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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Understanding Parricide Convictions Key Insights From A Supreme Court Ruling
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when parricide applies, explaining the legal relationship requirement and the importance of proving the offender's knowledge of the victim's status.
Lease Renewal vs Extension: Supreme Court Clarifies the Critical Distinction
The Supreme Court clarifies the crucial difference between lease renewal and extension in a dispute over a government property lease.
Reckless Imprudence Resulting in Homicide: Key Insights from a Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Case
The Supreme Court clarifies what the prosecution must prove in reckless imprudence resulting in homicide cases, and why mere negligence is not enough.
Understanding Loss of Trust and Confidence as a Valid Ground for Employee Dismissal in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when loss of trust and confidence justifies dismissal, and when it becomes an illegal termination.
Unlawful Detainer and Tolerance: When Permission Isn't Enough to Eject
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that in unlawful detainer cases, tolerance must exist from the start of possession or the case fails.
Understanding Tax Implications of Initial Public Offerings: Separate vs Joint Computation
The Supreme Court clarifies how IPO taxes on primary and secondary offerings are computed under the National Internal Revenue Code.
Can the DENR Secretary Cancel a Mining Agreement Without MGB Recommendation? The Awayan Doctrine
The Supreme Court clarifies the DENR Secretary's independent authority to cancel mining agreements without prior MGB recommendation, resolving a key procedural question.
Navigating the Appeal Period for Labor Arbitration Decisions: A Guide for Filipino Workers
Learn the correct 15-day appeal period for voluntary arbitration awards under Rule 43, clarified by the Supreme Court in Suelo v. MST Marine Services.
Contract Renewal vs. Extension: Key Lessons from a Landmark Philippine Supreme Court Case
The Supreme Court clarifies the critical legal difference between renewing and extending a lease, and why precise contract language matters.
Domestic Violence and Lawyer Discipline: Lessons from a Philippine Disbarment Case
A Supreme Court ruling shows why lawyers face discipline for domestic violence—even when criminal cases are dismissed.
Illegal Dismissal Due to Health Issues: What Employers Must Prove in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when an employee's illness justifies termination, requiring proof of incurability and a medical certification.
Understanding Statutory Rape: Protecting Minors and Legal Implications
The Supreme Court clarifies statutory rape under -A(1)(d) of the Revised Penal Code, emphasizing that carnal knowledge of a child under 12 is always rape.
Fraudulent Debt and Writs of Attachment: Protecting Your Assets in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when a writ of preliminary attachment may issue based on alleged fraud in contracting a debt, and what sureties should know.
Understanding Conspiracy and Treachery in Philippine Murder and Robbery Cases
The Supreme Court explains how conspiracy and treachery work in murder and robbery cases, and what must be alleged in the Information.
Navigating Tax Assessments: The Validity of Letters of Authority in the Philippines
Learn when a BIR Letter of Authority becomes invalid, the 30-day and 120-day rules, and how the Supreme Court ruled in AFP General Insurance.
Simulated Contracts in the Philippines: When a Deed of Sale Is Void
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a simulated deed of sale is void. Learn the rules on genuine intent in property transactions.
Moral Ascendancy in Rape Cases: What People v. XXX Means for Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms that a relative's moral ascendancy can substitute for force or intimidation in proving qualified rape.
Moral Ascendancy in Rape Cases: What the Supreme Court Ruling Means
A 2020 Supreme Court ruling clarifies how moral ascendancy can replace force or intimidation in rape cases involving relatives.
The Sweetheart Defense in Philippine Rape Cases: What the Supreme Court Teaches Us
The sweetheart defense cannot justify rape. Learn what the Supreme Court ruled and why consent matters in Philippine law.
Prescription and Speedy Disposition in Philippine Criminal Cases: Key Insights
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when the prescriptive period for graft cases begins and what constitutes inordinate delay.
The Condonation Doctrine After Carpio-Morales: Recall Elections and the Cutoff Date
The Supreme Court clarifies when the abandoned condonation doctrine still applies and confirms it covers recall elections.
Lateral Transfers and Security of Tenure in Philippine Civil Service
When a government employee's lateral transfer appointment is disapproved, does the employee automatically revert to a former position? The Supreme Court clarifies.
Administrative Liability in Philippine Public Service: Duty, Misconduct, and the Safekeeping of Court Evidence
The Supreme Court clarifies the line between simple and gross neglect of duty, and grave misconduct, in the dismissal of two court employees over missing drug evidence.
Speedy Disposition of Cases: Key Lessons from a Landmark Sandiganbayan Ruling
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when prescription runs and how delays in preliminary investigation can violate the right to speedy disposition.