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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Automotive Manufacturing in the Philippines: Licensing and Incentives
Automotive manufacturing in the Philippines requires BOI or PEZA registration, a certificate of registration, and compliance with tax and customs rules to enjoy incentives.
Good Faith Defense in Graft Cases: When Official Duty Is Not Corruption
The Supreme Court acquits public officers of graft, ruling that honest mistakes in performing official duty are not corruption absent corrupt motive.
Treachery and Witness Credibility: Proving Murder Beyond Reasonable Doubt
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, explaining how treachery is established and why credible witness testimony outweighs alibi and doubts about motive.
Arson and Homicide: How the Primary Motive Determines Criminal Liability
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a death during a fire is absorbed by arson or punished separately, based on the offender's main objective.
Upholding Ethical Conduct Attorney Suspended For Harassment And Misrepresentation
The Supreme Court suspends a lawyer for two years for harassing opposing counsel, misrepresenting facts, and attributing unsupported motives to a judge.
Breach of Trust and Employee Dismissal: Employer's Burden of Proof in Philippine Labor Law
Explore the Supreme Court's ruling in Temic Automotive v. Cantos on breach of trust dismissals, emphasizing the employer's burden of proof.
Positive Identification Trumps Alibi: Conspiracy and Treachery in Murder Cases
How eyewitness identification, not motive, seals convictions for murder and frustrated murder under Philippine law.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Shifting Defenses: The Importance of Victim Testimony
Supreme Court affirms qualified rape conviction, ruling that credible victim testimony prevails over denial, ill motive claims, and pregnancy timing arguments.
Marriage Validity: Intent vs Motive in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that a marriage entered for immigration purposes is valid if consent is freely given; motive alone does not void it.
Love OR LAW Intentions Behind Marriages AND Legal Validity
Philippine Supreme Court rules that marriage for citizenship or money is valid if consent is real, distinguishing motive from lack of consent.
Rape Conviction Upheld Alibi Weak Against Positive Identification
The Supreme Court affirmed a murder conviction, ruling that alibi cannot prevail over positive identification by witnesses who had no motive to falsely implicate the accused.
Witness Credibility in Frustrated Homicide: Motive and Consistency in Angeles v. People
How the Supreme Court weighs witness credibility, minor inconsistencies, and absence of ill motive in a frustrated homicide conviction under Philippine law.
Eyewitness Identification and the Immateriality of Motive in Murder Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on positive eyewitness identification, clarifying that motive, the murder weapon, and ballistic reports are not essential to prove guilt.
Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt Can Rest on Credible Witness Testimony Alone
A conviction for murder can stand on credible eyewitness testimony alone, even without motive or an autopsy report, as this Supreme Court ruling shows.
Religious Ties and Criminal Liability: When Alibi Fails in Murder Cases
Examining conspiracy and accountability in murder, and why alibi and lack of motive cannot overcome positive eyewitness identification.
VAT on Services: When "Trade or Business" Does Not Require Profit Motive
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that VAT applies to services rendered for a fee even without profit motive. Learn the rules.
Malicious Prosecution in Philippine Law: Probable Cause and Malice Explained
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a failed criminal complaint becomes malicious prosecution, requiring proof of lack of probable cause and sinister motive.
Perfecting CAR Sales Contracts IN THE Philippines Understanding Buyer Rights AND Seller Obligations
Learn when a car sale contract is perfected in the Philippines, buyer rights, and seller obligations from the Xentrex Automotive case.
Good Faith in Redundancy Termination: When Hidden Motives Are Not Proven
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when redundancy dismissal is valid and good faith presumed, and when damages may be awarded.