STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION the parties in obtaining just, speedy, and inexpensive

SESSION 3 determination of every action and proceeding.

• A judge cannot decline to render judgment by reason of
Cases to Read silence, obscurity or insufficiency of the laws (Article 9,
 City of Baguio vs Naga, G.R. No. 26100 (Feb 28, 1969) NCC)
 Corpuz vs People, G.R. No. 180016 (April 29, 2014)
 Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc., et al vs
Pagdanganan, et. al, G.R. No. 167866, (Oct 12, 2006)

GRADED RECITATION
 Caltex Phil, Inc. vs Palomar, GR No. L-19650 (1966)
 Philippine American Drug Company vs CIR, GR No. L-
13032 (1959)
 Torres, et al vs Limjap, GR No. 34385 (1931)
 Romualdez vs Sandiganbayan, GR No. 152259 (2004)
 Francisco vs HRET, GR No. 160261 (2003)
 Bolos vs Bolos, GR No. 186400 (2010)

Characteristics of Construction
1. It is an art or process;
2. It involves the determination of legislative intent;
3. It is necessary when the legislative intent cannot be
readily ascertained from the words in the law as
applied under a set of facts

Purpose of Construction
- To determine legislative intent when the same cannot
be readily ascertained from the plain language of the
law.

Theories of Interpretation
- First, textualist interpretation focuses on the words
used in the statute; it takes precedence over any other
modes of construction. The ordinary or plain meaning
of construction should control its interpretation.
- Second, intentionalism focuses on legislative intent. It is
the duty of the court to discern the intent of that
representative body and interpret statutes to further
that intent. It is the original intent of the framers of the
law that should have primacy in the determination of
its meaning.

Basic Legal Principles

 Separation of Powers
 Hierarchy of Laws
 Stare decisis

Ambiguity
- Ambiguity is doubtfulness, doubleness of meaning,
indistinctness or uncertainty of meaning of an
expression used in a written instrument.
- Ambiguity exists when a literal interpretation of the
words would lead to unreasonable, unjust, or absurd
consequences, or where a statute is in conflict with the
Constitution, or where the statute would defeat the
policy of the legislation.

Rules that govern the Court

• When the law is clear, the court’s duty is to apply it, not
to interpret it.
• It is the duty of the judge to apply the law without fear
or favor.
• In case of doubt in the interpretation or application the
laws, it is presumed that the lawmaking body intended
right and justice to prevail (Art. 10, NCC).
• When construction or interpretation is necessary, the
court should interpret the law according to the
meaning the legislature intended to give it.
• If there are two possible interpretations of a law, that
which will achieve the ends desired by Congress should
be adopted.
• Laws of pleading, practice, and procedure are liberally
construed in order to promote their object and to assist