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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Intellectual Disability and Witness Credibility in Philippine Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms that intellectual disability alone does not disqualify a rape victim from testifying, provided her account is coherent and consistent.
Rape Conviction Affirmed: Force and Intimidation Defined in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court clarifies force and intimidation in rape cases, affirming a conviction and increasing damages awarded to the victim.
Extinguishment of Criminal Liability: Death Before Final Judgment in Statutory Rape Cases
Explaining how an accused's death before final judgment extinguishes criminal liability, including in statutory rape cases, and its effect on civil liability.
Reasonable Doubt Prevails Acquittal IN Rape Case Hinges ON Consensual Circumstances
Acquittal in Rape Case: The Crucial Role of Force, Threat or Intimidation
The Supreme Court acquitted a rape accused because the prosecution failed to prove force, threat, or intimidation, a required element of rape.
Moral Ascendancy in Rape Cases: When Power Substitutes for Force Under Philippine Law
How the Supreme Court ruled that moral ascendancy can substitute for physical threat or intimidation in rape cases, protecting vulnerable victims.
Protecting THE Vulnerable Upholding Conviction IN Statutory Rape Cases 3
Affidavit of Desistance in Rape Cases: Supreme Court Scrutiny and Victim Credibility
Supreme Court affirms rape conviction despite affidavit of desistance, ruling recanted affidavits are unreliable and victim testimony credible.
The Weight of Testimony: Conviction on Credible Witness Accounts in Rape Cases
How the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction based on the victim's credible testimony, rejecting alibi and denial defenses.
Credibility in Rape Cases: Evaluating Testimony and Circumstantial Evidence
How Philippine courts weigh a rape victim's testimony and circumstantial evidence, based on People v. Rusco (G.R. No. 212157).
Protecting the Accused: The Limits of Unpleaded Allegations in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that convictions for statutory rape rest on age and carnal knowledge, not on unpleaded details like force or location.
Rape Conviction Requires Clear Proof of Force and Victim's Age in Statutory Rape Cases
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies proof requirements for rape convictions, distinguishing simple rape from statutory rape and affirming credibility standards.
Protecting Minors Conviction Upheld IN Child Abuse AND Qualified Rape Case
Overcoming Silence Credibility IN Rape Cases Involving Minors AND Step Parents
When a Child Victim’s Sole Testimony Suffices to Convict in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a qualified rape conviction based on the credible, consistent testimony of a four-year-old victim, explaining when a sole account is enough.
Protecting the Vulnerable: Upholding Conviction in Statutory Rape Cases
Supreme Court affirms statutory rape conviction, explaining why a child victim's credible testimony suffices even without medical evidence of injury.
Betrayal of Trust: Supreme Court Upholds Conviction in Father-Daughter Rape Case
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of a father for statutory rape of his 9-year-old daughter, clarifying the rules on alibi, denial, and damages.
Rape AND THE Burden OF Proof Establishing Minority IN Qualified Rape Cases
Protecting Childhood: Defining Carnal Knowledge in Statutory Rape Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that slight penetration suffices for statutory rape, protecting child victims like a four-year-old in this case.
Child Witness Testimony and Competency in Philippine Rape Cases
How the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction based on a four-year-old child's testimony, clarifying competency and hearsay rules.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Victim Testimony and Procedural Compliance in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court affirms the conviction of a father for qualified rape, underscoring the weight of credible victim testimony and the importance of procedural compliance.
AGE Verification IN Rape Cases Ensuring Justice Through Evidence
Consent and Doubt: When Inconsistent Testimony Leads to Acquittal in Rape Cases
The Supreme Court acquits a rape accused, ruling that inconsistent victim testimony and doubtful circumstances create reasonable doubt.
Rejection of the Sweetheart Defense in Rape Cases: Consent Beyond Affection
The Supreme Court clarifies that a "sweetheart defense" in rape cases requires proof of both a romantic relationship and genuine consent to the sexual act.