Castro & Castro-Calpito Law and Realty

20/05/2026

Happy Birthday, Sir Jojo Calpito!

Wishing you a day filled with happiness, good health, and countless blessings. May you continue to enjoy life’s beautiful moments surrounded by the people you love. Enjoy your special day, and may more wonderful birthdays come your way! 🎂🥳

Greeting from your Castro & Castro-Calpito Law and Realty family! :)

23/04/2026

ADVISORY:

​Please be informed that Castro & Castro-Calpito Law and Realty will have no operations today, April 24, 2026, due to our Company Summer Outing. ☀️

​Regular operations will resume on Monday, April 27, 2026.

Thank you for understanding!

10/04/2026

Congratulations on successfully completing your internship with us. Thank you for being responsible and proactive members of the team. We hope this experience has helped you grow, and we wish you all continued success in your future endeavors.

Greetings from your Castro & Castro-Calpito Law and Realty family 🥰

01/04/2026

HOLY WEEK ADVISORY

Please be informed that Castro & Castro-Calpito Law is CLOSED on the following dates:

April 02, 2026 - Maundy Thursday
April 03, 2026 - Good Friday

Regular operations and transactions will resume on Monday, April 06, 2026.

24/03/2026

24/03/2026

The (SC) 𝘌𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘤 has upheld the validity of a Department of Justice (DOJ) circular that raised the standard of proof in preliminary investigations and inquest proceedings from probable cause to prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction.

In a Decision written by written by Associate Justice Japar B. Dimaampao, the SC 𝘌𝘯 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘤 ruled that Department Circular No. 15, series of 2024 containing the 2024 𝘋𝘖𝘑-𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘪𝘤𝘦 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘯 𝘗𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝘐𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘐𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 (𝘋𝘖𝘑 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴), is a valid exercise of the DOJ’s authority over prosecutorial processes.

Under the DOJ Rules’ new standard of proof in preliminary investigations and inquest, prosecutors must ensure that the evidence to charge a person with a crime must sufficiently establish all the elements and consequently warrant a conviction.

Atty. Hazel L. Meking questioned the DOJ Rules before the SC, claiming that the DOJ encroached on the SC’s constitutional authority to promulgate rules of pleading, practice, and procedure in all courts. She argued that the DOJ Rules effectively revised Rule 112, Section 3(a) of the 𝘙𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘥𝘶𝘳𝘦, which provides that the quantum of evidence in preliminary investigations is probable cause.

The SC dismissed her petition and reiterated its ruling in 𝘈.𝘔. 𝘕𝘰. 24-02-09-𝘚𝘊, which recognized the DOJ’s authority to promulgate its own rules on preliminary investigations and inquest proceedings.

The SC held that the DOJ Rules govern only the conduct of preliminary investigations and inquests by prosecutors, which are executive functions. These Rules, however, do not extend to judicial proceedings as the power to promulgate rules of procedure over them remains under the authority of the Supreme Court.

The SC noted it had already recognized preliminary investigation as the exclusive domain of prosecutors when it revised the Rules of Criminal Procedure in 2005.

In 2024, through 𝘈.𝘔. 𝘕𝘰. 24-02-09-𝘚𝘊, the SC also ordered the repeal of provisions in Rule 112 which are inconsistent with the DOJ Rules to harmonize them.

The SC’s constitutional rule-making authority over judicial proceedings remains supreme, as well as its power to correct grave abuse of discretion in any prosecutorial rule or action that violates constitutional rights.

Read the full text of the press release at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=161871

Read the full text of the Decision at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=161853

Read the Concurring Opinion of Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=161858

Copying of this content is subject to the SC PIO’s Credit Attribution Policy: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution

24/03/2026

Pinagtibay ng En Banc ng ang legalidad ng isang circular ng Department of Justice (DOJ) na nagtaas sa antas ng ebidensiyang kailangan sa mga preliminary investigation at inquest proceeding. Mula sa dating probable cause, kailangan na ngayon ang prima facie evidence with reasonable certainty of conviction (may makatwirang katiyakan na hahantong sa pagkakahatol ng may sala).

Nagpasya ang En Banc ng Korte na ang Department Circular No. 15, series of 2024, na naglalaman ng 2024 DOJ–National Prosecution Service Rules on Preliminary Investigation and Inquest Proceedings (DOJ Rules), ay isang lehitimong paggamit ng kapangyarihan ng DOJ sa pangangasiwa at pagpapatakbo ng mga prosesong pamprosekusyon.

Sa ilalim ng bagong pamantayan ng ebidensiya sa preliminary investigation at inquest na itinakda ng DOJ Rules, kailangang tiyakin ng mga piskal na ang ebidensiyang gagamitin para kasuhan ang isang tao ay sapat na nagpapatunay sa lahat ng elemento ng krimen at, dahil dito, may matibay na batayan para humantong sa hatol na pagkakasala.

Kinuwestiyon ni Atty. Hazel L. Meking sa Korte Suprema ang DOJ Rules, at iginiit na lumampas umano ang DOJ sa saklaw ng kapangyarihan nito at nakialam sa konstitusyunal na awtoridad ng Korte Suprema na magtakda ng mga tuntunin sa pleading, practice, at procedure sa lahat ng hukuman. Ayon sa kanya, sa bisa ng DOJ Rules ay tila binago ang Rule 112, Section 3(a) ng Rules of Criminal Procedure, na nagsasaad na probable cause ang kinakailangang antas ng ebidensiya sa mga preliminary investigation.

Hindi pinagbigyan ng Korte ang kanyang petisyon at muling pinagtibay ang naging pasya nito sa A.M. No. 24-02-09-SC, kung saan kinilala nito ang kapangyarihan ng DOJ na maglabas ng sarili nitong mga tuntunin para sa mga preliminary investigation at inquest proceeding.

Ayon sa Korte, ang DOJ Rules ay sumasaklaw lamang sa paraan ng pagsasagawa ng preliminary investigation at inquest ng mga piskal, na itinuturing na mga tungkuling nasa ilalim ng ehekutibong sangay ng pamahalaan. Gayunman, hindi ito umaabot sa mga judicial proceeding, dahil nananatili sa Korte Suprema ang kapangyarihang magtakda ng mga tuntunin ng pamamaraan para sa mga ito.

Binanggit ng Korte na kinilala na nito noon pa na ang preliminary investigation ay nasa eksklusibong saklaw ng mga piskal, nang rebisahin nito ang Rules of Criminal Procedure noong 2005.

Noong 2024, sa pamamagitan ng A.M. No. 24-02-09-SC, iniutos din ng Korte ang pagbasura sa mga probisyon ng Rule 112 na hindi naaayon sa DOJ Rules, para mapag-isa at maging magkatugma ang mga ito.

Nananatiling pinakamataas ang konstitusyunal na kapangyarihan ng Korte na magtakda ng mga tuntunin para sa mga judicial proceeding, gayundin ang kapangyarihan nitong itama ang grave abuse of discretion sa anumang tuntunin o hakbang ng prosekusyon na lumalabag sa mga karapatang itinatakda ng Konstitusyon.

Basahin ang kabuuan ng Press Release sa https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=161871

Basahin ang kabuuang teksto ng Desisyon sa https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=161853

Basahin ang Concurring Opinion ni Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen sa https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=161858

Sumunod sa Credit Attribution Policy ng SC PIO: https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/credit-attribution-policy/.

24/03/2026

The En Banc has approved the Governance Framework on the Use of Human-Centered Augmented Intelligence in the Judiciary, marking a significant step toward modernizing court operations and improving the administration of justice through new technologies.

In a Resolution dated February 18, 2026, in A.M. No. 25-11-28-SC, the SC issued a comprehensive guide on the responsible use of human-centered augmented intelligence in the judicial system, based on three ethical principles: fairness, accountability, and transparency. These principles support “the ethical and responsible use of human-centered augmented intelligence tools in the Judiciary” and “reinforce the public’s faith and confidence in the independence and impartiality of the judicial system.”

The Framework was developed by a working group chaired by Senior Associate Justice Marvic M.V.F. Leonen, with Associate Justices Ramon Paul L. Hernando and Rodil V. Zalameda as vice chairpersons. It was created with the help of other members of the Judiciary, subject matter experts, lawyers, and the academe, and further refined through consultations with the SC En Banc, the SC’s Management Information Systems Office, and the Office of the Chief Attorney. It also draws from global best practices, including the Council of ASEAN Chief Justices Governance Framework on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for the ASEAN Judiciaries and UNESCO Guidelines for the Use of AI Systems in Courts and Tribunals, ensuring alignment with international standards.

A key feature of the Framework is the use of the term “human-centered augmented intelligence,” which emphasizes that technology must remain centered on humans and should only support, not replace, human reason and judgment.

Read the press release at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/?p=162306.

Read the full text of A.M. No. 25-11-28-SC at https://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/25-11-28-sc-re-proposed-governance-framework-on-the-use-of-human-centered-augmented-intelligence-in-the-judiciary-2/