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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Treachery and Witness Credibility in Philippine Murder Convictions
How credible eyewitness testimony and treachery shape murder convictions in the Philippines, with lessons from People v. Dulanas.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Why Clear Allegations in Criminal Informations Matter
Father convicted of two rape counts sees death penalty reduced to reclusion perpetua because the informations failed to allege his relationship to the victim.
Eyewitness Testimony and Treachery in Murder Convictions: People v. Buban
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction based on eyewitness testimony, explaining treachery, alibi, and damages under Philippine law.
Challenging Alibis in Rape Cases: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How Philippine courts weigh a rape victim's positive testimony against denial and alibi, and why delay in reporting does not defeat a conviction.
Credibility of Child Witness Testimony in Rape Cases: Philippine Supreme Court Ruling
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on credible child witness testimony, explaining delay in reporting and denial defenses.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Victim Testimony and Intimidation in Philippine Law
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on credible victim testimony, explaining how intimidation and threats overcome the need for physical resistance.
Incestuous Rape Conviction Affirmed: Victim Testimony and the Anti-Death Penalty Law
The Supreme Court affirms incestuous rape convictions, upholds the victim's credible testimony, and applies the Anti-Death Penalty Law.
Attempted Rape With Homicide: Supreme Court Affirms Conspiracy, Treachery, Rejects Intoxication Defense
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction for attempted rape with homicide, explaining conspiracy, treachery, and why intoxication and lack of instruction defenses failed.
Credibility in Buy-Bust Operations: Minor Inconsistencies Do Not Destroy a Conviction
Minor inconsistencies in police testimony do not weaken a buy-bust conviction when the essential facts are consistent and credible.
Buy-Bust Conviction Affirmed: Court Upholds Life Sentence for Shabu Sale
Supreme Court affirms life imprisonment for two women caught selling shabu in a buy-bust operation, ruling prosecution proved guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Bare Denials Cannot Overcome Positive Testimony in Buy-Bust Drug Convictions
Explore how the Supreme Court affirmed drug convictions despite denials, emphasizing the weight of positive police testimony in buy-bust operations.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Consent, Intimidation, and Victim Credibility in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how intimidation, victim credibility, and medical evidence establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape Conviction Based on Credible Testimony: Lessons from People v. Dadulla
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on credible victim testimony, clarifying force, intimidation, and damages rules.
Rape Conviction Based on Credible Testimony: People v. Suyat
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining when a victim's credible testimony alone can prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape Conviction Based on Circumstantial Evidence Protecting Victims of Unconscious Assault
Philippine Supreme Court affirms qualified rape conviction, ruling that a sleeping victim's testimony and medical evidence suffice to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape With a Deadly Weapon: Credibility of Witnesses and Delay in Reporting
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining witness credibility rules and why delay in reporting does not mean fabrication.
Improvident Plea of Guilt in Philippine Rape Cases: Supreme Court Clarifies Safeguards
The Supreme Court explains when a guilty plea in capital cases is improvident and how convictions can still stand on independent evidence.
Treachery and Eyewitness Testimony: Key Elements in Philippine Murder Convictions
The Supreme Court affirms a murder conviction, explaining how treachery is established and why positive eyewitness identification defeats the defense of alibi.
Incestuous Rape in the Philippines: Protecting Children and Upholding Justice
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of a father for four counts of incestuous rape, imposing reclusion perpetua without parole under RA 9346.
The Vital Role of State Witnesses in Philippine Criminal Cases: Lessons from People v. Fajardo
How Philippine courts decide who becomes a state witness, and why their testimony must be corroborated to secure a conviction.
Online Psychological Abuse and Higher Penalties Under RA 9262 and the Cybercrime Law
The Supreme Court affirms a conviction for online psychological abuse under RA 9262 and raises the penalty because the offense was committed through Facebook.
Altering Tax Declarations: The Uriarte Case on Undue Injury Under Anti-Graft Law
A municipal assessor altered tax declaration entries to favor his father's land, leading to a conviction for violation of Section 3(e) of R.A. 3019.
The Power of Victim Testimony in Rape Cases: Insights from People v. Canare
How Philippine courts weigh a rape victim's lone testimony, credibility, and the defense of alibi in convictions.