"'Oppression' has been defined as an 'act of cruelty, severity, unlawful exaction, domination or excessive

use of authority.' (Ochate vs. Deling, L-13298, March 30, 1959, 105 Phil. 384, 390.)

"'Abuse' means 'to make excessive or improper use of a thing, or to employ it in a manner contrary to
the natural or legal rules for its use. To make an extravagant or excessive use, as to abuse one's
authority' (Black's Law Dictionary Fifth Ed., p. 11). It includes 'misuse' (City of Baltimore v. Cornellsville &
S.P. Ry, Co., 6 Phils. 190, 191, 3 Pitt 20, 23). The word 'grave', as modifier in 'grave abuse of discretion'
which is akin to 'grave abuse of authority' means 'wanton and capricious' (Caoile vs. Puno, SP-0022, June
19, 1971, cited in Moreno's Philippine Law Dictionary, p. 270).

"'Grave abuse of authority' may thus, be defined as the use or misuse of one's authority in a wantonly
and capriciously excessive or extravagant manner contrary to the natural or legal rules for its use.