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.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Acquittal in Attempted Murder Based on Insufficient Circumstantial Evidence
The Supreme Court acquits a school principal of attempted murder, ruling that hearsay and unverified confessions cannot support a conviction based on circumstantial evidence.
Lawyers Cannot Claim Ignorance of Basic Procedures to Abandon Client Obligations
Philippine Supreme Court rules a lawyer's claim of ignorance in filing a motion for reconsideration is no excuse for neglecting a client's case.
Duress or Deception: When Fear Fails as a Defense in Kidnapping for Ransom
The Supreme Court explains when uncontrollable fear is not a valid defense in kidnapping for ransom cases.
Attorney's Duty of Fidelity: Neglect and Abandonment in Legal Representation
When a lawyer takes a client's money and disappears with case records, the Supreme Court draws a firm line on professional responsibility.
Workplace Misconduct: Striking Subordinates and Maintaining Decorum in the Judiciary
Supreme Court ruling on a supervisor who struck a subordinate, emphasizing decorum and discipline in the judiciary.
Authorized Driver Clause and Police Blotters in Insurance Claims
When can an insurer deny a claim based on the authorized driver clause? The Supreme Court explains the evidentiary weight of police blotters.
The Boundaries of Self Defense When Force Becomes Unlawful Aggression in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense is valid and when force becomes unlawful aggression in criminal cases.
Judicial Integrity Under Scrutiny: False Statements and the Limits of Bribery Claims in the Philippines
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling on dismissing an unproven bribery complaint against a judge while penalizing false statements under judicial ethics.
Attempted Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Retraction and Blotter Gaps
Supreme Court affirms attempted rape conviction, explaining why recantations and police blotter entries carry little weight in Philippine criminal cases.
Affidavits of Desistance: When Do They Overturn a Guilty Verdict?
When can an affidavit of desistance overturn a guilty verdict? The Supreme Court explains in Santos v. People.
Rape and Incest: Minor Testimony Inconsistencies Don't Undermine Conviction
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how minor inconsistencies in a rape victim's testimony don't weaken her credibility, and why minority must be proven.
The Weight of a Minor's Testimony in Rape Cases: Credibility vs Presumption of Innocence
How Philippine courts weigh a minor rape victim's testimony against the presumption of innocence, and when delay in reporting does not destroy credibility.
Expediting Justice: Holding Judges Accountable for Case Delays
The Supreme Court affirms sanctions against a Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice for gross inefficiency, underscoring that judges must decide cases within 90 days.
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.
Amendment of Information: Balancing Procedural Rules and the Accused's Right to Due Process
When can the prosecution amend an Information after the accused pleads? The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between formal and substantial amendments.
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.
Reforming Insurance Policies How Manifest Intent Prevails Over Technical Descriptions In Property Claims
A fire insurance dispute shows how courts prioritize the parties' true intent over technical misdescriptions in policies.
Prescription Periods in Graft Cases: The Discovery Rule for Ill-Gotten Wealth
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when the prescription period for graft cases begins—from discovery, not commission, of the offense.
Understanding Treachery in Murder Cases: Insights from People v. Barro Jr.
Learn how Philippine courts define treachery in murder cases and why alibi fails against positive identification, based on a Supreme Court ruling.
Maintaining Workplace Decorum: Lessons on Grave Misconduct from the Philippine Supreme Court
A Supreme Court ruling on a belligerent employee shows why workplace decorum is non-negotiable in the Philippine public service.
Philippine Supreme Court Disciplines Court Employee for Disrespectful Conduct in Workplace
The Supreme Court fined a court employee P5,000 for shouting at and humiliating a co-worker during office hours, reaffirming strict standards of decorum in the judiciary.
Credibility in Rape Cases: Why Minor Inconsistencies Don't Always Matter in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court explains why minor inconsistencies in a rape victim's testimony do not destroy credibility, especially in incestuous rape cases.
Unpacking Treachery: How Philippine Courts Define Murder
A look at how Philippine courts define treachery in murder cases, and why eyewitness identification must overcome reasonable doubt.
Sheriff’s Authority in Property Levy: What Francisco v. Cruz Teaches About Execution Sales
Learn how Francisco v. Cruz defines a sheriff’s limits in property levy and execution sales, and how to protect your rights.