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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When Silence Isn't Golden: Affirming Murder Conviction Despite Self-Defense Claim
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, rejecting self-defense where the accused admitted killing but failed to prove unlawful aggression.
Residency vs. Domicile in Philippine Elections: The Pundaodaya Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies that voter registration and property ownership do not prove election residency, which legally means domicile.
Ballot Integrity Prevails: Rules for Correctly Counting Barangay Election Votes
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies appeal fee rules and ballot appreciation standards in barangay election protests, ensuring voter intent prevails.
Treachery IN Criminal LAW THE Importance OF Victims Defenselessness
Collective Bargaining in Education: Balancing Tuition Hikes and Employee Benefits
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how RA 6728 tuition fee increments fund employee benefits in collective bargaining disputes.
Valid Publication in Extrajudicial Foreclosure: Reasserting Creditors' Rights
Philippine National Bank v. Maraya clarifies that publication of notice in extrajudicial foreclosure is mandatory, not excusable by the debtor's knowledge.
Voluntary Retirement vs. Illegal Dismissal: The Thin Line in Philippine Labor Law
When does a voluntary retirement program cross the line into illegal dismissal? The Supreme Court clarifies in Quevedo v. BENECO.
Premature Campaigning Motorcades and the Definition of a Candidate Under Philippine Election Law
The Supreme Court rules that motorcades after filing a certificate of candidacy can constitute premature campaigning, disqualifying a candidate under the Omnibus Election Code.
Default and Foreclosure: When Accepting Late Payments Waives the Right to Foreclose
A lender who accepts late and partial payments after a borrower's default may waive the right to foreclose. Learn the rule from this Philippine case.
Defining Public Officer When Private Sector Representatives Face Graft Charges
Supreme Court ruling on when private sector board members are public officers under the Anti-Graft Law and Sandiganbayan jurisdiction.
Defective Summons Ensuring Proper Notification IN Philippine Legal Proceedings
Learn how defective summons can void a default judgment, as shown in B.D. Long Span Builders v. R.S. Ampeloquio Realty.
Heirship Rights and Legal Standing in Stockholder Claims: Puno v. Puno Enterprises
Heirs of a deceased stockholder do not automatically gain stockholder rights. Learn the rules on inspection, dividends, and estate settlement.
Breach of Public Trust: Dishonesty and Gross Negligence Leading to Dismissal
When a municipal treasurer's repeated financial irregularities amount to grave misconduct, dismissal from service is the warranted penalty.
Sleeping on the Job: When Serious Misconduct Justifies Termination in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when sleeping during work hours constitutes serious misconduct justifying termination under the Labor Code.
The Fine Line Between Buy-Bust Operations and Entrapment: Safeguarding Rights in Drug Cases
Understanding when a buy-bust operation crosses into entrapment, and how Philippine courts protect the accused's rights in drug cases.
Abandonment vs Illegal Dismissal: Protecting Employee Rights in the Philippines
Explain the difference between abandonment and illegal dismissal in Philippine labor law, and the employer's burden of proof.
Implied Consent and Jurisdiction: When Unpleaded Issues Become Part of a Case
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how unpleaded issues tried with implied consent become part of a case under Rule 10.
Family Home vs Creditors: When Annulment Doesn't Shield Property From Sale
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a family home can be sold to settle debts after marriage annulment, and the finality of court orders.
Publication Imperative Safeguarding Property Rights in Foreclosure Sales
Supreme Court rules strict publication of foreclosure sale notice is mandatory; failure invalidates sale and subsequent transfers.
Unreliable Identification Conviction Quashed DUE TO Flawed Witness Testimony
Explore how flawed witness testimony undermines drug convictions, examining the Supreme Court's ruling on unreliable identification.
Acquisitive Prescription: Proving Open, Continuous Possession for Land Registration
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies what evidence proves open, continuous possession for land registration under the Property Registration Decree.
Voluntary Retirement vs Illegal Dismissal: Employee Rights in Downsizing
When does a retirement package become a forced exit? The Supreme Court clarifies the thin line between voluntary retirement and illegal dismissal.
Entrapment vs Predisposition: How Philippine Courts View Drug Buy-Bust Operations
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a buy-bust operation is valid entrapment rather than instigation, and how courts weigh police procedures in drug cases.
Marine Risk Note Alone Cannot Prove Subrogation: Eastern Shipping Lines v. Prudential Guarantee
Insurers must present the marine insurance policy to prove subrogation claims; a marine risk note alone is insufficient under Philippine law.