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construction of a statute. Legislative ratification spirit of the law controls its letter. Ratio legis,
is equivalent to a mandate. interpretation according to the spirit of the law.
lawmaking body intended right and justice to Where a general power is conferred or duty enjoined,
prevail. every particular power necessary for the exercise of one
The fact that the statute is silent, obscure or of the performance of the other is also conferred.
insufficient with respect to a question before a
court will not justify the latter from declining Grant of power excludes greater power
judgment. That one is perceived to tip the The foregoing principle implies the exclusion of those
scales which the court believes will best which are greater than conferred.
promote the public welfare in its probable
operation. What is implied should not be against the law
The statutory grant of power does not include such
Surplusage and superfluity disregarded incidental power which cannot be exercised without
The statute should be construed in accordance violating the Constitution, the statute granting power, or
with the evident intent of the legislature without other laws of the same subject.
regard to the rejected word, phrase or clause.
Authority to charge against public funds may not be
Redundant words may be rejected implied
While the general rule is that every effort should Unless a statute expressly so authorizes, no claim
be made to give some meaning to every part of against public finds may be allowed.
the statute, there is no obligation to give every
redundant word or phrase a special Illegality of act implied from prohibition
significance, contrary to the manifest intention Where a statute prohibits the doing of an act, the act
of the legislature. done in violation thereof is by implication null and void.
No man can be allowed to found a claim upon his own
Obscure or missing words or false description may wrongdoing or inequity. No man should be allowed to
not preclude construction take advantage of his own wrong. In Pari Delicto
Neither does false description neither preclude
construction nor vitiate the meaning of a statute Exceptions to In Pari Delicto
which is otherwise unclear. 1. It will not apply when its enforcement or
application will violate an avowed fundamental
Exemption from rigid application of the law policy or public interest
Every rule is not without an exception. Where 2. When the transaction is not illegal per se but
rigorous application may lead to injustice, the merely prohibited, and the prohibition by law is
general rule should yield to occasional designed for the protection of one party
exceptions.
What cannot be done directly cannot be done
Law does not require the impossible indirectly
What the law prohibits cannot, in some other way, be
The law obliges no one to perform an
legally accomplished.
impossible thing.
There should be no penalty for compliance with law
Number and gender
A person who complies with a statute cannot, by
1. When the context of the statute indicates,
implication, be penalized by it.
words in plural include the singular, vice versa.
2. The masculine but not the feminine includes all
INTERPRETATION OF WORDS
genders, unless the context indicates
Which meaning should be given to a word or phrase in a
otherwise.
statute depends upon what the legislature intended.
IMPLICATIONS
Statutory definition
No statute can be enacted that can provide all the
details involved in its application. What is implied in a • The legislative definition controls the meaning
statute is as much a part thereof as that which is of the statutory word, irrespective of any other
expressed. meaning the word or phrase may have in its
ordinary or usual sense.
Grant of jurisdiction • When the term pr phrase is specifically defined
The jurisdiction to hear and decide cases is conferred in a particular law, the definition must be
only by the Constitution or by statute. The grant of adopted in applying and enforecing such law.
jurisdiction to try actions carries with it all necessary and • While definitions in a statute must be given all
incidental powers to employ all writs, processes and the weight due them, the terms must be given
other means essential to make its jurisdiction effective. effect in their entiretyas a harmonious,
coordinated whole.
Grant of power includes incidental power • Statutory definitions are controlling in so far as
the said act is concerned.
Legal Method Reviewer
Textbook: Statutory Construction by Agpalo
Page 6 of 9
Statutes in pari materia (relating to the same Giving a liberal interpretation to save from obliteration;
specific subject matter) must be construed together reading into its something which its clear and plain
to attain national policy. language rejects.
Legislature is presumed to be aware of prior 1. General social legislation
law. 2. General welfare clause
3. Grant of power to local governments
Where there are two acts, one of which is special 4. Statutes granting taxing power
and particular and the other general which, if 5. Statutes prescribing prescriptive period to
standing alone, would include the same subject collect taxes
matter and thus conflicting with the special act, the 6. Statutes imposing penalties for nonpayment of
special must prevail since it evinces the legislative taxes
intent more clearly than that of a general statute and 7. Election laws
must be taken as intended to constitute an 8. Amnesty proclamations
exception to the general rule. A special law is 9. Statutes prescribing prescriptions of crimes
considered an exception to the general law on the same 10. Adoption statutes
subject; the legislature is passing a law of special 11. Veteran and pension laws
character has its attention directed to the special facts 12. Rules of Court
and circumstances which the special act is intended to 13. Other statutes
meet. o Curative statutes
o Redemption laws
Reference statutes o Instruments of credit
Refers to other statutes and makes them applicable to o Probation law
the subject of legislation.
MANDATORY STATUTES
Supplemental statutes A statute which commands either positively that
Intended to supply deficiencies in an existing statute something be done, or performed in a particular way, or
and to add, complete or extend the statute without negatively that something not be done, leaving the
changing or modifying its original text. person concerned no choice on the matter except to
obey. Contains words of command or prohibition. Uses:
Reenacted statutes shall, must, ought, should; prohibitions such as cannot,
One in which the provisions of an earlier statute are shall not, ought not
reproduced in the same or substantially the same 1. Statutes conferring power
words. 2. Statutes granting benefits
3. Statutes prescribing jurisdictional requirements
In construing reenacted statutes, court should take 4. Statutes prescribing time to take action or
into account prior contemporaneous construction. appeal
5. Statutes prescribing procedural requirements
Adopted statutes 6. Election laws on conduct of election
Statute patterned after, or copied from a statute of a 7. Election laws on qualification and
foreign country. disqualification
8. Statutes prescribing qualifications for office
STRICT CONSTRUCTION 9. Statutes relating to assessment of taxes
Construction according to the letter; scope of statute is 10. Statutes concerning public auction sale
not extended or enlarged.
1. Penal statutes DIRECTORY STATUTES
2. Statutes in derogation of rights Permissive or discretionary in nature and merely
3. Statutes authorizing expropriations outlines the act to be done in such a way that no injury
4. Statutes granting privileges can result from ignoring it or that its purpose can be
5. Legislative grants to local government units accomplished in a manner other than that prescribed
6. Statutory grounds for removing officials and substantially the same result obtained. Uses: may
7. Naturalization laws 1. Statutes prescribing guidance for officers
8. Statutes imposing taxes and custom duties 2. Statutes prescribing manner of judicial action
9. Statutes granting tax exemptions 3. Statutes requiring rendition of decisions within
10. Statutes concerning the sovereign prescribed period
11. Statutes authorizing suits against the
government Statutes are to be construed as having only
12. Statutes prescribing formalities of will prospective application, unless the intendment of
13. Exceptions and provisos the legislature to give them a retroactive effect is
expressly declared or is necessarily implied from
LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION the language used. Presumption is prospectivity.
Legal Method Reviewer
Textbook: Statutory Construction by Agpalo
Page 9 of 9
PROSPECTIVE STATUTES
Operates upon facts or transactions that occur after the
statute takes effect, one that looks and applies to the
future.
1. Penal statutes, generally
2. Ex post facto law
3. Bill of attainder
4. Statutes substantive in nature
5. Statutes affecting vested rights
6. Statutes affecting obligations of contracts
7. Repealing an amendatory acts
RETROACTIVE STATUTES
Creates a new obligation, imposes a new duty or
attaches a new disability in respect to a transaction
already past.
1. Procedural laws
2. Curative statutes
3. Police power legislations
4. Statutes relating to prescription
5. Statutes relating to appeals
AMENDMENT
Change or modification by addition or deletion, or
alteration of a statute which survives in its amended
form.
REVISION
Purpose is to restate existing laws into one statutes,
simplify complicated provisions, and make the laws on
the subject easily found.
REPEAL
A statute repealed is rendered revoked completely