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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Treachery Must Be Proven Beyond Reasonable Doubt to Sustain a Murder Conviction
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden attack amounts to treachery, and why qualifying circumstances must be proven like any other element of the crime.
Eyewitness Testimony and the Standard of Proof in Murder Convictions: People v. Watamama
The Supreme Court clarifies when eyewitness testimony suffices for conviction and why treachery must be proven, not presumed, in murder cases.
Positive Identification and Conspiracy in Murder and Frustrated Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms murder and frustrated murder convictions based on positive identification, conspiracy, and treachery in People v. Maglente.
Treachery in Criminal Law: The Element of Surprise in Murder Convictions
Understand how treachery qualifies killing as murder under Philippine law, explained through a Supreme Court ruling on a sudden stabbing.
Guilt Beyond Doubt: Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms murder convictions based on circumstantial evidence, explaining when such evidence suffices to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Murder Conviction
Supreme Court rules positive identification by credible eyewitnesses outweighs denial and alibi defenses in murder cases.
When Kin Turn Killers: Conspiracy and Defense of Relatives in Philippine Murder Law
The Supreme Court affirms murder convictions of three relatives, clarifying conspiracy and the defense of relatives under Article 11 of the Revised Penal Code.
When a Single Witness Suffices: Murder Conviction Upheld on Credible Testimony
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction based on a lone eyewitness's credible testimony, clarifying rules on treachery and damages.
Treachery and Intent: How Grenade Attacks Establish Criminal Liability
The Supreme Court explains how treachery and criminal intent are established when a grenade is thrown into a crowd, affirming a murder conviction.
Treachery in Criminal Law: The Element of Surprise in Murder Convictions
How sudden, unexpected attacks qualify killings as murder under Article 248 of the Revised Penal Code, explained through a 2013 Supreme Court ruling.
Self-Defense and Proximate Cause: When a Killing Is Homicide, Not Murder
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies self-defense requirements and treachery in homicide cases, reducing murder conviction to homicide.
Treachery's Shadow: Murder and Eyewitness Identification in the Anis Massacre
The Supreme Court affirms murder and attempted murder convictions from the 1999 Anis massacre, ruling on treachery and eyewitness identification.
Reasonable Doubt When Eyewitness Testimony Falls Short in Murder Conviction
Supreme Court acquits murder accused where lone eyewitness testimony was riddled with improbabilities, casting reasonable doubt on identity.
Self-Defense Claim Fails Without Unlawful Aggression in Murder Conviction
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction, holding that self-defense requires proof of unlawful aggression, which was absent when the victim was unarmed and attacked suddenly.
Treachery in Criminal Law: How Intent and Sudden Attack Shape Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court explains how treachery qualifies killing as murder, requiring deliberate, sudden attack leaving victim no defense.
Treachery in Criminal Law: How Sudden Attacks Determine Murder Convictions in the Philippines
Explore how treachery qualifies a killing as murder under Philippine law, as explained in People v. Asilan.
Treachery and Dwelling: Aggravating Circumstances in Philippine Murder Cases
How the Supreme Court applied treachery and dwelling as qualifying and aggravating circumstances in a murder conviction, with practical lessons.
The Weight of a Dying Declaration in Affirming a Murder Conviction
The Supreme Court explains when a victim's dying words naming an assailant are admissible and sufficient to affirm a murder conviction.
Dying Declarations and Abuse of Superior Strength in Murder Convictions
A Supreme Court ruling on murder clarifies dying declarations, abuse of superior strength, and damages in criminal cases.
Eyewitness Testimony and Conspiracy Affirming Guilt in Murder Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on credible eyewitness testimony, conspiracy, and treachery, explaining key rules for criminal cases.
Unwavering Witness: How Philippine Courts Value Eyewitness Testimony in Murder Cases
Philippine Supreme Court affirms murder conviction based on credible eyewitness testimony, explaining how courts weigh witness credibility against alibi defenses.
Eyewitness Reliability Scrutinizing Identification in Criminal Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms murder convictions based on a lone eyewitness, clarifying standards for witness credibility and identification in criminal cases.
Treachery and Witness Credibility: Proving Murder Beyond Reasonable Doubt
A Supreme Court ruling explains how treachery is established and why minor witness inconsistencies do not weaken a murder conviction.
Treachery in Group Attacks: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Murder Cases
How the Supreme Court upheld murder convictions based on positive identification and treachery in a group attack, explaining key evidentiary rules.