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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Probationary Employment Standards: When Vague Job Rules Lead to Illegal Dismissal
The Supreme Court clarifies when vague probationary standards make an employee regular, and the consequences for employers who fail to set clear job expectations.
Understanding Grave Misconduct: Legal Standards for Public Officials and Lawyers in the Philippines
A look at the Supreme Court's ruling on administrative liability, the burden of proof, and the presumption of regularity in notarized documents.
Lawyer Duties When Clients Use Falsified Documents: Ethical Boundaries
When a client presents falsified documents, a lawyer's ethical duties and professional conduct obligations are tested. This article examines the rules.
Understanding Statutory Rape and Sexual Assault Under Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the legal boundaries between statutory rape and sexual assault, and the importance of precise charges.
Understanding Abuse of Rights When Legal Actions Cross Ethical Boundaries
When does the right to speedy disposition become a shield against inordinate delay? The Supreme Court clarifies in Catamco v. Sandiganbayan.
Eyewitness Testimony in Murder Convictions: Insights from Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence
Learn how Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony in murder cases, from credibility rules to appellate review standards.
Limits of Clerks of Court Misconduct and Judicial Integrity
A clerk of court dismissed for simple misconduct after overstepping duties during writ implementation. Learn the boundaries of court personnel authority.
Understanding Lawyer Misconduct and Ethical Duties in Property Transactions
A Supreme Court ruling on a clerk of court's misconduct highlights the ethical boundaries court personnel must observe in property disputes.
Fiduciary Rank-and-File Employees: When Job Titles Do Not Bar Labor Benefits
The Supreme Court clarifies that fiduciary rank-and-file employees, despite supervisory-sounding titles, remain entitled to labor standards benefits under the Labor Code.
Understanding Vicarious Liability: When Employers Answer for Employee Negligence
A Supreme Court ruling explains when employers are solidarily liable for employee negligence under Philippine law, using a fatal tricycle accident as the key example.
Direct Bribery in the Philippines: Key Lessons from Mangulabnan v. People
Direct bribery explained through a landmark Supreme Court case: elements of the crime, evidentiary standards, and practical lessons for public officers.
Attorney Client Conflicts and Ethical Boundaries: Lessons from a Philippine Disbarment Case
A lawyer's zeal must not cross into harassment. The Supreme Court clarifies ethical limits in Cabarroguis v. Basa.
Understanding Psychological Incapacity in Philippine Marriages: Legal Standards and Real-Life Implications
The Supreme Court clarifies the strict standards for declaring marriages void due to psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code.
Navigating Contractual Boundaries When CAN A Third Party BE Bound BY A Writ OF Attachment
Understanding Incestuous Rape Standards and Victim Credibility in Philippine Courts
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies legal standards for incestuous rape and how courts assess victim credibility in such cases.
Understanding Probable Cause in Public Procurement: Insights from a Landmark Supreme Court Decision
The Supreme Court clarifies probable cause standards in public procurement cases, emphasizing that mere signature on documents does not prove bad faith.
Boundary Disputes in the Philippines: Key Lessons from Municipality of Bakun v. Municipality of Sugpon
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how local government boundary disputes are appealed, and why procedural rules yield to substantial justice.
Judicial Decorum in Philippine Courts: Lessons from Judge Dajao's Vulgar Conduct Case
The Supreme Court fined a judge for vulgar language and self-promotion, reaffirming strict standards of judicial decorum under Philippine law.
Navigating the Thin Line Between Ecclesiastical and Secular Affairs: Insights from a Landmark Philippine Supre
When does a church dispute become a labor case? The Supreme Court clarifies the boundary between ecclesiastical affairs and secular employment.
Preliminary Injunction in Municipal Boundary Disputes: What the Supreme Court Said
The Supreme Court explains when a writ of preliminary injunction may issue in municipal boundary disputes and why courts have wide discretion.
Understanding the Legal Boundaries of Property Disputes and Lawyer Conduct in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when lawyers face discipline in property disputes, and the limits of self-help in possession cases.
Zealous Advocacy vs. Threats to Judicial Integrity: The Zamora v. Mahinay Standard
The Supreme Court clarifies when a lawyer's vigorous motion crosses the line into an unethical threat against a judge.
Understanding Employee Dismissal: The Role of Substantial Evidence in Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court clarifies the substantial evidence standard in labor dismissals, ruling on a nursing attendant's termination for serious misconduct.
Understanding Gross Neglect of Duty in the Philippine Judiciary: Lessons from a Landmark Case
A sheriff's dismissal for grave misconduct and a stenographer's suspension reveal the high ethical standards required of Philippine court personnel.