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 the Best Evidence Rule: Proving Minority in Statutory Rape Cases
A father convicted of qualified rape challenges the death penalty, claiming the victim's minority was not proven. The Supreme Court explains how a photocopied birth certificate can establish age.
Attempted Rape With Homicide: Supreme Court Affirms Conspiracy, Treachery, Rejects Intoxication Defense
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction for attempted rape with homicide, explaining conspiracy, treachery, and why intoxication and lack of instruction defenses failed.
Credibility of a Rape Victim's Testimony and the Sweetheart Defense
In People v. Durano, the Supreme Court explained why a rape victim's credible testimony can overcome the "sweetheart defense" and why resistance is not required.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Consent, Intimidation, and Victim Credibility in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining how intimidation, victim credibility, and medical evidence establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape Conviction Based on Credible Testimony: Lessons from People v. Dadulla
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on credible victim testimony, clarifying force, intimidation, and damages rules.
Rape Conviction Based on Credible Testimony: People v. Suyat
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining when a victim's credible testimony alone can prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape and Incest in the Philippines: Legal Framework and Victim Protection
Understanding Philippine law on incestuous rape through a landmark Supreme Court case, including penalties, evidence rules, and victim protections.
Rape Conviction Based on Circumstantial Evidence Protecting Victims of Unconscious Assault
Philippine Supreme Court affirms qualified rape conviction, ruling that a sleeping victim's testimony and medical evidence suffice to prove guilt beyond reasonable doubt.
Rape With a Deadly Weapon: Credibility of Witnesses and Delay in Reporting
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, explaining witness credibility rules and why delay in reporting does not mean fabrication.
Improvident Plea of Guilt in Philippine Rape Cases: Supreme Court Clarifies Safeguards
The Supreme Court explains when a guilty plea in capital cases is improvident and how convictions can still stand on independent evidence.
When Circumstantial Evidence Convicts: Lessons from a Philippine Rape-Homicide Case
The Supreme Court explains when circumstantial evidence is enough to convict, using a rape-homicide case as a guide.
Preliminary Investigation Rights and the Definition of Rape: Key Lessons from De Castro
Learn when the right to preliminary investigation is waived and why finger insertion constitutes rape through sexual assault under Philippine law.
Acts of Lasciviousness as a Lesser Included Offense in Philippine Child Abuse Cases
When rape isn't proven, Philippine courts may convict for acts of lasciviousness under RA 7610. Learn the rules from a landmark case.
Victim Testimony in Rape Cases: Why Philippine Courts Prioritize a Child's Voice
Philippine courts rely heavily on a child rape victim's credible testimony. Learn the rules from People v. Batiancila.
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.
The Power of Victim Testimony in Rape Cases: Insights from People v. Canare
How Philippine courts weigh a rape victim's lone testimony, credibility, and the defense of alibi in convictions.
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.
Breach of Trust Rape Conviction Upheld Despite Claims of Consensual Relationship in Stepfather Stepdaughter Ca
Supreme Court affirms stepfather's rape conviction, rejecting the "sweetheart theory" defense and ruling that a minor victim's fear and moral ascendancy explain her submission.
Death Penalty Abolition Impact on Penalties for Attempted Crimes in the Philippines
How R.A. 9346 changed penalties for attempted qualified rape—explained through People v. Bon, including the reclusion temporal ruling.
Protecting the Vulnerable: A Child's Testimony as Proof in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms that a credible child victim's testimony alone can convict in rape cases, even without a broken hymen.
Witness Credibility in Qualified Rape Cases: Lessons from People v. Gloria
How Philippine courts weigh a child victim's testimony in qualified rape cases, and why credibility often decides the outcome.
Reasonable Doubt in Rape Cases: Proximate Cause and the Weight of Victim Testimony
Explore how Philippine courts assess reasonable doubt in rape cases, focusing on victim credibility, alibi, and the rule on proximate cause.
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.
Protecting Child Victims: Balancing Privacy and Public Access in Abuse Cases
The Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Cabalquinto protects child abuse victims' identities while affirming a father's rape conviction.