The Castle Doctrine
By eileenleyva
@eileenleyva (27562)
Philippines
July 21, 2021 8:42pm CST
Have you ever been robbed?
I have. A few times in the past. My heirlooms were taken, brooches from my grandmothers, and a fancy jewelry, an expensive watch, chinaware, kitchenware, and cellphones.
Inundated finding my house topsy-turvy. Good thing my daughters and I bring the laptops with us whenever we leave home. And for the genuine jewelry, I had a secret hiding place.
My uncle, a retired general, came and installed safety locks. The robbers actually used a child to squeeze through an exhaust fan to open the doors. Under Philippine Law, minors could not be prosecuted. Thus, the robbers used the children to do the crime.
Before leaving, my uncle gave me a few deadly weapon and told me not to hesitate using the club and the dagger the moment an intruder enters my premises. Apply a fatal force, my uncle said, and you are not liable under the law.
Learned it was called the 'Castle Doctrine.' Google has it....
"A Castle Doctrine (also known as a castle law or a defense of habitation law) is a legal doctrine that designates a person's abode or any legally occupied place – e.g., a vehicle or home, as a place in which that person has protections and immunities permitting one, in certain circumstances, to use force (up to and including deadly force) to defend oneself against an intruder, free from legal prosecution for the consequences of the force used."
The Yolo County Sheriff's Office said they were called to a shooting just after 9 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20, at a home on Country Road 45 in Guinda, in rural ...
9 people like this
8 responses
@rsa101 (37958)
• Philippines
22 Jul 21
Speaking of that, my father back in the province, told me that his household help was robbing him and he caught her red-handed. He already dismissed her but he noticed that he still is missing money despite he lives alone in the house. He discovered that the maid left a window open in one room he rarely goes to and at night she would sneak into the house and hide there. He caught her one day when he heard noises in the room and checked it. She jumps out of the window but my father caught her before she was able to jump out. My father out of mercy allowed her to go and just warned her that she was already reported to authorities so if she would be seen in the vicinity she would be arrested.
1 person likes this
@rsa101 (37958)
• Philippines
24 Jul 21
@eileenleyva My father just tried to change all the locks in the door and gate because he suspects that she has a duplicate key of the house already that is why it is easy for her to get in and out of the house. Then he reported to me the other day that he discovered in the room she stays a bag containing his dress and under it was a hammer. 
I guess the thief has more sinister plans in her head had he not caught her earlier.
I guess the thief has more sinister plans in her head had he not caught her earlier.1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
24 Jul 21
@rsa101 The baranggay must know the story. Your father could be in danger.
1 person likes this
@florelway (23141)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
22 Jul 21
Our mayor's house in Quezon city was also robbed, the vault was opened, and they were able to get the jewelries and some foreign currency, not in dollars. The robbers ignored some new signature bags,like LV. They did not report the incident to my knowledge. They were only worried that these people know they have money.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
22 Jul 21
Could be an inside job. Should have been reported.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
22 Jul 21
@florelway Bank deposits? Oooops! That means the mayor and his wife are hiding something....
1 person likes this
@florelway (23141)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
22 Jul 21
@eileenleyva I really didn't know how they reported it. Maybe it was just an ordinary blotter but not getting all the way out to find out the robbers. The mayor only told his wife that what she gets from showing their bank deposits.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
24 Jul 21
Oh! That is physical punishment.
I suppose though that in Singapore, there is no poverty that anyone is tempted to steal a loaf of bread.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
22 Jul 21
I haven't, but my parents have and it was one scary experience because they were home at the time.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
25 Jul 21
@cahaya1983 Your parents acted well. Angels could have been protecting them. Most robbers are unkind to their victims.
1 person likes this
@cahaya1983 (11121)
• Malaysia
24 Jul 21
@eileenleyva Fortunately they were not harmed. The robbers took what they could and left.
1 person likes this
@YuleimaVzla (1505)
• Maracaibo, Venezuela
22 Jul 21
Hello, I am a lawyer from Venezuela. In our country, minors are prosecuted by the organic law of children and adolescents. They have a specialized court and prosecutors. An adolescent who has offended to a greater degree assumes legal consequences and even jail. In my country you are innocent if it is proven that your actions have been in legitimate defense.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
24 Jul 21
I tend to agree with that. Children learns reason at around age 8. Minors could tell right from wrong.
What is despicable in my country is that minors fifteen or sixteen get away with rape.
@Vikingswest1 (6305)
• United States
22 Jul 21
You can use lethal force only when defending yourself from attack.
It does not give you license to shoot intruders. Only intruders that present a threat to your safety after illegal entry.
It's different in many places but that's the main idea.
I know some people that side with the criminals are quick to blame the person shooting for using too much force.
Truth is, if someone breaks into your home, you don't know what their plan is and you have only an instant to react.
1 person likes this
@eileenleyva (27562)
• Philippines
22 Jul 21
No idea about places where dwellers couldn't defend themselves.
