Legal Insights

Unlawful Arrests and Inadmissible Evidence: Protecting Constitutional Rights in Firearm Cases

Warrantless arrest based on a hearsay tip, without immediacy, makes seized firearms inadmissible and warrants acquittal.

Human Trafficking Consent and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act

The Supreme Court clarifies that a victim's consent is irrelevant in human trafficking cases under RA 9208, as amended by RA 10364.

Dying Declarations vs Res Gestae: Hearsay Exceptions in Philippine Murder Cases

The Supreme Court clarifies when a victim's dying words are admissible—as a dying declaration or as res gestae—in a murder conviction.

Corporate Officers Held Liable for Customs Fraud Piercing the Corporate Veil

Learn how Philippine courts pierce the corporate veil to hold officers liable for customs fraud, and what this means for corporate governance.

Weighing Hearsay: The Burden of Proof in Employee Dismissal Cases

An employer must prove just cause for dismissal with substantial evidence, not mere hearsay or uncorroborated affidavits.

Trust Receipts and Estafa: Upholding Criminal Liability for Breach of Trust

Supreme Court clarifies that failure to turn over goods or proceeds under trust receipts is estafa under PD 115, not mere civil liability.

Regular Employment Status and Illegal Dismissal: Employee Rights After Probation

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when probationary employees become regular and the rights they gain against illegal dismissal.

Assignment Deeds and Third-Party Liability: When a Conforme Signature Does Not Bind

A developer's conforme signature on a deed of assignment does not make it liable for the assignor's loan obligations.

Corporate Officers Cannot Hide Behind Corporate Veil in Customs Fraud Cases

Supreme Court ruling on corporate officer liability for customs fraud through misdeclaration and undervaluation of imported goods.

Justice Delayed Is Justice Denied: The Right to Speedy Disposition of Cases in the Philippines

The Supreme Court explains when inordinate delay violates the constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases, with practical guidance.

Corporate Officers Criminally Liable for Customs Fraud: Fernandez v. People

Corporate officers cannot hide behind a corporation to escape criminal liability for customs fraud, the Supreme Court ruled in Fernandez v. People.

Abandonment of Medical Treatment Impact on Seafarer Disability Claims

How a company doctor's failure to issue a timely disability assessment affects a seafarer's claim for total and permanent disability benefits.

Theft of Company Property: Balancing Employee Rights and Employers' Disciplinary Prerogative

Supreme Court clarifies when theft of company property justifies dismissal, balancing employer discipline with proportional penalties for erring employees.

Foreign Divorce Recognition: Proving Japanese Law in Philippine Courts

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies proof requirements for recognizing foreign divorces, remanding a Filipina's case for further evidence on Japanese law.

Finality of Dismissal and Due Process in Sequestration Cases

When a sequestration case is dismissed with finality, the writ dissolves and property must be returned, upholding due process.

Heirs of Landowners Under CARP: No Separate Retention Rights After 1988

Supreme Court rules heirs of landowners who died after 1988 cannot claim separate retention rights under CARP; only the decedent's five-hectare limit applies.

Co-Ownership and Ejectment: When a Co-Owner Can Be Evicted for Forcible Entry

A co-owner who forcibly takes exclusive possession of common property can be ejected. Learn the rules on co-ownership and forcible entry from a 2022 Supreme Court ruling.

Trust Receipts and Criminal Liability: When a Loan Becomes Estafa Under PD 115

The Supreme Court clarifies when a trust receipt transaction creates criminal liability for estafa, not just civil liability, under PD 115.

Balancing Local Authority and National Mining Rights: The Luisito Marty Case

A mayor's refusal to issue mining permits tested the line between local autonomy and national mining law. The Supreme Court's ruling explained.

Divorce Abroad and Filipino Spouses: Recognizing Foreign Judgments Under Article 26 of the Family Code

The Supreme Court clarifies when Philippine courts recognize foreign divorces obtained by Filipino spouses and their alien partners under Article 26.

Speedy Disposition vs Protracted Process When Delay Deprives Justice in Anti-Graft Cases

The Supreme Court clarifies when delay in preliminary investigation violates the right to speedy disposition, distinguishing mere mathematical reckoning from actual prejudice.

Speedy Disposition Right Prevails Over Six-Year Delay in Fertilizer Fund Scam Case

The Supreme Court ruled that a six-year delay in preliminary investigation violates the constitutional right to speedy disposition of cases, warranting dismissal.

Seafarers Disability Accident CBA Benefits and Employer Obligations in Maritime Employment

When a CBA governs seafarer disability, its better benefits prevail over the POEA-SEC, and employers must timely issue final medical assessments.

Trafficking in Persons for Prostitution Is a Crime Even If Intercepted Before Exploitation

Supreme Court clarifies that recruitment for prostitution constitutes trafficking in persons even if the intended exploitation is intercepted.