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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Ejectment Cases When CAN Courts Extend A Lease AND What Happens TO Improvements
When Court Personnel Extort Litigants: Administrative Liability Explained
A court interpreter extorted a litigant for a document's release. The Supreme Court explains administrative liability, penalties, and why resignation or transfer does not end a case.
Robbery With Homicide: When a Conspirator Is Liable for the Acts of Cohorts
The Supreme Court explains conspiracy in robbery with homicide, holding a lookout liable for the killing committed by a co-conspirator.
Pre-Proclamation Disputes: When Election Cases End at the Start of Term
Learn how Philippine law terminates pre-proclamation cases at the start of term, and when the remedy shifts to an election protest.
The Limits of Mission Orders: When Can Civilians Carry Firearms Legally in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on mission orders, civilian firearm possession, and the limits of authority to issue gun permits.
Accountability in Judiciary Funds: A Practical Guide for Court Personnel
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on JDF and Fiduciary Fund mishandling clarifies deposit rules, interest accounting, and court personnel liability.
Navigating Illegal Recruitment: Key Lessons From Philippine Jurisprudence
Learn how the Supreme Court defines illegal recruitment in large scale, its elements, penalties, and evidence rules from a landmark 1997 case.
Right to Counsel in Philippine Administrative Investigations: What You Need to Know
Learn when the right to counsel applies in Philippine administrative investigations, based on Supreme Court rulings and practical guidance.
Election Protests: The Strict Timeline for Filing Counterprotests in the Philippines
Understand the strict 5-day deadline for filing counterprotests in Philippine election cases, as clarified by the Supreme Court in Lim v. COMELEC.
Protecting Your Property Rights Understanding Free Patents AND Land Ownership IN THE Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court protects private landowners from invalid free patents and what this means for your property rights.
Proving Self-Defense and Treachery in Murder Cases: Insights from People v. Carpio
A look at how the Supreme Court evaluates self-defense claims and treachery in murder, using the 1997 Carpio decision.
Government Employee Strikes: Balancing Rights and Public Service in the Philippines
Philippine law prohibits strikes by government employees, but peaceful assembly within legal bounds remains protected. The Supreme Court explains the limits.
Rape and Robbery: How Philippine Courts Handle Complex Criminal Cases
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling clarifies how forcible abduction with rape and robbery charges are treated when multiple crimes arise from one criminal episode.
Lawyer's Disrespect Toward Court Personnel and IBP Noncompliance: A.C. No. 11508
Supreme Court fines disbarred lawyer for disrespecting court personnel and disobeying IBP directives, clarifying penalties under CPRA.
Defective Information in Rape Cases: Waiver and Amendment Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court rules on defective information in rape cases, waiver by failure to quash, and amendment of indefinite dates.
When Is Detention NOT Illegal: Understanding Serious Illegal Detention in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when detention is not illegal and why consent and credible evidence matter in serious illegal detention cases.
When Can an Employee Be Dismissed for Loss of Trust and Confidence: A Philippine Guide
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the high standard for dismissing employees on grounds of loss of trust and confidence.
Granting Bail Without a Hearing: A Judge's Error and Its Consequences in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court rules on a judge fined for granting bail in rape cases without a hearing, a grave error.
Rape Conviction Based on Sole Testimony: Understanding Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a rape conviction can rest on the complainant's sole testimony, and why alibi and denial fail against positive identification.
Oil Deregulation in the Philippines: Balancing Competition and Public Interest
The Supreme Court struck down key provisions of the oil deregulation law for blocking competition, reshaping Philippine energy policy.
Lis Pendens in the Philippines: When a Defendant Can Protect Property Rights
Learn when a defendant can register a notice of lis pendens in the Philippines, even without a registered title, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Illegal Recruitment in the Philippines: Employer Duties and Employee Rights
Understand illegal recruitment in the Philippines, employer responsibilities, and employee rights based on a recent Supreme Court ruling.
The Right to Preliminary Investigation: A Shield for Liberty in Philippine Criminal Procedure
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why a regular preliminary investigation is a substantive right, not a mere technicality, protecting the accused from arbitrary detention.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: When Facebook Posts Lead to Higher Penalties
The Supreme Court clarifies how social media posts can prove psychological abuse under RA 9262 and why using Facebook raises the penalty.