Practice question
A person commits an offense when the prescribed maximum prison term is two years. A later law raises it to five years and expressly applies the increase to that completed act. What constitutional issue is directly presented?
- Only a dispute over legislative stationery.
- No issue because all harsher laws apply backward.
- An ex post facto violation from retroactively increasing punishment.
- A requirement to convict without trial.
- A requirement that penalties never change for future offenses.
Legal references
- 1987 Constitution, Article III, section 22, https://lawphil.net/consti/cons1987.html
- Trillanes IV v. Medialdea, G.R. Nos. 241494, 256660 and 256078, April 3, 2024, ex post facto laws and bills of attainder discussion, https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2024/apr2024/gr_241494_2024.html
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