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 Overseas Workers: Solidary Liability and Illegal Dismissal in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the solidary liability of local recruitment agencies and the burden of proof in illegal dismissal cases involving overseas Filipino workers.
Arbitration Integrity Ensuring Fairness IN Corporate Employment Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies the standards for lawful dismissal of managerial employees, focusing on procedural due process and loss of trust and confidence.
Parental Authority vs Child's Well-Being: Redefining Attempted Rape Boundaries
Supreme Court clarifies when rape is attempted, not consummated, and splits appellate jurisdiction in father-daughter abuse case.
Reasonable Doubt and Inconsistent Testimony: Acquittal in People v. Lavapie
The Supreme Court acquitted two murder accused after finding material inconsistencies between witness testimony and physical evidence, reaffirming the reasonable doubt standard.
Beyond Reasonable Doubt: The High Standard for Rape Convictions in the Philippines
Philippine courts require proof beyond reasonable doubt for rape convictions. This article explains the standard and what it means for accusers and the accused.
Liability of Public Officials, Good Faith, and the Limits of Supervisory Responsibility in Philippine Law
Philippine jurisprudence on public official liability, good faith defenses, and the boundaries of supervisory responsibility explained for lay readers.
The Limits of Alibi: Proving Impossibility in Criminal Defense
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why alibi fails against positive identification in murder cases, explaining the legal standard for impossibility.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Rape of a Person Deprived of Reason in Philippine Law
Philippine law protects persons deprived of reason from rape. This article explains the legal standards, penalties, and what the Mauricio case teaches about due process.
Arbitration Agreements and Third Parties: Defining Contractual Boundaries in Dispute Resolution
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on arbitration clauses, third-party effects, and when courts may decline to compel arbitration.
Jurisdictional Boundaries: Appealing Customs Decisions and Exhausting Administrative Remedies in Importation D
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why importers must appeal customs abandonment decisions to the Commissioner and CTA, not RTC.
Navigating Ethical Boundaries When PRO Bono Legal Work Requires Prior Authorization
Rape and Consent: Examining the Boundaries of Force and Intimidation in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that rape is defined by lack of consent, not by the timing of physical force. A knife held during the act proves intimidation, and the death penalty was reduced to reclusio
The Weight of Witness Testimony and Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Rape-Homicide Cases
Philippine courts weigh witness credibility and circumstantial evidence in rape-homicide convictions. Learn the rules and standards.
Ombudsman's Discretion: Understanding the Limits of Judicial Review in Philippine Graft Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Ombudsman's discretionary power and the boundaries of judicial review in graft cases.
DARAB Jurisdiction in Agrarian Disputes: Why Understanding Scope Is Crucial for Landowners
The Supreme Court clarifies when DARAB has jurisdiction over possession cases tied to agrarian reform disputes, and why landowners must raise objections early.
Philippine Supreme Court Disciplines Court Employee for Disrespectful Conduct in Workplace
The Supreme Court fined a court employee P5,000 for shouting at and humiliating a co-worker during office hours, reaffirming strict standards of decorum in the judiciary.
Upholding Integrity in Public Service: Falsification of Time Records and the Strict Standard for Court Personn
The Supreme Court rules on falsified daily time records by a clerk of court, reinforcing strict integrity standards for judiciary personnel.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: How Inconsistent Eyewitness Testimony Can Overturn a Murder Conviction in the Phili
The Supreme Court acquits a murder convict when prosecution eyewitness testimony collapses under material inconsistencies, reaffirming the proof-beyond-reasonable-doubt standard.
Proving Work-Related Illness Claims: Substantial Evidence Standard in Philippine Employee Compensation
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies substantial evidence standard for work-related illness compensation claims under P.D. 626, as amended.
When Duty Turns Deadly: Examining the Limits of Police Use of Force in the Philippines
Philippine law allows police to use deadly force only as a last resort. This article explains the legal boundaries, justified homicide, and accountability.
Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Murder Cases: Credibility Standards for Conviction
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony in murder cases, explained through the Lacbayan decision and its credibility standards.
Ex Officio Notarization: Defining the Boundaries for Municipal Court Judges in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of municipal trial court judges' ex officio notarization powers under Circular No. I-90.
Upholding Ethical Standards: Extramarital Affairs and Judicial Employee Conduct
Supreme Court ruling on a court stenographer's extramarital affair shows judicial employees are held to strict moral standards in private life.
Clerk of Court Dismissed for Misconduct Upholding Fiscal Responsibility in the Philippine Judiciary
Supreme Court dismisses a clerk of court for grave misconduct, emphasizing the judiciary's strict fiscal accountability standards.