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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Homicide vs Murder: Proving Intent and Circumstances in Criminal Law
When qualifying circumstances like treachery and evident premeditation lack proof, a killing is homicide, not murder.
Circumstantial Evidence and Reasonable Doubt: Safeguarding Justice in Criminal Cases
How Philippine courts weigh circumstantial evidence, witness credibility, and reasonable doubt in criminal convictions.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Qualifying Circumstances and Aggravating Factors
Understand how treachery qualifies killing as murder but cannot be double-counted to impose the death penalty, per the Supreme Court.
Treachery in Philippine Criminal Law: Elements and Legal Implications
Understand treachery (alevosia) as a qualifying circumstance in murder under Philippine law, explained through a landmark Supreme Court case.
Judicial Duty vs Administrative Efficiency: Balancing Speedy Justice With Personal Circumstances
When may a judge suspend court hearings? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of judicial discretion in administrative matters.
Rape and Relationship: Clarifying Qualifying Circumstances for Imposing the Death Penalty
The Supreme Court clarifies that qualifying circumstances like relationship must be properly alleged in the Information for the death penalty to apply.
Rape and the Perils of Unpleaded Qualifying Circumstances: Protecting Due Process in Criminal Accusations
In People v. Laciste, the Supreme Court reduced a death sentence to reclusion perpetua because the victim's minority was not alleged in the information.
Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Lack of Physical Evidence: Credible Testimony Suffices
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape conviction based on credible testimony, not physical evidence, and the importance of proper allegation of qualifying circumstances.
Carnapping Conviction Valid Even Without Extrajudicial Confessions: Circumstantial Evidence Suffices
Conviction for carnapping with homicide can rest on circumstantial evidence even when confessions are thrown out. Learn the rules.
Circumstantial Evidence and Res Gestae in Homicide: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How Philippine courts use circumstantial evidence and res gestae to convict in homicide cases, even without direct eyewitness testimony.
Conviction Upheld on Circumstantial Evidence in Carnapping-Murder Case
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction and why unproven aggravating circumstances mean reclusion perpetua, not death.
Why Qualifying Circumstances Must Be Alleged in Rape Informations
The Supreme Court explains why failure to allege minority and use of a deadly weapon in a rape information downgrades the crime to simple rape.
Qualifying Circumstances in Rape: Why Specific Allegation in the Information Matters
The Supreme Court clarifies that qualifying circumstances like minority and use of a deadly weapon must be alleged in the information to justify the death penalty.
Intact Hymen Does Not Negate Rape: SC Upholds Conviction But Reduces Death Penalty
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction despite intact hymen, but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua for lack of qualifying circumstances.
Rape and Parental Authority: Proving Qualifying Circumstances for Enhanced Penalties
In rape cases, the death penalty requires proof of both the victim's minority and the offender's relationship. This case explains why.
Uninhabited Places and Cruelty: Defining Aggravating Circumstances in Robbery with Rape
The Supreme Court clarifies when cruelty and uninhabited place aggravate robbery with rape, and affirms the death penalty in a Quezon City case.
Upholding Victims Rights Positive Identification AND Aggravating Circumstances IN Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on voice identification, but reduces the death penalty to reclusion perpetua because aggravating circumstances were not alleged in the information.
Circumstantial Evidence and Murder Conviction: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Explaining how circumstantial evidence can establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt in murder cases, citing People v. Diaz.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Voice Identification and the Requirement of Pleading Qualifying Circumstances
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on voice identification but reduces the death penalty to reclusion perpetua because the information failed to allege qualifying circumstances.
Voice Identification in Rape Cases: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How Philippine courts treat voice recognition as valid identification in rape cases, and why unpleaded aggravating circumstances reduce the penalty.
Self-Defense, Treachery, and Voluntary Surrender: How the Supreme Court Redefined Criminal Liability in Homici
A barangay captain's claim of self-defense fails as the Court clarifies the elements of unlawful aggression and mitigating circumstances in homicide.
Guilt Beyond Doubt: Circumstantial Evidence and Illegal Firearms in Murder Conviction
How the Supreme Court upheld a murder conviction based on circumstantial evidence and illegal firearms possession under PD 1866.
Parricide vs. Accident: When a Fatal Shooting Is Not an Exempting Circumstance
The Supreme Court explains why the defense of accident fails when intent to kill is shown by overt acts, affirming a parricide conviction.
Reasonable Doubt and Circumstantial Evidence: When Suspicion Cannot Sustain a Conviction
The Supreme Court acquits five police officers of double murder, explaining when circumstantial evidence fails the test of moral certainty.