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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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.
When Court Orders Are Final: Lessons from an Administrative Case Against a Judge
A judge's temporary custody order isn't a final judgment. Learn when court rulings become final and how to challenge them properly.
Custody Battles: When Judicial Discretion Meets Legal Mandates in Child Protection Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on a judge's discretion in child custody disputes under RA 9262, balancing legal mandates with the child's best interest.
Chain OF Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence IN Philippine Courts 2
Broken Chains: Why Strict Evidence Procedures Matter in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a drug suspect due to broken chain of custody and non-compliance with Section 21, R.A. 9165.
Buy-Bust Operations: Ensuring Legality and Upholding Rights in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a drug conviction, clarifying the rules on buy-bust operations, warrantless arrests, and the chain of custody of seized drugs.
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.
Chain OF Custody Safeguarding Drug Evidence AND Ensuring Fair Trials
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.
Lawyer Suspended for Misusing Attached Properties in Custody of Court
Lawyer suspended one year for taking custody of attached vehicles without court authority and allowing their unauthorized use.
Habeas Corpus in Custody Disputes: When Personal Liberty Is Not Unlawfully Restrained
The Supreme Court clarifies that habeas corpus requires unlawful restraint of liberty, not merely a dispute over custody of an elderly relative.
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.
Restrictive Custody in the PNP: Balancing Discipline and Liberty
The Supreme Court explains when restrictive custody of police officers under investigation is lawful and not a ground for habeas corpus.
Valid Buy-Bust Operation Upholds Conviction Despite Chain of Custody Concerns in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a drug conviction, ruling that minor lapses in chain of custody do not automatically warrant acquittal when the evidence's integrity is preserved.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: Why Unbroken Evidence Integrity Matters
Philippine Supreme Court acquits drug suspect over broken chain of custody, stressing the need to prove the seized drugs' identity beyond reasonable doubt.
Upholding the Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: People v. Pringas
The Supreme Court clarifies that non-compliance with Section 21 of RA 9165 is not fatal if the integrity of seized drugs is preserved.
Chain of Custody in Drug Cases: When Non-Compliance with RA 9165 Is Not Fatal
The Supreme Court explains when lapses in Section 21 custody rules won't invalidate drug evidence, and why objections must be raised at trial.
Clerk of Court Liability for Lost Evidence: Custody Duties Explained
When a clerk of court loses evidence in his custody, the Supreme Court clarifies administrative liability for unauthorized transfers.
Buy-Bust Operations and Chain of Custody: Ensuring Integrity in Drug Sale Convictions
A 2007 Supreme Court ruling affirms that a consummated drug sale and the credible testimony of arresting officers can sustain a conviction under R.A. No. 9165.
Custody of Minors and Habeas Corpus: Understanding Court Jurisdiction in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies that family courts and the Court of Appeals share concurrent jurisdiction over habeas corpus petitions involving custody of minors.
Concurrent Jurisdiction Safeguarding Minors Across Regions in Habeas Corpus Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that family courts share concurrent jurisdiction with the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court in habeas corpus cases involving custody of minors.
Custody Habeas Corpus: Family Courts and the Court of Appeals Share Jurisdiction
The Supreme Court clarifies that family courts do not have exclusive jurisdiction over habeas corpus petitions involving child custody disputes.
Custody Disputes: Why a Mother's Fitness Prevails for Children Under Seven
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies the tender-age presumption in custody disputes, affirming a mother's right to sole custody absent compelling evidence of unfitness.
Buy-Bust Operations: Chain of Custody and Legal Authority in Drug Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies rules on buy-bust operations, drug testing, and proving lack of authority to sell shabu.