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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Warrantless Vehicle Searches: When Can Police Search Your Car in the Philippines
Philippine law allows warrantless vehicle searches under certain conditions. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling on illegal lumber transport.
When Can a Court Reinstate a Dismissed Appeal: Procedural Lapses in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains when procedural lapses in appeals may be overlooked to serve substantial justice, with rules on prescription of mortgage actions.
Correcting Manifest Errors After Proclamation: How the Supreme Court Safeguards the True Will of the Electorat
The Supreme Court upheld the COMELEC's power to correct manifest errors in the statement of votes even after a candidate had already been proclaimed.
Preliminary Injunctions: Why Courts Must Hear Both Sides Before Issuing One
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a judge commits grave abuse of discretion by issuing a preliminary injunction without letting the opposing party finish presenting evidence.
Rape Conviction Based on Credible Testimony: People v. Suyat
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining when a victim's credible testimony alone can prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Treachery and Intent: Understanding Murder and Homicide in Philippine Law
A single Supreme Court case clarifies how treachery distinguishes murder from homicide, and what damages families can claim.
Retirement Plans and Security of Tenure: Voluntary vs Compulsory Retirement in the Philippines
When does a retirement plan violate security of tenure? The Supreme Court explains the difference between voluntary and compulsory retirement.
Perfecting a Loan Delivery and the Role of Crossed Checks in Financial Agreements
When is a loan perfected? The Supreme Court clarifies how delivery of crossed checks affects loan contracts and interest claims.
Upholding Corporate Governance: Limits of Stockholder Suits and Board Discretion
The Supreme Court clarifies when derivative suits may proceed and when courts must respect board discretion in corporate management.
Ballot Box Integrity is Key: Safeguarding Election Results in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Rosal v. Comelec: ballots must be proven untampered before they can overturn election returns.
Quieting of Title and Summary Judgments: What Philippine Property Owners Should Know
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified when summary judgment is proper in quieting of title cases, and what this means for property owners facing ownership disputes.
Judges' Duty and Consequences of Undue Delay in Rendering Decisions in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on judges' duty to decide cases promptly and the administrative penalties for undue delay in rendering decisions.
Rape and Incest in the Philippines: Legal Framework and Victim Protection
Understanding Philippine law on incestuous rape through a landmark Supreme Court case, including penalties, evidence rules, and victim protections.
Land Title Registration in the Philippines: Overcoming the Presumption of Public Land
A Supreme Court ruling on land registration in the Philippines explains why proving alienable public land requires more than a surveyor's notation.
Why Jurisdiction and Judicial Impartiality Matter in Philippine Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's duty to inhibit from cases where impartiality may be questioned, explained in plain language.
Judicial Impartiality in Philippine Courts: When Should a Judge Inhibit?
A Supreme Court ruling on when judges must inhibit from cases where their impartiality might be questioned, explained in plain language.
Lump Sum Land Sales: Boundaries vs. Area Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on land sales, tenancy, and why property boundaries matter more than area in lump sum transactions.
Buy-Bust Operations: Chain of Custody and Legal Authority in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies rules on buy-bust operations, drug testing, and proving lack of authority to sell shabu.
Right of Pre-emption for Adjoining Landowners in the Philippines: A Guide
Learn how Article 1622 protects adjoining landowners of small urban lots, explained through the Supreme Court case Contreras v. Alcantara.
Judicial Redemption in Philippine Foreclosures: Why Tender of Payment Matters
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that filing a judicial redemption case without tendering payment may forfeit the right to redeem foreclosed property.
Lease Purchase Agreements Ownership Rights and Remedies in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a writ of possession may issue in lease-purchase disputes, explained for lay readers.
Rape Conviction Based on Circumstantial Evidence Protecting Victims of Unconscious Assault
Philippine Supreme Court affirms qualified rape conviction, ruling that a sleeping victim's testimony and medical evidence suffice to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Local Government Authority and Ordinance Enforcement: A Guide for Businesses
Learn how the Supreme Court affirmed a city mayor's duty to enforce local ordinances, and what this means for businesses operating under reclassified zones.
Redemption Denied: Why Tender of Payment Is Crucial in Philippine Foreclosure Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains why a borrower must actually tender payment to redeem foreclosed property—not just file a case.