STATUTORY

CONSTRUCTION
Atty. Vir Celito C. Raymundo
INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION TO THE SUBJECT

The case of
Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno
MARS MERCURY VENUS
Republic
Despite vs.isSereno
being red, Mars Mercury is the closest Venus has a beautiful name
a cold place, not hot. It’s full planet to the Sun and the and is the second planet
G.R. No.
of iron 237428,
oxide dust, whichMay 11, 2018smallest one in our Solar from the Sun. It’s terribly
gives the planet its reddish System. It’s only a bit larger hot, even hotter than
cast than our Moon Mercury
Section 2. The President, the Vice-President, the Members of the Supreme
Court, the Members of the Constitutional Commissions, and the
Ombudsman may be removed from office on impeachment for, and
conviction of, culpable violation of the Constitution, treason, bribery, graft
and corruption, other high crimes, or betrayal of public trust. All other public
officers and employees may be removed from office as provided by law,
but not by impeachment. (Art. XI, 1987 Philippine Constitution)

Petitioner Republic: Respondent Sereno:

The Chief Justice The Chief Justice

may be removed can only be
through quo removed by
warranto. impeachment.
 “It is a settled rule of legal hermeneutics that if the
language under consideration is plain, it is neither
necessary nor permissible to resort to extrinsic aids, like
the records of the constitutional convention, for its
interpretation. 165

The provision uses the permissive term "may" which, in

statutory construction, denotes discretion and cannot be
MARS MERCURY 166 We have VENUS
construed
Despite being red, Mars is
as having a mandatory
Mercury is the closest
effect. Venus has a beautiful name
consistently
a cold place, not hot. It’s full held thatplanet
theto term "may"
the Sun and the is indicative ofsecond
and is the a planet
of iron oxide dust, which smallest one in our Solar from the Sun. It’s terribly
mere
gives the possibility, anSystem.
planet its reddish opportunity or an option.
It’s only a bit larger The
hot, even hotter than
cast than our Moon Mercury
grantee of that opportunity is vested with a right or
faculty which he has the option to exercise. 167 An option
to remove by impeachment admits of an alternative
mode of effecting the removal.” (Supra.)
 Statutory Construction

The art or process of discovering and

expounding the meaning and intention of the
authors of the law, where that intention
MARS MERCURY VENUS
rendered
Despite being red, Mars isdoubtfully by reason
Mercury is the closest of ambiguity
Venus has a beautifulinname
a cold place, not hot. It’s full planet to the Sun and the and is the second planet
its
of language or of System.
iron oxide dust, which
gives the planet its reddish
the It’sfact
smallest one in our that the given
Solar
only a bit larger
from case
the Sun. It’s terribly
hot, even hotter than

is notcastexplicitly provided for in the law. Mercury

than our Moon
 MARS
Despite being red, Mars is
a cold place, not hot. It’s full
of iron oxide dust, which
gives the planet its reddish
cast
MERCURY
Mercury is the closest
planet to the Sun and the
smallest one in our Solar
System. It’s only a bit larger
than our Moon
VENUS
Venus has a beautiful name
and is the second planet
from the Sun. It’s terribly
hot, even hotter than
Mercury
Section 4. The President and the Vice-President shall be
elected by direct vote of the people for a term of six years
which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June following
the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date
six years thereafter. The President shall not be eligible for any
reelection.MARS No person who has MERCURY succeeded as President VENUSand
has
Despiteserved asissuch for more
being red, Mars than
Mercury four years shall
is the closest behasqualified
Venus a beautiful name
a cold place, not hot. It’s full planet to the Sun and the and is the second planet
for election
of iron to the same office
oxide dust, which smallestatone any time.
in our Solar from the Sun. It’s terribly
gives the planet its reddish System. It’s only a bit larger hot, even hotter than
cast than our Moon Mercury
Xxx.

(Art. VII, 1987 Philippine Constitution)

 Legal Opinions
MARS
Despite being red, Mars is
a cold place, not hot. It’s full
of iron oxide dust, which
gives the planet its reddish
cast
MERCURY
Mercury is the closest
planet to the Sun and the
smallest one in our Solar
System. It’s only a bit larger
than our Moon
- GMA News
VENUS
Venus has -a beautiful
name and is the second
planet from the Sun. It’s
terribly hot, even hotter
-Rappler
than Mercury

MARS
Despite being red, Mars is
a cold place, not hot. It’s full
of iron oxide dust, which
gives the planet its reddish
cast
MERCURY
Mercury is the closest
planet to the Sun and the
smallest one in our Solar
System. It’s only a bit larger
than our Moon
- The Manila Times
VENUS
Venus has -a beautiful -PhilStar
name and is the second
planet from the Sun. It’s
terribly hot, even hotter
than Mercury
 This subject will aid and help the students in:

1. Understanding the process in the

enactment of a law or statute.

2. Knowing and understanding the different

MARS MERCURY VENUS
aids and
Despite being red, Mars is rules in the
Mercury is the closest construction and
Venus has a beautiful name
a cold place, not hot. It’s full planet to the Sun and the and is the second planet
of ironinterpretation
oxide dust, which ofSystem.
statutes.
smallest one in our Solar from the Sun. It’s terribly
gives the planet its reddish It’s only a bit larger hot, even hotter than
cast than our Moon Mercury

3. Knowing and understanding when to apply

the said aids and rules in the construction
and interpretation of statutes.
 ASSIGNMENT
Read and understand topics B and C in your outline:
B. Statutes
1) Legislative procedures
2) Steps of becoming a law
3) Constitutional test
4) Parts Statutes
5) Kinds
6) Concepts
7) Repeals
C. Ordinance
1) Test of its validity
THANK YOU!