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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Election Law Disqualification for Illegal Use of Public Funds in the Philippines

Learn how a final conviction with perpetual disqualification can cancel a candidacy, as ruled by the Supreme Court.

Protecting Children: Understanding Sexual Assault Laws in the Philippines

The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between rape by sexual assault and sexual assault under RA 7610, protecting child victims.

When Does Teasing Cross the Line? Understanding Homicide and Sufficient Provocation in the Philippines

The Supreme Court clarifies when teasing amounts to sufficient provocation and why a sudden attack may not be treachery.

Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Understanding Consent and the Role of Minority

The Supreme Court clarifies when rape becomes qualified and how minority and relationship must be alleged and proven in Philippine criminal cases.

Protecting Children When a Stepfather's Actions Constitute Lascivious Conduct Under RA 7610

The Supreme Court clarifies when a stepfather's lewd acts against his common-law wife's child constitute lascivious conduct under RA 7610, not mere acts of lasciviousness.

Qualified Rape and Moral Ascendancy: When Trust Becomes a Weapon

How moral ascendancy can substitute for force in rape cases, and why abusing a position of trust over a minor leads to qualified rape.

Psychological Violence Under RA 9262: When Facebook Posts Lead to Higher Penalties

The Supreme Court clarifies psychological violence under RA 9262 and raises penalties when abuse is committed through social media or ICT.

Cyber-Enabled Robbery in the Philippines: How RA 10175 Raises Penalties for Digital Extortion

Learn how the Supreme Court applies the Cybercrime Prevention Act to robbery committed through digital means, and why penalties are one degree higher.

Lascivious Conduct vs Rape: When Penis Placement on the Vagina Falls Under R.A. 7610

Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling in Talisay v. People on when placing the penis outside the vagina constitutes lascivious conduct, not rape.

Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: Insights from the Supreme Court's Facebook Post Ruling

The Supreme Court clarifies how social media posts can prove psychological abuse under RA 9262 and when ICT use raises the penalty.

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.

Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: When Facebook Posts Lead to Higher Penalties

The Supreme Court clarifies how social media posts can constitute psychological abuse under RA 9262, and when ICT use raises the penalty.

Proving Online Authorship in VAWC Cases: Key Insights from a Recent Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court clarifies how to prove social media authorship in VAWC cases and raises penalties when ICT is used.

Child Abuse and Sexual Assault: Understanding Philippine Law and Protecting Children

The Supreme Court clarifies how Philippine law punishes child abuse and sexual assault, including key rules on evidence and penalties.

Lascivious Conduct Under RA 7610: The Magno Case Explained

The Supreme Court clarifies when touching a minor's private parts is lascivious conduct under RA 7610, citing the Magno case.

Proving Social Media Authorship in VAWC Cases: The G.R. No. 274842 Guide

Supreme Court clarifies how to prove Facebook post authorship in VAWC psychological abuse cases and raises penalties for ICT use.

Psychological Abuse via Facebook: Higher Penalty Under Cybercrime Law

Supreme Court rules posting demeaning messages on Facebook constitutes psychological abuse under RA 9262, with higher penalty under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

When Social Media Posts Become Psychological Abuse: Lessons from a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling

A recent Supreme Court ruling shows how Facebook posts can constitute psychological abuse under RA 9262, with heavier penalties for ICT use.

Lascivious Conduct Under RA 7610: The Trocio Case on Child Abuse

The Supreme Court clarifies what constitutes lascivious conduct under RA 7610, holding a doctor liable for abusing a minor patient.

Duplicitous Informations and Child Abuse: Understanding Convictions for Multiple Offenses in the Philippines

The Supreme Court clarifies how duplicitous informations can lead to convictions for multiple offenses, and when child abuse charges apply instead of rape.

Treachery in Murder Cases: Why a Heated Argument Can Downgrade the Crime to Homicide

The Supreme Court explains when a killing after a heated argument lacks treachery, reducing murder to homicide under Philippine law.

Supreme Court: Online Posts Can Prove Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262

Social media posts can establish psychological abuse under RA 9262, and using Facebook raises the penalty under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.

Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: When Facebook Posts Become Crimes

The Supreme Court clarifies when social media posts constitute psychological abuse under RA 9262 and how the Cybercrime Prevention Act raises the penalty.

Proving Social Media Authorship in VAWC Cases: Key Lessons from G.R. No. 274842

The Supreme Court clarifies how to prove authorship of Facebook posts in VAWC cases and raises penalties when ICT is used.