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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Mining Disputes vs Judicial Questions: Jurisdiction of the Panel of Arbitrators
The Supreme Court clarifies when the Panel of Arbitrators has jurisdiction over mining disputes and when regular courts should hear cases involving contract validity.
State Control vs Foreign Assistance: The Scope of Mining Agreements Under the Constitution
The Supreme Court clarifies that foreign-assisted mining agreements under Article XII must preserve state control, not bar foreign participation.
Accountability on the Road: Determining Guilt in Group Violence
A look at how Philippine courts assign criminal liability when violence breaks out in a group, and what the law requires for a conviction.
Discretion VS Mandate Determining Trial Schedules IN High Profile Cases
Power Lines and Property Rights: Determining Just Compensation for Easements
When power lines cross private land, is the owner owed an easement fee or full property value? The Supreme Court clarifies.
Rape and Consent: Examining the Boundaries of Sexual Assault in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms a rape-with-homicide conviction, clarifying how force and lack of consent are established in Philippine law.
Treachery and Self-Defense: Examining the Boundaries in a Homicide Case
A Supreme Court ruling in a 1995 stabbing case clarifies how Philippine courts evaluate self-defense claims and the qualifying circumstance of treachery.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails When Circumstantial Evidence Falls Short of Conviction
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction in estafa cases, examining the limits of proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Guardians at the Gate: Examining Self-Defense and Accountability in Philippine Homicide Cases
A security guard's fatal shooting raises key questions on self-defense, treachery, and firearm confiscation in Philippine criminal law.
Rape Conviction and Statutory Penalties: Examining the Limits of Capital Punishment in the Philippines
A rape conviction does not automatically mean the death penalty. Learn when Philippine law allows capital punishment and when it does not.
Succession and Disqualification: Determining the Lawful Mayor in Philippine Elections
When a winning mayoral candidate is disqualified after the election, the vice mayor succeeds—not the second placer. Here's why.
Mining License Limits: How Exceeding Area Restrictions Can Invalidate a Permit
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how exceeding the 100-hectare limit under PD 463 invalidates a mining license.
Shared Intent OR Unknowing AID Examining Conspiracy IN Kidnapping FOR Ransom Cases
Mining Rights vs National Patrimony: The La Bugal Case on Foreign Control of Philippine Resources
Explaining the Supreme Court's La Bugal ruling on the Philippine Mining Act and foreign ownership limits over the country's mineral resources.
Eyewitness Identification VS Accomplice Liability Determining Guilt IN Murder Cases
Forum Shopping and Mining Rights: Lessons from the Lepanto-WMC Dispute
The Supreme Court clarifies when overlapping claims before courts and administrative agencies constitute forum shopping in mining disputes.
Custodianship vs Trusteeship: Determining Liability in Investment Agreements
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the difference between a custodian and a trustee in investment agreements, and who bears liability when investments fail.
Treachery and the Passage of Time: Examining the Boundaries of Murder in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that a brief pause between an argument and a fatal shooting does not negate treachery, affirming a murder conviction.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails When Positive Identification Conflicts With Inconsistent Testimony
A murder conviction reversed because the prosecution's sole eyewitness gave inconsistent testimony, undermining the claim of positive identification.
Partnership Dissolution Determining THE Return OF Equity Upon Withdrawal
Control Is Key: Determining Employer-Employee Relationships in Outsourcing Arrangements
The Supreme Court clarifies when a principal employer becomes liable for outsourced workers, emphasizing control over contractual labels.
Conspiracy and Homicide: Determining Individual Liability in Group Crimes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conspiracy in group crimes, and why a conviction for murder was reduced to homicide.
Unreliable Testimony and Acquittal in Rape Cases: Examining Standards of Proof
Explore how Philippine courts assess witness credibility in rape cases, distinguishing unreliable testimony from proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Treachery and Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt: Examining Witness Credibility in Murder Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, explaining how eyewitness credibility and treachery are evaluated against a bare denial.