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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Estafa Tightrope: Good Faith vs Criminal Intent in Bounced Check Cases
Supreme Court acquits AFPSLAI exec in falsification case, stressing that conviction requires proof of damage as alleged in the information.
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.
Good Faith in Bigamy: Limits of the Defense and Judicial Accountability
Bigamy requires criminal intent, but good faith has limits. A judge who acquitted based on a foreign divorce decree was fined for gross ignorance of the law.
When a Killing During a Carnapping Is Only Homicide: The Limits of Criminal Intent
The Supreme Court explains when a killing during an alleged carnapping may be punished only as homicide, not the special complex crime.
The Fine Line Between Self-Defense and Homicide: Establishing Intent in Criminal Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a claim of accident or self-defense fails, and how courts determine criminal intent in homicide cases.
Treachery and Homicide: The Nuances of Criminal Intent in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when treachery qualifies killing as murder, and when it remains simple homicide.
Homicide vs Murder: The Fine Line in Criminal Intent Under Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a killing is homicide, not murder, by examining treachery and evident premeditation.
THE Line Between Jealousy AND Murder Establishing Premeditation IN Criminal Intent
Conspiracy in Kidnapping for Ransom: Joint Criminal Intent Established by Concerted Acts
Supreme Court ruling on how conspiracy in kidnapping for ransom can be proven through complementary acts, not direct evidence of agreement.
Ombudsman's Discretion and the Power to Prosecute in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling on reckless imprudence, malice, and criminal intent shows why intent, once proven, defeats a defense of accident.
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.
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.
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.
Consent and Carnapping: When Initial Permission Negates Criminal Intent
The Supreme Court explains when initial consent to take a car negates unlawful taking, the core element of carnapping.
Holdover Principle Criminal Intent Key Lessons From Lecaroz v Sandiganbayan for Public Officials
The Supreme Court explains holdover doctrine and criminal intent in Lecaroz v Sandiganbayan, a landmark case for Philippine public officials.
Rape and Robbery: How Philippine Courts Determine Criminal Intent
A look at how the Supreme Court distinguished rape from robbery with rape, and why the accused's original intent matters in criminal prosecution.
Conspiracy AND Murder Understanding Shared Criminal Intent IN Philippine LAW 2
Conspiracy and Murder: Understanding Shared Criminal Intent in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling explains how dying declarations, eyewitness testimony, and treachery establish murder liability beyond reasonable doubt.
Homicide vs. Murder: How Philippine Courts Read Criminal Intent in an Information
A Supreme Court ruling explains when amending an information from homicide to murder is only a formal change, not a violation of the accused's rights.
Estafa vs Breach of Contract: When a Civil Wrong Becomes a Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies when failure to return leased property crosses from civil breach to criminal estafa, requiring criminal intent.