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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Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi: Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Criminal Law
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification against alibi, explained through a Supreme Court murder case.
No Conspiracy No Murder: Independent Liability in Criminal Actions
Supreme Court clarifies conspiracy rules in People v. Pablo, distinguishing murder from attempted homicide and refining damage awards.
Conspiracy and Treachery in Murder Cases: Lessons from People v. Pablo
The Supreme Court explains how conspiracy and treachery define murder in the Philippines, using the 2001 People v. Pablo ruling.
The Weight of Testimony: Understanding Witness Credibility in Philippine Murder Cases
How Philippine courts assess witness credibility in murder cases, explained through the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Alo.
Eyewitness Testimony vs Alibi: Credibility in Philippine Murder Trials
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness credibility against alibi defenses, and why qualifying circumstances must be proven.
The Limits of a Judge's Power in Preliminary Investigation: Lessons from Cabarloc v. Cabusora
A municipal judge cannot downgrade a murder charge or order the release of accused during preliminary investigation—that power belongs to the prosecutor.
When Silence Isnt Golden Understanding Conspiracy AND Liability IN Murder Cases Under Philippine LAW
The Supreme Court clarifies the line between conspiracy and mere accomplice liability in a murder case where one brother struck the victim and the other delivered the fatal stab.
Decoding Criminal Liability: Principal vs Accomplice in Philippine Murder Cases
Learn how Philippine courts distinguish a principal from an accomplice in murder, using the 2000 Bato brothers case as a guide.
When Eyewitness Testimony and Conspiracy Lead to Conviction: Murder Liability in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on murder conviction based on eyewitness identification, conspiracy, and treachery, and why alibi fails.
Conspiracy and Homicide vs Murder: Understanding Criminal Liability in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies conspiracy, treachery, and qualifying circumstances in homicide versus murder convictions.
Self-Defense or Murder: Understanding Justifiable Homicide in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense applies in Philippine homicide cases and why a murder charge became homicide.
When Domestic Discipline Turns Deadly: Murder and Cruelty in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling on murder qualified by cruelty examines domestic abuse, criminal liability, and the exemption of relatives as accessories.
Murder or Homicide: Understanding Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law from People v. Templo
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a sudden attack amounts to treachery—and when it is only homicide, not murder.
When Does A Killing Qualify As Homicide Instead Of Murder
The Supreme Court explains when a killing is homicide, not murder, focusing on treachery and its proof.
Self-Defense or Murder: Unpacking Unlawful Aggression and Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law
A Philippine Army soldier's claim of self-defense fails when the victim was shot from behind. Learn the legal requisites of unlawful aggression and treachery.
Credible Eyewitnesses vs Weak Alibis: Key Insights From a Philippine Murder Case
Learn how Philippine courts weigh credible eyewitness testimony against weak alibis in murder cases, with practical insights for legal professionals.
Credible Eyewitness Testimony Overcomes Alibi in Philippine Murder Case
Explore how credible eyewitness testimony defeats alibi in Philippine murder cases, citing People v. Panela and key legal principles.
When Alibi Fails Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Kidnapping Murder Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when circumstantial evidence is insufficient to convict in kidnapping-murder cases, acquitting two accused.
When Self-Defense Claims Fall Short: Credibility in Philippine Homicide Cases
A Supreme Court ruling explains why self-defense claims fail without credible evidence, and when murder is reduced to homicide.
Unlawful Aggression in Self-Defense: Key to Avoiding Murder Charges in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court defines unlawful aggression in self-defense claims and why failing to prove it can lead to murder or homicide convictions.
Eyewitness Testimony vs Hearsay: Key to Murder Conviction in Philippine Courts
How a single eyewitness's credible testimony outweighed the defense's hearsay claims in a Philippine murder conviction.
Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Courts: Why It Matters in Murder Cases
How the Supreme Court weighs eyewitness testimony, hearsay, and alibi in murder convictions, explained through a landmark 2000 ruling.
Positive Identification Trumps Alibi: Witness Credibility in Philippine Murder Cases
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification against alibi and denial in murder cases, explained through a Supreme Court ruling.
Conspiracy in Philippine Law: How Group Actions Lead to Shared Criminal Liability
The Supreme Court explains when conspirators share equal blame for a crime, using a murder case where two brothers attacked one victim.