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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Lost Your Property to Foreclosure? Know Your Rights to Proper Notice in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court protects borrowers from invalid foreclosure sales when banks fail to follow notice and publication rules.
SK Election Disputes: Court Jurisdiction After Proclamation Explained
Learn when courts, not election officers, handle SK election disputes after proclamation, based on a 1999 Supreme Court ruling.
Senate Electoral Tribunal Your Sole Remedy After Senatorial Proclamation
After a senatorial proclamation, election contests belong exclusively to the Senate Electoral Tribunal, not the Comelec or courts.
Illegal Dismissal and Early Retirement: Protecting Employees from Unjust Termination
The Supreme Court clarifies when a demotion becomes illegal dismissal and the rules on optional retirement under Philippine labor law.
Conviction on Circumstantial Evidence: Lessons from People v. Sison on Witness Credibility in Philippine Crimi
The Supreme Court affirms a homicide conviction based on circumstantial evidence and credible witness testimony, clarifying the rules on state witnesses and evident premeditation.
Cash Advances and Malversation: When Failure to Liquidate Becomes a Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies when unpaid cash advances constitute malversation under Article 217 and why arraignment waives objections.
Breach of Trust: When Philippine Employers Can Terminate Employees for Loss of Confidence
Philippine law allows employers to dismiss employees for loss of trust and confidence. Learn the rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
When Can Philippine Police Arrest Without a Warrant? Know Your Rights
Philippine law allows warrantless arrests in specific situations. This article explains those rules using a Supreme Court case.
When SC Justices Split Evenly: Tie Votes and Case vs Matter Resolutions Explained
Learn how Philippine Supreme Court divisions resolve tie votes, why case vs matter resolutions differ, and what happens when justices split evenly.
Accomplice or Conspirator? Decoding Criminal Liability in Philippine Murder Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a lookout is an accomplice, not a conspirator, in murder cases.
How Eyewitness Testimony Secures Justice in Philippine Murder Cases
The Supreme Court explains how a lone eyewitness's testimony can establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt in murder cases, as shown in People v. Mante.
Spousal Violence and the Law: Understanding Parricide in the Philippines
A 1999 Supreme Court ruling explains the crime of parricide, its elements, penalties, and how courts determine guilt in spousal killing cases.
Sudden Violence and Treachery: Understanding Murder in Philippine Law
A look at how the Supreme Court distinguishes murder from homicide through treachery, using a 1999 stabbing case as an example.
Earnest Money Perfected Contracts Understanding Philippine Property Sale Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on earnest money, contract perfection, and rescission in property sales explained in plain language.
Implied Trusts and Foreign Ownership: The Yap Heirs Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when implied trusts over Philippine land fail, and why constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership bar recovery.
Conspiracy in Murder: When Presence Does Not Prove Guilt (G.R. No. 127754)
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conspiracy in murder cases: mere presence at the crime scene is not enough to convict.
Separation of Church and State: Supreme Court Upholds Labor Rights of Religious Workers
The Supreme Court rules that a pastor's dismissal is a secular employment matter, not an ecclesiastical affair, affirming labor protections.
Surname Use in Philippine Elections: When It Is Not a Material Misrepresentation
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when using a surname in a certificate of candidacy is not a material misrepresentation under election law.
Limits of Judicial Authority: Incidental Expenses and Due Process in Post-Judgment Orders
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's P1.2M award for "incidental expenses" shows why post-judgment orders must respect due process.
Unmasking Insurance Fraud: How Conspiracy and Falsification Lead to Conviction in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on insurance fraud, conspiracy, and falsification of documents, and what it means for criminal liability.
When Can You Sue a Building Official: Error vs. Bad Faith in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when building officials can be sued for graft—error of judgment is not enough; bad faith must be shown.
Upholding Integrity: Why Workplace Misconduct in Philippine Courts Matters
A lawyer's duty to preserve client confidences survives the attorney-client relationship. The Supreme Court's ruling in Salonga v. Hildawa explains why.
Decoding Holographic Wills in the Philippines: Witness Requirements and Probate Challenges
Understand the mandatory three-witness rule for contested holographic wills in the Philippines and what Codoy v. Calugay means for probate.
Presidential Appointments in the Philippines: Limits of the Commission on Appointments' Confirmation Power
The Supreme Court clarifies which presidential appointments need Commission on Appointments confirmation under the 1987 Constitution.