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.
Eyewitness Testimony and Criminal Conviction: Credibility Rules in Philippine Courts
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony in criminal cases, explained through the 2002 Jakosalem murder decision.
Treachery in Crimes Against Children: Ensuring Justice for Vulnerable Victims
The Supreme Court affirms murder conviction of a man who beat a two-year-old to death, clarifying treachery, mitigating circumstances, and penalties.
Uncertain Testimony in Rape Cases: Safeguarding Justice and Due Process
The Supreme Court clarifies that an imprecise date in a rape information does not void it, but failure to allege the victim's age bars the death penalty.
Rape and Resistance: Why Full Penetration and Hymen Rupture Are Not Required in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that rape is consummated by mere penile entry into the labia, not full penetration or hymen rupture.
Conspiracy and Treachery: Examining Criminal Liability in Joint Offenses
Explore how conspiracy and treachery shape criminal liability in joint offenses under Philippine law, with insights from recent jurisprudence.
Reasonable Doubt Acquittal in Statutory Rape Case Due to Inconsistent Testimony
Supreme Court acquits father in statutory rape case, ruling that inconsistent testimony and intact hymen created reasonable doubt.
From Murder to Mayhem: Gauging Intent and Injury in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a deadly attack becomes only slight physical injuries, not frustrated murder, based on wound severity and medical treatment.
Eyewitness Testimony vs. Alibi: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Murder Cases
How a credible eyewitness account outweighs alibi and denial in Philippine murder convictions, per People v. Ticalo.
Positive Identification Overrules Alibi in Vergara Robbery Case
Supreme Court affirms robbery conviction, holding that a victim's positive identification prevails over an accused's alibi and bare denial.
Moral Ascendancy and Intrafamilial Rape: Examining the Boundaries of Consent
A look at how the Supreme Court treats rape by a trusted neighbor and the limits of consent in close relationships.
Witness Credibility and Treachery in Murder Cases: Lessons from People v. Medios
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, explaining how credible eyewitness testimony, conspiracy, and treachery establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Parental Authority VS Statutory Rape Allegation OF Minority Must BE Explicit FOR Qualified Rape Conviction
SC rules minority must be alleged in information for qualified rape; Laciste convicted of simple rape, not death penalty.
Dying Declarations and Witness Credibility: Reevaluating Guilt in Homicide Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies rape conviction standards, intact hymen evidence, and proper death penalty application in People v. Dayna.
Intact Hymen Does Not Negate Rape: SC Upholds Conviction But Reduces Death Penalty
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction despite intact hymen, but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua for lack of qualifying circumstances.
The Boundaries of Consent: Statutory Rape and the Exploitation of Minors in the Philippines
The Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Jalosjos clarifies that statutory rape applies regardless of consent, especially when minors are exploited.
Lone Witness Credibility: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Criminal Law
How Philippine courts assess a lone witness's credibility in criminal cases, and why positive identification defeats alibi.
Proving Victim’s Age in Rape Cases: When Death Penalty Fails
In People v. Virrey, the Supreme Court ruled that minority must be proven beyond reasonable doubt before the death penalty can be imposed in rape cases.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Supreme Court Upholds Statutory Rape Conviction Despite Reporting Delay
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, ruling that a victim's delay in reporting the crime does not automatically undermine her credibility.
Publicity vs Fair Trial: Reassessing Damages in Heinous Crime Convictions
The Supreme Court clarifies that pervasive media coverage does not automatically deny an accused a fair trial, and adjusts excessive damage awards.
Guilt Beyond Doubt: Circumstantial Evidence and Illegal Firearms in Murder Conviction
How the Supreme Court upheld a murder conviction based on circumstantial evidence and illegal firearms possession under PD 1866.
Rape With Deadly Weapon Intimidation Consent And The Boundaries Of Legal Proof
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape with intimidation, deadly weapon, desistance, alibi, and proof of minority.
Rape Conviction Affirmed Credibility of Witnesses and Impact of Minor Inconsistencies
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, holding that minor inconsistencies in witness testimony do not undermine credibility.
Incestuous Rape: When a Father's Moral Ascendancy Replaces Force and Intimidation
The Supreme Court explains how a father's moral ascendancy over his daughter substitutes for force and intimidation in incestuous rape cases.
Rape and Credibility: Evaluating Testimony in the Face of Physical Disability
Physical disability alone does not negate rape liability. The Supreme Court affirms conviction, explaining how credibility, not disability, decides rape cases.