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What is Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) compliance and why is it significant in a lawyer's authority to practice? When can falsifying an MCLE compliance number constitute an offense which would warrant a lawyer's disbarment? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Atty. Ronald Paz Caraig, Executive Officer of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Office (MCLEO). Prior to his appointment as MCLEO Executive Officer, he served in various capacities at the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), where he was the Chief Judicial Staff Officer of the Publications Division of PHILJA’s Research, Publications and Linkages Office. He is also a resource person and lecturer for various seminars and workshops of the Supreme Court Office of Administrative Services, including those on RA 9710 or the 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘢 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, Gender Sensitivity Training and the 𝘚𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘤𝘵 for Supreme Court employees. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Atty. Caraig discuss the significance of compliance with the MCLE requirement within the context of the case of In Re: Civil Case No. B-10581 v. Atty. Jose R. Hidalgo, A.C. No. 14311. This Per Curiam Decision was promulgated by the Supreme Court 𝘌𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘤 on October 7, 2025.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘶𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘢 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘩𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 (𝘔𝘊𝘓𝘌) 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘬𝘦𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 2026 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘊𝘓𝘌? 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘬 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Atty. Ronald Paz Caraig, Executive Officer of the Mandatory Continuing Legal Education Office (MCLEO). Prior to his appointment as MCLEO Executive Officer, he served in various capacities at the Philippine Judicial Academy (PHILJA), where he was the Chief Judicial Staff Officer of the Publications Division of PHILJA’s Research, Publications and Linkages Office. He is also a resource person and lecturer for various seminars and workshops of the Supreme Court Office of Administrative Services, including those on RA 9710 or the 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘢 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘢 𝘰𝘧 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯, Gender Sensitivity Training and the 𝘚𝘢𝘧𝘦 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘈𝘤𝘵 for Supreme Court employees. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Atty. Caraig discuss the 2026 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘔𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘊𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, or the 2026 𝘔𝘊𝘓𝘌 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴, designated as Bar Matter No. 850.

𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘰𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘓𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘌𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘮 (𝘊𝘓𝘌𝘗) 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘨𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴? 𝘔𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘭𝘺, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘺’𝘴 𝘭𝘢𝘸 𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭𝘴, 𝘴𝘶𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘸𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘥𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘦𝘷𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘤𝘦? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Dean Josefe C. Sorrera-Ty, Chairperson of the Legal Education Board (LEB) Technical Working Group on the Development of CLEP Andragogical Framework. A former LEB Commissioner and former Dean of the College of Law of Fr. Saturnino Urios University, she is also a member of the Jurisprudence and Legal Philosophy Department of the Philippine Judicial Academy. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Dean Sorrera-Ty discuss CLEP under 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦 138-𝘈 of the 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵, as amended by Administrative Matter No. 19-03-24-SC.

𝘊𝘢𝘯 𝘢 𝘱𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰𝘤𝘰𝘱𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘥𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Judge Janice L. Andrade-Udarbe, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 57, Lucena City, Quezon, and Acting Presiding Judge of Pasig City RTC Branch 161. Judge Andrade-Udarbe is also Professorial Lecturer at the Philippine Judicial Academy, an MCLE Lecturer, a law professor, Bar reviewer, and author of law books. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Judge Andrade-Udarbe discuss the admissibility of duplicates or photocopies as court evidence within the context of the case of 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘷. 𝘠𝘣𝘰 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘢, G.R. No. 265758. This Decision was penned by Chief Justice Alexander G. Gesmundo and promulgated by the Supreme Court First Division on February 3, 2025.

Does the use of online chat logs and videos as evidence in court proceedings violate the right to privacy? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Judge Janice L. Andrade-Udarbe, Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 57, Lucena City, Quezon, and Acting Presiding Judge of Pasig City RTC Branch 161. Judge Andrade-Udarbe is also Professorial Lecturer at the Philippine Judicial Academy, an MCLE Lecturer, a law professor, Bar reviewer, and author of law books. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Judge Andrade-Udarbe discuss the use of online chat logs and videos as evidence vis-à-vis the right to privacy, within the context of the case of 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘗𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘴 𝘷. 𝘌𝘶𝘭 𝘝𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘖. 𝘙𝘰𝘥𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘦𝘻, G.R. No. 263603. This Decision was penned by then Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez and promulgated by the Supreme Court Second Division on October 9, 2023.

Can a trial court issue a provisional custody order based solely on a parental compromise agreement without conducting a full-blown trial? In child custody cases, are courts bound by what parents agree on, or does the best interest of the child always come first? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Court of Appeals Associate Justice Emily L. San Gaspar-Gito. She is a member of the Family Law and Civil Law Departments of the Philippine Judicial Academy, as well as the Court of Appeals Committee on Rules and the Supreme Court Committee on Family Courts and Juvenile Concerns. She is also a law professor and Bar reviewer. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Justice San Gaspar-Gito discuss parental compromise agreements and the best interest of the child in custody cases within the context of the case of Empuerto v. Cabrillos, GR No. 268979. This decision was penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and promulgated by the Supreme Court Second Division on February 5, 2025.

For legitimated children, how do you correct details in their birth certificates to reflect their father’s surname? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Court of Appeals Associate Justice Emily L. San Gaspar-Gito. She is a member of the Family Law and Civil Law Departments of the Philippine Judicial Academy, as well as the Court of Appeals Committee on Rules and the Supreme Court Committee on Family Courts and Juvenile Concerns. She is also a law professor and Bar reviewer. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Justice San Gaspar-Gito discuss legitimation and change of surname within the context of the case of Teresita Calliza Barba v. Local Civil Registrars of Manila and of Cebu City, G.R. No. 269743. This Decision was penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and promulgated by the Supreme Court Second Division on August 18, 2025.

Does the use of common familial terms such as “uncle” or “niece” in a criminal information, particularly in rape cases, sufficiently inform the accused of the nature of their relationship to the victim, especially when the relationship qualifies the crime and increases the penalty? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Atty. Dean Ace Pamaran, a Bar Examiner in Criminal Law during the 2024 Bar Examinations. He is a seasoned court attorney and law professor with extensive experience in decision writing, legal research, judicial management and administration, and legal education. He has also lectured on the Supreme Court Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations or SPJI, gender sensitivity and gender-based violence, tourism laws, cybercrime, and legal writing. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Atty. Pamaran discuss the significance of making proper allegations in a criminal information within the context of the case of People of the Philippines v. BBB254878, G.R. No. 254878. This Decision was penned by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting and promulgated by the Supreme Court En Banc on October 22, 2024.

How can a valid arrest collapse over an unmarked gun, and how crucial is the chain of custody in securing a conviction under RA 10591, or the Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Atty. Dean Ace A. Pamaran, a Bar Examiner in Criminal Law during the 2024 Bar Examinations. He is a seasoned court attorney and law professor with extensive experience in decision-writing, legal research, judicial management and administration, and legal education. He has also lectured on the Supreme Court Strategic Plan for Judicial Innovations or SPJI, gender sensitivity and gender-based violence, tourism laws, cybercrime, and legal writing. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Atty. Pamaran discuss about the handling of seized firearms during a warrantless search within the context of the case of Tony Baclig II v. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 252644. This Decision was penned by Associate Justice Henri Jean Paul B. Inting and promulgated by the Supreme Court En Banc on April 8, 2026.

How will eNotarization benefit the public and transform the way Filipinos access notarization services? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Atty. Bettina Melchor, Interim Electronic Notary Administrator and Officer-in-Charge of the Office of the Bar Confidant. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Atty. Melchor discuss electronic notarization, as well as significant provisions of the eNotarization Rules and the Guidelines on the Accreditation of Electronic Notarization Facility Providers under A.M. No. 24-10-14-SC.

Paano nakatutulong ang paggamit ng Wikang Filipino sa mga desisyon ng Korte Suprema sa pagpapalapit ng hustisya sa mamamayan habang napapanatili ang kawastuhan ng pangangatwirang legal? Pakinggan ang #SupremeCourtPH Podcast kasama si Retiradong Court of Appeals Associate Justice Apolinario D. Bruselas, Jr. Naging Bar Examiner si Justice Bruselas sa Criminal Law (2010 at 2019) at Remedial Law (2013). Siya ay dating nagsilbi bilang Judge ng Regional Trial Court ng Lungsod ng Quezon City, at bilang prosecutor sa Makati City. Sa pagtatapos ng dalawang-bahaging serye ng podcast na ito, ipagpapatuloy nina Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo at (Ret.) Justice Bruselas, Jr. ang talakayan sa pagsusulong ng Korte Suprema sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa mga desisyon nito, gaya ng Velarde laban sa Hukuman ng Pag-aapela sa Buwis, G.R. Bilang 210480. Ang Desisyong ito ay isinulat ni Kasangguning Mahistrado Maria Filomena Singh at inilabas ng Ikatlong Dibisyon ng Korte Suprema noong ika-29 ng Enero, taong 2026.

Mahalaga ba ang pagsusulong sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa pagsulat ng mga desisyon ng mga hukuman sa Pilipinas? Mas magiging malinaw at mas madaling mauunawaan ba ng nakararaming Pilipino ang mga desisyon kung ang mga ito ay nasusulat sa ating sariling wika? Pakinggan ang #SupremeCourtPH Podcast kasama si Retiradong Court of Appeals Associate Justice Apolinario D. Bruselas, Jr. Naging Bar Examiner si Justice Bruselas sa Criminal Law (2010 at 2019) at Remedial Law (2013). Siya ay dating nagsilbi bilang Judge ng Regional Trial Court ng Lungsod ng Quezon City, at bilang prosecutor sa Makati City. Tatalakayin nina Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo at (Ret.) Justice Bruselas, Jr. sa unang bahagi ng dalawang-bahaging serye ang pagsusulong ng Korte Suprema sa paggamit ng wikang Filipino sa mga desisyon nito, tulad sa kasong Sambayanang Pilipinas laban kay GGG269811, G.R. Bilang 269811. Ang Desisyon na ito ay isinulat ni Kasangguning Mahistrado Maria Filomena Singh at inilabas ng Ikatlong Dibisyon ng Korte Suprema noong ika-7 ng Abril, taong 2026.

Where should the line be drawn between news reporting by the media and a fair trial? How should the law balance a journalist’s duty and responsibility to report on matters of public concern against the court’s duty to protect the fairness of judicial proceedings? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Atty. Dante B. Gatmaytan, a Member of the Constitutional Law Department of the Philippine Judicial Academy. Atty. Gatmaytan is a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law where he teaches Constitutional Law, Legal Method, and Local Governments. Before entering the academe, he was a public interest lawyer focusing on environmental and natural resources law, Indigenous People's rights, agrarian reform, and local governance. He also previously served as head of the Information and Publication Division and as director of the Institute for the Administration of Justice of the UP Law Center. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Atty. Gatmaytan discuss about press freedom, fair trial, and contempt within the context of the case of ABS-CBN Corp. and Cariño v. Datu Andal Ampatuan, Jr., G.R. No. 227004. This Decision was penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen and promulgated by the Supreme Court En Banc on April 25, 2023.

Does a congressional inquiry into the spread of fake news online violate the right to free speech or is it considered a legitimate fact-finding exercise in aid of legislation? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Atty. Dante B. Gatmaytan, a Member of the Constitutional Law Department of the Philippine Judicial Academy. Atty. Gatmaytan is a professor at the University of the Philippines College of Law where he teaches Constitutional Law, Legal Method, and Local Governments. Before entering the academe, he was a public interest lawyer focusing on environmental and natural resources law, Indigenous People's rights, agrarian reform, and local governance. He also previously served as head of the Information and Publication Division of the UP Law Center and as director of the Institute for the Administration of Justice. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Atty. Gatmaytan discuss about freedom of speech and legislative inquiries within the context of the case of Ernesto Abines Jr. et al. v. House of Representatives et al., GR No. 278101. This decision was penned by Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier and promulgated by the Supreme Court En Banc on July 8, 2025.

While lenders and borrowers in a loan agreement may adjust stipulated interest rates, how can borrowers determine when interest charges on loans are no longer reasonable and fair? Listen to the #SupremeCourtPH Podcast with guest Atty. Reinier Paul R. Yebra, an examiner in Commercial and Taxation Laws during the 2023 Bar examinations. A graduate and class valedictorian of the San Beda University College of Law in 2009, he also topped the Bar Examinations that same year. He served as Undersecretary for Legal Affairs of the Department of Transportation from 2017 to 2024 and as Acting Deputy Director in the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas from 2011 to 2017. He is also a law professor and a Bar reviewer. Supreme Court Chief Communications Officer Atty. Mike Navallo and Atty. Yebra discuss loans and their corresponding interest rates within the context of the case of Manila Credit Corp. v. Viroomal, G.R. No. 258526. This Decision was penned by then Associate Justice Mario V. Lopez and promulgated by the Supreme Court Second Division on January 11, 2023.