STATUTORY CONSTRUCITION SYLLABUS (2017-2018)

by ATTY. DARIEL (DARNS) BUSTAMANTE

- DIFFICULTY = CHILL

A. LITERAL INTERPRETATION
1. Verba Legis
a. ATTY. ALICIA RISOS-VIDAL v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS and JOSEPH
EJERCITO ESTRADA, G.R. No. 206666, January 21, 2015
b. TRADE AND INVESTMENT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION OF THE
PHILIPPINES v. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, G.R. No. 182249, March 5, 2013
2. Dura lex sed lex
a. OLYMPIO REVALDO v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, G.R. No. 170589, April 16,
2009
b. ARNEL SAGANA v. RICHARD A. FRANCISCO, G.R. No.161952, October 2, 2009

B. DEPARTURE FROM LITERAL INTERPRETATION

1. Statutes must be capable of interpretation
a. MIRIAM DEFENSOR-SANTIAGO v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 127325, March 19, 1997
2. Ratio legis est anima
a. RODOLFO G. NAVARRO v. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EDUARDO ERMITA, G.R. No.
180050, April 12, 2011
b. ATONG PAGLAUM, INC. v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, G.R. No. 203766, April 2,
2013
3. Literal import must yield to intent
a. AUTOMOTIVE PARTS & EQUIPMENT COMPANY v. JOSE B. LINGAD, G.R. No.
L-26406, October 31, 1969
b. UNITED STATES v. TORIBIO, 15 Phil. 85 (1910)
c. SY TIONG SHIOU v. SY CHIM and FELICIDAD CHAN SY, G.R. No. 174168, March 30,
2009
d. CORNELIA MATABUENA v. PETRONILA CERVANTES, G.R. No. L-28771, March 31,
1971
e. RESIDENT MARINE MAMMALS OF THE PROTECTED SEASCAPE TANON
STRAIT v. SEC. ANGELO REYES, G.R. No. 180771, 21 April 2015
4. Cessante ratione legis, cessat et ipsa lex
a. B/GEN. JOSE COMENDADOR v. GEN. RENATO S. DE VILLA, G.R. No. 93177, August 2,
1991
5. Supplying legislative omission
a. CARROLL H. LAMB v. W.H. PHIPPS, G.R. No. L-7806, July 12, 1912
b. GOVERNOR RODOLFO C. FARINAS v. MAYOR ANGELO M. BARBA, G.R. No. 116763,
April 19, 1996
6. Construction as to avoid absurdity
a. REYNALDO O. MALONZO v. HON. RONALDO B. ZAMORA, G.R. No. 137718, July 27,
1999

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 b. PARAS v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 123169, 4 November 1996
7. Construction in favor of right and justice
a. KAREN E. SALVACION v. CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, CHINA BANKING
CORPORATION and GREG BARTELLI y NORTHCOTT, G.R. No. 94723, August 21, 1997
8. Law does not require the impossible
a. PEDRO T. SANTOS, JR. v. PNOC, G.R. No. 170943, September 23, 2008
9. Number and gender of words
a. SANTILLON v. MIRANDA, G.R. No. 19281, June 30, 1965
b. SNYDERS ESTATE V. DENIT, 72 A2D 757, 18 ALR2D 663 (1950)

C. IMPLICATIONS
1. Necessary implication
a. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES (DENR) v. UNITED
PLANNERS CONSULTANTS, INC., G.R. No. 212081, February 23, 2015
b. SUGBUANON RURAL BANK, INC. v. HON. UNDERSECRETARY BIENVENIDO E.
LAGUESMA, G.R. No. 116194, February 2, 2000
2. Grant of power includes incidental power
a. CARMELO F. LAZATIN v. HRET, G.R. No. 84297, December 8, 1988
b. CEMCO HOLDINGS, INC. v. NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE
PHILIPPINES, INC., G.R. No. 171815, August 7, 2007
c. ACEBEDO OPTICAL COMPANY, INC. v. THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS,
G.R. No. 100152, March 31, 2000
3. What cannot be done directly cannot be done indirectly
a. TAWANG MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE v. LA TRINIDAD WATER DISTRICT, G.R.
No. 166471, March 22, 2011

INTERPRETATION OF WORDS AND PHRASES

I. IN GENERAL
1. JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA v. SANDIGANBAYAN, G.R. No. 148560, 19 November
2001.
2. JOSE JESUS M. DISINI, JR. v. SECRETARY OF JUSTICE, G.R. No. 203335, 11
February 2014.

A. General rules on interpretation

1. ATTY. REYNANTE B. ORCEO v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 190779, 26 March 2010
2. MUSTANG LUMBER, INC. v. HON. COURT OF APPEALS, G.R. No. 104988, 18 June
1996.
3. LITO CORPUZ v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, G.R. No. 180016, April 29, 2014
4. CS GARMENT, INC. v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, G.R. No. 182399,
March 12, 2014
5. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES v. ROMAN DERILO, G.R. No. 117818, April 18, 1997
B. Where the law does not distinguish
1. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES v. DAISY R. YAHON, G.R. No. 201043, June 16,
2014

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 2. VISAYAS COMMUNITY MEDICAL CENTER (VCMC) v. ERMA YBALLE, G.R. No.
196156, January 15, 2014

C. Disjunctive and conjunctive words

1. ANTONIO D. DAYAO v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 193643, January 29, 2013
2. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES v. ANTONIO COMADRE, G.R. No. 153559, June 8,
2004
3. GONZALES v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 28196, November 9, 1967

D. Noscitur a sociis
1. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES v. ISIDRO FLORES, G.R. No. 188315, August 25,
2010
2. CESAR M. CARANDANG v. VICENTE SANTIAGO, G.R. No. L-8238, May 25, 1955

E. Ejusdem generis
1. EMETERIA LIWAG v. HAPPY GLEN LOOP HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC.,
G.R. No. 189755, July 4, 2012
2. COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS v. COURT OF APPEALS, G.R. No. 33471, January
31, 1972.
3. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. AMERICAN EXPRESS, G.R. No.
152609, June 29, 2005

F. Expressio unius est exclusion alterius and casus omissus

1. BENJAMIN ("KOKOY") T. ROMUALDEZ v. HON. SIMEON V. MARCELO, G.R. Nos.
165510-33, July 28, 2006
2. SAN PABLO MANUFACTURING CORPORATION v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL
REVENUE, G.R. No. 147749, June 22, 2006
3. COCONUT OIL REFINERS ASSN., INC. v. TORRES, G.R. No. 132527, July 29, 2005
4. THE COMMISSION ON AUDIT OF THE PROVINCE OF CEBU v. PROVINCE OF
CEBU, G.R. No. 141386, November 29, 2001

G. Reddendo singula singulis

1. MA. MERCEDITAS N. GUTIERREZ v. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COMMITTEE ON JUSTICE, G.R. No. 193459, February 15, 2011
2. CITY OF MANILA v. LAGUIO, G.R. No. 118127, April 12, 2005

H. Provisos, Exceptions and Saving Clauses

1. RICARDO FERNANDEZ v. NLRC, G.R. No. 106090, February 28, 1994
2. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. FILIPINAS COMPANIA DE
SEGUROS, G.R. No. L-14880, April 29, 1960
3. ARENAS v. CITY OF SAN CARLOS, G.R. No. 34024, April 5, 1978
4. CHARTERED BANK OF INDIA v. C. A. IMPERIAL, G.R. No. L-17222, March 15, 1921
5. ROBERTO S. BENEDICTO v. COURT OF APPEALS, G.R. No. 125359, September 4,
2001
6. BALAGTAS MULTI-PURPOSE COOPERATIVE, INC. v. COURT OF APPEALS,
G.R. No. 159268, October 27, 2006

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 STATUTES CONSTRUED AS A WHOLE
AND IN RELATION TO OTHER STATUTES
A. Statutes construed as a whole
1. AQUINO v. QUEZON CITY, G.R. No. 137534, August 3, 2006
2. LIWAYWAY VINZONS-CHATO v. FORTUNE TOBACCO CORPORATION, G.R. No.
141309, June 19, 2007
3. BAGATSING v. RAMIREZ, G.R. No. L-41631, December 17, 1976
4. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES v. LUISITO D. BUSTINERA, G.R. No. 148233, June
8, 2004

STRICT OR LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION

A. Statutes strictly construed
Penal Laws
1. INTESTATE ESTATE OF MANOLITA GONZALES VDA. DE CARUNGCONG v.
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, G.R. No. 181409, February 11, 2010
2. ELVIRA YU OH V. COURT OF APPEALS, G.R. No. 125297, June 6, 2003
3. GERARDO R. VILLASEOR v. SANDIGANBAYAN, G.R. No. 180700, March 4, 2008

Statutes in derogation of rights

1. HEIRS OF ALBERTO SUGUITAN v. MANDALUYONG, G.R. No. 135087, March 14,
2000
2. PHILACOR CREDIT CORPORATION v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE,
G.R. No. 169899, February 06, 2013
3. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. KUDOS METAL CORPORATION,
G.R. No. 178087, May 5, 2010
4. MAPULO MINING ASSOCIATION v. HON. FERNANDO LOPEZ, G.R. No. L-30440,
February 7, 1992

Statutes granting privileges

1. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE
TELEPHONE COMPANY, G.R. No. 140230, December 15, 2005
2. RAOUL B. DEL MAR v. PAGCOR, G.R. No. 138298, November 29, 2000
3. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES v. KERRY LAO ANG, G.R. No. 175430, June 18,
2012

Exceptions and provisos

1. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. THE COURT OF APPEALS,
CENTRAL VEGETABLE MANUFACTURING CO., INC., G.R. No. 107135, February
23, 1999
2. GEOLOGISTICS, INC. v. GATEWAY ELECTRONICS CORPORATION, G.R. Nos.
174256-57, March 25, 2009

B. Statutes liberally construed

1. RE: APPLICATION FOR SURVIVORSHIP PENSION BENEFITS UNDER REPUBLIC
ACT NO. 9946, A.M. No. 14155-Ret., November 19, 2013
2. MARIA OBRA v. SSS, G.R. No. 147745, April 9, 2003

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 3. IN RE: PETITION FOR ADOPTION OF MICHELLE P. LIM, G.R. Nos. 168992-93,
May 21, 2009
4. THE COCA-COLA EXPORT CORPORATION v. CLARITA P. GACAYAN, G.R. No.
149433, December 15, 2010
5. REGIONAL AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD v. COURT OF APPEALS,
G.R. No. 165155, Apr 13, 2010

Prescription
1. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. BASF COATING, G.R. No. 198677,
November 26, 2014
2. RAMON A. SYHUNLIONG v. TERESITA RIVERA, G.R. No. 200148, June 4, 2014

MANDATORY AND DIRECTORY STATUTES

1. Article 5, New Civil Code

2. IN RE APPLICATION OF MARIO GUARIA FOR ADMISSION TO THE BAR, G.R.
No. L-1179, January 8, 1913
3. ACOSTA v. ADAZA, G.R. No. 168617, February 19, 2007
4. PHILIPPINE REGISTERED ELECTRICAL PRACTITIONERS, INC. v. JULIO
FRANCIA, JR., G.R. No. 87134, January 20, 2000
5. GAUDENCIO GUERRERO v. REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF ILOCOS NORTE,
G.R. No. 109068, January 10, 1994
6. LUIS K. LOKIN, JR. v. COMELEC, G.R. Nos. 179431-32, June 22, 2010
7. BOARDWALK BUSINESS VENTURES, INC. v. ELVIRA A. VILLAREAL, G.R. No.
181182, April 10, 2013
8. FLORANTE S. QUIZON v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 177927, February 15, 2008

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