June 2024

26decisions
  1. 01G.R. 237120Alex Besenio y Cledoro v. People of the PhilippinesA man caught with shabu during a search was acquitted because police did not follow the required steps for handling seized drugs, and the lab chemist never explained how the drugs were kept after testing.
  2. 02G.R. 257980(Formerly Udk-16986) Rodolfo a. dela Cruz and Celerino a. dela Cruz v. Jesusa y. Cailles, Represented by Alicia y. YacatA tenant farmer cannot be evicted for abandoning the land unless there is a clear intent to give it up for good, and signing a paper that turns over the farm for a short time to a lender does not show that.
  3. 03G.R. 266706People of the Philippines v. ZzzA rape victim does not have to prove she fought back, and a child cannot be expected to resist her own father, so the father's conviction for raping his daughter stands.
  4. 04G.R. 258753People of the Philippines v. Lourdes Rivera, Josie Poy Lorenzo, and Angelita Dayrit Lourdes RiveraA person with no licence who promises overseas jobs and collects placement fees is guilty of illegal recruitment and estafa, and here the Court raised the fine and lowered the estafa prison terms.
  5. 05A.M. RTJ-23-040(Formerly Oca Ipi No. 20-5081-Rtj) Office of the Court Administrator v. Hon. Myla M. Villavicencio-Olan, Presiding Judge; Atty. Rica Kathrine R. Austria, Clerk of Court v; Alvin P. Pilit, Sheriff IV; Keren Keisha L. Bobis, Psychologist II; Irene M. Anatalio, Court Stenographer III; Clarrene Faith Aliazas, Clerk III; Oscar R. Rodelas, Jr., Process Server; and Monette P. Camacho, Court Interpreter III, All of Branch 7, Regional Trial Court ), San Pablo City, LagunaA judge who closed her court for most of an afternoon to send nearly all her staff to clean a new office is guilty of simple misconduct and fined PHP 18,000.00, and the Court set rules on how penalties affect judiciary allowances and bonuses.
  6. 06G.R. 264452Young Scholars Academy, Inc. v. Erlinda G. MagalongThere is no contract of sale when the buyer and seller never agreed on how the price would be paid, and a counter-offer on the payment terms ends the original offer.
  7. 07G.R. 258658Mark Abadilla, Nelson Aguirre, Hayden Andaca Jr., Stella Marie Minette año, Noe Arca, Jose Arro, Melende Bacason Ausa, Rene Bañares, Fernando Belediano, Melissa Bongcaron, Lydia Cagalanan, Victorino Caspe Jr., Ricky Condada Sr., Dane Davila, Rechel de Los Santos, Roel dela Flor, Betty Demontaño, Jay Gale Deonido, Albert Descutido, Edward Dumala-Og, Ciriaco Eno, Mae M. Eras, Bella Joy Gamelo, Teresita Gelim, Demson Gremio, Hernani Guanzon Jr., Araceli Jentilizo, Sharon Lee, Elsa Lisondra, Alvin Lopez, Mercy Melgar, Reymond Narvasa, Harry Necesario, Mario Pacete Jr., Joseph Palma, Joel Panolino, Delilah Pavia, Joemarie Perez, Rolando Ponte, Mildred Posta, George Princesa Jr., Roselyn Provedencia, Erickson Rivera, Stephen Sazon, Arnold Taladua, Arnel Talaver, Jose Tana Jr., Janeth Terosa, Edna Torio, Analiza Tubil, Floyd Bryan Undag, Marlyn Valero, Donny Vargas, Ricky Valenciano, Joey Villeta v. Philippine Amusement & Gaming CorporationKitchen and restaurant workers hired by PAGCOR under short renewable contracts are job order or contract of service workers, not civil service employees, so the Civil Service Commission has no power to hear their illegal dismissal complaint.
  8. 08G.R. 248652People of the Philippines v. Antonio M. TalaueEven when a crime is "malum prohibitum" (wrong only because a law forbids it), the prosecution must still prove the accused knowingly and willingly did the forbidden act, and a mayor was acquitted because it did not.
  9. 09A.C. 13786Probo H. Castillo v. Atty. Jose N. LakiA lawyer who neglects his clients' cases and ignores the Integrated Bar of the Philippines can still be penalised after disbarment, with a fine and a recorded suspension that will count against him if he ever asks to be reinstated.
  10. 10G.R. 254337Nelson R. Avanceña, Henry v. Palarca, Nida B. Tolentino, Teodora M. de Guzman, Jerry v. Calamba and Rodel B. Lobaton Vs. Commission on Audit and Ma. Corazon S. Gomez in Her Capacity as Regional Director of COA Regional Office No. IV-B (Mimaropa)Members of a municipal Bids and Awards Committee who wrongly used a quick buying method and split purchases to avoid public bidding must answer for the disallowed spending, while the committee's secretariat head is cleared.
  11. 11G.R. 234680City of Muntinlupa, Metro Manila v. N.c. Tavu and Associates CorporationWhen a city is held liable for damages for cancelling a valid contract, it cannot pass the bill to the officials who acted for it unless it properly sued them, and officials sued only in their official capacity are not personally liable.
  12. 12G.R. 268643Rosa Nia D. Santos,* v. Republic of the PhilippinesA person who lives abroad temporarily can still be appointed guardian of a child if that is best for the child, because distance alone does not make someone unfit.
  13. 13G.R. 268564Elmer Padua y Garin a.k.a. "Eming," v. People of the PhilippinesA child's clear and consistent testimony, backed by medical findings, can convict a person of sexual assault even when the child was only three at the time.
  14. 14G.R. 268962Fleet Management Services Philippines, Inc., Fleet Ship Management, Inc., and Janette T. Tumbali v. Alejandro G. LescaboA seafarer is treated as permanently and totally disabled when the company doctor fails to give a complete, well-founded and properly delivered final assessment within the allowed period.
  15. 15G.R. 268355People of the Philippines v. Domingo Banguilan y GulanA killing is only homicide, not murder, when the prosecution cannot show how the attack began and so cannot prove treachery.
  16. 16G.R. 237934State Investment Trust, Inc. v. Carlos Baculo and the Heirs of His Deceased Spouse Victoria Baculo, Namely, Ronaldo Baculo, Roniel Baculo, Rozziel Baculo-Quitoriano and Richard BaculoA seller of real estate on installment cannot cancel the contract just by sending ordinary letters, because the Maceda Law requires a grace period and a notice through a notary, but the buyers must still pay what they owe.
  17. 17G.R. 268654People of the Philippines v. XxxA father who rapes his young daughter is guilty of qualified rape of a minor, not 'qualified statutory rape', and the Court raised each damages award to PHP 150,000.00.
  18. 18A.C. 11433(Formerly Cbd Case No. 17-5301) Clarita Mendoza and Clarisse Mendoza v. Atty. Lemuel B. Nobleza, Atty. Honesto D. Noche,* and Atty. Randy C. CaingalA disbarment complaint that really just attacks the correctness of a prosecutor's official acts is a form of harassment, and the Court dismissed it.
  19. 19G.R. 262632People of the Philippines v. Si Young Oh a.k.a. "Steve Oh,"A pastor who lured minors with the promise of free theology studies and then made them do heavy construction work for almost no pay is guilty of qualified human trafficking, and the minors' supposed willingness is no defense.
  20. 20G.R. 208738-39Citigroup Business Process Solutions Pte. Ltd. v. Raymundo B. CorpuzAn employee who breaks a company confidentiality rule by honest mistake, without bad intent, cannot be fired for serious misconduct or loss of trust, and a dismissal on that basis is illegal.
  21. 21G.R. 269240Avail John Domingo y Linatoc v. People of the PhilippinesThe Court refused to reopen a conviction for sexual abuse of a 12-year-old girl, because her credibility had already been settled three times, and it added a PHP 15,000.00 fine to the penalty.
  22. 22G.R. 260458Patrick Alex M. Hagedorn, Trisha Mae C. Asuncion, Maria Regina S. Cantillo, Maria Corazon a. Abayari, Rosalia B. Ortiz, and Aquilino B. Cariño, Jr. v. Commission on AuditA city cannot use its own ordinance to give retiring employees a bonus on top of their GSIS retirement benefits, and officials who approved it must answer for the money unless they are shown to have acted in good faith.
  23. 23A.M. SB-24-003-P(Formerly Jib Fpi No. 21-001-Sb-P) Sandiganbayan v. Regino R. Hermosisima, Security II, SandiganbayanA court security guard who refused an order to undergo a psychological examination, and then got drunk on duty, cursed a lawyer and punched a fellow guard, is penalized even though he had already resigned.
  24. 24G.R. 265491Pmaj Lorvinn a. Layugan, Pssg Anthony Aquino and Pcpl Pat James Ada-Ol* v. Delia a. Agonoy and Verna Riza a. AgonoyWhen a police officer vanishes after being last seen with fellow officers who then refuse to cooperate, the Court may grant a writ of amparo on the totality of the evidence, even if some of it is hearsay.
  25. 25A.C. 13496(Formerly Cbd Case No. 18-5681) Atty. Merriam Fe G. Rojas v. Atty. Lovejoy QuiambaoA lawyer who cheats on his wife with several women, fathers children outside the marriage, remarries while still legally married, and sexually harasses his employees is guilty of grossly immoral conduct and is disbarred.
  26. 26A.C. 10110Edgardo C. Magnaye and the Homeowners of the New Mahogany Village v. Atty. Mary Ann C. LegartoA government lawyer who acts as an arbiter can still be disciplined by the Supreme Court as a lawyer when her official acts show she is unfit to practice, such as holding people in contempt without a hearing.