A Reminder on Barangay Justice Integrity
SC reprimands lawyer for appearing in barangay conciliation proceedings, affirming the mandatory ban on counsel under the Katarungang Pambarangay Law.
Barangay Dispute Resolution Lawyers Barred From Lupon Appearances
The Supreme Court clarifies that lawyers cannot appear before the Lupon Tagapamayapa, preserving the informal, conciliatory character of barangay justice.
Entrapment vs Instigation: Defining the Boundaries of Drug Law Enforcement in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between entrapment and instigation in drug cases, upholding a buy-bust conviction under RA 9165.
Proving Tenancy in Philippine Agrarian Law: Evidence and Burden of Proof
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on what evidence is needed to prove agricultural tenancy and why certifications alone do not establish tenancy rights.
Reassessing Criminal Liability From Murder to Homicide Based on Evidence of Intent and Treachery
The Supreme Court clarifies when a killing is murder or homicide, requiring proof of treachery and intent beyond reasonable doubt.
Receiving Money from Bondsmen Is Grave Misconduct for Court Personnel
Court employees cannot receive money from litigants, even as voluntary "token" gifts. The Supreme Court explains why in Perez v. Roxas.
Finality of Judgment vs Supervening Events: Computing Backwages and Separation Pay in Illegal Dismissal Cases
Learn how Philippine courts compute backwages and separation pay when reinstatement becomes impossible due to supervening events after judgment finality.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: When Police Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to justify missing witnesses during inventory, reinforcing strict chain of custody rules.
Ouster by Quo Warranto Challenging the Eligibility of an Impeachable Officer in the Philippines
Explaining the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling that quo warranto, not just impeachment, can oust an ineligible impeachable officer.
Aider and Abettor Establishing Criminal Liability in Rape Cases Through Conspiracy
Philippine Supreme Court rules that a person who aids a rape by holding the victim's legs is equally guilty through conspiracy.
Judge Fined for Undue Delay in Resolving Injunction Despite Heavy Caseload
A judge's two-year delay in resolving an injunction prayer draws a fine, even with heavy caseload as a mitigating factor.