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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Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Marking Evidence Matters
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police failed to mark seized shabu in his presence, explaining the chain of custody rule.
Credibility of Witnesses in Drug Cases: Inconsistencies and the Presumption of Regularity
The Supreme Court explains when minor inconsistencies in police testimony do not destroy credibility in buy-bust drug cases.
Entrapment vs Predisposition: How Philippine Courts View Drug Buy-Bust Operations
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a buy-bust operation is valid entrapment rather than instigation, and how courts weigh police procedures in drug cases.
Why Police Procedure Matters: Acquittal in Drug Cases and the Weight of Evidence
A buy-bust operation's failure to follow Section 21 of RA 9165 led to an acquittal. Learn the rules on evidence integrity.
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.
Broken Chains: Safeguarding Drug Evidence and Protecting Rights in Philippine Law
When police fail to mark seized drugs immediately and prove custody, the accused may be acquitted. Learn from a Supreme Court ruling.
Broken Chains: Safeguarding Drug Evidence Integrity in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a drug conviction but orders return of items seized beyond the search warrant, underscoring strict limits on police discretion.
Buy-Bust Operations Can Establish Guilt Despite Claims of Police Extortion
Supreme Court affirms drug conviction from buy-bust operation, rejecting claims of frame-up and extortion by police officers.
Chain of Custody Imperative Safeguarding Drug Evidence in Philippine Law
Why the Supreme Court acquitted a drug suspect when police failed to follow Section 21 chain of custody rules under RA 9165.
Safeguarding Rights Illegal Drug Conviction Overturned Due to Evidence Chain Break
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect when police break chain of custody, reinforcing that evidence integrity is vital to conviction.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails Safeguarding Individual Rights In Drug Cases
Supreme Court acquits drug suspect where police testimony was improbable and chain of custody was broken.
Double Jeopardy and Police Accountability: When Amending an Information Is Allowed
Explaining when an amended criminal information does not trigger double jeopardy, through a Philippine Supreme Court ruling on police killings.
Drug Sale Conviction Upheld: Minor Inconsistencies Do Not Undermine Police Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms drug sale and possession convictions, ruling that minor inconsistencies in police testimony do not impair credibility.
Due Process Prevails: Officer Unfairly Dismissed Is Ordered Reinstated
The Supreme Court reinstates a police officer dismissed without notice, affirming that due process is essential in administrative proceedings.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Broken Links Can Mean Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police broke the chain of custody, stressing strict proof of the seized drug's identity.
Police Power vs Customs Authority: The Limits of Search and Seizure in the Philippines
When can police search cargo without customs authority? The Supreme Court clarifies the limits in Boac v. People.
Chain of Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence and Ensuring Fair Trials in the Philippines
How the Supreme Court acquitted a drug suspect when police broke Section 21's chain of custody rules, protecting the accused's right to a fair trial.
Police USE OF Force Justifying Homicide Claims IN THE Philippines
Warrantless Arrest in Marijuana Plantation Raid: People v. Alunday Explained
A look at when police may arrest without a warrant in flagrante delicto, based on People v. Alunday (G.R. No. 181546).
When Lawyers Abuse Blank Checks: Lessons from Manaois v. Deciembre
A Supreme Court ruling on indefinite suspension for a lawyer who filled blank checks with unauthorized amounts shows how the Bar polices deceitful conduct.
Buy-Bust Operations and Instigation: When Police Tactics Are Valid in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies the line between valid entrapment and prohibited instigation in drug buy-bust operations under RA 9165.
Conspiracy and Group Criminal Acts: How Philippine Courts Weigh Evidence in Drug Cases
In Dacles v. People, the Supreme Court upheld a drug conviction based on police testimony and explained how courts treat defenses of denial and frame-up.
Due Process in Administrative Cases: Balancing Fairness and Efficiency in Police Disciplinary Actions
The Supreme Court clarifies that administrative due process does not require trial-type hearings, allowing PNP disciplinary actions to proceed on affidavits and position papers.
Warrantless Arrest and Seizure: When Police Overstep Constitutional Bounds
Explore Valdez v. People, where the Supreme Court acquitted an accused due to unlawful warrantless arrest and broken chain of custody.