Statutory Construction

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I. GENERAL CONCEPTS

Chapters I & II, Agpalo, Statutory Construction MT No. of Cases - 56

A. Definition
1. Law
2. Statute
3. Statutory Construction
4. Construction vs. Interpretation

B. Statute
1. Parts
2. Classification/Types
3. Enactment of a Statute; Presidential Veto; Enrolled Bill Theory
Sections 26 & 27, Article VI, 1987 CONSTITUTION
4. Effectivity - Article 2, Civil Code
Tañada v. Tuvera, G.R. No. L-63915, April 24, 1985

C. When construction becomes necessary

Banawa v. Mirano, G.R. No. 24750, 1980
Del Mar v. PAGCOR, 346 SCRA 485, 2000
People v. Mapa, G.R. No. 22301, 20 SCRA 1164, 1967

D. Authority to construe the law

Joya v. PCGG, 225 SCRA 568, 1993

Limitations on the power to construe

Casco Phil. Chemical Co., Inc. v. Gimenez, G.R. No. 17931, 27 SCRA 131
Endencia v. David, 93 Phil. 696, 1953
People v. Jabinal, G.R. No. 30061, 1974
People v. Garcia, 85 Phil. 657, 1950
Vera v. Avelino, 77 Phil. 192, 1946
Inchong v. Hernandez, 101 Phil. 1155, 1957
Estrada v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 148560, November 19, 2001

E. Effects of unconstitutionality
Tatad v. Secretary of the Department of Energy, 281 SCRA 330, 1997

II. AIDS IN INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION

Chapter III, Agpalo, Statutory Construction

A. Intrinsic
1. Title
2. Preamble
People v. Garcia, 85 Phil. 663, 1950
People v. Purisima, G.R. No. 42050, 86 SCRA 542, 1978
3. Text
4. Punctuations
Moreno v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 168550, 2006
Florentino v. PNB, G.R. No. L-8782, April 28, 1956

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B. Extrinsic

1. Contemporaneous Circumstances
Estrada v. Macapagal-Arroyo, G.R. No. 146738, March 2, 2001
Social Justice Society v. Atienza, Jr., G.R. No. 156052, February 13, 2008
2. Policy
3. Legislative History
SANLAKAS v. Executive Secretary, G.R. No. 159085, February 3, 2004
San Luis v. San Luis, G.R. No. 133743, February 6, 2007
4. Construction by Administrative Agencies
Energy Regulatory Board v. CA, G.R. No. 113079, April 20, 2001
Trade and Investment Dev’t v. Demigillo, G.R. No. 176343, September 18,
2012

III. RULES IN CONSTRUCTION

A. Presumptions CLEAJUS

1. Presumption of Constitutionality
People v. Leachon, Jr., G.R. No. 108725, September 25, 1998
Romualdez v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 152259, July 29, 2004
Drilon v. Lim, G.R. No. 112497, August 4, 1994

2. Presumption that lawmakers know the law (repeals by implication)

Mecano v. Commission on Audit, G.R. No. 103982, December 11, 1992

3. Presumption that lawmakers intended to enact an effective statute

Paras v. Comelec, G.R. No. 123169, November 4, 1996

4. Presumption against absurdity

People v. Villanueva, G.R. No. L-15014, April 29, 1961
Cosico, Jr. v. National Labor Relations Commission, G.R. No. 118432, May 23,
1997
Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. TMX Sales, Inc., G.R. No. 83736,
January 15, 1992
Atlas Consolidated Mining and Development Corp. v. Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, G.R. Nos. 141104 & 148763, June 8, 2007

5. Presumption Against Injustice

Republic v. Bañez, G.R. No. 169442, October 14, 2015
People v. Purisima, G.R. Nos. L-42050-66, L-46229-32, L-46313-16, L-46997,
November 20, 1978
Co Kim Cham v. Tan Keh, G.R. No. L-5a, November 16, 1945
Rubi v. Provincial Board of Mindoro, G.R. No. 14078, March 7, 1919

6. Presumption Against Surplusage

Mcgee v. Republic, G.R. No. L-5387, April 29, 1954, G.R. No. L-8505
Collector of Internal Revenue v. Philippine Education Co., Inc., G.R. No. L-
8505, May 30, 1956

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B. In relation to language or words in a statute

1. Legislative Intent; Spirit and Reason

Ursua v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 112170, April 10, 1996
Republic v. Orbecido III, G.R. No. 154380, October 5, 2005
Lokin v. Comelec, G.R. Nos. 174931-32, June 22, 2010
US v. Toribio, G.R. No. L-5060, January 26, 1910
Comendador v. De Villa, G.R. Nos. 93177, 95020, 96948, 97454, August 2,
1991

2. Verba legis
Social Security System v. Favila, G.R. No. 170195, March 28, 2011
PAGCOR v. Philippine Gaming Jurisdiction Inc., G.R. No. 177333, April 24,
2009

3. Statute as a whole
Philippine International Trading Corp. v. COA, G.R. No. 183517, June 22,
2010
Fort Bonifacio Dev’t Corp. v. CIR, G.R. Nos. 158885 & 170680, October 2,
2009

4. Spirit and Purpose of the law

Dumaguete Cathedral Credit Coop. v. CIR, G.R. No. 182722, January 22,
2010
Navarro v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 141307, March 28, 2001

5. Stare Decisis
Ty v. Banco Filipino, G.R. No. 188302, June 27, 2012
Ting v. Velez-Ting, G.R. No. 166562, March 31, 2002
Lazatin v. Desierto, G.R. No. 147097, June 5, 2009

6. The law does not distinguish

Philippine British Assurance v. IAC, G.R. No. L-72005, May 29, 1987
Colgate-Palmolive v. Gimenez, G.R. No. L-14787, January 28, 1961

7. The law does not except

De Villa v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 87416, April 8, 1991

8. Doctrine of necessary implication

Pepsi-Cola v. Secretary of Labor, G.R. No. 96663, August 10, 1999
DENR v. United Planners Consultants, Inc., G.R. No. 212081, February 23,
2015
Chua v. Civil Service Commission, G.R. No. 88979, February 7, 1992

9. Casus Omissus Pro Habendus Est

Social Security System v. Favila, G.R. No. 170195, March 28, 2011
Spouses Delfino v. St. James Hospital, Inc., G.R. No. 166735, September 5,
2006
San Miguel Corp. Employees Union-PTGWO v. San Miguel Packaging Products
Employees Union-PDMP, G.R. No. 171153, September 12, 2007
Chua v. Civil Service Commission, G.R. No. 88979, February 7, 1992

10. Expressio Unius Est, Exclusio Alterius

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San Pablo Manufacturing Corp. v. CIR, G.R. No. 147749, June 22, 2006
Bases Conversion and Dev’t. Authority v. COA, G.R. No. 178160, February 26,
2009
Primero v. Court of Appeals, G.R. Nos. L-48468-69, November 22, 1989
People v. Mamac, G.R. No. 130332, May 31, 2000
Malinias v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 146943, October 4, 2002
Parayno v. Jovellanos, G.R. No. 148408, July 14, 2006

11. Noscitur a sociis

People v. Bello, G.R. Nos. 166948-59, August 29, 2012
Caltex v. Palomar, G.R. No. L-19650, September 29, 1966

12. Ejusdem Generis

The City of Manila v. Entote, G.R. No. L-24776, June 28, 1974
Pelizloy Realty Corp. v. The Province of Benguet, G.R. No. 183137, April 10,
2013
Philippine-American Drug Co. v. Collector of Internal Revenue, G.R. No. L-
13032, August 31, 1959
Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. American Express International, Inc.,
G.R. No. 152609, June 29, 2005
Garcia v. Social Security Commission Legal and Collection, G.R. No. 170735,
December 17, 2007

13. Reddendo Singula Singulis

Amadora v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. L-47745, April 15, 1988
Francisco v. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, November 10, 2003
Fortich v. Corona, G.R. No. 131457 (Resolution), August 19, 1999

14. ”Shall”, “May”, and “Must”

Adasa v. Abalos, G.R. No. 168617, February 19, 2007
Filipino v. Macabuhay G.R. No. 158960, November 24, 2006
Commissioner of Customs v. Marina Sales, Inc., G.R. No. 183868, November
22, 2010

15. Negative Words

Lokin v. Comelec, supra

16. Doctrine of Last Antecedent

Cadayona v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 128772, February 3, 2000
Mapa v. Arroyo, G.R. No. 78585, July 5, 1989

17. Function of a proviso

Acop v. Guingona, Jr., G.R. No. 134855, July 2, 2002
Borromeo v. Mariano, G.R. No. L-16808, January 3, 1921

C. Conflicting Statutes

1. Construed as a whole
People v. Garcia, G.R. No. L-2873, February 28, 1950

2. In pari materia
City of Naga v. Agna, G.R. No. L-36049, May 31, 1976
Loyola Grand Villas Homeowners v. CA, G.R. No. 117188, August 7, 1997

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In re: R. McCulloch Dick, G.R. No. 13862A, April 15, 1918

Philippine Global Communications, Inc. v. Relova, G.R. No. L-60548,
November 10, 1986
Flores v. San Pedro, G.R. No. L-8580, September 30, 1957

3. General and special laws

Lopez, Jr. v. Civil Service Commission, G.R. No. 87119, April 16, 1991
Remo v. Secretary of Foreign Affairs, G.R. No. 169202, March 5, 2010

4. Procedural and substantive laws

Bustos v. Lucero, G.R. No. L-2068, October 20, 1948 (Dissent of J. Feria)

5. Statute vs. ordinance

Tan v. Perea, G.R. No. 149743, February 18, 2005
Cagayan Electric Power and Light Co., v. City of Cagayan de Oro, G.R. No.
191761, November 14, 2012

D. Constitution

1. Intent of the framers

2. Ordinary Sense vs. Technical Sense

J.M. Tuason & Co., Inc. v. Land Tenure Administration, G.R. No. 21064,
February 18, 1970
Ordillo v. Commission on Elections, 192 SCRA 100 (1992)
Marcos v. Chief of Staff, 89 Phil. 239 (1951)
Ruffy v. Chief of Staff, 75 Phil. 875 (1946)
Krivenko v. Register of Deeds, 79 Phil. 461 (1947)

3. Self-Executing vs. Non self-executing

Knights of Rizal v. DMCI Homes, Inc., G.R. No. 213948, April 25, 2017
Grace Poe-Llamanzares v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 221697, March 8, 2016
Manila Prince Hotel v. GSIS, G.R. No. 122156, 3 February 1997
Tanada v. Angara, G.R. No. 118295, May 2, 1997
Oposa v. Factoran, G.R. No. 10183, July 30, 1993
Pamatong v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 161872, April 13, 2004

4. Mandatory vs. Directory

Tanada v. Cuenco, 103 Phil. 1051 (1957)
Gonzales v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 28196, November 9, 1967
Rep. Edcel Lagman, et al. v. Executive Secretary Medialdea, G.R. No. 231658,
July 4, 2017

5. Prospective vs. Retroactive

Hagonoy Water Distirct v. NLRC, 165 SCRA 272 (1988)
Filoteo v. Sandiganbayan, 263 SCRA 222 (1996)
Co v. Electoral Tribunal, 199 SCRA 692 (1991)

E. Strict vs. Liberal Construction

1. Penal Laws

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Lacanilao v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. L-34940, June 27, 1988 Romualdez v.
Marcelo, G.R. Nos. 165510-33, July 28, 2006
In re: Kay Villegas Kami, Inc., G.R. No. L-32485, October 22, 1970
U.S. v. Conde, G.R. No. 18208, February 14, 1922
Tuason v. Register of Deeds, Caloocan City, G.R. No. 70484, January 29,
1988

2. Remedial Laws
Bañez v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 119321, March 18, 1997
Sebastian v. Morales, G.R. No. 141116, February 17, 2003
Jose v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 128646, March 14, 2003

3. Taxation
Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 124043,
October 14, 1998
Abakada Guro Party List v. Ermita, G.R. Nos. 168056, 168207, 168461,
168463, 168730, September 1, 2005
Maceda v. Macaraig, Jr., G.R. No. 88291, May 31, 1991

4. Labor and Social Legislation; Retirement

Philippine National Construction Corp. v. National Labor Relations
Commission, G.R. No. 101535, January 22, 1993
Gonzaga v. Secretary of Labor, G.R. No. L-47300, April 19, 1989

5. Election
Liberal Party v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 191771, May 6, 2010
Siquian, Jr. v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 135627, December 9, 1999
Pangandaman v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 134340, November 25,
1999
Baytan v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 153945, February 4, 2003

6. Insurance Policy
Verendia v. Court of Appeals, G.R. Nos. 76399, 75605, January 22, 1993
RCBC v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 133107, March 25, 1999

F. Amendment, Revision, Codification, and Repeal

1. Distinction between an amendment, revision, codification, and repeal

2. Effects of amendment
3. Prohibition on irrepealable laws
4. Repeal by implication
5. Specific vs. General law
Republic v. Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL), G.R. Nos. 209353-54, July 6, 2015
Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Philippine Air Lines, Inc., G.R. Nos.
212536-37, August 14, 2014
6. Effects of repeal

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G. Maxims

1. Dura lex sed lex

Caparas v. Court of Appeals, G.R. Nos. L-56772-84, July 9, 1981
People v. Amigo, G.R. No. 116719, January 18, 1996
2. falsa demonstration non nocet, cum de corpora constat
3. In eo quod plus sit, simper inest et minus
4. Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium
5. Interpotare et concordare legibus est optimus interpotandi modus
6. Legis interpretation legis vim obtinet
7. Lex de future, judex de praterito
8. Lex prospicit, non respicit
9. Maledicta est exposition quae corrumpit textum
10. Nova constitution futuris formam imponere debet non praetaritis
11. Nullus crimen sine poena, nulla poena sine lege
12. Nullum tempus occurit regi
13. Optima statute interpretarix est ipsum statutum
14. Optimus interpres rerum usus
15. Privilegia reciprint largan interpretationem voluntate consonan concedentis
16. Potior est in tempore, potior est in jure
17. Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et per obliquum
18. Ratihabito mandato aquiparatur
19. Surplusagium est supreme lex
20. Stare decisis et non quieta movere
21. Verba accipiena sunt secundum subjectam materiam
22. Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt
23. Verba legis non est recedendum