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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How to File an Estafa Case in the Philippines
Learn how to file an estafa case in the Philippines, including the legal basis, evidence needed, and the step-by-step process.
Chain of Custody Failures and Election Weapon Bans: Acquittal in People v. Ildefonso
How broken drug evidence chains lead to acquittal and why carrying bladed weapons during elections may not be an offense.
When Copies Count: Admissibility of Duplicate Evidence in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when photocopies and duplicates are admissible as evidence under the 2019 Revised Rules on Evidence.
Circumstantial Evidence in Philippine Criminal Law: When Is It Enough to Convict?
The Supreme Court acquits a rape-with-homicide accused, clarifying when circumstantial evidence falls short of moral certainty.
Newly Discovered Evidence in Philippine Courts: The Barraquio Case and Rule 37
Learn the strict requirements for newly discovered evidence under Rule 37 and what the Supreme Court's Barraquio ruling means for litigants.
When Eyewitness Identification Is Not Enough to Convict: A Philippine Supreme Court Analysis
The Supreme Court acquits a homicide convict, ruling that a suggestive out-of-court identification through a cartographic sketch is unreliable evidence.
Conjugal Property Presumptions: Protecting Separate Assets from a Spouse's Debts
Learn how the Supreme Court protects separate property from a spouse's debts and what evidence overcomes the conjugal presumption.
Proving Filiation for Inheritance: Delayed Birth Registration in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how delayed birth registrations and other evidence establish filiation for inheritance claims in the Philippines.
Proving Causation in Homicide Cases: The Role of Medical Evidence in the Philippines
Philippine homicide cases require proof beyond reasonable doubt that the accused's actions caused death. Learn how the Supreme Court treats medical evidence and pre-existing conditions.
Land Title Registration in the Philippines: Navigating Imperfect Titles After R.A. 11573
The Supreme Court clarifies how R.A. 11573 eases proof requirements for land registration, remanding a Pasig City case for new evidence.
Psychological Incapacity: Abandonment and Absence as Evidence in Philippine Marriage Nullity Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that decades of unjustified absence from the marital home can be considered part of the totality of evidence of psychological incapacity under Article 36 of the Family Code
Proving Unilateral Termination in Distribution Agreements: San Miguel Foods v. Fabie
The Supreme Court clarifies what evidence is needed to prove unilateral termination of a distribution agreement and recover damages.
Proving Adultery in the Philippines: The Valencia Case and the Burden of Proof
Understand the high standard of proof for adultery in the Philippines through the Valencia case, including evidence rules and practical implications.
When Procurement Violations Don't Equal Corruption: Lessons from People v. Villasin
The Supreme Court clarifies that procurement lapses alone do not prove graft under RA 3019, requiring evidence of corrupt intent.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Credible Testimony and Medical Evidence in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how credible victim testimony and medical evidence establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Psychological Incapacity and Expert Testimony: What Zamora v. Zamora Means for Nullity Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that a psychological assessment report is not indispensable in nullity cases—totality of evidence is what matters.
Judicial Corruption: When Can Evidence From a Government-Issued Laptop Be Used
Explore the Supreme Court ruling on using evidence from a government-issued laptop in administrative cases against judges.
Motion to Withdraw Information: When Courts Must Assess Evidence Before Dismissal
Courts must independently assess evidence before granting a motion to withdraw information. Learn the rules from a recent Sandiganbayan case.
Understanding Rape Conviction in the Philippines: Consent Evidence and the Role of Co-Conspirators
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies rape conviction standards, consent evidence rules, and co-conspirator liability in criminal cases.
Grave Misconduct vs. Simple Neglect: When Can Philippine Officials Be Dismissed?
The Supreme Court clarifies when a public official may be dismissed for grave misconduct and how substantial evidence shapes administrative cases.
Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over broken chain of custody, underscoring strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Proving Online Abuse: Social Media Evidence in VAWC Cases
Supreme Court clarifies how to prove authorship of social media posts in VAWC cases and raises penalties when ICT is used.
Unlawful Search and Seizure: Evidence From Illegal Arrests Inadmissible
Supreme Court acquits accused after ruling that evidence seized from invalid warrantless arrests is inadmissible under the exclusionary rule.
Retrenchment in the Philippines: Proving Business Losses Under Article 298
Retrenchment is legal only if employers prove serious, ongoing losses. The Philphos case shows what evidence courts require.