Atty. Rhino Renz F. Arcenal

Yesterday, I went to the MTC in Abuyog for an impromptu hearing in a criminal case, where I entered my special appearance as counsel for the accused.

It was nerve-racking, as it was my first time conducting a direct examination of an accused.

Fortunately, I made it through.

Today I attended a Court hearing at MTC Tanauan to cross-examine a witness.

Still on going. (With Atty. Gabriel Canillas)

Free Legal Aid Activity at Palo Municipal Hall.

Now happening.

Free Legal Aid Services being conducted at the Palo Municipal Hall.

I will be joining the Free Legal Aid Activity this Friday, March 13, 2026 at the Municipal Function Hall of Palo, Leyte. See you there!

𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝑳𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒍 𝑨𝒊𝒅 𝑨𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒕𝒚
The Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) – Leyte Chapter, in partnership with the Local Government Unit of Palo, Leyte will be conducting a Free Legal Aid Activity in the Municipality of Palo on:

📅 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟏𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔
⏰ 𝟗:𝟎𝟎 𝐀𝐌 – 𝟑:𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐌
📍 𝟐𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐫, 𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐇𝐚𝐥𝐥

Legal Services Offered:

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 / 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗶𝗰𝗲

𝗡𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀
(𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘆𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀)

We encourage everyone who needs legal assistance to take advantage of this opportunity.

For inquiries, please contact the Municipal Office.

゚viralシalシ

Under the equipoise rule, where the evidence on an issue of fact is in equipoise or there is doubt on which side the evidence preponderates, the party having the burden of proof loses. (People of the Philippines vs. Gabo et. al.)

The doctrine operates on the principle that the burden of proof in criminal cases rests with the prosecution. When evidence is equally balanced or in equipoise, the party with the burden of proof (the prosecution) fails to meet its required standard.

In essence, when the evidence of the prosecution and the defense are in a state of equipoise, the constitutional presumption of innocence must be upheld, thereby necessitating the acquittal of the accused.

Justice wears many faces, and in the Philippines, many of those faces belong to the remarkable women of our Judiciary. ⚖️✨

This , we honor the women who tirelessly uphold the rule of law—from our diligent Court Stenographers and dedicated Clerks of Court to our hardworking Public Attorneys, distinguished Judges, and Honorable Justices.

Their malasakit, precision, and unwavering integrity ensure that the scales of justice remain balanced. They demonstrate every day that the strength of the law lies not only in its words, but also in the character, courage, and compassion of those who uphold it.

To the women who write life-changing decisions in courtrooms and continue to nurture their families beyond them, your dedication and sacrifice do not go unnoticed. Today, we celebrate your strength, your service, and your invaluable contribution to the justice system.

Mabuhay ang kababaihan sa Hudikatura! 🌸⚖️

Announcement

Good day everyone.

I would like to inform the public that I am not yet a commissioned Notary Public at this time. The application for my notarial commission is still forthcoming, and until such commission is granted, I am not authorized to notarize documents.

Nonetheless, I remain available to assist with legal consultations, drafting of demand letters, preparation and review of contracts, affidavits, and other legal documents that do not require notarization.

Thank you for your understanding, and I look forward to serving your legal needs.

— Atty. Rhino Renz F. Arcenal

What is a Demand Letter in Philippine Law?

A demand letter is a formal written communication that serves as a legal notice requiring the recipient to perform a specific act, such as paying a debt, vacating premises, or complying with contractual obligations, within a specified period.

For the demand letter to be legally effective, there must be proper proof of service.

In some cases, a demand letter may interrupt the prescriptive period for filing legal actions.

For certain causes of action, a demand letter is a condition precedent that must be fulfilled before filing a lawsuit.

A demand letter in Philippine law is a crucial legal instrument that serves multiple purposes: it formally notifies the recipient of an obligation, provides opportunity for voluntary compliance, preserves legal rights, and in some cases, serves as a jurisdictional requirement for filing legal action.

Good day. I’m pleased to inform you that my internet connection has now been restored and I am back online.

Thank you very much for your patience and understanding while I was experiencing connectivity issues earlier. I will now be reviewing and responding to messages that may have been missed during that time.

Should you have any concerns or inquiries, please feel free to send them here and I will do my best to assist you promptly.

Thank you.

Legal Maxim of the Day

Nullum crimen, nulla poena sine lege —
“No crime, no punishment without law.”

This fundamental principle in criminal law means that an act cannot be considered a crime, nor can a person be punished for it, unless there is a law that clearly defines the act as criminal and prescribes a penalty for it.

In essence, no one may be prosecuted or penalized for conduct that was not prohibited by law at the time it was committed.

Good day. I would like to inform you that I still do not have an internet connection at the moment, which is currently affecting my ability to respond promptly and attend to online matters.

Rest assured that once my internet connection is restored, I will immediately review your message and get back to you as soon as possible. I sincerely appreciate your patience and understanding regarding this temporary inconvenience.

Thank you very much.