Category: Laws

When justice depends on testimony that could place a witness’s life in danger, the law provides safeguards to ensure that truth can still be spoken. In the Philippines, this protection comes through the Witness Protection, Security and Benefit Program under Republic Act No. 6981 (1991). Below is a breakdown of its key features and practical …

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The “sweetheart defense” is a recurring argument in Philippine rape prosecutions, where the accused claims that a romantic relationship existed with the complainant, thereby implying that the sexual act was consensual. This defense is often invoked to negate the element of force, threat, or intimidation required for a conviction of rape. I. Jurisprudential Treatment A. …

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