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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Self-Defense and Intent to Kill: The Boundaries of Justification in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense fails and intent to kill prevails in frustrated homicide cases under Philippine law.
Self-Defense vs Homicide: Understanding Criminal Intent in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense fails and homicide stands, explaining unlawful aggression, dying declarations, and criminal liability.
Protecting Voter Intent: Counting Votes for Bona Fide Candidates Over Nuisance Candidates
The Supreme Court ruled votes for nuisance candidates with names similar to bona fide candidates must be counted for the legitimate candidate, protecting voter intent.
Suffrage and Procedure: Upholding the Electorate’s Will Despite Technicalities in Election Protests
The Supreme Court ruled that votes for a nuisance candidate with a similar surname must be counted for the bona fide candidate, protecting voter intent.
Novation Requires Clear Intent: Upholding Lease Agreements in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that novation of a lease into a deposit requires clear intent, not mere inference from circumstances.
Equitable Mortgage Claims: Proving Intent Beyond Bare Allegations
Supreme Court clarifies when a sale is presumed an equitable mortgage under Article 1602, stressing evidence over allegations in property disputes.
Attempted Estafa in the Philippines: Proving Intent to Defraud and Penalties
Learn how Philippine courts prove intent to defraud in attempted estafa cases, the elements of the crime, and the applicable penalties under the Revised Penal Code.
Establishing Domicile Intent AND Actions FOR Philippine Elections
The Supreme Court clarifies how reinstated Filipino citizens can prove domicile and residency for election candidacy, using Jalosjos v. COMELEC.
Treachery in Criminal Law: How Intent and Sudden Attack Shape Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court explains how treachery qualifies killing as murder, requiring deliberate, sudden attack leaving victim no defense.
Malicious Mischief in the Philippines: Intent, Property Damage, and Road Rage Cases
Learn how Philippine courts prove malicious mischief under the Revised Penal Code, and why intent matters in road rage property damage cases.
No Intent, No Crime: Illegal Possession of Counterfeit Money in the Philippines
Philippine law requires intent to use for counterfeit money possession to be a crime. Learn the rules from a landmark Supreme Court ruling.
Grave Threats in the Philippines: Criminal Intent and Multiple Offenses Explained
Understand how Philippine courts determine separate grave threats charges, criminal intent, and the limits of justifying circumstances in this Supreme Court case analysis.
Plagiarism in Judicial Decisions: What the Del Castillo Resolution Means
The Supreme Court clarifies that plagiarism in judicial decisions requires malicious intent, distinguishing judicial writing from academic standards.
When Non-Disclosure in a Personal Data Sheet Is Not Dishonesty
Supreme Court clarifies that failing to disclose a prior admonition in a PDS is not automatically dishonesty absent intent to deceive.
Conspiracy AND Intent Understanding Liability IN Group Crimes IN THE Philippines
Conspiracy in Philippine Drug Cases: When Shared Intent Leads to Conviction
Learn how Philippine courts prove conspiracy in drug cases, where coordinated actions can convict multiple persons even if drugs are found on only one.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
The Supreme Court explains treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, and why self-defense failed in People v. Manulit.
Treachery and Attempted Murder: Establishing Intent and Liability in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how treachery qualifies murder and how intent is established in attempted murder cases.
Residency for Public Office: Intent, Incremental Moves, and Misrepresentation Claims
The Supreme Court explains how candidates prove residency for public office and when a certificate of candidacy may be challenged.
Plagiarism and Judicial Ethics: Del Castillo Case Sets Standard for Intent
Supreme Court clarifies that plagiarism requires intent to deceive, distinguishing inadvertent attribution errors from judicial misconduct.
Defining the Boundaries of Attempted Rape: Intent vs. Action in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when lewd acts cross the line from acts of lasciviousness to attempted rape, examining intent and overt acts.
Reclusion Perpetua and the Element of Intent in Robbery with Homicide
The Supreme Court clarifies the elements of robbery with homicide, the weak defense of alibi, and the penalty of reclusion perpetua without parole.
When Intent Trumps Words: Resolving Contractual Ambiguity in Land Disputes
Learn how Philippine courts resolve ambiguous land contracts by examining intent over literal words, with key lessons from a Supreme Court ruling.
Conspiracy and Intent in Attempted Homicide: Establishing Criminal Collaboration
The Supreme Court clarifies how conspiracy and intent to kill are proven in attempted homicide cases, using the Cabildo ruling.