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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Preserving Ballot Integrity Ensuring Accurate Reflection OF Voters Intent IN Philippine Elections
Ballot integrity in Philippine elections depends on accurate voter intent. Learn how courts protect the sanctity of the vote.
Challenging Election Results AND Preserving Voter Intent
Challenging election results is a legal process governed by strict rules. This article explains the requirements for election protests and how courts balance ballot integrity with voter intent.
Residency Redefined: Upholding Election Results Despite Challenges to Candidate's Domicile
The Supreme Court clarifies residency rules for local candidates, upholding John Henry Osmeña's win as Toledo City mayor despite domicile challenges.
Electoral Law: Defining Prohibited Personnel Actions During Election Periods
Supreme Court clarifies that not every personnel movement during election period is a prohibited transfer or detail under election law.
Freedom of Speech vs Fair Elections: Balancing Airtime Limits in Political Ads
Supreme Court ruling on COMELEC's aggregate airtime limits for political ads, balancing free speech and fair elections.
Comelec Divisions, Jurisdiction, and Preliminary Injunctions in Election Protests
The Supreme Court clarifies when a Comelec division's interlocutory order may be assailed via certiorari and the validity of Special Divisions.
Bystander No More: Employers' Role in Certification Elections Under Scrutiny
The Supreme Court clarifies that employers are mere bystanders in certification elections, unable to block them based on pending union cancellation cases.
Untimely Appeal: Why the Secretary of Labor Could Not Challenge a Reversal in Certification Election Cases
The Supreme Court denies the Secretary of Labor's appeal in certification election cases, ruling that quasi-judicial officers cannot question appellate reversals.
Can a Certificate of Candidacy Be Cancelled After Election Day? Residency Rules for Local Elections
The Supreme Court explains when a certificate of candidacy may be cancelled after election day, focusing on false residency declarations.
Nicknames and Election Law: What Counts as Material Misrepresentation in Certificates of Candidacy
A candidate's nickname in a certificate of candidacy is not material misrepresentation unless it affects eligibility or qualification for office.
Safeguarding Suffrage: Counting Votes for Disqualified Party Lists in Philippine Elections
The Supreme Court rules that votes for party-list groups disqualified after the elections must be included in the divisor for seat allocation.
Elections and Financial Regulations: Analyzing the Limits of Comelec's Authority
The Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to Comelec's money ban resolution as moot, leaving key constitutional questions unanswered.
Election Contests and Jurisdiction: When the HRET Takes Over from COMELEC
The Supreme Court explains why election contests involving proclaimed congressional winners belong exclusively to the HRET, not the courts.
Electoral Tribunal Jurisdiction: Proclamation Is the Decisive Factor in Election Contests
The Supreme Court clarifies that once a congressional candidate is proclaimed, the HRET, not the COMELEC, has sole jurisdiction over election contests.
Party List Registration Misrepresentation and the Right to Representation
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, not the COMELEC, has jurisdiction over congressional election disputes.
When Can a Substitute Candidate Validly Replace Another in Philippine Elections
Philippine election law on substitution of candidates: grounds, deadlines, and rules for valid replacement under the Omnibus Election Code.
Barangay Election Protests: Finality of Decisions and Execution Pending Appeal
The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on execution pending appeal in barangay election protests, emphasizing finality and proper procedure.
Safeguarding Electoral Independence: Limits of DOJ-Comelec Collaboration in Election Offense Probes
The Supreme Court upholds joint DOJ-Comelec preliminary investigations for election offenses, clarifying constitutional limits on collaboration.
Ballots vs Election Returns: Authenticity Prevails in Electoral Protests
When physical ballots are tampered, election returns become the best evidence of voter intent. Learn the rule from the Vinzons-Chato case.
Due Process in Philippine Election Protests: Ensuring Fair Notice and Participation
Philippine election protest rules require due process—fair notice and participation—before any electoral outcome is overturned.
Security of Tenure vs AWOL: Protecting Employee Rights in Contested Elections
Supreme Court ruling on dropping employees from rolls for AWOL during contested mayoralty elections, upholding security of tenure.
Upholding Comelec's Discretion: Balancing Electoral Integrity and Due Process in Special Elections
The Supreme Court affirms Comelec's broad discretion in conducting special elections after failure of elections, balancing integrity against due process concerns.
Substitution in Elections: Residency Requirements and Certificate of Candidacy Validity
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a disqualified candidate can be substituted, distinguishing disqualification from certificate of candidacy cancellation.
Digital Ballots As Primary Evidence Protecting Electoral Integrity In The Philippines
The Supreme Court ruled that digital ballot images from PCOS machines are functional equivalents of physical ballots, protecting elections from tampering.