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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Website Activity as Proof of Commercial Use in Philippine Trademark Law
How Philippine courts treat website activity as evidence of commercial use in trademark cases, and what this means for brand owners.
Moral Ascendancy and the Shadow of Doubt: Familial Rape in Philippine Law
How the Supreme Court weighed circumstantial evidence, moral ascendancy, and delayed reporting in a father's qualified rape conviction.
Tax Declarations as Evidence of Ownership: Protecting Possessory Rights
The Supreme Court clarifies that tax declarations, while not conclusive, are strong evidence of possession in the concept of owner when coupled with continuous possession.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Acquittal in Rape Case Based on Improbable Testimony
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a rape victim's testimony is too general to convict, and when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction.
Dismissal Due to Faulty Drug Evidence Handling: Integrity of Evidence in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug accused because police failed to justify non-compliance with Section 21, RA 9165's chain of custody rule.
Broken Chains: Why Lapses in Drug Evidence Custody Lead to Acquittal
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect when police fail to account for missing witnesses and photos in chain of custody.
Chains Unbroken Safeguarding Rights In Drug Cases Through Strict Evidence Integrity
A drug conviction overturned because police failed to follow chain of custody rules. Learn the strict requirements and practical lessons.
Circumstantial Evidence and Parricide: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Familial Crimes
How the Supreme Court upheld a parricide conviction based on circumstantial evidence, not direct proof, in People v. Espinosa.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: What People v. Quilang Means for Evidence Integrity
The Supreme Court explains when marking seized drugs at the police station, not at the arrest site, still satisfies the chain of custody rule.
Chain OF Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity IN Philippine LAW 21
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: What People v. Banquilay Means for Buy-Bust Evidence
The Supreme Court affirms a drug sale conviction, clarifying that minor chain of custody lapses do not automatically invalidate seized evidence.
Compromised Evidence Acquittal Due to Unjustified Deviations in Drug Chain of Custody
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to justify deviations from the mandatory chain of custody rule under RA 9165.
Unjust Enrichment Claims and the Burden of Proving Evidence in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on unjust enrichment claims, evidentiary rules for private documents, and notarized affidavits in civil cases.
Upholding Warrantless Arrests in Buy-Bust Operations: Safeguarding Evidence and Ensuring Convictions
Learn how the Supreme Court upheld a warrantless arrest and drug seizure based on probable cause, preserving evidence integrity under Section 21 of RA 9165.
Best Evidence Rule in Disbarment Cases: Goopio v. Maglalang Explained
The Supreme Court clarifies that photocopies cannot prove lawyer misconduct, dismissing a disbarment case for violating the Best Evidence Rule.
Best Evidence Rule in Disbarment Cases: Photocopies Cannot Prove a Lawyer's Misconduct
The Supreme Court dismissed a disbarment case because the complainant relied on photocopies, not originals, violating the Best Evidence Rule.
Best Evidence Rule in Disbarment Cases: Goopio v. Maglalang
The Supreme Court dismisses a disbarment complaint for lack of merit, ruling that photocopies of key documents violate the Best Evidence Rule.
Failure to Comply with Drug Evidence Safeguards: Ramos v. People and the Chain of Custody Rule
A Supreme Court ruling shows why strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165 is vital in drug cases.
Chains Unbroken Safeguarding Rights In Drug Possession Cases Through Strict Evidence Protocols
The Supreme Court acquits a drug possession accused over a broken chain of custody, stressing strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Filiation and Estate Administration: Clarifying the Scope of DNA Evidence in Determining Heirship
The Supreme Court clarifies when DNA test results may—and may not—be used to remove a special administrator in estate proceedings.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect when police fail to explain lapses in Section 21 chain of custody rules, preserving evidence integrity.
Chain OF Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity IN Philippine LAW 16
Lawyer Suspended for Gross Immorality: What the Supreme Court Said
The Supreme Court suspended a lawyer for one year for an illicit affair, explaining the evidence rules in administrative cases against attorneys.
Circumstantial Evidence Suffices Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Victims Unconsciousness
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on circumstantial evidence, ruling that a victim rendered unconscious need not provide direct testimony of the act.