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. 201914Apr 2023Josechito B. Gonzaga, Ruel a. Magsino, and Alfredo B. Santos v. Governor Enrique T. Garcia, Jr., Aurelio C. Angeles, Jr., Emerlinda S. Talento, Rodolfo H. de Mesa, the Office of the Hon. Ombudsman, the Office of the Hon. Overall Deputy Ombudsman, and the Office of the Hon. Secretary of the Department of the Interior and Local Government Office of the Ombudsman Vs. Governor Enrique T. Garcia, Jr., Aurelio C. Angeles, Jr., Emerlinda S. Talento, and Rodolfo H. de MesaThe old doctrine that an official's re-election forgives past misconduct still protects the elected governor for acts before April 12, 2016, but it never protects appointed officials, who can still be investigated and suspended.
- G.R. 204568-83Apr 2023Herman G. Limbo v. People of the Philippines Cecilia Li Vs. People of the PhilippinesA government bank officer who let favored clients cash out-of-town checks before they cleared, against bank and central bank rules, is guilty of graft, but a person cannot be convicted for acts different from those stated in the charge.
- G.R. 230299Apr 2023Jannece C. Peñalosa v. Jose a. Ocampo, JrA private complainant cannot challenge a trial court's grant of the prosecution's motion to withdraw a criminal case, and a 2011 Facebook post could not be punished as libel because the cyber libel law came only in 2012.
- G.R. 254787Apr 2023Lucille B. Odilao, Represented by Ariel B. Odilao v. Union Bank of the PhilippinesA venue clause that lets the bank choose between Pasig City and the place where the mortgaged property is located does not stop the borrower from suing in the property's location, so the case should not have been dismissed.
- G.R. 219637Apr 2023Anselmo P. Bulanon v. Mendco Development Corporation / Pinacle Casting and/or Mastercraft Philippines, Inc., and/or Jacquer International and/or Eric Ng MendozaA worker who claims he was illegally fired must first prove, with solid evidence, that he was really an employee, and a handyman hired from time to time by a family's businesses did not prove it.
- G.R. 203867Apr 2023Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation v. Commissioner Napoleon Morales, as Commissioner of Customs, Juan N. Tan, as Collector of Customs of the Port of Batangas, and Simplicio DomingoSomeone accused of indirect contempt for comments about a pending case can be punished only if it is clearly shown, beyond reasonable doubt, that they meant to attack the court or obstruct justice.
- G.R. 229490Mar 2023La Filipina Uy Gongco Corporation and Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation v. Harbour Centre Port Terminal, Inc., Its Agents, Representatives, Entities Acting in Its Behalf, and the Philippine Ports Authority Harbour Centre Port Terminal, Inc. Vs. La Filipina Uy Gongco Corporation and Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation La Filipina Uy Gongco Corporation and Philippine Foremost Milling Corporation Vs. Harbour Centre Port Terminal, IncA port operator that signed a deal promising berthing priority and deep water must keep its promises, but a very large penalty for breaking them can be cut in half if it is unconscionable.
- G.R. 253312Mar 2023Rodrigo Conche y Obilo v. People of the PhilippinesAn accused jailed for life cannot lose his right to appeal because his lawyer lied about filing the appeal, so the Supreme Court revived his case.
- G.R. 255989Mar 2023Rodrigo Galande v. Flordeliza Espiritu-Sarenas and Jimmy O. EspirituA person who lets someone farm his land on the promise to leave when asked can evict that person through an unlawful detainer case, and an old notice of adverse claim on the title does not by itself give the occupant the right to stay.
- G.R. 254020Mar 2023Heirs of Raisa Dimao, Namely: Elias D. Comagul, Edres D. Comagul, Sapia D. Comagul, Rasmia D. Dimacaling, Salem Rascal, Saidamen D. Comagul, and Raihani D. Mangadira v. National Grid Corporation of the PhilippinesHeirs of a free patent holder were not entitled to just compensation for land crossed by a power transmission line built in 1978, before their predecessor got title, and they had to return the P1,756,400.00 deposited by the grid company.
- G.R. 260428Mar 2023Clarita D. Aclado v. Government Service Insurance SystemGSIS cannot charge a retired teacher compounding interest and penalties on unpaid loans without first demanding payment, and the Court cut those charges and ordered the excess returned.
- G.R. 250219Mar 2023Xxx v. People of the PhilippinesA husband who is unfaithful, lives with another woman and abandons his wife and child can be convicted of psychological violence under R.A. No. 9262 when they suffer mental or emotional anguish as a result.
- G.R. 253090Mar 2023Bobby Carbonel y Dreza a.k.a. "Edgar" v. People of the PhilippinesA man seen with a revolver tucked in his waist, who had no license, was properly convicted of illegal possession of firearms because the gun was in plain view, so the seizure needed no warrant.
- G.R. 256301Mar 2023People of the Philippines v. Joel Gabisay, Jr. y Elpa and Ronnie DoniniaWhen two men take turns raping an abducted girl, only the first rape is part of the single crime of forcible abduction with rape, and the second rape is a separate crime with its own penalty.
- G.R. 253821Mar 2023Sugar Regulatory Administration v. Central Azucarera de Bais IncIf an appeal raises only questions of law, it must go straight to the Supreme Court, and filing it in the Court of Appeals instead makes the lower court's decision final.
- G.R. 246933Mar 2023Agnes Padrique Georfo v. Republic of the Philippines and Joe-Ar Jabian GeorfoA marriage can be declared void for psychological incapacity without a doctor ever examining the other spouse, as long as the totality of the evidence clearly and convincingly shows the spouse cannot carry out the essential duties of marriage.
- G.R. 228127Mar 2023Fernando C. Clavecilla, Represented by Atty. Marvel C. Clavecilla v. Marivic v. Clavecilla and the Republic of the PhilippinesEither spouse, even the one claiming to be psychologically incapacitated, may file a petition to declare the marriage void, but the petitioner must still prove with clear and convincing evidence a lasting pattern showing that one spouse could not perform the essential duties of marriage.
- G.R. 256144Mar 2023Equitable Pcibank v. Spouses Maximo and Soledad Lacson and Marietta F. YuchingA bank that stopped alleged check-kiting by dishonoring the checks could not recover P20 Million in actual damages, because no money ever left the bank.
- G.R. 224550Mar 2023Cham Teng Hui and James L. Cham v. Wilson P. Cham and Bernard P. ChamWhen relatives of a dead person dispute who has the right to inherit, the court must hold a trial and cannot decide quickly on the parties' own statements, and an agreement that settles who the heirs are is void.
- G.R. 232169Mar 2023Republic of the Philippines, Represented by the Department of Public Works and Highways v. Casimiro* Tamparong, JrWhen the government takes land and pays the full price late, it must pay interest on the unpaid balance even if it made an advance payment.