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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Unshaken Testimony: How Philippine Courts Weigh Eyewitness Accounts in Murder Cases
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on six counts of murder explains why minor inconsistencies in eyewitness testimony do not destroy credibility.
Conspiracy in Philippine Murder Cases: Why Mere Presence Isn't Enough
The Supreme Court acquits two brothers in People v. Abina, clarifying that mere presence or simultaneous acts don't prove conspiracy in murder.
Eyewitness Testimony and Murder Conviction: Insights from the De la Cruz Case
How a single eyewitness's positive identification secured a murder conviction and what it means for criminal cases in the Philippines.
Kidnapping for Ransom with Murder: The Special Complex Crime Explained
Philippine law treats kidnapping for ransom that ends in death as one special complex crime. Learn the rule from People v. Ramos.
Homicide vs Murder: Why Proving Qualifying Circumstances Matters in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains why proving treachery and evident premeditation raises a killing from homicide to murder in Philippine law.
Positive Identification Overcomes Alibi in Murder Conviction of Prison Inmates
Supreme Court affirms murder convictions of four inmates, ruling positive identification prevails over denial and alibi in prison killing.
Why Positive Identification Trumps Alibi in Philippine Criminal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains why credible eyewitness identification outweighs denial and alibi in murder convictions.
Positive Identification in Murder Cases: The Delmendo Ruling on Eyewitness Testimony
How the Supreme Court in People v. Delmendo weighed eyewitness testimony, positive identification, and treachery in affirming a murder conviction.
Unlicensed Firearm in Homicide: How Philippine Law Treats Illegal Gun Use in Murder Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains how R.A. 8294 changed the treatment of unlicensed firearms used in murder cases.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Defenseless Victims
The Supreme Court explains treachery, conspiracy, and self-defense in a murder case involving three brothers who shot an unarmed victim.
Unlicensed Firearm in Philippine Murder Cases: Understanding Aggravating Circumstances
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how unlicensed firearms affect murder charges, from separate offense to aggravating circumstance under RA 8294.
When Silence Breaks: The Power of Witness Testimony in Philippine Murder Cases
A teenager's delayed confession convicts a murderer in the Philippines, proving that credible witness testimony can outweigh inconsistent statements.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: When Killing Can Be Justified
The Supreme Court explains the three elements of self-defense in the Philippines and why a murder conviction stood despite the accused's claim.
When Self Defense Becomes Homicide: Treachery and Unlawful Aggression in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a claim of self-defense fails and why a killing is homicide, not murder, absent treachery.
Self-Defense or Murder: Understanding Justifying Circumstances in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when self-defense fails and why a killing may be homicide, not murder, in People v. Solis.
Treachery in Criminal Law: Understanding Sudden Attack in Philippine Murder Cases
The Supreme Court explains treachery in murder cases through a sudden stabbing attack, clarifying the elements and legal consequences.
Unraveling Treachery and Self-Defense: A Philippine Case Study on Murder Convictions
How the Supreme Court distinguished treachery from self-defense in a 1998 murder case, affirming convictions and clarifying burden of proof.
Frontal Attack CAN Still BE Treachery Understanding Suddenness AND Lack OF Defense IN Philippine Murder Cases
The Supreme Court explains how a frontal, sudden attack can still qualify as treachery in murder cases under Philippine law.
Eyewitness Identification and Conspiracy in Robbery With Homicide: People v. Caisip
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony, alibi, and treachery in murder cases, explained through People v. Caisip.
When A Back Attack Isnt Always Murder Examining Treachery IN Philippine Criminal LAW
The Supreme Court clarifies that a shot to the back does not automatically mean treachery, explaining when killing is homicide instead of murder.
Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Courts: Why Credibility Is Key in Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on eyewitness testimony, explaining how credibility, alibi, and evident premeditation are evaluated.
The Last Words Speak Volumes: Understanding Dying Declarations in Philippine Murder Cases
How Philippine courts treat dying declarations as evidence, explained through a 1998 Supreme Court murder ruling.
When Self-Defense Fails: Understanding Homicide vs. Murder in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when a killing becomes homicide, not murder, and why a weak self-defense claim can backfire.
Homicide vs Murder in the Philippines: Distinguishing Intent and Treachery in Criminal Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a killing is homicide, not murder, and why treachery must be proven conclusively.