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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Limits on Foreign Troops in Domestic Conflicts: The Balikatan 02-1 Ruling
The Supreme Court ruled that foreign troops may train and assist but cannot engage in offensive combat on Philippine soil without constitutional authority.
Homicide vs Murder: When Qualifying Circumstances Are Not Proven
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a killing is homicide, not murder, absent proven treachery and evident premeditation.
Double Jeopardy: Why the Prosecution Cannot Appeal to Increase a Criminal Penalty
The Supreme Court explains why the prosecution cannot appeal a conviction to seek a higher penalty, citing the constitutional right against double jeopardy.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Creditors Can Reach a Parent Company's Assets
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may disregard corporate separateness and hold parent companies liable for subsidiaries' debts.
When Misrepresentations Lead to Estafa: The Dangers of Falsely Claiming the Ability to Process Travel Document
The Supreme Court clarifies when false claims about processing travel documents constitute estafa, even without promises of employment abroad.
Accretion Rights and Land Ownership Along Riverbanks: Key Philippine Rules
Philippine Supreme Court explains how accretion rights along riverbanks determine land ownership, and why prior judgments bind future claims.
Authenticating Evidence When Hearsay Testimony Undermines Insurance Claims
A Supreme Court ruling on hearsay and unauthenticated documents in a default judgment, and its impact on insurance claims.
Tenant Rights vs Landowner Prerogative: Clarifying Tenancy Status in Agrarian Disputes
Supreme Court clarifies how courts determine bona fide tenancy status in agrarian disputes, emphasizing evidence and consistent testimony over mere claims.
Cyber Libel Prescription in the Philippines: One-Year Rule and the Limits of Unsigned Resolutions
The Supreme Court clarifies that cyber libel prescribes in one year and that unsigned resolutions are not binding precedent.
Right of First Refusal Enforceability Hinges on Conduct, Not Just Contractual Terms
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on lease contracts, forgery, and ejectment—how conduct and evidence determine enforceability of rights.
Certiorari Limits: SEC En Banc Can't Fix Attachment Errors in Partnership Disputes
The Supreme Court nullified SEC en banc orders discharging an attachment in a law partnership dispute, ruling certiorari only corrects jurisdictional errors.
Judge Fined for Delay in Rendering Judgment: Lessons from A.M. No. MTJ-02-1409
The Supreme Court fined a retired judge for gross inefficiency after a 15-month delay in deciding an ejectment case, underscoring the mandatory 30-day period for summary procedure judgments.
Protecting Farmer Beneficiaries Security OF Tenure Prevails Over Unauthorized Land Transfers
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on farmer beneficiaries' security of tenure versus unauthorized land transfers under agrarian reform.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Statutory Rape and the Preservation of Child Welfare in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms six counts of statutory rape, underscoring that a child's consent is immaterial and that young victims' testimony deserves full credence.
Dying Declarations and Alibi in Philippine Homicide Cases: The Anacan Ruling
How the Supreme Court clarified eyewitness identification, alibi, and treachery in homicide cases, reducing a murder conviction to homicide.
The Binding Force of a Signed Affidavit of Full Payment and the Absence of Fraud in Subcontracting Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on the binding effect of a signed affidavit of full payment and the absence of fraud in subcontracting agreements.
When A Brawl Turns Deadly Reassessing Criminal Liability In Homicide Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a deadly brawl shifts criminal liability, and the limits of self-defense claims.
Court Employee Negligence: Process Server Fined for Failing to Serve Notices
A process server's failure to serve pre-trial notices led to a fine, underscoring that court personnel must uphold the highest standards of diligence and accountability.
Meralco's Power Play: When Disconnecting Electricity Demands Due Process
The Supreme Court ruled that Meralco cannot disconnect electricity for alleged meter tampering without an officer of the law or ERB representative witnessing the discovery.
Mining Rights vs State Control: Balancing Private Investment and Public Interest in Diwalwal
The Supreme Court affirms that mining permits are privileges, not vested rights, and the State may study direct utilization of mineral resources.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Protecting Children and Upholding Justice
The Supreme Court affirms six convictions for statutory rape, clarifying how Philippine law protects minors and assesses child testimony.
Navigating Appointments Security of Tenure vs Presidential Prerogative in the Comelec
The Supreme Court explains why ad interim appointments to the COMELEC are permanent, not temporary, and how they balance presidential power with constitutional independence.
Positive Identification Trumps Alibi: Credibility and the Defense of Alibi in Murder Cases
The Supreme Court rules that positive identification prevails over alibi in murder cases, explaining credibility standards and the requisites for a valid alibi defense.
Public Land Ownership in the Philippines: Why Possession Alone Isn't Enough | ASG Law
Philippine law requires more than occupation to own public land. Learn the rules on classification, possession, and judicial confirmation of title.