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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Admissibility of Extrajudicial Confessions: Safeguarding Rights in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the four requirements for admissible extrajudicial confessions and what makes counsel "competent and independent" in custodial investigations.
Conspiracy AND Abuse OF Superior Strength IN Philippine Criminal LAW
The Perils of Delayed Disclosure: Eyewitness Testimony and Credibility in Philippine Criminal Law
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness identification, voice recognition, and alibi in criminal cases, explained through a 1997 Supreme Court ruling.
Conspiracy and Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Group Liability
Learn how Philippine courts apply conspiracy and treachery when multiple persons attack a victim, and what this means for criminal liability.
Self Defense Claims in Philippine Criminal Law: When Do They Hold Up
Philippine courts require unlawful aggression, reasonable necessity, and lack of provocation for self-defense. Learn from People v. Tobias.
Self-Defense in the Philippines: Proving Unlawful Aggression and Justifiable Force
The Supreme Court explains when self-defense succeeds in Philippine criminal law—and why it failed in People v. Cahindo.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Circumstances
Explore how Philippine courts assess treachery in criminal cases, focusing on intent, circumstances, and the elements required for conviction.
Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Criminal Law: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Understand how Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony in criminal cases and the constitutional standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt.
Conspiracy in Philippine Criminal Law: How Joint Criminal Liability Is Established
Explaining how Philippine courts infer conspiracy from concerted acts, using the 1996 case of People v. Villanueva and Durana.
Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Criminal Law: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How Philippine courts weigh circumstantial evidence and witness credibility in criminal cases, explained through a landmark rape conviction.
Conspiracy and Credibility: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how trial court credibility findings and circumstantial evidence establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Self-Defense and Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Key Elements and Practical Implications
The Supreme Court clarifies the elements of self-defense and treachery in People v. Isleta, offering practical guidance for criminal cases.
Circumstantial Evidence and the Right Against Self-Incrimination in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction and why the right against self-incrimination does not cover physical evidence.
Understanding Conspiracy and Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: A Case Study
How the Supreme Court applied conspiracy and treachery in a murder case, explained in plain language for everyday readers.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Sudden Attacks and Intent
The Supreme Court explains when a sudden, unexpected attack qualifies as treachery, aggravating a killing to murder under Philippine law.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
The Supreme Court explains when treachery qualifies a killing as murder, and why sudden attacks alone do not prove it.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Qualifying Circumstances
The Supreme Court explains treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, using People v. Villegas to illustrate sudden, unexpected attacks.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Understanding Intent and Circumstances
The Supreme Court explains how treachery qualifies killing to murder, using a 1996 case as a clear example.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Intent, Liability, and the Limits of Qualifying Circumstances
A Supreme Court ruling explains when treachery qualifies a killing as murder, and how conspiracy affects criminal liability in the Philippines.
Eyewitness Testimony and the Perils of Alibi in Philippine Criminal Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on eyewitness identification, alibi as weak defense, and treachery in murder cases.
Evident Premeditation: Proving Intent and Cool Thought in Philippine Criminal Law
Understand how Philippine courts prove evident premeditation to qualify a killing as murder, and why treachery was rejected in People v. Belga.
Positive Identification in Philippine Criminal Law: When Is It Enough for Conviction
When does a witness's positive identification suffice for conviction? The Supreme Court explains in People v. Compendio.
Self-Defense and Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: A Supreme Court Analysis
The Supreme Court explains when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies a killing to murder in People v. Vallador.
Alibi Defense in Philippine Criminal Law: Requirements and Limitations
Understand when alibi works as a defense in Philippine criminal cases, its legal requirements, and why courts view it with suspicion.