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.
Concurrent Jurisdiction and Forum Shopping: Lessons from a Copyright Dispute
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts of concurrent jurisdiction must defer to the court first acquiring jurisdiction to prevent forum shopping.
Rape Conviction Based on Credible Testimony: Philippine Jurisprudence Analysis
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when credible eyewitness testimony outweighs alibi and denial in criminal convictions.
Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conspiracy, credibility of witnesses, and the requirement of proof beyond reasonable doubt in murder cases.
Independent Contractor vs Employee: Key Distinctions in Philippine Labor Law
When is a worker an employee, not an independent contractor? The Supreme Court explains the tests in this Philippine labor case.
Land Reform Rights: Voluntary Surrender vs. Abandonment Under Philippine Law
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on when a farmer-beneficiary's surrender of land reform rights is valid and how DAR may reallocate the land.
Reconstitution of Land Titles: Protecting Property Rights in the Philippines
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on judicial reconstitution of lost titles, emphasizing due process and jurisdictional requirements to protect property rights.
Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Criminal Law: When Does It Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court explains the moral certainty standard for proof beyond reasonable doubt and why weak eyewitness testimony leads to acquittal.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails When Eyewitness Testimony Fails the Test of Credibility
Supreme Court acquits murder accused after eyewitness accounts defy human experience and logic, reaffirming proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Docket Fees and Jurisdiction: Timely Payment in Philippine Courts
When must docket fees be paid for a court to acquire jurisdiction? The Supreme Court explains the rule and its equitable exceptions.
Seafarers' Sickness and Disability Benefits: What the Tuazon Case Teaches
The Supreme Court ruled that seafarers can claim sickness and disability benefits even with pre-existing conditions, as long as the illness occurs during the employment contract.
Judicial Delay: What Happens When Judges Fail to Decide Cases on Time
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on a judge fined for dereliction of duty explains the consequences of judicial delay and the importance of the Rule on Summary Procedure.
Equal Pay for Equal Work: When Hiring Origin Cannot Justify Wage Discrimination
Philippine Supreme Court rules that paying foreign-hire teachers more than local-hires for the same work violates equal pay for equal work.
Understanding Double Jeopardy and Void Judgments in Philippine Criminal Cases
Learn how Philippine courts treat double jeopardy, void judgments, and conditional guilty pleas through this Supreme Court ruling.
Reasonable Doubt and Eyewitness Credibility in Philippine Murder Appeals
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on positive eyewitness identification, explaining when alibi and alleged discrepancies fail.
Rescission of Contracts: When Can You Back Out of a Deal?
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a party may rescind a contract, the effects of rescission, and what restitution requires.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
Learn how treachery qualifies homicide to murder in Philippine law, explained through the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Obosa.
Upholding Justice Over Technicality When Courts Must Excuse Procedural Lapses
The Supreme Court reminds appellate courts that dismissing appeals on mere technicalities, like a nine-day delay, can be grave abuse of discretion.
Legal Redemption Notice: When a Co-Owner's Letter From the Vendee Suffices
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a co-owner's right of redemption starts, and whether notice from the vendee can trigger the 30-day period.
Improvident Plea in Rape Cases: Ensuring Voluntariness and Comprehension
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conditional guilty pleas, void judgments, and the required searching inquiry in capital rape cases.
Can a Pauper Litigate Before the Appellate Courts? The Martinez Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies that indigent litigants may seek pauper status before appellate courts, ensuring free access to justice.
When Can You Use Force in Self-Defense? Philippine Law Explained
Philippine law on self-defense explained: when force is justified, the burden of proof, and what the Supreme Court requires.
Royalty Payments After Franchise Expiration: When the Assigned Right Ceases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether royalty fees continue after the underlying franchise agreement expires and the assigned right ceases to exist.
When Circumstantial Evidence Convicts: Homicide, Not Murder, in People v. Santos
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction and why treachery must be proven, not presumed.
When a Franchise Expires: Object of Sale and Royalty Fees Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether royalty fees continue when the assigned franchise right expires, interpreting contract intent.