PLAIN MEANING RULE

- Known as the literal rule or verba legis

- Type of statutory construction by which statutes are to be interpreted using the ordinary
meaning of the language of the statute. This applies when there is no ambiguity in the statute
- The use of extrinsic evidence should no be in in place, this would result to overturn the plain
meaning of the statute.
- Statute should be interpreted in the ordinary meaning of the language used
- Plain meaning rule prevents courts from taking sides in the legislative or political issues
- NO ROOM FOR INTERPRETATION

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES VS. LACAP

As defined in the case Republic of the Philippines vs. Lacap, the plain meaning rule or verba legis in
Statutory Construction is that if the statute is clear, plain and free from ambiguity, it must be given its
literal meaning and applied without interpretation

“the wordings of RA 4566 are clear. It does not declare, expressly or impliedly, as void contracts entered
into by a contractor whose license had already expired. Nonetheless, such contractor is liable for
payment of the fine prescribed therein. Thus respondent should be paid for the projects he completed.
Such payment, however, is without prejudice to the payment of the fine prescribed under the law.”

RURAL BANK OF SAN MIGUEL VS. MONETARY BOARD

In RA 7653, only a "report of the head of the supervising or examining department" is necessary. It is an
established rule in statutory construction that where the words of a statute are clear, plain and free
from ambiguity, it must be given its literal meaning and applied without attempted interpretation.

In this case, plain meaning rule or verba legis derived from the maxim index animi sermo est (speech is
the index of intention) rests on the valid presumption that the words employed by the legislature in a
statute correctly express its intention or will and preclude the court from construing it differently. The
legislature is presumed to know the meaning of the words, to have used words advisedly, and to have
expressed its intent by use of such words as are found in the statute. Verba legis non est recedendum,
or from the words of a statute there should be no departure.

The word "report" has a definite and unambiguous meaning which is clearly different from
"examination." A report, as a noun, may be defined as "something that gives information" or "a usually
detailed account or statement."26 On the other hand, an examination is "a search, investigation or
scrutiny.
 RATIO LEGIS O GOLDEN RULE

- the reason or principle behind a law

- reason, the spirit of the law, which is the basis of the letter of the law.
- a form of statutory construction
- The reason or occasion of a law; the occasion of making a law. Bl. Law Tr. 3.
- A rule of statutory or legal document interpretation which allows a shift from the ordinary sense
of as word(s) if the overall content of the document demands it.
- It states that if the literal rule produces an absurdity, then the court should look for another
meaning of the words to avoid that absurd result.

HIDALGO V. HIDALGO

It is applied in the case that when the true intent of the law is clear that calls for the application of the
cardinal rule of statutory construction that such intent or spirit must prevail over the letter thereof, for
whatever is within the spirit of a statute is within the statute, since adherence to the letter would result
in absurdity, injustice and contradictions and would defeat the plain and vital purpose of the statute

The agrarian court erred in dismissing the petition on the basis of its conclusion that the right of
redemption granted by Sec 12 of Land Reform Code is available to “leasehold tenants” only and not
“shares tenants” and that their respective rights and obligations are not coextensive or coequal.

The very essence of Agricultural Land Reform Code is the abolition of agricultural share tenancy. It was
error of the agrarian court to state that “the systems of agricultural tenancy recognized in this
jurisdiction are share tenancy and leasehold tenancy” even after the enactment of the Land Reform
Code

Sources:

https://educalingo.com/en/dic-it/ratio-legis

https://www.translegal.com/legal-english-dictionary/ratio-legis

(2013, 04). Ratio Legis legaldictionary.lawin.org Retrieved 06, 2019, from

https://legaldictionary.lawin.org/ratio-legis/

https://ipfs.io/ipfs/QmXoypizjW3WknFiJnKLwHCnL72vedxjQkDDP1mXWo6uco/wiki/Golden_rule_(law).
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