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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Falsification of Documents: Probable Cause and Presumptions of Regularity
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when allegations of falsification are enough to warrant prosecution, and the weight given to notarized documents.
Seafarers Death Benefits Proving Causation Between Injury AND Fatal Illness
Supreme Court ruling on seafarers' death benefits: bare allegations of causation between injury and fatal illness are not enough.
Dying Declarations and Eyewitness Testimony Proving Murder Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how eyewitness testimony and dying declarations establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt in murder cases.
Vehicular Manslaughter and the Limits of Self-Defense: Analyzing Criminal Intent in Complex Crimes
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how courts weigh criminal intent, self-defense claims, and qualifying circumstances in complex crimes.
Upholding Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Ensuring Integrity of Evidence
A 2012 Supreme Court ruling clarifies that substantial compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165 suffices when the drug evidence's integrity remains intact.
Standing to Sue: Why Private Complainants Cannot Appeal Criminal Dismissals Alone
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why private complainants lack legal standing to appeal criminal case dismissals without the Solicitor General.
Seafarers Disability Claims Strict Compliance With POEA SEC Requirements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why seafarers must strictly comply with POEA-SEC disability claim procedures, including the 3-day post-employment medical examination rule.
Rehabilitation vs Secured Interests: Balancing Creditor Rights in Corporate Recovery
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how corporate rehabilitation balances secured creditors' rights with the need for equal treatment and recovery.
Upholding Employers Right Willful Disobedience AS Just Cause FOR Termination
Supreme Court ruling on willful disobedience as just cause for dismissal, explaining employer rights and employee duties under Philippine labor law.
Default Judgment: The Consequences of Neglecting Legal Deadlines in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling shows how missing a pre-trial conference can lead to default judgment and why courts enforce deadlines strictly.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Lack of Visible Physical Injuries Protecting Victims of Sexual Violence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that an intact hymen does not negate rape, and explains the distinction between rape by sexual intercourse and rape by sexual assault.
Diplomatic Immunity vs Personal Accountability: The Limits of Privilege
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on diplomatic immunity, privacy rights, and personal liability for damages under the Civil Code.
Invasion of Privacy, Diplomats, and the Limits of Official Duty
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on diplomatic residence privacy, damages for invasion of privacy, and procedural rules in Rule 45 petitions.
Certiorari as a Substitute for Appeal: Navigating Procedural Deadlines in Expropriation Cases
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when courts may take judicial notice of land values and why the DAR formula must govern just compensation in agrarian expropriation.
Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Rights Abandonment and Land Transfer Restrictions
Supreme Court ruling on when an agrarian reform beneficiary loses rights through land transfer and abandonment under P.D. 27 and R.A. 6657.
Treachery and Self-Defense: Understanding Criminal Liability in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling explains when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies a killing as murder under Philippine law.
How Conspiracy and Abuse of Superior Strength Shape Murder Liability in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains how conspiracy and abuse of superior strength are proven in murder cases, and why each participant bears equal liability.
Brokers Entitlement to Commission: The Efficient Procuring Cause in Real Estate Sales
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a real estate broker earns a commission, the efficient procuring cause rule, and written authority contracts.
Airline Liability for Breach of Contract When Confirmed Bookings Are Cancelled
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on airline liability when confirmed bookings are cancelled, covering damages, joint liability, and passenger rights.
Dismissal of Appeal: Fugitive Status Bars Access to Judicial Relief
A Supreme Court ruling explains why an accused who jumps bail loses the right to appeal and seek relief from the courts.
Payment to Authorized Agent Extinguishes Debt Even After Contract Termination
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when payment to an authorized agent extinguishes a debtor's obligation, and how courts treat issues tried with implied consent.
Buy-Bust Operations and Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Key Lessons
A Supreme Court ruling explains why strict compliance with chain of custody rules matters—and when minor lapses won't defeat a drug conviction.
Accountability in Armed Robbery and Kidnapping: Defining Roles and Liabilities
A look at how Philippine courts assign criminal liability to each participant in armed robbery and kidnapping-for-ransom, based on a 2012 Supreme Court ruling.
Strained Relations in Employment: Separation Pay as an Alternative to Reinstatement
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal, due process, and when separation pay replaces reinstatement due to strained relations.