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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Probable Cause and Witness Credibility in Preliminary Investigations for Murder
Supreme Court clarifies how prosecutors should weigh witness credibility and probable cause in murder preliminary investigations.
Witness Credibility AND Treachery IN Murder Examining Circumstantial Inconsistencies
Credibility of Eyewitness Testimony in Murder Convictions: People v. Dela Cruz
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on eyewitness testimony, explaining rules on credibility, alibi, treachery, and damages.
Eyewitness Testimony and the Sanity Presumption in Murder Convictions
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction based on eyewitness identification, rejects insanity defense, and clarifies damages rules.
Eyewitness Credibility and the Principle of Alibi: Standards of Proof in Philippine Criminal Law
This article explains how Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony, self-defense claims, and abuse of superior strength in murder cases.
When Silence Isn't Golden: Affirming Murder Conviction Despite Self-Defense Claim
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, rejecting self-defense where the accused admitted killing but failed to prove unlawful aggression.
Doubt IN Identification Reversal OF Murder Conviction Based ON Unexplained Witness Delay
Ensuring Justice HOW Eyewitness Testimony AND Forensic Evidence Determine Guilt IN Murder Cases
Duress vs Free Will: When Fear Does Not Excuse Criminal Liability
Philippine Supreme Court explains when uncontrollable fear excuses a crime and when it does not, in a murder case.
Treachery Defined: How Surprise Attacks Determine Murder Convictions in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains how sudden, unexpected attacks constitute treachery, qualifying a killing as murder under Philippine law.
Limits of Abuse of Superior Strength: Redefining Attempted Homicide in the Philippines
Supreme Court clarifies when abuse of superior strength qualifies a crime, reducing a conviction from attempted murder to attempted homicide.
Eyewitness Testimony and Conspiracy Decide Double Murder Case
How credible eyewitness testimony and conspiracy principles led to homicide convictions in a juvenile double murder case.
Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Conspiracy and Murder: The Maliao Case
A look at how the Supreme Court distinguished conspiracy from mere accomplice liability in a rape-with-homicide case.
Reclassifying Criminal Liability Murder Conviction Upheld Despite Initial Kidnapping Charge
Supreme Court clarifies when taking a victim is incidental to killing—reclassifying kidnapping with murder to plain murder in People v. Estacio.
Accountability for Deadly Assault: Distinguishing Frustrated Homicide from Murder Through Intent and Circumsta
The Supreme Court clarifies when a near-fatal bolo attack is frustrated homicide versus murder, and how intent and treachery are proven.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Ensuring Justice for Victims of Unprovoked Attacks
How Philippine courts apply treachery to qualify killings as murder, explained through the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Gidoc.
When Silence Isn't Golden: Delayed Witness Testimony and the Pursuit of Justice in Murder Cases
A delayed eyewitness affidavit doesn't automatically destroy credibility, the Supreme Court rules in People v. Cawaling, affirming a murder conviction.
Murder Conviction Upheld: Treachery, Voluntary Surrender, and Damages Rules Clarified
SC clarifies treachery, voluntary surrender, and damages in murder cases, affirming reclusion perpetua for a bolo attack.
Shared Intent, Shared Liability: Understanding Conspiracy in Philippine Murder Cases
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on murder, treachery, and voluntary surrender shows how intent and circumstance shape criminal liability and damages.
Treachery and Intent in Philippine Criminal Law: The Nuances of Murder
The Supreme Court explains how treachery and conspiracy qualify a killing as murder under Philippine criminal law.
Probable Cause vs DOJ Secretary's Discretion in Parricide Cases: Key Lessons from Asetre v. Asetre
The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of judicial review over the DOJ Secretary's finding of probable cause in parricide and murder cases.
Self-Defense or Murder: Credibility and Treachery in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies a killing as murder in People v. Pajabera.
Amnesty Limits in the Olalia Murder Case: Political Belief vs Criminal Prosecution
The Supreme Court clarifies that amnesty grants are limited to crimes disclosed in applications, not blanket immunity from prosecution.
Eyewitness Testimony and Alibi in Murder Cases: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when eyewitness testimony outweighs alibi and what evidence proves carnal knowledge in rape cases.