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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Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
The Supreme Court explains treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, and why self-defense failed in People v. Manulit.
Treachery and Attempted Murder: Establishing Intent and Liability in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how treachery qualifies murder and how intent is established in attempted murder cases.
Confessions and Corpus Delicti: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Murder Cases
How Philippine courts weigh confessions and corpus delicti to establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt in murder prosecutions.
When Self-Defense Fails: Unlawful Aggression and Treachery in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a claim of self-defense failed and how treachery qualified a killing as murder.
Single Act Multiple Crimes Complex Crime of Murder and Attempted Murder Defined
Explaining the complex crime rule when one act kills several and wounds others, citing People v. Barde.
Conspiracy and Credibility in Philippine Homicide Cases: Key Lessons from Bug-atan v. People
How Philippine courts weigh co-conspirator testimony, conspiracy evidence, and credibility in homicide and murder cases.
Bail and Burden of Proof: When Courts Can Grant Bail in Murder Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies bail in murder cases: burden of proof, evidentiary standards, and when courts may grant bail.
Eyewitness Testimony and the Alibi Defense: Scrutinizing Identification in Murder Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on eyewitness identification, alibi defense, and the burden of proof in murder prosecutions.
Treachery and Witness Credibility: Proving Murder Beyond Reasonable Doubt
A Supreme Court ruling explains how treachery is established and why minor witness inconsistencies do not weaken a murder conviction.
Acquittal in Murder Case and Civil Liability: The Garces v. Hernandez Ruling
When an acquittal rests on weak prosecution evidence, the court may rule that no civil liability arises. Learn the rules.
Conspiracy AND Eyewitness Testimony Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt IN Murder Cases 2
Treachery in Group Attacks: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Murder Cases
How the Supreme Court upheld murder convictions based on positive identification and treachery in a group attack, explaining key evidentiary rules.
Treachery Defined: How Sudden Attacks Qualify as Murder Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains how a sudden, unexpected attack constitutes treachery, elevating a killing to murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code.
Treachery and Witness Credibility: Examining Murder Convictions in Philippine Courts
A look at how Philippine courts weigh treachery and witness credibility in murder cases, with insights from People v. Teñoso.
Dying Declarations and Witness Credibility Determining Guilt in Murder Cases
Supreme Court ruling on witness credibility, alibi, conspiracy, and treachery in multiple murder convictions.
Treachery and Conspiracy: Distinguishing Multiple Murder From Complex Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies when killing several victims is separate murder counts, not a complex crime, despite treachery and conspiracy.
Self-Defense vs Murder: Unlawful Aggression in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court explains when self-defense fails in murder cases, focusing on unlawful aggression as its primordial element.
Mistaken Identity or Intent to Kill: The Boundaries of Attempted Murder and Physical Injuries
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a shooting is attempted murder versus less serious physical injuries, and how positive identification defeats alibi.
Treachery and Unlicensed Firearms: Defining Murder and Penalties in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden, surprise shooting amounts to treachery for murder, and why using an unlicensed firearm can raise the penalty.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Sudden Attacks and the Limits of Self-Defense
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden, unexpected attack qualifies as treachery, raising murder to reclusion perpetua.
From Double Murder to Arson: How Intent Shapes Criminal Liability in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains when setting fire to a house is murder or arson, and why intent determines the crime.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Ensuring Justice for Victims of Sudden Attacks
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden, unexpected attack qualifies as treachery, raising homicide to murder under Philippine law.
The Limits of Self-Defense: Establishing Unlawful Aggression in Homicide Cases
Explore how Philippine courts require clear proof of unlawful aggression for self-defense claims, using a 2010 murder case as guide.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Philippine Murder Conviction
How the Supreme Court affirmed a murder conviction, ruling that credible eyewitness identification outweighs the inherently weak defense of alibi.