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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Challenging Filiation: Birth Certificate Corrections and DNA Evidence in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court rules filiation cannot be collaterally attacked via Rule 108 birth certificate correction petitions; DNA testing requires prima facie evidence.
DNA Evidence and Presumption of Legitimacy: Filiation Rights in the Philippines
The Supreme Court ruled DNA evidence can establish filiation despite the presumption of legitimacy, prioritizing the child's best interests.
Understanding Qualified Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Key Insights from a Landmark Case
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when rape of a mentally disabled adult is qualified statutory rape, and the role of DNA evidence.
Filiation and Estate Administration: Clarifying the Scope of DNA Evidence in Determining Heirship
The Supreme Court clarifies when DNA test results may—and may not—be used to remove a special administrator in estate proceedings.
DNA Evidence and Paternity: Establishing Paternity Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Rape Cases
How the Supreme Court first applied the DNA Rules to confirm paternity and uphold a rape conviction.
Unraveling Reasonable Doubt: The Role of DNA Evidence in Rape Cases
Explore how Philippine courts weigh DNA evidence and credible testimony in rape convictions, as shown in People v. Tuazon.
Protecting the Vulnerable: The Crime of Rape and the Importance of Victim Testimony
A 2007 Supreme Court ruling on rape underscores how victim testimony is weighed and why DNA evidence can prove decisive in appeals.
DNA Evidence Establishing Paternity in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms DNA paternity testing as admissible evidence, setting standards for probative value and the right against self-incrimination.
Habeas Corpus and DNA Evidence: Limits of Post-Conviction Remedies in Paternity-Based Rape Cases
The Supreme Court explains when DNA evidence can—and cannot—challenge a final rape conviction through habeas corpus or new trial.
DNA Evidence and Conviction: The Yatar Case and the Standard for Admissibility
Explaining how the Supreme Court in People v. Yatar set the standard for admitting DNA evidence in Philippine criminal cases.