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. 205074Jun 2023Joel Cordero, Carolina Ramos, Estrella Reyes, Represented Herein by Her Heir, Napoleon Damayo, Jr., a.k.a. "Jun Damayo," Brenda Villafuerte, Antonio Ulat, Carlos Paquera, Carolina Paquera, Elsa Sanchez, Maria Lorna a. Loos, Bernardo Villagracia, Represented Herein by His Heir, Joel Villagracia, Rebecca Tejero, Eulalia Jaron, Shirley Ulat, and Marie Alba Josephine Santianes v. Gutierrez Development Co., Inc.,* Joel Cordero, Carolina Ramos, Estrella Reyes, Represented Herein by Her Heir, Napoleon Damayo, Jr., a.k.a. "Jun Damayo," Brenda Villafuerte, Antonio Ulat, Carlos Paquera, Carolina Paquera, Elsa Sanchez, Maria Lorna a. Loos, Bernardo Villagracia, Represented Herein by His Heir, Joel Villagracia, Rebecca Tejero, Eulalia Jaron, Shirley Ulat, and Marie Alba Josephine Santianes Vs. Gutierrez Development Corporation, IncOnce a court's judgment has become final, the winner is entitled to have it enforced, and the court's order to enforce it cannot be challenged as an abuse of discretion.
- G.R. 231145Jun 2023Social Security System v. Hon. Gina M. Bibat-Palamos, in Her Capacity as Acting Presiding Judge of Branch 108, Regional Trial Court of Pasay City, and the National Grid Corporation of the PhilippinesThe Court dismissed the Social Security System's challenge to a writ of possession because the underlying expropriation case had been withdrawn, leaving nothing to decide.
- G.R. 246081Jun 2023Ignacio Balicanta III y Cuarto v. People of the PhilippinesA gun found by opening a man's bag during a traffic stop cannot be used against him when the search was not legally justified and the police did not properly handle the evidence.
- G.R. 231395Jun 2023Afp Retirement and Separation Benefits System (Afp-Rsbs) v. Plastic King Industrial Corp. and Merlen Agabin and Atty. Nilo J. Flaviano , Substituted by His Heirs, Namely, Johanna Flaviano, Carlito Flaviano, Jr. , Nelia Flaviano and Letecia FlavianoA buyer who learns of an earlier sale before it registers its own purchase is not a buyer in good faith, and its titles can be cancelled in favor of the first buyer.
- G.R. 260823Jun 2023People of the Philippines v. Rizalina Janario Gumba a.k.a. "Mommy Riza" and Gloria Bueno Rellama a.k.a. "Mommy Glo,"People who offer or provide minors for paid sex are guilty of qualified human trafficking even if no sex has yet taken place when they are arrested.
- G.R. 265373Jun 2023Province of Maguindanao del Norte, Represented by Its Governor Fatima Ainee Limbona Sinsuat v. Bureau of Local Government Finance, Regional Office No. Xii, Represented by Its Acting Regional Director June Ann C. Abella, Bureau of Local Government Finance, Central Office, Represented by Oic Executive Director Ma. Pamela Quizon, Ministry of Interior and Local Government, Represented by Minister Naguib Sinarimbo, Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim MindanaoA new province created by plebiscite cannot be left without officials, so the vice governor and next ranking board member of the mother province validly serve as its acting governor and vice governor, and the finance bureau must process its treasurer's appointment.
- G.R. 255038Jun 2023Manila Electric Company (Meralco) v. Lucy Yu, Represented by Her Attorney-in-Fact, Dennis EncarnacdonAn electric company that suspects meter tampering must give the customer a written notice at least 48 hours before cutting power, and a notice given the same day is not enough.
- G.R. 256060-61Jun 2023Poro Exim Corporation, Represented by Jaime Vicente v. Office of the Ombudsman and Felix S. RacadioThe Ombudsman can investigate officials of government-owned corporations even if the corporation was created under the Corporation Code and has no special charter.
- A.M. P-14-3244Jun 2023* Office of the Court Administrator v. Ms. Fe R. Arcega, Clerk of Court II, Municipal Circuit Trial Court, Moncada-San Manuel-Anao, TarlacA court clerk who fails to deposit court collections on time, keeps no proper reports and uses court money for personal needs is dismissed from government service.
- G.R. 182734Jun 2023Bayan Muna Party-List Representatives Satur C. Ocampo and Teodoro a. Casiño, Anakpawis Representative Crispin B. Beltran, Gabriela Women'S Party Representatives Liza L. Maza and Luzviminda C. Ilagan, Rep. Lorenzo R. Tañada III, and Rep. Teofisto L. Guingona III v. President Gloria Macapagal-arroyo, Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Secretary of the Department of Energy, Philippine National Oil Company, and Philippine National Oil Company Exploration CorporationThe Supreme Court refused to reverse its ruling that a 2005 oil-and-gas survey deal with Chinese and Vietnamese state companies in the South China Sea broke the Constitution.
- G.R. 246126Jun 2023Patricia Marie I. Ranada, Mara Alyssabel D. Cepeda, Raymon G. Dullana, Franklin y. Cimatu, Mauricio E. Victa, Camille Kristina S. Elemia, Ralph Martin S. Rivas, Baltazar Espinosa Lagsa and Rappler, Inc. Dr. Florangel Braid, Melinda Quintos de Jesus, Ceres Doyo, John Nery, Solita Monsod, Ma. Salvacion "Inday" Varona, Marlon Ramos, Vergel Santos, Lourd Ernest de Veyra, Joselito Delos Reyes, Muriel "Twink" Macaraig, Nikolette Kristine Nonna "Nikko" Dizon, and Other Journalists and Media Practitioners Listed in Annex a-in-Intervention, Bartholome T. Guingona, Ana Theresa P. Santos, Michelle D.l. Abad, Jose Francisco M. Luna, Mikaela Andrea R. Garcia, Merinette a. Retona, Jennina Marie M. Mora, Raneza E. Pinlac, Andrew Daniel H. Mencilas, Gillian N. Villanueva, Phoebe C. Salvador, Sherwin G. de Vera, Angelo a.m. Silva, Armin Rey P. Adina, Odina E. Batnag, Ma. Anna Margarita v. Bueno, Angel S. Averia, Jr., Maria Lourdes M. Jimenez, Edna O. Aquino, Antonio Tiamson, Noemi L. Dado, Maria Loreto P. Roces, and Marlon Anthony Tonson-in-Intervention, Pagbabago@pilipinas Foundation, Inc.-in-Intervention, Vs. Office of the President, Office of the Executive Secretary, Presidential Communications Operations Office, Media Accreditation Registration Office, and Presidential Security GroupThe Supreme Court dismissed Rappler's petition against the ban on its journalists at presidential events without ruling on press freedom, because the case had become moot and involved disputed facts.
- G.R. 240517Jun 2023Civil Service Commission and Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Executive Secretary v. Jerik Roderick v. Jacoba Jerik Roderick v. Jacoba Vs. Civil Service Commission and Paquito N. Ochoa, Jr., Executive SecretaryA government lawyer who was dismissed for hiding missing case records in his own locked cabinet stays dismissed, because the evidence against him was enough for an administrative case.
- A.C. 13035Jun 2023Atty. Pablo B. Francisco v. Atty. Ma. Victoria Suñega-LagmanThe Supreme Court can discipline a government lawyer as a member of the Bar for how she did her official work, but it dismissed this complaint against a prosecutor because an honest mistake in dismissing a case is not gross ignorance of the law.
- A.M. P-22-058Jun 2023Office of the Court Administrator v. Charlibeth P. Sicad, Clerk III, Office of the Clerk of Court, Metropolitan Trial Court, Makati CityA court cashier who steals court collections is dismissed from government service, even before the criminal case against her is decided.
- A.M. RTJ-06-1974Jun 2023Carmen P. Edaño v. Judge Fatima Gonzales-Asdala and Stenographer Myrla del Pilar NicandroA dismissed judge who truly admitted her mistakes and reformed was given part of her retirement benefits as an act of mercy.
- G.R. 263590Jun 2023Atty. Romulo B. Macalintal v. Commission on Elections and the Office of the President, Through Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin Atty. Alberto N. Hidalgo, Atty. Aluino O. Ala, Atty. Agerico a. Avila, Atty. Ted Cassey B. Castello, Atty. Joyce Ivy C. Macasa, and Atty. Frances May C. Realino Vs. Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin, the Senate of the Philippines, Duly Represented by Its Senate President, Juan Miguel Zubiri, the House of Representatives, Duly Represented by Its Speaker of the House, Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and the Commission on Elections, Duly Represented by Its Chairman, George Erwin M. GarciaThe Supreme Court struck down the law that postponed the December 2022 barangay and youth council elections, but let the postponed October 2023 elections go ahead.
- A.C. 13521Jun 2023In Re: Atty. Lorenzo G. Gadon'S Viral Video Against Raissa RoblesA lawyer who curses at and demeans a woman journalist in a video, even one he says he meant only for her, can be disbarred because lawyers must behave with dignity in private life too.
- A.C. 13630Jun 2023(Formerly Cbd Case No. 17-5285) Alifer C. Pante v. Atty. Jose Allan M. TebelinA lawyer who takes a client's money, never files the case, gives a fake petition and even borrows money from the client can be disbarred.
- G.R. 211146Apr 2023Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, and as Chairman of the National Food Authority Council, and the Bureau of Customs, Represented by Commissioner John Phillip P. Sevilla v. Honorable Judge Emmanuel C. Carpio, in His Capacity as Presiding Judge of Branch 16, Regional Trial Court in Davao City, and Joseph Mangupag Ngo Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, and as Chairman of the National Food Authority Council, and the Bureau of Customs, Represented by Commissioner John Phillip P. Sevilla Vs. Honorable Judge Cicero D. Jurado, Jr., in His Capacity as Presiding Judge of Branch 11, Regional Trial Court in Manila, Danilo G. Galang, Doing Business Under the Name and Style St. Hildegard Grains Enterprises, and Ivy M. Souza, Doing Business Under the Name and Style Bold Bidder Marketing and General MerchandiseImporters who brought in rice without the National Food Authority's import permit had no clear legal right to import it, so trial judges gravely abused their discretion by ordering customs not to hold the shipments.
- G.R. 236173Apr 2023Heirs of Nicanor Garcia, as Represented by Spouses Josefina Garcia-Doblada and Jose v. Doblada Vs. Spouses Dominador J. Burgos and Primitiva I. Burgos, Spouses Filip Gerard v. Burgos and Marites a. Burgos, and Ester Gabriel DominguezA farm tenant, and the tenant's heirs, can sue to get land back when it was sold without the tenant's knowledge, and a court cannot throw out such a case without a trial.