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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Reasonable Doubt and Inconsistent Witness Testimony Lead to Murder Acquittal
Explaining how material inconsistencies in an eyewitness's testimony can create reasonable doubt, leading to acquittal in murder cases.
Self-Defense Claim Fails: Unlawful Aggression and Treachery in Murder Conviction
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction, ruling that a sudden bolo attack negates self-defense and constitutes treachery.
Self-Defense vs. Retaliation: When Justification Turns to Murder in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a plea of self-defense fails and becomes retaliation, leading to murder convictions.
The Limits of Self-Defense: Establishing Unlawful Aggression in Murder Cases
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that a vague, uncorroborated claim of self-defense cannot overcome the prosecution's evidence of murder by treachery.
Positive Identification Over Alibi Upholds Conviction In Murder Case
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, ruling that positive identification by eyewitnesses outweighs the weak defense of alibi and denial.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Supreme Court Acquits Three in Frustrated Murder Case
The Supreme Court acquits three accused of frustrated murder, ruling that inconsistent prosecution evidence failed to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Homicide vs Murder: When Treachery and Evident Premeditation Fail in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when a killing is homicide, not murder, because treachery and evident premeditation were not proven.
When a Sudden Stabbing Is Homicide, Not Murder: Lessons from People v. Macaspac
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden attack lacks treachery and evident premeditation, reducing murder to homicide.
Punctuality and Honesty: Upholding Integrity in the Philippine Judiciary
A murder conviction upheld on eyewitness testimony, clarifying treachery, conspiracy, and damages in Philippine criminal law.
When Silence Isn't Golden: The Perils of Unchallenged Eyewitness Testimony in Murder Convictions
A Supreme Court ruling shows how unchallenged eyewitness testimony can seal a murder conviction, and why defense lawyers must test it.
Burden of Proof in Firearm-Related Murder: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on proving unlicensed firearm use in murder cases and the prosecution's burden of proof.
Witness Credibility and Treachery: Key Lessons from a Philippine Murder Conviction
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, explaining how witness credibility and treachery are assessed in Philippine criminal law.
Eyewitness Testimony and Treachery: Conviction for Murder Upheld by Supreme Court
A look at how positive eyewitness identification and treachery established guilt beyond reasonable doubt in a murder case.
Treachery and Witness Credibility in Philippine Murder Convictions
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction, explaining treachery, witness credibility, and damages in Philippine criminal law.
Reckless Brawls AND Fatal Blows Differentiating Homicide From Murder IN THE Heat OF THE Moment
Treachery and Witness Credibility in Murder Cases Under Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on treachery and credible eyewitness testimony, explaining key rules on witness credibility and damages.
Treachery Defined: How Eyewitness Testimony Secures Murder Convictions in the Philippines
The Supreme Court explains how treachery qualifies killing as murder and why a consistent eyewitness account outweighs an alibi defense.
Treachery Defined: How Sudden Attacks Qualify as Murder in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains treachery as a qualifying circumstance for murder, using a sudden shooting as a clear example of the rule.
Eyewitness Testimony Prevails Over Denial and Alibi in Murder and Attempted Murder Conviction
The Supreme Court affirms a murder and attempted murder conviction, ruling that a police officer's positive eyewitness identification outweighs the accused's denial and alibi.
Treachery IN Murder HOW ITS Defined AND Proven Under Philippine LAW
Treachery and Witness Identification in Murder and Frustrated Murder Cases
The Supreme Court affirms murder and frustrated murder convictions, explaining treachery, witness credibility, and unlicensed firearm aggravating circumstances.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Denial in Murder Conviction
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction of Judge Velasco's killer, ruling that the victim's wife's positive identification prevails over alibi and denial.
Treachery in Criminal Law: How Philippine Courts Qualify a Killing as Murder
In People v. Avila, the Supreme Court explains when treachery qualifies a killing as murder, and why evident premeditation and abuse of superior strength failed.
Eyewitness Inconsistency and Reasonable Doubt: Scrutinizing Witness Testimony in Murder Cases
In People v. Vargas, the Supreme Court acquitted two murder accused after the lone eyewitness gave conflicting accounts of who killed the victim.