III.

AIDS TO CONSTRUCTION
IV. ADHERENCE TO, OR DEPARTURE FROM, LANGUAGE OF STATUTE
V. INTERPRETATION OF WORDS AND PHRASES
A. IN GENERAL
Words construed in their ordinary sense
General words construed generally - Generalia verba sunt generaliter intelligenda
Words with technical or legal meaning
Word or phrase construed in relation to other provisions
Meaning of term dictated by context - Verba accipienda sunt secundum materiam
Where the law does not distinguish - Ubi lex non distinguit, nec nos distinguere debemus
Disjunctive and conjunctive words

Session: October 17, 2019 (Class 1, 7-9pm; Rm 402)

B. ASSOCIATED WORDS
Noscitur a sociis
Carandang v. Santiago, 97 Phil 94 (1955)
Motoomull v. Dela Paz, 187 SCRA 743 (1990)
Kua v. Barbers, GR 159410, January 28, 2008
Ejusdem Generis
Philippine Basketball Association v. Court of Appeal GR 119122, August 8, 2000
Cu Unjieng Sons, Inc. v. Board of Tax Appeals, 100 Phil 1 (1956)
Limitations of Ejusdem Generis
Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. American Express, GR 152609, June 29, 2005
Garcia v. Social Security Commission, GR 170735, December 17, 2000
US v. Santo Niño, 13 Phil 141 (1909)
Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila v. Social Security Commission, GR 15045,
January 20, 1961
Expressio unius est exclusion alterius
Romualdez v. Marcelo, G.R. Nos. 165510-33, July 28, 2006
De La Salle Araneta University V. Bernardo, G.R. No. 190809, February 13, 2017
Coconut Oil Refiners Assn., Inc. v. Torres, GR No 132527, July 29, 2005
Lopez v. CA GR 144573, September 24, 2002
Negative-opposite doctrine
Chung Fook v. White, 264 US 443 (1924)
Limitations of Expressio unius est exclusion alterius
Gomez v. Ventura, 54 Phil 726 (1930)
Javellano v. Tayo, GR 18919, December 29, 1962
San Pablo Manufacturing Corp., v. CIR, GR 147749, June 22, 2006
Doctrine of casus omissus
Casus omissus pro omisso habendus est
Ifurung v. Carpio Morales, et al, GR 232131, April 24, 2018
COA of Cebu v. Province of Cebu, GR 141386, November 29, 2001
Doctrine of last antecedent
Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi impediatur sententia
Florentino v. PNB, 98 Phil 959 (1956)
Mapa v. Arroyo, 175 SCRA 76 (1989)
Reddendo singular singulis
People v. Tamani, GR 22160, January 21, 1974
Fortich v. Corona, GR 131457, August 19, 1999
 C. PROVISOS, EXCEPTIONS AND SAVING CLAUSES
Provisos, generally
What proviso qualifies
Flores v. Miranda, 105 Phil 266 (1959)
Exceptions, generally
Exceptions and proviso distinguished
MERALCO v. Public Utilities Employees’ Association, 79 Phil 409 (1947)
Gorospe v. CA, 106 Phil 1144 (1959)
Saving Clause

Reference: Ruben E. Agpalo, Statutory Construction (2009), Chapter 5, pp 302-350

Session: October 18, 2019 (Class 1, 8-10pm; Rm 402)

VI. STATUTE CONSTRUED AS WHOLE AND IN RELATION TO OTHER STATUTES

A. STATUTE CONSTRUED AS WHOLE
Aquino v. Quezon City, GR 137534, August 3, 2006
Optima statute interpretatrix est ipsum statutum
National Tobacco Adm. V. COA, 311 SCRA 755 (1999)
Giving effect to statute as a whole
[Javellano v. Tayo, GR 18919, December 29, 1962]
JMM Promotions & Management, Inc. v. NLRC, 228 SCRA 129 (1993)
Apparently conflicting provisions reconcile
Republic v. CA, 263 SCRA 758 (1996)
Construction as not to render provision nugatory
Sesbreño v. Central Board of Assessment Appeals, 270 SCRA 360 (1997)
Construction as to give life to law
Paras v. COMELEC, 264 SCRA 49 (1996)
Construction to avoid surplusage
Mejia v. Balalong, 81 Phil 497 (1948)

B. STATUTE CONSTRUED IN RELATION TO CONSTITUTION AND OTHER STATUTES

Statutes in pari materia
Vda. De Urbano v. GSIS, GR No. 137904, October 19, 2001
Where harmonization is impossible
Dialdas v. Perdices, 101 Phil 756 (1957)
General and special statutes
Calingin v. CA, GR No. 154616, July 12, 2004
Reenacted statutes
Motelibano v. Ferrer, 97 Phil 228 (1955)

Reference: Ruben E. Agpalo, Statutory Construction (2009), Chapter 6, pp 351-392

VII. STRICT OR LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION

A. IN GENERAL
Liberal Construction
Sharica Mari L. Go-Tan vs. Spouses Tan, G.R. No. 168852, September 30, 2008
 B. STATUTES STRICTLY CONSTRUED
Laurel v. Abrogar, GR No. 155076, February 22, 2006
Villaseñor v. Oco-Perguerra, GR No. 180700, March 4, 2008
Acts mala in se and mala prohibita
Suy v. People, 92 Phil 684 (1953)
Azarcon v. Sandiganbayan, 268 SCRA 747 (1997)
US v. Go Chico, 14 Phil 128 (1909)
Statutes in derogation of rights
Arriete v. Director of Public Works, 58 Phil 507 (1933)
Statutes authorizing expropriations
City of Manila v. Chinese Community of Manila, 40 Phil 349 (1919)
Naturalization laws
Co y Quing Reyes v. Republic, 104 Phil 889 (1958)
Statutes imposing taxes and customs duties
Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority v. Marcos, 261 SCRA 667 (1996)
Statutes granting tax exemptions
CIR v. CA, 303 SCRA 508 (1999)
PLDT v. Province of Laguna, GR No. 151899, August 16, 2005
Statutes authorizing suits against the government
Mobil Phil. Exploration v. Customs Arrastre Service, GR 23139, December 17, 1966
Statutes prescribing formalities of will
Uy Coque v. Siosa, 43 Phil 405 (1922)

C. STATUTES LIBERALLY CONSTRUED

General Social legislation
Asian Transmission Corp. v. CA, GR No. 144664, March 15, 2004
General welfare clause
Ortigas & Co., Ltd. V. Feati Bank & Trust Co., GR 24670, December 14. 1979
Grant of power to local governments
Quimsing v. Lachica, 112 Phil 110 (1961)
Statutes granting taxing power
Icard v. City Council of Baguio, 83 Phil 870 (1949)
Statutes prescribing prescriptive period to collect taxes
Republic v. Ablaza, 108 Phil 1105 (1960)
Statutes imposing penalties for non-payment of tax
Jamora v. Meer, 74 Phil 22 (1942)
Election laws
Ibasco vs. Ilao, 110 Phil 553 (1960)
Statutes prescribing prescription of crimes
People v. Moran, 44 Phil 387 (1923)
Veteran and pension laws
Del Mar v. Phil. Veterans Administration, GR No. 27299, June 27, 1973
Santiago v. COA, 199 SCRA 125 (1991)
Rules of Court
Cabunilas v. CA, GR No. 26100, February 28, 1969

Reference: Ruben E. Agpalo, Statutory Construction (2009), Chapter 7, pp 392-452