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. 255299Mar 2023Aaa255299,* v. Xxx255299A motion for reconsideration is not allowed in a protection order case under the anti-violence law, but the Supreme Court still let the husband's late appeal go forward because the wife had filed the same kind of motion.
- A.C. 8616Mar 2023Re: Dated April 23, 2010 in Consolidated Administrative Cases Oca Ipi No. 07-2630-Rtj, a.m. No. Rtj-07-2049; a.m. No. Rtj-08-2141; and a.m. No. Rtj-07-2093, Against Former Judge Evelyn S. Arcaya-ChuaA former judge who was dismissed for misconduct, including soliciting money and not reporting marriages she solemnized, can also be disbarred, meaning removed from the practice of law.
- G.R. 249387Mar 2023Rehman Sabir v. Department of Justice-Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit (DOJ-Rsppu)The Supreme Court refused to declare Rehman Sabir a refugee on its own and kept its order sending his application back to the DOJ Refugees and Stateless Persons Protection Unit, because the facts of his claim had not been properly worked out.
- A.M. RTJ-11-2289Mar 2023(Formerly Oca Ipi No. 11-3656-Rtj) in Re: Anonymous Letter Dated August 12, 2010, Complaining Against Judge Ofelia T. Pinto, Regional Trial Court, Branch 60, Angeles City, PampangaThe Supreme Court partly granted a dismissed judge's plea for mercy, releasing one third of her retirement benefits because she showed genuine remorse and was in dire need, but not all of them because of her record of other offenses.
- G.R. 243133Mar 2023Republic of the Philippines, Through the Office of the Solicitor General, Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (Osca), Department of Social Welfare and Development (Dswd) v. Pryce Corporation, IncThe 20% senior citizen discount on funeral and burial services also covers interment services, such as digging the grave and concreting it.
- A.M. RTJ-21-017Mar 2023Marilou Casas Usama v. (Ret.) Hon. Oscar D. Tomarong, Branch 28, Regional Trial Court, Liloy, Zamboanga del NorteA judge who grants bail to a person in a killing case without notifying the prosecutor or holding a hearing, and who frees people who are not parties to a habeas corpus case, is guilty of gross ignorance of the law and gross misconduct.
- G.R. 257849Mar 2023Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office v. Antonio F. MendozaA lotto bettor can win the jackpot by proving he picked the winning numbers, even if his ticket was damaged and cannot be validated.
- G.R. 230013Mar 20234e Steel Builders Corporation and Spouses Filomeno G. Ecraela & Virginia Ecraela v. Maybank Philippines, Inc., and the Sheriff of the City of Caloocan Maybank Philippines, Inc. Vs. 4e Steel Builders Corporation and Spouses Filomeno G. Ecraela & Virginia EcraelaA foreign bank could not bid in a foreclosure sale of mortgaged land held in 2003, so that sale was void, and an interest rate tied only to the vague "prevailing prime rate plus 2.5%" is also void.
- G.R. 247339Mar 2023Department of Agrarian Reform Represented by the Hon. John R. Castriciones v. Lapanday Foods Corporation and Hijo Employees Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative 1A dispute over a contract to sell bananas grown on land awarded to agrarian reform beneficiaries is decided by regular courts under contract law, not by the Department of Agrarian Reform, so the Department could not intervene.
- G.R. 217111Mar 2023Lilah Gail Corpuz Alfiler v. Sps. John Cayabyab and Geraldine Cayabyab, Represented by Attorney-in-Fact, Jose VasalloA person who sues to evict others must prove a real right to possess the property, and a sale signed by an agent after the owner died, with no written authority shown, gives no such right.
- A.C. 13559Mar 2023(Formerly Cbd Case No. 14-4205) Kang Tae Sik v. Atty. Alex y. Tan and Atty. Roberto S. FederisA lawyer's duty not to use a former client's secrets against that client continues after the engagement ends, but a disbarment complaint fails if the client cannot prove with enough evidence that confidential information was actually used.
- G.R. 252092Mar 2023Sophia T. Borja, Ma. Ethel P. Gibe, Mary Grace Dg. Corpuz, Joy T. Agudia, Aurea C. Cosio, Wilfredo B. Collado, Myrna D. Malabayabas, Evelyn F. Javier, Eduardo Jimmy P. Quilang, Rizal G. Corales, Renato B. Bajit, Manuel Jose C. Regalado, Glenda Dc. Ravelo, Leo C. Javier, Caesar Joventino M. Tado, Rhemilyn Z. Relado, Babylinda O. Reyes v. Commission on Audit (COA)The Court agreed that PhilRice's car plan payments were an unauthorized extra allowance, but excused the officials and car owners from returning the money because of the exceptional circumstances.
- G.R. 238798Mar 2023Cicl Xxx v. People of the PhilippinesA 17-year-old can be held criminally liable only if the prosecution proves he acted with discernment, meaning he understood that what he did was wrong and what it would lead to.
- A.C. 8067Mar 2023Philippine National Bank v. Atty. Henry S. OaminalA lawyer who brings a mayor and his armed bodyguards to a hearing to pressure the judge can be suspended from practice.
- G.R. 191299-191302Mar 2023Herman Antonio M. Bascon and Antonio Villamor v. Emiliano O. Negre, Jr. Julia F. Pontrivida, Evelyn F. Negre, Joselito Q. Mulle, Riden J. Ilosorio, Feliciano C. Fernandez, Renato C. Ducay, Villamor B. Villaester, Zandro N. Villaester, Renato O. Toling, Bernadette S. Ofianga, Renato G. Negre, Vevien T. Sente, Charlie F. Santillan, Edmund a. Legaspino, Mercela S. Indino, Edgardo D. Ilosorio, Rogelio D. Ilosorio, Renante D. Ilosorio, Lydio L. Giganto, Gilberto O. Fernandez, Fernando O. Mulle, Adelmo M. Maru, Damaso D. Mansueto, Maria Grace O. Lorca, Alex D. Lorca, Aileen O. Lorca, Marcelino C. Villarino, Jr., Roque M. Villaester, Leonora C. Villaester, Noel a. Villaceran, Julio Z. Villaceran, Francisca N. Toling, Irene v. Sollano, Marilyn G. Santillan, Davita P. Santillan, Joselito a. Santillan, Dominador a. Santillan, Leizel G. Santillan, Jupeter a. Rebusit, Zaldy a. Pontrivida, Zacarias J. Pontrivida, Roque F. Pontrivida, Lucas J. Pontrivida, Bernabe J. Pontrivida, Juvy F. Pontrivida, Juven D. Pantaleon, Rosario F. Pantaleon, Elino I. Oflas, Resurreccion M. Oflas, Ramil P. Ofianga, Gregorio S. Negre, Bhible S. Miranda, Mildred S. Miranda, Romeo C. Miranda, Leonardo a. Mata, Bebot O. Marollano, Allan B. Marollano, Benji a. Marangga, Rommel a. Mansueto, Jesus P. Mansueto, Rolando L. Lambonao, Eusebio a. Jista, Violeto M. Inoy, Antonio S. Ilustrisimo, Ranilo R. Goria, Michelle L. Girran, Renante D. Gilbuela, Maria Elena E. Gilbuela, Celestino K. Gilbuela, Eduardo S. Gilbuela, Joel P. Giganto, Agustin Q. Fernandez, Zosimo y. Fernandez, Jovani C. Fernandez, Jesus D. Fernandez, Jenifer C. Fernandez, Paulino y. Fernandez, Dominador M. Fernandez, Jeony M. Enriquez, Abdon a. Eben, Romeo K. Ducay, Isidro M. Ducay, Benjamin K. Ducay, Julio K. Ducay, Juan M. Destura, Asterio O. Cordova, Joebe S. Cordova, Mario M. Cordova, Marvin M. Cordova, Reyell E. Cordova, Julito M. Cernal, Alberto B. Cena, Alfonso a. Caranzo, Pio S. Capuras, Eduardo S. Capuras, Joel S. Caporas, Santiago S. CAñete, Maximino T. Brion, Rodeliza E. Booc, Antonio P. Biaca, Rolly a. Bayon-on, Danilo v. Bawiga, Marcelino J. Barcelo, Danny Boy v. Bacia, Felix a. Aton, Sandy S. Amadeo, Alfie a. Amadeo, Ruel C. Alontaga, Emilia L. Alolor, Allan T. Alolod, Pedrio S. Alob, Adrian O. Alob, Roque O. Alob, Joel O. Alob, Rafael O. Alob, Eliezar a. Aligato, Melvin M. Aligato, Leonardo P. Abais, Anthony G. Ybañez, Edmond C. Villarante, Roque M. Tumabiene, Sr., Pedro B. Tinga, Jr., Miguel S. Tinga, Edgar E. Solano, Pedro T. Santillan, Mario v. Santillan, Ernesto P. Santillan, Joselito C. Pacina, Edgardo S. Ofianga, Gines H. Nunez, Jr., Miguel D. Nemenzo, Hilario S. Negre, Willy D. Negre, Randy S. Necesario, Jumar a. Labores, Rogelio F. Canama, Genelyn L. Canama, Arturo C. Besabella, Marlovita Ursal, Dr. Oscar S. Romanillos, and Engr. Ubaldo Canete, Jr., and of the Election Registration Board of Municipality of San Remigio, CebuA challenge to the voter registration of 153 fishing-company workers failed because the challengers did not prove that the workers did not actually live in the barangay.
- G.R. 200015Mar 2023Department of Public Works and Highways v. Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. and Leo Cleto Gamolo G.r. No. 205846 United Architects of the Philippines Vs. Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers, Inc. and Leo Cleto GamoloSince the Architecture Act of 2004, only licensed architects may prepare, sign and seal architectural documents for buildings, and civil engineers can no longer do so.
- G.R. 252859Mar 2023People of the Philippines v. Ronnie Ralla y BulaquiñaWhen a robber kills one person and also hurts others during the same robbery, the law treats everything as one crime of robbery with homicide, even if he was charged separately for the other victims.
- G.R. 230704Mar 2023Corazon C. Reyes v. the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon and Field Investigation Office II, Represented by Atty. Vic T. EscalanteA procurement rule that is broken does not automatically make a government officer criminally liable for graft, and the rule on disclosing family ties applies to public bidding, not to simple price-quotation purchases called shopping.
- G.R. 190266-67Mar 2023City of Batangas, Represented by Hon. Eduardo B. Dimacuha, in His Capacity as the Mayor of Batangas City v. Jg Summit Petrochemical Corporation and First Gas Power Corporation and Fgp CorporationA city ordinance, however well-meaning, is void if it regulates something already governed by a national law, as the Batangas ordinance did when it tried to control how companies use groundwater.
- G.R. 229706Mar 2023National Power Corporation v. Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management CorporationPSALM took over only the liabilities of the National Power Corporation that already existed on 26 June 2001, so it cannot be made to pay local business taxes assessed on NPC for 2006 to 2009.