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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DOJ Authority Over Preliminary Investigations: What It Means for Criminal Procedure in the Philippines
The Supreme Court recognizes the DOJ's authority to issue its own rules on preliminary investigations and repeals inconsistent provisions of Rule 112.
GCTA Eligibility After Conviction: Guinto v. DOJ Explained
The Supreme Court ruled that the 2019 IRR exceeded R.A. 10592 by excluding heinous crime convicts from GCTA. Here's what it means.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: DOJ Guidelines and Court Discretion in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that judges, not DOJ circulars, have the final say on plea bargaining in drug cases.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: The Supreme Court Framework and DOJ Guidelines
The Supreme Court clarifies the rules on plea bargaining in drug cases, balancing judicial discretion with prosecutorial consent under A.M. No. 18-03-16-SC and DOJ Circular No. 18.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: Supreme Court Upholds Judicial Discretion Over DOJ Guidelines
The Supreme Court clarifies that trial courts must resolve plea bargaining proposals in drug cases based on evidence, not just DOJ guidelines.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: DOJ Guidelines and Court Discretion in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when trial courts may approve plea bargaining in drug cases and the role of evidence in resolving objections.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: Balancing DOJ Guidelines and Judicial Discretion
The Supreme Court clarifies how plea bargaining works in drug cases, balancing DOJ Circular No. 027 with judicial discretion under A.M. No. 18-03-16-SC.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: Court Rules vs Executive Discretion
The Supreme Court settles the conflict between DOJ circulars and its exclusive rule-making power over plea bargaining in drug cases.
Tax Amnesty and Criminal Immunity: What Pending DOJ Cases Mean Under RA 9480
The Supreme Court clarifies that tax amnesty under RA 9480 covers taxpayers with pending DOJ complaints, not just court cases.
Understanding the Chain of Custody in Philippine Drug Possession Cases
Why the Supreme Court acquitted a drug possession convict when a DOJ witness was absent from the inventory—and what this means for similar cases.
Plea Bargaining in Drug Cases: Consent Rules, DOJ Circulars, and What the High Court Settled
The Supreme Court clarifies when prosecutors must consent to plea bargains in drug cases and why courts cannot strike down DOJ circulars on their own.
Compromised Chain of Custody A Blow to Drug Convictions
Supreme Court acquits drug suspect when inventory lacked DOJ representative, stressing strict chain of custody compliance under RA 9165.
Mandatory Witness Rule in Drug Cases: Safeguarding Evidence Integrity
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect where police failed to secure DOJ representative during inventory, reinforcing chain of custody rules.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Missing a DOJ Witness Led to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquitted a drug suspect because police failed to justify the absence of a DOJ representative during inventory, stressing strict chain-of-custody compliance.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Chain of Custody Lapse Leads to Acquittal in Drug Case
A missed DOJ representative during inventory breaks the chain of custody, leading to acquittal in People v. Cohayco.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Missing Witnesses Can Mean Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to secure media and DOJ witnesses during inventory, stressing strict chain of custody rules.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: When Missing Witnesses Mean Acquittal
A drug conviction was reversed because police failed to secure media and DOJ witnesses during inventory. Learn the chain of custody rules.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: When Lapses Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect over missing media and DOJ witnesses, reinforcing strict chain of custody rules under RA 9165.
Safeguarding Rights: The Importance of Witness Presence in Drug Cases
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect where no DOJ representative witnessed the inventory, stressing strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
Compromised Chain of Custody Acquittal in Drug Cases Due to Witness Absence
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect when police fail to justify missing DOJ and media witnesses during inventory.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Missing Witnesses Can Overturn a Conviction
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to explain missing DOJ and media witnesses during inventory.
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.
Freedom TO Travel Safeguarding Constitutional Rights Against Administrative Overreach
The Supreme Court strikes down DOJ Circular No. 41 for infringing the constitutional right to travel, reaffirming that only law, not administrative fiat, may restrict it.
PD 242 and Intra-Government Tax Disputes: Who Decides When BIR Faces Another Agency?
Supreme Court clarifies that PD 242 governs disputes solely between government entities, giving the DOJ Secretary jurisdiction over BIR-PSALM VAT cases.