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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Reviving Closed Cases: The Limits of Court Jurisdiction After Final Judgment
A court loses jurisdiction once its judgment becomes final. Learn why a 1996 order reviving a 1983 case was void.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Why Victim Defenselessness Matters
The Supreme Court clarifies when treachery qualifies killing to murder, focusing on the victim's defenselessness and sudden attack.
Rape and Credibility: How Courts Evaluate Testimony in Sexual Assault Cases
Philippine Supreme Court explains how trial courts assess rape victim testimony, identity, delay in reporting, and affidavit of desistance.
Sheriff’s Duty of Custody: Liability for Negligent Loss of Seized Property
Philippine Supreme Court holds sheriff liable for dereliction of duty when a vehicle under custodia legis was lost due to unsafe storage.
Labor vs Civil Law: Who Hears Employer Damage Claims Against Employees?
Supreme Court clarifies that employer claims for damages against dismissed employees fall under Labor Arbiter jurisdiction, not regular courts.
Jurisdictional Boundaries Resolving Employer Employee Damage Claims IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that labor arbiters, not regular courts, have exclusive jurisdiction over employer damage claims arising from employment.
Treachery Defined: How Precise Application of Law Ensures Justice in Criminal Convictions
The Supreme Court clarifies treachery's elements in People v. Repollo, reducing a death sentence to reclusion perpetua while affirming murder convictions.
Rape Conviction Affirmed Establishing Filiation FOR Aggravated Penalties IN Sexual Assault Cases
Eyewitness Testimony and Treachery Can Convict Even Without Physical Evidence
A single credible eyewitness can sustain a murder conviction despite negative paraffin test results. The Supreme Court explains when treachery qualifies the killing.
Father Rape Conviction and the Limits of Credibility in Intrafamilial Sexual Abuse Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction, explaining why a daughter's delayed report and alleged "complex" do not destroy credibility.
Positive Identification Trumps Alibi in Murder Conviction, SC Rules
SC affirms murder conviction based on eyewitness identification over alibi, and increases damages awarded to the victim's heirs.
Online Psychological Abuse Under RA 9262: Proving Social Media Authorship
The Supreme Court clarifies how to prove social media authorship in VAWC cases and raises penalties when ICT is used.
Rape by a Stepfather Figure and the Limits of Information in Imposing the Death Penalty
A rape conviction upheld, but the death penalty was reduced because the qualifying circumstance was not properly alleged.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding Convictions in Child Rape Cases Despite Minor Inconsistencies
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape convictions, clarifying rules on information defects, alibi, and victim credibility in incest cases.
Defining Jurisdiction: Courts vs Energy Regulatory Board in Overcharging Disputes
Supreme Court clarifies that regular courts, not the ERB, hear disputes over electric overcharging and recovery of sums.
Credibility of Rape Victims' Testimony: The Daughter-Father Exception in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on daughter's credible testimony against father, explaining why courts give greater weight to such accusations.
Forcible Abduction With Rape: Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, ruling that the victim's positive identification outweighs the accused's alibi and denial.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Vague Information: Protecting Victims and Ensuring Justice
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction despite a vague information, explaining procedural rules and victim credibility in incest cases.
Treachery AND Witness Credibility Examining Murder Conviction IN THE Philippines
Conspiracy and Homicide: How Group Violence Establishes Criminal Liability
The Supreme Court explains how conspiracy in group violence makes every participant liable for murder, even without inflicting the fatal wound.
Barangay Conciliation and Jurisdiction: When Prior Settlement Is Not Required
Learn when prior barangay conciliation is not required before filing a case in court, based on a Supreme Court ruling on gross ignorance of the law.
Burden of Proof When Inconsistent Testimony and Physical Evidence Lead to Acquittal in Murder Cases
Philippine Supreme Court acquits murder accused where witness testimonies conflicted and physical evidence contradicted the prosecution's theory.
Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Robbery with Rape Conviction
Supreme Court affirms robbery with rape conviction, ruling that positive identification by the victim outweighs the defense of alibi.
Protecting Children: Parental Rape and the Importance of Victim Credibility in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court clarifies that a stepfather's relationship to a rape victim must be stated in the Information to justify the death penalty.