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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Behest Loans and Criminal Liability: When a Bank Officer's Recommendation Is Not a Crime
Supreme Court clarifies that a PNB officer's flawed loan recommendation is not automatically a crime under the Anti-Graft law absent authority to bind the bank.
Common Carriers and Cargo Loss: Understanding Liability and Due Diligence in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies common carrier liability for cargo loss, extraordinary diligence, and contributory negligence in shipping disputes.
Void Contracts: When Lack of Consent Invalidates a Sale
A sale by an unauthorized board is void. Learn the consent requirement in Philippine contract law from this Supreme Court ruling.
When Notarizing a Deed of Quitclaim Becomes Grounds for Disbarment
The Supreme Court disbarred a notary public for certifying a Deed of Quitclaim signed by a person who had already died. Learn the rules.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Acquittal in Rape Case Due to Inconsistent Testimony and Prior Relationship
Philippine Supreme Court acquits rape accused on reasonable doubt, citing inconsistent testimony and prior intimate relationship between complainant and accused.
Rape Conviction Proving Penetration Beyond A Reasonable Doubt
How the Supreme Court ruled that finger insertion alone isn't rape, but penis penetration can be proven by medical evidence and credible victim testimony.
Rape Conviction Upheld: When Penetration Is Proven Beyond the Finger
Philippine Supreme Court explains why digital penetration plus penile entry constitutes rape, not just acts of lasciviousness.
Rescission of Real Estate Sales: When Can a Deal Be Undone
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a deed of sale can be rescinded for unpaid consideration and why corporate separateness blocks compensation claims.
Workplace Misconduct and Ethical Standards for Government Employees in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the ethical standards and disciplinary rules for government employees involved in workplace misconduct and unauthorized business.
Corporate Identity Crisis CAN A Company Sue Under AN Unregistered Name
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a company can sue under an unregistered corporate name, explained in plain language.
Illegal Dismissal vs. Retrenchment: Understanding Employee Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the difference between illegal dismissal and valid retrenchment, and what employers must prove to justify layoffs.
Circumstantial Evidence and Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Criminal Law
How the Supreme Court weighed eyewitness testimony and circumstantial evidence in affirming a murder conviction in People v. Rabutin.
Labor-Only Contracting: Identifying the True Employer and Protecting Workers' Rights
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies labor-only contracting, true employer liability, and workers' rights under the Labor Code.
PNCC v. Court of Appeals: When a Lessee Cannot Escape a Lease It Signed
The Supreme Court held that financial difficulty and a change in political climate do not excuse a lessee from paying rent under a valid lease contract.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: When an Attack Qualifies as Murder
The Supreme Court explains how treachery elevates killings to murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: When Can You Skip It?
The Supreme Court explains when exhaustion of administrative remedies is required and when courts may excuse it.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Victim Testimony and Resistance in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how victim testimony and resistance are weighed in Philippine criminal law.
Retroactivity and Creditability of Wage Increases in Collective Bargaining Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when CBA wage increases retroact and whether they can be credited against future mandated wage increases.
Lease Termination in the Philippines: When Can a Contract Be Ended
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when lease contracts can be terminated, including rules on suspensive conditions, rebus sic stantibus, and rental obligations.
When CBA Wage Hikes Count: Retroactivity and Creditability Under Article 253-A
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when CBA wage increases are retroactive and not creditable against future mandated wage hikes.
Bouncing Checks and Estafa: When a Dishonored Check Is Not Fraud
The Supreme Court clarifies when issuing a bouncing check constitutes estafa versus a mere violation of the Bouncing Checks Law.
NTC Collegiality: How the Supreme Court Settled Regulatory Decision-Making in Philippine Telecoms
The Supreme Court ruled the NTC is a collegial body; a single commissioner cannot decide cases alone. Learn the rule and its impact.
Finality of Judgment and Lawyer Accountability: Bihag v. Era
The Supreme Court enforces a disbarred lawyer's final judgment, citing contempt and execution to uphold the rule of law.
Pre-Proclamation Controversies: When Can Election Returns Be Excluded?
Philippine Supreme Court explains the limited grounds for excluding election returns in pre-proclamation controversies and why fraud claims belong in election protests.