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.
Permanent Total Disability in the Philippines: Employee Rights and Compensation
Understand permanent total disability under Philippine law, how it differs from partial disability, and what the GSIS vs. Bella ruling means for employees.
When Alibi Fails: The Weakness of Alibi in Philippine Criminal Defense
Learn why alibi is the weakest defense in Philippine criminal cases, and what the Supreme Court requires for it to prosper.
Redefining Guardian in Philippine Rape Law: Supreme Court Clarifies Scope and Penalty
The Supreme Court narrows the definition of in RA 7659 should be given a restrictive interpretation, referring to a legal or judicial guardian. While Congress did not explicitly qualify the term, the
Docket Fees Matter: Ensuring Court Jurisdiction in Philippine Civil Cases
Learn how timely filing and docket fees affect court jurisdiction in Philippine civil cases, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Demata v. Court of Appeals.
Employer-Employee Relationship and the Control Test: Lessons from Villa v. NLRC
The Supreme Court's ruling in Villa v. NLRC clarifies the control test in employer-employee relationships and the rules on evidence in illegal dismissal cases.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: When Can New Evidence Be Introduced on Appeal?
When can an employer introduce new evidence on appeal in a dismissal case? The Supreme Court explains the limits of due process.
Credible Witness Testimony: How Philippine Courts Convict in Murder Cases
Philippine courts can convict on the testimony of a single credible witness. This article explains the rule and its limits.
Child Support Cannot Be Waived: Res Judicata in Philippine Family Law
Philippine Supreme Court rules that a child's right to support cannot be renounced or barred by a prior dismissal, citing Civil Code Articles 301 and 2035.
Limits of Quo Warranto: Why Judgments Don't Automatically Bind Successors in Public Office
A quo warranto judgment binds only the parties. A successor who was not named cannot be ousted by execution, as Mendoza v. Allas shows.
Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: Establishing Indispensable Cooperation
Learn how Philippine courts establish conspiracy in criminal cases, using the 1999 rape decision in People v. Banela as a guide.
Missed Appeal Deadlines in the Philippines: Strict Rules, Rare Exceptions
Philippine courts strictly enforce the 15-day appeal period. Missing it can end a case, with only truly exceptional circumstances excusing delay.
Missed Deadlines Missed Defenses: The High Stakes of Ignoring a Request for Admission in Philippine Courts
A Request for Admission is not a mere formality. Ignoring it can mean losing a case by default. Learn the rules.
Court Discretion and Deadlines: Why Philippine Courts Can Deny Postponements and Cost You Your Case
Learn from the Pepsi Number Fever case why Philippine courts can deny postponements and declare waiver of evidence rights.
Employee Transfers Constructive Dismissal Navigating Company Prerogatives IN THE Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts balance company prerogatives against employee rights in transfer and dismissal cases, with key rules explained.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: When Facebook Posts Become a Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies how social media posts can constitute psychological abuse under RA 9262 and why ICT use raises the penalty.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Consent, Force, and Victim Testimony in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms rape and sexual assault convictions, clarifying consent, force, and the weight of a child victim's testimony.
Rape and Unconsciousness: Understanding Consent and Criminal Liability in the Philippines
Philippine law on rape and unconsciousness: when consent is impossible and how courts treat statutory rape and sexual assault cases.
Eyewitness Testimony and Murder Conviction: Insights from the De la Cruz Case
How a single eyewitness's positive identification secured a murder conviction and what it means for criminal cases in the Philippines.
Premature Arraignment in Philippine Criminal Cases: Why Timing Matters in Due Process
The Supreme Court clarifies when arraignment may proceed and why premature arraignment violates due process in criminal proceedings.
Positive Identification in Murder Cases: The Delmendo Ruling on Eyewitness Testimony
How the Supreme Court in People v. Delmendo weighed eyewitness testimony, positive identification, and treachery in affirming a murder conviction.
When a Bookkeeper Counts as an Agent for Summons in Labor Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when service of summons on a bookkeeper is valid in labor cases, conferring jurisdiction on the Labor Arbiter.
Philippine Courts and Foreign Defendants: How Voluntary Appearance Can Establish Jurisdiction
A look at Villareal v. CA: when a non-resident defendant voluntarily appears in court, jurisdiction over the person is established.
Positive Identification in Philippine Criminal Law: Why Alibis Often Fail
A 1998 Supreme Court ruling shows why positive identification trumps weak defenses like alibi and denial in Philippine criminal cases.
Public Land vs Private Ownership in the Philippines: Land Classification and Acquisition
Understand how Philippine law distinguishes public land from private property, and the rules on classification and acquisition.