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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Circumstantial Evidence Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Courts
When can circumstantial evidence convict? The Supreme Court explains the unbroken chain rule in People v. Sumaoy.
Lease Renewal vs Extension Understanding Your Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the crucial difference between lease renewal and extension, and why verbal assurances of renewal may not hold up in court.
Publication Requirement: The Real Limit on Administrative Rule-Making Power
A Supreme Court ruling on PITC's trade regulations underscores the publication requirement for administrative issuances to be valid and effective.
Judicial Misconduct: Neglect of Duty and Insubordination in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's failure to follow procedural rules and obey a superior's directive, resulting in a fine.
Habeas Corpus After Criminal Charges: When Illegal Arrest No Longer Justifies Release
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when habeas corpus becomes moot after criminal charges are filed and bail is posted.
Check-Off Provisions in Philippine Labor Law: Employer Liability for Uncollected Union Dues
When an employer fails to deduct union dues under a CBA check-off, is it liable for the uncollected amount? The Supreme Court clarifies.
Government Immunity vs Corporate Liability: When Can Government Assets Be Garnished
The Supreme Court clarifies when government agencies can be sued and when their funds are protected from garnishment in this labor law case.
Trademark Protection vs Ownership: Rights Over Branded Bottles and Containers
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how trademark rights over branded bottles interact with ownership rights when containers are sold to consumers.
Admissibility of Confessions: When Can Your Words Be Used Against You
The Supreme Court explains when extrajudicial confessions are admissible, the right to counsel, and waiver rules under the 1987 Constitution.
Self-Defense and Conspiracy in Homicide Cases: Key Legal Principles from People v. Gerolaga
Supreme Court clarifies self-defense, conspiracy, and the qualifying circumstance of reward in homicide cases.
Eyewitness Testimony When Doubt Leads To Acquittal IN Philippine Courts
When does a lone eyewitness's testimony fail the test of moral certainty? The Supreme Court explains in People v. Perez.
Seafarer's Rights: Illegal Dismissal and Due Process in Maritime Employment
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarer illegal dismissal, due process requirements, and evidentiary standards in maritime employment cases.
Sheriffs Authority: Understanding the Limits of Property Attachment in the Philippines
Learn the limits of a sheriff's authority in property attachment in the Philippines, based on a landmark Supreme Court administrative case.
Temporary Business Suspension: When Is It Bad Faith in the Philippines?
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a temporary business suspension is bad faith, and the employer's burden to prove bona fide closure.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Can You Justifiably Use Force?
Philippine law allows force in self-defense, but the Supreme Court explains strict limits. Learn the rules from a murder case.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Sudden Attacks and Intent
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden, unexpected attack qualifies as treachery, aggravating a killing to murder under Philippine law.
Reinstatement vs Separation Pay: Employee Rights After Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines
When can separation pay replace reinstatement after illegal dismissal? The Supreme Court explains in Zarate v. Olegario.
When Reinstatement Becomes Impossible: Separation Pay in Lieu of Reinstatement
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a final judgment ordering reinstatement may be set aside and separation pay granted instead.
Conditional Contracts of Sale: When Does Ownership Transfer in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the key difference between a contract to sell and a conditional contract of sale, and when ownership transfers.
Retraction of Witness Testimony: When Does It Affect a Criminal Conviction in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when witness retraction affects convictions, the weight of positive identification, and the limits of alibi as a defense.
Intra-Corporate Disputes: Navigating Jurisdiction Between the NLRC and SEC
When a corporate officer is dismissed, is it a labor case or an intra-corporate dispute? The Supreme Court clarifies jurisdiction rules.
Alibi vs Eyewitness Testimony: Credibility Rules in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court explains why positive eyewitness identification prevails over alibi and why recanted testimony is viewed with suspicion.
Drug Possession Penalties: How Quantity Matters Under the Dangerous Drugs Act
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains how drug quantity determines penalties, reducing life imprisonment for small amounts of shabu.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Consent, Intimidation, and Delay in Reporting Explained
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, clarifying how intimidation works, why delayed reporting is not fatal, and how consent is judged.