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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Understanding Intent to Kill: The Fine Line Between Attempted Murder and Serious Physical Injuries
The Supreme Court clarifies when a violent attack is attempted murder or only serious physical injuries, focusing on intent to kill and spontaneous desistance.
Intent to Kill: Distinguishing Attempted Murder From Slight Physical Injuries in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies when a harmful act is attempted murder or only slight physical injuries, focusing on intent to kill.
Speedy Trial Imperative Unjustified Delays Lead to Acquittal in Murder and Attempted Murder Case
Explore how unjustified prosecution delays and the right to speedy trial led to an acquittal in a murder and attempted murder case.
Eyewitness Testimony Prevails Over Denial and Alibi in Murder and Attempted Murder Conviction
The Supreme Court affirms a murder and attempted murder conviction, ruling that a police officer's positive eyewitness identification outweighs the accused's denial and alibi.
Intent to Kill: Distinguishing Attempted Murder From Physical Injuries in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains how intent to kill separates attempted murder from physical injuries, and what evidence proves it.
Self-Defense Claims and the Degree of Injury: When Assault Becomes Attempted Murder
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies self-defense burdens, treachery, and why a non-fatal wound means attempted, not frustrated, murder.
When Multiple Shots Mean Separate Crimes: Murder and Attempted Murder in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a single ambush produces separate crimes of murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder.
Treachery's Shadow: Murder and Eyewitness Identification in the Anis Massacre
The Supreme Court affirms murder and attempted murder convictions from the 1999 Anis massacre, ruling on treachery and eyewitness identification.
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.
Single Act Multiple Crimes Complex Crime of Murder and Attempted Murder Defined
Explaining the complex crime rule when one act kills several and wounds others, citing People v. Barde.
Mistaken Identity or Intent to Kill: The Boundaries of Attempted Murder and Physical Injuries
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a shooting is attempted murder versus less serious physical injuries, and how positive identification defeats alibi.
Limits of Abuse of Superior Strength: Redefining Attempted Homicide in the Philippines
Supreme Court clarifies when abuse of superior strength qualifies a crime, reducing a conviction from attempted murder to attempted homicide.
Explosives Intent and Complex Crimes: Murder, Frustrated Murder, and Attempted Murder in the Philippines
A single explosive act can yield one complex crime—murder, frustrated murder, and attempted murder—under Philippine law.
Robbery With Homicide: When Intent to Rob and Resulting Death Define the Crime
The Supreme Court clarifies the elements of robbery with homicide, why attempted murder is absorbed, and the penalties imposed.
Doubt and Acquittal: Assessing Witness Credibility in Attempted Murder Cases
The Supreme Court acquits Gerardo Biong of attempted murder, stressing that credible testimony, not just a credible witness, is required for conviction.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Acquittal in Attempted Murder Based on Insufficient Circumstantial Evidence
The Supreme Court acquits a school principal of attempted murder, ruling that hearsay and unverified confessions cannot support a conviction based on circumstantial evidence.
When Ambush and Conspiracy Lead to a Complex Crime: Murder and Attempted Murder in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court explains how an ambush with conspiracy forms a complex crime of murder and multiple attempted murder under Article 48.
Conspiracy by Actions Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Murder and Frustrated Murder Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how overt acts can prove conspiracy, treachery, and guilt in murder and attempted murder cases.
Accountability IN Concerted Action Establishing Conspiracy IN Murder AND Attempted Murder
Treachery in Murder and Homicide: Intent and Qualifying Circumstances Explained
Understand treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, and the difference between frustrated and attempted murder under Philippine law.
Attempted Murder vs Murder: Proving Intent and Causation in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies how intent to kill and causation distinguish attempted murder from murder, with practical guidance.