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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Due Process in Electricity Disconnection: Why Law Enforcement Presence Matters
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on RA 7832: electricity disconnection for meter tampering requires law enforcement or ERB representative presence.
Horse Racing Regulation: Philracom's Power to Ensure Fair and Safe Races
The Supreme Court upholds Philracom's authority to issue rules and directives for the horse racing industry, including measures to eradicate Equine Infectious Anemia.
VFA Constitutionality Upheld: Balancing Sovereignty and International Agreements
The Supreme Court upheld the Visiting Forces Agreement as constitutional while striking down detention agreements that violated its terms.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: Balancing Notice and Opportunity to Be Heard
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the twin notice requirement in employee dismissal—opportunity to be heard, not actual hearing, is the essence of due process.
Statutory Rape: Protecting Children and Ensuring Due Process in Criminal Law
A father's conviction for statutory rape upheld, but due process requires every element—including relationship—be alleged in the information.
Ancestral Domain vs Public Land: Resolving Indigenous Land Claims in Forest Reservations
Supreme Court clarifies NCIP jurisdiction over ancestral land claims but upholds protection of forest reservations from private claims.
Burden of Proof in Illegal Dismissal: Why Employers Must Justify Termination
Philippine law places the burden of proof on employers in illegal dismissal cases. Learn the rules and practical takeaways.
Redemption Rights When A Sale Disguises A Loan Equity Prevails
When a bank finances a subdivision project, it cannot ignore buyers who already paid for lots. The Supreme Court explains why.
Substituted Service in Labor Cases: Balancing Due Process and Efficient Resolution
The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on substituted service in labor cases, balancing due process rights with the need for efficient resolution.
Default Judgments and Due Process: The Imperative of Procedural Compliance in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on finality of judgments, procedural compliance, and the limits of post-judgment remedies in civil cases.
Forged Deeds and Buyer Beware: Protecting Land Titles in the Philippines
A disbarment case reveals how forged deeds and unpaid balances can put Philippine land titles at risk, and why buyers must verify.
Due Process Rights of Public Officials When Administrative Charges Fail
A public official cannot be held liable for a vague charge never pleaded, nor for a document whose authenticity remains unresolved.
Protecting Minors Rape Conviction Upheld Clarifying Aggravating Circumstances AND Penalties
Due Process and Arrest Warrants: Notice Requirements in Summary Procedure Cases
When can a court issue an arrest warrant in summary procedure cases? The Supreme Court clarifies the notice requirement and due process rules.
When a Judge Oversteps: Acting Without Authority and Denying Due Process
A judge who acts without authority as pairing judge and cites a party in contempt without hearing faces administrative liability.
Rape Conviction Upheld on Credible Victim Testimony; Death Penalty Reduced
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on credible victim testimony and medical evidence, but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua.
Provocation and Intent When a Fistfight Leads to Unexpected Consequences
A lucky punch in a fistfight caused death. The Court ruled on provocation, intent, and mitigating circumstances in homicide.
Protecting Consumers: The Limits of Immediate Disconnection for Electricity Pilferage
Philippine law protects consumers from abrupt power disconnection. This article explains the rules on electricity pilferage and the required due process.
Illegal Strikes and Unfair Labor Practices: When Employee Remedies Survive
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employees who joined an illegal strike may still claim backwages and separation pay for unfair labor practices.
The High Cost of Shortcuts: Notarial Duties and Professional Responsibility
A Supreme Court ruling reminds lawyers that notarizing documents without the affiants present is serious professional misconduct with real consequences.
Theft Beyond Tangibles: When Telecom Services Became Personal Property
The Supreme Court ruled that telephone services and business can be the object of theft under the Revised Penal Code.
Incestuous Rape: Delay in Reporting and the Moral Ascendancy of the Abuser
The Supreme Court clarifies when a father's lewd acts on his sleeping daughter constitute acts of lasciviousness, not RA 7610 violations.
COA Overpayment Recovery Upheld: Quantum Meruit in Government Construction Contracts
Supreme Court affirms COA's recovery of overpayment from a government contractor, clarifying quantum meruit limits, due process, and procedural deadlines.
Forum Shopping and Failure to Prosecute: Lessons from Rural Bank of the Seven Lakes v. Dan
The Supreme Court clarifies the consequences of forum shopping, unverified appeals, and failure to prosecute a case before administrative bodies.