Legal Insights
Plain-language guides and case briefs on Philippine law — researched from the firm's law library of 184,000+ statutes, Supreme Court decisions, and agency issuances, and written so non-lawyers can understand and act on them.
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Credibility in Rape Cases: Corroborating Testimony and Rejecting the Sweetheart Defense
How Philippine courts weigh victim credibility, corroborating medical evidence, and the sweetheart defense in rape convictions.
Incestuous Rape Proving Minority Of The Victim For Imposition Of Death Penalty
The Supreme Court clarifies rules on proving victim's minority in incestuous rape cases for the death penalty.
Rape and Due Process: Fair Trial Rights in Philippine Rape Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies how trial judges may question witnesses in rape cases without violating the accused's right to a fair trial.
Unreliable Testimony and Acquittal in Rape Cases: Examining Standards of Proof
Explore how Philippine courts assess witness credibility in rape cases, distinguishing unreliable testimony from proof beyond reasonable doubt.
THE Perils OF Hearsay Protecting THE Accused IN Qualified Rape Cases
Presumption of Innocence and Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a father of four rape counts, ruling that vague testimony and medical findings alone cannot overcome the presumption of innocence.
Competency of Witnesses: Testimony of Persons with Mental Retardation in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms that a person with mental retardation can be a competent witness in rape cases if able to perceive and relate facts.
Moral Ascendancy IN Rape Cases THE Duty TO Protect THE Vulnerable
Parental Authority and Child Abuse: Defining the Limits of Incestuous Rape
In incestuous rape cases, the victim's minority and relationship to the offender must be proven beyond reasonable doubt for the death penalty to apply.
Betrayal of Trust: Rethinking Penalties for a Father's Rape of His Daughter
Supreme Court ruling on father raping daughter highlights proof requirements for death penalty in qualified rape cases.
Credibility in Rape Cases: Overcoming Delay with Fear and Intimidation
How Philippine courts treat delayed reporting in rape cases when threats of violence and death explain the victim's silence.
Credibility in Rape Cases: Scrutinizing Complainant Testimony for Conviction
How Philippine courts weigh complainant credibility in rape cases, and why positive identification prevails over alibi and doubts about illumination.
Force, Theft, and Rape: How the Supreme Court Weighs Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
In a 2003 rape case, the Supreme Court acquitted two men after finding the complainant's testimony riddled with inconsistencies. Here is what the ruling teaches.
The Weight of Fear: Evaluating Delay in Rape Cases Under Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape convictions, victim credibility, and why delay in reporting does not weaken a case.
When Silence Doesnt Mean Innocence: The Complexities of Self-Defense in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies that silence or lack of resistance does not negate force in rape cases, affirming a father's conviction.
Child Witness Credibility in Rape Cases: Why Qualifying Circumstances Must Be Alleged
How Philippine courts assess a child rape victim's testimony and why unalleged qualifying circumstances reduce the penalty to reclusion perpetua.
Reasonable Doubt in Rape Cases: Identifying the Accused Beyond Uncertainty
How Philippine courts assess proof beyond reasonable doubt in rape cases, and why a child victim's clear testimony prevails over denial.
Identifying a Rapist by Voice and Smell: Evidence in Philippine Rape Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape conviction based on victim's testimony, medical findings, and identification of the accused.
Withdrawing a Criminal Appeal: When the Supreme Court May Allow It
The Supreme Court explains when a convicted person may withdraw an appeal, and why it granted withdrawal in a rape case despite the prosecution's opposition.
Incestuous Rape: Proving Each Count Beyond Reasonable Doubt
The Supreme Court clarifies that in incestuous rape cases, each separate charge must be proven beyond reasonable doubt, not just the overall pattern of abuse.
Consent Under Scrutiny Safeguarding Rights IN Rape Cases Involving Alleged Mental Incapacity
Consent Is Key: Understanding the Burden of Proof in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court explains why proving lack of consent in rape cases requires credible evidence, not just allegations.
Right to Information: Accused Cannot Be Convicted of a Crime Not Clearly Charged
The Supreme Court reinstates a rape case, ruling an information need only state the essential elements, not every detail.
Rape and Mental Capacity: Understanding the Burden of Proof in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court acquittal clarifies when mental retardation must be proven to convict in rape cases, and why the prosecution's burden matters.