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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Faith Healing or Reckless Endangerment: Distinguishing Intent in Unlicensed Medical Practices Under Philippine
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when unlicensed faith healing causing death is reckless imprudence, not murder.
Disputes in Real Estate: Clarifying Intent in Land Sale Agreements
When buyers and sellers disagree on what land was sold, Philippine courts look to the parties' true intent, not just the written deed.
Intent Matters Distinguishing Robbery With Rape From Separate Crimes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a sexual assault followed by taking property is one complex crime or separate offenses.
Philippine Election Law: Ballot Appreciation and Voter Intent in Ong v. Comelec
How the Supreme Court protects voter intent in ballot appreciation, using Ong v. Comelec to explain stray votes, markings, and validity rules.
Treachery in Philippine Murder Cases: Intent and Execution Explained
How Philippine courts define treachery in murder, why it raises killing to murder, and what it means for criminal liability.
Proving Bouncing Checks Cases in Philippine Courts: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
B.P. 22 convictions don't require proving intent or a pre-existing debt. Learn what courts actually look for in bouncing checks cases.
Homicide vs Robbery With Homicide: Distinguishing Intent and Proving the Crime
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when robbery with homicide stands, when it falls to homicide, and how intent to gain is proven in carnapping.
Breach of Trust vs Criminal Intent: Understanding Estafa in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that estafa through abuse of confidence does not require criminal intent—breach of trust suffices.
Good Faith and Falsification: When Honest Belief Defeats Criminal Intent in Public Documents
The Supreme Court in Layug v. Sandiganbayan ruled that good faith and absence of damage can defeat a falsification charge.
Bouncing Checks Intent Is Irrelevant Under Batas Pambansa Blg. 22
The Supreme Court clarifies that under the Bouncing Checks Law, criminal intent and purpose are irrelevant. Issuing a bad check is malum prohibitum.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Intent and Victim Vulnerability
Understand treachery and abuse of superior strength in Philippine criminal law through the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Lazarte.
Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: Establishing Shared Criminal Intent
Explaining conspiracy in Philippine criminal law through People v. Flora, where the Supreme Court clarified the limits of co-conspirator liability.
Upholding Statutory Intent: HDMF Rule-Making Power and Employee Benefit Exemptions
Supreme Court rules HDMF exceeded its authority by requiring both provident and housing plans for Pag-IBIG exemption.
When a Franchise Expires: Object of Sale and Royalty Fees Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether royalty fees continue when the assigned franchise right expires, interpreting contract intent.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
Learn how treachery qualifies homicide to murder in Philippine law, explained through the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Obosa.
Ballot Interpretation Upholding Voter Intent in Philippine Elections
How the Supreme Court applied the neighborhood, idem sonans, and intent rules to uphold voter intent in a barangay election protest.
Forcible Abduction vs Rape: Distinguishing Intent and Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on People v. Abalde clarifies statutory rape, force, intimidation, and evidence standards in sexual assault cases.
Conspiracy and Intent: How Philippine Courts Establish Criminal Liability
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how conspiracy and intent establish criminal liability, and why charging documents must state every qualifying circumstance.
Treachery and Criminal Intent: How Philippine Courts Establish Murder Liability
The Supreme Court explains how treachery and intent to kill are proven in murder cases, using the conviction of Maximo Hernandez as an example.
Vehicular Homicide Establishing Intent IN Motor Vehicle Murder Cases
Qualified Theft vs Robbery with Homicide: Force and Intent Distinguished
Supreme Court clarifies when unlawful taking without proven force is qualified theft, not robbery with homicide.
Navigating Defamation Intent Context AND The Line Between Grave AND Slight Oral Defamation
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish grave from slight oral defamation, focusing on context, intent, and relationships between parties.
Abandonment in Labor Disputes: Defining Intent and Action
Understanding how Philippine labor law defines abandonment—requiring both intent to sever and unequivocal acts—and why employers must prove it.
Distinguishing Homicide From Robbery With Homicide: Intent Is the Decisive Factor
The Supreme Court explains when taking a victim's property after a killing is theft, not robbery with homicide.