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 in Drug Cases: Why Police Procedure Determines Conviction or Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to police lapses in chain of custody, reaffirming strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Surname Disputes: Why Proper Filiation Matters in Civil Registry Corrections
Correcting a surname in the civil registry is not always clerical. Learn why filiation and procedure matter under Rule 108.
Broken Chains: Safeguarding Drug Evidence and Protecting Rights in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits two drug suspects because police broke the chain of custody, underscoring that procedure protects the innocent.
When Police Searches Go Wrong: Acquittal in a Carnapping Case
A look at how illegal searches and inadmissible confessions led to an acquittal in a carnapping case, and what this means for criminal procedure.
Strict Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Procedural Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits two accused in a drug case due to unjustified lapses in the chain of custody procedure under RA 9165.
Weak Chain of Custody Leads to Acquittal in Drug Sale Case
Learn how lapses in Section 21 chain of custody rules led to an acquittal in a drug sale case, and what this means for police procedures.
AWOL and Accountability: Dropping Employees from the Rolls for Unauthorized Absences
Learn when Philippine government employees can be dropped from the rolls for AWOL, the procedure involved, and what benefits remain.
Lost in Procedure: Supreme Court Upholds Strict Compliance With Appeal Rules
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to comply with Section 21 of RA 9165, emphasizing strict procedural compliance.
Judicial Discretion vs Legal Mandates: Balancing Urgency and Procedure in TRO Extensions
A Supreme Court ruling on a judge's administrative liability clarifies the strict limits of 72-hour TRO extensions and the proper handling of weekend bail applications.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Protecting Rights Through Strict Procedure
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over police lapses in Section 21 procedure, reaffirming that strict compliance protects the innocent.
Premature Filing Seafarers Disability Claim Dismissed FOR NON Compliance With Poea SEC Procedures
Compromised Evidence Safeguarding Drug Integrity IN Anti Drug Operations
When police fumble the chain of custody, drug convictions fail. A 2018 Supreme Court ruling shows why procedure matters.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Integrity vs. Strict Procedure
The Supreme Court explains when lapses in the chain of custody rule do not automatically acquit an accused in drug cases.
Reasonable Doubt: Drug Evidence Procedure Failures Lead to Acquittal
Explaining how failure to follow Section 21 chain of custody rules in drug cases can lead to acquittal, citing People v. Que.
Sheriff’s Duty to Follow Execution Procedures and the Consequences of Neglect
A sheriff’s failure to follow execution rules—from expense estimates to auction notices—can mean dismissal. The Supreme Court explains why.
Compromised Evidence: The Vital Chain of Custody in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police broke the chain of custody rule under RA 9165. Learn the required procedure.
The Three-Day Notice Rule: Ensuring Due Process in Motion Hearings
The Supreme Court clarifies the mandatory three-day notice rule for motions and why personal service is preferred in Philippine procedure.
Unreliable Eyewitness Testimony and Reasonable Doubt in Philippine Criminal Law
The Supreme Court acquits an accused when eyewitness identification is unreliable, citing the frailty of human memory and suggestive procedures.
When the Company Doctor's Disability Rating Becomes Binding on Seafarers
The Supreme Court ruled that a seafarer who disagrees with the company-designated physician's disability rating must follow the POEA-SEC procedure, or that rating becomes final.
Strikes and Substantial Justice: Balancing Procedure and Workers' Rights in Labor Disputes
The Supreme Court reminds courts that procedural rules should serve, not defeat, substantial justice in labor cases involving workers' rights.
Sheriffs Must Follow Execution Procedures Exactly or Face Administrative Liability
A sheriff who skipped the demand step before garnishing and levying property was suspended for simple misconduct by the Supreme Court.
Company-Designated Physician's Fitness Declaration Prevails in Seafarer Disability Claims
Supreme Court rules company-designated physician's fit-to-work assessment binds seafarer unless properly disputed under POEA-SEC procedure.
Seafarer Disability Claims: Following POEA-SEC Procedures for a Valid Assessment
The Supreme Court clarifies when a seafarer's disability claim fails: premature filing and skipping the mandatory third-doctor referral under the POEA-SEC.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Integrity Over Strict Procedure
The Supreme Court clarifies that minor lapses in drug evidence procedure do not automatically acquit an accused if the evidence's integrity remains intact.