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.
Rape Conviction Upheld Identifying the Accused Despite Initial Hesitation in Reporting the Crime
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction, ruling that a victim's delay in reporting and initial hesitation do not weaken her credible identification of the accused.
Rape and Robbery Conviction: Victim Testimony and Penalties for Heinous Crimes
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on rape and robbery with rape, victim testimony credibility, alibi defense, and penalties under RA 7659.
Robbery With Rape and Forcible Abduction: Lessons From People v. Napud
A 2001 Supreme Court ruling explains why the absence of physical injuries does not defeat a rape charge, and how robbery with rape is punished.
The Testimony of a Rape Victim: Credibility and the Burden of Proof in Philippine Law
How Philippine courts weigh a rape victim's testimony against an alibi defense, and why credibility is key.
Credibility Is Key: How Philippine Courts Decide Rape Cases on Witness Testimony
Philippine courts weigh victim credibility heavily in rape cases. This article explains the rules from People v. Galvez, including alibi and damages.
Incestuous Rape: Why Philippine Courts Trust Child Victims' Testimony
Philippine Supreme Court affirms death penalty for incestuous rape, explaining why a child victim's testimony is credible evidence.
Incestuous Rape: When a Father's Moral Ascendancy Replaces Force and Intimidation
The Supreme Court explains how a father's moral ascendancy over his daughter substitutes for force and intimidation in incestuous rape cases.
Father's Incestuous Rape of Daughter: Supreme Court Affirms Death Penalty
Supreme Court affirms death penalty for a father who raped his 14-year-old daughter, explaining the legal rules on incestuous rape and damages.
Consensual Encounter or Rape: Navigating the Fine Line of Consent in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court acquits a jeepney driver of rape, explaining when courts may treat sexual intercourse as consensual despite a complainant's allegations.
Rape and Credibility: Evaluating Testimony in the Face of Physical Disability
Physical disability alone does not negate rape liability. The Supreme Court affirms conviction, explaining how credibility, not disability, decides rape cases.
Defining the Boundaries of Rape Penetration as a Necessary Element in Statutory Rape Cases
The Supreme Court clarifies that touching the labia, not mere epidermal contact, is required to consummate statutory rape.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Victim Testimony and Fair Sentencing in Sexual Assault Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction based on credible victim testimony while correcting the penalty and damages awarded.
Incestuous Rape Conviction Upheld But Death Penalty Reduced for Lack of Aggravating Circumstances
Supreme Court affirms incestuous rape conviction but reduces death penalty to reclusion perpetua for failure to specify aggravating circumstances.
Parental Authority vs. Filial Trust: Intrafamilial Rape and the Death Penalty
The Supreme Court affirms the death penalty for a father who raped his minor daughter, clarifying the rules on intrafamilial rape.
Rape Conviction Upheld: Victim Testimony and Medical Evidence Suffice for Guilt Beyond Reasonable Doubt
Explore how the Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction, relying on credible victim testimony and medical findings over alibi defenses.
Moral Ascendancy and the Absence of Violent Resistance in Rape Cases: Protecting Vulnerable Victims
Why a rape victim's lack of violent struggle does not mean consent, and how moral ascendancy and threats establish intimidation.
Credibility of Witness Testimony in Rape Cases: People v. Calimlim
The Supreme Court affirms four rape convictions, explaining how trial courts weigh victim credibility, alibi, and the limits of the death penalty.
Moral Ascendancy as Substitute for Force in Incestuous and Family Rape Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on how moral ascendancy and intimidation can substitute for physical force in rape convictions.
Parental Authority vs Child Abuse: Trust and Protection Boundaries
Supreme Court affirms death penalty for father who raped his 9-year-old daughter, clarifying parental authority does not excuse incestuous rape.
When Medical Evidence Is Absent: Conviction for Rape Based on Victim's Testimony
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction despite normal medical findings, explaining why a child victim's testimony can be enough.
Rape Under the Flyover: Corroborating Testimony in Child Sexual Abuse Cases
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction of a street child, explaining why medical findings are not required and how the victim's testimony stands.
Circumstantial Evidence and Conviction: When Proof Falls Short of Rape With Homicide
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on when circumstantial evidence suffices for homicide but not rape with homicide conviction.
Rape Conviction Upheld on Credible Testimony and Use of a Deadly Weapon
The Supreme Court affirmed a rape conviction based on the victim's credible testimony, ruling that medical findings are merely corroborative and that an ice-pick is a deadly weapon.
Rape and Mental Incapacity: Ensuring Justice for Vulnerable Victims in the Philippines
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction of a mentally disabled victim, clarifying rules on witness credibility and proper charges.