January 2025

32decisions
  1. 01G.R. 246027Securities and Exchange Commission v. 1accountants Party-List, Inc., Represented by Its President, Christian Jay D. Lim, Christian Jay D. Lim in His Personal Capacity as Cpa, Froilan G. Ampil, Allan M. Basarte, Virgilio F. Agunod, and Jonas P. MascariñasThe Supreme Court reversed itself and ruled that the SEC may require certified public accountants who audit certain large or regulated companies to be accredited by the SEC first.
  2. 02G.R. 259094Rodulfo Ferraren Aquino a.k.a. "Yoyon" v. People of the PhilippinesA trial court may approve a drug accused's plea bargain over the prosecutor's objection when the objection rests only on the Department of Justice's own guidelines, and any ground the prosecution does not raise is treated as waived.
  3. 03G.R. 263919And 264033 Securities and Exchange Commission v. Commission on Audit Teresita J. Herbosa Vs. Commission on AuditThe SEC could not raise its employees' salaries on its own without the Budget Department's recommendation and the President's approval, but its officials and the 440 employees who received the money do not have to pay it back.
  4. 04G.R. 262727-28Maria Claudia Belinda Candano-Lim v. David Lim* and the Republic of the PhilippinesA trial court may let a spouse amend a nullity-of-marriage petition again to add conjugal properties, and a casual statement that certain properties are the wife's own does not by itself make them hers.
  5. 05G.R. 209073-74Joseph Cedrick O. Ruiz v. People of the Philippines and the Honorable SandiganbayanA mayor who has his subordinate draw out the city's entire intelligence fund and keeps the money is guilty of both graft and malversation, and a missing demand to return the money is no defense.
  6. 06G.R. 270817Charlonne Keith Lacson v. Rccl Crew Management Inc., Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., and Gerardo Antonio BorromeoA seafarer is considered permanently and totally disabled by law when the company doctor fails to issue a final and definite assessment and give it to him within the required period.
  7. 07G.R. 251903Victoria M. Labastida v. Monina C. QuiresA registry return receipt alone does not prove that a decision was served by registered mail, so a dismissed government employee's appeal was not late and must be heard on the merits.
  8. 08G.R. 255983Efren Sadiarin Baguinon, Sr. v. People of the PhilippinesA security guard supervisor was acquitted of violating the election gun ban because the charge sheet never said he carried the gun in a public place, which is an essential part of that offense.
  9. 09G.R. 255214Rosalinda M. Mantel (Deceased) and Cipriano C. Montero, Jr. v. Sebastiana Montero (Deceased), and Hon. Judge Virginia Tehano-Ang, in Her Capacity as Presiding Judge of Regional Trial Court, Branch 1, Tagum City, Davao del NorteA trial court that has already finally decided an ordinary civil case cannot then approve the dead plaintiff's will through a simple motion in that same case.
  10. 10G.r. No. 261962* People of the Philippines, Plaintiff-Appellee, Vs. Xxx, Accused-Appellant.A man who raped his adopted niece was convicted of statutory rape, not the heavier qualified rape, because adoption does not make the child a legal relative of the adopter's own family.
  11. 11G.R. 258710People of the Philippines v. Datu Akmad "Tato" Ampatuan, SrAgreeing with a murder plot and attending the planning meetings is not enough to make someone a conspirator; there must be an act that actually helps carry out the plan.
  12. 12G.R. 263632Gil G. Chua v. Bank of Commerce Interbrand Logistics and Distribution, Inc., Edgar and Doris San Luis, Almer and Jane Caras, and Carlos Francisco S. Mijares Vs. Bank of CommerceA notarized signature does not automatically bind a person who credibly denies signing, but company insiders who signed continuing suretyship agreements stay liable for the company's later loans.
  13. 13G.R. 273990People of the Philippines v. XxxRecruiting and transporting children for sexual exploitation is already the complete crime of qualified trafficking in persons, even if the children escape before being exploited and even if they went along willingly.
  14. 14G.R. 269302Campbridge Waterproofing Systems, Inc., Represented by Campbridge Paints, Inc. v. Greenseal Products Sdn. Bhd.* and Greenseal Philippines CorporationA trademark registration can be cancelled if the mark copies another business's earlier trade name, because trade names are protected even without registration.
  15. 15G.R. 265808Leoncio L. Melocoton v. Jennifer B. Pring and the Republic of the PhilippinesA man who claims his second marriage is void because of an earlier marriage must prove that the first marriage was still existing at the time, and a photocopied marriage certificate alone is not enough.
  16. 16G.R. 248842Vilma B. Cabrera v. the Honorable Office of the Ombudsman, Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office (Pacpo) of the Office of the OmbudsmanA government bureau head was held administratively liable and dismissed for approving and certifying pork barrel projects of an organization that did not meet the Department's rules, without reviewing the documents or monitoring the funds.
  17. 17G.R. 271940Xxx271940 v. People of the PhilippinesA father who rushed at his eight-year-old daughter with a bolo and closed the door, frightening her, committed child abuse by psychological abuse, and the prosecution did not have to prove he meant to demean her.
  18. 18G.R. 272635And 272917-39 People of the Philippines v. Antonio dela Peña Belicena, Uldarico P. Andutan, Jr., Asuncion M. Magdaet, Evelyn C. Difuntorum, Ma. Cristina S. Moncada, Annabelle J. Diño, Mark a. Binsol, Cherry L. Gomez, Sylvialina F. Daguimol, Merose L. Tordesillas, Emelita T. Tizon, Gemma O. Abara, Gregoria v. Cuento, Raul C. de Vera, Purita S. Napeñas, Charmelle P. Recoter, Jamie Sia Ling, Wilhelmina Ang Ling, Albert Sia Ling, Wilbert Sia Ling, Vinalyn Sia Ling, Angel O. Jimenez, Bernard T. Santos, and John Does; Asuncion M. Magdaet, Mark a. Binsol, Cherry L. Gomez, Merose L. Tordesillas, Gemma O. Abara, Gregoria v. Cuento, Raul C. de Vera, Purita S. NapeñasGovernment evaluators who followed the flawed procedure they were taught, and who had no duty or reason to detect fake documents, are not criminally liable for graft just because the government lost money.
  19. 19G.R. 267331Mother Goose Special School System, Inc. v. Spouses Samuel Palaganas and Villa PalaganasA school breaks its contract with its students when it fails to keep them safe and to properly handle a punching incident, and it cannot escape liability by saying it carefully chose its teachers.
  20. 20G.R. 272974People of the Philippines v. Filipina Echanes** Alias "Filipina Rubang" a.k.a. "Filipina Rubang Ferrer,"A videoke bar owner who recruits girls aged 17 and 16 to work in prostitution is guilty of qualified trafficking in persons, which carries life imprisonment.
  21. 21G.R. 260415Punong Barangay Dante Padayao v. Gov. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte, Jr., Atty. Janis Ian Regaspi-Cleofe, Jose Francisco L. Musa, Jr., Luis Zulueta, Jovie Villareal, Dondon Obias and the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, as Well as Every Other Individual and/or Individuals, Whether Claiming, Using and/or Exercising Rights Under ThemA provincial government cannot simply tear down people's homes on an island and push them out without proof that the island is a protected area, and the person who was in prior possession can be restored to the whole island.
  22. 22G.R. 240143Stephanie a. Maitim, Margie M. Amban, and Flora Q. Mahinay v. Teknika Skills and Trade Services, Inc./cesar E. Pabellano and Arabian Gulf Company for Maintenance and ContractingAn employer who claims it paid an overseas worker the correct wages must prove it with credible records, and dubious payrolls and time records will not do, so the workers' wage claims were granted.
  23. 23G.R. 248569Ericson C. Cabutaje v. Republic of the Philippines and Romelia a. CabutajeA marriage can be declared void for psychological incapacity even if the psychologist never personally examined the spouse, as long as the evidence shows a serious, lasting condition that already existed before or at the time of the marriage.
  24. 24G.R. 252841Planters Development Bank (Now China Bank Savings, Inc.) v. Heirs of Nilo P. Delos Santos, Namely: Nenita Delos Santos (Surviving Spouse) and Michael C. Delos Santos (Son)Borrowers who clearly waive demand in their promissory note are in default as soon as they miss payments, so a bank can foreclose the mortgage without first sending a demand letter.
  25. 25G.R. 268116Land Bank of the Philippines v. Federico Suntay, as Represented by His Assignee, Josefina Lubrica and Manila Electric Company, Inc., (Meralco)A case to revive an old, unfinished court judgment only needs to show that the judgment is final, not fully carried out, and filed within ten years, so the people who now own the auctioned property need not be added as parties.
  26. 26G.R. 272053Spouses Pablo Calimlim and Patnubay Isla Calimlim, Represented by Bienvenido I. Calimlim and Roberto B. Cabral v. Efren G. Goño and Rafaelita R. GoñoStructures and businesses built on foreshore land without government authority can be a public nuisance, and a neighboring resort owner who is specially harmed may sue to have them removed.
  27. 27G.R. 227190People of the Philippines v. Alberto v. Buit Fe a.k.a. Albert Buit and Tessie Granada Sta. Agata-BuitAnyone who offers overseas jobs and collects fees without a license from the government commits illegal recruitment, even if only a small fee was paid, and the maximum penalty applies to unlicensed recruiters.
  28. 28G.R. 254333Josef-Dax Aguilar v. Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas, the Monetary Board, and Philippine Deposit Insurance CorporationThe Monetary Board may close a failing bank immediately without a prior hearing, and only majority stockholders of record who file a certiorari petition within 10 days can challenge the closure in court.
  29. 29G.R. 269745George Rebujio v. Dio Implant Philippines Corporation, Represented by Ronaldo Candido S. KalawA person who signs a company's bounced check but is acquitted of the Bouncing Checks Law case cannot be made to pay the check's value personally, whatever his job title.
  30. 30G.R. 248932Province of Occidental Mindoro, Rep. by Governor Eduardo B. Gadiano v. Agusan Petroleum and Mineral CorporationA province or municipality cannot completely ban all large-scale mining within its territory, because the national Mining Act allows it, though a local government may refuse a specific mining project after reviewing it.
  31. 31G.R. 270897People of the Philippines v. Xxx270897Paying minors for sex, through other minors who bring them to him, makes a man guilty of qualified trafficking in persons, and the child's "consent" is no defense.
  32. 32G.R. 254800Bryan Ta-Ala y Constantino v. People of the PhilippinesGovernment lawyers must argue strongly for the People but may not use disrespectful or degrading language against the Court, and they must read what they sign.