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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Circumstantial Evidence and Domestic Violence in Philippine Parricide Cases
How the Supreme Court upheld a parricide conviction based on circumstantial evidence, including prior domestic violence, in People v. Tayao.
Circumstantial Evidence and Homicide: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
When no eyewitness exists, circumstantial evidence can convict. The Supreme Court explains the rules in Saluta v. People.
Proving Foreign Law in Philippine Courts: Divorce Recognition Under Article 26
A Philippine court explains what evidence is needed to prove foreign divorce law under Article 26 of the Family Code.
Upholding Drug Convictions: The Chain of Custody Rule Under RA 9165
The Supreme Court affirms a drug conviction, clarifying that substantial compliance with the chain of custody rule preserves evidence integrity.
Reasonable Doubt and the Integrity of Evidence in Drug Cases: People v. Reniedo
Explore how the Supreme Court acquitted an accused in a drug case due to broken chain of custody and non-compliance with RA 9165.
Confessions and Circumstantial Evidence Upholding Convictions in Robbery With Homicide Cases
Supreme Court explains when a confession to a reporter is admissible and how circumstantial evidence can prove robbery with homicide.
Reasonable Doubt in Drug Cases: The Need for Clear Identification of Evidence
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that in drug cases, the identity of the seized item must be proven beyond reasonable doubt, not just presumed.
Chain OF Custody Imperative Safeguarding Drug Evidence IN Philippine LAW 2
Dismissal Due to Failure to Present Corpus Delicti: Safeguarding Drug Evidence in Philippine Courts
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect over broken chain of custody, underscoring the need to preserve corpus delicti in drug cases.
Chain of Custody Imperative: Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits drug suspects when police fail to follow Section 21 inventory and photograph rules, underscoring evidence integrity.
Chain OF Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity IN Philippine LAW 2
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding Conviction in Statutory Rape Cases
Supreme Court affirms statutory rape conviction, explaining why a child victim's credible testimony suffices even without medical evidence of injury.
Citizenship Revocation and Deportation: Due Process in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court nullified a deportation order based on flimsy evidence, underscoring that citizenship revocation demands substantial proof and due process.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Statutory Rape and the Primacy of Victim Testimony in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on circumstantial evidence and the credible testimony of a 16-year-old victim who was rendered unconscious during the assault.
Qualified Theft Conviction Upheld: When Circumstantial Evidence Proves Guilt Beyond Doubt
The Supreme Court affirms a qualified theft conviction based on circumstantial evidence, explaining when such evidence suffices to prove guilt.
Judicial Review in Illegal Dismissal: Balancing Labor Rights and Employer Prerogatives
The Supreme Court clarifies the CA's power to review NLRC factual findings in illegal dismissal cases, emphasizing substantial evidence over technicalities.
Marriage Nullity for Absence of Marriage License: What the Supreme Court Says
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on declaring marriage void for lack of marriage license, evidence rules, and practical implications.
Ensuring Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Safeguarding Rights and Evidence
The Supreme Court clarifies the chain of custody rule in drug cases, emphasizing substantial compliance and integrity of evidence.
Seafarer Disability Claims: Why Substantial Evidence and the 3-Day Medical Exam Rule Matter
A Supreme Court ruling explains why seafarers must comply with the mandatory post-employment medical exam and prove work-related illness with substantial evidence.
Credibility of a Rape Survivor's Positive Identification and Corroborating Evidence in Sexual Assault Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how a victim's credible, positive identification and corroborating evidence outweigh defenses of denial and minor inconsistencies.
Valid Jurat and Proper Verification: Lessons from William Go Que Construction v. CA
A defective jurat in a verification and certification against forum shopping can doom a petition. Learn the rules on competent evidence of identity.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Marking Seized Evidence Matters
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect when police break the chain of custody, stressing strict evidence handling rules.
Due Process in Administrative Actions: Fair Notice in Recruitment Cases
The Supreme Court rules that administrative due process requires furnishing the accused with the evidence against them, not just a hearing.
The Burden of Proof in Seafarer Disability Claims: Clarifying the Third Doctor Rule
A seafarer who disputes a company doctor's fit-to-work finding must follow the POEA-SEC third doctor rule and present solid medical evidence, the Supreme Court reminds.