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.
Passion and Obfuscation in Parricide: The Singcol Case and Limits of Self-Defense
The Supreme Court in People v. Singcol clarifies self-defense limits, passion and obfuscation as a mitigating circumstance, and treachery in murder.
Vicarious Liability of Schools: When Teachers Answer for Student Negligence
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when school principals and teachers are vicariously liable for student acts causing injury to third persons.
Insanity Defense in Philippine Criminal Law: Defining the Boundaries of Criminal Responsibility
The Supreme Court clarifies when insanity exempts an accused from criminal liability, applying a strict three-way test.
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.
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.
Attractive Nuisance Doctrine and Negligence in Child Injury Cases
Supreme Court explains when a hotel pool with slides becomes an attractive nuisance and when res ipsa loquitur shifts the burden of proof.
Treachery and Intent in Philippine Homicide Convictions: What the Supreme Court Requires
The Supreme Court clarifies when treachery and evident premeditation qualify killings as murder, and when they do not.
Circumstantial Evidence and Dying Declarations in Rape-Homicide Convictions
How the Supreme Court upheld a rape-homicide conviction using circumstantial evidence and the victim's dying declaration.
Reckless Imprudence Penalties for Damage to Property and Physical Injuries
Explaining how Philippine courts penalize reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property and physical injuries, based on a 2022 Supreme Court ruling.
Self-Defense and Treachery in Philippine Law: Proving Unlawful Aggression for Justification
The Supreme Court clarifies when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies killing as murder under Philippine criminal law.
Treachery in Robbery with Homicide: The Supreme Court’s Ruling in People v. Juada
The Supreme Court clarifies when treachery aggravates robbery with homicide and affirms conviction based on circumstantial evidence in People v. Juada.
Understanding Treachery in Murder Cases: Insights From a Supreme Court Ruling
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how treachery must be alleged in an Information and when an accused waives the right to question it.
Understanding Treachery in Homicide Cases: Insights From a Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when treachery qualifies killing to murder, and when it does not.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Corporate Officers Can Be Held Personally Liable
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when courts may pierce the corporate veil and hold officers personally liable for fraud and mismanagement.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Robbery with Physical Injuries Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why positive identification beats alibi in robbery with physical injuries cases, with practical takeaways.
Understanding Aberratio Ictus When A Missed Shot Leads To Complex Crimes In Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains aberratio ictus and complex crimes when a missed shot kills an unintended victim, applying treachery in People v. Bendecio.
Understanding Self-Defense and Treachery in Philippine Murder Cases
A Supreme Court ruling explains when self-defense fails and treachery qualifies a killing as murder under Philippine law.
Construction Arbitration in the Philippines: Finality of CIAC Awards and Judicial Review Limits
Philippine courts defer to CIAC arbitral findings absent fraud or corruption. Learn the limits of judicial review in construction disputes.
Understanding Conspiracy and Principal by Inducement in Philippine Parricide Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies conspiracy and principal by inducement in parricide, ruling that a wife's words of command made her equally liable with the killer.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: When a Sudden Attack Is Not Murder
The Supreme Court clarifies that treachery cannot be presumed from suddenness alone, reducing a murder conviction to homicide in People v. Bulutano.
Understanding Conspiracy and Homicide When Threats Turn Deadly
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies how circumstantial evidence can prove rape with homicide and why alibi often fails.
Death Before Final Judgment Extinguishes Criminal Liability in Philippine Law
When an accused dies before final conviction, criminal liability and civil liability ex delicto are extinguished under the Revised Penal Code.
Robbery with Homicide: How Circumstantial Evidence Secures a Conviction
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Mancao on robbery with homicide, circumstantial evidence, and the presumption of guilt from possession of stolen property.
Treachery in Criminal Law: When a Sudden Attack Does Not Qualify as Murder
Supreme Court clarifies that sudden attacks after heated altercations may not constitute treachery, reducing murder to homicide.