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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Corporate Control vs Government Sequestration: Defining Jurisdiction in Intra-Corporate Disputes
When a sequestered corporation faces an intra-corporate dispute, which court has jurisdiction? The Supreme Court clarifies the rules.
When Kin Turn Killers: Conspiracy and Defense of Relatives in Philippine Murder Law
The Supreme Court affirms murder convictions of three relatives, clarifying conspiracy and the defense of relatives under Article 11 of the Revised Penal Code.
Consolidation of Cases Ensuring Judicial Efficiency and Preventing Conflicting Rulings
Explore how consolidating related cases promotes judicial efficiency and prevents conflicting rulings, with insights from Philippine Supreme Court practice.
When a Single Witness Suffices: Murder Conviction Upheld on Credible Testimony
Supreme Court affirms murder conviction based on a lone eyewitness's credible testimony, clarifying rules on treachery and damages.
Buy-Bust Operations, Warrantless Arrests, and Preserving Drug Evidence in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court upholds a shabu conviction, clarifying rules on buy-bust operations, warrantless arrests, and the chain of custody of seized drugs.
Chains Unbroken Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms drug convictions in People v. Mendoza, clarifying buy-bust operations, warrantless arrests, and evidence integrity under RA 9165.
Treachery and Intent: How Grenade Attacks Establish Criminal Liability
The Supreme Court explains how treachery and criminal intent are established when a grenade is thrown into a crowd, affirming a murder conviction.
Buy-Bust Operations and Drug Convictions: The Role of the Presumption of Regularity
The Supreme Court affirms a drug conviction, explaining how the presumption of regularity in police buy-bust operations works and when it applies.
Security of Tenure Protection Against Forced Eviction for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries
The Supreme Court rules that forced eviction of agrarian reform beneficiaries is illegal, and threats can suspend the prescriptive period for filing claims.
Judicial Ethics: Court Employee Cannot Buy Litigated Property
Court employees must avoid acquiring property in litigation, even outside their court's jurisdiction, to uphold judicial integrity.
Circumstantial Evidence in Rape with Homicide Cases: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
When no eyewitness exists, circumstantial evidence can convict. Learn how the Supreme Court applied this rule in People v. De la Cruz.
Probable Cause and Conflicting Testimonies in Rape and Illegal Detention Cases
When may courts override prosecutors on probable cause? The Supreme Court clarifies in a case of rape, illegal detention, and conflicting testimonies.
Buy-Bust Operations and Chain of Custody: Protecting Rights in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court upholds a drug conviction, clarifying buy-bust validity, chain of custody rules, and evidentiary standards under RA 9165.
When a Deceased Defendant Is Named in a Collection Case: Jurisdiction and Solidary Liability Rules
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies what happens when a defendant dies before a collection suit is filed, and how solidary obligations affect the case.
Circumstantial Evidence in Rape with Homicide Cases: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How the Supreme Court upheld a rape-with-homicide conviction based solely on circumstantial evidence, and what this means for Philippine criminal prosecutions.
Circumstantial Evidence Can Sustain a Rape with Homicide Conviction — People v. De la Cruz
Philippine courts can convict of rape with homicide based on circumstantial evidence alone when the circumstances form an unbroken chain pointing to the accused.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Force, Intimidation, and Credibility in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining force, intimidation, witness credibility, and damages in Philippine criminal law.
Accountability in Homicide: Liability Beyond the Mortal Blow
A Philippine Supreme Court ruling clarifies that a co-assailant in a fatal mauling can be convicted of homicide even without delivering the fatal blow.
Upholding Conviction in Rape Cases: Credibility and the Element of Force
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how trial courts assess witness credibility and prove force or intimidation.
DARAB Jurisdiction and Land Sale Nullification: Key Lessons from a 2013 Ruling
When can the DARAB nullify a land sale? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of its jurisdiction in this 2013 ruling.
Upholding Conviction IN Drug Cases THE Importance OF Credible Testimony AND Chain OF Custody
Challenging Drug Convictions: Chain of Custody and Police Coordination Under RA 9165
How the Supreme Court treats chain of custody and police coordination in drug cases, and what this means for challenging convictions.
When DARAB Lacks Jurisdiction: Res Judicata and Limits on Agrarian Cases
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies that not every sale of agricultural land falls under DARAB jurisdiction, preventing endless litigation.
A Chain of Circumstances: Proving Robbery with Homicide Beyond Reasonable Doubt
The Supreme Court upheld a robbery with homicide conviction built on circumstantial evidence after rejecting a flawed line-up and a coerced confession.