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.
Reinstatement With Backwages for Employees Excluded From Illegal Strike Charges
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that workers not charged with illegal strike cannot be treated as in pari delicto and must get backwages.
When a Drug Sale Isn't a Sale: Payment Must Be Completed for Conviction
The Supreme Court clarifies that illegal drug sale requires actual payment, not just delivery. Learn the key elements and why possession still leads to conviction.
Illegal Sale of Shabu: Credible Testimony and the Chain of Custody Rule
The Supreme Court affirms a shabu conviction, explaining how credible witness testimony and preserved evidence outweigh lapses in the chain of custody.
Conspiracy in Philippine Drug Cases: When Shared Intent Leads to Conviction
Learn how Philippine courts prove conspiracy in drug cases, where coordinated actions can convict multiple persons even if drugs are found on only one.
Beyond Labels: Substance Over Form in Appellate Procedure and Drug Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on buy-bust operations shows how courts prioritize substance over form in procedural compliance and evidence.
Possession vs. Sale: Proving the Distinction in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies why illegal sale and illegal possession of drugs are separate crimes requiring distinct proof, acquitting on one charge.
Warrantless Arrests When POT Sessions Justify Immediate Police Action IN THE Philippines
When can police act without a warrant? Philippine law and jurisprudence define the limits of warrantless arrests.
Drug Testing and Constitutional Rights: The Supreme Court's Balancing Act in the Philippines
The Supreme Court upheld random drug testing for students and employees but struck down mandatory tests for candidates and accused persons.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Unbroken Evidence Integrity Matters
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect over broken chain of custody, stressing the need to prove the seized drugs' identity beyond reasonable doubt.
Bare Denials Cannot Overcome Positive Testimony in Buy-Bust Drug Convictions
Explore how the Supreme Court affirmed drug convictions despite denials, emphasizing the weight of positive police testimony in buy-bust operations.
Non-Compete Clauses in Philippine Employment: When Post-Employment Restrictions Are Valid
The Supreme Court explains when non-compete clauses in employment contracts are valid and enforceable under Philippine law.
Buy-Bust Operations and Warrantless Arrests Under RA 9165: What the Supreme Court Said
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when buy-bust arrests are valid without a warrant and how penalties are imposed under RA 9165.
When Is a Buy-Bust Operation Legal in the Philippines? Key Rules from People v. Nicolas
Philippine courts uphold buy-bust operations as valid drug enforcement, even without prior surveillance. Learn the essential elements and your rights.
Possession vs Dominion: Defining Illegal Drug Possession in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies actual vs constructive possession of illegal drugs, and when spouses sharing a home may both be liable.
Buy-Bust Operations Validity and the Principle of Entrapment in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court explains when buy-bust operations are valid and how entrapment differs from instigation in drug cases.
Voluntary Confession Mitigates Parricide: Reclusion Perpetua Instead of Death
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how voluntary confession of guilt mitigates parricide, reducing the penalty from death to reclusion perpetua.
Entrapment vs Instigation: When Does a Drug Buy-Bust Operation Cross the Line?
The Supreme Court explains the difference between valid entrapment and unlawful instigation in drug buy-bust operations, using a 2002 shabu case.
Entrapment vs Frame-Up: Weighing Evidence in Philippine Drug Cases
The Supreme Court explains how courts distinguish legitimate entrapment from frame-up in drug cases, and why positive identification prevails over denial.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails in Drug Possession Case: People v. Mariano
The Supreme Court acquits a drug possession accused where prosecution evidence fails to prove possession beyond reasonable doubt.
Unlawful Arrest Evidence Obtained From Illegal Search Deemed Inadmissible
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that evidence from a warrantless search is inadmissible when the preceding warrantless arrest was unlawful.
Airport Security Checks and Your Rights: The Johnson Case Explained
Understand your rights during airport security frisks in the Philippines, based on the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Johnson.
Entrapment vs Instigation: How Philippine Courts Test the Validity of Drug Busts
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between valid entrapment and invalid instigation in drug cases, using a marijuana buy-bust case as guide.
Habeas Corpus and Drug Offenses: Ensuring Fair Application of Penalties
A look at how the Supreme Court used habeas corpus to correct an excessive penalty for a minor drug offense.
Navigating Buy-Bust Operations in the Philippines: What You Need to Know About Drug Law Enforcement
The Supreme Court explains how buy-bust operations work in drug cases, what counts as valid entrapment, and why courts trust police testimony in shabu sales.