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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Workplace Misconduct and Ethical Standards for Government Employees in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the ethical standards and disciplinary rules for government employees involved in workplace misconduct and unauthorized business.
Corporate Identity Crisis CAN A Company Sue Under AN Unregistered Name
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a company can sue under an unregistered corporate name, explained in plain language.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Victim Testimony and Resistance in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how victim testimony and resistance are weighed in Philippine criminal law.
Illegal Dismissal vs. Retrenchment: Understanding Employee Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the difference between illegal dismissal and valid retrenchment, and what employers must prove to justify layoffs.
Retroactivity and Creditability of Wage Increases in Collective Bargaining Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when CBA wage increases retroact and whether they can be credited against future mandated wage increases.
Labor-Only Contracting: Identifying the True Employer and Protecting Workers' Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies labor-only contracting, true employer liability, and workers' rights under the Labor Code.
PNCC v. Court of Appeals: When a Lessee Cannot Escape a Lease It Signed
The Supreme Court held that financial difficulty and a change in political climate do not excuse a lessee from paying rent under a valid lease contract.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: When Can You Skip It?
The Supreme Court explains when exhaustion of administrative remedies is required and when courts may excuse it.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: When an Attack Qualifies as Murder
The Supreme Court explains how treachery elevates killings to murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code.
When CBA Wage Hikes Count: Retroactivity and Creditability Under Article 253-A
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when CBA wage increases are retroactive and not creditable against future mandated wage hikes.
Lease Termination in the Philippines: When Can a Contract Be Ended
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when lease contracts can be terminated, including rules on suspensive conditions, rebus sic stantibus, and rental obligations.
Circumstantial Evidence and Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Criminal Law
How the Supreme Court weighed eyewitness testimony and circumstantial evidence in affirming a murder conviction in People v. Rabutin.
Bouncing Checks and Estafa: When a Dishonored Check Is Not Fraud
The Supreme Court clarifies when issuing a bouncing check constitutes estafa versus a mere violation of the Bouncing Checks Law.
NTC Collegiality: How the Supreme Court Settled Regulatory Decision-Making in Philippine Telecoms
The Supreme Court ruled the NTC is a collegial body; a single commissioner cannot decide cases alone. Learn the rule and its impact.
Finality of Judgment and Lawyer Accountability: Bihag v. Era
The Supreme Court enforces a disbarred lawyer's final judgment, citing contempt and execution to uphold the rule of law.
When Judges Err in Sentencing: Gross Ignorance of the Law Explained
Learn when a judge's sentencing error becomes gross ignorance of the law, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on indeterminate penalties.
Pre-Proclamation Controversies: When Can Election Returns Be Excluded?
Philippine Supreme Court explains the limited grounds for excluding election returns in pre-proclamation controversies and why fraud claims belong in election protests.
Execution Pending Appeal in Philippine Election Protests: When Can a Winner Take Office Immediately
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when execution pending appeal is allowed in election protests, and why COMELEC can stop a premature assumption of office.
When Is a Lawyer Liable for a Missed Appeal? Lessons from Sattar v. Lopez
The Supreme Court clarifies when a lawyer may be disciplined for a missed appeal, and when the client's own neglect is to blame.
Dying Declarations and Res Gestae: When Can a Victim's Words Convict?
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a dying victim's statement identifying an assailant is admissible as evidence, and how courts treat treachery.
Upholding Labor Rights Illegal Dismissal AND Unfair Labor Practices IN the Philippines
The Supreme Court rules on illegal dismissal, unfair labor practice, and the limits of "loss of confidence" as a ground for termination.
Discharge of an Accomplice as a State Witness: Safeguarding Justice in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court affirms that trial courts' factual findings and witness credibility assessments are conclusive unless arbitrary, in a murder conviction.
Clerks of Court and Fiduciary Responsibility: A Case of Mismanagement and Neglect
The Supreme Court clarifies that lawyers must be vigilant with client funds and records, even when clients fail to provide complete documentation.
Misappropriation of Court Funds: Duties and Liabilities of Clerks of Court
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on misappropriation of Judiciary Development Fund collections and the liabilities of clerks of court for negligence.