Decision summaries
What each Supreme Court decision decided, in a sentence or two. Open one and use its Summary tab for the facts, issue and ruling in plain language or lawyer mode. These are study aids, not legal advice. Check the decision itself before you rely on it.
- G.R. 251741Jun 2023People of the Philippines v. Chris John Custodio y Argote a.k.a. "Bolongkoy"A man convicted in a drug buy-bust was acquitted because the police counted and photographed the seized drugs at their office instead of at the arrest site and gave no reason for it.
- G.R. 262488Jun 2023Department of Finance-Revenue Integrity Protection Service, Represented by Jesus S. Bueno and Reynalito L. Lazaro v. Office of the Ombudsman and Christopher L. Patricio, Customs Operations Officer II, Bureau of CustomsThe Ombudsman wrongly threw out a charge that a customs officer failed to declare properties in his asset statements for 2010 to 2016, but the other charges against him could not stand.
- G.R. 234614Jun 2023Oceanagold (Philippines), Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal RevenueThe tax court should not have thrown out a mining company's whole case over seized copper concentrates, because the rule requiring taxpayers to use administrative remedies first was relaxed in this case.
- G.R. 261970Jun 2023People of the Philippines v. Dioni Miranda y Pareña, a.k.a. "Abe"A man who raped a seven-year-old girl is guilty of statutory rape, but he cannot be punished more heavily for being a stepfather or guardian when the facts did not show that relationship, and extra circumstances not properly charged cannot be counted.
- G.R. 255001Jun 2023Heirs of Leopoldo Esteban, Sr., Represented Herein by Leopoldo Esteban, Jr. v. Lynda Lim LlagunoWhen one co-owner leases the whole co-owned property without the others' consent, the lease is valid only up to that co-owner's share, and the other co-owners cannot evict the tenant before the property is divided.
- G.R. 256924Jun 2023Spouses Fortunato G. Veloso* and Adeline C. Veloso v. Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc., Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriff and John DoeA case asking to cancel a mortgage and foreclosure sale is really about who owns the property, so the complaint must state the property's assessed value or it will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
- G.R. 256612Jun 2023Rita Quizon-Arciga and Relia Q. Arciga v. Jaycee P. BaluyutA party who takes part in a whole case, loses, and raises lack of jurisdiction only years later is barred by estoppel from attacking the court's jurisdiction.
- G.R. 254395Jun 2023Davao del Norte Electric Cooperative, Represented by Maria Teresa M. David v. Heirs of Victorino LucasAn electric cooperative whose low-hanging wire causes a fatal accident is presumed negligent and must pay damages unless it proves it took proper care.
- A.C. 13548Jun 2023Celia D. Mendoza v. Atty. Cesar R. Santiago, JrA lawyer who notarizes two deeds of sale for the same land with different prices, to reduce the taxes his client pays, is suspended for two years and loses his notarial commission.
- G.R. 227706Jun 2023People of the Philippines v. Allan Almayda y Selfides and Homero Quiogue y AdornadoWhen police do a drug inventory somewhere other than the place of arrest without giving any reason, the case against the accused fails and they must be acquitted.
- A.C. 13287Jun 2023(Formerly Cbd No. 18-5753) Flordelina Ascaño v. Atty. Mario v. PanemA notary public who notarizes a deed without the signer present, accepts a community tax certificate as ID, and then makes untrue statements in court papers to cover up can be suspended, lose notarial powers and pay a fine.
- A.C. 13229Jun 2023Spouses William Thomas and Marife Yukot Niles v. Atty. Casiano S. Retardo, JrA lawyer who advises a client, drafts and notarizes documents for them, and hides his ties to the other side represents conflicting interests, and he cannot escape by saying he was only a notary.
- G.R. 260990Jun 2023People of the Philippines v. Anthony David y Matawaran@ "Anto"A drug conviction cannot stand when police break the rules for handling seized drugs, such as pocketing unmarked sachets, because the court can no longer be sure the drugs presented are the ones taken from the accused.
- G.R. 253069Jun 2023Republic of the Philippines, Represented by the Toll Regulatory Board (Trb) v. Spouses Roberto and Rosemarie Roxas and Export and Industry BankThe Supreme Court will not re-weigh evidence on the price of expropriated land, so the trial court's valuation stands, but the government must pay interest on the unpaid balance from the time it took the property.
- G.R. 261049Jun 2023Xxx261049 v. People of the PhilippinesA person can be convicted of secretly videoing others in a bathroom based on circumstantial evidence alone, as long as the proven circumstances together point to him beyond reasonable doubt.
- G.R. 218008Jun 2023In the Matter of Petition for the Judicial Recognition of a Divorce Decree Obtained in the State of Nevada, U.s.a., Maria Josephine Praxedes Octaviano v. Karl Heinz Ruthe and Lisa Grace S. Bernales, Civil Registrar GeneralA Filipino who obtains a divorce abroad from a foreign spouse can ask Philippine courts to recognize it, even though the Filipino was the one who filed for the divorce.
- G.R. 245857Jun 2023Angelito S. Magno v. Career Philippines Shipmanagement, Inc., Columbia Shipmanagement, Ltd., and Verlou CarmelinoIf the company doctor never properly gives a seafarer a final disability assessment, the seafarer's disability is treated as permanent and total by law.
- G.R. 234660Jun 2023Spouses Magdalino Gabun and Carol Gabun, Nora a. Lopez, and Marcelino Alfonso v. Winston Clark Stolk, SrIn a custody fight over a child, the child's best interest comes first, and a father's proven biological link alone does not entitle him to custody of a child born outside marriage whose mother has died.
- G.R. 243864Jun 2023Integrated Supervisors Union-Apsoteu-Tucp and Emmanuel Baltazar v. Lapanday Foods CorporationAn employer cannot fire a worker on a vague first notice and mere suspicion of theft; without a detailed charge and real evidence, the dismissal is illegal.
- G.R. 234203Jun 2023The Heirs of Loreto San Jose Ferrer, Namely, Roberto B. Ferrer, Melchor B. Ferrer, Arturo B. Ferrer, Maria Angelita B. Ferrer, Charito B. Ferrer, and Owen Brian B. Ferrer v. Rosita San Jose FerrerA trial court cannot hand over the whole enforcement of its final judgment to a probate court when part of the properties does not belong to the dead person's estate.