TEMPLATE AT 3RD PAGE

INSTRUCTIONS
1. GENERAL COMMENTS
 Always use the active voice.
o Active Voice: The forest fire destroyed the whole suburb.
 vs. Passive Voice: The whole suburb was destroyed by the forest fire.
 Do not just copy and paste, especially the facts. Be direct and concise. Include only the facts relevant to the issue on
the case. Make sure that all facts necessary to answer the issue are included in the “FACTS” portion of the digest, and
not cited in the “RULING” portion for the first time.
 Identify the “ISSUE” based on the questions submitted by the parties to the court for decision. Determine the “ISSUE”
by appreciating the entirety of the text, and not only the piecemeal portion thereof.
 STRICTLY 1 PAGE ONLY, UNLESS THERE ARE MORE THAN 1 ISSUES

2. CONTENTS OF THE CASE DIGEST

TICKLER
 This refers to the topic or the doctrine of the case.
 Use phrases only, not sentences.
 Be specific and utilize the particular circumstances of the case in the development of the doctrine.
 FORMAT: BOLD, ALL CAPS

CASE DOCTRINE
 The case doctrine should contain the most important ruling set by the court in the particular case
 Limit the sentences to 3-5 only.
 Avoid offhandedly rephrasing the ruling of the court. The doctrine might be substantially changed should you do so.
 At the end of the doctrine the following must be cited: case title, case number; date must be cited
Example:
APPEAL IS NOT A NATURAL RIGHT BUT IS MERELY A STATUTORY PRIVILEGE
Although appeal is an essential part of our judicial process, it has been held, time and again, that the right thereto is
not a natural right or a part of due process but is merely a statutory privilege. Thus, the perfection of an appeal in the
manner and within the period prescribed by law is not only mandatory but also jurisdictional and failure of a party to
conform to the rules regarding appeal will render the judgment final and executor (Land Bank of the Philippines vs.
Court of Appeals and Heirs of Manuel Bolanos, G.R. No. 221636; July 11, 2016).

FACTS
FIRST PARAGRAPH: “STATEMENT OF THE CASE” + STATEMENT OF THE PARTIES
 Statement of the case
o Answers the question: What stage in the proceedings is the case in? Indicate its current level. Do not start
with the first court which took cognizance of the case.
o Is it an original action, appeal, petition for certiorari, or motion for reconsideration? Etc.
o Take note that a Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 is completely different from a Petition for
Certiorari under Rule 65.
o Indicate the initial ruling of the first court that took cognizance of the case in a very short sentence.
o No need to spell out the names of the courts (e.g. Regional Trial Court), if they are already of public
knowledge.
o Write this in two or three SHORT sentences ONLY.
 Statement of the parties
o Full names of the parties with the proper designation as petitioner, complainant, accused, etc.
o If corporation’s or entity’s name will later on be abbreviated, name should be followed with the abbreviation
enclosed in parentheses.
o After introduction, parties may subsequently be referred to with the last name, abbreviation or designation.
o Please indicate only those personal circumstances relevant to the issue.
In a petition under Rule 65 before the SC, petitioner AbelardoAbundo Sr. (Abundo) challenges the decisions of the
COMELEC and the RTC finding him ineligible to serve as mayor of Viga, Catanduanes because of the three-term
limit rule.
This is a petition for certiorari under Rule 45 which seeks to reverse the decision of CA affirming the ruling of Manila
RTC finding Juan Dela Cruz guilty of statutory rape.

SECOND PARAGRAPH: STATEMENT OF THE FACTS

 Write ONLY the facts RELEVANT to the issue, i.e. tending to prove (or disprove) the matter required to be proved.
Remember that the bar examinees may be given a set of facts lifted from the cases, so eliminate all irrelevant facts.
 Incorporate facts which are divulge only in the latter part of the Decision. They should be found here and not in the
ruling.
 No limit as to number of sentences but should not exceed half a page when there is only one issue.
 No need to indicate
o Manner of action (adjectives, etc.) – Unless issue pertains to qualify circumstances of murder, etc.
o Dates and time – Unless issue involves prescription, effectivity of a law, crime was committed at nighttime,
reglementary period, etc.
 o Places/Addresses – Unless issue involves jurisdiction, venue, etc.

THIRD AND FOURTH PARAGRAPHS: ARGUMENTS OF THE PARTIES

 Indicate only such argument connected to the subject.
 Provide the counter-argument of the respondent which is directly contrary to that of the petitioner.
 Use transition words in introducing the arguments of the parties.

ISSUE/S
 Use close-ended questions which can be answered by a Yes or No.
 Issue should be clear, concise and specific.
 If there is only one issue, AVOID GENERAL QUESTIONS.
 If there are several issues related to your subject capable of being represented as one issue, a general question is
permissible. Aim to simplify the issues into one question. At the same time, make sure that in the ruling, the several
issues are accordingly threshed out.
 Make sure that the issue is not just an obiter dictum. If it is, state so.
Example:
Civil Law × Is the contract of sale  Was the property bought by respondent
void? lawyer from his client the subject of litigation
at the time of purchase?

RULING
FIRST PART: YES OR NO ANSWER
 Quick answer restating the question asked: “Yes, the differentiation was germane…”
 This is just ONE SENTENCE.

SECOND PART: APPLICABLE LAW/DOCTRINE/RULE/PRINCIPLE

 State the law or doctrine first before applying to the facts of the case.
 Cite the provision of law/jurisprudence used by the court in deciding the case, if applicable.

THIRD PART: APPLICATION OF LAW/DOCTRINE/RULE/PRINCIPLE TO THE FACTS

 Begin with another paragraph

FOURTH PART: CONCLUSION

 Restate the quick answer using concluding words like “Hence” or “Therefore.”
NOTE:
- Avoid offhandedly rephrasing the ruling of the court. The doctrine might be substantially changed should you do so.
- Case digest should be limited to one page only
- Upload the case digest to your respective block’s group chat specifically made for the case digests

Submit with file name: Category (No.) Title_SURNAME

Categories:
 CT for Part Four – Credit Transactions
 1719-CT for Part Seven – January 2017 to December 2019 (Credit Transactions Part)
 L-CT for Part Eight – Leonen Cases (Credit Transactions Part)
 LTD for Part Five – Land Titles and Deeds
 1719-LTD for Part Seven – January 2017 to December 2019 (Land Titles and Deeds Part)
 L-LTD for Part Eight – Leonen Cases (Land Titles and Deeds Part)
 TD for Part Six – Torts and Damages
 1719-TD for Part Seven – January 2017 to December 2019 (Torts and Damages Part)
 L-TD for Part Eight – Leonen Cases (Torts and Damages Part)
Example: L-TD (56) Oof v. Amp_GUMELA

UPLOAD @ https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/141tO493GSqrf-627-3uDEQIkl3WmhAli?usp=sharing

x-------x

Template at the next page

Do not include these pages for submission
TICKLER
Doctrine (max of 3 sentences only) (Case Title, G.R. No., Date)

x—————x

TICKLER

Case Title
G.R. No., Date
Ponente, J.

FACTS:
Start here

ISSUE:
Start here

HELD:
Start here