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. 258130Apr 2023Regie David Tsutsumi v. Republic of the PhilippinesA Filipino spouse can have a Japanese divorce by mutual agreement recognized in the Philippines if the divorce papers and the Japanese law on divorce are proven, and courts should be liberal in applying the rules of evidence to such petitions.
- G.R. 260214Apr 2023Erwin Alvero Tresvalles v. People of the PhilippinesA trial judge who approves a drug plea bargain over the prosecutor's objection, because the objection rests only on a Department of Justice circular, does not commit grave abuse of discretion, but must still check the Montierro conditions.
- A.C. 13601Apr 2023Mary Ann B. Castro v. Atty. Zeldania D.t. SorianoA lawyer who calls someone a mistress in a legal notice written for a client is not disciplined when the word is relevant to the dispute and written in the performance of her duty to the client.
- G.R. 221781Apr 2023Abs-Cbn Corporation v. Willie B. Revillame Abs-Cbn Corporation Vs. Willie B. Revillame and Abc Development Corp. Willie B. Revillame Vs. Abs-Cbn Corporation and Abc Development CorpA party that deliberately files two cases to get the same relief loses the claim it filed in the case it was trying to protect, and questions that no longer matter will not be decided.
- G.R. 248256Apr 2023Kamera World Inc. v. Reddot Imaging Philippines, IncA signed agreement that names the property, the price and the parties is a binding contract, and later emails or a term sheet proposing changes do not undo it.
- G.R. 193521Apr 2023Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation Vs Energy Regulatory Commission and Philippine Electricity Market CorporationThe electricity spot market operator, PEMC, may investigate breaches of the market rules, and the Energy Regulatory Commission shares that power with it.
- A.C. 9683Apr 2023Court of Appeals Associate Justice Apolinario D. Bruselas, Jr. v. Atty. Eligio P. MallariChallenging a Court of Appeals justice to a public debate over his decision, while the case is still on appeal, is disrespectful to the courts, but a lawyer already disbarred for it cannot be sanctioned again, so the case was dismissed and recorded.
- G.R. 211772Apr 2023Integrated Bar of the Philippines Philippine College of Physicians, Philippine Medical Association, Inc., and Philippine Dental Association-in-Intervention; v. Secretary Cesar v. Purisima of the Department of Finance and Commissioner Kim S. Jacinto-Henares of the Bureau of Internal Revenue Association of Small Accounting Practitioners in the Philippines, Inc. Vs. Hon. Secretary of Finance Cesar v. Purisima and Hon. Commissioner of Internal Revenue Kim S. Jacinto-HenaresThe government cannot force doctors, lawyers, accountants and other self-employed professionals to register their appointment books, which list client names and meeting times, because that invades their clients' and patients' right to privacy.
- A.M. 19-01-15-RTCApr 2023In Re: Conducted Report on the Judicial Audit Conducted in Branch 24, Regional Trial Court, Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Under Hon. Raphiel F. Alzate, as Acting Presiding JudgeA judge who skipped required steps in marriage nullity cases was punished with a long suspension and a fine, but the Court dropped his dismissal because the proof of corruption was not enough.
- G.R. 225774Apr 2023Jessie Javier Carlos v. Department of Finance - Revenue Integrity Protection Service (Dof-Rips) and Office of the OmbudsmanA government worker cannot be punished for mistakes or omissions in a Statement of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALN) unless the government first points out the problem and gives the worker a chance to fix it.
- A.M. P-22-072Apr 2023Executive Judge Jackie B. Crisologo-Saguisag v. Edith P. Haboc, Clerk III, Metropolitan Trial Court of Makati City, Branch 62A court employee convicted of bouncing checks, a crime involving moral turpitude, can be penalized administratively even after being dropped from the rolls, and probation does not erase the penalty.
- G.R. 236140Apr 2023Josefina C. Billote,• v. Spouses Victor and Remedios T. Badar, Adelaida C. Dalope and Imelda C. SolisA buyer who ignores suspicious signs about the seller's title is not a buyer in good faith, and an earlier buyer keeps ownership of the share validly sold to her.
- G.R. 258126Apr 2023Jonathan Gabriel Biron, Arjay Mendez, and Eric Ebuenga Palomer v. People of the PhilippinesA trial court may allow an accused in a drugs case to plea bargain even over the prosecution's objection, unless the objection is valid and backed by evidence, so the case goes back for the court to hear that objection.
- G.R. 220824Apr 2023Municipality of Pateros v. City of Taguig and City of MakatiWhen the other local governments ignore a town's attempts to settle a boundary dispute through their councils, the town may go straight to court, and the court has jurisdiction to hear its original case.
- G.R. 201944Apr 2023Bonifacio Communications Corporation and Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company v. National Telecommunications Commission, Innove Communications, Inc., and Fort Bonifacio Development CorporationA private contract cannot give one company the exclusive right to run telecom facilities and services in an area, and the National Telecommunications Commission can order it to stop blocking a licensed competitor.
- G.R. 248529Apr 2023People of the Philippines v. Mark Alvin Lacson y Marquesses a.k.a "Mac-Mac", Noel Agpalo y Sacay and Moises Dagdag y Corpuz Mark Alvin Lacson y Marquesses a.k.a "Mac-Mac" and Noel Agpalo y SacayPolice cannot search people just because they look suspicious or run away, and a gun or grenade found in such a search cannot be used as evidence, even if the accused did not object to the arrest early.
- G.R. 200466Apr 2023Esteban Yau, Substituted by Heirs Gloricita S. Yau, Lullete S. Yau, Cliffson S. Yau, and Steveson S. Yau v. Hon. Ester M. Veloso, Presiding Judge of Branch Vi, Regional Trial Court, Cebu City, Ricardo C. Silverio, Sr., and Ricardo S. Silverio, JrA judge wrongly cancelled the levy and sale of properties that were seized to pay a final judgment, because the debtor still had a real interest in them, but the sale price had to be redone because the debt was later reduced.
- G.R. 204687Apr 2023United Coconut Planters Bank, Substituted by Land Bank of the Philippines v. Commissioner of Internal RevenueA corporation that chooses to carry over its excess tax credits to the next year cannot later switch to asking for a refund of the same credits.
- DecisionApr 2023G.r. No. 223767* Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Petitioner, Vs. South Entertainment Gallery, Inc., Respondent.A tax assessment is void if the tax collector cannot prove that the formal demand was properly served on the taxpayer, even if it was delivered to a mall's central receiving office.
- G.R. 257342Apr 2023Mary Elizabeth Ortiga Ty v. House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (Hret) and Prospero Arreza Pichay, JrThe Supreme Court dismissed a challenge to a congressman's right to hold office because the issue became moot, since the Court had already upheld the penalty disqualifying him and he was no longer in office or running.