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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Safeguarding Individual Rights The Indispensable Chain of Custody in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect because police broke the chain of custody, underscoring why Section 21 safeguards matter.
Reasonable Doubt and Acquittal in Drug Cases: The Price of Procedural Lapses
Why the Supreme Court acquitted a drug suspect when police broke Section 21 chain-of-custody rules.
Doubt in Eyewitness Testimony: When Unreliable Identification Overturns a Murder Conviction
The Supreme Court acquits a murder convict, ruling that unreliable eyewitness identification and inconsistent testimonies create reasonable doubt.
Acquittal in Drug Case Shows Why Procedural Lapses Matter
A PDEA buy-bust conviction was reversed because officers skipped Section 21 safeguards. Learn the chain of custody rules.
Warrant of Arrest: Judge's Discretion vs Executive Review in Philippine Criminal Procedure
Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling on the distinction between executive and judicial determination of probable cause in warrant issuance.
City of Manila v. Prieto: Strict Limits on Local Government Expropriation Powers
Supreme Court rules local governments must strictly comply with legal requirements before exercising delegated eminent domain powers.
Reasonable Doubt in Drug Cases: Why Strict Chain of Custody Matters
A PDEA buy-bust conviction was reversed because police failed to follow Section 21 chain of custody rules. Learn the safeguards that protect accused persons in drug cases.
Piercing the Corporate Veil: When Company Officers Face Personal Liability
A corporate officer can be held personally liable for labor awards if the judgment is final. Learn the risks and rules.
Seafarer Disability Benefits: Work-Related Injury Under the CBA Explained
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on seafarer disability benefits, work-related injuries, and CBA vs POEA-SEC compensation rules.
Credibility of Victim Testimony in Rape Cases Overcomes Defense of Denial
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, holding that a victim's credible, positive testimony prevails over the accused's bare denial.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails: Chain of Custody Breach in Drug Cases
A PDEA buy-bust conviction reversed for broken chain of custody and missing Section 21 witnesses, reaffirming reasonable doubt in drug cases.
Strict Compliance Required for Expropriation of Private Lands for Socialized Housing
Local governments must strictly follow RA 7279 and the LGC before expropriating private land for socialized housing; failure voids the taking.
Safeguarding Integrity: Strict Enforcement of Chain of Custody in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to police lapses in the chain of custody rule, reinforcing strict compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165.
The Limits of Mandamus: When Courts Can Compel Government Actions
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when courts can compel government action, explaining the limits of mandamus in government contract negotiations.
Government Lawyer's Suspension for Neglect of Duty and Improper Conduct Explained
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when a government employee's oversight becomes simple neglect versus conduct prejudicial to the service.
Limits of Mandamus: DepEd Not Compelled to Collect Loan Payments for Private Lenders
Supreme Court rules DepEd cannot be compelled by mandamus to collect and remit teacher loan payments for private lenders.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: When Broken Links Lead to Acquittal
The Supreme Court acquitted two accused in a drug case after police broke the chain of custody rule. Learn the safeguards.
When Drug Evidence Handling Holds Up: Lessons From a Shabu Possession Conviction
A Supreme Court ruling shows how proper chain of custody over seized drugs can defeat an acquittal bid in Philippine drug cases.
Lotto Winner or Loser: Proving Your Claim in Philippine Courts
A failed PCSO jackpot claim shows why evidence, not mere assertion, decides lotto disputes in Philippine courts.
Supreme Court Upholds Ombudsman's Dismissal of Graft Charges Over Lahar Quarrying
The Court explains when it will not interfere with the Ombudsman's probable cause findings, even where injury to a landowner may exist.
Pre-Existing Conditions and Seafarer Disability Claims: Employer Obligations
A seafarer's pre-existing hypertension claim for disability benefits fails when he fails to follow the POEA-SEC process.
Financial Abuse as Psychological Violence: Supreme Court Upholds VAWC Protection for Wives
The Supreme Court rules that a husband's denial of financial support can constitute psychological violence under RA 9262, affirming a conviction.
Substantial Compliance in Labor Disputes: Upholding Workers' Rights Despite Procedural Lapses
The Supreme Court rules that substantial compliance with procedural rules protects workers' rights in labor disputes, reversing a dismissal on technical grounds.
Upholding Union Rights Substantial Compliance Prevails In Labor Disputes
Supreme Court rules substantial compliance with procedural rules protects union rights in labor disputes, prioritizing justice over technicalities.