$TATUTORY CONSTRU CTION

Ateneo Law School

Blocks 1-A (Fridays 4-6 p.m.l and 1-E (Mondays 7-9 p.m.)
A.Y. 2019-2020
Atty. Jun Pilares
Grading Systenr: Recitation/Quizzes: 1/3; lVidterm Exam: 1/B;
Finat Exam: 1/3
General lnstructions:

1. Read all prescribed cases in ttre original.

2. No coaching/ prompting.

3' Additional cases/ reading materials may be assigned during

the course of the
senrester.

Recommended textbaok: Sfafulory Canstruction Concepfs and Cases, pilares,

201g,
I. INTRODUCTION

A. Definition of Statutory Construction

- caltex v. palomar, G.R. No.L-196s0, 2g september 1966

B. \I/hen construction is necessary

- People v. fulapa, G.R. No. L-22301,30 August 1g67
- Daoang v. hlunicipar Judge, G.R. No. L-3a56g, lvlarch 2g, lgg8

C. Characteristics of Construction

1 . Afi 0r proces$
2 . involves determination of legislative intent
3 . necessary when legislative intent cannot be readity
ascertained
from the words used in the law as apptied under a sef of faits
- Alonzo v. lAC, G.R. No.72873, 2g Nrlay 1gB7
4 . judicial functicn
- Errce'icla .r. David, G.R. Irlos. L-63ss-s6, 1 A"ugust 1gs3

D. Purpose of construction; timits on the power of construction

1. Purpose of construction; determine legislative intent

- Nitafan v. ClR, G.R. No. 7g7g0, 23 July 1gg7
- Peopie v. concepcion, 44 phii. iz6 (zi Novernber ig2z)
2. Limitatron on the power of courts to construe
- Tanada v. Yulo, G.R. No. 43S7S, S1 May 1g3S
- Floresca v. Philex, G.R. No. L-30642,A[ril 30, lg8s

E. Related legal principles

1. Separation of Powers
2. Checks and balances

1
 3. Hierarchy of layvs (Civil
Code, Art. Z)
4. Stare decisis (Civii CoO",
irt. el
ll. SUBJECT IT,|ATTER OF
CONSTRUCTTON

A. Subject of Construction;
Types of Laws
1. Constitution
2. Statutes
J. Executive issuances
4. Ordinances

B. parts of a $tatute
1. Titte
- Art. Vl, Sec. 26(1),
1gg7 Constitution
phir. [Link],'i
;fR:?Hf# iJi[_ Hssc, G R No 442sz,
2. Preamble
Drilon: G'R' No. 10e404,
s. rnact,ffffi:L1v' 22 January 1ee6
4. Body
5. Repealing Clause
6. Separability Clause
- Antonio v. Miranda,
G.R. No. 135g69, 22 September
- Tatad rr. DoE, c.F-:
No. leqsdd, i Decernber 1997
lggg
7. Effectivity Clause
- Tafrada v. Tuveru, G.I.
No. 63g1 S,z'April 1gg5
- Tafrada v. Tuverr, c.R.
No. i-esgjs, 2g December
19g6

Ill' LEGTSLATT,E TNTENT; vERBA

LEGrs AND RATro LEGrs
A Verba,.a,":,, v. Ratio Legis
l. Verba legis; literal interpretation

- Tanada v. yulo (supra);

- Globe-Mackay cable
Jnd Radio corporation v.
Satazar, G.R. No. B2S 11 NLR. and
- Saguisag [Link]. v. ochoa,
i
, M;;.1 lggz
*[Link].l b.n. rvo. 212426, 12 January
2016.
2. Ratio legis; spirit of the
law

;fiffirl
peopre
ltf;,(supra);
salvacion v. centrat Bank, c.R.
No. e4723,
- v. purisima, G.R. No. L-4zosg_66,
- Matabuena v. ceruantes, 20 November 1g7g
38 scRA 2,84 (gi M;;;
1gz1)
B. When is construction necessary?

- Der Mar v. pAGcoR

[Link]., G.R. No. 13g2gg, 2g
November 2000

2
 :,

- People v. Nazario, G.R. No. L-44143,31

August lgg8
- ln re Allen, G.R. No. 14SS, 2g
October1g0g.
B. Clericat error

- Lopez & sons, rnc. v. court of

rax Appeats, G.R. No. L-9274,
February 1gS7 1

IV. PRINCIPLES OF CONSTRUCTION

A. General policies on Construction

:illB,-ti;,fr
E:I;l'f
- Tanada v. Tuvera, 146 SCRA,:,'d,{,ft fibilltt,'a;:*x*ff ll3i,
ZgS ' '
City of Naga v. Agna, 71 SCRA!4glrrprr|
-

B' General Principles/ Presumptions on the lnterpretation

Statutes of certain

1. Penal Laws
- centeno v. Viilaron porniilos, G.R. No. 1 13092,
1 september
1 994

- u's- v, Go chico, G.R. No. 4g63, 15 september

1g0g
2. Tax Laws
- Marinduque rron Mines v. Municipar councir,
G.R. No. L-
18924,30 June 1 964
- NPc v. city of cabanatuan, G.R. No. 1
4g110, g Aprir 2003
3. Social Legislation
- lnternationar pharmaceuticars, rnc. v. secretary,
G.R. No.
92981,9 January 1gg2

4. Rules of Court
- office of the court Administrator v. Garong,
A.M. N-o. p_
9g-131 1, 15 August 2001
- Provincial sheriff of Rizat v. cA, [Link].,
G.R. No. L_22606, 12
December l gZS

5. Law on adoption
- Duncan v. court of First lnstance, G.R.
No.L-30s76, 10
February 1976

6. Local GovernmenU Local Autonomy

- san Juan v. csc, G.R. ruo. dzzgg, 1g Aprit 1gg1

7. Constitution
- Bagong Bayani v. coMELEc, G.R. No.
1 41sgg,26 June
241 1

3
 - Manila Prince Hotel v. GSrs, G.R. No. 1221s6,3 February
1 997
- Francisco v. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261,
10
November 2003
- de castro v. JBC, G.R. No. 191002, 17 March 2010 (read
also
resolution on the MR dated 20 April 2010)
- Chavez v. JBC, G.R. No. 202242, 17 Juiy ZAfi
- David v. senate Electoral rribunal, G.R. ruo. 221s3g,2a
September 201G.

V. INTRINSIC AIDS OF CONSTRUCTION

A. Law construed as a whole and in relatlon to other laws

- Caudal v. CA, G.R. No. 9341 4,51 July lggg
B. Title of the law
- city of Baguio v. Marcos, G.R. No. 26100, 27 scR Az4z
C. Preamble
- People v. purisima, G.R. No. 420s0, 20 November 1g7g
D. Punctuation marks
- Florentino v. pNB, gB phit. g5g (1956)
E. Headnotes or epigraphs
- People v. Yabut, SB phit. 499 (1933)
F. Conflicting provisions
- Manila Railroad Co. v. Cottector, 52 phil. gS0
G. Meaning of word qualified by purpose of the statute
- David v, CA, 161 SCRA 114 (19g9)
H. Words construed in their ordinary sense
- collector v. Manira Lodge No. 761, 10s phil. gg3 (19s7)
i. Generai words construeci generaiiy
- Gatchalian v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 32s60, 22 october 1g70)
ilaw -Useprogressive
of generic words include things that arise after enactment of the
interpretation
- Geotina v. CA, G.R. No. 33500, 30 August 1gT1)
K' Words and phrases construed in relation to other provisions
- Claudio v. COMELEC, Sg1 SCRA 3BB (2000)
L. Where the law does not distinguish
- Pilar v. COMELEC, 24S SCRA 7S9 (199S)
M. Use of technical terms
- Manila Herald publishing v. Ramos, gB phil. 94 (19s1)
N. Use of associated wor"ds
- Buenaseda v. secretary Flavier,G.R. No. 1067 lg, zl september
1991 (see however, Ledesma v. cA, G.R. IJo. iotozg, 2g July
2005)
- l\4utuc v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 32717, 36 SCRA 2gg
- Cagayan Valley Enterprises v. CA, 179 SCRA 219)
O. Express mentisn and implied exciusion
- Sarmiento lil v. Mison, 156 SCRA S4g (1997);
P. Necessary implication
- Pepsi cola Products phirs., lnc. v. secretary of Labor, G.R. No.
96663, 10 August lggg)

4
 Q. Cassus Omissus
- People v. [Vlanantan, 1 15 Phil. 657 (1962))
R. Each to each
- People v. Tamani, G.R. No. 22160, 21 January 1974)
S. Relative and qualifying terms
- Mapa v. Arroyo, 175 SCRA 76)
T. Context and relatec! clauses
-Paras v. COIVIELEC, 264 SCRA 49)
U. Use of punctuation marks
- U.S. v. Hart, 26 Phil. 149)
V. Words and Phrases:

1. Proviso
- Mercado [Link]. v. NLRC, G.R. No.79869, 5 September 1991)
2. "lncluding"
- Sterling Selections Corporation v. LLDA, G.R. No. 171427,
30 March 201 1)
3. Negative vs affirmative words
- In re [\InGec v Rcnrrhlin G R Nn I -53R7 2Q Anril 1qA4\
.'-v,.-.1

4. Mandatory v permissive
- Director of Lands v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 102858, 28 July
1997 ,

- Bersabal v. Salvador, G.R. No. L-35910, 21 July 1978

- Diokno v. Rehabilitation Finance Corp., 91 Phil 608 (1952)
5. "and/or"
- RMBSA v. HDMF, G.R. No. 131082, 19 June 2000
- Microsoft Corporation v. Manansala, G.R. No. 166391,21
Octolrer 2015.
6. Plural v. Singular
- ln re The lntestate Estate of Pedro Satillon, G.R. No. L-19281,
30 June 1 965

VI. EXTRINSIC AIDS OF CONSTRUCTION

A. Contemporaneous Circumstances

- Manila Jockey Club, lnc. v. GAB, G.R. No. L-12727,29 February 1960
- Lagman [Link]. v. Medialdea, [Link]., G.R. No.231658,4 July 2017

B, Legislative History

- Commissioner v. Esso, G.R. No. L-28329,7 August 1975

- Filipinas Life Assurance Company v. Court of Tax Appeals, G.R. No. L-
21258,31 October 1967

C. Legislative Debates and Committee Reports

- Manila Jockey Club, lnc. v. GAB, supra

- Astorga v. Villegas, G.R. No. L-23475, 30 Aprn 1974
- Gaanan v. lAC, L-69809, 16 October 1986

5
 - League of cities v. coMELEc, G.R.
No. 176951 ,21 December 2009
D. Executive/contemporaneous
construction
- Bengzon v. secretary of Justice,
62 phir. g12 (1936)
s"[Link], G.R. No. r aobso, 2 Aprit 201
i,|'r1lill."lij;;I;ff"Ti,ive 1 1

;iljl??ffi_?'?B3f"o-,,,'rrnications, tnc. v. Retova, G.R. No. L_60548,

E. Reference to other statutes

- Escosura v' San Miguel Brewery,

lnc., G.R. No. L-16696, 31 January
1 962

F' statutes borrowed from foreign jurisdictions

- United states v. De Guzman, G.R.

No. L-g 144,2!T March 191s

VII. CONSTRUCTION OF CONFLICTING

STATUTES/ CONFLICTING PROVISIONS
A. Special Law v. General Law
- Gordon v. Veridiano il, G.R. No. L-Ss
230, g November lggg
Jr. v. Civii service commission, G.R ,..io.-dzr
i;3f* 1g, i 6 Aprii

B. Substantive Law v. procedural Law

- Phirippine Nationar Bank v. Asuncion,
G.R. No. L-460gs, 23
Novemb er lgTT

C. Earlier v. later law

- Phirippine Nationar Bank v. cruz,
G.R. No. g0sg3, 1g December
1989 (latter statute prevails)
- People v. parma, G.R. ruo. l-++1 13,
31 March lgrz (generar raw
cannot,inrpriedry, repea! a speciar rawj;
Bagatsing- v. Ramirez, G.R. rrro. r-+i631,
ho"r*r, sle contra
17 December 1976
- City of Manila v. Teotico, [Link]., G.R.
No. L-2305r; 29 January 1g6g
(general provision in a special iaw
vs. speciar provision in a generat
taw)
D. Proviso v. body
- Arenas v. city of san carros, G.R.
No. L-34 ozl,s Aprii igTg
(proviso vs. body of a statute)

VIII. AMENDMENT AND REPEAL

1' [\4ecano v. coA, G.R. No. 103gg2, 1.1

December lggz
2. LLDA v. CA, G.R. No. 120g65, 7 December
1gg5
3'Dreamwork construction v. Janiola, G.R.
No. 1a+aot, 30 June 2009
4. U.S. v. Soliman, G.R. No. 11SSt, 6 Jrnr"
ry l,ti

b
 IX. PROSPECTIVITY
AND RETROACTIVITY

Products, rnc. [Link].

v. Riceand corn Board,
lrprlii'f#n
2. senar,ros v. Hermosisima,
G.R. No. L-21013,
3' peopre v' Lucero, G.R^
ry? 110662, 14- Decernber 1956
d.* N;: L-;i,if,is6;,T',*g,
d"0,";.'irrrrrrndang,
F;[;#i; i;,i'|fr"* .n:::tgjf,i,f,Tf",1 3to;,.i 6:R [Link] r-so aat,
zz

X. INTERPRETATION
OF CONTRACTS
1' Read Arts' 137oto
1379 of the [Link]
contracts); Rure rso, (Rures
2. Lamb"t ,. Fox, G.i. r::". i0 i; ir!the Rures of o^n rnterpretation of
rvo. zdsi. z!,.lrnuary court
1914
i: X'1fr'Tf,frfiii"s-:tritffi,S,
5. NtA v. Gamit, o.H. t X]
[Link]. assobl"6,illruroer
lrSH
1 3 January
1 e'e

1992