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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Presidential Authority Over SBMA Awards and Limits of Injunctions in Government Contracts
Supreme Court ruling on presidential control over SBMA bids, injunction limits under RA 7227, and foreign bidder licensing requirements.
Judicial Bribery in the Philippines: Upholding Integrity and Public Trust in the Judiciary
The Supreme Court addresses judicial bribery in the Philippines, reinforcing integrity and public trust in the judiciary.
Credibility of Child Witness Testimony in Rape Cases: Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence
Philippine Supreme Court guidance on assessing child witness credibility in rape cases, emphasizing trial court discretion and minor inconsistencies.
Forum Shopping in Philippine Courts: The Quinsay Case and Why Multiple Lawsuits Backfire
Forum shopping—filing multiple suits for the same dispute—can get cases dismissed. Learn the rules from the Supreme Court's ruling in Quinsay.
Lifting the Veil of Corporate Personality vs PCGG Sequestration Powers
The Supreme Court rules that sequestered corporations must be impleaded in judicial actions; suits against stockholders alone do not suffice.
Venue Stipulations in Contracts: Who Is Bound Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on venue stipulations in contracts and who is bound, including assignees and privies.
Breach of Client Trust: Lawyer Misconduct and Disciplinary Action in the Philippines
When lawyers in government betray public trust, they face disciplinary action. The Supreme Court explains the rules on lawyer misconduct.
Compromise Agreements in the Philippines: Why You Need a Special Power of Attorney
A lawyer cannot compromise a client's case without a special power of attorney. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Credibility Counts: Why Witness Testimony Decides Drug Cases in the Philippines
In drug case appeals, the Supreme Court defers to trial courts on witness credibility. Learn why from People v. Lacson.
Valid Service of Summons in Default Judgments: Umandap v. Sabio
When is substituted service of summons valid? The Supreme Court explains in Umandap v. Sabio, G.R. No. 140244.
Treachery in Abduction: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Group Killings
How the Supreme Court affirmed murder convictions for five abductions and killings, applying treachery and circumstantial evidence rules.
CSC Resolution Cannot Be Enforced While Pending Appeal: Due Process Rules
The Supreme Court clarifies that a CSC resolution pending appeal cannot be immediately enforced, upholding due process rights of public officials.
Strained Relations and Separation Pay in Illegal Dismissal Cases: The Vinoya Rule
When reinstatement becomes impractical due to strained relations, Philippine law allows separation pay instead. Learn the rule from Vinoya v. NLRC.
Equitable Mortgage vs Absolute Sale: Protecting Borrowers in Financial Distress
When is a deed of absolute sale really a mortgage? The Supreme Court explains how courts protect borrowers who sign sale documents under financial pressure.
Ombudsman's Discretion and Insufficiency of Evidence in Graft Charge Dismissals
Supreme Court affirms Ombudsman's dismissal of graft charges for insufficiency of evidence, clarifying limits of certiorari review.
Unexpected Assault Equals Treachery: How Sudden Attacks Qualify as Murder in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden, unexpected attack constitutes treachery, elevating a killing to murder under Philippine law.
Client Funds in Trust: Why Lawyer Accountability Matters in the Philippines
A lawyer's duty to hold client funds in trust and render an accounting, explained through a Supreme Court suspension case.
Fighting Eviction: Why Exhausting Administrative Remedies Is Your First Step in Philippine Property Disputes
Learn from Zabat v. Court of Appeals: why exhausting administrative remedies before suing in court is crucial in Philippine property disputes.
When Silence Implies Guilt: Co-Conspirator Testimony in Robbery with Homicide
The Supreme Court explains when a co-conspirator's uncorroborated testimony can convict in robbery with homicide cases.
Establishing Minority in Qualified Rape Cases: The Weight of Parental Testimony in Philippine Courts
How Philippine courts treat parental testimony and qualifying circumstances in rape cases, from the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Gabiana.
Employer Liability in Philippine Negligence Cases: Independent Civil Actions for Damages
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies employer liability for employee negligence and the right to file independent civil actions for damages.
Burden of Proof in Rape Cases: Why Evidence Is Paramount in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling shows why proof beyond reasonable doubt, not outrage, determines rape convictions in the Philippines.
Suspension of Arraignment: Balancing Speedy Trial Rights With DOJ Review
When can a court suspend arraignment to await DOJ review? The Supreme Court explains the balance with speedy trial rights.
Entrapment vs Instigation: Avoiding Illegal Drug Charges in the Philippines
Explaining the difference between valid entrapment and unlawful instigation in Philippine drug cases, using a Supreme Court ruling.