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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Rape and Credibility: Evaluating Testimony in the Face of Physical Disability
Physical disability alone does not negate rape liability. The Supreme Court affirms conviction, explaining how credibility, not disability, decides rape cases.
Prosecutorial Discretion vs Anti-Graft: Defining Undue Injury in Public Office
The Supreme Court clarifies when a prosecutor's error becomes a crime under the Anti-Graft Law, explaining the element of undue injury.
Attempted Robbery With Homicide: Liability When the Robbery Fails
The Supreme Court explains when a failed robbery that ends in death becomes the complex crime of attempted robbery with homicide.
Breach of Trust: When a Lawyer's Actions Lead to Ethical Misconduct
When a lawyer solicits a client's letter then uses it against them, the Supreme Court says it is misconduct.
Treachery in Criminal Law: When a Frontal Attack Constitutes Murder
The Supreme Court explains when a frontal attack still qualifies as treachery, elevating a killing to murder in the Philippines.
Mayoral Prerogative vs Police Professionalism: Understanding the Limits of Local Executive Power in Police App
A look at how the Supreme Court balances a mayor's appointment power with the need for police professionalism and legal limits.
Probable Cause and Judicial Discretion in Anti-Graft Cases: Odin Security Agency v. Sandiganbayan
The Supreme Court explains when courts may dismiss criminal cases for lack of probable cause and the limits of certiorari review in graft cases.
Bank Liability for Premature Foreclosure and Dishonored Deposits
When can a bank be liable for damages? The Supreme Court rules on premature foreclosure, dishonored checks, and bad faith.
Court Decisions vs HLURB Rulings: Judicial Precedence in Mortgage Validity Cases
When a court decision and an HLURB ruling conflict, which prevails? The Supreme Court clarifies the hierarchy and finality of judgments.
Attorney’s Lien in the Philippines: Can It Attach to Real Property?
Philippine law limits attorney’s liens to judgments and client documents—not land. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
The Perils of Mistaken Identity: Alibi and Witness Credibility in Murder Convictions
A Supreme Court ruling on how positive identification outweighs alibi, and the consequences of mistaken identity in murder cases.
Illegal Possession of Firearms: Essential Elements and Double Jeopardy Explained
Understand the essential elements of illegal possession of firearms under PD 1866, as amended by RA 8294, and when double jeopardy applies.
Upholding Workplace Conduct: Carrying Firearms in the Hall of Justice and Employee Rights
The Supreme Court rules on a court employee carrying a firearm in the Hall of Justice, finding misconduct and oppression while protecting employee rights.
Interpleader Actions Resolving Rental Payment Disputes Between Claimants
When two parties claim the same rental payments, an interpleader action can resolve the conflict. The Supreme Court explains its limits.
Beyond the Logbook: Upholding Employee Rights in Administrative Cases
Explore how the Supreme Court protects employees' rights in administrative cases, ensuring fairness beyond mere documentation and procedural compliance.
The Element of Surprise: Establishing Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law
A look at how the Supreme Court defines treachery in murder cases, using a 2001 decision as a guide.
Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Robbery With Homicide: The Marquez Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when robbery with homicide is proven beyond reasonable doubt, and when illegal possession of firearm charges fail.
Balancing Fair Trial Rights and Public Access: The Estrada Trial Audio-Visual Recording Ruling
The Supreme Court's 2001 ruling on the Estrada trial balanced fair trial rights with public access, allowing delayed audio-visual recordings while prohibiting live broadcast.
Cameras in Court: The Estrada Trial and the Right to a Fair Hearing
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on live TV coverage of the Estrada trial, balancing public information against the accused's right to a fair trial.
Deceptive Promises in Illegal Recruitment and Estafa: Lessons from People v. Arabia
When do false promises of overseas jobs become both illegal recruitment and estafa? The Supreme Court explains in People v. Arabia.
When Can an Employer Be Sued for an Employee’s Libel? The Premature Enforcement Rule
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that an employer’s subsidiary liability for an employee’s libel can only be enforced after criminal conviction, not before.
SSS Contribution Claims: When Does the Clock Start Ticking on Prescription Periods in Philippine Law
Understand how prescription periods apply to SSS contribution claims in the Philippines, based on recent Supreme Court rulings and statutory deadlines.
Indispensable Parties Protecting Mortgagee Rights In Title Nullification Suits
When a title nullification suit omits the mortgagee, the resulting judgment is void. The Supreme Court explains why.
Premature Lawsuits Against Employers for Employee Defamation: Key Lessons from IFFI v. Argos
Employers cannot be sued for subsidiary liability in defamation cases before the employee is convicted. Learn the rules from this Philippine Supreme Court case.