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.
Certiorari Filing Deadlines: The 60-Day Rule and Grave Abuse of Discretion
A dismissed employee's appeal was wrongly rejected by the Court of Appeals before the 60-day certiorari period lapsed—what this means for litigants.
Guilt Beyond Doubt: Circumstantial Evidence in Robbery With Homicide Cases
How the Supreme Court upheld a robbery-with-homicide conviction based solely on circumstantial evidence, and what this means for criminal prosecutions.
Judicial Accountability Balancing Discretion AND Duty IN Search Warrant Issuance
A Supreme Court ruling on administrative liability clarifies the balance between judicial discretion in search warrants and accountability for neglect.
Negligence in Notarial Practice: Revocation and Disqualification for Incomplete Certificates and Improper Reco
A notary's incomplete certificates and sloppy register entries led to perpetual disqualification from notarial practice and one-year suspension from law.
Protecting Contractors: Quantum Meruit and COA Disallowances in Government Projects
Supreme Court clarifies when contractors may recover from void government contracts under quantum meruit, and the limits of COA's audit powers.
Clerk of Court Liable for Simple Neglect of Duty Over Lost Firearm Exhibits
The Supreme Court holds a clerk of court guilty of simple neglect for losing firearm exhibits kept beyond case termination, explaining duties under Rule 136.
Striking a Balance: Upholding Agrarian Justice Without Sacrificing Procedural Rules
The Supreme Court reminds appellate courts that minor procedural lapses should not defeat the right to appeal, especially in agrarian cases involving social justice.
Maritime Accidents and Shared Fault: When Contributory Negligence Affects Damage Claims
A Supreme Court ruling on maritime allision shows how contributory negligence can reduce damages even when another vessel caused the accident.
Trademark vs Copyright: Protecting Business Names in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the difference between trademarks and copyrights in business name disputes under Philippine IP law.
Partnership vs Estafa: When a Partner's Misappropriation Becomes a Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies when a partner's failure to account for funds crosses from civil liability to criminal estafa under Philippine law.
Chain of Custody and the Integrity of Drug Evidence: Safeguarding Against Tampering
When only a miniscule amount of drugs is seized, strict chain of custody compliance is required. The Supreme Court explains why.
Dying Declarations and Abuse of Superior Strength: Homicide, Not Murder, in People v. Santillan
The Supreme Court clarifies when a dying declaration is admissible and when numerical superiority does not amount to abuse of superior strength.
Weighing Medical Opinions: Company Doctors vs Private Physicians in Seafarer Disability Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies when a company-designated physician's findings prevail over a private doctor's assessment in seafarer disability claims.
Breach of Contract: Defining Scope of Work and Assessing Damages in Construction Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how to define scope of work and compute damages when a contractor breaches a construction agreement.
Lack of Price Certainty: How Indefinite Terms Can Invalidate a Real Estate Sale
Indefinite terms like an uncertain price can void a real estate sale. Learn the rules from a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Qualified Rape: Moral Ascendancy as Substitute for Force in Step-Parent Abuse
Step-parent moral ascendancy can substitute for force in qualified rape, as shown in People v. De Guzman.
PD 242 and Intra-Government Tax Disputes: Who Decides When BIR Faces Another Agency?
Supreme Court clarifies that PD 242 governs disputes solely between government entities, giving the DOJ Secretary jurisdiction over BIR-PSALM VAT cases.
Just Compensation and Landowner Rights Beyond DAR Valuation in Agrarian Reform
The Supreme Court clarifies that courts, not administrative agencies, have final say on just compensation for agrarian reform lands.
Historical Truth vs National Reconciliation: The Supreme Court Ruling on Marcos' Libingan ng mga Bayani Burial
The Supreme Court upheld President Duterte's decision to bury Ferdinand Marcos at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, ruling it a political question beyond judicial review.
Barangay Conciliation Residency Requirements FOR Filing Court Cases IN THE Philippines
Understand the residency requirements for barangay conciliation before filing court cases in the Philippines, explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling.
When Banks Can Refuse Payment: B.P. 22 and Bank Closure in Cu v. SB Corp.
Supreme Court ruling on B.P. 22 liability when a bank is closed by the Monetary Board and placed under PDIC receivership.
Dismissal for Misconduct: When Employee Disrespect Justifies Termination
Explaining when an employee's disrespectful conduct toward a superior constitutes serious misconduct justifying dismissal under Philippine labor law.
Malicious Prosecution: Proving Malice and Bad Faith in Filing Administrative Complaints
Filing an administrative complaint is not automatically malicious prosecution. Learn what Philippine courts require to prove malice and bad faith.
Chain of Custody Imperative: Safeguarding Drug Evidence in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect, underscoring that strict compliance with Section 21, RA 9165 is vital to preserve evidence integrity.