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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Ombudsman's Immunity Power Prevails in Protecting the State's Interest in Prosecuting Corruption
Supreme Court rules courts should defer to Ombudsman's grant of immunity to state witnesses in corruption cases, protecting prosecutorial discretion.
Bail and State Witness Rules in Murder and Parricide Cases: The Valerio Case
The Supreme Court clarifies when bail may be denied and when an accused may be discharged as state witness in murder and parricide cases.
The Vital Role of State Witnesses in Philippine Criminal Cases: Lessons from People v. Fajardo
How Philippine courts decide who becomes a state witness, and why their testimony must be corroborated to secure a conviction.
State Witness Discharge: Balancing DOJ Authority and Judicial Discretion
The Supreme Court clarifies when the DOJ, not courts, may discharge an accused as state witness under RA 6981.
State Witness Exclusion: Balancing Prosecutorial Discretion and Court Oversight
The Supreme Court clarifies when prosecutors may exclude accused persons from an information to make them state witnesses, and the limits of judicial discretion.
Rape and the Limits of Proof: Protecting Victims While Upholding Rights
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that healed lacerations and absence of spermatozoa do not negate rape, and explains the rules on conspiracy and state witnesses.
Why Prosecutors Must Present Evidence in Rape Cases: Lessons from Merciales v. Court of Appeals
A Supreme Court ruling on prosecutorial duty, state witnesses, and due process in rape with homicide cases.
State Witness Credibility and Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Rape Cases
When can a single witness's testimony justify a rape conviction? The Supreme Court explains credibility rules and the burden of proof.
State Witness Credibility: The Imperative of Unbiased Testimony in Graft Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on witness credibility, bias, and the weight of testimony in criminal cases.
Kidnapping FOR Ransom IN THE Philippines THE Vital Role OF State Witnesses AND DUE Process
State Witness Discharge and Justice in Philippine Robbery With Homicide Cases
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on discharging an accused as state witness in robbery with homicide, and the limits of that discharge.
Conviction on Circumstantial Evidence: Lessons from People v. Sison on Witness Credibility in Philippine Crimi
The Supreme Court affirms a homicide conviction based on circumstantial evidence and credible witness testimony, clarifying the rules on state witnesses and evident premeditation.
Discharge of an Accomplice as a State Witness: Safeguarding Justice in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court affirms that trial courts' factual findings and witness credibility assessments are conclusive unless arbitrary, in a murder conviction.
State Witness vs Prosecution Witness: Key Differences in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies the legal distinction between a state witness and a prosecution witness in criminal cases.