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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Business Records as Evidence: Proving Contractual Debt in Philippine Courts
Learn when business records like computer printouts are admissible evidence in Philippine courts, and why authentication matters in proving contractual debts.
Dying Declarations in Philippine Law: How Victim Testimony Secures Justice
Philippine courts rely on victim testimony, even without physical evidence, to convict in rape cases. Learn the rules.
Invalid Tax Assessments: Why Evidence Matters in Philippine Tax Law
When can tax assessments be invalidated? The Supreme Court explains why evidence matters in Philippine tax law.
When Circumstantial Evidence Leads TO Conviction Understanding Murder Cases IN THE Philippines
The Power of Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Courts: People v. De la Cruz
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness testimony, alibi, and circumstantial evidence in robbery with homicide cases.
When Witnesses Can't See: Proving Robbery With Homicide Through Circumstantial Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how circumstantial evidence can prove robbery with homicide even without eyewitnesses to the killing.
When Accident Doesnt Excuse Murder Understanding Parricide AND Intent IN Philippine LAW
A police officer shoots his wife, claims accident, but the Supreme Court affirms parricide. Learn how intent and evidence work in Philippine criminal law.
Improvident Guilty Plea in Capital Offenses: When a Conviction Still Stands
A flawed guilty plea in a capital case doesn't automatically void a conviction if prosecution evidence independently proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Unlawful Arrest and Weak Evidence: How to Fight Illegal Firearm Charges in the Philippines
Learn how unlawful arrest and weak evidence can defeat illegal firearm charges, based on a Supreme Court acquittal.
Reopening a Criminal Case After Evidence Is Closed: The Santiago v. Sandiganbayan Guide
When can a court reopen a criminal case to hear more evidence? The Supreme Court explains the limits and the due process rights of the accused.
Reopening a Closed Case: Abuse of Discretion and Due Process in Philippine Courts
When can a court reopen a criminal case after evidence is closed? The Santiago ruling explains the limits and due process requirements.
When Courts May Reopen a Criminal Case After Evidence Is Closed
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when a trial court may reopen a criminal case after the parties have rested, and the limits of that discretion.
Beyond Direct Testimony: How Philippine Courts Prove Rape With Circumstantial Evidence
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices to convict for rape, citing People v. Tabarangao.
Rape Conviction on Circumstantial Evidence: Lessons from People v. Tabarangao
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence suffices to convict for rape, and why alibi and denial often fail.
Dying Declaration as Key Evidence: Understanding Homicide and Murder Convictions in the Philippines
How a dying declaration can convict, and why missing proof of treachery reduces murder to homicide in Philippine courts.
Land Registration Philippines Applicant Withdraws Oppositors Rights Preserved
When a land registration applicant withdraws, oppositors with adverse claims may still present evidence and seek affirmative relief under Section 37, Act No. 496.
Challenging Evidence in Philippine Courts: Interlocutory Orders and Certiorari
Learn when you can challenge a trial court's evidentiary rulings in the Philippines—and why certiorari usually isn't the answer.
Reconstitution of Lost Titles: Supreme Court Clarifies Evidence Rules in Co Shu Kiam v. Republic
The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on judicial reconstitution of lost certificates of title, emphasizing practical evidence standards under Republic Act No. 26.
Employer-Employee Relationship and the Control Test: Lessons from Villa v. NLRC
The Supreme Court's ruling in Villa v. NLRC clarifies the control test in employer-employee relationships and the rules on evidence in illegal dismissal cases.
Due Process in Employee Dismissal: When Can New Evidence Be Introduced on Appeal?
When can an employer introduce new evidence on appeal in a dismissal case? The Supreme Court explains the limits of due process.
The Irrefutable Confession: How Counsel and Corroboration Cement Convictions in Philippine Courts
A counsel-assisted, voluntary confession carries strong weight in Philippine courts, especially when corroborated by independent evidence. This case explains why.
Circumstantial Evidence vs Eyewitness Testimony in Philippine Arson and Murder Cases
How the Supreme Court distinguished insufficient circumstantial evidence from credible eyewitness testimony in a 1998 arson and murder case.
Original Documents ARE King Proving Forgery IN Philippine Courts Under THE Best Evidence Rule
Learn how the best evidence rule works in Philippine courts and why original documents are crucial in forgery cases.
Payroll Evidence in Philippine Labor Disputes: Ensuring Fair Hearings for Employers
A Supreme Court ruling on payroll evidence in labor disputes, protecting employers' right to present original documents for fair hearings.