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Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante
Departure from literal interpretation the Third Party Complaint reasoning
that the said Complaint is not
Principle: Verba intentioni, non e contra, debent allowed under the Interim Rules of
inservire Procedure for Inter-Corporate
Words ought to be more subservient to the intent Controversies
than the intent to the words  Relevantly, the Interim Rules neither
state that the Third Party Complaint
The intention of the legislature and its purpose or
is one of the prohibited pleadings nor
object control the literal interpretation of
is it one of the allowed pleadings.
particular language of a statute, and a language
capable of more than one meaning is to be taken Issue:
in such sense as to harmonize with the intention
and object of the enactment.  Is the CA correct?
Held:
LITERAL IMPORT MUST YIELD TO INTENT
 No. While the Third Party Complaint
SY TIONG SHIOU v. SY CHIM and FELICIDAD
is not stated as one of the prohibited
CHAN SY, G.R. No. 174168, March 30, 2009
nor allowed pleadings, the conflict
Facts: may be resolved by following the
well-entrenched rule in statutory
 The corporation, of which both
construction that every part of the
petitioners and respondents are
statute must be considered with the
officers, filed an Amended Complaint
other parts, and kept subservient to
for Accounting and Damages against
the general intent of the whole
the Respondent Spouses.
enactment.
 The Respondent Spouses, after
 Indeed, the spirit and intent of the
having filed their Answer, also filed a
statute as may be found from the
Motion for Leave to File a Third Party
Interim Rules itself provides that the
Complaint, praying that the attached
Rules shall be liberally construed in
Third Party Complaint be admitted
order to promote their objective of
against herein Petitioners. The trial
securing a just, speedy, summary,
court granted such motion and
and inexpensive determination of
therefore admitted the third party
every action and proceeding.
complaint.
 Notably, jurisprudence has been
 Petitioners then questioned the
consistent in holding that the
admission of the Third Party
purpose of the third party complaint
Complaint before the CA through a
is to avoid a circuitry of action and
petition for certiorari. Ultimately, the
unnecessary of proliferation of law
CA reversed the trial court and ruled
suits. This, considering, the Third
that the trial court erred in admitting
Party Complaint shall be allowed.
Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante
However, ultimately, General Order
No. 8 was revoked and the military
CESSANTE RATIONE LEGIS, CESSAT ET IPSA LEX
tribunals created pursuant thereto
were dissolved when then President
Principle: Cessante ratione legis, cessat et ipsa lex
Marcos issued Proclamation No.
When the reason of the law ceases, the law itself 2045 which terminated the state of
ceases. martial law.
The reason which induced the legislature to enact Issue:
a law is the heart of the law. For this reason, the
reason of the law plays a decisive role in its  Is the GCM correct in ruling that the
construction. Consequently, its cessation or right to peremptory challenge had
nullification renders the law inoperative. been discontinued under PD 39?

B/GEN. JOSE COMENDADOR v. GEN. RENATO S. Held:


DE VILLA, G.R. No. 93177, August 2, 1991  No. It is a basic canon in statutory
Facts: construction that when the reason of
the law ceases, the law itself ceases.
 Petitioners in GR No. 96948 are  Thus, the withdrawal of the
facing prosecution for their alleged peremptory challenge in PD 39
participation in the failed coup d’ etat became ineffective when the
which took place on December 1 to 9, apparatus of martial law (the military
1990. The cases filed against them tribunals where before such tribunals
were referred to General Courts of the right was discontinued) was
Martial No. 14 for hearing. dismantled with the issuance of
 At the hearing, said Petitioners Proclamation No. 2045.
manifested that they are exercising  As a result, the old rule embodied in
their right to peremptory challenge Art. 18 of Com. Act No. 48 or the
under Art. 18 of the Commonwealth Articles of War was automatically
Act No. 48 or the Articles of War. The revived. Under such Article, the right
GCM No. 14, however, ruled that to peremptory challenge is allowed.
peremptory challenges had been Therefore, the GCM is wrong in ruling
discontinued under PD No. 39 that the said right is discontinued.
 Relevantly, PD 39, which govern the
procedure in Military Tribunals and SUPPLYING LEGISLATIVE OMISSION
which also provides that no Principle: Where a literal import of the language
peremptory challenges shall be of a statute shows that words have been omitted
allowed, was issued subsequent to that should have been in the statute in order to
the creation of the Military Tribunals carry out its intent and spirit, clearly
through General Order No. 8. ascertainable from the context, the court may
supply
Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante
concerned, appoint a qualified
person to fill the vacancy”
supply the omission to make the statute conform
to the obvious intent of the legislature or to Issue:
prevent the act from being absurd.  Which of the two appointments was
GOVERNOR RODOLFO C. FARINAS v. correctly made?
MAYOR ANGELO M. BARBA, G.R. No. Held:
116763, April 19, 1996
 Neither.
Facts:  The “local chief executive” referred
 Carlo Domingo, a member of the to in Section 45(c), being the
Sangguniang Bayan ng San Nicolas, appropriate provision in this case,
Ilocos Norte, resigned after going shall be understood in reference to
without leave to the United States. the provisions provided in Section
 There were, in this case, two 45(a) of the Code, whereby the
significant recommendations made appointing authority shall be, in
to fill the vacancy in the Sangguniang particular, the Governor in case of
Bayan: (1) recommendation by the vacancy in the Sangguniang Bayan.
Sangguniang Bayan ng San Nicolas of  Though, logically, Section 45(a)
Edward Palafox as member thereof pertains to vacancy created by a
to Respondent Mayor Barba and (2) member who belong to a political
recommendation by the party, except for those in the
Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Al Sangguniang Barangay whose
Nacino and Carlito Domingo to members are by law prohibited from
Petitioner Governor Farinas. having any political party, the
 Ultimately, Governor Farinas drafters of Section 45 did not intend
appointed Al Nacino and Mayor to make the manner of filling the
Barba, on the other hand, appointed vacancies in the Sanggunians,
Edward Palafox. created by members who do not
 Both appointments are allegedly belong to any political party, be
made in pursuant to the provisions of different from the manner of filling
Section 45(c) of the LGC which the vacancies in the Sanggunians,
provides that “In case the permanent created by those who belong to any
vacancy is caused by a sangguniang political party. Any difference in
member who does not belong to any procedure must be limited merely to
political party, the local chief the fact that in the case of vacancies
executive shall, upon the caused by those who have a political
recommendation of the sangguniang party, there is a political party which
can nominate while there is none in
Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante
the case of vacancies caused by one manner, the sangguniang concerned
who does not have a political party. in Section 45(c) shall be understood,
Accordingly, where there is no in the sense that, since the vacancy
political party which can nominate, occurred in Sangguniang Bayan ng
the Sanggunian, where the vacancy San Nicolas, the sangguniang
occurred, shall be the appropriate concerned shall therefore be the
authority to make the appointment. Sangguniang Bayan ng San Nicolas.
This is especially true by analogy to  In the case at bar, in the first
vacancies created in the Sangguniang appointment concerned, Edward
Barangay whose members are by law Palafox was recommended by the
prohibited to have political Sangguniang Bayan ng San Nicolas.
affiliations. Finally, implicit in the However, the appointment was
provisions of Section 45(a) is the made by the Mayor.
policy to vest in the President, the  In the second, the appointment was
governor, and the mayor in made by the Governor. However, the
descending order to appoint or fill recommendation came from the
vacancies, as follows: Sangguniang Panlalawigan.
o 1. President – sangguniang  Applying the foregoing decision of
panlalawigan and the Court as to the meaning of
sangguniang panlungsod of Section 45(c), since neither of the
highly urbanized and two appointments were duly made,
independent component neither shall be correct.
cities
CONSTRUCTION TO AVOID ABSURDITY
o 2. Governor – sangguniang
panlungsod of component
Principle: Interpretatio talis in ambiguis semper
cities and sangguniang bayan fienda est ut evitetur inconveniens et absurdum
o 3. Mayor – in the case of
sangguniang barangay, upon Where there is ambiguity, such interpretation as
recommendation of will avoid inconvenience and absurdity is to be
adopted.
sangguniang barangay
concerned It is always presumed that the legislature
 With respect to the term intended exceptions to its language which would
“sangguniang concerned” in Section avoid absurd consequences.
45(c), reference shall be had to Accordingly, the court has the power to supply or
Section 45(a)(3). In the latter omit the words from a statute in order to prevent
provision, it is the sangguniang an absurd result. This is so for the Congress could
barangay, where the vacancy not have intended absurd interpretation of the
occurred, who shall make the law.
recommendation. Thus, in the same
Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante
 No. In the interpretation of a statute, the
Court starts with the presumption that
PARAS v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 123169, 4
the legislature intended to enact an
November 1996
effective law. Too literal interpretation
Facts: of the law which leads to absurdity shall
not be countenanced.
 Petitioner Danilo Paras is the incumbent  To the Court’s mind, to include the
Punong Barangay of Barangay Pula of aforesaid SK election to the “regular
Cabanatuan City who won the last local election” referred to in the
barangay election in 1994. A petition for provision would be to unduly
his recall was filed which Respondent circumscribe this novel provision of the
Comelec gave due course. Respondent LGC on recall. If SK election would be so
Comelec set the schedule for the signing considered, then no recall election can
of the petition for recall which turned ever be conducted rendering inutile the
out to be signed by 29.30% of the provisions of Section 74 of the LGC.
registered voters—thus well beyond the  Also, the recall is potentially disruptive
25% requirement—and therefore set of the normal working of the local
the schedule for the recall election. government because of the additional
Initially, the said recall election was set expenses it entails, therefore, there is
in November 1995 but due to the proscription against the conduct of
Petitioner’s opposition it was ultimately recall one year immediately preceding
set on January 13, 1996. the regular local election. This is so, for
 The basis for the recall election is Section in the said election, the electorate could
74 of the Local Government Code which choose the concerned official’s
provides that: (a) any elective official replacement which obviously would
may be the subject of a recall election have longer tenure than that who
only once during his term of office for succeeded in view of the recall election.
loss of confidence; (b) no recall shall take Necessarily, it would be more in keeping
place within one year from the date of with the intent of the recall provision of
the official’s assumption to office or one the LGC to construe the “regular local
year immediately preceding a regular election” as that referring to the election
local election. where the office held by the concerned
 Petitioner cited the above provision in local official will be contested and filled
order to stop the recall election by the electorate.
reasoning that the SK election, which  At any rate, the recall election shall not
was held in one case as a regular local be held inasmuch as the election for the
election, is set to be held four months Punong Barangay is to be held six
away from the recall election. months from date of this decision of the
Issue: Court—November 1996; May 1997

 Is the petitioner correct? CONSTRUCTION IN FAVOR OF RIGHT AND


JUSTICE
Held:
Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante
purpose of collecting the amount of
around P698,000 from herein Petitioner
Principle: In case of doubt in the interpretation
which was advanced to him by herein
or application of law, it is presumed that the
Respondent when Petitioner was still a
lawmaking body intended right and justice to
member of its board of directors.
prevail.
 Personal service of summons upon
The Code Commission enacted this so that it may petitioner failed because he could not be
tip the scales in favor of right and justice when located at his last known address despite
the law is doubtful or obscure. It will strengthen earnest efforts to do so. Thus, on
the determination of the court to avoid an respondent’s motion, the trial court
injustice which may apparently be authorized by allowed a service of summons by
some way of interpreting the law. publication.
 Despite the summons by publication and
also the attempt to serve upon him
KAREN E. SALVACION v. CENTRAL BANK OF THE summons through his last known
PHILIPPINES, CHINA BANKING CORPORATION address, petition still failed to file his
and GREG BARTELLI y NORTHCOTT, G.R. No. Answer. Thus, on respondent’s motion,
94723, August 21, 1997 the trial court granted in its September
11, 2003 Order the respondent’s ex
Facts:
parte presentation and formal offer of
evidence. Said Order was sent by
registered mail to Petitioner’s last
LAW DOES NOT REQUIRE THE IMPOSSIBLE
known address.
 Subsequently, on October 28, 2003,
Principle: The law obliges no one to person an
Petitioner then filed an Omnibus Motion
impossibility.
for Reconsideration and to Admit
In other words, a statute may not be so Attached Answer. One of the claims of
construed as to require compliance with what it the Petitioner is that he was denied of
prescribes cannot, at the time, be legally due process as he was not notified of the
accomplished. September 11, 2003 Order.

In which case, substantial compliance with what Issue:


the law requires is sufficient.
 Is the claim of the Petitioner
meritorious?
PEDRO T. SANTOS, JR. v. PNOC, G.R. No.
Held:
170943, September 23, 2008

Facts:  No.
 The law obliges no one to perform an
 On December 23, 2002, a complaint for impossibility. Laws and rules must be
a Sum of Money against herein interpreted in a way that they are in
Petitioner was filed by herein accordance with logic, common sense,
Respondent. The complaint is for the reason, and practicality.
Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante
 In this case, Petitioner’s whereabouts Testamentary Succession. On the other
and residence are not known. Indeed, it hand, Oppositor Perfecta rests her claim
took almost a year before Petitioner on Art. 996 which fails under the chapter
came before the Court. So, what on Legal or Intestate Succession.
happens if the residence and  Relevantly, it was argued that Art. 996
whereabouts of the defending party are cannot be made to apply in this case in
not known or that if he cannot be that the word “children” referred to
located? In such a case, there is therein does not include the term
obviously no way notice can be sent to “child”. This is so, for the instant case
him and that the notice requirement refers to a division of the estate in an
cannot apply to him. intestate proceeding wherein the
 Be that as it may, it may be stressed that deceased is survived by his spouse and
the Order—of which the petitioner his only child, not children.
argues that he was not notified—was
Issue:
still sent to his last known address.
 Is the argument correct?
NUMBER AND GENDER OF WORDS
Held:
Principle: When the context of the statute so
indicates, words in plural include the singular,  No.
and vice versa.  It is a maxim of statutory construction
that words in plural include the singular.
Likewise, in construing a statute, the masculine,  Thus, Art. 996—which, as worded,
but not the feminine, includes all genders unless provides “If a widow or widower and
the context in which the word is used in the legitimate children or descendants are
statute indicates otherwise. left, the surviving spouse has in the
succession the same share as that of
SANTILLON v. MIRANDA, G.R. No. 19281, June each of the children--could or should be
30, 1965 read as “if a widow or widower and
legitimate child are left, the surviving
Facts: spouse has in the succession the same
 Pedro Santillon died intestate leaving his share as that of the child.”
only son, Petitioner Claro Santillon and MODULE 7: IMPLICATIONS
his wife, Oppositor Perfecta Miranda. In
dividing the estate of Pedro Santillon, NECESSARY IMPLICATIONS
Petitioner Claro argues that he should Principle: Ex necessitate legis or from the
get ¾ of the estate and then, ¼ shall necessity of the law.
pertain to Oppositor Perfecta. On the
other hand, Oppositor Perfecta argues What is implied in a statute is as much part as
that the division shall be ½ for her and ½ that which is expressed.
for Petitioner.
 Petitioner based his argument on Art.
892 which falls under the chapter on
Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante
petitioner on July 12, 2012. Dissatisfied
with the said Order, petitioner, on
Every statute is understood, by implication, September 10, 2012, filed a petition for
to contain all such provisions as may be certiorari before the CA against the RTC
necessary to effectuate its object and for confirming and ordering the
purpose, or to make effective rights, powers, execution of the Arbitral Award.
privileges or jurisdiction which it grants,  The CA dismissed the petition for
including all such collateral and subsidiary certiorari on the ground that the petition
consequences as may be fairly and logically was filed out of time.
inferred from its terms.  Rule 19.26 of the Special ADR Rules
provides that a special civil action for
certiorari may be filed to annul or set
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND aside the order of the RTC confirming a
domestic arbitral award; which petition
NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR) v. UNITED
should be filed with the CA within 15
PLANNERS CONSULTANTS, INC., G.R. No.
212081, February 23, 2015 days from the notice of judgment, order
or resolution pursuant to Rule 19.28 of
Facts: the said Special ADR Rules.
 Petitioner, relevantly, argues that the
 Petitioner entered into an Agreement
15-day period under said Special ADR
for Consultancy Services with
Rules shall not be applicable because the
respondent.
Special ADR Rules did not provide
 For failure to pay its obligation under the
specifically for the procedure on
Consultancy Agreement despite
execution. What shall, therefore, be
repeated demands, respondent
applicable is the60-day period provided
instituted a Complaint against petitioner
under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court.
before the Regional Trial Court of
Quezon City, which complaint was later Issue:
referred to arbitration pursuant to the
Is the petitioner’s argument meritorious?
arbitration clause in the Agreement.
 Ultimately, the Arbitral Tribunal Held:
rendered its Award in favor of
Respondent; which Award was  No.
confirmed by the RTC pursuant to  Under the doctrine of necessary
Special ADR Rules. implication, every statute is understood,
 Later, respondent moved for the by implication, to contain all such
issuance of a writ of execution, which provisions as may be necessary to
the RTC later granted in an Order. By effectuate its object and purpose, or to
reason of such Order, petitioner moved make effective rights, powers, privileges
to quash the writ of execution. or jurisdiction which it grants, including
 However, the RTC, in its Order dated July all such collateral and subsidiary
9, 2012 denied the said motion to quash, consequences as may be fairly and
which said Order was received by logically inferred from its terms.
Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante
 In the case at bar, while it appears that employees from assisting, forming,
the Special ADR Rules remain silent on joining a union is Art. 245 of the Labor
the procedure for the execution of a Code. However, while the said Article
confirmed arbitral award, it is the expressly mentions managerial
Court's considered view that the Rules' employees, it does not directly prohibit
procedural mechanisms cover not only confidential employees from engaging in
aspects of confirmation but necessarily union activities.
extend to a confirmed award's execution
Issue:
in light of the said doctrine of necessary
implication. Execution is but a necessary May confidential employees be considered as
incident to the Court's confirmation of not eligible under Art. 245 of the Labor Code?
an arbitral award. To construe it
Held:
otherwise would result in an absurd
situation whereby the confirming court  Yes.
previously applying the Special ADR  Under the doctrine of necessary
Rules in its confirmation of the arbitral implication, the disqualification of
award would later shift to the regular managerial employees are equally
Rules of Procedure come execution. applicable to confidential employees.
SUGBUANON RURAL BANK, INC. v. HON.  The confidential-employee rule justifies
UNDERSECRETARY BIENVENIDO E. LAGUESMA, exclusion of confidential
G.R. No. 116194, February 2, 2000 employees because in the normal
course of their duties, they become
Facts: aware of management policies relating
to labor relations.
 Petitioner Sugbuanon Rural Bank, Inc.,
(SRBI, for brevity) is a duly-registered
banking institution. Private respondent GRANT OF POWER INCLUDES INCIDENTAL
SRBI — Association of Professional, POWER
Supervisory, Office, and Technical
Employees Union (APSOTEU) is a Principle: Where a general power is
legitimate labor organization affiliated conferred or duty enjoined, every particular
with the Trade Unions Congress of the power necessary for the exercise of one or
Philippines (TUCP), hereinafter referred the performance of the other is also
to as the Union. conferred.
 Later, the Union filed a petition for Incidental powers are those which are
certification election of the supervisory necessarily included in, and are therefore of
employees of SRBI. Said petition was lesser degree than the power granted.
however opposed by petitioner in its
motion to dismiss alleging that the CARMELO F. LAZATIN v. HRET, G.R. No. 84297,
members of the Union were in fact December 8, 1988
managerial or confidential employees. Facts:
 Relevantly, the applicable provision as
regards the disqualification of certain
Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante
 Petitioner and private respondent were House of Representatives in the
among the candidates for respective Electoral Tribunals, no
Representative of the first district of provision either in the Omnibus Election
Pampanga during the elections of May Code nor in any executive orders
11, 1987. applicable to the May 11, 1987
 Later, Petitioner was proclaimed as Congressional elections can be found as
Congressman-elect. Private respondent to the period within which to file
thus filed in the COMELEC a petition to election protests in the Electoral
declare petitioner's proclamation Tribunals.
void ab initio.
Issue:
 Later, the COMELEC declared
petitioner's proclamation void ab May the HRET promulgate rules as regards the
initio. Petitioner then challenged the period within which to file an election protest
COMELEC resolution before the as it did as found under Section 9 of the HRET
Supreme Court. Rules?
 In a decision promulgated on January 25,
Held:
1988, the Supreme Court set aside the
COMELEC's revocation of petitioner's  Yes.
proclamation. Thus, on February 8,  It is a settled rule of construction that
1988, private respondent filed an where a general power is conferred or
election protest in the House of duly enjoined, every particular power
Representatives Electoral Tribunal. necessary for the exercise of the one or
 Relevantly, Petitioner moved to dismiss the performance of the other is also
the petition arguing that the election conferred |||

protest was filed out of time pursuant to  Thus, the power of the HRET, as the sole
Sec. 250 of the Omnibus Election Code. judge of all contests relating to the
The HRET, however, dismissed the said election of the Members of the House of
motion of the petitioner ruling that the Representatives, to promulgate rules
election protest was filed on time and regulations relative to matters
pursuant to Sec. 9 of the HRET Rules. within its jurisdiction, including the
 Relevantly, Sec. 250 cannot be made period for filing election protests before
applicable in this case for the same it, is beyond dispute. Its rule-making
provision provides for election protests power necessarily flows from the
concerning the Members of Batasang general power granted it by
Pambansa, regional, provincial, or city the Constitution.
official; the Batasang Pambansa, being
already abolished under the 1987
Constitution. CEMCO HOLDINGS, INC. v. NATIONAL LIFE
 On the other hand, while the INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE PHILIPPINES,
Constitution vests exclusive jurisdiction INC., G.R. No. 171815, August 7, 2007
over all contests relating to the election Facts:
of the Members of the Senate and the
Per aspera ad astra • Ora et Labora • Ut In Omnibus Glorificetur Deus
STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
Notes compiled by Joanna Marie V. Carrera
Instructor: Atty. Darniel Bustamante

WHAT CANNOT BE DONE DIRECTLY CANNOT


BE DONE INDIRECTLY

Principle: Quando aliquid prohibetur ex


directo, prohibetur et per obliquum.

What the law prohibits cannot, in some other


way, be legally accomplished.

TAWANG MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE v. LA


TRINIDAD WATER DISTRICT, G.R. No. 166471,
March 22, 2011

Facts:

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