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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Sheriffs Authority: Understanding the Limits of Property Attachment in the Philippines
Learn the limits of a sheriff's authority in property attachment in the Philippines, based on a landmark Supreme Court administrative case.
Temporary Business Suspension: When Is It Bad Faith in the Philippines?
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a temporary business suspension is bad faith, and the employer's burden to prove bona fide closure.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Can You Justifiably Use Force?
Philippine law allows force in self-defense, but the Supreme Court explains strict limits. Learn the rules from a murder case.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Sudden Attacks and Intent
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden, unexpected attack qualifies as treachery, aggravating a killing to murder under Philippine law.
Reinstatement vs Separation Pay: Employee Rights After Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines
When can separation pay replace reinstatement after illegal dismissal? The Supreme Court explains in Zarate v. Olegario.
Conditional Contracts of Sale: When Does Ownership Transfer in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the key difference between a contract to sell and a conditional contract of sale, and when ownership transfers.
When Reinstatement Becomes Impossible: Separation Pay in Lieu of Reinstatement
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a final judgment ordering reinstatement may be set aside and separation pay granted instead.
Alibi vs Eyewitness Testimony: Credibility Rules in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court explains why positive eyewitness identification prevails over alibi and why recanted testimony is viewed with suspicion.
Drug Possession Penalties: How Quantity Matters Under the Dangerous Drugs Act
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains how drug quantity determines penalties, reducing life imprisonment for small amounts of shabu.
Retraction of Witness Testimony: When Does It Affect a Criminal Conviction in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when witness retraction affects convictions, the weight of positive identification, and the limits of alibi as a defense.
Intra-Corporate Disputes: Navigating Jurisdiction Between the NLRC and SEC
When a corporate officer is dismissed, is it a labor case or an intra-corporate dispute? The Supreme Court clarifies jurisdiction rules.
Can a Final Labor Judgment Be Offset by a Separate Debt? Jurisdiction and Due Process
A final labor arbiter award cannot be defeated by an employer's set-off claim for a separate debt, explains the Supreme Court in Pondoc v. NLRC.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Consent, Intimidation, and Delay in Reporting Explained
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, clarifying how intimidation works, why delayed reporting is not fatal, and how consent is judged.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Lessons on Credibility and Damages in Philippine Law
A father's rape conviction upheld; the Supreme Court clarifies credibility rules, alibi, and damages awards in incestuous rape cases.
Judicial Accountability: Understanding Culpable Negligence in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling explains when a judge's error becomes culpable negligence, and why good faith matters in administrative cases.
Treachery (Alevosia) in Philippine Murder Cases: The Apawan Ruling Explained
Learn how treachery (alevosia) qualifies a killing as murder under Philippine law, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in People vs. Apawan.
Illegal Recruitment and Estafa in the Philippines: Key Lessons from a Supreme Court Case
Learn how Philippine courts handle illegal recruitment and estafa, and what job seekers must know to avoid scams.
Conspiracy and Circumstantial Evidence: When Is It Enough for Conviction
The Supreme Court clarifies when circumstantial evidence and conspiracy can—and cannot—support a criminal conviction beyond reasonable doubt.
Navigating Illegal Recruitment: Protecting Yourself From Scams and Fraud
The Supreme Court affirms that illegal recruitment in large scale is economic sabotage. Learn how to spot and avoid overseas employment scams.
Retroactive Application of Reduced Penalties: A Guide to R.A. 7659
When can a final sentence be reduced by a new law? The Supreme Court explains the retroactive effect of R.A. 7659 on drug penalties.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
The Supreme Court explains when treachery qualifies a killing as murder, and why sudden attacks alone do not prove it.
Judicial Impartiality in Philippine Courts: The Cold Neutrality Standard
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the constitutional requirement of judicial impartiality, emphasizing that judges must not only be unbiased but must also appear impartial to litigants.
Verbal Agreements to Sell Property: When Are They Enforceable in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when oral contracts to sell real property are enforceable and why buyers must prove readiness to pay.
Rape Conviction of Minor Niece: Supreme Court Affirms Guilt, Raises Damages
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction of a 13-year-old niece, raising civil indemnity to P50,000 and clarifying credibility rules.