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.
Implied Trusts and Foreign Ownership: The Yap Heirs Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when implied trusts over Philippine land fail, and why constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership bar recovery.
Separation of Church and State: Supreme Court Upholds Labor Rights of Religious Workers
The Supreme Court rules that a pastor's dismissal is a secular employment matter, not an ecclesiastical affair, affirming labor protections.
Decoding Holographic Wills in the Philippines: Witness Requirements and Probate Challenges
Understand the mandatory three-witness rule for contested holographic wills in the Philippines and what Codoy v. Calugay means for probate.
Illegal Dismissal Back Wages: Balancing Employee Rights and Employer Discipline in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on back wages for illegally dismissed employees, balancing security of tenure with employer discipline.
Credibility of Child Witnesses in Rape Cases: Key Insights from the Philippine Supreme Court
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on People v. Yabut explains how courts assess a child rape victim's credibility and why minor inconsistencies do not destroy it.
Sheriffs Duty vs Custodia Legis: When a Writ of Replevin May Be Refused
When property is already forfeited to the government and in custodia legis, a sheriff must pause and seek judicial instructions before executing a writ of replevin.
Term Limits for Philippine Mayors: When a Term Does Not Count (Lonzanida v. COMELEC)
The Supreme Court explains when a mayor's interrupted or void service does not count toward the three-term limit under Philippine law.
Individual Proof IS KEY IN Illegal Dismissal Cases Understanding Employee Status IN Philippine Labor LAW
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on regular vs. seasonal employment and why individual proof is required in illegal dismissal claims.
Voluntary Confessions in Philippine Law: Safeguarding the Rights of the Accused
Understanding the constitutional safeguards governing voluntary confessions in Philippine criminal procedure, and how courts protect the accused.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Parent Companies Face Liability for Subsidiary Labor Claims
Philippine Supreme Court explains when courts may disregard corporate fiction and hold related companies liable for labor violations.
Injunction Bonds and Due Process: What Philippine Sureties Must Know
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when injunction bond sureties are liable and what due process requires before damages are awarded against them.
Burden of Proof in Conspiracy: When Family Ties Aren't Enough for a Homicide Conviction in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conspiracy, family ties, and the burden of proof in homicide cases—what the prosecution must establish.
Clerk of Court Dismissed for Dishonesty and Falsification in Private Transactions
Supreme Court rules on misuse of official receipts for private deals, imposing strict accountability on court personnel.
Managerial vs. Supervisory Employees: Unionization Rights Under Philippine Labor Law
Learn how Philippine law distinguishes managerial from supervisory employees and why misclassification can block unionization rights.
Sheriff Misconduct in Writ of Execution: Know Your Rights and Remedies in the Philippines
Learn your rights when a sheriff enforces a writ of execution in the Philippines, and the remedies available against sheriff misconduct.
When Is Force and Intimidation Proven in Rape Cases? Philippine Supreme Court Clarifies Standards
The Supreme Court explains how force and intimidation are proven in rape cases, and why the death penalty requires specific allegations in the information.
Regular vs Project Employee in the Philippines: Security of Tenure and Employer Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between regular and project employees, and the employer's burden to prove project employment status.
When Presence Becomes Participation: Understanding Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law
Explore how the Supreme Court in People v. Sanchez defined conspiracy, distinguishing mere presence from concerted action in criminal liability.
No Premium, No Policy: Philippine Insurance Law on Payment and Coverage
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that fire insurance policies require actual premium payment before coverage attaches, rejecting implied credit arrangements.
Think Before You Share: Understanding Republication Libel in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when sharing or republishing a news article becomes libel, and the crucial role of malice.
Car Plans in the Philippines: Lease or Installment Sale? Key Employee Rights and Employer Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on car plans: when a "lease" is really an installment sale, and what it means for employers and employees.
Habeas Corpus in the Philippines: Understanding Its Limits and Proper Use in Criminal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when habeas corpus is proper in criminal cases, using a 1999 death penalty ruling as guide.
Ejectment Suits Staying Execution Pending Appeal in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts handle stays of execution in ejectment cases pending appeal, including the rules on posting supersedeas bonds and the limits of appellate relief.
Single Witness Testimony: How It Can Lead to a Murder Conviction in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when the testimony of one eyewitness is enough to convict for murder, and how delay in reporting is excused.