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.
Navigating Work-Related Injuries: Understanding Seafarer Disability Benefits in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts decide seafarer disability claims, work-relatedness presumptions, and the risks of premature fit-to-work declarations.
Seafarer Disability Claims: When a Pre-Existing Condition Does Not Bar Compensation
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarer disability benefits, work-relatedness, and pre-existing conditions under the POEA-SEC.
Probable Cause in Estafa Cases: Insights from Favis-Velasco v. Gonzales
Learn how the Supreme Court defined probable cause in estafa cases and why solid evidence matters in fraud complaints.
Rape vs. Lascivious Conduct: Key Lessons from a Landmark Philippine Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when sexual acts against minors are rape or lascivious conduct under RA 7610.
Seafarers' Disability Claims: Why Following the POEA-SEC Medical Process Matters
A Supreme Court ruling shows why seafarers must follow the POEA-SEC's three-doctor rule or risk losing disability claims entirely.
Can Private Individuals Be Charged With Corruption Under Philippine Law? The Canlas Case Explains
The Supreme Court clarifies that private individuals acting in conspiracy with public officers may be indicted for graft under Section 3(e) of RA 3019.
Substantial Evidence in Labor Dismissals: When the Supreme Court Steps In
Explore when the Supreme Court reviews factual findings in labor cases, and how substantial evidence supports valid employee dismissal.
Understanding the Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: A Supreme Court Ruling on Illegal Sale and Possession
Learn how the Supreme Court applied the chain of custody rule in drug cases, affirming convictions for illegal sale and possession of shabu.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why It Determines Conviction or Acquittal
The Supreme Court explains how strict compliance with the chain of custody rule under RA 9165 secures drug convictions.
Child Abuse Under RA 7610: Intent as the Key Element
The Supreme Court clarifies that intent to debase or degrade is essential to prove child abuse under RA 7610.
Baptismal Certificates and Inheritance Rights: Proving Filiation in Property Disputes
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified when baptismal certificates can prove filiation and inheritance rights in Philippine property disputes.
Relationship as Qualifying Circumstance in Rape: Why Precise Allegations Matter
The Supreme Court clarifies that "stepfather" and "common-law spouse" are distinct terms in rape cases, and qualifying circumstances must be alleged and proven.
Court Interpreter Suspended for Incompetent Translations in RTC Malaybalay
SC suspends court interpreter for inaccurate Visayan-to-English translations, stressing the heavy responsibility of judicial employees.
Diabetes and Seafarer Rights: Establishing Work Relatedness for Disability Claims
The Supreme Court clarifies when a seafarer's diabetes is work-related and compensable, and the rules on post-employment medical exams.
Protecting Minors: Lascivious Conduct and the Scope of R.A. 7610 in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when acts of lasciviousness against minors fall under R.A. 7610, and the proper penalties.
Safeguarding Rights Strict Compliance With Drug Evidence Rules Ensures Fair Trials
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect when police fail to follow Section 21's witness and inventory rules, protecting the accused's rights.
Broken Chains: Safeguarding Rights in Drug Cases Through Strict Chain of Custody
The Supreme Court acquits an inmate in a drug possession case, stressing the mandatory witness requirements in the chain of custody rule under RA 9165.
Certiorari as an Improper Remedy: Interlocutory Orders and Grave Abuse of Discretion in Recovery of Possession
A party cannot use certiorari to challenge interlocutory orders like a denied motion to dismiss or default order when ordinary remedies exist.
Public Bidding and Travel Permits: When Mayors Fall Under Anti-Graft Law
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of two mayors for violating Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft Law over irregular medicine purchases and unauthorized travel reimbursements.
Safeguarding Rights: The Critical Role of Witness Presence in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to secure required witnesses during inventory, underscoring strict chain of custody rules.
Finality of Settlement Agreements Barring Future Claims Despite Quasi-Delict Allegations in Seafarer Death Cas
SC rules valid settlement agreements bar seafarers' heirs from filing quasi-delict claims after accepting death benefits.
Chain of Custody Gaps Lead to Acquittal in Drug Case: Lessons for Prosecutors
The Supreme Court acquits a drug accused due to broken chain of custody, clarifying the strict rules under RA 9165.
When Renting a Room for Prostitution Is Not Trafficking: Key Distinction
Supreme Court clarifies the legal distinction between trafficking in persons and acts that promote trafficking under RA 9208.
Distinguishing Child Abuse From Physical Injuries: Intent Matters
The Supreme Court clarifies that not every injury to a minor is child abuse; specific intent to debase or demean must be proven.