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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Who Can Appeal a Criminal Acquittal? Private Complainants, the OSG, and the Civil Aspect
Explaining why a private complainant cannot appeal a criminal acquittal alone, and when the OSG must act.
Safeguarding Chain of Custody: How Improper Handling of Evidence Leads to Acquittal in Drug Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that police lapses in drug evidence handling, particularly missing inventory and photos, can warrant acquittal.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Acquittal in Rape Case Based on Improbable Testimony
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a rape victim's testimony is too general to convict, and when circumstantial evidence suffices for conviction.
Chain of Custody Breaks Lead to Acquittal in Drug Case: People v. Guanzon
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect after police failed to prove an unbroken chain of custody, stressing strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Chain of Custody Gaps Lead to Acquittal in Drug Case: People v. Guanzon
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to prove an unbroken chain of custody, stressing strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Broken Chains: Why Lapses in Drug Evidence Custody Lead to Acquittal
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect when police fail to account for missing witnesses and photos in chain of custody.
Compromised Evidence Acquittal Due to Unjustified Deviations in Drug Chain of Custody
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to justify deviations from the mandatory chain of custody rule under RA 9165.
Strict Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Unjustified Non-Compliance Leads to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to justify non-compliance with Section 21, RA 9165, stressing the strict chain of custody rule.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Piecemeal Compliance Led to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquitted a drug suspect because police conducted two separate inventories with different witnesses, breaking the chain of custody.
Chain OF Custody IS KEY Acquittal IN Drug Cases DUE TO Procedural Lapses
Broken Chain of Custody Leads to Acquittal in Illegal Drug Sale Case
A broken chain of custody and lapses under Section 21 of RA 9165 led the Supreme Court to acquit an accused in an illegal drug sale case.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect when police fail to explain lapses in Section 21 chain of custody rules, preserving evidence integrity.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Procedural Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to broken chain of custody, emphasizing strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: When Missing Witnesses Mean Acquittal
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect over missing inventory witnesses, explaining the chain of custody rule under Section 21 of RA 9165.
Reasonable Doubt in Drug and Firearm Cases: When Broken Chain of Custody Means Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect when police break the chain of custody, safeguarding the constitutional right to be presumed innocent.
When Police Lapses Lead to Acquittal in Drug Cases: The Chain of Custody Rule
Explaining the Supreme Court's acquittal in People v. Cordova and Eguiso for police failure to follow the chain of custody rule under Section 21, RA 9165.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Integrity of Evidence and the Reasonable Doubt Standard
Why failure to follow Section 21, RA 9165 chain of custody rules and conflicting police testimony led to acquittal in a drug sale case.
Challenging Drug Convictions: The Importance of Chain of Custody in Illegal Possession Cases
A Supreme Court ruling shows how broken chain of custody and flawed inventory can lead to acquittal in drug possession cases.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: When Police Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to justify missing witnesses during inventory, reinforcing strict chain of custody rules.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Procedural Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over broken chain of custody and missing witnesses, underscoring the need for strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Breaking the Chain of Custody: When Police Lapses Lead to Acquittal in Drug Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies that broken chain of custody and unjustified non-compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165 warrant acquittal in drug cases.
Chain of Custody Breaches Lead to Acquittal in Drug Sale Case
Supreme Court acquits drug suspects after police fail to justify missing DOJ and media witnesses during inventory under Section 21.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Non-Compliance Can Mean Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to justify deviations from Section 21's chain of custody rules.
Chain of Custody Breach in Drug Buy-Bust Leads to Acquittal
When police deviate from Section 21's chain of custody rule without justification, the accused may be acquitted.