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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Statutory Rape Conviction Modified to Simple Rape When Victim's Age Not Proven Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies proof required for statutory rape, modifying conviction to simple rape when victim's age wasn't established beyond reasonable doubt.
Moral Ascendancy in Incestuous Rape Cases: Conviction Based on Victim's Testimony
Supreme Court affirms incestuous rape conviction, holding a father's moral ascendancy substitutes for force or intimidation, and clarifies limits on multiple convictions.
Parental Betrayal Conviction FOR Trafficking Children IN Cybersex Operations
Supreme Court affirms life sentences for parents who forced their minor children into cybersex and prostitution under RA 9208.
Circumstantial Evidence Suffices Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Victims Unconsciousness
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on circumstantial evidence, ruling that a victim rendered unconscious need not provide direct testimony of the act.
Upholding Conviction in Drug Sale: Minor Inconsistencies Do Not Taint Evidence Integrity
Minor witness inconsistencies do not destroy a drug sale conviction when the corpus delicti's chain of custody remains intact.
Entrapment vs Instigation: Defining the Boundaries of Drug Law Enforcement in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between entrapment and instigation in drug cases, upholding a buy-bust conviction under RA 9165.
Challenging Drug Convictions: The Importance of Chain of Custody in Illegal Possession Cases
A Supreme Court ruling shows how broken chain of custody and flawed inventory can lead to acquittal in drug possession cases.
Striking A Balance Upholding Justice Despite Procedural Lapses IN Labor Disputes
A lawyer's issuance of a worthless check constitutes gross misconduct warranting suspension from practice, even without criminal conviction.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Direct Assault with Murder Case
Supreme Court affirms conviction for direct assault with murder, ruling positive identification by an eyewitness outweighs denial and alibi defenses.
Chain of Custody Lapses and Reasonable Doubt in Drug Cases: People v. Seguiente
When police break the chain of custody rule in drug cases, conviction may fail. Learn the rule from People v. Seguiente.
Deception and Trafficking: Protecting Vulnerable Individuals from Exploitation
The Supreme Court affirmed a trafficking conviction where a recruiter promised local house-helper jobs but delivered minors to forced labor in Marawi City.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Ensuring Justice for Victims of Sudden Attacks
The Supreme Court clarifies treachery and evident premeditation in murder cases, affirming a conviction based on a sudden, unexpected attack.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding Justice in Statutory Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, clarifying the relative nature of force and increasing damages awarded to minor victims.
Eyewitness Testimony and Treachery in Murder Cases: Key Lessons from People v. Cadampog
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on eyewitness identification and treachery, explaining how positive identification and sudden attack establish guilt.
Upholding Drug Convictions: The Importance of Chain of Custody in Illegal Drug Cases
The Supreme Court affirms drug convictions, explaining why strict compliance with the chain of custody rule is crucial.
Victim Credibility in Rape Cases: The Role of Corroborating Medical Evidence
How Philippine courts weigh victim testimony, medical findings, and identification in rape convictions, explained through a 2018 Supreme Court ruling.
Upholding the Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Ensuring Integrity of Evidence
The Supreme Court affirms a drug conviction, explaining why strict compliance with the chain of custody rule under RA 9165 is vital.
Protecting Childhood: Upholding Conviction in Statutory Rape Cases Based on Victim Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, holding that a child victim's credible testimony alone suffices to prove carnal knowledge.
Protecting Children Moral Ascendancy AND Criminal Liability FOR Sexual Abuse IN THE Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms robbery with rape conviction, clarifying out-of-court identification rules and damages for sexual abuse victims.
Safeguarding Rights: Strict Chain of Custody Critical in Drug Cases
Philippine jurisprudence demands an unbroken chain of custody for seized drugs; gaps in the links can invalidate a conviction and restore the presumption of innocence.
Child Abuse Conviction for Lascivious Acts Against a Minor Under RA 7610
The Supreme Court clarifies when lascivious acts against a child constitute child abuse under RA 7610, not just acts of lasciviousness.
Affidavit of Recantation: When Does It Reverse a Conviction
The Supreme Court explains when a complainant's recantation can overturn a conviction and why courts view retractions with suspicion.
How Philippine Courts Assess Credibility and Consent in Rape Cases
A look at how the Supreme Court evaluates witness credibility, consent, and damages in rape convictions, using People v. Bugna.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Credibility of Victim Testimony and the Weakness of Alibi Defense
In People v. Ganaba, the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction, stressing that victim testimony can outweigh alibi and denial defenses in criminal cases.