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.
Upholding the Sanctity of the Home: Violation of Domicile in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the crime of violation of domicile under the Revised Penal Code, emphasizing the protection of the home against unlawful intrusion.
Dying Declarations and Witness Credibility Determining Guilt in Murder Cases
Supreme Court ruling on witness credibility, alibi, conspiracy, and treachery in multiple murder convictions.
Protecting Marital Property: The Necessity of Spousal Consent in Property Sales
Learn how the Supreme Court protects conjugal property from unauthorized sales by one spouse, and why buyers must verify spousal consent.
Security of Person: The State's Duty to Protect Against Extralegal Killings and Enforced Disappearances
The Manalo ruling defines the constitutional right to security of person and the State's duty to protect citizens from enforced disappearances.
Failure of Election Grounds and Remedies in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the limited grounds for declaring a failure of election and why election protests, not annulment, address fraud claims.
The Unforgiving Reach of the Law: Protecting Children From Familial Abuse
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, holding that a credible victim's testimony alone suffices to convict, even without physical injuries.
Ensuring Proper Summons: Why Defective Service Can Dismiss Your Case in the Philippines
Learn how defective summons service can void court proceedings and why proper service is crucial in Philippine civil and criminal cases.
When Military Status Impacts Criminal Liability: Arbitrary Detention Explained
Understand how CAFGU membership affects criminal liability and why the Court acquitted in People v. Flores.
Silence Isn't Always Acquiescence: Delayed Witness Testimony in Murder Cases
When a witness stays silent for years, does that weaken a murder conviction? The Supreme Court explains when delay is excusable.
Conspiracy and Homicide vs Murder: Understanding Criminal Liability in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies conspiracy, treachery, and qualifying circumstances in homicide versus murder convictions.
Conspiracy in Rape Cases: Collective Criminal Liability Under Philippine Law
How Philippine courts apply conspiracy to hold all participants in a gang rape equally liable, even those who did not directly commit the act.
When Circumstantial Evidence Convicts: Homicide, Not Murder, in People v. Santos
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction and why treachery must be proven, not presumed.
Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Courts: Why Credibility Is Key in Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on credible eyewitness testimony, explaining how courts weigh witness credibility over alibi defenses.
The Limits of Mission Orders: When Can Civilians Carry Firearms Legally in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on mission orders, civilian firearm possession, and the limits of authority to issue gun permits.
Kidnapping vs. Illegal Detention: The Role of Intent Under Philippine Law
Philippine law distinguishes kidnapping from illegal detention by the offender's intent. The Supreme Court explains the difference in People v. Dadles.