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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Reexamining Eyewitness Testimony and Guilt in Philippine Rape-Homicide Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape-homicide conviction, explaining how minor inconsistencies in eyewitness testimony and alibi defenses are weighed.
Diminished Responsibility When Absence of Treachery Reduces Murder to Homicide
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when killing without treachery is homicide, not murder—explained in plain language.
Eyewitness Testimony and Positive Identification in Murder Cases: People v. Paraiso
How the Supreme Court weighed eyewitness credibility, minor inconsistencies, and alibi in a rape-with-homicide conviction.
No Conspiracy No Murder: Independent Liability in Criminal Actions
Supreme Court clarifies conspiracy rules in People v. Pablo, distinguishing murder from attempted homicide and refining damage awards.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi: Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Criminal Law
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification against alibi, explained through a Supreme Court murder case.
Reasonable Doubt in Rape Cases: When Discrepancies Do Not Destroy Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that minor inconsistencies in rape testimony do not create reasonable doubt when material facts are credible and consistent.
Threats and Testimonial Discrepancies in Rape Cases: Conviction Affirmed Despite Minor Inconsistencies
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, ruling that minor testimonial inconsistencies and delayed reporting do not undermine a credible victim's account.
Family Compromise Rule Does Not Apply to Estate Settlement Proceedings
Supreme Court clarifies that Article 222's family compromise requirement applies only to ordinary civil actions, not special proceedings like estate settlement.
Preliminary Investigation: Its Absence and Impact on Criminal Proceedings
When prosecutors skip preliminary investigation, can courts dismiss the case? The Supreme Court clarifies the rule in Villaflor v. Vivar.
Child Rape Conviction Upheld on Victim's Testimony and Medico-Legal Findings
In People v. Osing, the Supreme Court upheld a child rape conviction based on the victim's lone testimony and medico-legal evidence, stressing that corroboration is not required.
Conspiracy and Treachery in Murder Cases: Lessons from People v. Pablo
The Supreme Court explains how conspiracy and treachery define murder in the Philippines, using the 2001 People v. Pablo ruling.
Sandiganbayan Jurisdiction in Plunder Cases Salary Grade Threshold Explained
Learn how the Supreme Court clarifies Sandiganbayan jurisdiction over plunder cases involving salary grade thresholds and public officers.
Strict Accountability for Court Funds: Consequences for Clerks of Court Mismanagement in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on clerk of court liability for mismanaged judiciary funds, emphasizing strict accountability and administrative consequences.
Management Prerogative in Reorganization: Upholding Business Needs in Philippine Labor Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when demotions during corporate reorganization are valid and when they constitute illegal dismissal under Philippine labor law.
Redemption by Heirs After Tax Sale: Tondo Foreshore Lot Case
When a co-owner repurchases property after a tax sale, the redemption may benefit all heirs. Learn the rules from this Philippine Supreme Court case.
Shareholder Rights vs Corporate Discretion: Mandamus and Stock Transfer Recording
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a corporate secretary must record stock transfers, SEC jurisdiction, and shareholder rights.
Supreme Court Upholds Conviction for Online Psychological Abuse Under VAWC
The Supreme Court affirms that abusive Facebook posts can constitute psychological violence under RA 9262, with higher penalties for ICT use.
Conspiracy in Estafa: How Mere Presence Can Lead to Fraud Conviction in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how conspiracy in estafa can be proven by acts showing unity of purpose, even without direct participation in every detail.
The Weight of Testimony: Understanding Witness Credibility in Philippine Murder Cases
How Philippine courts assess witness credibility in murder cases, explained through the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Alo.
GOCC vs. Private Corporation: Labor Jurisdiction and the Philippine National Red Cross Case
Learn how the Supreme Court's charter test determines whether an employer is a GOCC and which tribunal—CSC or NLRC—has jurisdiction over labor disputes.
Treachery in Transit: When a Failed Reconciliation Leads to a Fatal Jeepney Attack
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden attack inside a moving jeepney constitutes treachery, even after an amicable settlement.
Novation and Suretyship: Understanding Debt Substitution in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when debt substitution is novation versus suretyship, and why accommodation parties remain liable.
Protecting Children: Understanding Qualified Rape and Parental Liability in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms the death penalty for a father who raped his daughter, clarifying qualified rape and accomplice liability.
Rape of a Mentally Disabled Victim: How Courts Assess Force and Intimidation
The Supreme Court explains how force and intimidation in rape are measured when the victim is mentally disabled, citing the Dumanon case.