October 2025

32decisions
  1. 01G.R. 279010Spouses Ramil B. Gutierrez and Maribel N. Gutierrez v. Joseph Raymund M. CuaresmaA title that comes from an emancipation patent issued without the required first step is void, so it loses to an older, valid title.
  2. 02G.R. 265152Marilao Medical and Diagnostic, Inc. v. Dr. Jovith RoyalesA private complainant may challenge an acquittal in the criminal aspect through certiorari in the RTC if the public prosecutor agrees, but here the challenge failed because the trial court did nothing grossly wrong.
  3. 03G.R. 262480Inocencio Taganile, Ana Taganile, Nestor Arnaldo, Melanie Arnaldo, Delia Quilang, Wendel* Allaga, Herminia Azarcon, Nemesio Balicasmaya, Rogelio Fernando, and Emma Fernando v. Filomena Delos Santos Dolar, Romano dela Cruz, Arnaldo dela Cruz, Narciso Delos Santos, Severino Delos Santos, Laureana Inocencio Villanueva, Flaviana I. Villanueva, Nenita I. Villanueva-Picar, Eduardo I. Villanueva, Juliana C. Inocencio Vda. de Dio, Dolores C. Inocencio-Nisola, Jose C. Inocencio, Pedro C. Inocencio, Antonio C. Inocencio, Purita C. Inocencio, Bienvenido C. Inocencio, Porfiro C. Inocencio, Marcelo Baluyot, Lamberto Baluyot, Solidad Baluyot, Elena Baluyot, Guillermo I. Baluyot, Rosalinda I. Baluyot-Narag, Alfredo I. Baluyot, Jr., Teofilo I. Baluyot, Florencio I. Baluyot, Estrelito I. Baluyot, Consolacion I. Cruz-de Guzman, Dominica Inocencio-Dimasaka Vda. de Cruz, Rita D. Cruz, Macaria D. Cruz-Embien, Francisca D. Cruz-Esguerra, Luis D. Cruz, Sinando D. Cruz, Victoria D. Cruz, Virginia D. Cruz, Severino D. Cruz, Pedro Adia, Marcelina Adia-Subaldo, Mario a. Alfonso, and Maxima a. Alfonso Vda. de VelascoA court may throw out a case for failing to state a cause of action only by looking at what the plaintiff wrote in the complaint, not at the defendants' evidence or arguments.
  4. 04G.R. 261412Philip Jayson Miranda y de Ocampo a.k.a. "Pj," v. People of the PhilippinesA man caught with a kitchen knife during the election period was acquitted because the prosecution did not prove he was at or near a polling place at the times the law covers.
  5. 05G.R. 277419Fernando "Ding" F. Diaz v. Commission on ElectionsThe Commission on Elections cannot label a candidate a nuisance without giving specific facts and evidence, and it must explain its reasons to him.
  6. 06G.R. 262146Cavinti Realty Development Corporation v. Nery Custodio Ablao and Maria Custodio CuyaA buyer who now holds a land title can be sued by the people who say the land is really theirs, and the case goes to trial to decide who is right, even if the title is old.
  7. 07G.R. 272837Provincial Government of Laguna as Represented by Hon. Ramil L. Hernandez v. Ramloid Gaming Corporation and Flora L. ObinaA province may use its police power to check whether a small-town lottery operator is following its franchise rules, and the PCSO branch manager can be ordered to audit the operator.
  8. 08G.R. 274842Xxx v. People of the PhilippinesA man was convicted of psychological abuse of his former girlfriend over an insulting and threatening public Facebook post, even though no one saw him write it, because the surrounding facts proved the account and the post were his.
  9. 09G.R. 262484Abacus Coal Exploration and Development Corporation v. Securities and Exchange CommissionA company must show major assets and issued capital on the face of its balance sheet, and mentioning them only in the notes does not satisfy the SEC's financial reporting rules.
  10. 10G.R. 276117People of the Philippines v. Hyo Soon Kim, Xxx276117, and Yyy276117 Xxx276117 and Yyy276117Parents who offer their minor daughter to a paying man for sexual acts are guilty of qualified trafficking in persons, and the Supreme Court raised their fine to PHP 5,000,000.00 each.
  11. 11G.R. 277980People of the Philippines v. Xxx277980A man who stabbed his live-in partner's 8-year-old son to death was convicted of murder under the law against violence on women and their children, with the killing of a young child treated as treacherous.
  12. 12G.R. 267379Andrei Sagarino, Nicholette Sagarino v. Toplis Solutions, IncA worker placed on floating status who is only sent general orders to report for work, without being assigned to a specific client, is considered constructively dismissed.
  13. 13G.R. 255749People of the Philippines v. Jeryl Bautista y MartinezPolice who wait for witnesses before marking and inventorying seized drugs break the chain of custody, so the sale charge failed, but drugs found in a search after a lawful arrest can still support a possession conviction.
  14. 14G.R. 241309Ruthgar T. Parce v. Magsaysay Maritime Corporation, Princess Cruises Ltd.** and/or Sorwin Joy G. RiveraThe owner or president of a manning agency is personally and jointly liable with the agency for a seafarer's disability benefits, because the law says so.
  15. 15G.R. 240385Xxx v. People of the PhilippinesA man was acquitted of simple seduction because the promise to marry came only after the sexual relations and the pregnancy, so no deceit was proven, and there is no crime of simple seduction in relation to Section 5(b) of R.A. No. 7610.
  16. 16G.R. 278327Oliver Pilorin v. People of the PhilippinesA man who lured a 14-year-old girl with a fake job offer and delivered her to a bar where she was sexually exploited was found guilty of qualified trafficking in persons and sentenced to life imprisonment.
  17. 17G.R. 223845Joseller M. Guiao v. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office and the Office of the PresidentPAGCOR and PCSO must pay the Philippine Sports Commission the full shares that the law gives it, and they cannot reduce those shares by deductions or agreements the law does not allow.
  18. 18A.M. 24-07-30-SCRe: Request of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament for the Philippine Judicial Academy to Offer a Separate Pre-Judicature Program for Applicants to Judgeship Positions in the Shari'Ah Courts Within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoThe Supreme Court ordered the Philippine Judicial Academy to offer a separate Pre-Judicature Program for people applying to become judges of the Shari'ah courts.
  19. 19G.R. 223961Ssgt. Erwin Z. Aplacador v. the Honorable Court of Appeals, Marietta a. Quilang, and People of the PhilippinesA soldier who shot and killed his superior in a sudden quarrel is guilty of homicide-level direct assault, not murder, because the prosecution did not prove treachery beyond reasonable doubt.
  20. 20G.R. 270327People of the Philippines v. Harley Uyson y Santiago Alias "Amo,"A drug conviction stands when the police followed the rules for handling seized drugs, and the witnesses required at the inventory do not have to see the actual sale or arrest.
  21. 21G.R. 228417Adrian Mercado,** Leonardo Malanco, Ersnesto*** Montero, Gaspar Calinawan, Fidel Mercado, Conchita Montero, Ruben**** Niem, Heirs of Nicasio Tolentino, as Represented by Lorena Tolentino, Heirs of Simeona Villapando, as Represented by Janette Bago, Heirs of Julian Mercado, as Represented by Elmer Mercado, Godofredo Villanueva, as Represented by Lolita N. Lorza, and Heirs of Gaspar Montero***** as Represented by Nestor Montero, and the Other Heirs of Gaspar Montero, Namely, Wilson Montero, Sylvia Lewis and Donato Montero v. Nicanor Padilla IIIPeople who say they are farm tenants must show real proof of a tenancy to stop an ejectment case in the regular courts, and the Court found they had none.
  22. 22G.R. 260640Pelagio S. Apostol, Adelina S. Apostol, Maxima S. Apostol, and Zenaida S. Apostol v. Hon. Gay Marie F. Lubigan-Rafael in Her Official Capacity as Presiding Judge of the Fourth Judicial Region, Regional Trial Court, Branch 73, Antipolo City, and Spouses Louie Vee Vista Agting and Ann Jay Claire T. AgtingA court cannot be forced to open someone's bank records just so another party can look for evidence, unless the money in the account is itself what the case is about.
  23. 23G.R. 273354People of the Philippines v. Xxx ( RTC Criminal Case No. 10273483)-AppellantA mother with schizophrenia who jumped into a river with her young daughter was acquitted of parricide because she was legally insane, but she must still pay damages and be treated in a mental hospital.
  24. 24G.R. 276186Gds Security Agency, Inc. and Marjorie Anne Sun-Ng v. Hilda E. Bulibuli and Maricel O. OrtegaA security agency that keeps its guards without a post for more than six months, without a real and timely offer of a new assignment, has constructively dismissed them and must pay.
  25. 25G.R. 268687George N. Yu, as Substituted by Rose Marie S. Yu and Andrea S. Yu v. Anita QueA fight between siblings over the shares of their late father in a family corporation is an ordinary inheritance dispute, not a corporate dispute, until his estate is settled and the shares are properly transferred.
  26. 26G.R. 228374-84, 236268, 249296, 249919, 254892& 254906-15 Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada v. the Honorable Sandiganbayan and the People of the Philippines People of the Philippines Vs. Honorable Sandiganbayan and Jose "Jinggoy" P. Ejercito Estrada Janet Lim Napoles Vs. Honorable Rafael R. Lagos, Honorable Maria Theresa v. Mendoza-Arcega, Honorable Maryann E. Corpus-Mañalac of the Hon. Sandiganbayan, , and People of the Philippines Jose "Jinggoy" P. Ejercito Estrada Vs. People of the Philippines and the Sandiganbayan (Fifth Division) Jose "Jinggoy" P. Ejercito Estrada Vs. Honorable Sandiganbayan (Fifth Division), People of the Philippines, and Janet Lim Napoles, John Raymund de Asis, Rosario S. Nuñez and Lalaine N. Paule, Marilou D. Bare, Victor Roman C. Cacal, Romulo S. Relevo, Rhodora B. Mendoza, Maria Ninez P. Guanizo, Emmanuel Alexis G. Sevidal, Francisco B. Figura, Marivic Jover, Consuelo Lilian Espiritu, Gregoria Buenaventura, Gondelina G. Amata, Dennis L. Cunanan, Chita C. Jalandoni, Sofia D. Cruz, and Ma. Rosalinda LacsamanaEven after Senator Jinggoy Estrada was acquitted of plunder, the 11 separate graft charges against him can go on, because only part of those charges is covered by the plunder case.
  27. 27A.C. 14311In Re: Civil Case No. B-10581 v. Atty. Jose R. HidalgoA lawyer who knowingly writes a fake MCLE compliance number in court papers, and who has already been suspended before, can be disbarred.
  28. 28A.C. 6837(Formerly Cbd Case No. 04-1287) Larcy Valerio v. Atty. Elerizza Meteoro-LibiranA lawyer who was already disbarred cannot be disbarred again, but the Court can still fine her and put her new offense on record for violations committed before her disbarment.
  29. 29G.R. 277969Bishop Gerardo a. Alminaza, Bishop Jose C. M. Bagaforo, Pmgen Wilfredo D. Franco (Ret.), Pmgen Edgardo Ingking (Ret.), Pbgen Noel O. Delos Reyes (Ret.), Mgen Reynaldo v. Reyes (Ret.), Col. Guillermo G. Cunanan (Ret.), Capt. Roberto D. Yap, Cesar S. Melencio, Alexander L. Lacson Vs. Commission on ElectionsThe law on automated elections does not require a manual count of votes at the precinct, so the COMELEC did not abuse its discretion by not making rules for one.
  30. 30G.R. 256201Reny M. Romasanta, Amelita C. Bermejo, Juvy B. Servanda, Maria Soledad U. Indoyon,* and Nilda a. Asico v. National Police Commission, as Represented by Vice Chairman and Executive Officer Alberto a. Bernardo; Philippine National Police, as Represented by Police General Rodolfo S. Azurin, Jr.; Pnp Retirement and Benefits Administration Service, as Represented by Police Brigadier General Niño David L. Rabaya; Atty. Lucas P. Bersamin, as Executive Secretary of the President of the Republic of the Philippines; Senate of the Philippines, as Represented by Senate President Hon. Juan Miguel F. Zubiri; and House of Representatives, as Represented by Speaker of the House Hon. Ferdinand Martin G. RomualdezThe law that gives disabled police retirees a lifetime pension but lets their families keep it only for a five-year guaranteed period does not violate equal protection, because disability retirees and ordinary retirees are not in the same situation.
  31. 31G.R. 274387Juder Racsor P. Geraldo v. Pltcol Mark Navarette Nalda, Psms Jonathan Dayola Gaviola, Pssg James Ortega Caberio, Pcpl Andrew N. Ramos, Pcpl Catalino Tantoy, and Pcpl Ricky T. AbiñonPolice officers who grab a person off the street without any legal basis are guilty of grave misconduct and oppression, and must be dismissed from service.
  32. 32G.R. 277728People of the Philippines v. Xxx277728A father who sexually abused his 14-year-old daughter stays convicted even though she later took back her story, because a recantation in court is viewed with suspicion and her first testimony was credible.