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.
Intent to Kill: How Philippine Courts Determine Attempted and Frustrated Homicide
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish attempted from frustrated homicide through intent to kill, based on a 2006 Supreme Court ruling.
Road Repair Responsibility When Negligence Leads to Liability
When road diggings lack warning devices, local governments may be liable for damages. The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on negligence, moral damages, and gross negligence.
Rape and Incest: The Supreme Court's Stance on Protecting Victims From Parental Abuse
The Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, clarifying force is relative and rejecting the sweetheart defense in abuse cases.
Positive Identification Prevails Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Minor Testimony Inconsistencies
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on the victim's credible, positive testimony, rejecting alibi and minor inconsistencies in the prosecution's case.
Rape Conviction Stands Even Without Physical Injury: Absence of Genital Wounds Does Not Mean Consent
Philippine Supreme Court ruling: rape of a mentally incapacitated victim needs no genital injury; absence of wounds does not imply consent.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Intimidation With a Weapon Constitutes Force in Sexual Assault
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, ruling that threatening a victim with a bolo constitutes the force or intimidation required by law.
Slightest Penetration Consummated Rape Defined in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that slightest penetration of the labia consummates rape, even without hymenal laceration or full entry.
When Medical Evidence Is Absent: Conviction for Rape Based on Victim's Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction despite normal medical findings, explaining why a child victim's testimony can be enough.
Presence vs Participation: When Mere Presence Creates Criminal Liability in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when mere presence at a crime scene constitutes conspiracy versus innocent observation, using a rape case as example.
Rape and Consent: Examining the Boundaries of Force and Intimidation in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that rape is defined by lack of consent, not by the timing of physical force. A knife held during the act proves intimidation, and the death penalty was reduced to reclusio
Defining the Boundaries of Rape: Penetration vs Attempt in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when rape is consummated versus merely attempted, requiring proof of penile entry into the labia.
Consent Is Key: Why the Sweetheart Defense Fails in Philippine Rape Cases
The Supreme Court explains why a supposed love affair cannot justify rape, and why consent must be proven, not assumed.
Lascivious Conduct Under RA 7610: What People v. Larin Teaches About Child Protection
Understand lascivious conduct under RA 7610 through People v. Larin, and how Philippine law protects children from sexual abuse.
Medical Malpractice in the Philippines: Navigating Negligence Claims
Learn how Philippine courts handle medical malpractice and negligence claims, including key legal principles and practical guidance.
Dynamite Fishing in the Philippines: Laws, Penalties, and the People vs. Vergara Case
Learn the Philippine law against dynamite fishing, penalties under P.D. 704, and key lessons from People vs. Vergara.
Attempted Rape in the Philippines: Elements, Intent, and Legal Consequences
Learn the legal distinction between consummated and attempted rape in the Philippines, including the elements of intent, overt acts, and interruption.
Rape Conviction Despite Intact Hymen: The Legal Definition of Rape in the Philippines
Philippine law does not require a broken hymen to prove rape. Entry into the labia is enough. Learn the legal definition.