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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Safeguarding Rights: The Importance of Chain of Custody in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits two drug suspects due to the prosecution's failure to comply with the chain of custody rule under Section 21 of RA 9165.
Safeguarding Rights: The Importance of Witness Presence in Drug Cases
Why a drug conviction was overturned when police skipped required witnesses and delayed marking evidence in a buy-bust operation.
Tolerance in Unlawful Detainer: Proving Consent for Possession
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that mere silence or inaction is not tolerance; owners must prove positive acts of consent in unlawful detainer cases.
Due Process in Termination: Ensuring Fair Dismissal Under Philippine Labor Law
Learn the rules for valid dismissal in the Philippines—substantive and procedural due process, and what happens when employers fail to comply.
Superior Strength in Criminal Law: Weapon Disparity and Victim Vulnerability
When does killing with a gun become murder? Philippine Supreme Court clarifies treachery, weapon disparity, and victim vulnerability.
Prior Public Use and the Power of Expropriation: The NGCP Case
When can a private franchise holder expropriate property already devoted to public use? The Supreme Court clarifies in this 2019 ruling.
Broken Chains: Safeguarding Drug Evidence and Ensuring Fair Trials in the Philippines
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect after police breached the chain of custody rule, underscoring the need for strict evidence handling.
Diminished Liability When Forewarning Reduces Murder TO Homicide
Philippine Supreme Court rules that a victim forewarned of danger negates treachery, reducing murder to homicide.
Eminent Domain and Private Property: Clarifying Expropriation Powers in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when state-owned land is private property subject to expropriation, and the limits of delegated eminent domain.
Incestuous Rape: When Moral Ascendancy Substitutes for Force
The Supreme Court explains how a father's moral ascendancy can substitute for force in incestuous rape cases, and clarifies the distinction between rape by sexual intercourse and sexual assault.
Flaws in Drug Evidence Handling Lead to Acquittal: Strict Chain of Custody Vital
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect over broken chain of custody and illegal arrest, stressing strict Section 21 compliance.
Definitive Disability Assessments: Protecting Seafarers' Right to Full Compensation
The Supreme Court ruled that a company doctor's tentative or unclear disability rating does not bar a seafarer from claiming permanent total disability benefits.
Writ of Possession After Foreclosure: Third-Party Claims in Philippine Mortgage Sales
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on writ of possession in mortgage foreclosures, explaining when third-party adverse claims can block eviction.
Unlawful Checkpoints Protecting Constitutional Rights Against Warrantless Searches
A drug suspect's acquittal shows why strict compliance with chain of custody rules and constitutional safeguards is vital in buy-bust operations.
Defining Final Assessment Seafarer Disability Benefits AND Employer Obligations
Writ OF Possession When Redemption Claims Collide With Ministerial Duty
Unlawful Arrests and Drug Possession: Safeguarding Constitutional Rights in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over a broken chain of custody, underscoring constitutional safeguards in buy-bust operations.
Defining Marriage: The Falcis Case and LGBTQ+ Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court's 2019 Falcis ruling on same-sex marriage in the Philippines, explained in plain language with practical takeaways.
Mamasapano Tragedy: Determining Liability in Complex Military Operations
The Supreme Court clarifies the standards for determining criminal negligence and probable cause in the Mamasapano tragedy, addressing command responsibility and intervening causes.
Environmental Advocacy and the Attorney's Duty When Fisherfolk Voices Clash in the West Philippine Sea
How lawyers can ethically navigate environmental advocacy when fisherfolk voices clash in the West Philippine Sea.
Falcis v. Civil Registrar General: Why the Supreme Court Declined to Rule on Same-Sex Marriage
The Supreme Court dismissed the petition seeking to legalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines, ruling on procedural grounds without deciding the constitutional merits.
Disbarment for Immorality Upholding Ethical Standards in the Legal Profession
The Supreme Court underscores that lawyers must uphold the highest ethical standards, with immorality as a ground for disbarment.
Wealth vs Right: Financial Capacity Cannot Bar Senate Candidacy
Supreme Court rules COMELEC cannot disqualify Senate aspirants as nuisance candidates solely for lacking proof of financial capacity to campaign nationwide.
Parental Authority vs. Individual Rights: Sterilization of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities in the Phili
The Supreme Court's Falcis ruling clarifies justiciability standards, impacting how courts handle cases involving parental authority and individual rights for persons with disabilities.