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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Lost Inheritance: The Perils of Delay in Philippine Estate Law
A 1998 Supreme Court ruling shows how heirs who sleep on their rights can lose their inheritance to laches and final judgments.
Bouncing Checks and Estafa in the Philippines: The Tongko Case Explained
Learn how the Supreme Court in People v. Tongko clarified when issuing bouncing checks constitutes estafa under Philippine law.
Upholding Workers' Right to Organize: Certification Elections Free From Employer Interference
Supreme Court ruling protects workers' right to organize and underscores that certification elections must remain free from employer interference.
When Can a Judge Issue an Arrest Warrant in the Philippines: Probable Cause and Necessity
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when judges may issue arrest warrants during preliminary investigations, emphasizing the necessity requirement beyond probable cause.
Robbery With Homicide Establishing Intent AND Liability IN Philippine LAW
Explains the Supreme Court ruling on probable cause for falsification of public documents and illegal use of alias under Philippine law.
Inheritance Rights of Nephews and Nieces: Proving Filiation and Overcoming Legal Presumptions
Can a death certificate block an ejectment suit? The Supreme Court clarifies provisional findings and inheritance rights of nephews and nieces.
Lawyer's Disbarment Does Not Erase Liability for Prior Misconduct: A.C. No. 11508
The Supreme Court fines a disbarred lawyer for pre-disbarment misconduct, clarifying that disbarment does not erase liability for earlier ethical violations.
Contracts Still Stand: Why Bounced Checks Don't Always Void a Pacto de Retro Sale
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why dishonored checks don't invalidate a pacto de retro sale when consideration existed at execution.
Solidary Liability for Security Guard Wages: Employer Obligations in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when companies are solidarily liable for security agency employees' wages, back pay, and separation pay.
Alibi vs Victim Testimony in Philippine Rape Cases: Supreme Court on Burden of Proof
The Supreme Court explains why alibi fails against positive victim testimony in rape cases, citing People v. Sumampong.
Buyer Beware Inheriting Obligations IN Philippine Property Foreclosures
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on property foreclosures: buyers may inherit seller's obligations to installment buyers, even without written contracts.
Absolute vs Conditional Sale Understanding Philippine Real Estate Contracts
Learn the key differences between absolute and conditional sales in Philippine real estate, and what the Supreme Court says about buyer and seller rights.
When Loss of Trust Fails: Understanding Illegal Dismissal in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when employers face liability for illegal dismissal and wage claims of security guards under labor law.
Philippine Retrenchment Rules: When Job Cuts Are Illegal — Anino v. NLRC Case Analysis
The Supreme Court in Anino v. NLRC clarifies when retrenchment is illegal, what employers must prove, and why quitclaims don't bar dismissal claims.
Finality of Judgments: Why Ignoring Your Case Can Cost You Your Property in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling shows how failing to pursue a case can lead to losing property forever through finality and res judicata.
Regular vs Project Employees: Understanding Employee Status in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the difference between regular and project employees, and the legal tests that determine employee status.
Due Process in Administrative Cases: Formal Hearings Are Mandatory for Elected Officials
The Supreme Court rules that administrative cases against elected officials require formal hearings, not just position papers, to satisfy due process.
Proving Fault in Philippine Car Accidents: Why Evidence and Witness Credibility Matter
Learn how Philippine courts decide car accident fault, why evidence and witness credibility matter, and key lessons from a Supreme Court ruling.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Are Corporate Officers Personally Liable in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when corporate officers may be personally liable and the limits of SEC jurisdiction over suspension of payments.
Res Judicata in the Philippines: When a Prior Dismissal Does Not Bar a New Case
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a dismissal for failure to prosecute is not res judicata and does not bar a refiled case.
When A Back Attack Isnt Always Murder Examining Treachery IN Philippine Criminal LAW
The Supreme Court clarifies that a shot to the back does not automatically mean treachery, explaining when killing is homicide instead of murder.
Lumber vs. Timber: What Illegal Logging Laws Mean for Your Business
The Supreme Court ruled that lumber is timber under Philippine forestry law. Know what documents you need to avoid illegal possession charges.
Limits on Contempt Power, Due Process, and Judicial Restraint in Impeachment Proceedings
The Supreme Court clarifies that "forthwith" in impeachment does not mean instant trial, affirming judicial restraint and the Senate's discretion.
Forced Retirement in the Philippines: Employee Rights and Employer Policies
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies rules on forced retirement, optional retirement age, and illegal dismissal in labor cases.