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 an Employee Be Dismissed for Negligence in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on gross negligence as a just cause for dismissal, explained in plain language for employees and employers.
Adoption in the Philippines: Alien Restrictions and Joint Adoption Requirements
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when aliens may adopt Filipino children and why joint adoption by spouses is mandatory under the Family Code.
Perfecting an Appeal: Navigating the Jurisdictional Requirements in Philippine Labor Cases
Learn how jurisdictional requirements affect appeals in Philippine labor cases, with insights from recent Supreme Court rulings.
Marine Insurance: When Arrest of a Vessel by Civil Authorities Is a Covered Risk
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when arrest of a vessel by judicial process is a covered risk under marine cargo insurance policies.
Complex Crimes: When One Act Causes Multiple Fatalities Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains how a single act causing multiple deaths is treated as a complex crime under the Revised Penal Code.
Mining Claim Disputes: Tie Points and Reconstitution Requirements in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on mining claim validity, tie points under the Philippine Bill of 1902, and reconstitution rules.
Employee Dismissal in the Philippines: Due Process and Just Cause Explained
A Supreme Court ruling shows that a valid dismissal needs both a just cause and due process — and that failing on either one changes the employer's liability.
Forum Shopping in the Philippines: How Duplicate Cases Can Kill Your Labor Claim
Learn how filing duplicate labor cases amounts to forum shopping and leads to automatic dismissal under Philippine rules.
Protecting Your Innovation Understanding Utility Model Patents IN THE Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court clarified COA's audit powers and the principle of quantum meruit in government construction contracts.
Understanding Attorney's Fees: When Lawyers Can Claim Compensation
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when lawyers can claim attorney's fees beyond retainers, explaining general vs. special retainers and quantum meruit.
Reconveyance Actions and Estate Administration: Jurisdiction vs. Venue in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that seeking appointment as estate administratrix in a reconveyance action affects venue, not jurisdiction, of the RTC.
Incestuous Rape in the Philippines: Legal Implications and Victims' Rights
A 1997 Supreme Court ruling on incestuous rape clarifies force, intimidation, and victim credibility in Philippine law.
Admissibility of Extrajudicial Confessions: Safeguarding Rights in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the four requirements for admissible extrajudicial confessions and what makes counsel "competent and independent" in custodial investigations.
The Perils of Delayed Disclosure: Eyewitness Testimony and Credibility in Philippine Criminal Law
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification, voice recognition, and alibi in criminal cases, explained through a 1997 Supreme Court ruling.
Navigating Forum Shopping in the Philippines: A Guide to Avoiding Dismissal
Learn how the Supreme Court applies the non-forum shopping certification rule to election protests and why timing matters for your case.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Are Company Officers Liable for Corporate Debts in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when corporate officers and close corporation stockholders can be held personally liable for separation pay.
Conspiracy AND Abuse OF Superior Strength IN Philippine Criminal LAW
Election Protests and Forum Shopping: The Certification Rule in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when non-forum shopping certifications apply to election protests and why timing matters.
Child Testimony in Rape Cases: Credibility and Legal Standards in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies standards for crediting child testimony in rape cases, affirming conviction based on victims' narrations.
Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale: Lessons from People v. Mañozca
The Supreme Court affirms a conviction for illegal recruitment in large scale and estafa, clarifying key rules on evidence and defenses.
Contempt of Court and Forum Shopping: When Persistence Becomes Obstruction
The Supreme Court explains when filing multiple cases to stop a movie showing crosses the line from persistence to forum shopping and contempt.
Regular vs Project Employee: Understanding Employment Status in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains the difference between regular and project employees, and why employers must prove project-based hiring.
When Is Circumstantial Evidence Enough to Convict in the Philippines?
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction—and why it failed in People v. Villaran.
Regular vs Project Employees: When Philippine Law Says You're Regular
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the difference between regular and project employees, and why labeling workers as "project-based" is not enough.