STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Universidad de Manila
COURSE OUTLINE
Course objective:
At the end of the course, students should be able to apply the rules
of statutory construction in their legal reading and analysis.
Part I – Preliminary Considerations
1. Sources of Philippine Laws and When they Take Effect
(Agpalo, Statutory Construction (2009), 1.01-1.29; 1.41-1.46)
Tanada v. Tuvera, 146 SCRA 446 (1986)
PNB v. CA 222 SCRA 134 (1993)
Vir-Jen v. NLRC, 15 SCRA 347 (1982)
2. The Constitution
Purpose, Objective
Nitafan v. CIR, 152 SCRA 284 (1987)
Filoteo v. Sandiganbayan, 263 SCRA 222 (1966)
General Principles of Constitutional Construction
a. Gold Creek Mining Corp. v. Rodriguez, 66 Phil. 259
(1938)
b. Francisco v. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261,
November 10, 2003
c. Sarmiento v. Mison, 156 SCRA 549 (1987)
Language
JM Tuason & Co, Inc. v. LTA, 31 SCRA 413 (1970)
Civil Liberties Union v. Executive Secretary 194 SCRA
317 (1991)
Presumption of Constitutionality (Agpalo, 1.30-1.40)
Alba v. Evangelista, 100 Phil 683 (1957)
Morfe v. Mutuc, 22 SCRA 424 (1968)
Art. VIII, Section 4, Constitution
3. Court Decisions: Stare Decisis, Res Judicata, and Law of the
Case
Villena v. Spouses Chavez, 415 SCRA 33 (2003)
Veloso v. CA, 329 Phil 941 (1996)
4. Parts of a Decision
Velarde v. Social Justice Society, 428 SCRA 283 (2004)
Mercado v. People, 392 SCRA 87 (2002)
Application of Laws:
I. Ordinary Sense vs. Technical Sense
a. J.M. Tuason & Co., Inc. v. Land Tenure Administration,
G.R. No. 21064, February 18, 1970
b. Ordillo v. Commission on Elections, 192 SCRA 100
(1992)
c. Marcos v. Chief of Staff, 89 Phil. 239 (1951)
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d. Ruffy v. Chief of Staff, 75 Phil. 875 (1946)
e. Krivenko v. Register of Deeds, 79 Phil. 461 (1947)
II. Self-Executing vs. Non-Self-Executing
a. Manila Prince Hotel v. GSIS, G.R. No. 122156, 3 February
1997.
b. Tanada v. Angara, G.R. No. 118295, May 2, 1997
c. Oposa v. Factoran, G.R. No. 10183, July 30, 1993
d. Pamatong v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 161872, April 13, 2004
III. Mandatory vs. Directory
a. Tanada v. Cuenco, 103 Phil. 1051 (1957)
b. Gonzales v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 28196, November 9,
1967
IV. Prospective vs. Retroactive
a. Hagonoy Water Distirct v. NLRC, 165 SCRA 272 (1988)
b. Filoteo v. Sandiganbayan, 263 SCRA 222 (1996)
c. Co v. Electoral Tribunal, 199 SCRA 692 (1991)
Part II –Statutory Construction, Interpretation and Judicial
Legislation
5. Definition, Concept, and Purpose of Statutory Construction
(Agpalo, 2.01-2.10)
Caltex v. Palomar, 18 SCRA 247 (1966)
6. Rules of Construction
IBP v. Zamora, 338 SCRA 81 (2000)
Marcelino v. Cruz, 121 SCRA 51 (1983)
Legaspi v. Minister of Finance 115 SCRA 418 (1982)
Policy Matters and Self- Executing Provisions
Tanada v. Angara, 272 SCRA 18 (1997)
Manila Prince Hotel v. GSIS 267 SCRA 408 (1997)
7. Power to Construe (Agpalo 2.11-2.23)
When is there room for interpretation or construction?
Songco v. NLRC, GR L-50999 March 23, 1990
Amores v. HRET, GR 189600, June 29, 2010
When can courts construe or interpret the law?
RCBC v. IAC, G.R. No. 74851, December 9, 1999
When courts need not resort to interpretation or construction.
Go Ka Toc Sons v. Rice and Corn Board, G.R. No. L-
23607, May 23, 1967
People v. Mapa, G.R. No. L-22301, August 30, 1967
Statutory Construction vis-a-vis Judicial Legislation
Floresca v. Philex Mining, G.R. No. L-30642 April 30,
1985
Republic v. CA and Molina, G.R. No. 108763, February
13, 1997
How must legislative intent be ascertained?
Aisporna v. CA, G.R. No. L-39419 April 12, 1982
Republic v. CA and Molina, G.R. No. 108763, February
13, 1997
8. Aids to Construction (Agpalo, 3.01-3.17)
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Ebarle v. Sucaldito, 156 SCRA 803 (1987)
People v. Purisima, 86 SCRA 542 (1978)
Legislative History (Agpalo, 3.18-3.32)
Song Kiat Chocolate Factory v. Central Bank, 102 Phil
477 (1957)
Francisco v. Bosier, 332 SCRA 792 (2000)
Contemporary Construction (Agpalo, 3.33-3.44)
Nestle Philippines v. CA, 203 SCRA 504 (1991)
Philippine Scout Veterans Security and Investigation
Agency v. NLRC, G.R. No. 99859, September 20,
1996
Statutory Directives
Valderama v. NLRC, 256 SCRA 467 (1996)
RA 6938, sec 126 (1990)
RA 8792, sec 37 (2000)
RA 9285, secs. 8, 20, 25 (2004)
9. Interpretation of Words and Phrases (Agpalo 5.01-5.16)
General and Particular Use of Words
Matugina Integrated Wood Products, Inc. v. CA 263
SCRA 490 (1996)
Tan v. People 290 SCRA 117 (1998)
Bernardo v. Bernardo, 96 Phil 202 (1954)
Malanyaon v. Lising, 106 SCRA 237 (1981)
Associated Words
(a) Noscitur a sociis (Agpalo 5.17-5.18)
Dai-Ichi Electronics Manufacturing Corporation v.
Villarama, 238 SCRA 267 (1994)
(b) Ejusdem generis (Agpalo 5.19-5.21)
Magtajas v. Pryce Properties Corporation, Inc. (1994)
PBA v. CA, 337 SCRA 358 (2000)
(c) Expressio unius est exclusio alterius (Agpalo 5.22-5.25)
Centeno v. Villaton-Pornillos, 236 SCRA 197 (1994)
Malinias v. COMELEC, 390 SCRA 480 (2002)
(d) Dissimulum dissimilis est ratio
Garvida v. Sales, 271 SCRA 767 (1997)
(e) Casus omissus (Agpalo, 5.26)
COA of Province of Cebu v. Province of Cebu, 371
SCRA 196 (2001)
(f) Last antecedent rule (Agpalo 5.27-5.29)
PLDT Co. v. The Public Service Commission, G.R. No.
L-26762 August 29, 1975
(g) Reddendo singula singulis (Agpalo 5.30)
Amadora v. CA, 160 SCRA 315 (1988)
City of Manila v. Laguio, Jr., G.R. No. 118127 April 12,
2005
(h) Ubi lex non distinguit nec nos distinguere debmos
Ramirez v. CA, 248 SCRA 590 (1995)
Cebu Institute of Medicine v. CIMEU-NFL, 360 SCRA
515 (2001)
Amores v. HRET, G.R. No. 189600, June 29, 2010
(i) Doctrine of necessary implication
National Association of Trade Union- Republic
Planters Bank Supervisors v. Torres, 239 SCRA 546
(1994)
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(j) Where the law does not distinguish
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES v. DAISY R. YAHON,
G.R. No. 201043, June 16, 2014
VISAYAS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER (VCMC) v.
ERMA YBALLE, G.R. No. 196156, January 15, 2014
10. Provisos, Exceptions, and Savings Clauses (Agpalo, 5.31-5.40)
RICARDO FERNANDEZ v. NLRC, G.R. No. 106090, February 28,
1994
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. FILIPINAS
COMPANIA DE SEGUROS, G.R. No. L-14880, April 29, 1960
ARENAS v. CITY OF SAN CARLOS, G.R. No. 34024, April 5, 1978
CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA v. C. A. IMPERIAL, G.R. No. L-
17222, March 15, 1921
ROBERTO S. BENEDICTO v. COURT OF APPEALS, G.R. No.
125359, September 4, 2001
BALAGTAS MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE, INC. v. COURT OF
APPEALS, G.R. No. 159268, October 27, 2006
11. Statute Construed as a Whole and in relation to other Statutes
(Agpalo, 6.01-6.28)
JMM Productions & Management, Inc. v. NLRC, 228 SCRA
129 (1993)
Akbayan-Youth v. COMELEC, 355 SCRA 318 (2001)
AQUINO v. QUEZON CITY, G.R. No. 137534, August 3, 2006
LIWAYWAY VINZONS-CHATO v. FORTUNE TOBACCO
CORPORATION, G.R. No. 141309, June 19, 2007
BAGATSING v. RAMIREZ, G.R. No. L-41631, December 17,
1976
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES v. LUISITO D. BUSTINERA, G.R.
No. 148233, June 8, 2004
12. Strict or Liberal Construction (Agpalo, 7.01-7.38)
CIR v. BF Goodrich Philippines, Inc., 303 SCRA 546 (1999)
Philex Mining Corporation v. CIR, 306 SCRA 126 (1999)
A. Statutes strictly construed
Penal Laws
1. INTESTATE ESTATE OF MANOLITA GONZALES VDA. DE
CARUNGCONG v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, G.R. No.
181409, February 11, 2010
2. ELVIRA YU OH V. COURT OF APPEALS, G.R. No. 125297,
June 6, 2003
3. GERARDO R. VILLASEÑOR v. SANDIGANBAYAN, G.R. No.
180700, March 4, 2008
Statutes in derogation of rights
1. HEIRS OF ALBERTO SUGUITAN v. MANDALUYONG, G.R. No.
135087, March 14, 2000
2. PHILACOR CREDIT CORPORATION v. COMMISSIONER OF
INTERNAL REVENUE, G.R. No. 169899, February 06, 2013
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3. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. KUDOS METAL
CORPORATION, G.R. No. 178087, May 5, 2010
4. MAPULO MINING ASSOCIATION v. HON. FERNANDO LOPEZ,
G.R. No. L-30440, February 7, 1992
Statutes granting privileges
1. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. PHILIPPINE LONG
DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY, G.R. No. 140230,
December 15, 2005
2. RAOUL B. DEL MAR v. PAGCOR, G.R. No. 138298,
November 29, 2000
3. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES v. KERRY LAO ANG, G.R. No.
175430, June 18, 2012
B. Statutes liberally construed
1. RE: APPLICATION FOR SURVIVORSHIP PENSION BENEFITS
UNDER REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9946, A.M. No. 14155-Ret.,
November 19, 2013
2. MARIA OBRA v. SSS, G.R. No. 147745, April 9, 2003
3. IN RE: PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF MICHELLE P. LIM, G.R.
Nos. 168992-93, May 21, 2009
4. THE COCA-COLA EXPORT CORPORATION v. CLARITA P.
GACAYAN, G.R. No. 149433, December 15, 2010
5. REGIONAL AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD v.
COURT OF APPEALS, G.R. No. 165155, Apr 13, 2010
Prescription
1. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. BASF COATING,
G.R. No. 198677, November 26, 2014
2. RAMON A. SYHUNLIONG v. TERESITA RIVERA, G.R. No.
200148, June 4, 2014
