PROJECT JURISPRUDENCE

While professionals still need to secure a business permit, it should be issued for free.  The Department of Finance (DOF) issued a new set of guidelines to local government units (LGUs), exempting professionals like doctors, accountants, and lawyers from paying business permit fees. Finance Undersecretary Antonette Tionko said on Tuesday, July 2, that the new local finance circular (LFC) addresses complaints received by the DOF on the improper imposition of local taxes, fees, and other charges on professionals by LGUs. While professionals still need to secure a business permit from LGUs, it should be issued for free, since “such permits cannot regulate the practice of their profession.” (Read more: Ralf Rivas (2019). No more business permit fees for professionals. JUL 2, 2019 11:45 PM PHT. https://www.rappler.com/business/234467-no-more-business-permit-fees-professionals.) In particular, LFC 1-2019 exempted s

EN BANC [G.R. No. 130607. November 17, 1999] THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES , Plaintiff-Appellee, v.  RUSTICO RIVERA Y PALACIO, Accused-Appellant. D E C I S I O N PER CURIAM: The focus of this review by the Court is to examine whether or not the constitutional presumption of innocence accorded to an accused has been sufficiently overcome by the State in the case at bar enough to sustain the judgment of the trial court finding the indictee guilty beyond reasonable doubt of qualified rape and thereby imposing upon him the death penalty. This Court, in this automatic review of the case, concludes affirmatively. The Information filed against the accused in Criminal Case No. 778-M-95 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 7, of Malolos, Bulacan, was to the following effect: I N F O R M A T I O N The undersigned Asst. Provincial Prosecutor, on complaint of the offended party, Alphamia A. Rivera, 10 years of age, under oath accuses Rustico Rivera y Palacio, father of the offended p