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.
Qualifying Circumstances in Rape: When Minority and Relationship Raise the Penalty
The Supreme Court explains when rape is qualified by minority and relationship, and the damages a convicted offender must pay.
Annulment of Judgment Protects Due Process and Jurisdictional Integrity
When courts dismiss annulment petitions on technicalities, due process suffers. The Supreme Court clarifies the rules.
Arson and Homicide: How the Primary Motive Determines Criminal Liability
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a death during a fire is absorbed by arson or punished separately, based on the offender's main objective.
Supreme Court Affirms Conviction for Qualified Rape by Father
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling affirming a father's conviction for qualified rape, detailing the elements, evidence, and penalties under Philippine law.
Probable Cause and Ombudsman's Discretion: When Courts Can Intervene
The Supreme Court clarifies when courts may review prosecutorial findings and the limits of a private complainant's right to appeal criminal case dismissals.
Upholding Transparency Competitive Bidding Mandate IN Power Supply Agreements
Supreme Court voids ERC's postponement of competitive selection for power supply agreements, protecting consumers from opaque electricity costs.
Libel and Damages: Balancing Free Speech and Reputation in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court's Guy v. Tulfo ruling clarifies when journalists may be liable for libel and how courts compute damages for reputational harm.
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.
Procedural Missteps in Property Disputes: Lessons from a Landmark Notarial Case
A lawyer notarized a deed without commission, altering property rights. The Supreme Court's ruling teaches key lessons on notarial practice and property disputes.
Tax Refund Claims: Timely Filing and the Commissioner's Inaction
The Supreme Court clarifies when taxpayers may seek judicial tax refund claims despite the Commissioner's inaction, and the two-year prescriptive period.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: When Police Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect after police failed to follow chain of custody rules under RA 9165, explaining why strict compliance matters.
Challenging Ombudsman Decisions: Certiorari vs. Appeal in Administrative Cases
Learn when to file certiorari instead of appeal against Ombudsman decisions in administrative cases, and the limits of the condonation doctrine.
Tax Refund Claims: Filing on Time Beats Waiting for BIR Action
Supreme Court clarifies taxpayers may file judicial tax refund claims before the BIR acts, provided the two-year prescriptive period is respected.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: When Police Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to follow Section 21 chain of custody rules. Learn the requirements.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases and the Right to Bail: Key Lessons from People v. Tanes
The Supreme Court explains how lapses in the chain of custody of seized drugs can weaken evidence of guilt and support an accused's right to bail.
Integrity of Evidence and Safeguarding Rights in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect when police fail to follow Section 21 of RA 9165, protecting the accused's rights and evidence integrity.
Executing a Labor Judgment Does Not Bar Certiorari: Due Process in Labor Disputes
Forced compliance with a writ of execution does not waive an employer's right to challenge a labor ruling via certiorari, the Supreme Court held.
Condominium Dues and Utility Disconnection: What Unit Owners Must Know
The Supreme Court upheld a condominium association's right to disconnect utilities for unpaid dues, clarifying owner obligations under the Condominium Act.
Subsidiary Liability of Employers: Execution Against Employers for Employees' Civil Delicts
Supreme Court clarifies when employers may be held subsidiarily liable for employees' civil liability arising from criminal acts.
Jurisdictional Thresholds Determining Court Competence In Property Disputes
A 2019 Supreme Court ruling clarifies what courts must decide in land registration cases and the limits of Rule 45 review.
Safeguarding Rights: The Importance of Witness Presence in Drug Cases
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect where no DOJ representative witnessed the inventory, stressing strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Quieting of Title in the Philippines: Direct vs. Collateral Attacks Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies when challenging a land title's validity is a direct attack, not a collateral one, in quieting of title cases.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails When Key Witnesses Contradict Each Other in Drug Case
Supreme Court acquits drug suspect after prosecution witnesses gave conflicting accounts of the buy-bust operation, undermining proof beyond reasonable doubt.
When Buy-Bust Operations Fail: Why Inconsistent Police Testimony Leads to Acquittal in Drug Cases
Supreme Court acquits drug suspect after police witnesses gave conflicting accounts of the buy-bust operation, underscoring the prosecution's burden of proof.