Syllabus

on Statutory Construction
By Atty Cherry Liez O. Rafal-Roble

INTRODUCTION
Definition of Statutory Construction
Difference between Construction and Interpretation
Situs of Construction and Interpretation
Duty of the Courts to Construe and Interpret the Law
Cases:
Director of Lands vs CA [GR No 102858 July 28, 1997]
Pascual vs Pascual, et. Al. [GR No. 84240 March 25, 1992]
People of the Philippines vs Mario Mapulong [GR No.L-22301 August 30, 1967]

STATUTES
Legislative Procedures
Parts of a Statute
Kinds of Statutes
Vague Statutes
Express and Implied Repeals of Statutes
Ordinance, validity
Foreign Jurisprudence

BASIC GUIDELINES IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATIONOF LAWS
Legislative Intent
Socorro Ramirez vs CA and Garcia [GR No. 93833 Sept. 25, 1995]
Verba Legis
Basbacio vs Office of the Secretary, DOJ [GR No.109445 Nov 7, 1994]
Statutes as a Whole
JMM Promotions and Management Inc vs NLRC and Delos Santos [GR No 109835 Nov 22, 1993]
Spirit and Purpose of the Law
Manuel de Guia vs COMELEC [GR No.104712 May 6, 1992]
Implications
Chua vs CSC and NIA [GR No.88979 Feb 7, 1992]
City of Manila and City Treasurer vs Judge Gomez [GR No.L-37251 Aug 31, 1981]
Casus Omissus
People vs Guillermo Manantan [GR No.L-14129 Jul 31, 1962]
Stare Decisis
JM Tuason and Co., Inc et al vs Mariano, et al [GR No L-33140 Oct 23, 1978]

CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION OF WORDS AND PHRASES
When the Law Does not Distinguish, Courts should not Distinguish
Philippine British Assurance Co Inc vs IAC [GR No.L-72005 May 29, 1987]
Pilar vs COMELEC [GR No.115245 July 11, 1995]
Exceptions in the Statute
Cecilio de Villa vs CA [GR No.87416 Apr 8, 1991]
General and Special Terms
Colgate-Palmolive Phils Inc vs Hon Jimenez [GR No. L-14787 Jan 28, 1961]
General Terms Following Special Terms (Ejusdem Generis)
Republic of the Philippines vs Hon Migrinio and Troadio Tecson [GR No.89483 Aug 30, 1990]
Express Mention and Implied Exclusion (Expressio Unius Est Exclusion Alterius)
San Pablo Manufacturing Corporation vs CIR [GR No. 147749 June 22, 2006]
Associated Words (Noscitur A Sociis)
Dra Brigida Buenaseda et al vs Sec. Juan Flavier, et al [GR No. 106719 Sep 21, 1993]
Use of Negative Words
Fule vs CA [GR No.L-79094 June 22, 1988]
Use of May and Shall in the Statute
Bersabal vs Hon Judge Serafin Salvador [GR No. L-35910 Jul 21, 1978]
Use of the word Must
Loyola Grand Villas Homeowners Association Inc vs CA [GR No.117188 Aug 7, 1997]
Use of the term and and or
Computation of Time
Function of the Proviso
ALU-TUCP vs NLRC and NSC [GR No. 109902 Aug 2, 1994]

PRESUMPTIONS IN AID OF CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION
Presumptions
Presumption against Unconstitutionality
Lim vs Pacquing [GR No. 115044 Jan 27, 1995]
Aris (Phils) Inc vs NLRC [GR No. 90501 Aug 5, 1991]
Presumption against Injustice
Presumption against Implied Repeals
Repeals of Statute by Implication Not Favored
Presumption Against Ineffectiveness
Presumption Against Absurdity
Presumption Against Violation of International Law

INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC AIDS IN CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION
Intrinsic Aids
Title of the Law
Text of the Statute
Preamble
Extrinsic Aids

STRICT AND LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES
General Principles
Penal Statutes
Tax Laws
Insurance Laws
Labor and Social Legislation
Retirement Laws
Election Rules

PROSPECTIVE AND RETROSPECTIVE; AND CONFLICTING STATUTES
General Principles
Penal Statutes
Procedural Laws are Retrospective
Curative Statutes
Effect Should be Given to the Entire Statute
Statutes in Pari Materia
General and Special Statutes
Statute and Ordinance

CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
Self-executory/ Non-self executory
Prohibitory Provisions
Consitution must be Construed in its Entirety
Liberal Construction of One Title, One Subject Rule
Special Provision over General Provision
Suprema Lex
Stare Decisis

PRESUMPTIONS
Presumptions Against Injustice
Karen E. Salvacion vs Central Bank of the Phils GR NO 94723 8/21/97
Carlos Alonzo vs IAC and Padua GR NO. L-72873 5/28/87
Presumption Against Implied Repeals
Achilles Berces Jr vs Hon Exe Sec Guingona GR NO. 112099 2/21/95
Repeals of Statute by Implication Not Favored
Antonio Mecano vs COA GR NO. 103982 12/11/92
Presumption against Ineffectiveness
Paras vs COMELEC GR NO. 123169 11/4/96
Presumption Against Absurdity
CIR vs ESSO Standard Eastern GR NO. 28502-03 4/18/89
Ursua vs CA GR NO. 112170 4/10/96
Presumption Against Violation of International Law
Reyes vs Bagatsing GR NO L-65366 11/9/83


INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC AIDS IN CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION
Intrinsic Aids
Miriam Defensor Santiago vs COMELEC GR NO. 127325 3/19/97
Preamble as Intrinsic Aid
People vs Hon Vicente Echavez Jr GR NOS L-47757-61 1/28/80
Extrinsic Aids
Cecilio de Villa vs CA GR NO 87416 4/8/91
Kilosbayan vs Morato GR NO 118910 7/17/95

STRICT AND LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION OF STATUTES
General Principles
Penal Statutes
Centeno vs Pernillos and People GR NO 113092 9/1/94
People vs Walpan Ladjaalam y Milapil GR NO 136149-51 9/19/00
Tax Laws
ROP vs IAC and Sps Pastor GR NO 69344 4/26/91
Ong Chia vs ROP GR NO 127240 3/27/00
Insurance Law
Finman General Assurance Corporation vs CA GR NO 100970 9/2/92
Labor and Social Legislation
Ramon Corporal vs ECC and GSIS GR NO 86020 8/5/94
Domingo Vicente vs ECC GR NO 85024 1/23/91
Retirement Law
Tantuico Jr vs Hon Eufemio Domingo GR NO 96422 2/28/94
Election Rules
Roleto Pahilan vs Rudy Tabalba,
COMELEC and Judge Tabano Jr GR NO 110170 2/21/94
DSM Construction and Dev Corp vs CA
and Megaworld Globus Asia Inc GR NO 166993 12/19/05

PROSPECTIVE AND RETROSPECTIVE AND CONFLICTING STATUTES
Cases:
CIR vs Lingayen Gulf Electric GR NO L-23771 8/4/88
Gallardo vs Juan Borromeo GR NO L-36007 5/25/88
Balatbat vs CA and Pasion GR NO 36378 1/27/92
Albino Co vs CA GR NO 100776 10/28/93
Yakult Phils and Larry Salvado vs CA GR NO 91856 10/5/90
Magtajas vs Pryce Properties and PAGCOR GR NO 111097 7/20/94