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: Sudden Attacks and Defenseless Victims
The Supreme Court explains treachery in murder cases—sudden, unexpected attacks on defenseless victims qualify killings as murder, not homicide.
Treachery and Intent: Understanding Murder and Homicide in Philippine Law
A single Supreme Court case clarifies how treachery distinguishes murder from homicide, and what damages families can claim.
When Circumstantial Evidence Convicts: Lessons from a Philippine Rape-Homicide Case
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence is enough to convict, using a rape-homicide case as a guide.
Self-Defense or Murder? Understanding Justifiable Homicide in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains when self-defense is valid and why a killing without treachery is homicide, not murder.
When Self-Defense Fails: Homicide and Accomplice Liability in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains when self-defense fails, why a killing becomes homicide not murder, and when relatives become accomplices.
Intent to Kill vs Intent to Rob: Distinguishing Murder From Robbery With Homicide in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a killing is murder, not robbery with homicide, based on the accused's intent.
Arson and Homicide: Distinguishing Intent and Consequences in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when arson absorbs resulting deaths versus when separate homicide charges apply, using intent as the key.
Self-Defense vs. Alibi: How Philippine Courts Weigh Homicide Defenses
A Supreme Court ruling in a 1994 Occidental Mindoro fiesta killing shows why alibi is the weakest defense and why witness credibility often decides homicide cases.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Acquittal in Homicide Case on Circumstantial Evidence and Witness Credibility
Supreme Court acquits homicide accused where prosecution evidence fails the test of moral certainty, citing witness coaching and non-flight.
When Self Defense Fails: Proving Imminent Danger in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on self-defense, unlawful aggression, and why uncorroborated claims fail in homicide cases.
When Is the Accused the Culprit? Assessing Witness Credibility in Homicide Cases
How Philippine courts weigh witness credibility in homicide cases, explained through the Supreme Court's ruling in Bricenio v. People.
Proximate Cause in Homicide Cases: Lessons from Operiano v. People
The Supreme Court explains when a kick that leads to a fatal fall constitutes homicide, clarifying proximate cause rules in the Philippines.
Dying Declarations and Res Gestae: How Philippine Courts Determine Truth in Homicide Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains dying declarations and res gestae in homicide cases, and how courts weigh witness credibility.
When Duty Turns Deadly: Justifiable Force and Homicide in Philippine Law
A police officer shot a man during a routine check. The Supreme Court explains when self-defense and performance of duty fail.
Intent to Kill: How Philippine Courts Determine Attempted and Frustrated Homicide
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish attempted from frustrated homicide through intent to kill, based on a 2006 Supreme Court ruling.
Homicide or Reckless Imprudence: Intent Matters in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court explains when a fatal act is homicide versus reckless imprudence, focusing on criminal intent.
Moral Turpitude and Lawyer Disbarment: The Case of Frustrated Homicide in the Philippines
When does a frustrated homicide conviction lead to disbarment? The Supreme Court explains moral turpitude and a lawyer's duty of good character.
When A Guilty Plea Doesnt Equal Guilt Examining Treachery AND Intent IN Philippine Homicide LAW
Justice Denied When Eyewitness Testimony Determines Guilt IN Homicide Cases
The Weight of Witness Testimony and Identity in Homicide Convictions
How Philippine courts assess eyewitness identification and credibility in homicide cases, and why knowing a face matters more than knowing a name.
Self Defense Claims IN Homicide Justification VS Criminal Liability IN THE Philippines
When Duty and Danger Collide: Justifiable Homicide in the Line of Duty
A police officer's shooting of an escapee who grabbed an M16 was justified as fulfillment of duty, not homicide.
Reckless Imprudence and Damages in Vehicular Homicide: Key Rules from Nueva España
The Supreme Court clarifies reckless imprudence liability, proof of damages, and employer subsidiary liability in vehicular homicide cases.
Vehicular Homicide vs. Murder: Intent and the Use of a Motor Vehicle
When does a fatal vehicular incident become murder? The Mallari case shows how intent and the use of a motor vehicle elevate the crime.