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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Overriding Commissions After Retirement: Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether employees can claim commissions earned before retirement but paid after. Learn the rules.
Project Employee vs Regular Employee: Security of Tenure Under Philippine Labor Law
Learn how the Supreme Court distinguishes project from regular employees and protects workers' security of tenure under Article 280 of the Labor Code.
Compromise Agreements and Judicial Enforcement: When Courts Can Compel Compliance
Learn when Philippine courts can compel compliance with compromise agreements, using the 1997 De Leon case as a guide.
Eyewitness Testimony and Reasonable Doubt: When Identification Fails in Philippine Criminal Cases
The Supreme Court acquits in People v. Galera, showing how shaky eyewitness identification and inconsistent testimony create reasonable doubt.
Conditional vs. Absolute Sale: How Philippine Courts Determine True Property Ownership
Philippine courts look beyond contract labels to determine if a sale is absolute or conditional. Learn the key rules from a landmark Supreme Court case.
Perfecting Land Titles: Vested Rights and Corporate Land Ownership in the Philippines
Understand how the Supreme Court ruled on vested rights, corporate acquisition of public lands, and the limits of land ownership claims.
Rape Conviction: Slightest Penetration Suffices; Escape Injuries Count
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that slight penetration consummates rape, and injuries from escaping the assault are chargeable to the rapist.
Contract to Sell Rescission: When Installment Buyer Protections Do Not Apply
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when Republic Act 6552 protections do not apply and how contract to sell rescission works under Civil Code.
Unmasking True Ownership: Implied Trusts and the Limits of Good Faith in Property Transfers
When a brother buys land but titles it in another's name, an implied trust arises. The Supreme Court explains when good faith buyers cannot defeat the true owner.
Rescinding a Contract to Sell in the Philippines: When Is a Notarial Act Required?
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when Republic Act No. 6552's notarial requirement applies to rescinding a contract to sell real property.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: Key Factors in Philippine Labor Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the control test distinguishing employees from independent contractors in labor disputes.
Res Judicata: How Prior Judgments Impact Future Claims in Philippine Courts
Learn how the doctrine of res judicata bars relitigating settled issues, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on final judgments.
Reasonable Doubt and Acquittal: When Lack of Evidence Overcomes Presumption of Innocence
In People v. Vasquez, the Supreme Court acquitted two brothers of murder, ruling that weak prosecution evidence and physical evidence cannot overcome reasonable doubt.
Enforcing Compromise Agreements: A Judge’s Duty and Potential Liability
A judge who vacillates in enforcing a final compromise agreement may face administrative liability. Learn the rules from a Philippine Supreme Court case.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Unexpected Attacks
The Supreme Court clarifies treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, explaining sudden attacks and how it absorbs abuse of superior strength.
Warrantless Searches and Seizures: Protecting Your Rights in the Philippines
When can police search without a warrant? The Supreme Court explains the limits of warrantless searches and the exclusionary rule.
Employers Bad Faith Actions Employee Rights AND Remedies IN THE Philippines
Learn how Philippine law protects employees and passengers from employer bad faith, with remedies and damages explained in plain language.
Voluntary Resignation and Bonus Entitlement: What Philippine Employees Should Know
Learn when resigned employees lose their right to CBA bonuses under Philippine law, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Bottle Ownership and Trademark Rights: Navigating Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on who owns liquor bottles after sale and the limits of trademark protection under R.A. 623.
Lost Luggage Liability of Common Carriers in the Philippines: The Sarkies Tours Case
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies common carrier liability for lost passenger luggage, including moral and exemplary damages under the Civil Code.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: When a Security Guard Becomes the Rapist
Explore the Supreme Court ruling in People v. Gomez on rape conviction, victim credibility, and the evidentiary weight of positive identification.
Consent and Credibility in Rape Cases: Lessons from Philippine Jurisprudence
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling on rape underscores how victim credibility and positive identification shape convictions, offering key lessons for criminal law.
Presidential Power vs Legislative Authority: Proclamation Validity in the Philippines
Supreme Court nullifies Proclamation No. 164 for exceeding presidential power after Congress convened, reaffirming separation of powers.
Compromise Agreements in Estate Settlements: Validity and Enforceability
Learn when compromise agreements partitioning inherited property are valid without court approval, and why probate courts cannot finally rule on ownership.