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.
Injunctions and Land Disputes: When Courts Can Dismiss Property Claims
Learn when Philippine courts may dismiss land disputes on laches or prescription grounds, and why trial is often required.
Self Defense Claims in Philippine Criminal Law: When Do They Hold Up
Philippine courts require unlawful aggression, reasonable necessity, and lack of provocation for self-defense. Learn from People v. Tobias.
Navigating Retirement Benefits When Financial Assistance Becomes an Illegal Pension Plan
The Supreme Court ruled that SSS Resolution No. 56 was an illegal supplementary retirement plan under RA 4968, voiding financial assistance claims.
Understanding Evident Premeditation and Self-Dense Claims in Philippine Murder Cases
Learn how Philippine courts prove evident premeditation and evaluate self-defense claims, based on a 1996 Supreme Court ruling.
Mining Rights vs Land Ownership: What the Supreme Court Decided
A 1996 Supreme Court ruling clarifies that mining claims under the Philippine Bill of 1902 grant possessory rights, not absolute ownership over land.
Execution of Judgments: Timelines, Third-Party Claims, and Property Rights in the Philippines
Understand the five-year rule for executing judgments, third-party claims, and why a buyer's title can be upheld despite procedural delays.
Recto Law Explained: Deficiency Claims After Chattel Mortgage Foreclosure
Understand Article 1484 (Recto Law) and when sellers can still recover attorney's fees after foreclosing on installment-sold personal property.
Adverse Claims in Philippine Property Law: Validity, Effectivity, and Third-Party Rights
The Supreme Court clarifies when an adverse claim remains effective under Section 70 of PD 1529 and its effect on subsequent levies.
Establishing Employer-Employee Relationship Is Key to Illegal Dismissal Claims in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why proving employer-employee relationship is essential before an illegal dismissal case can prosper.
When Is a Police Officer Considered On-Duty? Compensation Under Philippine Law
Philippine law treats police officers as on duty 24 hours a day for compensation purposes. Learn how this affects claims under the Employees' Compensation Program.
Eyewitness Testimony and Self-Defense: Lessons from People v. Rosales
The Supreme Court explains when eyewitness testimony prevails over self-defense claims and how courts assess treachery in Philippine criminal cases.
Self-Defense and Treachery: Understanding Criminal Liability in Philippine Law
A look at how Philippine courts weigh self-defense claims against treachery in murder cases, using the Lapura ruling.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Philippine Corporate Officers Are Personally Liable
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers can be held personally liable for labor claims, explaining the doctrine of piercing the corporate veil.
Understanding Arbitration Clauses in Philippine Construction Contracts
The Supreme Court clarifies that broad arbitration clauses in construction contracts cover all disputes arising from the contract, including claims for fees on work subcontracted by the owner.
Intra-Corporate Disputes: When Illegal Dismissal Claims Fall Under SEC Jurisdiction
Learn when a corporate officer's removal is an intra-corporate dispute under SEC jurisdiction, not an illegal dismissal case for the NLRC.
When Self-Defense Fails: Proving Unlawful Aggression in Philippine Criminal Cases
A Supreme Court ruling explains why bare claims of self-defense fail without credible witnesses, and when treachery and evident premeditation do not qualify a killing.