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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Bank Manager Discretion and Personal Liability: Insights from Philippine Banking Law
When can a bank manager be personally liable for losses? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of managerial discretion and solidary liability.
Proving Legitimate Filiation: Key to Winning Philippine Inheritance Claims
Learn how the Supreme Court's ruling in Bernardo v. Fernando clarifies what evidence proves legitimate filiation for inheritance claims.
Robbery with Rape and Grave Threats: Key Lessons from People v. Bueza
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how credible testimony can prove robbery with rape and grave threats, even without physical injuries.
Judicial Accountability and the Limits of Inhibition Motions in Election Protests
The Supreme Court clarifies when judges must inhibit and why delay claims alone cannot prove bias in election cases.
Understanding Dislocation Allowances Legal Insights AND Implications FOR Government Employees
The Supreme Court ruled on incentive allowances for government employees, clarifying limits under Philippine law on additional compensation.
Judicial Authority and Bank Liquidation: Understanding the Limits of Court Intervention
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when judges overstep their authority in bank liquidation proceedings, and the consequences of doing so.
Understanding the Insanity Defense: Key Insights from a Recent Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
A look at how Philippine courts assess insanity as a defense, based on a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that clarified the test for legal insanity.
Understanding Judicial Impartiality: Bias and Inhibition in Philippine Election Protests
The Supreme Court clarifies the standards for judicial inhibition in election protests, explaining what bias truly means and why rulings must not be mistaken for prejudice.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: The Supreme Court’s Stand on Prosecution Consent
A guilty plea to a lesser drug offense needs the prosecutor’s consent. Learn the rules and what the Court said in People v. Reafor.
Understanding Theft in the Philippines: Key Insights From a Landmark Supreme Court Case
A look at how the Supreme Court clarifies plea bargaining rules in drug cases and what this means for criminal procedure in the Philippines.
Conflict of Interest in Legal Practice: The Fine Line Lawyers Must Navigate
When can a lawyer's business venture become a conflict of interest? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on lawyer loyalty and competing businesses.
Conditional Release of Imports: Supreme Court Upholds DTI Rules on Testing and Certification
The Supreme Court upholds DTI's conditional release rules for imported goods, clarifying testing and certification requirements under Philippine law.
Understanding Rape Convictions: Victim Testimony and Legal Standards in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, clarifying how victim testimony, force, and identity are assessed under Philippine law.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Force, Identification, and Damages in People v. Talmesa
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, detailing the elements of force, witness credibility, and the proper award of damages.
PAGCOR Tax Exemptions: When a Casino Licensee Still Pays Income Tax
The Supreme Court clarifies that PAGCOR's tax exemptions under PD 1869 do not automatically cover licensees operating their own casinos.
Understanding the Legal Boundaries of Confessions and Conspiracy in Kidnapping and Murder Cases
A look at how the Supreme Court treats extrajudicial confessions and conspiracy in a kidnapping-for-ransom and murder case.
Lawyer Encroachment and Ethical Boundaries: Lessons from Sevandal v. Adame
A Supreme Court ruling on lawyer encroachment clarifies ethical boundaries when two attorneys claim the same client, with suspension as penalty.
Understanding Disturbance Compensation in Land Conversion: Insights from a Philippine Supreme Court Case
Learn how the Supreme Court ruled on disturbance compensation claims in land conversion, including prescription periods and evidentiary requirements.
CNA Incentive Caps and Employee Rights in the Public Sector: What the Supreme Court Said
The Supreme Court clarifies that CNA incentives in government are subject to DBM rules, including the P25,000 cap, and explains employee rights.
Understanding Employee Resignation and Management Prerogative in the Workplace
When does a worker's refusal to follow a policy become voluntary resignation? The Supreme Court clarifies the line between quitting and dismissal.
Understanding the Impact of Stay Orders on Corporate Rehabilitation in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when a stay order suspends collection cases against a corporation under rehabilitation, and when creditors may proceed.
Incentive Payments in Government Agencies: Lessons from the TransCo EME Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when extraordinary and miscellaneous expenses (EME) in GOCCs are valid, and who must refund disallowed amounts.
Lawyer's Duty to Account for Client Funds: A Case of Trust and Misappropriation
When a lawyer fails to account for client funds, the Supreme Court steps in. Learn the rules on fiduciary duty and the penalties for misappropriation.
Understanding Judicial Misconduct: Gross Ignorance of the Law in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's gross ignorance of the law, gross misconduct, and corruption—what it means for judicial accountability in the Philippines.