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.
Corporate Dissolution and Judgment Enforcement: Rights Survive Liquidation
A final judgment can still be enforced after a corporation dissolves — the Supreme Court explains why in this ruling.
Independent Civil Actions Under the Civil Code: No Reservation Needed, Even With a Pending Criminal Case
The Supreme Court clarifies that civil claims based on the Civil Code may proceed independently of criminal cases, with no prior reservation required.
Positive Identification Over Alibi: When Witness Testimony Prevails in Murder Cases
The Supreme Court explains why positive identification by eyewitnesses outweighs alibi and denial in murder cases, affirming a conviction for treachery.
Forum Shopping in Philippine Courts: When Filing Multiple Petitions Backfires
Philippine Supreme Court explains forum shopping through a barangay captain's dismissed petition against an Ad Hoc Committee.
Forum Shopping in the Philippines: When Filing Separate Cases Becomes Improper
Learn when filing separate cases becomes improper forum shopping in the Philippines, based on recent Supreme Court jurisprudence.
Avoiding Forum Shopping: Why Filing Multiple Cases Can Jeopardize Your Claim in the Philippines
Learn how filing multiple cases over the same dispute can lead to dismissal for forum shopping, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Forum Shopping and Litis Pendentia: When Filing Two Suits Backfires
Explaining Quinsay v. Court of Appeals: why filing parallel cases for the same relief amounts to forum shopping and litis pendentia.
Forum Shopping in Philippine Courts: The Quinsay Case and Why Multiple Lawsuits Backfire
Forum shopping—filing multiple suits for the same dispute—can get cases dismissed. Learn the rules from the Supreme Court's ruling in Quinsay.
Defective Verification and Forum Shopping Certification: Why Cases Get Dismissed in Philippine Courts
Learn how defective verification or certification against forum shopping can get a case dismissed in Philippine courts, based on Loquias v. Ombudsman.
When Can a Trial Court Resolve a Motion to Quash a Search Warrant Issued by Another Court?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies which court resolves a motion to quash a search warrant when the criminal case is pending in a different court.
Correcting Manifest Errors in Election Returns: The Angelia Case
How COMELEC can correct obvious tallying errors in election returns even after proclamation, and why due process still matters.
Ejectment vs. Ownership: Why Forcible Entry Cases Can Proceed Despite Ownership Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that forcible entry cases proceed independently of ownership disputes; RTC erred in dismissing ejectment appeal.
When Can a Claim Be a Compulsory Counterclaim? Lessons from Yulienco v. Court of Appeals
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a claim must be raised as a compulsory counterclaim, and when separate suits are allowed.
Grave Slander in the Philippines: Lessons from Artajos v. Court of Appeals
Learn how Philippine law punishes grave slander, the elements prosecutors must prove, and key lessons from the Supreme Court's Artajos ruling.
Successor Liability in Philippine Labor Law: Enforcing Judgments Against Transferee Companies
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on enforcing labor judgments against successor companies that assume liabilities of the original employer.
Limits of Contempt Power: When Can You Actually Be Held in Contempt of Court in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains the limits of contempt power—when a court order binds you and when it does not.
Refiling a Dismissed Case in the Philippines: When a Technical Dismissal Is Not Final
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains when a procedural dismissal is without prejudice, allowing a case to be refiled.
Res Judicata in Philippine Courts: Why Final Judgments Bind Property Disputes
Final judgments bar relitigation of the same property dispute. Learn how res judicata works in Philippine courts.
Illegal Dismissal Jurisdiction: Government Corporations Without Original Charters
Supreme Court clarifies which government-owned corporations fall under Labor Code jurisdiction versus Civil Service rules in illegal dismissal cases.
Forum Shopping in the Philippines: How Duplicate Cases Can Kill Your Labor Claim
Learn how filing duplicate labor cases amounts to forum shopping and leads to automatic dismissal under Philippine rules.
When Court Errors Are Not Misconduct: The Tallado v. Racoma Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies when a judge's error is a judicial matter, not administrative misconduct, and warns against harassment suits.
Judicial Recusal: Understanding Bias and Impartiality in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies when judges must inhibit and why late motions to disqualify are frowned upon.