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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Bangsamoro Education Code (BAA No. 18): Schools, Teachers, and Regulation
The Bangsamoro Education Code, BAA No. 18, governs schools, madaris, teachers, and learners across the BARMM as a subsystem of the national education system.
PAGCOR Remote Gaming Platform Regulatory Framework: What Operators Must Know
A plain-language guide to PAGCOR's Revised Regulatory Framework for the Remote Gaming Platform, covering who may operate, requirements, and standards.
OFW Employment Contract Philippines: POEA Rules and Standard Terms Explained
Understand the OFW employment contract Philippines POEA rules require, including standard terms, illegal recruitment, and worker protections under Philippine law.
PAGCOR Responsible Gaming Code of Practice: Requirements for Licensed Operators
The PAGCOR Responsible Gaming Code of Practice sets minimum standards for licensed operators, covering access limits, staff training, exclusion, and penalties.
Psychological Violence and Child Abuse: Defining the Boundaries of Harm Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when repeated abuse becomes psychological violence under RA 9262 and how child sexual abuse is penalized under RA 7610.
Upholding Moral Standards: Dismissal for Gross Immorality in the Judiciary
Court personnel face dismissal for gross immorality, even in private life, as the Supreme Court reaffirms exacting ethical standards.
Boundary Disputes and Local Government Authority: Caloocan v. Malabon
Supreme Court clarifies that boundary disputes between LGUs must first go through sanggunian settlement before courts can intervene.
Attorney's Fees in Seafarer Disability Claims: New Supreme Court Guidelines
The Supreme Court clarifies when attorney's fees may be awarded in seafarer disability cases, rejecting automatic grants and setting stricter standards.
When Generosity Becomes Misconduct: Ethical Boundaries for Philippine Lawyers
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when public officers face liability for procurement irregularities, and how good faith affects ethical responsibility.
Solidary Liability in Construction Contracts: When LWUA Shares Responsibility
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when LWUA can be held solidarily liable with water districts for construction contract obligations.
Attorney Discipline: Negligence and Misconduct in Quasi-Judicial Roles
When do a government lawyer's official acts become grounds for discipline? The Court clarifies the standard in this 2024 ruling.
Judges and Business Interests: Navigating Ethical Boundaries in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a judge's private business interest becomes an ethical violation, and what judges must do to stay compliant.
Probationary Employment in the Philippines: Understanding Regularization Standards
The Supreme Court clarifies when probationary employees may be validly terminated for failing to meet regularization standards under Philippine law.
Case-Fixing in the Ombudsman: When Dishonesty Leads to Dismissal from Service
The Supreme Court affirms that case-fixing in the Ombudsman warrants dismissal, clarifying the standards of conduct for public servants.
Insanity Defense in Philippine Criminal Law: Defining the Boundaries of Criminal Responsibility
The Supreme Court clarifies when insanity exempts an accused from criminal liability, applying a strict three-way test.
Social Media Conduct and Lawyer Discipline: Ethical Boundaries in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on a lawyer's Facebook post shows how social media conduct can lead to contempt and disciplinary action.
Proving Adultery in the Philippines: The Valencia Case and the Burden of Proof
Understand the high standard of proof for adultery in the Philippines through the Valencia case, including evidence rules and practical implications.
Disbarment for Falsifying Court Documents: Upholding Ethical Standards in the Legal Profession
The Supreme Court disbarred a lawyer for facilitating fake annulment documents, reaffirming that falsifying court records is a serious ethical breach.
Lawyer Disbarred for Falsifying Court Documents: A Landmark Ethics Ruling
The Supreme Court disbarred a lawyer for falsifying a nullity of marriage judgment, reaffirming the high ethical standards required of Philippine attorneys.
Child Custody in the Philippines: The Best Interest of the Child Standard
Philippine courts decide child custody disputes by one standard: the child's best interest. Learn the factors, the law, and a landmark 2024 ruling.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: A Strict Standard for Conviction in the Philippines
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to a broken chain of custody, underscoring the strict standard for conviction.
Secret Detention Cells and Detainee Rights Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms the Ombudsman's dismissal of criminal charges over an alleged secret detention cell, while reminding authorities of detainee rights standards.
Ghost Employees and Graft Liability: The Supreme Court’s Standard in People v. Reales
The Supreme Court clarifies the burden of proof in ghost employee corruption cases, protecting honest public officials from wrongful conviction.
When Can DAR Disqualify an Agrarian Reform Beneficiary? The Balucan Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies who may file to disqualify an agrarian reform beneficiary and why landowners are not real parties-in-interest.