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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Falsification and Anti-Graft Liability: Lessons from Molina v. People
A look at how the Supreme Court upheld convictions for estafa through falsification and graft, and why recanted testimony rarely saves a conviction.
Fugitive From Justice: Understanding Disqualification in Philippine Elections
The Supreme Court clarifies what "fugitive from justice" means for election disqualification under the Local Government Code.
Navigating Retirement: Understanding Compulsory Retirement Clauses in the Philippines
Can a company retire an employee before age 60? The Supreme Court explains when compulsory retirement under a CBA is valid.
Labor Only Contracting in the Philippines: Protecting Workers' Rights
Learn how Philippine law distinguishes labor-only contracting from legitimate job contracting, and what protections workers have against illegal schemes.
Trade Secrets vs Employee Rights Know Your Boundaries
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when employer claims of trade secrets justify dismissal, and the limits of confidentiality policies.
Rape Conviction and Consent: Credibility and Evidence in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on attempted rape clarifies consent, credibility, and evidence standards in criminal cases.
The Importance of Proper Notice in Philippine Legal Proceedings: A Case Analysis
A Supreme Court ruling on self-defense, credibility of witnesses, and the weight of evidence in murder and frustrated murder cases.
Attempted Rape in the Philippines: Elements, Intent, and Legal Consequences
Learn the legal distinction between consummated and attempted rape in the Philippines, including the elements of intent, overt acts, and interruption.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Using Force Becomes Justifiable
Philippine law allows self-defense only under strict conditions. Learn the rules, the limits of proportionate force, and key lessons from a Supreme Court case.
Mandamus vs. Quo Warranto: Choosing the Right Remedy for Public Office Disputes
Learn when to file mandamus or quo warranto in Philippine law, and how the Supreme Court's ruling in Garces v. CA guides the choice.
Successor Liability in Philippine Labor Law: When a New Company Inherits Labor Obligations
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a successor company can be held liable for its predecessor's labor obligations.
PCGG Sequestration Orders: Due Process and Valid Authority Requirements
The Supreme Court rules that PCGG sequestration orders require at least two Commissioners and a prima facie showing, protecting due process rights.
Forged Deeds and Property Rights: Understanding Acquisitive Prescription in the Philippines
Can a forged deed ripen into ownership through prescription? The Supreme Court explains why bad faith blocks acquisitive prescription on titled land.
Understanding Insubordination in the Workplace: When Can an Employee Be Dismissed?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when refusal to obey orders justifies dismissal for insubordination, with practical guidance for employers and employees.
Overseas Workers Compensation Who Pays When Injury Strikes Abroad
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that overseas employers may not be liable for medical benefits when the host country's social insurance law places that burden on a state fund.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Consent, Corroborating Evidence, and the Credibility of a Child Victim
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining consent, corroborating evidence, and why a child victim's credible testimony suffices.
Evident Premeditation: Proving Intent and Cool Thought in Philippine Criminal Law
Understand how Philippine courts prove evident premeditation to qualify a killing as murder, and why treachery was rejected in People v. Belga.
Rape and Incest: When Family Betrayal Meets Justice in the Philippines
A Philippine Supreme Court case on a son raping his mother, explaining the rules on credibility, denial, and penalties for incestuous rape.
Mutuality of Contracts: Why Banks Cannot Unilaterally Change Interest Rates
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains why banks cannot unilaterally raise loan interest rates without borrower consent, citing mutuality of contracts.
Navigating Direct Assault: Understanding Its Complexities and Implications in Philippine Law
A look at the Supreme Court ruling in People v. Abalos, explaining the elements of direct assault and its complex crime implications.
When a Judge's Error Becomes Grave Abuse of Discretion: Lessons from Santiago Land Development
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a judge's mistake in denying a motion to dismiss rises to grave abuse of discretion correctable by certiorari.
Investment or Loan? Understanding Estafa and Fiduciary Duty in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when a failed investment becomes estafa under the Revised Penal Code, and why fiduciary duty matters.
Immediate Reinstatement Pending Appeal: What Philippine Employees Should Know
Philippine Airlines v. NLRC explains the immediate executory nature of reinstatement orders pending appeal under Article 223 of the Labor Code.
Replevin Actions and Chattel Mortgagees: When the Mortgagor Must Be Impleaded
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a chattel mortgagee must implead the mortgagor in a replevin action to foreclose on a vehicle.