Legal Insights

Statutory Rape by an Uncle: Supreme Court Upholds Conviction and Death Penalty

The Supreme Court affirms the death penalty for an uncle who raped his seven-year-old niece, clarifying rules on statutory rape, alibi, and damages.

Rape and Incest: Protecting Minors in Familial Abuse Cases

A father convicted of raping his 15-year-old daughter twice; the Supreme Court affirms conviction but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua.

Father's Betrayal: Upholding Conviction in Incestuous Rape Despite Delayed Reporting

Philippine Supreme Court affirms death penalty for father who raped his 14-year-old daughter, ruling that delayed reporting does not weaken an incestuous rape case.

Rape and Relationship: Clarifying Qualifying Circumstances for Imposing the Death Penalty

The Supreme Court clarifies that qualifying circumstances like relationship must be properly alleged in the Information for the death penalty to apply.

Credibility in Rape Cases: Supreme Court on Uncorroborated Testimony and Victim Behavior

SC explains why a rape victim's testimony can stand alone, and why the death penalty needed the relationship alleged in the information.

Parental Authority VS Statutory Rape Allegation OF Minority Must BE Explicit FOR Qualified Rape Conviction

SC rules minority must be alleged in information for qualified rape; Laciste convicted of simple rape, not death penalty.

Intrafamilial Rape: Proving Guilt and the Nuances of Consent and Evidence

A father's rape conviction upheld on appeal, clarifying evidence rules, consent issues, and penalty requirements in incestuous rape cases.

Qualifying Circumstances in Rape: Why Specific Allegation in the Information Matters

The Supreme Court clarifies that qualifying circumstances like minority and use of a deadly weapon must be alleged in the information to justify the death penalty.

Rape and Parental Authority: Proving Qualifying Circumstances for Enhanced Penalties

In rape cases, the death penalty requires proof of both the victim's minority and the offender's relationship. This case explains why.

Intact Hymen Does Not Negate Rape: SC Upholds Conviction But Reduces Death Penalty

Supreme Court affirms rape conviction despite intact hymen, but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua for lack of qualifying circumstances.

Dying Declarations and Witness Credibility: Reevaluating Guilt in Homicide Cases

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies rape conviction standards, intact hymen evidence, and proper death penalty application in People v. Dayna.

Proving Victim’s Age in Rape Cases: When Death Penalty Fails

In People v. Virrey, the Supreme Court ruled that minority must be proven beyond reasonable doubt before the death penalty can be imposed in rape cases.

Uninhabited Places and Cruelty: Defining Aggravating Circumstances in Robbery with Rape

The Supreme Court clarifies when cruelty and uninhabited place aggravate robbery with rape, and affirms the death penalty in a Quezon City case.

Voice Identification in Rape Cases: Establishing Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt

How Philippine courts treat voice recognition as valid identification in rape cases, and why unpleaded aggravating circumstances reduce the penalty.

Rape Conviction Upheld: Voice Identification and the Requirement of Pleading Qualifying Circumstances

The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on voice identification but reduces the death penalty to reclusion perpetua because the information failed to allege qualifying circumstances.

Upholding Victims Rights Positive Identification AND Aggravating Circumstances IN Rape Cases

The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on voice identification, but reduces the death penalty to reclusion perpetua because aggravating circumstances were not alleged in the information.

Interest on Penalties: The Limits of Compounding in Loan Obligations

Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when interest may be charged on unpaid penalty charges in loan contracts, and when courts may reduce unconscionable penalties.

Diminished Liability When Lack of Treachery Reduces Murder to Homicide

When does a killing become homicide instead of murder? The Supreme Court explains how the absence of treachery lowers the crime and its penalty.

Double Jeopardy Bars Prosecution Appeal to Increase Penalty After Conviction

Philippine Supreme Court rules prosecution cannot appeal to increase a convicted accused's penalty—doing so violates the constitutional right against double jeopardy.

Incestuous Rape: Why Philippine Courts Trust Child Victims' Testimony

Philippine Supreme Court affirms death penalty for incestuous rape, explaining why a child victim's testimony is credible evidence.

Father's Incestuous Rape of Daughter: Supreme Court Affirms Death Penalty

Supreme Court affirms death penalty for a father who raped his 14-year-old daughter, explaining the legal rules on incestuous rape and damages.

Rape Conviction Upheld: Victim Testimony and Fair Sentencing in Sexual Assault Cases

The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on credible victim testimony while correcting the penalty and damages awarded.

Incestuous Rape Conviction Upheld But Death Penalty Reduced for Lack of Aggravating Circumstances

Supreme Court affirms incestuous rape conviction but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua for failure to specify aggravating circumstances.

Parental Authority vs. Filial Trust: Intrafamilial Rape and the Death Penalty

The Supreme Court affirms the death penalty for a father who raped his minor daughter, clarifying the rules on intrafamilial rape.