In life, we have our burdens to deal with. The same is true in criminal litigation. The prosecution’s burden is heavy: it must prove the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. Although not as foolproof as “proof beyond all doubt”, “proof beyond
September 24, 2022
By Atty. Eduardo T. Reyes III “Forget your enemies, but never forget their names” is one powerful quote that is attributed to John F. Kennedy. How important is one’s name? Can it easily be changed? In the recent case of Francis Luigi G. Santos v. Republic of the Philippines, The Office of the Local
September 19, 2022
By Atty. Eduardo T. Reyes III Perhaps because of the pandemic, some inattention to the care of our properties is excusable. But under normal circumstances, will the law forgive the long neglect of one’s property? Especially in respect to land, which is real property, mindfulness of its concerns is of primordial importance. But first, we
September 10, 2022
“Coffee is life”, this columnist declared, to break the ice during his meeting with some law students who had gathered to map out their strategies in helping bar reviewees prepare for the upcoming bar exams slated this November. Being a coffee drinker since forever, this columnist likes his coffee
August 26, 2022
By Atty. Eduardo T. Reyes III Republic Act No. 9262 which is more popularly known for its acronym: VAWC, which stands for Anti-Violence Against Women and Children, is a law that was passed on March 08, 2004 under the avowed policy of the State that “values the dignity of women and children and guarantees full
August 22, 2022
FBI agents recently raided Donald Trump’s home in Florida as part of a criminal investigation relative to the January 6, 2021 siege on Capitol Hill. To recall, the attack led to scores of deaths and injuries and precipitated the second impeachment of erstwhile President Donald Trump. Known to be
August 18, 2022
By Atty. Eduardo T. Reyes III In or out of a pandemic, most people hustle to eke out a living. Oxford Dictionary of English primarily defines “hustle” as “to push roughly” or “jostle”; yet its secondary acquired meaning is “to obtain illegally or by forceful action”. Hustling by and of itself is not a crime.
July 28, 2022
By Atty. Eduardo T. Reyes III It was with alacrity that I made a slow right-turn at a popular mall as I found a vacant and shaded parking spot one Saturday morning. Beside the slot was an armored-vehicle with camouflage paint. But then one of two men in uniform stopped me from parking. So I
July 9, 2022
“No man is an island” as an aphorism does not apply to the Philippines when speaking of divorce. Our country is the only one in the world (save for the Vatican that is mostly comprised of men) without a divorce law up to today. We stand in isolation as
July 7, 2022
By Atty. Eduardo T. Reyes III The easing of pandemic-induced restrictions had awakened many land disputes that were put on hold during the lockdowns. A surfeit of cases involving land ownership and/ or possession had suddenly erupted where neighbors, relatives or strangers are at odds. Ownership on one hand is different from possession on the
July 4, 2022
Despite the easing up of the stringent Molina guidelines that stifled couples from crawling out of their loveless marriages, the term “psychological incapacity” still eludes a clear definition up to today. For the uninitiated, the term “psychological incapacity” as envisaged under Article 36 of the New Family Code had
June 18, 2022
As the pandemic-induced restrictions begin to ease up with cases of infections steadily on the decline, life’s return to normalcy beckons. Pupils in various schools nationwide trickle in as the school gates slowly open. But before daily life returns to normal, the hazards that used to plague children on
June 10, 2022