ST.

THOMAS MORE SCHOOL OF LAW and BUSINESS

College of Law
AY 2024-2025 1st Semester

ATTY. CAROLINE T. CAHUCOM-CAÑEDA, MPA

Subject: STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION

Credit Units: Two (2) Units
Book References:

Ruben E. Agpalo
Ricardo M. Pilares III
Judge Noli E. Diaz

Grading System:
35% Midterms
35% Finals
25% Recitation
5% Attendance

Case Digest Format:

• Facts
• Issue
• Ruling

I INTRODUCTION
A. Background
1. Definition
2. Characteristics
3. Purpose
4. Theories of Interpretation
B. Related Legal Principles
1. Separation of Powers
a. Executive
b. Legislative
c. Judicial
Cases: Caltex (Philippines), inc. vs Palomar, G.R. No. L-19650, Sept. 29, 1966
Cagayan Valley Enterprises Inc. vs Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 78413, Nov.8, 1989
Tañada vs Tuvera, G.R. No. L-63915, Apr. 24, 1985
Philippine American Drug Co vs Commissioner of Internal Revenue, GR No. L-13032, Aug. 31, 1959
Primero vs. Court of Appeals. GR Nos. L-48468 to 48469, Nov. 22,1989
People vs Conception, GR No. 19190, Nov. 29, 1922.
Tañada vs. Yulo, GR No. 43575, May 31, 1935
Senarillos vs Hermosisima, GR No. 172409, Feb. 4, 2008
Torres vs Limjap, GR. No. 34385, Sept. 21, 1931

II SUBJECT MATTER OF CONSTRUCTION

A. Subject of Construction; Type of Laws

1. Constitution
2. Statutes
3. Presidential Issuances
4. Implementing Rules and Regulations
5. Ordinances
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 Cases:

B. Parts of a Statute
1. Title
2. Preamble
3. Enacting Clause
4. Body
5. Headnotes and Epigraphs
6. Repealing Clause
7. Separability Clause
8. Effectivity Clause
Cases:
Macariola vs Asuncion, A.M. No.133-J, May 31, 1982
Chavez vs. Judicial and Bar Council, et.al. GR No. 202242, July 17, 2012
Occena v Commission on Elections, GR No. L-52265, January 28, 1980
Abakada Guro Party List vs Ermita, GR Nos. 168056, 168207,168461,168463, 168730, Sept. 1, 2005
Kilosang Mayo Uno, et al vs Director General, GR No. 167798, April 19, 2006
Smart Communications, Inc. vs National Telecommunications Commission, GR No. 1519087, August 12, 2003
United BF Homeowners’ Association vs BF Homes Inc, GR No. 124873, July 14, 1999
Eastern Shipping Lines inc. vs Philippines Overseas Employment Administration, GR No. 76633, Oct. 13,1988
Magtajas v, Pryce Properties Corporation Inc., GR No. 111097, July 20, 1994
City of Baguio v Marcos, GR No. L-26100, Feb. 28, 1969
Eugenio v Drilon, GR No.109404, Jan. 22, 1996
Sajonas v Court of Appeals, GR No. 102377, July 5, 1996
People v Yabut, GR No.39085, Sept. 27, 1933
Social Justice Society, et al vs Atienza, GR No. 156052, Feb. 13, 2008
Antonio vs Miranda, GR No. 135869, Sept. 22, 1999
Flores vs COMELEC, GR No. 89604, Apr 20, 1990
Tatad vs Department of Energy, GR No. 124360, Dec.3, 1997

III VERBA LEGIS AND RATIO LEGIS: MEANING AND INTENT

A. Introduction
B. Verba Legis
C. Ratio Legis; Spirit of Law
D. Framework
E. Legislative Error; Enrolled Bill
Cases:
Caltex(Philippines) Inc. vs Palomar, GR No.L-19650, Sept. 29, 1966
Republic of the Phils., et al vs Lacal, GR No. 158253, March 2, 2007
Aparri vs Court of Appeals, et al, GR No. L
Globe-Mackay Cable and Radio Corporation v National Labor Relations Commission and Salazar,
GR No. 82511, March 3, 1992
Republic Flour mills Inc vs Commissioner of Customs, GR No. L-28463, May 1971
Saguisag, et al v. Ochoa et al., GR No. 212426, Jan. 12, 2016
Hidalgo, et al vs Hidalgo, et al., GR Nos. L-25326 & L-25327, May 29, 1970
League of Cities vs COMELEC et al., GR Nos. 176951,177499 & 178056, Dec. 21, 2009
Salvacion vs, Central Bank, et al., GR No. 94723, August 21, 1997
People vs Purisima, GR Nos. L-42050 to 42066,GR Nos L-46313 to 46316, GR Nos L-46997, Nov. 20, 1978
Lopez & Sons inc vs Court of Appeals, GR No. L-9274, Feb. 1, 1957
Arroyo, et al vs de Venecia, et al, GR No. 127255, Aug. 14, 1997

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IV PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION
A. General Principles of Construction
1. Law Construed as a Whole
Caudal vs Court of Appeals, GR No. 83414, July 31, 1989
National Police Commission vs de Guzman, GR No. 106724, Feb. 9, 1994

2. Presumption of Justice ( Article 10, Civil Code)

Floresca et al vs Philex Mining Corporation, GR No. L-30642, Apr. 30, 1985

3. Construction Consistent with the Constitution

Beltran, et al vs Sec. of Health, GR Nos. 133640, 133661 and 139147, Nov. 25, 2005
Benguet Management Corp. vs Court of Appeals et al., GR No. 153571, Sept. 18, 2003

4. Construction to Render Provisions Effective

JMM Promotions and Management Inc., vs National Labor Relations Commissions, GR No. 109835,
Nov. 22, 1993

B. Legislative Policies and Presumptions

1. Penal Laws
Centeno vs. Villalon-Pornillos, GR No. 113092, Sept. 1, 1994

2. Tax Laws
Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Court of Appeals et al., GR No. 115349, Apr. 18, 1997
Marinduque Iron Mines Agents Inc vs Mun.Council of Hinabangan, GR No. L-18924, June
30, 1964
National Power Corp. vs City of Cabanatuan, GR No. 149110, Apr. 9, 2003

3. Social Legislation
Republic of the Phils. vs Paranaque, GR No.191908, July 18, 2012
International Pharmaceuticals Inc vs Secretary of Labor, GR No. 92981, Jan. 9, 1992

4. Rules of Court
Office of the Court Administrator vs Garong, P-99-1311, Aug. 15, 2001
Cabrera vs Ng, GR No. 201601, March 12, 2014

5. Adoption Laws
Heirs of Gaudiano vs Benemerito, et al, GR No. 174247, Feb. 21, 2007
In the matter of the adoption of Stephanie Naty Astorga Garcia, GR No.148311, March
31, 2015

6. Local Autonomy
San Juan v Civil Service Commission et al., GR No. 92299, April 19, 1991

7. Naturalization Laws
In the Matter of the Petition for Naturalization as Filipino Citizens, Hao Su Siong, alias
Ramon Cuenco vs Republic of the Phils., No. L-13045, July 30, 1962
IN RE: Cuaki Tan Si vs Republic of the Phils, GR no. L-18006, Oct. 31, 1962

8. Election Laws
Rulloda vs COMELEC, et,al. GR No.154198, Jan. 20, 2003
Saquilayan vs COMELEC and Jaro, GR No. 157249, Nov. 28, 2003

9. Prescriptive Periods
Yapdiangco vs Buencamino, GR No. L-28841, June 24, 1983

10. Constitutional Construction

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 a. Framework
Chavez vs Judicial and Bar Council, GR No. 202242, July 17, 2012
Nitafan vs Commissioner of Internal Revenue, GR No. 78780, July 23, 1987
David vs. Senate Electoral Tribunal and Poe-Llamanzares, GR No. 221538, Sept. 20, 2016

b. Self-Executing vs. Non Self- Executing Provisions

Oposa vs Factoran, et.al, GR No. 101083, July 30, 1993

C. Administrative Construction
Amores vs Commisssion on Audit, GR No. L-45997, Feb. 4, 1993
Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs. Bicolandia Drug Corp., GR No. 148083, July 21, 2006

V CONSTRUCTION OF WORDS AND PHRASES IN A STATUTE

A. Construction of Contents of a Statute; Words and Phrases; Punctuation

1. General Words Construed Generally
Ramirez vs Court of Appeals, GR No. 93833, Sept. 28, 1995
Bartolome vs SSS and Scanner Maritime Services Inc., GR No. 192531, Nov. 12, 2014

2. Provisos
Fernandez vs National Labor Relations Commission, GR No. 106090, Feb. 28, 1994

3. Ordinary Words Understood in Ordinary Sense;

Technical Words in Technical Sense
Carandang vs Santiago, et al, GR No. L-8238, May 25, 1955

4. Generic Words and progressive Construction

Geotina vs Court of Tax Appeals, GR No. L-33500, Aug. 30, 1971

5. Punctuation Marks
United States vs Hart, GR No.8848, Nov.21, 1913

6. Use specific Words

a. And/Or
Microsoft Corporation v Manansala et,al, GR No. 166391, Oct. 21, 2015

b. Mandatory and Permissive Words

Abakada Guro Party List, et al vs Executive Secretary, et al, GR Nos
168056,168207, 168461, 168463,168730, Sept. 1, 2005

c. Including/ Involving
Sterling Selections Corporation vs Laguna Lake Development Authority, GR No.
171427, Mar.30,2011

d. Affirmative and Prohibitory

McGee vs Republic, GR No.L-5387, April 29, 1954

e. Exceptions
Lokin vs Commission on Elections, GR Nos 179431 to 32, June 22, 2010

f. Periods
National Marketing Corp. vs Tecson, GR No. L-29131, Aug. 27, 1969

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 g. Plural Words and Singular Words
Government Service Insurance System vs Corrales, GR No. 166261, June 27,
2008

B. Association and Relationship of Words, Phrases and Provisions

1. Noscitur a Sociis
Buenaseda vs Flavier, et al, GR No. 106719, Sept. 21, 1993

2. Ejusdem Generis
Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs American Express International Inc. GR No.152609,
June 29, 2005

3. Express Mention and Implied Exclusion

National Power Corporation vs City of Cabanatuan, GR No. 149110, April 9, 2003

4. Necessary Implication
Chua vs Civil Service Commission, et al, GR No. 88979, Feb. 7, 1992

5. Casus Omissus
Commission on audit of the Province of Cebu vs Province of Cebu, GR No. 141386, Nov.
29, 2001

6. Each to Each
City of Manila et, al vs Laguio, GR No. 118127, Apr. 12, 2005

7. Qualifying Terms; Last Antecedent

Republic vs Iglesia ni Cristo, GR No. 180067, June 30, 2009

8. Context and Related Clauses

Paras vs Commission on Elections, GR No. 123169, Nov. 4, 1996

VI EXTRINSIC AIDS OF CONSTRUCTION

A. Extrinsic Aids of Construction in General
B. Extrinsic Aids
1. Legislative Deliberations
League of Cities vs Commission on Elections, et al, GR No. 176951, Feb. 15, 2011

2. Legislative History
Commissioner of Customs vs Esso Standard Eastern Inc., GR No. L-28329, Aug. 7, 1975
3. Contemporaneous Circumstances
Lagman vs Medialdea, GR Nos 231668, 231771, 231774, July 4, 2017
4. Legislative Practice; Reference to Other Statutes
Escosura vs San Miguel Brewery Inc., GR No. L-16696, Jan. 31, 1962
5. Statutes Borrowed from Foreign Jurisdictions
United States vs De Guzman, GR No. L-9144, March 27, 1915
C. Preference

VII CONSTRUCTION OF CONFLICTING PROVISIONS

a. Statutes in Pari Materia
Phil. Economic Zone Authority vs Green Asia Construction & Development Corp., GR
No.188866, Oct. 19, 2011

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 Declarador vs Gubatan, GR No. 159208, Aug. 18, 2006
Gordon vs. Veridiano, GR No. L-55230, Nov. 8, 1988

b. Rules in Resolving Statutes in Pari Materia

1. Special Law versus General Law
Lopez vs Civil Service Commission, et al, GR No. 87119, Apr. 16, 1991
Laguna Lake Development Authority vs Court of Appeals, et al., GR nos.
120865 to 120871, Dec. 7, 1995
2. Substantive Law versus Procedural Law
Fabian vs Desierto, GR No. 129742, Sept. 16, 1998
3. Earlier Law versus Later Law; Amendment and Repeal
Philippine National Bank vs Cruz et al., GR No. 80593, Dec. 18, 1989

VIII PROSPECTIVITY AND RETROACTIVITY

A. Prospective and Retroactive Laws in General
Castro et al vs Sagales, GR No. L-6359, Dec. 29, 1953

B. Prospectivity of Laws
Universal Corn Products Inc. et al vs Rice and Corn Board et al., GR No. L-21013, Aug. 17, 1967
Nilo vs court of Appeals, GR No. L-34586, Apr. 2, 1984
C. Retroactivity of Statutes
1. Procedural Rules
Panay Railways Inc. vs HEVA Management and Devlopment Corp, et al, GR No. 154061,
Jan. 25, 2012
2. Police Power
Ortigas & Co. Ltd. Vs Court of Appeals, GR No. 126102, Dec. 4, 2000
3. Curative Laws
Nunga Jr. vs. Nunga III, GR No. 178306, Dec. 18, 2008
4. Penal laws
People of the Phils. vs Talaro, et al., GR No. 175781, March 20, 2012
Ortega vs People of the Phils., GR No. 151085, Aug. 20, 2008

D. Prospectivity and Retroactivity of Judicial Decisions

People vs Jabinal, GR No. L-30061, Feb. 27, 1974
Columbia Pictures Inc., et al vs Court of Appeals et al. GR No. 110318, Aug. 28, 1996
20th Century Fox Film Corp. vs Court of Appeals, GR Nos. 76649 to 76690, Aug. 19, 1988

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