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.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Integrity Over Strict Compliance
The Supreme Court clarifies that substantial compliance with Section 21, RA 9165 suffices when the drug's integrity and evidentiary value are preserved.
Upholding the Chain of Custody: Ensuring Integrity in Drug Possession Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to a broken chain of custody, emphasizing the need for unbroken evidence integrity.
Dispensing With the Confidential Informant: Upholding Buy-Bust Operations in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that a confidential informant's testimony is not indispensable in drug cases when police officers personally witness the illegal sale.
When Courts Can No Longer Enforce Agreements: The Difference Between Entrapment and Instigation
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when police buy-bust operations are legal entrapment versus illegal instigation, and why the distinction matters in drug cases.
Reasonable Doubt Acquittal in Drug Cases Due to Broken Chain of Custody
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police broke the chain of custody, explaining why procedural lapses matter.
Blind Curves and Fault: When a Bus Driver’s Contributory Negligence Still Means Acquittal
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies proximate cause in blind-curve collisions, acquitting a bus driver whose negligence was only contributory.
Probable Cause and Judicial Discretion: Safeguarding Against Unjust Prosecution
The Supreme Court affirms a trial judge's dismissal of murder cases for lack of probable cause, clarifying judicial discretion in warrant issuance.
Buy-Bust Operations Ensuring Integrity in Drug Sale and Possession Cases
The Supreme Court affirms drug convictions, explaining how buy-bust operations and chain of custody preserve evidence integrity under RA 9165.
Chain of Custody in Philippine Drug Cases: Why Proper Evidence Handling Matters
Learn the chain of custody rule in Philippine drug cases and why proper evidence handling is crucial for a conviction.
Broken Chains, Broken Cases: Why Chain of Custody Is King in Philippine Drug Offenses
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over a broken chain of custody, underscoring the prosecution's burden to prove the drug's identity beyond doubt.
Reasonable Doubt and Eyewitness Testimony: How Philippine Courts Protect the Accused in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a rape accused when the victim's identification is uncertain, showing how reasonable doubt protects the innocent.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Integrity of Evidence Under RA 9165
Explaining People v. Presas on the chain of custody rule in drug cases—when lapses in procedure do not automatically break the prosecution's case.
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.
Upholding Drug Convictions: Integrity of Evidence Over Procedural Lapses
The Supreme Court affirms a drug conviction, ruling that minor procedural lapses in Section 21 compliance do not automatically invalidate seized evidence.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Proper Evidence Handling Matters
The Supreme Court explains the chain of custody rule in drug cases and when lapses in procedure will not defeat a conviction.
Plain View Doctrine: When Warrantless Seizures Are Admissible in Philippine Courts
The Supreme Court explains the plain view doctrine and when evidence seized without a warrant can be used in court.
Loafing in the Workplace: Philippine Law, Penalties, and the Fortaleza Case
Learn what constitutes loafing under Philippine law, its penalties for government employees, and key lessons from a Supreme Court ruling.
Chain of Custody: Why Drug Sale Convictions Fail Without It
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to broken chain of custody, underscoring strict compliance with R.A. 9165 procedures.
Reinstatement Rights of Police Officers After Acquittal: The Roaquin Case
When can a discharged police officer demand reinstatement and back pay after acquittal? The Supreme Court explains in Calinisan v. Roaquin.
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.
Buy-Bust Operations and the Chain of Custody: Ensuring Integrity in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that minor lapses in Section 21 custody procedures do not automatically invalidate drug seizures if evidentiary integrity is preserved.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Ensuring Evidence Integrity for Conviction
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because the prosecution failed to prove the chain of custody, emphasizing evidence integrity.
Presumption of Regularity vs. Misconduct Claims: Integrity in Court Execution
Learn how the presumption of regularity in official duty interacts with misconduct allegations in administrative cases, from a 2010 Supreme Court ruling.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Preserving Evidence Integrity for a Fair Trial
How the Supreme Court in Balarbar v. People clarified that minor gaps in drug evidence handling do not automatically void a conviction.