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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Converting Partial Disability to Total Disability: GSIS v. Balais Explained
When can partial disability benefits be converted to total? The Supreme Court's ruling in GSIS v. Balais provides clear guidance for Filipino workers.
Airline Liability for Lost Luggage: What Passengers Need to Know in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on airline liability for lost luggage, limited liability waivers, and third-party claims explained.
Rape Conviction on Victim's Testimony: Credibility Standards in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on credible lone victim testimony, clarifies damages and reclusion perpetua rules.
Rape and Robbery: How Philippine Courts Determine Criminal Intent
A look at how the Supreme Court distinguished rape from robbery with rape, and why the accused's original intent matters in criminal prosecution.
Kidnapping and Illegal Detention: Understanding the Elements and Penalties in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains the distinction between serious and slight illegal detention, and the penalties for each under Philippine law.
When Can a Lawyer Be Disbarred in the Philippines? A Landmark Case on Misconduct
Learn when Philippine courts discipline lawyers for private misconduct, based on a 1998 Supreme Court ruling on a lawyer's bad checks.
Complex Crimes in the Philippines: Component Offenses and Illegal Detention Explained
A 1998 Supreme Court ruling explains when an accused charged with a complex crime can be convicted of a lesser included offense like slight illegal detention.
Litis Pendentia in the Philippines: Stopping Duplicate Lawsuits
Learn when Philippine courts dismiss duplicate lawsuits for litis pendentia, the requisites, and how to prevent splitting a cause of action.
Incestuous Rape: Parental Authority as Intimidation in Philippine Law
How the Supreme Court ruled that a father's moral ascendancy over his daughter can substitute for force or intimidation in incestuous rape.
Attorney Negligence Consequences of Missing Deadlines in Philippine Law
Learn how missed legal deadlines and attorney negligence affect cases in the Philippines, with insights from Supreme Court rulings on procedural rules.
When an Employee's Failure to Attend a Hearing Waives the Right to Present Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a party's absence at labor hearings amounts to waiver of the right to present evidence, and clarifies appeal bond rules.
Judicial Delay and Falsification: When a Judge's Certificates of Service Become Grounds for Dismissal
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling shows how delayed case decisions and falsified certificates of service led to a judge's dismissal from the bench.
Moral Character and Bar Admission: How a Hazing Conviction Was Overcome
The Supreme Court allowed a bar passer with a reckless imprudence conviction to take the oath, showing how rehabilitation and good conduct can overcome past misdeeds.
Substantial Justice vs Technicality: When Can Appeal Deadlines Be Relaxed
The Supreme Court explains when late appeals may be allowed despite rigid rules, balancing technicality against substantial justice in Trans International vs. CA.
Illegal Dismissal: Employer Must Prove Just Cause AND Due Process
Philippine Supreme Court explains the twin requirements for valid employee dismissal—just cause and due process—in this landmark labor case.
Eminent Domain in the Philippines: Balancing Public Use and Private Property Rights
The Supreme Court clarifies when local governments may expropriate private land for socialized housing, and the due process limits on eminent domain.
From Project to Permanent: When Continuous Work Creates Regular Employment in the Film Industry
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when film crew members become regular employees despite project-based hiring, explained in plain language.
Litis Pendentia and Res Judicata: Preventing Redundant Lawsuits in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts apply litis pendentia and res judicata to stop redundant lawsuits, explained through a Supreme Court ruling.
In-Court Identification in Rape Cases: People v. Pacistol (G.R. 119074-75)
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how a victim's credible in-court identification can secure a rape conviction despite flawed police line-up procedures.
Airline Liability for Lost Baggage: Understanding the Limits and Exceptions
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on airline liability limits for lost baggage under the Warsaw Convention, and when willful misconduct removes those caps.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Protecting Children and Understanding Consent
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, explaining how the law protects children and how consent is treated in such cases.
Conspiracy and Criminal Liability: Understanding Complex Crimes in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies conspiracy, treachery, and evident premeditation in murder cases, emphasizing proof beyond reasonable doubt for aggravating circumstances.
Possession vs Intent: Understanding Illegal Firearm Charges in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on double jeopardy in illegal firearm cases, and why a prosecutor's authority matters in criminal charges.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: How Alevosia Qualifies a Killing to Murder
In People v. Villamor, the Supreme Court explains how treachery qualifies a killing as murder and how damages must be proven with evidence.