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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Incestuous Rape: Why the Supreme Court Upheld the Victim's Testimony Against Her Brother
The Supreme Court affirms a death sentence for incestuous rape, explaining why a victim's testimony against her own brother deserves full credence.
Buy-Bust Operations and Fair Representation: Ensuring Due Process for the Accused
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on buy-bust operations, the right to counsel, and due process protections for accused persons in drug cases.
Substantial Compliance in Labor Disputes: Upholding Merits Over Technicalities
Philippine Supreme Court rules that substantial compliance with procedural rules, not technicalities, should govern labor dispute resolutions.
Judicial Misconduct: Court Fines Retired Judge for Gross Inefficiency
Supreme Court holds retired judges accountable for gross inefficiency, imposing fines deductible from retirement benefits.
Eyewitness Testimony vs. Alibi in Philippine Criminal Law: People v. Buenavidez
The Supreme Court explains when eyewitness testimony prevails over alibi, and how treachery is proven in murder cases.
Retrenchment During Financial Strain: Employers' Right to Minimize Losses
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers may validly retrench workers during business losses, including evidence rules on appeal.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: Justifiable Homicide and the Burden of Proof
Explore the requisites of self-defense in Philippine criminal law and how the burden of proof shifts to the accused, as illustrated in a landmark Supreme Court acquittal.
Res Judicata and One-Year Prescription: Supreme Court Settles Cyber Libel Rules
Supreme Court clarifies cyber libel prescribes in one year and that unsigned resolutions bind only parties, not the public.
Judge Dismissed and Suspended From Law Practice for Gross Immorality in Extramarital Affair
Supreme Court dismisses a judge and suspends him from law practice for gross immorality over an extramarital affair and child born outside marriage.
Exclusionary Rule Bars Illegal Drug Evidence From Unreasonable Search
Supreme Court acquits drug suspect after police violated search rules, applying the exclusionary rule to suppress seized shabu evidence.
Perfecting Real Estate Sales: Vendee's Rights and Vendor's Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a buyer must pay the balance in a real estate sale and when a vendor can rescind.
Rape Conviction and the Importance of Specific Allegations in Criminal Informations
A rape conviction is void where the information fails to allege every element of the crime, as the Supreme Court held in People v. Espera, G.R. No. 153845.
Maintaining Judicial Integrity: Upholding Ethical Conduct in the Philippine Judiciary
Court employees must uphold propriety and decorum. Leaving work during office hours and reporting drunk warrants administrative discipline.
Checks and Deceit: Establishing Estafa Beyond Issuance
Supreme Court clarifies that estafa through false pretenses can arise from deceitful assurances about checks, not just issuing them.
Judicial Discretion in Voluntary Inhibition and Maintaining Impartiality in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when judges may voluntarily inhibit from cases and why doing so protects judicial impartiality and public trust.
Ejectment, Land Ownership, and Corporate Rights to Public Land: Key Lessons from Ten Forty Realty v. Cruz
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies ejectment actions, double sales, and why corporations cannot own public land in the Philippines.
Self-Defense and Homicide: The Boundaries of Justifiable Force in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense fails and why a killing without treachery is homicide, not murder.
Judges Fined for Undue Delay in Resolving Motions: A Lesson in Judicial Efficiency
The Supreme Court fined a judge P11,000 for failing to resolve a motion within the 90-day reglementary period, underscoring the duty of judges to act promptly.
Wage Order Exemptions Limited to One Year Under NWPC Guidelines
Philippine Supreme Court rules wage order exemptions for distressed firms are non-extendable beyond one year under NWPC guidelines.
Tenant or Caretaker? How Personal Cultivation Decides Tenancy Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court ruled that a caretaker paid a share of harvests was not a tenant because he never personally cultivated the land, so he had no security of tenure.
Release of Seized Evidence Before Trial: Upholding Prosecutorial Authority and Due Process
A judge's order releasing seized evidence before trial drew administrative sanctions. Learn the rules on custody of evidence and prosecutorial control.
When Intent Falters: Attempted Robbery With Homicide vs. Consummated Robbery With Homicide
The Supreme Court clarifies when a robbery that ends in death is only attempted, not consummated, and explains the proper penalty.
Superior Strength in Murder: Philippine Jurisprudence on Armed Assaults
When is a killing murder by abuse of superior strength? The Supreme Court explains in People v. Rollon.
Ejectment Suits and Due Process: When Non-Parties Are Bound by Court Decisions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when non-parties to an ejectment case may still be bound by a demolition order.