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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Estafa and Falsification: How RA 10951 Changed Penalties in Philippine Convictions
The Supreme Court explains how RA 10951 reduced penalties for estafa and falsification, affecting sentencing and probation eligibility.
Parricide Penalties in the Philippines: How Voluntary Surrender Affects Sentencing
Learn how mitigating circumstances like voluntary surrender affect parricide penalties under Philippine law, based on People v. Padilla.
Alibi Cannot Overcome a Child Victim's Positive Identification: Lessons from People v. Jacinto
The Supreme Court in People v. Jacinto affirmed a child rape conviction, ruling that alibi cannot prevail over the victim's positive identification and clarifying juvenile sentencing.
Correct Penalty for Estafa: Clarifying the Discrepancy in Indeterminate Sentencing
The Supreme Court clarifies the correct indeterminate penalty for estafa under Article 315(2)(a), resolving conflicting rulings on how to compute the minimum term.
Robbery With Homicide: Conspiracy, Identification, and Fair Sentencing Rules
Learn how the Supreme Court upheld robbery with homicide convictions on conspiracy evidence but reduced death sentences to reclusion perpetua.
Murder Conviction and Sentencing in the Philippines: The Leoncio Lawa Case
How the Supreme Court affirmed a murder conviction and death penalty, explaining treachery, evident premeditation, and alibi in Philippine law.
Rape Conviction and the Burden of Proving the Victim's Age for the Death Penalty
A look at People v. Cantuba on how positive identification overcomes alibi, and why proving the victim's age matters for sentencing.
Rape and the Perversion of Trust: How Relationship and Minority Affect Sentencing
A Supreme Court ruling explains how a stepfather's rape of minors is penalized, and why precise allegations matter.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Victim Testimony and Fair Sentencing in Sexual Assault Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on credible victim testimony while correcting the penalty and damages awarded.
Vindication and Unlicensed Firearms: When Personal Offense Mitigates Murder
The Supreme Court clarifies how a grave personal offense can mitigate murder and how unlicensed firearms affect sentencing.
Due Process in Sentencing: When a Judge's Discretion Goes Too Far
A judge's order denying credit for time served without hearing violates due process. Learn the limits of judicial discretion.
Robbery With Homicide: How Multiple Killings Affect Sentencing in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on whether multiple killings in robbery with homicide warrant death penalty or reclusion perpetua.
Incestuous Rape: Proving Guilt and Ensuring Fair Sentencing in the Philippines
A father's rape conviction affirmed but death penalty reduced—explaining the rules on victim credibility, force, and proving minority.
Minority and Murder: How a Minor’s Age Affects the Penalty for Murder in the Philippines
A 17-year-old convicted of murder saw his penalty reduced because of minority. The Supreme Court explains how age affects sentencing.
Illegal Fishing with Explosives: What the Supreme Court Says About Presumptions and Penalties
Learn how Philippine courts handle illegal fishing cases, the legal presumption from fish samples, and why indeterminate sentencing matters.
Gross Ignorance of the Law: When Judges Overstep Their Authority
A Supreme Court ruling on when a judge's sentencing errors become gross ignorance of the law warranting administrative sanctions.
When Judges Err in Sentencing: Gross Ignorance of the Law Explained
Learn when a judge's sentencing error becomes gross ignorance of the law, based on a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on indeterminate penalties.
Alibi vs Eyewitness Testimony: How Philippine Courts Decide Criminal Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when alibi fails against positive eyewitness identification, and how minority affects sentencing in murder cases.