salus populi est suprema lex

Latin maxim. • “The law will not aid either party to an illegal agreement; it leaves the parties where it finds them.” (Bough v. Cantiveros, En Banc, G.R. No. 13300, September 29, 1919) • “A party to an illegal contract cannot come into a court of law and ask to have his illegal objects carried…

Spanish maxim • “It is better that ten presumed criminals remain unpunished than an innocent one be punished.” (Google Translate; See People v. Cunanan, En Banc, G.R. No. L-17599, April 24, 1967)

Latin maxim. • “No one is bound to accuse himself.” (Google Translate; See Villaflor v. Summers, En Banc, G.R. No. 16444, September 8, 1920) • refers to the “right against self-incrimination” (People v. Duero, En Banc, G.R. No. L-52016 May 13, 1981)

Latin maxim. • “[a]ll states are sovereign equals and cannot assert jurisdiction over one another.” (Arigo v. Swift, En Banc, G.R. No. 206510, September 16, 2014 [Per J.  Leonen, En Banc, Concurring Opinion], citing Republic of Indonesia v. Vinzon, 452 Phil. 1100, 1107 (2003) [Per J. Azcuna, En Banc])

Latin maxim. • “an agreement contrary to law or morals can give rise to no right of action in any party to it, either for the enforcement of it, or for the recovery of property parted with in pursuance of it.” (People v. Manansala, En Banc, November 18, 1933 [Per J. Abad Santos, En Banc,…

Latin maxim. • “circumstances alter cases” (Sanchez v. CA, G.R. No. 96306, August 20 1993 [Per J. Romero, Concurring Opinion])