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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When Can a Mortgage on Public Land Be Void: DBP v. Court of Appeals
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when mortgaging land under a free patent application is void and what makes a mortgage valid.
Incestuous Rape: Fear Explains Delay in Reporting Sexual Abuse
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how fear and terror in incestuous rape justify a victim's delay in reporting sexual abuse to authorities.
When Lack of Resistance Negates a Rape Charge: Understanding Consent in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a complainant's failure to resist can cast reasonable doubt on a rape charge, and what this means for proving force and intimidation.
Rape Conviction and the Weight of Credible Testimony: Protecting Victims' Rights in the Philippines
How the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction, underscoring the power of a credible victim's testimony and the limits of the alibi defense.
Handling Court Funds: Duties and Liabilities of Court Personnel in the Philippines
Supreme Court ruling on a clerk of court's liability for mishandling consignation deposits, fiduciary funds, and JDF collections.
Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt: The Imperative of Voluntariness in Rape Cases
In People v. Subido, the Supreme Court acquitted a rape accused, emphasizing that the prosecution must prove force and lack of voluntariness beyond reasonable doubt.
Arrastre Operator Liability: Understanding the Limits of Responsibility for Lost Cargo
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when an arrastre operator is liable for lost cargo and how management contracts limit that liability.
Project Employee vs Regular Employee: What the Supreme Court Says
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish project employees from regular employees, and what the Samson ruling means for workers' security of tenure.
When Can Eyewitness Testimony Alone Convict in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence, not just eyewitness testimony, can convict an accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Implied Trusts and Prescription: What the Esconde Case Means for Property Owners
Learn how implied trusts work in the Philippines and why delay can bar your property claim, based on the Supreme Court's Esconde ruling.
Builder in Good Faith in the Philippines: Rights Under Property Law
When can a mistaken builder claim good faith under Philippine law? The Supreme Court's ruling in Pleasantville clarifies the rights of builders and landowners.
Jurisdiction in Public Sector Compensation Disputes: DBM vs CSC-MSPB
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on which agency has jurisdiction over position classification and compensation disputes in government service.
Contempt of Court: Navigating the Boundaries of Respect and Legal Advocacy in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a motion for judicial inhibition crosses the line into direct contempt, and what lawyers and litigants should avoid.
Labor-Only Contracting: When the Principal Is the Real Employer in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains labor-only contracting, employer liability, and separation pay rules in Magnolia Dairy v. NLRC.
Estate Allowances: Who Can Receive Support During Probate in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who may receive support allowances from a decedent's estate during probate proceedings.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Credibility of Witnesses and the Weakness of Alibi in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, explaining why witness credibility prevails over alibi and how trivial inconsistencies do not destroy a complainant's testimony.
Retrenchment in Bad Faith: Limits on Employer Discretion and Employee Rights to Backwages
When is retrenchment illegal? The Supreme Court explains bad faith, backwages, and separation pay for dismissed employees.
Labor-Only Contracting: When a Manpower Agency Hides the Real Employer
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on labor-only contracting, employer-employee relationships, and separation pay for authorized dismissals.
Land Disputes When Informal Agreements Fail Understanding Property Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why informal land agreements without formal deeds do not defeat ejectment suits or transfer ownership.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Understanding Sudden and Unexpected Attacks
The Supreme Court explains treachery in murder cases through a sudden, unexpected bolo attack at a dance.
Breach of Contract vs Warranty: Prescription in Construction Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a construction defect claim is breach of contract (10-year prescription) versus hidden warranty (shorter periods).
Ejectment and Rent Control: When a Month-to-Month Lease Expires in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when landlords can eject tenants under month-to-month leases covered by rent control laws.
Sick Leave and Security of Tenure: Supreme Court Upholds Employee Rights in Illegal Dismissal Case
The Supreme Court ruled that a janitor's dismissal for absences due to illness was illegal, affirming security of tenure protections for all employees.
When Self-Defense Fails: Proving Unlawful Aggression in Philippine Criminal Cases
A Supreme Court ruling explains why bare claims of self-defense fail without credible witnesses, and when treachery and evident premeditation do not qualify a killing.