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 Conviction Affirmed: Medical Exam Not Indispensable in Philippine Rape Cases
Philippine Supreme Court affirms rape conviction, ruling medical examination is not indispensable and clarifying damages for multiple counts of rape.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Why Proper Charges and Proof Matter
A look at how the Supreme Court reduced a death sentence to reclusion perpetua because the information failed to properly allege qualifying circumstances.
Breach of Trust When a Father's Authority Masks Sexual Abuse in the Philippines
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on incestuous rape by a father, moral ascendancy as intimidation, and proper penalties.
Credibility of Rape Victim Testimony: Why Trial Courts Hold Decisive Power in Philippine Law
The Supreme Court affirms that trial courts' assessment of rape victim credibility is given great weight, absent any clear error or arbitrariness.
Conspiracy in Rape Cases: Collective Criminal Liability Under Philippine Law
How Philippine courts apply conspiracy to hold all participants in a gang rape equally liable, even those who did not directly commit the act.
Credibility of Rape Victim Testimony in Philippine Courts: People v. Lapiz
How Philippine courts assess a rape victim's credibility, using the 2000 Lapiz ruling on conviction based on testimony.
Credibility of Child Witness Testimony in Rape Cases: Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence
Philippine Supreme Court guidance on assessing child witness credibility in rape cases, emphasizing trial court discretion and minor inconsistencies.
Statutory Rape in the Philippines: Why Consent Does Not Matter When the Victim Is Under 12
Philippine law treats sexual intercourse with a child under 12 as statutory rape—consent is irrelevant. This case explains the rule.
Unwavering Testimony: How Philippine Courts Protect Child Rape Victims
Philippine courts weigh a child rape victim's candid testimony with care. Learn the rules from People v. Gutierrez.
Delayed Reporting in Rape Cases: Why Philippine Courts Trust Victim Testimony
Philippine courts uphold rape convictions despite delayed reporting when victims offer credible reasons. Learn the legal principles from People v. Cano.
Incestuous Rape THE Overpowering Moral Ascendancy AND ITS Legal Implications IN THE Philippines
Specificity Matters HOW Improperly Worded Charges CAN Reduce Penalties IN Philippine Rape Cases
Credibility in Rape Cases: Evaluating Inconsistencies and Victim Behavior
How Philippine courts assess a rape victim's credibility, weigh inconsistencies, and reject alibi defenses in light of People v. Toquero.
Establishing Minority in Qualified Rape Cases: The Weight of Parental Testimony in Philippine Courts
How Philippine courts treat parental testimony and qualifying circumstances in rape cases, from the Supreme Court's ruling in People v. Gabiana.
Rape Case Dismissed? Why Proper Legal Information Is Crucial in Philippine Criminal Law
A rape conviction reduced to reclusion perpetua shows why qualifying circumstances must be alleged in the information. Learn the legal rules.
Burden of Proof in Rape Cases: Why Evidence Is Paramount in Philippine Courts
A Supreme Court ruling shows why proof beyond reasonable doubt, not outrage, determines rape convictions in the Philippines.
Incestuous Rape: Why the Victim's Testimony Alone Can Convict a Father
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction based on the victim's credible testimony, explaining why medical findings and resistance are not required in incestuous rape cases.
Incestuous Rape: When a Father's Moral Ascendancy Counts as Intimidation
The Supreme Court affirms a father's rape conviction, ruling that a parent's moral ascendancy over a child substitutes for force and intimidation.
Protecting the Vulnerable: How Philippine Courts Validate Testimony in Rape Cases Involving Mental Disability
The Supreme Court affirms a rape conviction where the victim has a mental disability, explaining how courts assess such testimony and evidence.
Mental Capacity and Witness Testimony: Protecting Vulnerable Victims in Philippine Rape Cases
Philippine Supreme Court ruling on mental retardates as credible witnesses in rape cases, with practical guidance for prosecutors and defenders.
When Parental Authority Becomes Criminal Abuse: Rape by a Father in Philippine Law
A father's rape of his 12-year-old daughter leads to reclusion perpetua, not death, because the minority was not alleged in the information.
Credibility of Child Witnesses in Statutory Rape Cases: People v. Arco
The Supreme Court affirms a statutory rape conviction, clarifying how courts assess the credibility of a child witness's testimony.
Protecting Children: Understanding the Crime of Rape and Parental Liability in the Philippines
Learn how Philippine courts handle rape cases, the rules on witness credibility, and what parents should know about liability.
Philippine Rape Law: Why Properly Charging Qualifying Circumstances Can Be a Matter of Life or Death
A rape conviction was reduced from death to reclusion perpetua because a qualifying circumstance wasn't alleged in the information. Learn why precise charging matters.