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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Reasonable Doubt Prevails Safeguarding Rights IN Drug Possession Cases
Death pending appeal extinguishes criminal liability in drug cases. The Supreme Court clarifies the effect of an accused's death on convictions.
Chain of Custody Is Key: How Mishandling Evidence Can Overturn Drug Convictions in the Philippines
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police broke the chain of custody. Learn the rules under Section 21 of RA 9165.
Treachery in Criminal Law: How Intent and Sudden Attack Shape Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court explains how treachery qualifies killing as murder, requiring deliberate, sudden attack leaving victim no defense.
Unlawful Possession and the Vital Role of Evidence in Drug Offenses
How the Supreme Court weighed search warrant evidence, witness credibility, and denial defenses in a drug possession conviction.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: The Credibility of a Child Witness in Sexual Assault Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape-with-homicide conviction based on circumstantial evidence, explaining how such evidence can prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Positive Identification Prevails Over Alibi in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, ruling that the victim's positive identification outweighs the accused's weak defense of alibi.
Treachery in Criminal Law: How Sudden Attacks Determine Murder Convictions in the Philippines
Explore how treachery qualifies a killing as murder under Philippine law, as explained in People v. Asilan.
Guilt by Circumstance: Conviction in Rape-Homicide Through Indirect Evidence
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices to convict for rape with homicide, and how the composite crime is defined.
Attempted Sale of Shabu: When Showing Drugs to a Buyer Is a Crime
A buy-bust operation gone wrong still leads to conviction for attempted sale of drugs under RA 9165. This case explains why.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Consensual Sex Defense Needs Corroboration, Victim's Injuries Speak Volumes
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, ruling that the defense of consensual sex requires corroboration and that a victim's injuries corroborate the charge.
Psychological Abuse via Facebook Conviction Upheld with Higher Cybercrime Penalty
Supreme Court affirms conviction for psychological abuse via Facebook posts, imposing higher penalty under the Cybercrime Prevention Act.
Nogales v. People: When Obscene Files in Computers Are Forfeited Even Without Conviction
Supreme Court rules hard disks containing obscene materials are forfeited and destroyed under P.D. 969 even if criminal case is dismissed.
Treachery and Dwelling: Aggravating Circumstances in Philippine Murder Cases
How the Supreme Court applied treachery and dwelling as qualifying and aggravating circumstances in a murder conviction, with practical lessons.
Kidnapping with Rape: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a conviction for kidnapping with rape, explaining how credible testimony and the sweetheart defense are weighed.
Breach of Public Trust: Mayor Held Liable for Unwarranted Benefits in BOT Contract
A mayor's conviction for violating the Anti-Graft Law in awarding a P240M BOT project to an unqualified contractor, explained in plain language.
Accountability Amidst Chaos: Supreme Court Upholds Abu Sayyaf Kidnapping Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms the kidnapping convictions of Abu Sayyaf members, rejecting alibi, duress, and minority defenses.
Credibility of Child Witnesses in Rape Cases: Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
The Supreme Court reinstates a rape conviction, clarifying when child abuse under RA 7610 applies instead of rape.
Chain of Custody in Philippine Drug Cases: Why Proper Evidence Handling Matters
Learn the chain of custody rule in Philippine drug cases and why proper evidence handling is crucial for a conviction.
Circumstantial Evidence in Murder and Kidnapping Convictions: People v. Anticamara
How circumstantial evidence can prove murder and kidnapping beyond reasonable doubt, explained through a Philippine Supreme Court ruling.
Rape and Acts of Lasciviousness: Understanding the Nuances and Penalties
A father's conviction clarifies the line between rape by sexual assault and acts of lasciviousness under Philippine law, and the penalties each crime carries.
Breach of Public Trust When Falsification and Deportation Orders Lead to Anti-Graft Convictions
A BID commissioner's conviction for graft and falsification shows how knowingly allowing accused aliens to self-deport breaches public trust.
Parent Convicted of Qualified Rape of Minor Daughter: Supreme Court Affirms
Supreme Court affirms conviction of father for qualified rape of his minor daughter, reducing death penalty to reclusion perpetua under RA 9346.
Ensuring Chain of Custody Key to Drug Case Convictions in the Philippines
Learn how the chain of custody rule affects drug case convictions in the Philippines, explained in plain language for everyday readers.
Gaps in Chain of Custody Acquit Accused in Shabu Possession Case
SC reverses a drug conviction where police gaps in marking, inventory, and custody of seized shabu cast doubt on the corpus delicti.