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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Month TO Month Lease When CAN A Landlord Eject A Tenant
Confession as Evidence Overcoming Hearsay in Robbery With Homicide and Carnapping Convictions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when an accused's confession to a witness is admissible evidence, not hearsay, in robbery with homicide and carnapping cases.
Supreme Court Justice Held Liable for Leaking Confidential Draft Decision
The Supreme Court ruled that a Justice who leaks an unpromulgated decision breaches confidentiality and undermines judicial integrity.
Disbarment for Misusing Blank Checks: Dishonesty and Abuse of Authority
A lawyer who filled up borrowers' blank checks and filed baseless criminal cases was disbarred for gross misconduct and dishonesty.
Silence Isn't Always Acquiescence: Child Rape Victims and the Validity of Delayed Reporting in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms that delayed reporting by child rape victims does not weaken credibility, explaining why silence is not acquiescence.
Voter Registration AND Disqualification THE Imperative OF A Signed Application
Bouncing Checks and Broken Promises: When Estafa Is Proven Beyond Reasonable Doubt
The Supreme Court clarifies when issuing bouncing checks amounts to estafa, and why a spouse is not automatically guilty by association.
Solidary Liability in Labor Standards: Protecting Workers Beyond Direct Employment
Learn how Philippine courts hold employers and contractors jointly liable for labor standard violations, protecting workers beyond direct employment relationships.
Improper Appeal Why Hanjins Certiorari Petition Failed TO Overturn Illegal Dismissal Ruling
Why a certiorari petition failed to overturn an illegal dismissal ruling, and what it means for litigants.
Dual Citizenship and Electoral Eligibility: Clarifying the Requirements for Public Office
The Supreme Court clarifies that dual citizens by birth may run for public office by merely filing a certificate of candidacy, without renouncing foreign citizenship.
Res Judicata and Good-Faith Purchasers: Protecting Land Titles in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts balance Torrens title protection with reconveyance actions, prescription periods, and good-faith purchaser defenses.
Jurisdiction Over Arbitral Awards: The Role of Regional Trial Courts in PCHC Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies that PCHC rules cannot vest RTCs with jurisdiction to review arbitral awards; proper remedies explained.
Protecting Children How Courts Decide Statutory Rape Cases Despite Unclear Dates
Learn how Philippine courts handle statutory rape cases when the exact date of the offense is uncertain, based on established legal principles.
Judicial Accountability: Consequences of Failing to Comply With Court Orders
Supreme Court clarifies that judges who ignore Court directives face administrative sanctions, even if underlying complaints lack merit.
When an Affidavit of Quitclaim Isn't Enough: Donation Requirements in Property Transfers
A quitclaim affidavit transferring real property may be treated as a donation. Learn the formal requirements to make it valid under Philippine law.
Reconveyance Actions and Good Faith: Clarifying Property Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains res judicata and good faith in reconveyance actions, protecting banks that rely on court-issued titles.
Navigating Appeals: Jurisdictional Errors and Lost Rights in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on res judicata, indispensable parties, and mortgagee good faith in property disputes.
Retrenchment Balancing Employer Rights AND Employee Protection During Economic Downturns
The Supreme Court clarifies when retrenchment is valid, what criteria employers may use, and what employees can expect during economic downturns.
Double Jeopardy and Police Accountability: When Amending an Information Is Allowed
Explaining when an amended criminal information does not trigger double jeopardy, through a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on police killings.
Falsifying Personal Data Sheets: Dishonesty in Public Service and Its Penalties
The Supreme Court ruled that falsifying entries in a government employee's Personal Data Sheet constitutes dishonesty, but mitigating circumstances may reduce the penalty of dismissal.
Malversation Conviction Upheld: Signature on Audit Report as Evidence of Accountability
The Supreme Court holds that a municipal treasurer's signature on a COA cash examination report is an acknowledgment of accountability for public funds.
Psychological Incapacity Reassessing Marital Nullity Under Article 36 of the Family Code
The Supreme Court clarifies that psychological incapacity under Article 36 need not fit rigid molds, urging a case-by-case, totality-of-circumstances approach.
Importation vs Transshipment: When Seized Goods Cannot Be Released Under Bond
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when transshipment claims fail and seized goods cannot be released under bond due to fraud.
Judicial Misconduct and Substantial Evidence in Administrative Cases
A judge was suspended for soliciting P100,000 to fix cases. The Supreme Court explains the substantial evidence standard in administrative cases.