October 2024

46decisions
  1. 01G.R. 270934People of the Philippines v. Joemarie Ubanon y Man-an Alias "Jomare Francesco" Alias "Alex"A person who lures children with a fake job offer and helps send them away to work unpaid can be convicted of qualified trafficking, even without direct proof of a deal with the others involved.
  2. 02G.R. 270003People of the Philippines v. Ria Liza Bautista y CariagaOffering a 14-year-old girl to men for money is qualified trafficking in persons, and the girl's apparent willingness is no defense.
  3. 03G.R. 264280Florsita Rodeo, Marco Rodeo, Deborah Rodeo, Uldarico Rodeo, Jr., and Myralynn R. Hullesca v. Heirs of Burgos Malaya, Represented by Caesar Saul Malaya, Purificacion Malaya, Gina M. Merano, Cheremie Merano, and Regie MalayaFarming someone else's land does not by itself make you an agricultural tenant, because you must prove every element of a tenancy, including the landowner's consent and the sharing of harvests.
  4. 04G.R. 236166Kenneth Karl Aspiras y Corpuz v. People of the PhilippinesA man who claims self-defense for killing someone must prove it clearly, and a complaint that the prosecutor did not properly approve the charge is waived if the accused does not raise it before pleading.
  5. 05G.R. 257483Sonia Balagtas v. People of the PhilippinesAn employee who steals from her employer is guilty of the heavier crime of qualified theft only if the prosecution proves a special trust between them, and a job that merely involves handling cash is not enough.
  6. 06G.R. 268094Peakpower San Francisco, Inc. v. Energy Regulatory CommissionThe Energy Regulatory Commission acted unreasonably when it dismissed a power supply agreement for lacking a competitive selection process after it had earlier given the agreement provisional approval and let it run for years.
  7. 07G.R. 252171Edito a.g. Balintona v. Hon. Michael G. Aguinaldo, in His Capacity as the Chairperson-Commissioner, Hon. Jose a. Fabia & Hon. Roland C. Pondoc, in Their Capacity as Commissioners, All of the Commission on AuditA mayor who moved PHP 30,000,000.00 in congressional pork barrel funds to a congressman's account because the congressman asked him to is not personally made to repay it, because he acted in good faith when the rules were unclear.
  8. 08G.R. 267163People of the Philippines v. Eduardo dela Cruz y TolentinoTo convict a man of statutory rape because the victim has a mental disability, the prosecution must prove her mental age was below 12, and when it is not proven he can still be convicted of ordinary rape if force or intimidation is shown.
  9. 09A.M. RTJ-12-2316Office of the Court Administrator v. Hon. Liberty O. Castañeda, Presiding Judge, Atty. Paulino I. Saguyod, Clerk of Court, Lourdes E. Collado, Sheriff, Marylinda C. Doctor,* Evelyn B. Antonio, Rosalie P. Sarsagat, and Cheryl B. Esteban, Court Stenographers, George P. Clemente, Clerk, Maritoni Florian C. Cervantes, Court Interpreter, and Ruben a. Gigante, Utility Worker, All of Branch 67, Regional Trial Court, Paniqui, TarlacDecisions issued by a suspended judge who kept acting as judge remain valid, so that people who trusted her rulings are not harmed.
  10. 10A.C. 14211Melinda B. Bautista-Regodoz v. Atty. Vivian G. RubiaA lawyer who receives money for her client must hand it over and account for it, and a lawyer who fails to do so can be suspended from practice.
  11. 11A.M. RTJ-24-075Ernesto Callena, Jr. v. Hon. Corpus B. Alzate, Presiding Judge, Branch 2, Regional Trial Court, Bangued, AbraA judge who did not pay his Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) dues for 18 years was fined, both as a judge and as a lawyer, because nobody, not even a judge, is exempt from paying them.
  12. 12G.R. 259982Pacific Ocean Manning, Inc. and/or v. Ships Uk Ltd./nordic American Tankers Limited Vs. Nicolas F. BobilesA seafarer whose company doctor never gave a valid final assessment on time is treated as totally and permanently disabled, but he cannot automatically get attorney's fees just because he had to go to court.
  13. 13Oca-Ipi No. 18-4887-Rtj Maria Magdalena R. Joven, Complainant, Vs. Hon. Monique a. Quisumbing-Ignacio, Presiding Judge, Branch 209, Regional Trial Court, Mandaluyong City, Victor M. Pe Benito, Sheriff IV, and Alfredo Marcelo Bermejo, Administrative Aide IV, All of Branch 209, Regional Trial Court, Mandaluyong City, Respondents.A losing litigant cannot use an administrative complaint against a judge to attack the judge's rulings when a court remedy exists, and bias must be proven with real evidence.
  14. 14G.R. 270149People of the Philippines. v. Xxx270149A father who rapes his six-year-old daughter is guilty of qualified rape of a minor, and the child's clear testimony, together with the father's own admissions of her age and parentage, is enough to convict him.
  15. 15G.R. 261768People of the Philippines v. Andre Gayanilo y Eleveran, Stephen Lumanog y Eleveran, and Aldrin Gayanilo y EleveranWhen several men take turns raping one woman as part of a shared plan, each of them is guilty of every rape, and doing it in front of one another and laughing makes the crime more shameful and the penalty heavier.
  16. 16G.R. 255703People of the Philippines v. Sim O. Mata, JrA government lawyer who gives wrong legal advice to an official is not guilty of the crime of graft just for giving that advice, although he may still face contempt or disciplinary action.
  17. 17G.R. 230865Psupt. Job F. Marasigan v. Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for the Military and Other Law Enforcement Offices and Hon. Conchita Carpio-Morales, in Her Capacity as Ombudsman, and Hon. Mel Senen S. Sarmiento, in His Capacity as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government Office of the Ombudsman Vs. Pssupt. Cornelio R. Salinas, Psupt. Nepomuceno M. Corpus, Jr., and Pssupt. Michael Amos S. FilartGovernment buyers who skipped bidding because of a real calamity did nothing wrong, but an officer who signed off on goods he had no authority to inspect, without any actual inspection, committed grave misconduct.
  18. 18G.R. 270317People of the Philippines v. Xxx270317A father who sexually abused his two young daughters over several years was convicted on the strength of the girls' credible testimony, and his sentence and damages were raised to fit the law.
  19. 19G.R. 268891Gerardo "Jerry" a. Noveras v. Commission on Elections and Narciso dela Cruz AmansecA local chief executive can be disqualified as a candidate if a government employee under his authority prints his campaign materials using government property, since that is a fraudulent scheme and an indirect form of coercion under the election law.
  20. 20G.R. 264125Noel E. Rosal v. Commission on Elections and Joseph San Juan Armogila Oscar Robert H. Cristobal Vs. Commission on Elections, Alfredo a. Garbin, Jr., Joseph San Juan Armogila, and Carmen Geraldine Rosal,• Carmen Geraldine Rosal Vs. Commission on Elections, Joseph San Juan Armogila, Alfredo a. Garbin, Jr., and Oscar Robert H. Cristobal Jose Alfonso v. Barizo,•• Vs. Commission on Elections and Joseph San Juan ArmogilaLocal officials who gave out government cash assistance during the 45-day election ban, or took part in handing it out, can be disqualified even if they were not proven to be buying votes.
  21. 21G.R. 263828Avelino C. Amangyen v. the Commission on Elections and Franklin W. TalawecA candidate who has a final conviction carrying perpetual disqualification from public office cannot truthfully say he is eligible to run, and his certificate of candidacy can be cancelled for that false statement.
  22. 22A.C. 13757Abigail Sumeg-Ang Changat* Darwin del Rosario, and Pauline Sumeg-Ang v. Atty. Vera Joy Ban-EgA lawyer who issued bounced checks, lured people into a fake investment house by trading on her law license, and ignored the Bar's records rules was disbarred.
  23. 23G.R. 254878People of the Philippines v. Bbb254878Charging that the victim is the accused's "own niece" is enough to make the rape a qualified rape, even if the Information does not say the relationship is within the third civil degree.
  24. 24G.R. 259861Resty Laconsay v. People of the PhilippinesA man who touched a sleeping 14-year-old girl from her foot up to her groin was convicted of lascivious conduct under the child protection law, because the girl and her sister clearly identified him.
  25. 25G.R. 261716Lorenzo D. Cambila, Jr. and Albajar S. Samad v. Seabren Security Agency and Elizabeth S. DurezaSecurity guards who in practice stayed at their post for 12 straight hours are owed overtime pay, and a client's manager can sign their time records as proof.
  26. 26G.R. 273001Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation v. Apolonia L. Ilio and Arlan T. JuradoOrdinary bank officers cannot be blamed for a bank's failure to sue a debtor, because only the board of directors can exercise a bank's corporate powers.
  27. 27G.R. 254639People of the Philippines v. Amelia R. de Pano, Angelito a. Rodriguez, Noel G. Jimenez, and Jose Joel B. Baldeo,* Angelito a. Rodriguez, Noel G. JimenezTwo provincial engineers who signed papers saying a school fence was finished, when it was never built, were acquitted of graft because the prosecution did not prove bad faith or partiality, though they must still help repay the money.
  28. 28G.R. 245461Dakak Beach Resort Corporation* and Romeo G. Jalosjos v. Spouses Jose Ma. M. Mendezona and Pilar L. MendezonaA tenant who agreed in the lease that its buildings would belong to the landowner when the lease ended cannot demand payment for them, and a tenant who stays on after the lease and ignores the owners must pay rent plus damages.
  29. 29G.R. 257683Jimmy B. Puguon, Jr. v. People of the PhilippinesA search warrant may cover only one specific offense, but if it also lists items tied to a second offense, only that part is void and the rest of the warrant stays valid.
  30. 30G.R. 253527Rosary Kristine I. Anido v. Republic of the PhilippinesTo have a foreign divorce recognized in the Philippines, a Filipino must prove the divorce law of the place that issued the decree, properly authenticated, but here the Court sent the case back so she could still prove it.
  31. 31G.R. 272689Fei Hua Finance and Leasing Service, Represented by Elizabeth O. Lim v. Edilberto CastañedaA buyer who paid in full for a condominium parking slot and actually occupies it cannot be thrown out through a foreclosure buyer's writ of possession issued without hearing him.
  32. 32G.R. 273190People of the Philippines v. XxxA man who received, moved and offered a 15-year-old girl to paying clients for sex was found guilty of qualified trafficking in persons and sentenced to life imprisonment.
  33. 33G.R. 256137Maersk-Filipinas Crewing, Inc. and a.p. Moller a/s v. Eugenio T. Lumagas Eugenio T. Lumagas Vs. Maersk-Filipinas Crewing, Inc. and/or Rey Auther CruzA seafarer whose heart and blood-clot illness was work-related gets disability pay based on the company doctor's final Grade 7 rating, because he did not go to a third doctor to dispute it.
  34. 34G.R. 271012Roel Gementiza Padillo v. People of the PhilippinesA man convicted of possessing shabu was acquitted because the record did not show the search warrant was validly issued and carried out, and because the drugs' trail of custody had a big unexplained gap.
  35. 35G.R. 262092Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Estate of Mr. Charles Marvin Romig, Represented by Its Sole Heir Mrs. Maricel Narciso RomigA dollar savings account in a Philippine bank's foreign currency deposit unit is exempt from estate tax, so the estate of the account holder could get back the estate tax it paid on it.
  36. 36G.R. 249890Manuel T. Ubarra, Jr. v. People of the PhilippinesAn acquittal is normally final, but it is void and can be set aside if the trial court denied the State its right to due process, such as by acquitting on an incomplete record without letting the prosecution explain a missing document.
  37. 37G.R. 224581People of the Philippines v. Diosdado Rebuton y Melendez a.k.a. "Dado" and Marilou Rebutazo y Encabo a.k.a. "Loi,"; Marilou Rebutazo y Encabo a.k.a. "Loi,"Two people convicted in a buy-bust drug case were acquitted because the required outside witnesses to the inventory were not present at or near the arrest and arrived only about 30 minutes later.
  38. 38G.R. 244692Mare Claire Ruiz y Serrano,• v. People of the PhilippinesA person who kills while so mentally ill that she cannot understand what she is doing is not criminally liable, but she must be confined in a hospital for treatment and still owes damages to the victim's family.
  39. 39G.R. 246422Neri J. Colmenares, Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Carlos Isagani T. Zarate, Anakpawis Partylist Representative Ariel B. Casilao, Gabriela Women'S Partylist Representative Emerancia de Jesus, Gabriela Women'S Partylist Representative Arlene D. Brosas, Act Teachers Partylist Representative Antonio L. Tinio, Act Teachers Partylist Representative Francisca L. Castro, Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Jane I. Elago, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. v. Energy Regulatory Commission (Erc), Commission on Audit, Manila Electric Company (Meralco)The Supreme Court did not decide whether electricity bill deposits are legal, because the petition went straight to the Court, had no real facts behind it and was filed too early while the Energy Regulatory Commission was still finalizing its rules.
  40. 40G.R. 272898Bernadette Lourdes B. Abejo, Former Executive Director of the Inter-Country Adoption Board v. Commission on Audit, Represented by Chairperson Michael G. AguinaldoAn official who approved an illegal government payout can only be made to return the "net disallowed amount", and that amount is zero when the people who received the money were never ordered to return it.
  41. 41G.R. 221190Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Represented by Its Secretary-General, Renato M. Reyes, Jr.; Representative Neri Javier Colmenares; Train Riders Network (Tren), Represented by Its Spokesperson, James Bernard Echano Relativo, and Members, Angelo Villanueva Suarez and Maria Donna Grey Miranda; Maria Finesa Alcantara Cosico; Sammy T. Malunes; Ferdinand Rimando Gaite; and Maria Kristina Cassion v. Hon. Joseph Emilio a. Abaya, in His Capacity as Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications and as Chairman of the Light Rail Transit Authority Board of Directors; Department of Transportation and Communications; Hon. Honorito D. Chaneco, in His Capacity as Administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority; Light Rail Transit Authority; and Light Rail Manila CorporationThe Supreme Court dismissed the petition against the LRT 1 Extension, Operations and Maintenance concession agreement: the pure legal objections failed, and the rest depended on facts that should first be proven in a lower court.
  42. 42G.r. No. 258321* People of the Philippines, Plaintiff-Appellee, Vs. Jomer Adona y Llemos, Accused-Appellant.A conviction for rape with homicide cannot rest on suspicion: because the circumstantial evidence did not prove with moral certainty that the accused was the killer, he was acquitted.
  43. 43G.R. 259965Planters Development Bank (Now China Bank Savings, Inc.) v. Fatima D.g. FuerteA bank that promised to pay a lender once a property was transferred to its borrowers did not have to pay when the borrowers' title carried other claims and the transfer looked fraudulent.
  44. 44G.R. 255367Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc. v. the People of the Philippines, and Ruby O. AldaA bank that was the victim of an estafa (swindling) case can ask to join the case on appeal to protect its claim for the money, even after the trial court has already decided the case.
  45. 45G.R. 211309Marcial O. Dagot, Jr., Nelly D. Alangadi, Teresita D. Dalojo and the Heirs of Evangeline D. Ebuenga v. Spouses Go Cheng Key and Chua Siong Kuan, Teresita Dimalanta and Ceferino Dimalanta, Reynaldo Go and Judy Go, Lolita Zabala and Roberto Zabala, Joy Garcia and Eduardo Garcia, Bernardo Go, Ferdinand Go, and the Register of Deeds - Puerto Princesa City Marcial O. Dagot, Jr., Nelly D. Alangadi, Teresita D. Dalojo and the Heirs of Evangeline D. Ebuenga Vs. Spouses Go Cheng Key and Chua Siong Kuan, Teresita Dimalanta and Ceferino Dimalanta, Reynaldo Go and Judy Go, Lolita Zabala and Roberto Zabala, Joy Garcia and Eduardo Garcia, Bernardo Go, Ferdinand Go, and the Register of Deeds - Puerto Princesa CityA losing party cannot undo a final court decision by filing a prohibited second motion for reconsideration, which does not stop the clock for an appeal.
  46. 46A.C. 11777Edna Tan Malapit,* v. Atty. Rogelio M. WatinA lawyer who notarizes a document that indirectly benefits his own family, and then represents the opposing party against his former client in a dispute over that same document, can be suspended and lose his notarial commission.