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 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.
Moral Turpitude and Bouncing Checks: Disqualifying Election Candidates in the Philippines
The Supreme Court rules that conviction for violation of B.P. Blg. 22 (Bouncing Checks Law) involves moral turpitude, disqualifying candidates from public office.
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.
Homicide vs Murder: Proving Intent and Circumstances in Criminal Cases
How Philippine courts distinguish murder from homicide through qualifying circumstances like treachery, and why intent alone is not enough.
From Murder to Homicide: Proving Treachery and Intent in Criminal Cases
When qualifying circumstances like treachery aren't proven beyond reasonable doubt, a murder charge may be reduced to homicide.
Treachery in Murder and Homicide: Intent and Qualifying Circumstances Explained
Understand treachery as a qualifying circumstance in murder, and the difference between frustrated and attempted murder under Philippine law.
When Rape Charges Are Not Qualified: The Importance of Specific Allegations in the Information
A Supreme Court ruling shows why qualifying circumstances in rape must be specifically alleged in the information to warrant the death penalty.
Rape Conviction Modified: When Qualifying Circumstances Must Be Alleged
The Supreme Court modifies a rape conviction, acquitting the accused on three counts for insufficient evidence and ruling on the necessity of alleging qualifying circumstances.
Treachery and Dwelling Limits on the Death Penalty in Philippine Criminal Law
Explore how Philippine courts apply treachery and dwelling as qualifying circumstances in criminal cases, and their impact on penalties.
Homicide Conviction Reversed: The Importance of Pleading Treachery in Criminal Informations
Supreme Court clarifies that qualifying circumstances like treachery must be alleged in the Information, or the accused can only be convicted of the lesser crime.
Eyewitness Identification and Child Rape Testimony: Lessons from People v. Padilla
How Philippine courts assess a child rape victim's testimony, qualifying circumstances for death penalty, and evidentiary rules.
Reasonable Doubt and Criminal Liability: Homicide, Conspiracy, and the Limits of Witness Testimony in the Phil
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies reasonable doubt, conspiracy, and qualifying circumstances in a murder appeal that became homicide.
Rape Conviction Stands But Death Penalty Reduced: Qualifying Circumstances Must Be Alleged in the Information
A rape conviction stands, but the Supreme Court reduces the death penalty to reclusion perpetua because minority and relationship were not alleged in the information.
Incestuous Rape: When Parental Authority Cannot Shield a Father's Crime
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction but rules that unalleged qualifying circumstances bar the death penalty.
Rape Conviction and the Death Penalty: When Relationship Must Be Alleged in the Information
The Supreme Court affirms a death sentence for rape, explaining when the qualifying circumstance of relationship must be alleged and proven.
Rape and Parental Authority: When Stepfathers Exploit Familial Trust
The Supreme Court affirms that a father's moral ascendancy over his minor daughter makes rape a betrayal of trust, but requires qualifying circumstances to be alleged for the death penalty.
Due Process in Rape Cases: Why Alleging Qualifying Circumstances Matters for Death Penalty
The Supreme Court explains why the death penalty in rape cases requires the qualifying circumstances to be alleged in the information, not just proved at trial.
Rape and Parental Relations: Clarifying Special Qualifying Circumstances in Philippine Law
A Supreme Court ruling clarifies when rape qualifies for the death penalty and why allegations of relationship must appear in the information.
Rape and the Requisite Allegations: Protecting Due Process in Criminal Prosecutions
The Supreme Court clarifies that special qualifying circumstances like relationship must be alleged in the information to justify the death penalty for rape.
Rape and Relationship Qualifying Circumstances and Penalties
Understand how rape penalties change when a qualifying circumstance like relationship is proven, based on Philippine Supreme Court rulings.
Eyewitness Testimony vs Alibi: Credibility in Philippine Murder Trials
How Philippine courts weigh eyewitness credibility against alibi defenses, and why qualifying circumstances must be proven.
Conspiracy and Homicide vs Murder: Understanding Criminal Liability in Philippine Law
Philippine Supreme Court clarifies conspiracy, treachery, and qualifying circumstances in homicide versus murder convictions.
Fatal Flaws in Filing Rape Cases: Why Precision in Criminal Complaints Matters in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court reduced a rape conviction from death to reclusion perpetua because the complaint failed to allege the qualifying circumstances of filiation and minority.