April 2026

57decisions
  1. 01G.R. 240263-64Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, Inc. v. Commissioner of CustomsRoyalties that an importer must pay to its foreign parent company to sell branded goods are added to the value of the imported goods for customs duties, and VAT on imports also covers arrastre and wharfage fees.
  2. 02G.R. 275424Ernesto D. Arriesgado v. Multinational Maritime, Inc., Mms. Co. Ltd. and/or Capt. Banny B. BrionesA seafarer hurt in a basketball game on board his ship can claim disability benefits, and if the company doctor never gives a proper final assessment on time, his disability is treated as total and permanent.
  3. 03A.C. 12880Reinario* B. Bihag, Mateo Cortes, Benjamin Cabatic, Nassrollah D. Montud, Teddy Bernales, Karim Macarompan, Donato Calica, Jr., Claire Grebern Elumir, and Edgar Demavivas v. Atty. Edgardo O. EraA disbarred lawyer cannot undo a final decision by calling his motion something else, and his refusal to return the money he was ordered to give back to his former client leads to contempt and a writ of execution.
  4. 04A.M. P-26-313(Formerly Oca Ipi No. 08-2926-P) Edgar B. Buyag v. Rachel M. Caliwag, Officer-in-Charge/interpreter III, Branch 2, Regional Trial Court, Bangued, AbraA court employee who demands money in exchange for releasing a document in her custody is guilty of gross misconduct, and moving to another government office does not let her escape punishment.
  5. 05G.R. 270295Lotrim Construction, Inc., Represented by Its President, Engineer Odilon Marlon L. Gaviola, and Engineer Odilon Marlon L. Gaviola v. Commission on AuditA contractor on a government project that was paid more than the value of the work it actually did must return the excess, and it cannot wait years to question the Commission on Audit's authority.
  6. 06G.R. 256978Ecowaste Coalition, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis), Jayvie Cabajes, Anecita Abadijas, Kisha Erah Muaña, Ma. Erlinda Coleen Salamat, and Francisco Dangla III, in Their Personal v. Secretary Roy Cimatu, in His Capacity as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Denr)Even an important environmental case cannot go straight to the Supreme Court when it depends on scientific facts that a lower court or agency must first examine.
  7. 07G.R. 270273Noli dela Cruz v. Jorivel Cariño, Represented by Her Attorney-in-Fact, Joymae CariñoA gate placed across a recorded right of way, which blocks or hampers a neighbor's access to the public road, is a nuisance and must be removed even if it is not locked.
  8. 08G.R. E-00224Christopher H. Piccio v. Office of the Ombudsman, Darell Bajalan dela Flor, Nelia F. Basañes, and Edna EscanerA losing complainant cannot use certiorari to reopen the factual findings of the Ombudsman, and officials who honestly believed they could use leftover project funds were not found dishonest.
  9. 09G.R. E-02121Shopping Center Management Corporation v. Nelly a. GaluteraA raffle promoter must honor the plain words of its own rules, and a declared winner cannot be disqualified through a stretched reading of them.
  10. 10G.R. 270344People of the Philippines v. Katchan Irizumi y Borromeo @ "Hapon,"A drug conviction cannot stand when the police did not have the required outside witnesses at or near the place of arrest and left other gaps in how they handled the seized drugs.
  11. 11G.R. 263728Serafin P. Lopez, Jr. v. Government Service Insurance System, Represented by Its President and General Manager, Rolando L. MacasaetA government worker who leaves the service and waits 15 years before trying to keep his GSIS life endowment policy alive loses the right to its maturity benefits, and can only collect the policy's cash surrender value.
  12. 12G.R. 249759Juanito B. Soto v. Cassandra Reyes-Soto and the Republic of the PhilippinesA marriage can be declared void for psychological incapacity even without violence or infidelity, if both spouses had deeply rooted personality problems from before the wedding that made real married life impossible.
  13. 13G.R. 278311Catalino Aldea Generillo, Jr. v. Senate of the Philippines, Represented by Hon. Francis G. Escudero, in His Capacity as Senate PresidentThe Supreme Court refused to order the Senate to start Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial at once, saying the Constitution's word 'forthwith' allows reasonable preparation and the case was in any event moot.
  14. 14G.R. 280898John Barry T. Tayam v. Hon. Ralph G. Recto, in His Capacity as Secretary of Finance; Hon. Francis Joseph G. Escudero, in His Capacity as Senate President; and Hon. Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, in His Capacity as Speaker of the House of RepresentativesThe law giving foreign tourists a VAT refund on goods they take out of the country is valid, because treating tourists differently from Filipinos rests on a real and reasonable difference.
  15. 15G.R. 277172Philippine Health Insurance Corporation v. Commission on Audit, Gamaliel a. Cordoba, ChairpersonPhilHealth cannot pay its staff a productivity bonus bigger than the rules allow, and employees who received the extra amounts must return them, though officers who only did routine certifying are excused.
  16. 16G.R. 268729Maria Nerissa R. Tagalicud-Viluan,* v. an-Anne Presentacion T. Larioza, Michael S. Tagalicud, May Raflor T. Manalang, and Joan Marie T. Sta. CruzA birth certificate that records a child who was not actually born to the named parents can be cancelled even decades later, and the usual short deadline for challenging legitimacy does not apply.
  17. 17G.R. 227313People of the Philippines v. Joseph Espera y Banñano @ JojoIn a drug buy-bust, police must inventory and photograph the seized drugs at the place of arrest with the required outside witnesses present there, and unexplained failure to do so leads to acquittal.
  18. 18G.R. 270699Concerned Organization of Pasar Progressive Employees for Reform , Represented by Its President, Federico E. Jerusalem v. Philippine Associated Smelting and Refining Corporation and Jeremy Gillis, President and CeoWorkers who join a legal strike still get paid for their weekly rest days under a CBA that grants paid rest days, but a perfect attendance bonus can be lost if the union gave up that demand in a settlement.
  19. 19G.R. 265220Neil John Ceballos y Tablate Alias "Jaycee-Dee" and Benjie Balaston y Francisco v. People of the PhilippinesAdults who paid money to children for sexual acts, repeatedly and at a regular meeting place, are guilty of qualified trafficking in persons, which carries life imprisonment, and not merely child abuse under R.A. 7610.
  20. 20G.R. 246026Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. G&w Architects, Engineers and Project Development Consultants CoA court that decides by vote must follow the voting rules set by law, and a developer cannot avoid taxes by calling a condominium sale a 'project management' deal when the contracts show it is really selling units.
  21. 21G.R. 274442People of the Philippines v. Xxx274442A rape victim's past sexual history, her lack of physical resistance, or a claim that the two were sweethearts does not show consent, so the accused's conviction stands.
  22. 22G.R. 236333Belinda E. Soriano, Christine Evangelista,* Michelle Nicole Soriano, Jose Enrique Roxas III, and Bernardina Feliciano v. Antonio v. EstrellaA court hearing an ejectment case may look into whether the plaintiff is really dead, as his death certificate says, but only provisionally and only to decide who has the right to possess the property.
  23. 23G.R. 280580Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Nippon Express Philippines Corporation, and the Court of Tax Appeals Third DivisionThe tax bureau cannot go straight to the Supreme Court without the Solicitor General, and it cannot seize a taxpayer's assets before the deadline to pay has passed.
  24. 24G.r. No. 272503* Jamel Bandas y Cavite, Petitioner, Vs. People of the Philippines, Respondent.The Court refused to acquit a man who repeatedly fondled a 10-year-old girl, but applied a newer ruling to lower his penalty and convicted him of statutory acts of lasciviousness under the Revised Penal Code instead.
  25. 25G.R. 272396Poh Toh Buddhist Association of the Philippines, Inc., Represented by Dorian L. Chua v. Cristina Sy* a.k.a Heng Te or Heng Ti and Margie Lim MacalaladWhen two groups claim to run a corporation, the Supreme Court held that the group it had already recognized as the board could validly end a caretaker's permission to stay on the corporation's land.
  26. 26G.R. 274126Estrella C. Aseron, Elmer J. Manzana. Ligaya M. Anuri, Joselito L. Rosas, Josephine M. Viloria, and Rodella T. Buenaflor v. Commission on AuditWhen a government project that was bought through irregular procurement was actually completed and the State is using it, the officials and contractor should not have to return the money, even though the disallowance itself stands.
  27. 27G.R. 277047Arnel Carlos and Marivic Carlos v. People of the Philippines and Tire Star, IncA person who issues bouncing checks cannot escape liability by simply denying that they received the notice of dishonor, and the Court now sets clear rules on how that notice must be served and proven.
  28. 28G.R. E-03220Florenda Balila Reyes v. Republic of the Philippines, Artemio P. Reyes, Valeriano P. Rafanan, in His Capacity as Municipal Local Civil Registrar of Quezon, Isabela, Lisa Grace S. Bersales, in Her Capacity as the Civil Registrar General, Philippine Statistics Authority (Psa), Quezon City, Philippines, and All Other Interested PartiesChanging the birth date in a birth certificate changes a person's age, so it needs a court case that includes everyone affected, such as siblings.
  29. 29G.R. 242887People of the Philippines v. Juvylen Dumat-Ol y MiraflorThe Court refused to acquit a woman caught selling over 100 grams of shabu even though a Department of Justice (DOJ) representative was missing from the inventory, because it found substantial compliance with the rules on handling seized drugs.
  30. 30G.r. No. 270284• People of the Philippines Plaintiff-Appellee, Vs. Kristian Singh y Montemayor,* Cicl1, Cicl2, and Cicl3, Accused, Kristian Singh y Montemayor, Accused-Appellant.A person found with a stolen motorcycle cannot be convicted of carnapping on that fact alone once the person gives an explanation for having it and the prosecution offers no evidence to disprove it.
  31. 31G.R. 264409People of the Philippines v. Antonio Sario y Serrano and Macario Perez, Jr. y Mercado; Antonio Sario y SerranoA drug conviction cannot stand when the prosecution cannot show who handled the seized shabu at the crime laboratory and after testing, because then no one can be sure it is the same drug taken from the accused.
  32. 32G.R. 274498Republic of the Philippines, Represented by the Department of Public Works and Highways v. Erlinda C. Torres, Carolyn C. Torres, and Christian C. TorresWhen the government takes part of a homestead land for road widening, its free right-of-way is only 20 meters if the title predates January 7, 1975, measured from the centerline of the highway, and the owner must be paid for anything beyond that.
  33. 33G.R. 278819Victor R. del Rosario Rice Mill Corporation v. Hon. Rey Leonardo B. Guerrero, in His Official Capacity as Commissioner of Customs, Atty. Erastus Sandino Austria, in His Official Capacity as District Collector of Customs Manila International Container Port and the Bureau of CustomsAn importer who skips an administrative appeal to the Customs Commissioner within 15 days cannot go to the Court of Tax Appeals, because the order has already become final.
  34. 34G.R. 258524Berteni Cataluña Causing v. People of the Philippines, Regional Trial Court of Quezon City, Branch 93, Office of the City Prosecutor of Quezon City, and Representative Ferdinand Ledesma Hernandez of the Second District of South CotabatoThe Supreme Court en banc confirmed that cyber libel prescribes in one year counted from when the offended party discovers the online post, and that unsigned resolutions do not create binding doctrine.
  35. 35G.R. 279008Merson C. Calubag v. Commission on Elections and Kimberly P. JosephA youth council (SK) candidate whose mother was an incumbent barangay councilor when he filed his candidacy cannot run, and lying about it in his certificate gets the certificate cancelled.
  36. 36G.R. 238729-30Philippine Investment Two (Spv-Amc), Inc. v. Kathrina L. SebastianA private complainant cannot appeal the dismissal of a criminal case without the government prosecutor's agreement, even when the appeal goes only to the Regional Trial Court.
  37. 37G.R. 252644Tony Baclig II y Arciaga v. People of the PhilippinesA gun found by police by chance can be used as evidence, but the accused goes free if the police never explain why they didn't mark the gun right where they seized it.
  38. 38A.C. 14530(Formerly Cbd Case No. 22-6636) Edward Ang Lee v. Atty. Editha P. TalabocA lawyer can be punished only for charges the complainant proves with real evidence, but one who lies to a client about attending a hearing and ignores the Integrated Bar's orders can be suspended and heavily fined, especially when she has many past sanctions.
  39. 39A.M. MTJ-24-031(Formerly Oca Ipi No. 20-3126-Mtj) Emelie Delgado-Aranas v. Hon. Gino Jovito C. Aranas, Presiding Judge, Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Kabasalan-Siay-Payao, Zamboanga SibugayA married judge who fathers a child in an affair is guilty of gross immorality and is dismissed from the service, but he was suspended from law practice for three years instead of disbarred because of his remorse and his child's needs.
  40. 40G.R. E-01742And E-01747 Atty. Mark Kristopher G. Tolentino and Atty. Rolex Suplico, in Their Capacities as Members of the Philippine Bar and Officers of the Court v. Richard J. Heydarian and Hon. Percival Cendaña Ferdinand S. Topacio Vs. Secretary Lorenzo "Larry" G. GadonHarsh political criticism of the Supreme Court is protected free speech, and it can be punished as contempt only if it is meant to push the public to lose trust in the courts and is likely to do so imminently.
  41. 41G.R. 260241Republic of the Philippines v. Trevor James WallA foreigner who wants to become a Filipino citizen through court naturalization must prove he can actually speak and write a principal Philippine language, and understanding only a little Tagalog is not enough.
  42. 42G.R. E-02219And E-02235 Lanang T. Ali, Jr., Samsodin C. Amella, and Datuan M. Magon, Jr. v. Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament, Abdulraof a. Macacua, in His Capacity as the Interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, and Commission on Elections Abdullah G. Macapaar, Also Known as "Commander Bravo," Mangontawar M. Macacuna, Sultan Alim Saad I. Amate, Najer D. Eppie, Nasif G. Marangit and Maulana L. Mamutuk Vs. Commission on Elections and Bangsamoro Transition AuthorityThe Supreme Court refused to reconsider its ruling that the Bangsamoro law redrawing parliamentary districts (BAA 77) is void, and it also refused to use the older district law (BAA 58) for the first Bangsamoro Parliament election.
  43. 43G.r. Blg. 269811 Sambayanang Pilipinas, Nagsasakdal, Laban Kay Ggg269811 (CA-G.r Cr-Hc Blg. 16711 [dating Kasong Kriminal Blg. Sc-21639 Hanggang 21642]),* Nasasakdal. D E S I S y O NA man who raped a girl under 12 three times, and also sexually assaulted her with his finger, stays guilty, and the Court raised the damages he must pay because he was the live-in partner of her grandmother.
  44. 44G.R. 216716Jose Edwin G. Esico v. Alphaland Corporation and Alphaland Development, IncLabor tribunals, not regular courts, can decide an employer's claim to be reimbursed for training costs when an employee quits before finishing the minimum service period.
  45. 45G.R. 278137Reuben Mikhail P. Sabig, Christopher Siamundo, Ella Salcedo, Katherine Jallorina, Antonio Suganob, Cherrie Mae I, Davelyn Nuqui, Marilyn Gamboa, and Robert Pascua as 2017-2021 Directors and Officers of La Costa Brava Homeowners'* Association, Inc. v. Court of Appeals (18th Division – Cebu City) and Spouses Linley and Juvy RetiradoA homeowners' association may cut off basic services like garbage collection from members who don't pay dues, but it cannot stop them from using the subdivision roads.
  46. 46G.R. 279378Jenniefer L. Jumao-as v. Zenaida Crisostomo, Marichu Crisostomo John Does and Jane Does, and Any and All Other Persons Acting on Their Behalf and InterestA lot labelled as a road in a subdivision plan is still private property, and a neighbor cannot demand a right of way through it without proving a real agreement or real necessity.
  47. 47G.R. 266071Spouses Anthony an and Ma. Fatima an,* v. Philippine National BankOnce a bank has become the owner of a foreclosed property after the redemption period, the court must issue a writ of possession, and the borrower's appeal does not stop it from being enforced.
  48. 48G.R. 249034Leticia C. Baula v. People of the PhilippinesLoudly calling someone a thief in front of other people is a crime of slander, even in a heated argument, and a claim of protecting the group does not excuse it.
  49. 49G.R. 278205People of the Philippines v. Christopher Gregorio y Francisco @ JaysonA man who forces a girl into sex by threatening to post her nude photos online commits rape, even if the two are sweethearts.
  50. 50G.R. 280513Asset Pool a (Spv-Amc) Inc. (Formerly Bank of the Philippine Islands) v. Mevco Holdings Company Inc., and Mel Velarde, JrA bank (or the company that bought its account) cannot collect a loan deficiency on a bare statement of account that does not show how the amount was computed.
  51. 51G.R. 269009Xxx269009 (Criminal Case No. L-13307),* v. People of the PhilippinesA man who sexually assaulted a five-year-old girl is guilty of rape by sexual assault under the Revised Penal Code, and a child's delayed reporting and small inconsistencies do not make her testimony unbelievable.
  52. 52G.R. 272305Patricia Louise v. General Vs. Local Civil Registrar of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, the Philippine Statistics Authority, Civil Registrar General, and the Spouses Antonio M. Garrote, Jr. and Marites v. GeneralA child born during her parents' valid marriage is presumed legitimate, so she can have her birth certificate corrected to show her father's surname and her parents' marriage, even if her mother registered her under her maiden name.
  53. 53G.R. 276941Spouses Ramon C. Ferreros and Dulce T. Ferreros v. Republic of the Philippines, Local Civil Registry, Manila, Local Civil Registry, Quezon City, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, and Philippine Independent ChurchA couple cannot use a simple petition to cancel an entry in the civil registry to wipe out their earlier marriage that had no marriage license; that requires a case in the Family Court to declare the marriage void.
  54. 54G.R. 262360People of the Philippines v. Yyy262360 (CA-G.r. Cr-Hc No. 14883 )A father who raped his 14-year-old daughter stays convicted of qualified rape, but the Supreme Court held that forcing her to perform oral sex is the crime of sexual assault under the Revised Penal Code, not a child abuse offense under R.A. 7610, because she did not consent in any way.
  55. 55G.R. 279436Johnson & Johnson Phils., Inc. & La Concha Land Development, Inc. v. Eduardo Ernesto a. Evangelista, Edilberto Antonio a. Evangelista, and Rafaelita a. EvangelistaA mortgage that secures a distributorship agreement cannot be foreclosed for debts from purchases made after the agreement expired and was never proven to have been renewed.
  56. 56G.R. 274549People of the Philippines v. XxxA father who touched his 13-year-old daughter's private parts without her consent is guilty of acts of lasciviousness under the Revised Penal Code, not of child abuse under Republic Act No. 7610, and the damages were raised to PHP 150,000.00 each.
  57. 57G.R. 256698People of the Philippines v. Ofelia a. Comia and Maricel Gutierrez Tapon