December 2025

30decisions
  1. 01A.M. RTJ-25-114Judicial Integrity Office v. Judge. Alfonso M. Cinco IV, Branch 29, Regional Trial Court, Catbalogan City, SamarSomeone who applies to become a judge must keep telling the Judicial and Bar Council about any case filed against them until they are appointed, and hiding it is serious dishonesty.
  2. 02G.R. 274778, 275405& 276233 Aquilino Pimentel III; Ernesto Ofracio; Janice Lirza Melgar; Maria Cielo Magno; Ma. Dominga Cecilia B. Padilla; Dante B. Gatmaytan; Ibarra M. Gutierrez; Sentro Ng Mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa; Public Services Labor Independent Confederation Foundation, Inc.; and Philippine Medical Association Atty. Jose Sonny Matula, President of the Federation of Free Workers (Ffw-Nagkaisa Labor Coalition); Daniel Edralin, Secretary General, National Vnion of Workers in Hotel Restaurant and Allied Industries (Nuwhrain-Nagkaisa); Renato Magtubo, Chairperson, Partido Manggagawa (Pm-Nagkaisa); Julius Cainglet, Church-Labor Conference, Grace a. Estrada, President, Pinay Careworkers Transnational (Pin@y); Alfredo Maranan, Ffw National Treasurer; Jun Ramirez Mendoza, Union President, Vishay Employees Philippines Union-Ffw and National Vice President, Ffw; Judy Ann Chan Miranda, Chairperson, Nagkaisa Women Committee, General Secretary, Pm-Nagkaisa; Vilma G. Reyes, Union President, dela Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute Employees Union-Ffw, National Board Member, Ffw; Rene L. Capito, National President, Alliance of Filipino Workers (Afw); Elija R. San Fernando, National Vice President, National Federation of Labor (Nfl); Rene de Mesa Tadle, President of the Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines (Cotescup); Emerito C. Gonzales, Union President Ust Faculty Union (Ustfu); Dennies Gutierrez, Union President, Interphil Laboratories Employees Union-Ffw (Ileu-Ffw); Rolando Librojo, Convenor, Kilusang Artikulo 13 (a.13); and Atty. Danilo C. Isiderio, Ffw Legal Center-in-Intervention, v. House of Representatives Represented by the Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez; Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, Represented by Senate President Francis Escudero; Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto; Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin; and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Represented by Its President, Emmanuel R. Ledesma, Jr. Bayan Muna Chairman Neri Colmenares, Bayan Muna Vice Chairman Teodoro a. Casiño, Bayan Muna Executive Vice President Carlos Isagani T. Zarate, and Former Bayan Muna Representative Ferdinand R. Gaite Vs. *executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, Senate of the Philippines and the House of Representatives 1sambayan Coalition; Members of U.p. Law Class 1975 Namely: Jose P.o. Aliling IV, Augusto H. Baculio, Edgardo R. Balbin, Moises B. Boquia, Antonio T. Carpio, Manuel C. Cases, Jr., Richard J. Gordon, Oscar L. Karaan, Benjamin L. Kalaw, Lucas C. Licreio, Tomas N. Prado, Elizer a. Odulio, Oscar M. Orbos, Aurora a. Santiago, Emily Sibulo-Hayudini, Conrad D. Soriano, and Jose B. Tomimbang; Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales; Senior for Seniors Association, Inc., Represented by Ms. Carol Blanco Benavides; Kidney Foundation of the Philippines, Represented by Atty. Vicente Gregorio; and Atty. Christopher John P. Lao Vs. House of Representatives Represented by the Speaker, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez; the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines Represented by the Senate President Francis Joseph Escudero; Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto; Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin; and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, Represented by Its President, Emannuel R. Ledesma, JrThe Supreme Court ruled that taking PhilHealth's money to help pay for other government spending was unconstitutional, and ordered the PHP 60 billion already taken to be returned.
  3. 03G.R. 252875Harbour Centre* Port Terminal, Inc. v. Federal Phoenix Assurance Company, Inc. (Based on Compromise Agreement)When the two sides to a case settle on their own while it is pending before the Supreme Court, the Court can approve their compromise agreement and close the case, so long as the deal is lawful.
  4. 04G.R. 243211Winluck Star Estate Corporation v. Momentum Construction & Development CorporationA buyer who already owns a property cannot lose it in a case it was never made a party to, and a creditor cannot seize and sell land worth many times the debt.
  5. 05G.R. 263878And 265518 Hermogenes Fernando, Jr., Organelles Mobile Solutions, Inc., and Organelles Holding and Management Co., Inc.,* v. Roberto S. Torres; Filcontrading Corp.-in-Intervention. Hermogenes Fernando, Jr., Organelles Mobile Solutions, Inc., and Organelles Holding and Management Co., Inc. Vs. Roberto S. TorresA minority shareholder who was shut out of his company and denied access to its books can recover damages from the controlling owner and his companies, even if the shareholder dies during the case.
  6. 06B.M. 4530In Re: Petition to Take the Lawyer'S Oath and Sign the Roll of Attorneys Marivic Antonio TalomaA Bar passer cannot be barred from taking the Lawyer's Oath just because a criminal case is pending against her, since being accused is not the same as being guilty.
  7. 07G.R. 239722Ligaya O. Ancheta and Lito O. Ancheta v. Heirs of Joaquin L. Maypa and Rosario N. Maypa, Represented by Dr. Natividad Maypa-EscovillaAn older land title does not automatically win over a newer one if the older title came from a fake or non-existent court decree, because a void title has no legal effect.
  8. 08G.R. 278483Ortiz Memorial Chapel Inc., Represented by Ronald Ortiz v. Commissioner of Internal RevenueA tax assessment that does not tell the taxpayer, in writing, the specific facts and law behind it is void, and a void assessment can be challenged even if the taxpayer missed the deadline to protest.
  9. 09G.R. 253996People of the Philippines v. Francisca P. Calabio, Alberto Gusi y Sotejo,* Rosalina Marasigan y Aguila, and Hubert Rellora y SuelilaGovernment employees who merely did their assigned tasks or relied in good faith on approvals from the proper officers are not guilty of graft or malversation, but the officer who took excessive loans for himself and approved them is.
  10. 10G.R. 256591Ponce de Leon y Lamuas v. People of the PhilippinesCourts must take notice, without needing proof, of official acts of the government, such as the police extending the validity of expiring firearm licenses, and a man whose license was covered by that extension cannot be convicted of illegal possession of a firearm.
  11. 11G.R. 253454And 253551 Judith B. Campos, Asuncion S. Maningas, Irenea D. Nueva, Ada P. Valdez, Maribel T. Salazar, Penafrancia v. Dizon, and Sheila D. Rodriguez Vs. Commission on Audit Amalgamated Motors Philippines, Inc., as Represented by Erano Cuevas Vs. Commission on AuditGovernment officers who processed payments in good faith do not have to refund money the Commission on Audit disallowed, but the private company that received the money must return it.
  12. 12G.R. 263779Xxx263779,* v. People of the PhilippinesAngry or threatening text messages to a girlfriend are not a crime under the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act unless the prosecution proves the man meant to alarm or cause her substantial emotional distress, and that she actually suffered it.
  13. 13G.R. 203547And 203561 Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Team Sual Corporation (Formerly Mirant Sual Corporation) Commissioner of Internal Revenue Vs. Team Sual Corporation (Formerly Mirant Sual Corporation)A company claiming a VAT refund must file its case in the Court of Tax Appeals within 30 days after the tax commissioner's 120-day period runs out, and a case filed later than that is dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
  14. 14G.R. 266298Spouses Genara and Felipe Abay, Sr., Felipe Abay, Jr., Gefe a. Gusay, and Mary Genafe Abay v. Spouses Jacinto S. Young and Chiok Ngo Lim Young, Crispin Caballes, Fe G. Verano, Tomas Gallardo, Elena Gallardo, Editha Gallardo, Nicasio Gallardo, and Eugenio GallardoPeople buy land as they see it on the ground, so a wrong lot number in the deeds of sale does not defeat the buyers' ownership when everything else shows which land was really sold.
  15. 15A.M. P-25-243(Formerly Jib Fpi No. 23-266-P) Hon. Alvyn R. Lopena v. Antonio R. Magallanes Jr., Court Stenographer I, Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Aloran-Panaon-Jimenez, Misamis OccidentalA court employee who refuses a judge's lawful order, shouts at the judge in open court and threatens to kill him is liable even after leaving the service, and loses his benefits and pays fines.
  16. 16G.R. 275732The Aggrieved Party Atty. Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr., Represented by His Daughter and Eldest Child, Bianca Hacintha R. Roque v. the House of Representatnes Quad Committee, Consisting of the Committee on Dangerous Drugs Chaired by Representative Robert Ace Barbers; Committee on Human Rights Chaired by Representative Bienvenido Abante, Jr.; Committee on Public Accounts Chaired by Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano; and Committee on Public Order and Safety Chaired by Representative Dan Fernandez; and Napoleon C. TaasA petition against a congressional contempt order is dismissed as moot once the contempt order is lifted, the committee finishes its inquiry, and that Congress ends, because the Court can no longer give any useful relief.
  17. 17G.R. 267834People of the Philippines v. Xxx267834When the victim herself testifies in court that the rape was not completed, the Court cannot convict for consummated rape, but it can still convict the accused of attempted rape if his acts clearly showed he began to commit it.
  18. 18G.R. 266132People of the Philippines v. Rene D. RosellA business that has dealt with a buyer for years can still be a victim of estafa if the buyer's bouncing checks are what made it release its goods, and a company officer who signs and hands over such checks is personally liable.
  19. 19G.R. 256870Xxx256870,* v. People of the PhilippinesShouting degrading insults at a child in public, without provocation, can be child abuse under R.A. 7610 when it is meant to demean the child and leaves her with real psychological harm.
  20. 20G.R. 233924-25And 236822 de La Salle Lipa, Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Commissioner of Internal Revenue Vs. de La Salle Lipa, IncA non-stock, non-profit school gets a tax exemption on income only if it proves, with real records, that the income was actually, directly and exclusively used for education.
  21. 21G.R. 274665Jacqueline Magdalena Romualdez y Magali v. People of the PhilippinesA government employee who falsely certifies that she stayed on official travel for the full authorized period, to collect extra daily allowances, is guilty of falsification and graft even if the amount is small, but the Court recommended executive clemency because of the small sum and her long clean service.
  22. 22G.R. 272427Rosello G. Ampong v. People of the PhilippinesDrug agents who were tipped off that a man would pick up a package of shabu could arrest him and search the package without a warrant, and the evidence they found could be used to convict him.
  23. 23G.R. 278202People of the Philippines v. Jojit Malicdem y Somintac Mario Bobier y Camatcio, Janine Santos y Alano, and Evangeline Molina y LabortePeople who recruit minors and other women to work as sex workers and take a cut of their earnings commit qualified trafficking in persons, and a child's apparent willingness does not excuse them.
  24. 24G.R. 272177People of the Philippines v. Kahar Sundang Languido Alias "Saydona"A person who admits killing someone and claims self-defense must prove it with clear and convincing evidence, and small differences in the prosecution witnesses' stories will not free him if he cannot.
  25. 25G.R. 251453& 263004 Oceanagold (Philippines), Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Oceanagold (Philippines), Inc. Vs. Commissioner of Internal RevenueA mining company with a government agreement (FTAA) that exempts it from excise tax during its cost-recovery period cannot get a refund if it missed the agreement's production deadlines, because its recovery period is counted from when it should have started production.
  26. 26G.R. 266331Marcos "Macoy" Cabrera Amutan v. the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), Its Constituted Special Provincial Board of Canvassers (Spboc) of the Fifth (5th) District of the Province of Cavite, Represented by Its Chairperson, Atty. Genesis M. Gatdula, Francisco Paolo Crisostomo, and Alvic PobleteUnder automated elections, votes cast for a declared nuisance candidate are stray votes and cannot be transferred to another candidate with a similar name.
  27. 27G.R. 256723Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Ups-Delbros Transport, IncWhen one side does not ask for reconsideration of a separate part of a tax court ruling within 15 days, that part becomes final, and a later appeal cannot reopen it.
  28. 28G.R. 271698Elizalde G. Gabaleño v. People of the PhilippinesA public officer in charge of government money who cannot satisfactorily explain a cash shortage found by state auditors can be convicted of malversation without direct proof that he spent the money.
  29. 29G.R. 276843And 276933 Rafael D. Cervantes v. Jebsen Ptc Maritime, Inc., as Local Manning Agent to Its Foreign Principal, Mcl Shipping, Ltd. Jebsen Ptc Maritime, Inc., as Local Manning Agent to Its Foreign Principal, Mcl Shipping, Ltd. Vs. Rafael D. CervantesA seafarer whose company doctor never gave a complete final assessment of his injury is treated as totally and permanently disabled, and he is also owed sickness allowance, which is a separate benefit.
  30. 30G.R. 267662And 270596 Maria Beatriz M. Vazquez v. Maria Pacita Gaborro Vazquez Maria Victoria M. Vazquez Vs. Maria Pacita Gaborro VazquezWhen a person has his will approved by the court while he is still alive, the court's job ends once the will is allowed or an appeal is perfected, so it cannot later act on requests to manage his estate.