Legal Insights

Newly Discovered Evidence in Philippine Courts: The Barraquio Case and Rule 37

Learn the strict requirements for newly discovered evidence under Rule 37 and what the Supreme Court's Barraquio ruling means for litigants.

Extrajudicial Settlement in the Philippines: Why Excluding Heirs Can Void the Deal

Learn how the Supreme Court protects excluded heirs in extrajudicial settlements, and what co-owners can still do with their shares.

Stop-and-Frisk Searches in the Philippines: When Are They Legal?

Learn when Philippine police may legally conduct stop-and-frisk searches, what limits apply, and your rights during such encounters.

Accretion and Forcible Entry: Why Prior Physical Possession Beats Title

In forcible entry cases over accreted land, the Supreme Court rules that prior physical possession, not mere ownership of adjacent titled property, is decisive.

Forcible Entry vs. Unlawful Detainer: A Philippine Property Owner’s Guide

Learn the difference between forcible entry and unlawful detainer in Philippine ejectment cases, and how the Supreme Court clarified the rules in a recent ruling.

SALN Violations and Perjury: Prescriptive Periods Explained

Learn the prescriptive periods for SALN violations and perjury in the Philippines, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in the Germar case.

Theft by Misappropriation of Found Property: What Philippine Law Requires

Philippine law punishes keeping found property as theft. Learn the finder's duties and key lessons from a recent Supreme Court ruling.

Prior Physical Possession in Forcible Entry: The Madayag Ruling Explained

The Supreme Court clarifies that prior physical possession in forcible entry cases can be established through juridical acts, not just actual occupation.

Laches in Philippine Law: How Delay Can Bar Your Legal Claims

Learn how the doctrine of laches can bar legal claims in the Philippines, even before the prescriptive period expires, through the Supreme Court's ruling in Ang v. Abaldonado.

Assurance Fund Claims: When the Prescriptive Period Starts for Defrauded Landowners

The Supreme Court clarifies when the six-year period to claim the Assurance Fund begins for landowners defrauded under the Torrens system.

Administrative Due Process and Bank Secrecy: The Sibayan v. Alda Ruling

The Supreme Court clarifies how administrative due process and bank secrecy limits discovery in BSP proceedings, as shown in Sibayan v. Alda.

Electricity Disconnection in the Philippines: When Can a Utility Cut Your Power?

Know your rights when a utility disconnects your electricity. Philippine law requires due process—here's what a utility must prove first.

When Does the Clock Start? Prescription Periods for Hidden Contract Breaches in the Philippines

Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when the prescriptive period begins for hidden breaches of contract, protecting buyers who rely on seller representations.

Forcible Entry in the Philippines: Proving Prior Possession and Unlawful Deprivation

Understand the requirements for forcible entry cases in the Philippines, including prior possession and unlawful deprivation, based on the Ong v. Parel ruling.

Prescription for Falsification of Public Documents: When the Clock Starts

Learn when the prescription period begins for falsification of public documents under Philippine law, based on the Supreme Court ruling in Recebido v. People.

Can a Notary Public Also Be a Witness? Philippine Rules Explained

Philippine law generally allows a notary public to also witness the documents they notarize, except for wills. Learn the rules and limits.

Can Foreigners Own Land in the Philippines? Donation vs. Inheritance Rules

Philippine law bars foreigners from owning land except by inheritance. Learn why a quitclaim deed to an American son failed as a donation.

Can Philippine Universities Revoke Degrees? Academic Integrity and Due Process

The Supreme Court affirms a university's power to revoke degrees obtained through fraud, provided due process is observed.