Chapter

 6  
 
I.  Rules  of  Collision    
• single  or  two  laws  dealing  with  the  same  subject  matter  but  with  conflicting  provisions  as  far  as  
the  treatment  and  application  of  a  right  
• task   of   the   judiciary   to   reconcile   or   harmonize   them   but   if   that   doesn’t   work,   uphold   one   over   the  
other  
• the   court   must   provide   a   beneficial   and   effective   construction   as   will   render   the   provision  
operative,  effective,  and  harmonious  
 
Provisions  vis-­‐à-­‐vis  Provisions  
• In  a  statute,  conflicting  clauses  and  provisions  may  arise.  
o Statute   must   be   construed   as   a   whole   and   attempts   made   to   reconcile   these   conflicting  
provisions  in  order  to  the  attain  the  intent  of  the  law  
o Construction  =  give  effect  to  every  part  of  the  statute,  its  every  word    
o Unless  clearly  repugnant,  provisions  must  be  reconciled  
• A   code   should   be   construed   as   a   whole   and   as   a   comprehensive   statute,   not   as   a   series   of  
disconnected  articles  or  statutes.    
• Particular  v.  General  Enactment  in  the  same  statute    
o Particular   must   be   operative   while   general   to   take   effect   only   in   cases   within   its   general  
language  wc  are  not  w/in  the  provisions  of  the  particular  enactment  
• Two  interpretations:  valid  and  legal  v.  invalid  and  illegal  =  CHOOSE  VALID  AND  LEGAL  
• Legislative   intent   must   be   ascertained   from   a   consideration   of   the   statute   as   a   whole.   The  
particular  words,  clauses,  and  phrases  should  not  be  studied  as  detached  and  isolated  expressions.  
A   statute   must   be   so   construed   as   to   harmonize   and   give   effect   to   all   its   provisions   whenever  
possible.    
• Noscitur   a   Sociis  –   where   a   particular   word   or   phrase   in   a   statement   is   ambiguous   in   itself   or   is  
equally   susceptible   of   various   meanings,   its   true   meaning   may   be   made   clear   and   specific   by  
considering  the  company  in  which  it  is  found  or  with  which  it  is  associated  with.    
• Ex.   Ombudsman   and   President   exercise   concurrent   jurisdiction   over   Deputy   Ombudsman   and  
Special  Prosecutor  
 
Laws  vis-­‐à-­‐vis  the  Constitution  
• Statutes  should  be  given  a  meaning  that  will  not  bring  them  in  conflict  with  the  Constitution.  
• Whenever  law  in  conflict  with  Constitution,  Consti  will  prevail  
 
Laws  vis-­‐à-­‐vis  Laws  
• New  laws  may  seem  in  opposition  to  previously  enacted  laws  
• Every   statute   must   be   so   construed   and   harmonized   with   other   statues   as   to   form   a   uniform  
system  of  jurisprudence  
• Every  new  statute  should  be  construed  in  connection  with  those  already  existing  in  relation  to  the  
same  subject  matter  and  all  should  be  made  to  harmonize  and  stand  together  
• Laws  considered  as  pari  material  are  read  side  by  side  or  construed  together  
• Best  method  of  interpretation  is  that  which  makes  laws  consistent  with  other  laws.    
o Reconcile  instead  of  declaring  outright  the  invalidity  of  one  against  the  other  
•  New  law  conflict  with  old  law    
o More   recent   one   considered   if   cannot   reconcile   like   Civil   Code   v   Admin   Code   of   1987   on  
computation   of   time   -­‐>   follow   12   calendar   month   rule   instead   of   365   days   -­‐>   later  
legislative  will:  knew  old  law  and  intended  to  change  it.  
 o However,  the  fact  that  a  later  enactment  may  relate  to  the  same  subject  matter  as  that  of  an  
earlier  statute  is  not  itself  sufficient  to  cause  an  implied  repeal  of  the  other,  since  the  law  
may  be  cumulative  or  a  continuation  of  the  old  one.    
• Common  Law  v  Statutory  Provision  -­‐>  statutory  prevails  
• Amendatory  Laws    
o give  effect  to  it  
o An   amended   act   is   ordinarily   to   be   construed   as   if   the   original   statute   has   been   repealed,  
and  a  new  and  independent  act  in  the  amended  form  had  been  adopted.  
o The   amendment   becomes   part   of   the   original   statute   as   if   it   had   always   been   contained  
therein  
 
General  Laws  vis-­‐à-­‐vis  Special  Laws  
• A  general  law  does  not  nullify  a  specific  or  special  law.    
• A  general  clause  does  not  extend  to  those  things,  which  are  previously  provided  for  
specially.    
• If  both  statutes  are  irreconcilable,  the  general  statute  must  give  way  to  the  special  or  particular  
provisions  as  an  exception  to  the  general  provisions.    
• In  case  of  conflict  between  a  general  provision  of  a  special  law  and  a  particular  provision  of  a  
general  law,  the  latter  will  prevail.    
• A  special  provision  or  law  prevails  over  a  general  one.    
• The  enactment  of  a  later  legislation,  which  is  a  general  law,  cannot  be  construed  to  have  repealed  a  
special  law.  The  latter  must  prevail  regardless  of  the  dates  of  their  enactment  unless  there  is  
manifest  intent  to  repeal  the  special  law.    
• Ex.  Mitigating  circumstances  not  applicable  to  administrative  cases  -­‐>  betrayal  of  public  trust  
 
Laws  vis-­‐à-­‐vis  Ordinances    
• An  ordinance  is  the  local  legislative  measure  passed  by  the  local  legislative  body  of  a  local  
government  unit.  
• Legislative  bodies  include  Sangguniang  Panlungsod  and  Panlalawigan  
• Valid  ordinance:    
o w/in  corporate  powers  of  LGU  
o according  to  procedure  prescribed  by  law  
C o must  not  contravene  Consti  or  any  statute  
O o not  unfair  or  oppressive  
D o not  partial  or  discriminatory  
T o must  not  prohibit  but  may  regulate  trade  
P o must  be  general  and  consistent  with  public  policy  
U o must  not  be  unreasonable    
• Municipal  ordinances  are  inferior  in  status  and  subordinate  to  the  laws  of  the  state.    
• An  administrative  order  is  subordinate  to  provisions  of  the  Consti  
• A  statute  is  superior  to  an  administrative  directive  and  the  former  cannot  be  repealed  or  amended  
by  the  latter.  
• A  law  is  considered  higher  than  an  ordinance,  thus  the  latter  cannot  repeal  or  amend  the  former.    
• Basic  law  prevails  over  rule  or  regulation  to  implement  said  law.    
 
 
Rules  of  Interpretation  and  Construction  
 
Interpretation    
o refers  to  how  a  law  or  a  provision  is  to  be  properly  applied.    
 o We  use  principles  of  statutory  construction  to  aid  us.  
o Basic   rule:   verba   legis   -­‐   if   the   language   of   the   law   is   clear,   there   is   no   need   for  
interpretation  or  construction.    
o Verba  legis  (word  of  the  law)  –  plain  meaning  of  the  law.    
o If   the   law   admits   2   or   more   interpretation,   then   we   need   to   interpret   the   law.   If  
interpretation  is  not  enough,  we  attempt  to  construe  the  meaning  of  the  law.    
 
Interpretation  v.  Construction    
Interpretation:  relies  on  the  contents  of  the  law  
- Materials  used  are  intrinsic  aids  
- Refers   to   the   drawing   of   the   true   nature,   meaning   and   intent   of   the   law   through   an   examination   of  
its  provisions.    
- One  does  not  have  to  go  outside  the  context  of  the  statute.  
- Limits  the  person  to  what  the  law  itself  provides  through  an  examination  of  its  language,  words,  
phrases  and  style.    
Construction:  relies  on  material  extant  from  the  law  itself.    
- Materials  used  are  extrinsic  aids  
- Process   of   using   tools,   aids,   references   extant   from   the   law   in   order   to   ascertain   its   nature,  
meaning  and  intent.    
- One  has  to  go  outside  of  the  language  of  the  statute.  
- Allows  the  person  to  utilize  other  reference  materials  and  tools  in  order  to  ascertain  the  true  
meaning  of  the  law.  
 
o Note:   before   one   construes,   he   must   first   interpret.   Only   construe   if   process   of  
interpretation  fails.    
o Some  foreign  jurisdictions,  however,  have  treated  these  two  as  synonymous.    
o Words   should   be   read   and   considered   in   their   natural,   ordinary,   commonly  
accepted,   and   most   obvious   signification,   according   to   good   usage   and   without  
resorting  to  forced  or  subtle  construction.    
o Semper  in  dubiis  benigniora  praeferenda.  –  Words  are  assumed  to  have  been  
employed  by  the  lawmaker  in  their  ordinary  and  common  use.    
 
Rules  of  Interpretation  and  Construction  (medyo  paulit-­‐ulit  lang  yung  book)  
1) If  the  words  of  a  statute  are  clear,  plain  and  free  from  ambiguity,  whatever  written  
in  the  law  will  be  given  its  literal  meaning.    
2) If   the   law   is   clear   and   unequivocal,   there   is   no   need   for   interpretation,   much   less  
construction.  
3) Only  statutes  with  an  ambiguous  or  doubtful  meaning  may  be  subjects  of  statutory  
construction.   The   first   and   fundamental   duty   of   the   courts   is   to   apply   the   law.  
Interpretation   and   construction   come   only   after   it   has   been   determined   that   the  
application  of  the  law  is  impossible  or  inadequate  without  them.    
4) The  rules  also  apply  to  contracts.  The  SC  held  that  a  contract  provision  is  ambiguous  
if  it  is  susceptible  of  two  reasonable  alternative  interpretations.  Where  the  written  
terms   of   the   contract   are   not   ambiguous   and   can   only   be   read   one   way,   the  
court  will  interpret  the  contract  as  a  matter  of  law.  Else,  interpretation  is  left  to  
the  courts  to  resolve  the  ambiguity  in  light  of  the  intrinsic  evidence.    
 
 
 
 
 Rules  of  Judgment  
 
• Judicial   Power:   power   to   hear   and   decide   causes   pending   between   parties   who   have   the  
right  to  sue  and  be  sued.  
• Although  holding  neither  purse  nor  sword,  being  deemed  as  weakest  of  the  3  departments,  
judiciary  has  the  power  to  annul  the  acts  of  either  the  executive  or  the  legislative  when  
not  conformable  to  the  Constitution.    
• Judicial  branch  is  the  ONLY  entity  empowered  to  interpret  and  construe  laws.    
• The  constitution  vests  judicial  power  is  vested  in  one  SC  and  in  such  lower  courts  as  may  be  
established  by  law.  (Doctrine  of  judicial  supremacy)  
o The  doctrine  of  separation  of  powers  imposes  upon  the  courts  a  proper  restraint  in  striking  
down  legislative  and  executive  acts  as  unconstitutional.    
• Courts  may  exercise  its  power  of  judicial  review  when    
1. An  actual  and  appropriate  case  and  controversy  exists  
o A  justiciable  controversy  involves  a  definite  and  concrete  dispute  touching  on  the  
relations  of  the  parties  having  adverse  legal  interest  
2. A  personal  and  substantial  interest  of  the  party  raising  
3. The  exercise  of  judicial  review  is  pleases  at  the  earliest  opportunity  
o That   the   question   of   constitutionality   has   not   been   raised   before   is   not   a   valid  
reason  for  refusing  to  allow  it  to  be  raised  later  
4. The  constitutional  question  raised  is  the  very  lis  mota  of  the  case  
• SC   decisions   en   bank   or   in   division   shall   be   reached   in   consultation   before   the   case   is  
assigned  to  a  Member.  
• A   certification   signed   by   the   Chief   Justice   shall   be   issued   and   attached   to   the   record   and  
served  upon  the  parties.  
• Any   member   who   took   no   part   or   dissented   or   abstained   must   state   the   reason   and   the  
same  shall  be  observed  by  all  lower  collegiate  courts.  
• No  decision  shall    be  rendered  by  any  court  w/o  expressing  clearly  and  distinctly  the  facts  
and  the  law  on  which  is  based  
• No   judge   or   court   shall   decline   to   render   judgment   by   reason   of   the   silence,   obscurity   or  
insufficiency  of  the  laws  
• Duty   of   the   judiciary   to   settle   actual   controversies   involving   rights   which   are   legally  
demandable  and  enforceable  and  determine  w/n  there  has  been  GADLEJ  on  the  part  of  any  
branch  or  instrumentality  of  the  government  
• Ang  Tibay  v.  CIR  –  where  the  SC  laid  down  cardinal  requirements  of  due  process  in  admin  
proceedings  
1. Right  to  hearing  including  right  to  present  case  and  submit  evidence    
2. Tribunal  must  consider  evidence  presented    
3. Decision  must  have  something  to  support  itself    
4. Evidence  must  be  substantial    
5. Decision  must  be  based  on  evidence  presented  or  at  least  contained  in  the  
record    
6. Tribunal  or  body  must  act  on  its  own  independent  consideration    
7. Board  or  body  must  render  its  decision  in  a  manner  where  parties  can  know  the  
 various  issues  and  the  reason  for  decision.  
• There   is   need   of   confining   familiar   language   of   a   statute   to   its   usual   signification.   The  
search  must  be  for  reasonable  interpretation.  
o Holmes:  there  is  no  canon  against  using  common  sense  in  construing  laws  as  saying  
what  they  obviously  mean  
o Frankfurter:  interpolation  must  be  eschewed  but  evisceration  avoided.  
• Utmost   effort   should   be   exerted   lest   the   interpretation   arrived   at   does   violence   to   the  
statutory  language  in  its  total  context.  
• The   first   and   fundamental   duty   of   courts   is   to   apply   the   law.   Construction   and  
interpretation  come  only  after  it  has  been  demonstrated  that  application  is  impossible  or  
inadequate  w/o  them.  
• Ambiguity  
o Only  when  the  law  in  ambiguous  or  of  doubtful  meaning  may  the  court  interpret  or  
construe  its  true  intent.  
o Ambiguity   is   a   condition   of   admitting   2   or   more   meanings,   of   being   understood   in  
more  than  one  way,  or  of  referring  to  2  or  more  things  at  the  same  time.  
o A  statute  is  ambiguous  if  it  is  admissible  to  2  or  more  possible  meanings  –  the  Court  is  
called   upon   to   exercise   one   of   its   judicial   functions,   which   is   to   interpret   the   law  
according  to  its  true  intent.  
• Intent  of  the  Legislature  
o The  intent  of  the  Legislature  to  be  ascertained  and  enforced  is  the  intent  expressed  in  
the  words  of  the  statute.  
o If   legislative   intent   is   not   expressed   in   some   appropriate   manner,   the   courts   cannot  
by   interpretation   speculate   as   to   an   intent   and   supply   a   meaning   not   found   in   the  
phraseology  of  the  law.  
o The  courts  cannot  assume  some  purpose  in  no  way  expressed  and  then  construe  the  
statute  to  accomplish  this  supposed  intention  
 
Rules  of  Procedure  
 
• Refers  to  the  process  of  how  a  litigant  would  protect  his  right  through  the  intervention  of  
the  court  or  an  other  admin  body,  
• Administrative  rules  of  procedure  are  generally  given  a  liberal  construction  
o Because  they  are  generally  summary  in  nature  
o Because   in   performing   their   quasi-­‐judicial   functions,   the   intention   is   to   resolve  
disputes  brought  before  such  bodies  in  the  most  expeditious  and  inexpensive  manner  
possible.  
• In   general,   rules   should   be   read   and   interpreted   first   in   their   natural   and   common  
acceptation.  
• Words   should   be   read   and   considered   in   their   natural,   ordinary,   commonly   accepted   and  
most   obvious   signification,   according   to   good   and   approved   usage   and   w/o   resorting   to  
forced  or  subtle  construction.  
o For  words  are  presumed  to  have  been  employed  by  the  lawmaker  in  their  ordinary  
and  common  use  and  acceptation.  
• Where  a  statute  defines  a  word  or  phrase  employed  therein,  the  word  or  phrase  should  
not,  by  construction,  be  given  a  different  meaning.  
• Rules  of  Procedure  should  be  viewed  as  mere  tools  designed  to  facilitatie  the  attainment  
of  justice  
• When  strong  considerations  of  substantive  justice  are  manifest  in  the  petition,  the  strict  
application  of  the  rules  of  procedure  may  be  relaxed.  
• Rules   of   Procedure   must   be   faithfully   followed   in   the   absence   of   persuasive   reason   to  
deviate  therefrom.  
• The  liberality  in  the  application  of  rules  of  procedure  may  not  be  invoked  if  it  will  result  in  
the  wanton  disregard  of  the  rules  or  cause  undue  delay  in  the  administration  ofnjusrice.  
o It   cannot   be   gainsaid   that   obedience   to   the   requirements   of   procedural   rule   is  
needed  if  we  are  to  expect  fair  results  therefrom.