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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When a Quarrel Precedes an Attack, Treachery May Not Qualify a Killing as Murder
A prior heated argument can negate treachery, reducing a murder conviction to homicide. Learn the rules from this Philippine Supreme Court case.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: High Court Sets Rules on Social Media Evidence
Supreme Court clarifies how to prove authorship of abusive Facebook posts and raises penalties when ICT is used in VAWC cases.
Circumstantial Evidence and Reasonable Doubt: Safeguarding Justice in Criminal Cases
How Philippine courts weigh circumstantial evidence, witness credibility, and reasonable doubt in criminal convictions.
Credibility of Witnesses: Relationship Does Not Imply Bias in Murder Conviction
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on witness credibility, relationship to victim, and alibi in murder case.
Double Jeopardy and Modification of Criminal Penalties: Protecting the Accused
The Supreme Court rules that courts cannot increase a convicted person's penalty on the prosecution's motion, citing double jeopardy protections.
Docket Fees and Real Actions: How Property Disputes Determine Court Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court clarifies that complaints for specific performance involving real property are real actions, and docket fees must be based on property value.
Rape Conviction Hinges on Specific Allegations Protecting Due Process in Criminal Law
The Supreme Court acquits a father of rape because the prosecution failed to prove carnal knowledge and unconsciousness as specifically alleged.
Statutory Rape by an Uncle: Supreme Court Upholds Conviction and Death Penalty
The Supreme Court affirms the death penalty for an uncle who raped his seven-year-old niece, clarifying rules on statutory rape, alibi, and damages.
Upholding the Testimony of Rape Victims: The Colisao Case and the Standard of Proof
The Supreme Court's acquittal in People v. Abino clarifies the stringent standard of proof required in rape cases, emphasizing that conviction rests on credible evidence, not mere possibility.
Rape and Incest: Protecting Minors in Familial Abuse Cases
A father convicted of raping his 15-year-old daughter twice; the Supreme Court affirms conviction but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua.
Presumption of Innocence Prevails: Analyzing Evidence in Incestuous Rape Cases
How the Supreme Court weighs a child victim's testimony against alibi in incestuous rape, and why the presumption of innocence demands rigorous proof.
Conspiracy and Liability in Group Rape: Upholding Justice for Victims of Sexual Assault
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on conspiracy in gang rape, holding non-participants liable for all acts committed by co-conspirators.
Disputed Birth Records and Filiation in Philippine Estate Administration
A Supreme Court ruling shows why a birth certificate from the local civil registry can be rejected as spurious when it conflicts with the copy kept by the Civil Registrar General.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Rape of a Person Deprived of Reason and the Boundaries of Consent
The Supreme Court affirms that a mentally retarded rape victim cannot consent to sexual acts, clarifying the law on persons deprived of reason.
Supreme Court Enforces Deadlines in Certiorari Petitions and Compromise Judgments
Learn how the Supreme Court enforced strict deadlines in compromise agreements and clarified rules on certiorari petitions and execution of judgments.
Rape Conviction Upheld Intimidation AS Force IN Cases Involving Minors
Rape AND Intimidation THE Supreme Courts Stance ON Victim Testimony AND Evidence
Agrarian Disputes: Why Regular Courts Yield to DARAB in Tenancy Cases
A criminal acquittal does not let regular courts award civil damages tied to an agrarian dispute—DARAB holds exclusive jurisdiction.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: The Weight of a Victim's Testimony and Corroborating Medical Evidence
A look at how the Supreme Court upheld a rape conviction, relying on the victim's credible testimony and medical findings.
Premature Appeals and Waived Objections: Lessons from Abuyen v. People
Learn how the Supreme Court in Abuyen v. People upheld a direct assault conviction, emphasizing timely remedies and the weight given to trial court credibility findings.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Scrutinizing Rape Allegations in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court acquits an uncle of rape, emphasizing that flawed and inconsistent victim testimony cannot overcome the presumption of innocence.
Rape Convictions Hinge on Credible Victim Testimony: People v. Villaflores
A rape conviction requires clear, consistent victim testimony. The Supreme Court explains why in People v. Villaflores.
Heirs Rights AND Land Title Disputes Resolving Inheritance Conflicts IN Property Ownership
Intact Hymen Does Not Preclude Rape Conviction: Slight Penetration Is Sufficient
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that an intact hymen does not negate rape; even the slightest penetration of the female organ constitutes consummated rape.