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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Rape and Stepfather Relationship: When Death Penalty Applies in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when a stepparent's rape of a minor warrants death penalty versus simple rape.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding the Death Penalty for Incestuous Rape of a Minor
The Supreme Court affirms the death penalty for a grandfather who raped his six-year-old granddaughter, reinforcing legal protections for minors.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Protecting Children and Upholding Justice
The Supreme Court affirms six convictions for statutory rape, clarifying how Philippine law protects minors and assesses child testimony.
Credibility of Rape Victim's Testimony Alone Can Uphold Conviction
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape conviction based on victim's credible testimony, and why death penalty requires minority alleged in information.
Kidnapping and Failure to Return a Minor: What the Supreme Court Said About Custody and Intent
A look at People v. Bernardo, where the Supreme Court clarified the elements of kidnapping and failure to return a minor under the Revised Penal Code.
Custodial Trust AND Betrayal Examining THE Deliberate Failure TO Return A Minor
A babysitter's brief custody of a newborn becomes a kidnapping conviction under Article 270, explaining deliberate failure to return.
Rape Shield Laws Protecting Victims AND Ensuring Fair Trials IN THE Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape cases clarifies that exact dates need not be alleged, but victim's minority must be for death penalty.
Rape and the Perversion of Trust: How Relationship and Minority Affect Sentencing
A Supreme Court ruling explains how a stepfather's rape of minors is penalized, and why precise allegations matter.
Incestuous Rape Conviction Affirmed But Death Penalty Set Aside for Unproven Minority
Supreme Court affirms incestuous rape conviction but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua because the victim's minority was not proven beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape Conviction Affirmed Minors AGE Mitigates Penalty BUT Does NOT Excuse THE Crime
Minors Can File Acts of Lasciviousness Cases Independently: Key SC Ruling
A minor may file acts of lasciviousness complaints without parental assistance. The Supreme Court explains why judges must respect this right.
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.
Rape Conviction Upheld Intimidation AS Force IN Cases Involving Minors
The Perils of Silence: Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Delayed Reporting and Minor Inconsistencies
The Supreme Court affirms rape convictions of an uncle despite delayed reporting, minor inconsistencies, and alibi, explaining why silence does not equal consent.
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.
Parental Authority and Rape: Why Minority Must Be Alleged in Qualified Rape Cases
A Supreme Court ruling explains why a father's conviction for raping his daughter was reduced from death to reclusion perpetua when her minority was not alleged.
Intimidation in Rape Cases: Protecting Minor Victims Under Philippine Law
How Philippine courts assess intimidation, delay in reporting, and child testimony in rape cases involving minors.
Why Qualifying Circumstances Must Be Alleged in Rape Informations
The Supreme Court explains why failure to allege minority and use of a deadly weapon in a rape information downgrades the crime to simple rape.
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.
The Boundaries of Consent: Statutory Rape and the Exploitation of Minors in the Philippines
The Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Jalosjos clarifies that statutory rape applies regardless of consent, especially when minors are exploited.
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.
Delayed Reporting in Statutory Rape: When Delay Does Not Destroy Victim Credibility
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on why delayed reporting of statutory rape does not automatically undermine a minor victim's credibility.
Reevaluating Guilt Statutory Rape vs Kidnapping with Rape in the Philippines
The Supreme Court clarifies when a sexual offense against a minor is statutory rape rather than kidnapping with rape, and the penalties that follow.