STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION

SY 2023-2024
1st Semester
Judge Emilio R. Y. Legaspi III

A. Definition of Statutory Construction

Caltex Inc. vs. Palomar (18 SCRA 427)
Romualdez vs. Sandiganbayan (GR No. 152259 July 29, 2004) 479 Phil 265

B. Nature of the Rules of Statutory Construction

PCFI vs. NTC (216 Phil 185)(131 SCRA 200)

C. Distinguish Statutory Construction from Interpretation.

D. Judiciary’s Role in Statutory Construction

Floresca vs. Philex (136 SCRA 141) (# also read dissenting opinions of Justices
Melencio-Herrera and Gutierrez)

E. Strict vs. Liberal Construction

Fetalino vs. Barcelona (GR No. 191890 December 4, 2012)
Legaspi vs. Creative Play Corner School (655 Phil 285) GR No. 169942, January 24,
2011)
People vs. Veneracion (319 Phil 364) GR No. 11987-88, October 12, 1985

F. What is Judicial Legislation?

Floresca vs. Philex Mining (220 Phil 533, GR No. L-30642 April 30, 1985)
Fort Bonifacio vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (GR No. 173425 September 4,
2012)
Corpus vs. People (GR No. 180016 April 29, 2014)

G. Fundamental Rule in the Construction of Statutes

Navarro vs. Executive Secretary (GR No. 180050, February 10, 2010)
PDEA vs. Brodett, GR # 196390, September 28, 2011

H. When Does Statutory Construction Come In?

Kapisanan ng mga Manggagawa vs. Manila Railroad (L-25316, February 28, 1979, 88
SCRA 616.)
NFL vs. EISMA (127 SCRA 419)
Daoang vs. Mun. Judge of San Nicolas (159 SCRA 369)
People vs. Mapa (20 SCRA 1164)

I. What is the Rule on Executive Construction?

Paflu vs. Bureau of Labor Relations (72 SCRA 396)
San Miguel Corporation vs. Inciong (103 SCRA 139)
Insular Bank of Asia and America Employees Union (IBAAEU) v. Inciong, G.R. No. L-
52415, October 23, 1984, 132 SCRA 663)
Navarro vs. Executive Secretary (GR No.180050, February 10, 2010)

J. How to Ascertain Legislative Intent

Lopez vs. El Hogar (47 Phil 249)
Araneta vs. Concepcion (99 Phil 709)
Aisporna vs. Court of Appeals (113 SCRA 459)
Board of Administrators, Philippine Veterans Administration vs. Judge Bautista (GR No.
L-37867, February 22, 1982)
People vs. Martinez, GR # 191366, December 13, 2010
Sanciangco vs. Honorable Jose A. Roňo (222 Phil 181) GR No. 68709, July 19, 1985

K. Subjects of Construction

1. Constitution

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 Aglipay vs. Ruiz (64 Phil 201) GR No. 45459 March 13, 1937)
Sarmiento vs. Mison (GR No. 79974 December 17, 1987)
Gregorio Perfecto vs. Bibiano Meer (85 Phil 552)
Pastor Endencia vs. Saturnino David (93 Phil 696)
Nitafan vs. Commissioner on Internal Revenue (152 SCRA 284)
De Castro vs. Judicial and Bar Council (GR No.191002, April 20, 2010)

2. Statutes
a. Definition
b. Kinds as to Scope (General, Special, Local)
c. Kinds as to Interested Parties (Public and Private)
d. Kinds as to Application (Mandatory and Directory)
Article 5 of the New Civil Code
e. Kinds as to Performance and Effectivity (Permanent and Temporary)
f. Kinds as to Purpose and Nature (Penal, Remedial, Curative)
Castro vs. Sagales,GR # L-6359, December 29, 1953
( Substantive, Procedural, Labor and Tax)
g. Parts of a Statute
Title
City of Baguio vs. Marcos (27 SCRA 342)
Ebarle vs. Sucaldito (156 SCRA 803)
Lidasan vs. Commission on Elections (128 Phil 526)
Whereas Clause
People vs. Echavez (95 SCRA 663)
Preamble
People vs. Purisima (86 SCRA 542)

Enacting Clause
Body
Aboitiz vs. City of Cebu (13 SCRA 449)
Date of Effectivity
(plus Provisos, Repealing, Separability Clauses)
h. Requirement on Publication
What is publication, where is the publication to be made and when is the
publication to be made?
Tanada vs. Tuvera (136 SCRA 267)
Tanada vs. Tuvera (146 SCRA 446)
Executive Order No. 200 June 18, 1987
3. Ordinances
Juan Primicias vs. Municipality of Urdaneta (GR No. L-26702, October 18,
1979, 182 Phil 42)
Bagatsing vs. Ramirez (165 Phil 909) (GR No. L-41631, Dec. 17, 1976)
4. Presidential Decrees
Commissioner vs. Philippine Airlines (609 Phil 695) GR No.180066, July 7, 2009

L. Interpretation of Statutes

a. Penal Statues
General Rule: Prospective
Exception : Retroactive if favorable to the accused
Exception to the Exception: Habitual delinquent and/ or expressly stated in the law
itself that it cannot be applied retroactively
United States vs. Abad Santos (36 Phil 243)
People vs. Gatchalian (104 Phil 664)
Meriz vs. People (420 Phil 608)

b. Tax Statutes
General Rule & Exceptions
La Carlota Sugar Central vs. Jimenez (112 Phil 232)
Manila Railroad Company vs. Collector of Customs (52 Phil 950)
Serfino vs. Court of Tax Appeals (154 SCRA 19)

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 c. Labor Statutes
General Rule
Villavert vs. Employees Compensation Commission (110 SCRA 233)
Del Rosario & Sons Logging Enterprises vs. NLRC (G.R. No. L-64204 May 31,
1985)
Manahan vs. ECC (104 SCRA 198)

d. Naturalization Laws
Co vs. Republic (108 Phil 265)
Pe vs. Republic (113 Phil 549) G.R. No. L-16980
Velasco vs. Republic (108 Phil 234)

e. Probation Laws
Yusi vs. Morales (206 Phil 734)
Colinares vs. People (678 Phil 482) GR No. 182748 December 13, 2011

f. Rules of Court
Imperial Insurance vs. Rosete (262 Phil 1)
Bello vs. CA (56 SCRA 509)

g. Expropriation Laws
City of Manila vs. Chinese Community (40 Phil 349)

M. Latin Rules

a. Verba Legis Non Est Recedendum

Globe Mackay vs. NLRC (206 SCRA 701)
Victoria vs. Commission on Elections (GR No. 109005 January 10, 1994)
Garcia vs. Commission on Elections (GR No. 216691 July 21, 2015)

b. Ratio Legis Est Anima Legis

Paras vs. Comelec (332 Phil 56)

c. Mens Legislatores
Matabuena vs. Cervantes (38 SCRA 284)(148 Phil 295)
Prasnick vs. Republic (98 Phil 665)

d. Dura Lex Sed Lex

People vs. Macarandang (106 Phil 713)
People vs. Mapa(20 SCRA 1164)(127 Phil 624) GR# L-22301
People vs. Santayana (74 SCRA 125)(165 Phil 648)

e. Expressio Unius, Est Exclusio Alterius

Acosta vs. Flor (5 Phil 18)
Green Star vs. Nissin-Universal (GR No. 181517, July 6, 2015)
PAGCOR vs. BIR (660 Phil 636) GR No. 172087,March 15, 2011)

f. Ejusdem Generis
Mutuc vs. COMELEC (36 SCRA 228, 232)
U.S. vs. Sto. Nino (13 Phil 141)
Parayno vs. Jovellanos, (527 Phil 413) GR No. 148408, July 14, 2006

g. Cassus Omissus Pro Omisso Habendus Est

People vs. Manantan (5 SCRA 684) GR # L-141299, July 31, 1962
Lopez vs. Court of Appeals (100 Phil 850)

h. Noscitur A Sociis
Sanciangco vs. Roňo (137 SCRA 671)(222 Phil 181)
Aisporna vs. Court of Appeals (113 SCRA 459)(198 Phil 838)

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N. Construction and Interpretation of Words and Phrases

a. Ordinary Meaning
Pablo vs. Hon. Silverio Castillo (391 Phil 873)

b. May and Shall

Capati vs. Ocampo (113 SCRA 799) (119 Phil 230) GR# L-28742
Basiana vs. Luna (103 SCRA 49)(190 Phil 775)

c. Principally and Exclusively

Alfon vs. Republic (97 SCRA 859)(186 Phil 600)

d. Previously
Rura vs. Lopeňa (137 SCRA 121)(221 Phil 494)

e. Every
National Housing Corporation vs. Juco (GR No. 64313 January 17, 1985)

f. Punctuations
Arabay vs. Court of First Instance (160-A Phil 132)

g. Surplusages
Demafiles vs. Comelec 129 Phil 792(1967)
Central Capiz vs. Ana Ramirez (40 Phil 883)
People vs. Dinglasan (77 Phil 636) L-878 November 21, 1961

O. Rule on Conflicting Provisions of the Same Statute

Manila Railroad vs. Insular Collector of Customs (52 Phil 950)
Almeda vs. Florentino (15 SCRA 514)

P. Rule on Conflicting Provisions of Different Statutes

Diosdado Sitchon vs. Aquino (98 Phil 458)
Lagman vs. City of Manila (17 SCRA 579)(123 Phil 1439)
Teotico vs. City of Manila (22 SCRA 267)
Commissioner vs. Philippine Airlines (609 Phil 695) GR No. 180066, July 7, 2009

Q. Rule on Conflict between a Special Provision of a General Law and a General Provision
of a Special Law
Bagatsing vs. Ramirez (165 Phil 909) (GR No. L-41631, Dec. 17, 1976)
City of Manila vs. Teotico (L-23052, January 29, 1968, 22 SCRA 270.)

R. What are External Aids and when are they resorted to?
a. Origin of Statute
U.S. vs. Venancio de Guzman 30 Phil 416
Salaysay vs. Castro (98 Phil 364 G.R. No. L-9669, January 31, 1956)
b. Legislative Debates
Roman Catholic Bishop vs. Social Security (1 SCRA 10)GR # L-15045
China Bank vs. Ortega (49 SCRA 355) GR# L-34964
De Villa vs. Court of Appeals (195 SCRA 722)(273 Phil 89)

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