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.
Military Pension and Citizenship: The Parreño Ruling on PD 1638
Retired AFP officers who lose Filipino citizenship can have their pensions terminated under PD 1638, as upheld in Parreño v. COA.
Treachery and Witness Credibility in Philippine Murder Convictions
How credible eyewitness testimony and treachery shape murder convictions in the Philippines, with lessons from People v. Dulanas.
Easement Reduction on Urban Land: Balancing Public Land Rules and Development
When a free-patent lot becomes urban private land, the river easement may shrink from 40 meters to 3 meters.
Contract Rescission and RTC Jurisdiction: Lessons from Villena v. Payoyo
When rescinding a contract is the primary remedy, the case belongs in the Regional Trial Court—even if the monetary claim is small.
Good Faith in Property Transactions: Protecting Innocent Purchasers Under the Torrens System
When a notarized special power of attorney turns out forged, who keeps the land? The Supreme Court explains good faith under the Torrens system.
Finality of Judgments: Why a Belated Appeal Cannot Revive a Case
The Supreme Court explains why a late motion for reconsideration makes a Court of Appeals decision final and executory, binding all parties.
Bare Denials Cannot Overcome Positive Testimony in Buy-Bust Drug Convictions
Explore how the Supreme Court affirmed drug convictions despite denials, emphasizing the weight of positive police testimony in buy-bust operations.
Ballot Box Integrity is Key: Safeguarding Election Results in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on Rosal v. Comelec: ballots must be proven untampered before they can overturn election returns.
Serious Physical Injuries in the Philippines: The Pilares Case Explained
Understand serious physical injuries under Philippine law through the Pilares case, including penalties, evidence, and self-defense considerations.
Suing the Government: Understanding State Immunity in the Philippines
A pharmaceutical company's bid dispute clarifies when government officials can be sued despite state immunity.
Employer Liability for Employee Death in the Philippines Even in Fortuitous Events
Philippine employers may be liable for employee death caused by fortuitous events under Article 1711 of the Civil Code, as explained in Candano Shipping Lines v. Sugata-on.
Right of Pre-emption for Adjoining Landowners in the Philippines: A Guide
Learn how Article 1622 protects adjoining landowners of small urban lots, explained through the Supreme Court case Contreras v. Alcantara.
Local Government Authority and Ordinance Enforcement: A Guide for Businesses
Learn how the Supreme Court affirmed a city mayor's duty to enforce local ordinances, and what this means for businesses operating under reclassified zones.
Illegal Strikes and Return-to-Work Orders: What Philippine Labor Law Requires
When can a strike be declared illegal in the Philippines? The Supreme Court explains the binding effect of assumption and return-to-work orders.
Reopening Criminal Cases in the Philippines: The Hearing Requirement Under Rule 119
When can a Philippine court reopen a criminal case before judgment? The rules require a hearing—and the Supreme Court has enforced that requirement.
Ejectment Case Jurisdiction in the Philippines: MTC vs RTC After Bejar v. Caluag
Filing an ejectment case in the wrong court risks dismissal. Learn how Bejar v. Caluag clarifies MTC vs RTC jurisdiction.
Preliminary Investigation Rights and the Definition of Rape: Key Lessons from De Castro
Learn when the right to preliminary investigation is waived and why finger insertion constitutes rape through sexual assault under Philippine law.
Buy-Bust Operations and Warrantless Arrests Under RA 9165: What the Supreme Court Said
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when buy-bust arrests are valid without a warrant and how penalties are imposed under RA 9165.
Land as Attorney’s Fees: Enforcing Written Contracts for Legal Services in the Philippines
Philippine courts uphold written attorney’s fee contracts, even those paid in land, provided the essential elements of a valid contract are present.
When Is a Buy-Bust Operation Legal in the Philippines? Key Rules from People v. Nicolas
Philippine courts uphold buy-bust operations as valid drug enforcement, even without prior surveillance. Learn the essential elements and your rights.
Who Can Question a Bigamous Marriage? Lessons from Amor-Catalan v. Catalan
A Philippine Supreme Court case clarifies who has legal personality to question a bigamous marriage and the need to prove foreign divorce decrees.
Suspension of Claims Against Corporations Under Rehabilitation: Philippine Law Explained
Learn how corporate rehabilitation suspends all claims, including labor cases, under Philippine law, based on the PAL v. Zamora ruling.
Prescription Periods in Labor Disputes: Why Filing on Time and in the Right Court Matters
A Supreme Court ruling on prescription of money claims in labor cases, and why filing in the wrong court can be fatal.
Estate Settlement Venue and Remarriage After Foreign Divorce: Key Philippine Rules
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies estate settlement venue means actual residence, and a Filipino divorced by a foreign spouse may remarry.