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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Bail in the Philippines: When Is a Hearing Required in Capital Offenses
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that bail in capital offenses requires a hearing, even if the prosecution recommends bail.
Public Bidding in Government Contracts: The NFA Security Services Case
The Supreme Court nullified NFA's negotiated security contracts, reaffirming that public bidding is the rule in government procurement, not the exception.
When Can a Mortgage on Public Land Be Void: DBP v. Court of Appeals
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when mortgaging land under a free patent application is void and what makes a mortgage valid.
Employers Burden of Proof in Justifying Loss of Trust and Confidence in Employee Dismissal
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that employers must prove just cause for dismissal based on loss of trust and confidence, not merely allege it.
Perjury in the Philippines: False Statements in Legal Documents Explained
Learn how Philippine courts define perjury, what makes a false statement criminal, and why withdrawing a petition does not erase liability.
When Can the BOI Amend a Company's Registration? A Look at First Lepanto Ceramics
The Supreme Court clarifies the BOI's discretion to amend a registered enterprise's product line, even amid pending violation cases.
Understanding Substituted Service and Extrinsic Fraud in Philippine Ejectment Cases
Learn how Philippine courts treat substituted service of summons and extrinsic fraud in ejectment cases, based on a 1996 Supreme Court ruling.
Incestuous Rape: Fear Explains Delay in Reporting Sexual Abuse
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how fear and terror in incestuous rape justify a victim's delay in reporting sexual abuse to authorities.
When Lack of Resistance Negates a Rape Charge: Understanding Consent in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a complainant's failure to resist can cast reasonable doubt on a rape charge, and what this means for proving force and intimidation.
Rape Conviction and the Weight of Credible Testimony: Protecting Victims' Rights in the Philippines
How the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction, underscoring the power of a credible victim's testimony and the limits of the alibi defense.
Handling Court Funds: Duties and Liabilities of Court Personnel in the Philippines
Supreme Court ruling on a clerk of court's liability for mishandling consignation deposits, fiduciary funds, and JDF collections.
Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt: The Imperative of Voluntariness in Rape Cases
In People v. Subido, the Supreme Court acquitted a rape accused, emphasizing that the prosecution must prove force and lack of voluntariness beyond reasonable doubt.
Arrastre Operator Liability: Understanding the Limits of Responsibility for Lost Cargo
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when an arrastre operator is liable for lost cargo and how management contracts limit that liability.
When Can Eyewitness Testimony Alone Convict in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence, not just eyewitness testimony, can convict an accused beyond reasonable doubt.
Navigating Administrative LAW Exhaustion OF Remedies AND Cabinet Approval IN THE Philippines
Project Employee vs Regular Employee: What the Supreme Court Says
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish project employees from regular employees, and what the Samson ruling means for workers' security of tenure.
Understanding Res Judicata: How a Previous Case Can Affect Your Legal Rights in the Philippines
Learn how res judicata bars re-litigation of settled cases in the Philippines, its elements, and practical implications.
Builder in Good Faith in the Philippines: Rights Under Property Law
When can a mistaken builder claim good faith under Philippine law? The Supreme Court's ruling in Pleasantville clarifies the rights of builders and landowners.
Implied Trusts and Prescription: What the Esconde Case Means for Property Owners
Learn how implied trusts work in the Philippines and why delay can bar your property claim, based on the Supreme Court's Esconde ruling.
Jurisdiction in Public Sector Compensation Disputes: DBM vs CSC-MSPB
Explaining the Supreme Court ruling on which agency has jurisdiction over position classification and compensation disputes in government service.
Retrenchment in Bad Faith: Limits on Employer Discretion and Employee Rights to Backwages
When is retrenchment illegal? The Supreme Court explains bad faith, backwages, and separation pay for dismissed employees.
Estate Allowances: Who Can Receive Support During Probate in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies who may receive support allowances from a decedent's estate during probate proceedings.
Labor-Only Contracting: When a Manpower Agency Hides the Real Employer
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on labor-only contracting, employer-employee relationships, and separation pay for authorized dismissals.
Labor-Only Contracting: When the Principal Is the Real Employer in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains labor-only contracting, employer liability, and separation pay rules in Magnolia Dairy v. NLRC.