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. 182734Jan 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 struck down a 2005 deal among the national oil companies of the Philippines, China and Vietnam to survey for oil in the South China Sea, because searching for oil is exploration and the deal broke the Constitution's rules on natural resources.
- A.C. 11032Jan 2023Re: Order Dated 01 October 2015 in Crim. Case No. 15-318727-34, Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 49, Manila, Against Atty. Severo L. BrillantesA suspended lawyer can resume practice by filing a sworn statement that he served his suspension; certifications from the IBP or courts are no longer required.
- G.R. 248890Jan 2023Ma. Cecilia P. Ngo v. Fortune Medicare, Inc. and Dr. Alfonso SahagunAn employer cannot fire a manager for loss of trust and confidence unless it shows a reasonable basis that the manager was actually responsible for the wrongdoing.
- G.R. 256253Jan 2023People of the Philippines v. Romel Vale y PalmariaA man can be convicted of raping a child even when she was knocked unconscious, if a chain of strong circumstances points to him, and an Information lacking the provincial prosecutor's signature does not strip the court of jurisdiction.
- G.R. 257733Jan 2023James Billoso y Obligar v. People of the PhilippinesA trial court cannot approve a drug plea bargain over the prosecution's objection without first looking at the evidence and ruling on that objection.
- G.R. 250979Jan 2023People of the Philippines v. Rene Esma y JovenA trial judge may approve a drug suspect's plea bargain to a lesser offense even if the prosecution objects, because plea bargaining is a court procedure that the Supreme Court controls.
- G.R. 228150Jan 2023Karlos Noel R. Aleta v. Sofitel Philippine Plaza ManilaA hotel that put slides over its kiddie pool without enough safeguards is responsible for injuries to two small children who used the pool, and it must pay damages.
- A.C. 13376Jan 2023(Formerly Cbd No. 19-6116) Crisente L. Caparas v. Atty. Alwin P. RacelisA lawyer who takes a client's fee and then does nothing for over a year, and does not keep the client informed, can be suspended from practice and made to return the money.
- G.R. 249323Jan 2023People of the Philippines v. Isagani Laurence de Guzman Nicolas and Leonardo Rosario Nicolas, JrAn Ombudsman investigator who demanded PHP 3 million to make complaints disappear was convicted of direct bribery, but his companion was acquitted because being present and making introductions did not prove he agreed to the crime.
- G.R. 205241Jan 2023Concepcion a. Vizcarra, Feliciano a. Vizcarra Married to Maria Luisa a. Vizcarra, Victor a. Vizcarra, Evarista a. Vizcarra, and Dionisio a. Vizcarra v. Lilia Vizcarra-Nocillado, Antonio a. Vizcarra, Norma Vizcarra-Sanchez, Rizalina Vizcarra-Hinkley, and Julieta v. Hunter-SuttonA birth record that names the supposed father is not proof of paternity unless the father himself took part in making it, so relatives who could not prove their father's parentage lost their claim to an inheritance.
- G.R. 249135Jan 2023Dr. Peter Stephen S. Samonte v. Antonio B. Jumawak, Marina M. Tinonga, Nestor I. Epo, Cornelio R. Tabad,* Samuel L. Emia, Arfel D. Daan, Omar G. Bayron, Willie James a. Wong, Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Mindanao and Roberto y. Uy,** Provincial Governor, Province of Zamboanga del NorteA municipal health officer who liquidated his cash advances late, without any sign of corruption or deliberate defiance, was guilty only of simple misconduct and not dismissed from service.
- G.R. 204479Jan 2023Rudy Chua and Cai Changcheng v. the Hon. Secretary of Justice and Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group-Task Force Subic (Pasg-Tfs)Courts will not overturn the Secretary of Justice's decision to file criminal charges unless there is grave abuse of discretion, and a person's defenses are for the trial, not the preliminary stage.
- G.R. 205986Jan 2023Gma Network, Inc. and Citynet Network Marketing and Productions, Inc. v. Abc Development Corporation (Abc), Media Prima Berhad, and Mpb Primedia, IncWhen a dispute depends on technical facts that a specialized government agency is best placed to judge, the courts should let that agency look at it first, and a complaint filed with a defective certification against forum shopping can be dismissed.
- G.R. 250539Jan 2023Dhy Realty & Development Corporation v. the Honorable Court of Appeals-Special Sixth Division, Construction Industry Arbitration Commission, Sheriff of the Construction Industry Authority of the Philippines, and Wing-an Construction Development CorporationA company that did not answer a construction arbitration because it said notices went to the wrong address could not undo the award, since the notices went to the address in its own latest corporate filing.
- G.R. 247564Jan 2023Serafin Manarin v. Leoncia Manarin, Eliza Manarin-Altarez, Francisca Manarin-Gonzales, Domingo Manarin-Gonzales, Obdulia Manarin-Pamplona, and Fely Panganiban as Attorney-in-FactA trial court that is carrying out its own final judgment may clarify who keeps the land title and may replace a title that a non-party refuses to surrender, without being accused of changing the judgment.
- G.R. 211701Jan 2023Florentino G. Dueñas, Jr. v. People of the PhilippinesAn employee who sells a company car and keeps the money is guilty of qualified theft of the sale proceeds, not carnapping, and his penalty was lowered because a newer law raised the property values used to set penalties.
- G.R. 245982-83Jan 2023Philippine Pizza, Inc. v. Michael a. Oraa, Bernardito* R. Garcia, Jr. and Consolidated Building Maintenance, IncA contractor already recognized by the Supreme Court as legitimate is treated as the real employer of the workers it deploys, but it still cannot dismiss them for abandonment just because they missed a few days of work.
- A.C. 13466Jan 2023(Formerly Cbd Case No. 16-5156) Maricel H. Artates v. Atty. Meinrado Enrique a. BelloA lawyer who does not tell his client about an unfavorable decision, causing her to miss her appeal, can be suspended for six months, even if he handled the case for free.
- G.R. 252971Jan 2023People of the Philippines, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. Alejandro Navual Abarratigue, Raul Roberto Tapia, and Analiza Mabonga Bagro, Accused-AppellantsA mayor cannot buy land for the town just because the budget has money for a project, because he still needs the town council's specific approval.
- G.R. 258526Jan 2023Manila Credit Corporation v. Ramon S. Viroomal and Anita S. Viroomal, Office of the Clerk of Court and Ex-Officio Sheriff of the Regional Trial Court of Parañaque City, as Represented by Atty. Jerry R. Toledo and Sheriff Alejandro P. Abrematea, and the Register of Deeds of Parañaque CityA lender cannot enforce sky-high interest and penalties just because the borrower signed the contract, and a court can cut them down to the legal rate.