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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Double Jeopardy and Warrantless Arrests in Drug Possession Cases: A Supreme Court Insight
The Supreme Court clarifies double jeopardy in drug possession cases and limits warrantless arrests based on informant tips alone.
Probable Cause for Arrest Warrants: Insights from the Relampagos v. Sandiganbayan Ruling
The Supreme Court clarifies the standard for probable cause in issuing arrest warrants, distinguishing executive from judicial determination.
Chain of Custody in Drug Seizures: Why Witnesses at Arrest Matter in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to secure required witnesses during inventory, underscoring strict compliance with Section 21.
Ensuring Integrity in Drug Busts: The Crucial Role of Witnesses and Chain of Custody
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect, stressing that third-party witnesses must be present during arrest and seizure, not just inventory.
Upholding Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Delayed Inventory Does Not Acquit
The Supreme Court clarifies that marking and inventory of seized drugs may be done at the police station, not the arrest site.
Ensuring Justice: The Critical Role of Chain of Custody in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a drug conviction, clarifying that marking and inventory may be done at the police station, not necessarily at the arrest site.
Plain View Doctrine and Warrantless Arrests: Safeguarding Rights in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect, underscoring the mandatory rules on warrantless arrests, chain of custody, and presumption of innocence.
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.
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.
Judicial Accountability: Gross Ignorance of the Law in Issuing Unlawful Arrest Warrants
When a judge issued arrest warrants in cases where the law forbids them, the Supreme Court held him liable for gross ignorance of the law.
Probable Cause vs Due Process: Independent Judicial Assessment in Arrest Warrant Issuance
The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between executive and judicial probable cause in arrest warrant issuance, and the limits of due process in preliminary investigation.
Warrant of Arrest: Judge's Discretion vs Executive Review in Philippine Criminal Procedure
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on the distinction between executive and judicial determination of probable cause in warrant issuance.
Unlawful Arrest and Inadmissible Evidence: Safeguarding Constitutional Rights in Illegal Gambling Cases
When police lack probable cause for a warrantless arrest, seized evidence becomes inadmissible, leading to acquittal in illegal gambling cases.
Buy-Bust Operations and Warrantless Arrests: Lessons from People v. Juguilon
The Supreme Court affirms that buy-bust operations and warrantless arrests in drug cases are valid when the accused is caught in flagrante delicto.
Buy-Bust Operations and the Chain of Custody Rule in Philippine Drug Cases
A Supreme Court ruling explains when a warrantless arrest in a buy-bust operation is legal and how the chain of custody of seized drugs must be preserved.
When a Station Search Goes Too Far: Hot Pursuit Arrests and Search Incident Limits
A valid hot pursuit arrest does not justify a later station house search. Know the limits of search incident to arrest.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails When Witness Distance Undermines Drug Sale Convictions
Supreme Court acquits drug suspect after police fail to secure required witnesses at arrest scene, breaking chain of custody.
Chain of Custody and Warrantless Arrests in Philippine Drug Cases: The Dominguez Ruling
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over an invalid warrantless arrest, clarifying that waiving an arrest defect does not waive evidence admissibility.
Safeguarding Drug Evidence Strict Compliance With Chain OF Custody Rules
When a warrantless arrest is invalid, seized drugs become inadmissible — explaining the Dominguez ruling on plain view and chain of custody.
Safeguarding Rights: Chain of Custody and the Integrity of Drug Evidence in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect, ruling that a warrantless arrest and seizure of a plastic sachet violated constitutional rights.
Ensuring Drug Integrity: Upholding Chain of Custody in Illegal Possession Cases
The Supreme Court explains when marking drugs at the police station instead of the arrest site still satisfies the chain of custody rule.
Navigating the Chain: Ensuring Drug Evidence Integrity in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court explains when marking drugs at the police station instead of the arrest site still satisfies the chain of custody rule under RA 9165.
Fruit of the Poisonous Tree: Illegal Arrests and Inadmissible Evidence in Firearms Cases
A buy-bust arrest later found illegal taints all seized evidence, including firearms. The Supreme Court explains the exclusionary rule.
Unlawful Arrest Invalidates Firearm Possession Charge When Search Is Illegal
A traffic violation does not justify warrantless arrest or search. The Supreme Court acquits in Mendoza v. People.