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.
Get a cited, plain-language answer from 184,000+ statutes and decisions — free, no sign-up.
Incestuous Rape in the Philippines: Protecting Children and Upholding Justice
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of a father for four counts of incestuous rape, imposing reclusion perpetua without parole under RA 9346.
Understanding Qualified Rape and the Effect of RA 9346 on Death Penalty Cases
A Supreme Court ruling on incestuous rape clarifies qualified rape elements, victim credibility standards, and how RA 9346 converts death sentences to reclusion perpetua.
Stepfather Convicted of Qualified Rape: Lessons from People v. Arsayo
A stepfather's rape of his 13-year-old stepdaughter yields a qualified rape conviction, reclusion perpetua, and key lessons on evidence and penalties.
Breach of Parental Trust: Rape of a Minor and the Abolition of the Death Penalty
The Supreme Court affirms a father's qualified rape conviction but reduces the death penalty to reclusion perpetua under R.A. 9346.
Rape in the Victim's Home: When Dwelling Aggravates the Crime
Philippine Supreme Court explains when "dwelling" aggravates rape, and how RA 9346 changed the penalty from death to reclusion perpetua.
Rape and Intimidation: How Threats Establish Guilt and Determine Penalty
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how threats of posting nude photos constitute intimidation and warrant reclusion perpetua.
Incestuous Rape: Proving Minority and Relationship for the Proper Penalty
A stepfather's rape conviction reduced from death to reclusion perpetua because minority and relationship were not alleged and proved.
Rape and the Shadow of a Bolo: Establishing Intimidation as Qualified Rape
The Supreme Court explains when a bolo turns rape into a qualified offense, and why the death penalty was reduced to reclusion perpetua.
Rape and Mental Disability: Understanding the Limits of the Death Penalty in Philippine Law
A father's rape conviction was reduced from death to reclusion perpetua because the prosecution failed to prove his knowledge of the victim's mental disability.
Positive Identification Over Alibi: Upholding Witness Testimony in a Rape Conviction
In People v. Santos, the Supreme Court upheld a rape conviction based on the victim's credible testimony, rejecting alibi and denial and correcting the penalty to reclusion perpetua.
Robbery With Homicide: Conspiracy, Identification, and Fair Sentencing Rules
Learn how the Supreme Court upheld robbery with homicide convictions on conspiracy evidence but reduced death sentences to reclusion perpetua.
Voluntary Confession Mitigates Parricide: Reclusion Perpetua Instead of Death
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how voluntary confession of guilt mitigates parricide, reducing the penalty from death to reclusion perpetua.
Conspiracy and Treachery: How the Supreme Court Weighed Guilt in the Murder of Juliano Mampo
In People v. Berdin, the Supreme Court explains how conspiracy and treachery are proved in a killing, and why the penalty was reduced from death to reclusion perpetua.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Force, Intimidation, and the Death Penalty in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies force and intimidation in rape, and why a conviction was reduced from death to reclusion perpetua.
Parental Authority vs Child's Rights: Rape by a Father and the Limits of Criminal Allegations
Father convicted of raping his 14-year-old daughter twice; Supreme Court affirms guilt but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua for procedural defects in the information.
The Limits of Parental Authority: Rape and Incest in the Philippines
A father's rape conviction was reduced from death to reclusion perpetua because the prosecution failed to prove the victim's age beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape Conviction Affirmed Despite Procedural Lapses in Parental Incest Case
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction of father but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua due to procedural defects in the information.
Bus Holdups and Homicide: Affirming Guilt but Reducing Penalty Due to Procedural Rules
Philippine Supreme Court affirms robbery with homicide conviction but reduces penalty to reclusion perpetua, acquitting co-accused for lack of proof.
Rape Conviction and the Burden of Proving the Victim's Minority for the Death Penalty
A father's rape conviction affirmed but death penalty reduced to reclusion perpetua because the prosecution failed to prove the victim's minority with independent evidence.
Voluntary Surrender as a Mitigating Factor in Murder Cases
The Supreme Court explains when voluntary surrender qualifies as a mitigating circumstance in murder, reducing the penalty from death to reclusion perpetua.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Positive Identification and Medical Evidence Overcome Alibi Defense
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction based on victim's credible testimony and medical findings, but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua for unproven minority.
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.
When Killing a Child Is Treachery: The Ostia Murder Case
Explaining why killing a four-year-old is treachery, and why the Court still reduced the penalty to reclusion perpetua.
Breach of Trust: Revisiting Intrafamilial Rape and the Limits of Legal Proof
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction despite an intact hymen, but reduces the death penalty to reclusion perpetua for a defective information.