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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Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conspiracy, credibility of witnesses, and the requirement of proof beyond reasonable doubt in murder cases.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
Learn how treachery qualifies homicide to murder in Philippine law, explained through the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Obosa.
Rape Conviction and Procedural Accuracy: Lessons from People v. Magat
A father's rape conviction shows why void plea bargains, double jeopardy, and proper arraignment procedure matter in Philippine criminal law.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Sudden Attacks and Murder Convictions
Learn how treachery qualifies killing as murder in the Philippines, explained through the 2000 Supreme Court ruling in People v. Obosa.
Dying Declarations and Precise Identification in Philippine Criminal Law
Explore how Philippine courts treat dying declarations and why precise identification matters in criminal cases.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: When a Sudden Attack Is Not Enough
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden attack qualifies as treachery in murder cases, and when it does not.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Why Victim Defenselessness Matters
The Supreme Court clarifies when treachery qualifies killing to murder, focusing on the victim's defenselessness and sudden attack.
Evaluating Witness Credibility in Philippine Criminal Law: The Orio Brothers Case
How Philippine courts weigh witness credibility, minor inconsistencies, and qualifying circumstances like treachery in murder cases.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: The Element of Surprise in Homicide Cases
How the Supreme Court distinguished treachery from a sudden, provoked attack in People v. Caverte, and what it means for murder charges.
Self-Defense and Alibi in Philippine Criminal Law: Lessons from People v. Caverte
A look at how the Supreme Court applied self-defense, alibi, treachery, and conspiracy rules in People v. Caverte.
Homicide or Murder: Decoding Treachery and Premeditation in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court explains when treachery and evident premeditation qualify a killing as murder, and when the crime remains homicide.
The Power of Witness Testimony: Examining Credibility in Philippine Criminal Law
How the Supreme Court weighs eyewitness credibility against alibi defenses in Philippine criminal cases, and why positive identification prevails.
Splitting Appeals: Why Concurrent Jurisdiction Matters in Philippine Criminal Law
A single decision cannot be split between two courts. Learn why the Supreme Court has exclusive jurisdiction over mixed-penalty appeals.
Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: When Presence Means Guilt
Under Philippine law, conspiracy makes every participant equally liable for a crime, even without inflicting the fatal blow. People v. Gallo explains how.
When Presence Is Not Proof: Conspiracy and Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court acquits a man convicted of murder based on mere presence at the crime scene, explaining the strict rules on conspiracy.
Unlawful Aggression: The Cornerstone of Self-Defense in Philippine Criminal Law
Understand unlawful aggression, the indispensable element of self-defense in Philippine criminal law, as explained through Supreme Court jurisprudence.
Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Criminal Law: When Is It Enough for Conviction
When can Philippine courts convict based on circumstantial evidence? Learn the rules and limits from People v. Apelado.
Upholding Child Testimony: Key Principles in Philippine Statutory Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms rape convictions based on credible victim testimony, explaining key evidentiary principles in Philippine criminal law.
Proving Guilt Beyond Doubt: How Circumstantial Evidence Works in Philippine Criminal Law
Philippine Supreme Court explains how a lone eyewitness's positive identification outweighs alibi in murder convictions.
When Self-Defense Claims Fail: Treachery and Murder in Philippine Criminal Law
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a security guard's self-defense plea failed and how treachery qualified killings as murder.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Alevosia in Murder Cases
Learn how Philippine courts define treachery (alevosia) in murder cases, with key rules from a Supreme Court ruling.
Unlawful Aggression Is Key to Self-Defense Claims in Philippine Law
Understand why unlawful aggression is the foundation of self-defense in Philippine criminal law, explained through a Supreme Court ruling.
When Is a Frontal Attack Treacherous? Understanding Alevosia in Philippine Criminal Law
A frontal shooting can still be treachery if sudden and unexpected, explains the Supreme Court in People v. Quiboyen.
Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: How Group Actions Lead to Collective Liability for Carnapping and Murde
The Supreme Court explains how conspiracy makes each member of a group equally liable for crimes committed during a joint criminal enterprise.