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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The Weight of Witness Testimony and Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Rape-Homicide Cases
Philippine courts weigh witness credibility and circumstantial evidence in rape-homicide convictions. Learn the rules and standards.
Rape Conviction: Consent, Intimidation, and Victim Testimony in Philippine Law
How the Supreme Court weighed intimidation, delayed reporting, and victim credibility in affirming a rape conviction.
Rape Conviction and Proof of Victim's Age: People v. Mayorga
SC ruling on rape, death penalty, and the need for independent proof of victim's age below seven years.
Protecting Child Witnesses in Rape Cases: Supreme Court Clarifies Testimony and Age Evidence
The Supreme Court explains how courts assess a child rape victim's testimony and why proof of age matters in statutory rape convictions.
Positive Identification in Philippine Criminal Law: Why Witness Testimony Is Key to Conviction
How the Supreme Court reaffirmed that credible witness testimony outweighs alibi and denial in rape convictions, shaping Philippine criminal law.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: Penalty Raised for Social Media Use
Supreme Court affirms VAWC conviction for Facebook post, raises penalty for ICT use under Cybercrime Law.
Unlawful Aggression in Self-Defense: Key to Avoiding Murder Charges in the Philippines
Learn how the Supreme Court defines unlawful aggression in self-defense claims and why failing to prove it can lead to murder or homicide convictions.
Missed Deadlines Dismissed Cases Why Perfecting Your Appeal ON Time IS NON Negotiable IN Philippine Courts
Learn why filing appeals on time is crucial in Philippine courts, and how a defective appellate decision can void a conviction.
Unlawful Search and Seizure: How Procedural Errors Can Overturn Drug Convictions in the Philippines
When police break procedure, drug convictions fall. Learn how the Supreme Court acquitted two accused in People v. Leodones.
Proving Guilt in Rape-Slay Cases: Credibility of Deaf-Mute Witnesses and Conspiracy
The Supreme Court affirms rape-slay convictions based on a deaf-mute eyewitness's testimony, and clarifies the rules on witness credibility and conspiracy.
Illegal Recruitment in Large Scale: Philippine Supreme Court Affirms Conviction of Unlicensed Recruiter
Philippine Supreme Court affirms illegal recruitment and estafa conviction of an unlicensed recruiter who collected fees from job applicants for overseas work.
Credibility of Deaf-Mute Witness Testimony in Rape Cases: Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
How the Supreme Court affirmed rape convictions based on a deaf-mute eyewitness's testimony, setting rules on witness credibility in Philippine criminal law.
Eyewitness Testimony vs Hearsay: Key to Murder Conviction in Philippine Courts
How a single eyewitness's credible testimony outweighed the defense's hearsay claims in a Philippine murder conviction.
Credibility Counts: Rape Conviction on the Victim’s Testimony in Philippine Courts
How the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction based on the victim’s credible testimony, even without medical evidence of hymenal laceration.
Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Courts: Why It Matters in Murder Cases
How the Supreme Court weighs eyewitness testimony, hearsay, and alibi in murder convictions, explained through a landmark 2000 ruling.
Single Credible Witness Can Secure Conviction: People v. Sabado Explained
A single credible eyewitness can convict in Philippine courts. Learn how People v. Sabado demonstrates the quality-over-quantity principle in evidence.
Reasonable Doubt in Rape Cases: When Conflicting Testimony and Lack of Corroboration Lead to Acquittal
Learn how Philippine courts weigh reasonable doubt, conflicting testimony, and corroboration in rape cases, and why convictions still succeed.
Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Courts: When Indirect Proof Leads to Conviction
Learn how Philippine courts use circumstantial evidence to convict, and why the Supreme Court reduced murder to homicide in People v. Moyong.
Fatal Flaws in Filing Rape Cases: Why Precision in Criminal Complaints Matters in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court reduced a rape conviction from death to reclusion perpetua because the complaint failed to allege the qualifying circumstances of filiation and minority.
Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: When Words Lead to a Homicide Conviction
A Supreme Court ruling shows how conspiracy in Philippine law makes all robbers liable for homicide, even without pulling the trigger.
Murder Conviction and Damages: Lessons from People v. Villarba
The Supreme Court affirms murder convictions, clarifies treachery, conspiracy, and damages computation in a tricycle driver's killing.
Proving Rape: Why Corroborating Testimony and Victim Behavior Matter in Philippine Courts
A child rape victim's candid testimony and medical evidence secured conviction, but the Supreme Court reduced the death penalty because the information failed to allege the qualifying circumstance of
Self-Defense vs Murder: Proving Unlawful Aggression and Treachery in Philippine Homicide Cases
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when self-defense fails, how treachery is proven, and why a murder conviction became homicide.
Circumstantial Evidence and Conviction: Robbery With Homicide Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How circumstantial evidence can support a robbery with homicide conviction, explained through a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.