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Legal GroundsPhilippines · est. 2026
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About LGP

Building open legal infrastructure, together.

Legal Grounds Philippines is a volunteer organization of Filipino lawyers, paralegals, and policy researchers. We work where law, technology, and the public interest meet — and we publish everything in the open.

Mission

Founded on the principle that the law should be a public good — not a private one — we exist to make legal infrastructure open, citable, and useful for anyone who needs it.

What we do

Public comments on pending legislation. Amicus briefs in active cases. Plain-language explainers. Open templates and pleadings. Legal education forums and barangay-level engagements.

What we don't do

We don't take government, corporate, or political party funding. We don't paywall advocacy. We don't represent clients — we file in the public interest, not on behalf of paying parties.

Our story

From a Telegram channel to a working national bench.

Jan 2026

Founding

A small group of Filipino lawyers and paralegals working independently on digital rights cases formalize what had been a shared Telegram channel and Google Drive into a volunteer organization.

Feb 2026

First public filing

LGP files its first public comment on a Senate bill regulating online speech, followed by a plain-language explainer of the bill's implications for journalists and ordinary citizens.

Mar 2026

Open library launches

The first 50 documents go live: pleadings, case digests, sample motions, research notes. Free to read, free to cite, free to fork.

Apr 2026

Cebu & Davao chapters

Working groups form outside Metro Manila. First Cebu public forum on data privacy in practice. First Davao community engagement on labor rights.

May 2026

Where we are now

142 members across 12 cities. 68 publications in the open library. 230+ templates and pleadings. Quarterly intake cohort recently closed at 32 new members.

The bench

The volunteers behind the working bench.

Full directory
JR
Atty. Jasmine Reyes
Council Chair

Constitutional law and administrative practice. Prior: Public Attorney's Office. UP Law 2014.

MD
Atty. Marco Dela Cruz
Programs Director

Data privacy and tech policy. Co-counsel in three landmark digital rights cases. Ateneo Law 2016.

LT
Atty. Liwayway Tan
Research & Publications

Academic background in comparative constitutional law. Editor of the LGP Briefing Notes series.

RA
Atty. Renz Aquino
Membership & Community

Labor and human rights litigation. Leads the volunteer onboarding and mentorship program.

PS
Atty. Pia Salonga
Advocacy & Filings

Election law and public-interest litigation. Coordinates LGP's public comment and amicus work.

NB
Atty. Noel Bautista
Cebu Chapter Lead

Environmental law and indigenous peoples' rights. Leads the Visayas working group.

EM
Atty. Elena Morales
Davao Chapter Lead

Family law and gender-based violence cases. Leads the Mindanao working group and partnerships.

KS
Atty. Karen Santos
Legal Education

Plain-language law and legal literacy. Leads the barangay engagement program in three regions.

Our values

Four principles that govern the work.

01

Open by default

Every brief, every comment, every working draft is published openly with citations. No paywalls on advocacy, no gated research.

02

Footnoted & replicable

Every claim has a source. Every brief has a methodology section. Anyone can audit, fork, or build on the analysis.

03

Independent always

No government funding. No corporate retainers. No political party affiliation. Volunteer-supported, member-led.

04

In the public's language

Filipino, Cebuano, Ilocano, English. Plain-language summaries published alongside every technical brief.

Want to contribute? The bench is open.

Apply for Membership Contact us