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 AND Witness Credibility Ensuring Justice FOR Victims OF Intentional Killings
Banks' Fiduciary Duty to Protect Depositors' Funds: What the Law Requires
Philippine law imposes a strict fiduciary duty on banks to protect depositors' funds. This article explains the legal standards and consequences of breach.
Strict Compliance With Bill of Lading Clauses Upholding Carrier Protection in Cargo Claims
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on strict compliance with bill of lading notice requirements in cargo damage claims against carriers.
Circumstantial Evidence in Parricide: How People v. Baño Established Guilt
In People v. Baño, the Supreme Court upheld a parricide conviction built entirely on circumstantial evidence, showing how an unbroken chain of events can prove guilt.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Can a Parent Company Be Liable for Its Subsidiary's Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court explains the strict requirements for piercing the corporate veil and holding a parent liable for subsidiary obligations.
Buy-Bust Operations: Ensuring Valid Drug Sale Convictions Through Proper Evidence and Procedure
The Supreme Court affirms a drug sale conviction, clarifying what evidence and procedure make buy-bust operations valid in Philippine criminal law.
COA Audit Authority Over Water Districts: Protecting Public Funds
The Supreme Court affirms COA's audit jurisdiction over local water districts, declaring PD 198's private audit provision unconstitutional.
Incestuous Rape and Moral Ascendancy as Substitute for Force in Philippine Law
In People v. Lou, the Supreme Court upheld a rape conviction on moral ascendancy, not force, and clarified when the death penalty may be imposed.
Alibi vs Positive Identification: When Does Alibi Hold Weight in Philippine Courts?
The Supreme Court explains when alibi can overcome positive identification, acquitting one accused while convicting two others for murder.
Buy-Bust Operations and Drug Convictions: Lessons from Arcilla v. People
The Supreme Court upholds buy-bust operations as valid arrests, explaining how courts weigh police testimony against claims of planted evidence.
Online Abuse and the Higher Penalty: Lessons from a Cyber VAWC Ruling
The Supreme Court affirmed a conviction for psychological abuse under R.A. 9262 and raised the penalty because the offense was committed through Facebook.
Estoppel in Jurisdiction: Participating in Court Waives Right to Later Challenge It
A party who actively participates in court proceedings cannot later question the court's jurisdiction. Learn the rule from Manila Bankers Life v. Eddy Ng Kok Wei.
Father's Conviction for Incestuous Rape Stands Despite Alibi Defense
Supreme Court affirms death penalty for father convicted of twice raping his minor daughter, rejecting alibi and upholding victim testimony.
Statutory Rape and the Need for Specific Allegations in Criminal Informations
The Supreme Court explains why precise dates and specific allegations in rape informations are crucial for due process and conviction.
Rape and Consent: The Supreme Court's Stance on Sweetheart Defense and Weapon Use
Learn how the Supreme Court treats date and relationship allegations in rape cases, and why precise time is not essential for conviction.
Parental Betrayal and Rape: When a Stepfather's Crime Redefines Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies statutory rape, qualifying circumstances, and why a stepfather's conviction for simple rape, not death, underscores due process.
Rape and Consent: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Law
How Philippine courts weigh a rape victim's testimony against the defense of denial, and why conviction requires proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Failure of Elections vs Election Protests: Defining COMELEC's Jurisdiction After Proclamation
The Supreme Court clarifies when a failure of election petition is proper and when the remedy should be an election protest after proclamation.
Eyewitness Testimony and Treachery: Proving Murder Beyond Reasonable Doubt
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on credible eyewitness testimony and treachery despite minor inconsistencies in witnesses’ accounts.
Rape and Credibility: How Inconsistencies in Victim Testimony Are Weighed
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts assess victim credibility, force, intimidation, and qualifying circumstances in rape cases.
Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies: Funeral Homes and Zoning Regulations
Supreme Court ruling on exhaustion of administrative remedies in zoning disputes involving funeral homes and the HLURB's appellate jurisdiction.
Foreclosure Publication Requirements: Protecting Property Rights in Rural Bank Loans
Learn how strict publication rules in rural bank foreclosures protect property owners, and why buyers must verify possession before purchasing.
Kidnapping Conviction Stands Even If Victim's Body Is Never Found
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: a kidnapper cannot escape liability simply because the victim's remains are never discovered.
Erroneous Identification Leads to Acquittal Safeguarding Due Process in Criminal Proceedings
The Supreme Court acquits a murder convict when a suggestive police showup and unreliable eyewitness identification violate due process.