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.
Judges Must Resolve Cases Within 90 Days or Face Administrative Sanctions
Supreme Court reminds judges to decide cases within 90 days, penalizing delay with fines for gross inefficiency.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Credibility of Minor Victim’s Testimony in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, underscoring that a minor victim's straightforward testimony prevails over alibi and denial.
Forum Shopping in the Philippines: When Filing Separate Cases Becomes Improper
Learn when filing separate cases becomes improper forum shopping in the Philippines, based on recent Supreme Court jurisprudence.
When the Supreme Court Corrects Aggravating Circumstances in Murder Convictions
A look at People v. Cachola, where the High Court affirmed murder convictions but corrected the trial court's appreciation of aggravating circumstances.
Parental Authority vs Child's Well-Being: Redefining Attempted Rape Boundaries
Supreme Court clarifies when rape is attempted, not consummated, and splits appellate jurisdiction in father-daughter abuse case.
Rape, Parental Authority, and Moral Ascendancy in Child Abuse Cases
How moral ascendancy and parental authority establish force in rape cases, and why the Supreme Court reduced the death penalty.
Judicial Ethics Under Scrutiny: Accountability for Misconduct Outside the Courtroom
A look at how the Supreme Court treats judicial misconduct committed outside court, and what it means for public trust in the judiciary.
Safeguarding Confessions: The Right to Competent Counsel in Custodial Investigations
A suspect's confession is inadmissible without effective, independent counsel during custodial investigation. The Supreme Court explains why in People v. Patungan.
Reasonable Doubt and Inconsistent Testimony: Acquittal in People v. Lavapie
The Supreme Court acquitted two murder accused after finding material inconsistencies between witness testimony and physical evidence, reaffirming the reasonable doubt standard.
Prior Use and Confusing Similarity in Trademark Cancellation Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains prior use, confusing similarity, and the Paris Convention in trademark cancellation disputes.
Beyond Words: Establishing Rape Through Credible Testimony and Circumstantial Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how credible witness testimony and circumstantial evidence can establish rape convictions.
Docket Fees and Intervention: Y Realty's Quest for Justice in Marcos Wealth Case
A look at how the Supreme Court resolved docket fee issues in intervention cases involving recovered Marcos assets.
Surety Bond Liability Limits Under Philippine Insurance Law: The R & B Surety Case
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies surety bond liability caps under Insurance Code Section 176, limiting exposure to face value plus legal interest.
Sheriffs Cannot Pierce the Corporate Veil: Levying Corporate Property for a Stockholder's Debt
A sheriff who levies on corporate property to satisfy a stockholder's personal debt acts beyond authority. The Supreme Court explains why.
Boastful Rapist's Conviction Upheld: Delay in Reporting Rape Explained by Threats
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction despite a five-year delay in reporting, ruling that credible threats explain the delay.
The Line Between Consensual Act and Rape: Establishing Carnal Knowledge Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies what constitutes consummated rape, the proof required for conviction, and when the death penalty applies.
Res Judicata and Final Judgments: Why Property Disputes Cannot Be Relitigated
The Supreme Court explains how res judicata bars relitigating property disputes, using the Avisado v. Rumbaua case as a guide.
Upholding Stockholder Rights Derivative Suits AND Corporate Governance IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies derivative suits, stockholder standing, and jurisdiction over intra-corporate disputes under RA 8799.
Fraud in Land Acquisition: Government Can Revert Public Land Despite Title Indefeasibility
Supreme Court ruling on how fraud in free patent applications lets the government revert public land despite title indefeasibility.
When a Child Is Taken: Proving Parentage in Habeas Corpus Cases
The Supreme Court explains how courts determine a child's identity and parentage in habeas corpus custody disputes.
Protecting the Vulnerable: A Child's Testimony Can Be Enough for Rape Conviction
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on a child victim's credible testimony, clarifying evidentiary rules for vulnerable witnesses.
Circumstantial Evidence Conviction: Murder Reduced to Homicide in Icalla Case
Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction and why murder was reduced to homicide in People v. Icalla.
Passion Proof and Penalties: When Jealousy Doesnt Equal Murder
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains when a killing is homicide, not murder, and how accomplices are penalized.
Liability of Public Officials, Good Faith, and the Limits of Supervisory Responsibility in Philippine Law
Philippine jurisprudence on public official liability, good faith defenses, and the boundaries of supervisory responsibility explained for lay readers.