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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Verbal Contracts in the Philippines: Are Oral Agreements Legally Binding?
Oral agreements can be legally binding in the Philippines, but proving them in court requires clear and convincing evidence. Learn the rules.
Land Registration IN THE Philippines WHY Proof OF Alienable AND Disposable Land Status IS Crucial
When Eyewitness Testimony and Conspiracy Lead to Conviction: Murder Liability in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on murder conviction based on eyewitness identification, conspiracy, and treachery, and why alibi fails.
Employee vs Independent Contractor: SSS Coverage for Farmworkers in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a "pakyaw (piece-rate) basis considered an employee entitled to compulsory Social Security System (SSS) coverage? The ruling is a reminder that the label used b
Navigating Inheritance for Distant Relatives in the Philippines: Understanding the Rule of Proximity
Learn how Philippine intestate succession works for distant relatives, including the rule of proximity and who inherits when no immediate family exists.
Accretion vs. Avulsion: How River Course Changes Affect Land Ownership in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine law treats land gained or lost through river shifts—accretion, avulsion, and erosion explained with the Bagaipo case.
Self-Defense or Murder: Understanding Justifiable Homicide in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense applies in Philippine homicide cases and why a murder charge became homicide.
Judicial Delay: The Duty of Judges to Decide Cases Promptly in the Philippines
Philippine judges must decide cases within 90 days. This article explains the rule, the consequences of delay, and practical lessons from a Supreme Court ruling.
Third-Party Claims in Philippine Execution Sales: Protecting Your Property
Learn how spouses and third parties can protect their property from wrongful execution sales in the Philippines, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in Naguit v. Court of Appeals.
Illegal Dismissal in the Philippines: Employee Rights and Employer Responsibilities
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on illegal dismissal, employee abandonment, overtime pay, and employer duties in termination cases.
Reviving Expired Judgments in the Philippines: The Terry Case and Contempt Limits
Learn when Philippine judgments expire, how to revive them, and why contempt cannot enforce stale court orders under the Terry ruling.
Conspiracy and Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Lessons from People v. Sinda
How the Supreme Court applied conspiracy and treachery in People v. Sinda, and what it means for criminal liability in the Philippines.
Bigamy and Annulment in the Philippines: When Can a Civil Case Stop a Criminal Charge
Learn when a civil annulment case can suspend a bigamy prosecution, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Arthur Te v. Court of Appeals.
Upholding Judicial Integrity Gross Immorality AS Grounds FOR Dismissal OF Judges IN THE Philippines
PAGCOR’s Authority Unveiled: Navigating the Limits of Gambling Franchises in the Philippines
The Supreme Court rules PAGCOR’s franchise covers gambling casinos, not jai-alai. A landmark case on legislative franchises.
Battling Court Delays: Understanding Summary Procedure Violations in the Philippines
A judge's fine for granting extensions and delaying a forcible entry case—what the Supreme Court ruling means for speedy justice.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Protecting Children and Upholding Justice
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies the elements of statutory rape, the need to prove the victim's age, and the rules on force and damages.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Does It Justify Homicide?
Philippine law recognizes self-defense, but it requires unlawful aggression, reasonable necessity, and lack of provocation. Learn the rules.
Decoding Marginal Deposits: How Contract Clarity Prevents Banking Disputes in the Philippines
Learn from Security Bank v. Transworld how ambiguous trust receipt terms on marginal deposits led to a decade-long dispute.
Speedy Trial Rights in the Philippines: How Long Is Too Long for Case Resolution
Philippine Supreme Court explains when delay violates the right to speedy disposition of cases, using the Blanco v. Sandiganbayan ruling.
Sheriff Misconduct When Custody Turns Criminal Understanding A Sheriffs Duty Of Safekeeping IN THE Philippines
When a sheriff sells a levied vehicle instead of keeping it safe, the Supreme Court imposes the ultimate penalty: dismissal from service.
Pleading Pitfalls: How Incorrect Wording in Rape Informations Can Impact Penalties in the Philippines
Learn how defective wording in rape informations can affect penalties, based on Philippine Supreme Court rulings on criminal procedure.
Unlawful Aggression in Self-Defense: Key to Avoiding Murder Charges in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court defines unlawful aggression in self-defense claims and why failing to prove it can lead to murder or homicide convictions.
Forum Shopping in the Philippines: Key Insights from Veluz v. Rudecon
The Supreme Court clarifies the elements of forum shopping and litis pendentia in Veluz v. Rudecon, a key Philippine property law case.