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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Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence and Protecting Rights in Illegal Sale Cases
The Supreme Court acquits two accused in a shabu sale case, stressing that gaps in the chain of custody create reasonable doubt.
Challenging Notarized Documents: Forgery and the Burden of Proof in Property Disputes
A notarized deed is presumed valid, but clear and convincing evidence of forgery can void it. Learn the rules from a 2018 Supreme Court ruling.
Land Registration Proving Ownership for Public Land Acquisition
The Supreme Court clarifies what evidence is needed to register public land, and the limits on corporations acquiring such land.
Equipoise Rule in Illegal Dismissal Cases: When Doubt Favors the Employee
The Supreme Court clarifies the equipoise rule in illegal dismissal cases, holding that when evidence is balanced, doubt must favor the employee.
Protecting Labor Rights: Resolving Doubt in Illegal Dismissal Cases
When evidence is equally balanced in illegal dismissal cases, Philippine courts resolve doubt in favor of the employee. Learn the rules.
Chain of Custody Breaks: When Drug Evidence Fails in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect after police broke the chain of custody rule under RA 9165, Section 21.
Positive Identification and Circumstantial Evidence in B.P. 22 Cases: Proving Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
How Philippine courts use eyewitness identification and circumstantial evidence to convict in Bouncing Checks Law cases, explained through a recent Supreme Court ruling.
Proving Lost Earnings After Wrongful Death: Testimony Can Suffice, Says Supreme Court
The Supreme Court ruled that credible testimonial evidence alone can prove a deceased person's income for lost earning capacity damages.
Proving Filiation After Death: The Strict Rules on Inheritance Claims
Philippine law sets strict evidence rules for proving filiation after a parent's death. Learn what the Supreme Court requires in inheritance disputes.
When Lawyers Behave Badly: The Supreme Court on Suspension, Reputation, and Evidence
A 2017 Supreme Court ruling shows why disbarment complaints need solid evidence, and why lawyers must stay mindful of how their conduct appears to the public.
Just Compensation for Improvements in Expropriation: The Replacement Cost Rule
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies how courts must value improvements in expropriation cases, requiring evidence of replacement cost under RA 8974.
Just Compensation for Expropriated Improvements: The Replacement Cost Standard
Learn how Philippine courts value improvements in expropriation cases and why the Supreme Court remanded this case for proper evidence.
Chain of Custody and Damages: Lessons from the Sprite Bottle Case
A Supreme Court ruling on product liability, chain of custody of evidence, and when moral and exemplary damages may be awarded in quasi-delict cases.
Pre-Trial Orders Prevail: Limiting Evidence to Ensure Fair and Efficient Litigation
Explore how Philippine courts treat pre-trial orders that limit evidence, ensuring fair and efficient litigation while preventing trial by ambush.
When Is an Illness Compensable? GSIS v. Tañedo on Work-Connection Evidence
The Supreme Court clarifies the evidence needed to prove work-connection for non-occupational diseases under the Employees' Compensation Law.
When Evidence Is Tainted: Marking Seized Drugs and the Chain of Custody Rule
A Supreme Court ruling explains why failing to mark seized drugs immediately can break the chain of custody and lead to acquittal.
Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity in Illegal Possession Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to broken chain of custody, underscoring Section 21 RA 9165 compliance.
Compromised Chain of Custody: Illegal Drug Conviction Overturned Due to Procedural Lapses
The Supreme Court acquitted an illegal drug suspect after police failed to follow the chain of custody requirements under Section 21 of RA 9165, compromising evidence integrity.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Marking Evidence Immediately Matters
A drug conviction requires proof beyond reasonable doubt, including an unbroken chain of custody over the seized substance. Learn the rules.
Reconstitution of Lost Titles: Proving Clear and Convincing Evidence in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies the strict evidentiary standard for reconstituting lost or destroyed land titles under Republic Act No. 26.
Independent Judicial Assessment Required in Estafa Case Withdrawals
Supreme Court clarifies that judges must independently assess evidence before granting motions to withdraw information in estafa cases.
Circumstantial Evidence and Treachery: When a Conviction for Murder Stands
The Supreme Court explains how circumstantial evidence alone can convict for murder, and when treachery qualifies the killing of a child.
Bail and Plunder: Examining the Strength of Evidence for Provisional Liberty
The Supreme Court upholds denial of bail in plunder case, explaining the standard of "strong evidence" and the limits of certiorari review.
Reconstitution of Lost Title: Supreme Court Clarifies Rules on Lost Certificates of Title
The Supreme Court reinstates a trial court ruling on reconstituting a lost title, clarifying the rules on evidence and documentation.