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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Retrenchment vs Redundancy: Navigating Employee Layoffs in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the difference between retrenchment and redundancy as valid grounds for employee layoffs under Philippine labor law.
Credibility of Mentally Retarded Rape Victims: Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on credible testimony of a mentally retarded victim, clarifying competency rules.
Commission-Based Workers Are Regular Employees Entitled to Separation Pay
Supreme Court rules commission-based drivers are regular employees entitled to separation pay; sliding incomes not serious business losses.
Navigating Telecommunications Franchises: Competition vs. Public Interest
A 1996 Supreme Court ruling on government telephone operations clarifies that franchises are not exclusive and competition serves the public interest.
Why a Victim’s Testimony Can Be Enough to Convict in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court explains when a rape victim’s sole testimony suffices for conviction and why resistance is not always required.
Extrajudicial Foreclosure: When Notice and Publication Are Valid
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies what counts as proper notice and publication in extrajudicial foreclosures, protecting buyers and lenders.
Eyewitness Testimony in the Philippines: When Is It Enough to Convict?
The Supreme Court explains when eyewitness testimony is enough to convict—and when it isn't—in People v. Abellanosa.
Attorney Discipline When Misconduct As A Government Official Leads To Disbarment IN THE Philippines
When can a lawyer be disciplined for misconduct committed as a government official? The Supreme Court explains in Dinsay v. Cioco.
Qualified Trafficking in Persons: When Recruitment Alone Suffices for Conviction
The Supreme Court affirms a qualified trafficking conviction, ruling that recruitment for sexual exploitation is enough even if the victim initially declined.
Quieting Title vs Boundary Disputes: What Property Owners Should Know
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when quieting of title applies and why boundary disputes need different legal remedies.
Alibi vs Eyewitness Testimony: How Philippine Courts Decide Criminal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when alibi fails against positive eyewitness identification, and how minority affects sentencing in murder cases.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Credibility, Delay in Reporting, and Minor Inconsistencies
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction despite minor testimony inconsistencies and delayed reporting; explains credibility rules for victims.
Right of First Refusal and Ownership Proof in Philippine Real Estate Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts resolve property ownership disputes and partition actions, emphasizing evidence rules and prescription periods.
Conspiracy and Credibility: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how trial court credibility findings and circumstantial evidence establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Security Guard Accountability: The Importance of Evidence in Termination Cases
When can a security agency dismiss a guard for a lost firearm? The Supreme Court clarifies the substantial evidence rule in illegal dismissal cases.
Robbery With Homicide: How Intent to Gain and Taking Are Established
Philippine Supreme Court explains how intent to gain and the element of taking are proven in robbery with homicide cases.
Self-Defense and Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Key Elements and Practical Implications
The Supreme Court clarifies the elements of self-defense and treachery in People v. Isleta, offering practical guidance for criminal cases.
TAX Exemption FOR Government Corporations Understanding Restoration AND Real Property TAX
The Supreme Court rules on the validity of restored tax exemptions for government corporations and real property tax liability.
Overseas Employment Contracts: Illegal Dismissal and Employee Rights in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal of a seafarer, covering due process, overtime pay, and overseas employment contract rights.
Understanding Seafarer Dismissal Rights and Employer Duties in the Philippines
Learn the rules on seafarer dismissal in the Philippines from a Supreme Court case on illegal termination, due process, and overtime pay.
Overcoming the Onus of Proving Increased Risk for Compensation Claims in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on proving increased risk of non-occupational diseases for employees' compensation claims under PD 626.
Circumstantial Evidence and the Right Against Self-Incrimination in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction and why the right against self-incrimination does not cover physical evidence.
Can a CBA Override Minimum Wage Laws? Lessons from Manila Fashions v. NLRC
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether a CBA can condone or waive mandatory wage order increases, and why minimum wage laws prevail.
Redundancy Programs and Fair Dismissals: Lessons from Capitol Wireless
The Supreme Court clarifies that redundancy dismissals require fair criteria and due process, not just a valid business reason.