Practice question
A genuinely prospective statute raises punishment only for offenses committed after it takes effect. An accused then commits the prohibited act and complains solely that the statute is harsher than an older law. Is that alone ex post facto?
- Yes, effectiveness dates are irrelevant
- Yes, every increase is forbidden forever
- Yes, no legislature may change a penalty
- Yes, future conduct must always use the oldest law
- No; the stipulated application is prospective
Legal references
- Constitution Article III Section 22; Lacson v. Executive Secretary, GR128096, January20 1999, main decision, ex post facto categories: https://lawphil.net/consti/cons1987.html ; https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri1999/jan1999/gr_128096_1999.html
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