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.
Judicial Bias Understanding When A Judge Must Step Down IN Philippine Courts
Learn when Philippine judges must inhibit or step down from a case due to bias, based on Supreme Court rulings and the Code of Judicial Conduct.
Upholding Integrity: Consequences of Workplace Misconduct in the Philippine Judiciary
This article examines the Supreme Court's firm stance on workplace misconduct within the Philippine judiciary, detailing consequences and legal principles.
Holding Judges Accountable Ensuring Timely Justice IN Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court fined a Manila RTC judge for failing to decide cases within the 90-day reglementary period, reaffirming judicial accountability.
Power Bill Disputes: Why Jurisdiction and Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies Matter
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that electric cooperative rate disputes belong to the NEA, not courts, and explains the exhaustion doctrine.
Public Trust Betrayed: Rape on a Bus and the Duty of Care in Philippine Public Transportation
The Supreme Court affirms a bus driver's rape conviction, highlighting the vulnerability of passengers and the high duty of care owed by public transport operators.
Finality of Judgment: When an Annulled Decision Can Be Reinstated
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a set-aside judgment may be reinstated and why final and executory rulings cannot be resurrected.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Sudden Attacks and the Crime of Murder
Learn how Philippine courts define treachery in murder cases, using the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Lopez as a guide.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Standing Position and Credibility in Philippine Courts
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, ruling carnal knowledge can occur in any position and a credible victim's testimony suffices for conviction.
Documentary Evidence vs Verbal Agreements: Why Written Contracts Prevail in Philippine Courts
When a verbal claim of discount conflicts with written invoices, Philippine courts rely on documentary evidence. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling.
Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: How Group Actions Can Lead to Equal Liability
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conspiracy, group liability, and when co-accused share equal criminal responsibility.
Philippine Party List Elections: Proportional Representation and the 2% Threshold
The Supreme Court explains the rules for party-list seats: the 2% threshold, three-seat limit, and proportional representation formula.
Pilot Error or Master's Fault: Understanding Liability in Compulsory Pilotage Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who bears liability when a vessel grounds on a compulsory pilotage channel.
Vague Dates in Rape Informations: When Approximate Time Is Enough
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether vague dates in rape informations violate the accused's right to be informed, and why approximate time suffices.
Sanctity of the Home: Understanding Dwelling as an Aggravating Circumstance in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court explains when dwelling aggravates a crime, even if the victim is not the owner of the home.
Land Classification and Agrarian Reform Zoning Maps Prevail Over Tax Declarations
Supreme Court rules zoning maps and land use plans, not tax declarations, determine CARP coverage. Learn the key principles.
Donation Inter Vivos vs Mortis Causa: Philippine Law on Property Transfers
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how to distinguish donation inter vivos from mortis causa, and when donations become irrevocable.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Why Details Matter in Proving Murder
A Supreme Court ruling on treachery in murder cases, showing why precise facts matter in proving qualifying circumstances.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Minor Inconsistencies: Why Victim Testimony Matters in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction, explaining why minor inconsistencies in victim testimony do not destroy credibility.
Eyewitness Testimony vs Alibi: Key Principles in Philippine Murder Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on eyewitness identification, alibi, and treachery in murder and frustrated murder cases.
Philippine Supreme Court Disciplines Court Employee for Disrespectful Conduct in Workplace
The Supreme Court fined a court employee P5,000 for shouting at and humiliating a co-worker during office hours, reaffirming strict standards of decorum in the judiciary.
Maintaining Workplace Decorum: Lessons on Grave Misconduct from the Philippine Supreme Court
A Supreme Court ruling on a belligerent employee shows why workplace decorum is non-negotiable in the Philippine public service.
Credible Testimony in Rape Cases: Why Minor Details Don't Overshadow the Truth
The Supreme Court explains why minor inconsistencies in a rape victim's testimony do not destroy her credibility, in People v. Magtrayo.
Navigating Accomplice Liability in Philippine Criminal Law: Degrees of Participation Explained
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a person is an accomplice rather than a principal, and why treachery and evident premeditation must be proven beyond doubt.
Extraordinary Inflation and Philippine Contracts: When Can You Adjust Rental Rates
Philippine law allows rent adjustments for extraordinary inflation, but courts rarely grant them. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court case.