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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Rape and Consent: How Philippine Law Treats Force, Intimidation, and a Victim's Testimony
In People v. Rabosa, the Supreme Court affirmed a father's rape conviction and explained why physical resistance, healed lacerations, and calm behavior do not defeat a victim's testimony.
Estate Tax Collection: BIR Authority vs. Probate Court Jurisdiction
Supreme Court ruling on whether the BIR can levy estate properties without probate court approval, and the finality of tax assessments.
Rape Conviction Overcoming THE Defense OF Consensual SEX
Protecting the Vulnerable: Rape of Persons Deprived of Reason in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms that rape of a mentally incapacitated person can be proven through circumstantial evidence, securing justice for voiceless victims.
Witness Testimony and the Standard of Proof in Philippine Criminal Law
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony against denial and alibi in criminal cases, explained through a murder conviction.
How Reliable Eyewitness Testimony Secures Convictions in Philippine Courts
Philippine courts weigh witness credibility carefully when deciding criminal cases. Learn how positive identification and consistent testimony lead to convictions.
Rape Conviction Proving Penetration Beyond A Reasonable Doubt
How the Supreme Court ruled that finger insertion alone isn't rape, but penis penetration can be proven by medical evidence and credible victim testimony.
Rape Conviction Upheld: When Penetration Is Proven Beyond the Finger
Philippine Supreme Court explains why digital penetration plus penile entry constitutes rape, not just acts of lasciviousness.
Foreclosure Sales Ensuring Validity AND Protecting Property Rights IN THE Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts validate foreclosure sales and protect property rights through strict procedural compliance and equitable remedies.
Circumstantial Evidence and Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Criminal Law
How the Supreme Court weighed eyewitness testimony and circumstantial evidence in affirming a murder conviction in People v. Rabutin.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Victim Testimony and Resistance in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how victim testimony and resistance are weighed in Philippine criminal law.
Discharge of an Accomplice as a State Witness: Safeguarding Justice in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court affirms that trial courts' factual findings and witness credibility assessments are conclusive unless arbitrary, in a murder conviction.
Dying Declarations and Res Gestae: When Can a Victim's Words Convict?
Philippine Supreme Court explains when a dying victim's statement identifying an assailant is admissible as evidence, and how courts treat treachery.
Rape Conviction: Credibility of the Complainant and the Role of Intimidation
Philippine Supreme Court explains why a rape victim's credible testimony and intimidation by threat or weapon can sustain a conviction.
Amending Pleadings When CAN YOU Change Your Legal Strategy
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when courts must consider late answers and jurisdictional challenges in summary procedure cases.
Restrictions on Property Development: Can Associations Revise Deed Restrictions?
Explore the Supreme Court ruling on whether a property owners' association can validly revise deed restrictions on development.
Civil Liability After Death of Accused: Quasi-Delicts in Philippine Law
When an accused dies before final judgment, criminal liability ends. But civil liability may survive through quasi-delicts. Learn the rules.
Death of Accused Before Final Judgment: Civil Liability Extinguished Under Bayotas Doctrine
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that death of accused before final judgment extinguishes criminal and civil liability ex delicto, but separate civil action may survive.
Rescission vs Ejectment: Jurisdiction in Philippine Property Disputes
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when ejectment is premature: a contract to sell must first be rescinded before filing for possession.
Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Parricide Cases: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How Philippine courts use circumstantial evidence to convict in parricide cases, explained through People v. Lagao.
Preliminary Investigation Rules and Jurisdiction: Lessons from a Philippine Court Case
A Philippine judge's error on preliminary investigation jurisdiction offers practical lessons on criminal procedure and court authority.
Dying Declarations Admissibility and Impact on Criminal Cases in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts treat dying declarations in criminal cases, their admissibility requirements, and their impact on convictions.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Can You Justifiably Use Force?
The Supreme Court explains the three elements of self-defense in the Philippines and why a Palawan man's claim failed in a murder conviction.
The Power of Circumstantial Evidence in Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
When no eyewitness exists, circumstantial evidence can still convict. Learn the rules from People v. Salvame and how courts apply them.