Legal Insights

Mandamus Denied: Court Upholds Comelec Authority Over Election Technology Rules

Supreme Court dismisses petition to compel Comelec to issue election automation rules, citing procedural defects and lack of standing.

Election Transparency and Citizen Access to the Automated Election System in the Philippines

The Supreme Court clarifies the limits of citizen access to the automated election system, including ballot printing, SD cards, and transmission data.

Election Gun Ban: Can Bladed Weapons Be Prohibited?

The Supreme Court rules on whether the COMELEC election gun ban can cover bladed instruments like knives, and explains how to challenge its constitutionality.

Protecting Voter Intent: Disqualifying Nuisance Candidates in Philippine Elections

Explaining the Supreme Court's ruling in Teves v. COMELEC on nuisance candidates and how votes cast for them are credited to legitimate candidates.

Chain of Custody Breaks Lead to Acquittal in Election Weapon Ban Case

Supreme Court acquits accused in election weapons ban case due to broken chain of custody over seized folding knife.

Upholding Contractual Obligations: The Imperative of Timely Valuation in Land Conveyance Agreements

Supreme Court affirms that land valuation in conveyance agreements is fixed at drawdown, not at later selection, upholding contract terms.

Domicile vs Residency: Protecting the Electorate's Choice in Philippine Elections

The Supreme Court clarifies the distinction between domicile and residency in election cases, protecting the electorate's choice.

Vote Buying Claims Need Credible Evidence, Not Just Video Clips

The Supreme Court clarifies what evidence is needed to establish probable cause for vote-buying complaints under the Omnibus Election Code.

Dual Citizenship by Birth vs. Naturalization: Election Eligibility in the Philippines

The Supreme Court clarifies when dual citizens by birth may run for office without renouncing foreign citizenship under R.A. 9225.

Due Process in Elections: COMELEC's Duty to Hear Conflicting Candidacy Claims

The Supreme Court affirms COMELEC's accreditation of dominant minority parties, clarifying that the Commission's rule-making power over political party accreditation is subject to constitutional limit

Nuisance Candidates: Genuine Intention vs Political Viability in Philippine Elections

Supreme Court clarifies that lack of nationwide support or political machinery is not a ground to declare a candidate a nuisance under Section 69 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Inordinate Delay in Election Offense Cases: Protecting Your Right to Speedy Disposition

Learn how the Supreme Court protects the right to speedy disposition of cases, using the Figueroa v. Sandiganbayan ruling as a guide.

Employer as Bystander in Certification Elections: Lessons from Coca-Cola FEMSA

Supreme Court affirms the bystander rule, barring employers from opposing certification elections and clarifying reorganization's effect on bargaining units.

Term Limits and Reelection: What the Constitution Actually Allows

The Supreme Court clarifies that term limits bar only consecutive terms, not reelection after a break.

Election Protest Costs: The Supreme Court Ruling on Retention Fees for Election Equipment

The Supreme Court explains why the Senate Electoral Tribunal cannot rule on contract validity in election protest cost disputes.

Condonation Doctrine in Philippine Administrative Law: What Re-Election Means for Elected Officials

Explaining the condonation doctrine, its prospective abandonment by the Supreme Court, and how re-election can absolve prior administrative misconduct.

COMELEC Cannot Disqualify Candidates for Election Offenses: Erice v. COMELEC

The Supreme Court rules COMELEC exceeded its jurisdiction in disqualifying a candidate for an election offense not listed under Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code.

Suffrage Safeguards: Upholding Election Integrity Through Specificity and Evidence in Electoral Protests

The PET dismissed Marcos Jr.'s 2016 VP election protest, affirming Robredo's victory and underscoring the strict rules on specificity and evidence in election contests.

Ensuring Election Integrity: The Role of Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails in Philippine Elections

The Supreme Court clarifies the scope of the VVPAT requirement, digital signatures, and the prohibition on capturing devices in Philippine elections.

Understanding Judicial Impartiality: Bias and Inhibition in Philippine Election Protests

The Supreme Court clarifies the standards for judicial inhibition in election protests, explaining what bias truly means and why rulings must not be mistaken for prejudice.

Judicial Accountability and the Limits of Inhibition Motions in Election Protests

The Supreme Court clarifies when judges must inhibit and why delay claims alone cannot prove bias in election cases.

The Condonation Doctrine After Carpio-Morales: Recall Elections and the Cutoff Date

The Supreme Court clarifies when the abandoned condonation doctrine still applies and confirms it covers recall elections.

When a Dismissed Employee Can Vote: Certification Election Rules Clarified

The Supreme Court clarifies when dismissed employees may vote in certification elections and how blank ballots affect majority computation.

One Vote, Unequal Weight: Party-List Seat Allocation and Equal Protection in Philippine Elections

The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the party-list seat allocation formula under RA 7941, rejecting claims of vote double-counting and equal protection violations.