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.
Self-Defense vs. Criminal Intent: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Homicide Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense fails and how treachery qualifies killing as murder, not homicide.
Employer Liability for Vehicular Accidents: Proving Due Diligence in Hiring Drivers
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies employer liability for driver negligence, emphasizing documentary proof of due diligence in hiring and supervision.
Qualified Theft and Circumstantial Evidence: When Conviction Stands Without Direct Proof
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices to convict for qualified theft, and how courts fix the value of stolen goods.
Intent to Kill: What Separates Frustrated Homicide from Serious Physical Injuries
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how intent to kill distinguishes frustrated homicide from serious physical injuries, with practical guidance on evidence.
Rape and the Incapacity to Consent: Protecting the Intellectually Disabled in Philippine Law
Philippine law treats rape as a violation of autonomy, especially when the victim cannot consent due to intellectual disability. This article explains the key ruling.
Murder with Direct Assault: Supreme Court Affirms Conviction in People v. Estonilo
The Supreme Court affirmed the conviction for Murder with Direct Assault in People v. Estonilo, highlighting the role of circumstantial evidence and the weakness of alibi.
Breach of Trust as Just Cause for Termination: Protecting Employer Confidence
When an employee's dishonesty erodes the employer's trust, dismissal may be justified under Article 282 of the Labor Code.
Incestuous Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Alleged Testimonial Inconsistencies
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, ruling minor inconsistencies in victim testimony do not undermine credibility or the prosecution's case.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Intimidation Overcomes Lack of Physical Resistance
Philippine Supreme Court rules that intimidation, not physical resistance, is key in rape cases, upholding a conviction based on a knife threat.
Double Insurance Claims: When CBA Hospitalization Benefits Exclude Other Insurer Payments
Philippine Supreme Court rules on whether CBA hospitalization benefits can be claimed alongside other health insurance payments. Key ruling explained.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Force, Intimidation, and Credibility in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining force, intimidation, witness credibility, and damages in Philippine criminal law.
Attorney’s Fees in the Philippines: When Courts Can Award Them
Philippine courts cannot award attorney's fees without clear justification. Learn the rules under Article 2208 of the Civil Code.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Delay in Reporting Does Not Negate Victim Credibility
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, ruling that a victim's delay in reporting does not automatically discredit her testimony.
Blind Curves and Fault: When a Bus Driver’s Contributory Negligence Still Means Acquittal
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies proximate cause in blind-curve collisions, acquitting a bus driver whose negligence was only contributory.
Treachery and Self-Defense: Understanding Criminal Liability in the Philippines
A Supreme Court ruling explains when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies a killing as murder under Philippine law.
Annulment of Judgment: The High Bar for Overturning Final Decisions in the Philippines
Philippine courts rarely overturn final convictions. This case explains the strict standards for credibility, treachery, and finality of judgments.
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.
When Can You Intervene in a Philippine Case? Cayanan v. North Star Analysis
Learn when courts allow intervention in Philippine cases through Cayanan v. North Star, and how civil liability survives criminal acquittal.
Brief Detention Still Counts: Kidnapping and Serious Illegal Detention in the Philippines
Even one hour of illegal restraint can be kidnapping of a minor. Learn the elements and penalties under Article 267.
Navigating Inconsistencies in Rape Testimony: Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence
The Supreme Court clarifies when inconsistencies in a rape victim's testimony matter and when they do not, acquitting on three counts but convicting on one.
When Silence Is Not Golden: Understanding Conspiracy in Philippine Murder Cases
The Supreme Court explains conspiracy in murder cases, when intoxication and evident premeditation apply, and why silence after a crime matters.
Employer’s Subsidiary Liability for Employee Crimes: The Calang Ruling
Employers are only subsidiarily liable for employees’ criminal acts. The Calang ruling explains when and how this liability applies.
The Fresh Period Rule for Appeals in Philippine Criminal Cases
Learn how the Supreme Court applied the fresh period rule to criminal appeals, giving accused persons a full 15 days from denial of post-judgment motions.
When a Guilty Plea Is Not Enough: Proving Murder Beyond Reasonable Doubt
The Supreme Court explains why a guilty plea to a capital offense still requires the prosecution to prove guilt and the precise degree of culpability.