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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Rape and Intimidation: When Silence Does Not Mean Consent in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that a rape victim's silence or lack of struggle does not negate force or intimidation, especially when threats and weapons are involved.
Custodial Investigation in the Philippines: Rights and the Admissibility of Confessions
An extrajudicial confession is worthless without proof of effective counsel, but the Supreme Court still affirmed a murder conviction on eyewitness evidence.
The Credibility of Child Witnesses: Upholding Justice Beyond Tender Years
How the Supreme Court affirmed a murder conviction based on the positive identification of a ten-year-old eyewitness, and the rules on child testimony, treachery, and alibi.
Annulment of Judgment: Jurisdiction and Timeliness in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that annulment of judgment requires extrinsic fraud or lack of jurisdiction, and certiorari must be filed within three months.
How Philippine Courts Weigh Identification and Alibi in Robbery with Rape Cases
A 1996 Supreme Court ruling clarifies when victim identification prevails over alibi and how courts distinguish robbery from robbery with rape.
Court Employees and Conflicts of Interest: The Bagolbagol Case on Selling to Litigants
Court employees must avoid business dealings with litigants. The Bagolbagol ruling explains why, even when the employee claims the litigant initiated the arrangement.
Custodial Rights and the Crime of Kidnapping: The Delia Reyes Case
A former housemaid's conviction for kidnapping a child entrusted to her care, explained in plain language.
Jurisdiction Over Maritime Crimes: Where Can You Be Tried?
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on venue for crimes committed on board vessels in transit, explained in plain language.
Retrenchment in the Philippines: Requirements for Lawful Termination Due to Business Losses
The Supreme Court explains the strict requirements for valid retrenchment due to business losses and the penalties for failing to meet them.
Navigating Appeals in Philippine Administrative Law: Jurisdiction and Exhaustion of Remedies
The Supreme Court clarifies appellate jurisdiction over PNP disciplinary cases, exhaustion of remedies, and administrative law principles in Cabada v. Alunan.
Positive Identification in Kidnapping Cases: Why It Outweighs Alibi
A look at how the Supreme Court upheld kidnapping convictions based on the victim's positive identification, rejecting weak alibi defenses.
Sandiganbayan Jurisdiction over Quo Warranto: The PCGG Exception
When can the Sandiganbayan hear a quo warranto case? The Supreme Court explains the exception involving PCGG and sequestered assets.
When Can a Landlord Evict a Tenant in the Philippines: The Month-to-Month Lease Rule
Understand when a landlord may evict a tenant in the Philippines, including the month-to-month lease rule under Article 1687 of the Civil Code.
Ejectment Suits: How Ownership Disputes Affect Jurisdiction in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts handle ejectment cases when ownership is disputed, and why jurisdiction stays with the first-level court.
When Can Circumstantial Evidence Lead to a Murder Conviction in the Philippines
Learn when Philippine courts accept circumstantial evidence to convict for murder, the legal rules, and practical takeaways.
Ethical Boundaries for Court Employees: Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
A court stenographer was fined for processing land titles for litigants. Learn the ethical rules for court personnel.
When Circumstantial Evidence Suffices: Rape with Homicide and the Limits of Alibi
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence can convict, why alibi rarely works, and the difference between reclusion perpetua and life imprisonment.
Circumstantial Evidence in Rape Cases: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How the Supreme Court upheld a rape-homicide conviction based solely on circumstantial evidence, and what this means for Philippine criminal prosecutions.
Execution Pending Appeal: When Can a Court Enforce a Decision Immediately
Philippine Supreme Court explains the strict rules for execution pending appeal, including notice, good reasons, and timing.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Credibility of Testimony and Delayed Reporting in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape conviction, witness credibility, and delayed reporting explained in plain language.
Rape and Incest: Understanding Consent and Familial Abuse in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction but acquits him of a second count where the victim could not identify her attacker.
Falsification and Anti-Graft Liability: Lessons from Molina v. People
A look at how the Supreme Court upheld convictions for estafa through falsification and graft, and why recanted testimony rarely saves a conviction.
Judge's Authority in Marriage Solemnization: Jurisdiction and Validity Rules
Learn the jurisdictional limits of judges solemnizing marriages in the Philippines and the mandatory presumptive death proceeding under the Family Code.
Rape Conviction and Consent: Credibility and Evidence in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on attempted rape clarifies consent, credibility, and evidence standards in criminal cases.