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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Decoding Stray Votes: How Philippine Courts Uphold Voter Intent in Elections
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on stray votes, nuisance candidates, and the primacy of voter intent in election canvassing.
Accidental Shooting or Intentional Killing: Parricide and the Defense of Accident in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when the defense of accident fails in parricide cases, explaining intent, negligence, and unlawful acts.
Election Ban on Presidential Appointments: Safeguarding Judicial Independence in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that the constitutional ban on presidential appointments during election periods applies to judicial vacancies, protecting judicial independence.
Contractor vs Employee: When a Principal Isn't the Employer in Service Agreements
Philippine Airlines v. NLRC clarifies when job contracting is legitimate, who bears liability for separation pay, and why control matters.
Grave Coercion vs. Illegal Detention: How Intent Shapes Philippine Criminal Liability
Philippine law distinguishes grave coercion from illegal detention by the accused's intent. Learn how the Supreme Court applies this test.
Successor Liability in Philippine Labor Law: Enforcing Judgments Against Transferee Companies
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on enforcing labor judgments against successor companies that assume liabilities of the original employer.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Consent, Force, and Victim Testimony in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms rape and sexual assault convictions, clarifying consent, force, and the weight of a child victim's testimony.
Unshaken Testimony: How Philippine Courts Weigh Eyewitness Accounts in Murder Cases
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on six counts of murder explains why minor inconsistencies in eyewitness testimony do not destroy credibility.
Illegitimate Childrens Inheritance Rights IN THE Philippines A Case Analysis
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on oral donations, co-ownership, and prescription in estate partition disputes.
Judicial Impartiality When Prior Involvement In A Case Disqualifies A Judge
A judge who previously served as prosecutor must inhibit from the case. Rule 137, Section 1 explained.
Avoiding Pactum Commissorium: Protecting Borrowers in Philippine Loan Agreements
Learn how the Supreme Court protects borrowers from pactum commissorium—automatic property appropriation in loan agreements—under Philippine law.
Ombudsman Decisions in Administrative Cases: Appealing to the Right Court
Learn which court hears appeals from Ombudsman administrative disciplinary decisions, following the Supreme Court's ruling in Namuhe v. Ombudsman.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: Why Fair Procedure Matters Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains why employers must follow procedural due process in termination cases, not just have valid grounds.
Conspiracy in Philippine Murder Cases: Why Mere Presence Isn't Enough
The Supreme Court acquits two brothers in People v. Abina, clarifying that mere presence or simultaneous acts don't prove conspiracy in murder.
Bribery in the Philippines: Understanding the Anti-Graft Law and Its Consequences
A Supreme Court ruling on a court interpreter's extortion explains Philippine bribery law, the Anti-Graft Law, and the penalties for public officers.
When Is a Public Official's Act Bad Faith in Anti-Graft Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies when a public official's act amounts to "evident bad faith" under Section 3(e) of the Anti-Graft Law.
Loss of Trust and Confidence as Just Cause for Employee Dismissal in Philippine Labor Law
When can an employer validly dismiss an employee for loss of trust and confidence? The Supreme Court explains the rules in this Philippine labor case.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Statutory Rape in the Philippines and the Weight of Child Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, explaining why full penetration is not required and why child testimony deserves full credence.
Intent Is Key: Distinguishing Robbery With Homicide From Separate Crimes in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that robbery with homicide requires proof of intent to rob before the killing, not merely taking property afterward.
Limits of Contempt Power: When Can You Actually Be Held in Contempt of Court in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains the limits of contempt power—when a court order binds you and when it does not.
Positive Identification in Philippine Criminal Law: Why Eyewitness Testimony Matters
Learn how Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony, positive identification, denial, and alibi in criminal cases, based on a 1998 Supreme Court ruling.
Supreme Court Rules on Taxability of Rental Income of Non-Profit Organizations
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when rental income of non-profit organizations like YMCA is taxable under the NIRC.
Upholding Judicial Integrity: Consequences of Negligence and Delay in Case Resolution
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge suspended for one year and fined P50,000 for gross dereliction of duty and grave misconduct.
Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale and Estafa: Supreme Court Upholds Stiff Penalties
Philippine Supreme Court affirms life imprisonment and fine for illegal recruitment in large scale, plus separate estafa convictions.