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. 256242Jan 2023People of the Philippines v. Mark Anthony Paguinto y WaniwanA drug conviction can stand even if the charge sheet does not state how much drug was involved; the weight only affects the penalty, and the lowest penalty applies.
- G.R. 205524Jan 2023Gerardo G. Sermona, Edin G. Cariola, Lolita G. Bartolo, Jesil R. Sermona, Charles Cariola, Remedios G. Garson, Anderson P. Garce, Epifania P. Garce, Jerry Mohello, Benjie Mohello, Sunny L. Estorco, Aida v. Garson, Josan G. Garson, Jeremias Estacion, Febie C. Estacion, Julita C. Paborada, Conrado Paborada, Juanito L. Grapa, Nardio R. Carola, Boboy F. Garie, Jarey P. Carola, Aileen P. Garie, Letecia P. Garie, Mercy P. Garie, Cristita P. Mohello, Patring Morello, Marivic Mohello, Emily M. Flores, Ailyn G. Villeres, Glini G. Garson, Jameson P. Cameon, Crispin G. Sarsuelo, Mesalyn G. Sarsuelo, Aurelia C. Grapa, Joevanie Paborada, Gerome G. Deniega, Anecita M. Tuanda, Ana Marie L. Rafael, Josefina M. Mabit, Jocelyn C. Estacion, Josa Garson, Gerom Garson, Rufina Estacion, Thelma Elisterio, Engracio C. Mabit, and Mercy G. Cameon/national Federation of Sugar Workers-Food and General Trades Vs. Hacienda Lumboy/manuel L. UyWorkers who claim to have been illegally dismissed must first prove with substantial evidence that the hacienda owner was their employer, and here they did not.
- G.R. 247798Jan 2023Constancia Javate-Asejo v. Justiniano Zantua Asejo and Republic of the PhilippinesA husband who never worked, depended entirely on his parents and wife, and could not grasp his duties to his family was found psychologically incapacitated, so the marriage was declared void.
- A.M. RTJ-16-2424Jan 2023(Formerly a.m. No. 15-12-390-RTC) Office of the Court Administrator v. Hon. Globert J. Justalero, Presiding Judge, Branch 32, Regional Trial Court, Iloilo City, and the Designated Assisting Judge of Branch 66, Regional Trial Court of Barotac Viejo, IloiloA judge who rushed through nullity of marriage cases while ignoring the required safeguards, and who solemnized marriages and notarized related papers without authority, was suspended for one year.
- G.R. 246318-19Jan 2023Arthur Cua Yap v. Sandiganbayan (Sixth Division) and People of the PhilippinesBecause the Ombudsman took more than three years to finish a preliminary investigation that the rules say should take days, the Supreme Court dismissed the graft charges against a former Agriculture Secretary.
- G.R. 224457Jan 2023Aniban Ng Nagkakaisang Mamamayan Ng Hacienda Dolores (Anmhd/aniban), Inc. v. Fl Properties and Management Corporation and Lll Holdings, Inc.,* Department of Agrarian Reform Vs. Fl Properties and Management Corporation and Lll Holdings, IncThe Department of Agrarian Reform can take back an exemption it gave to a piece of land when the conditions that justified the exemption no longer exist, and a court cannot permanently stop it from doing so.
- G.R. 261882Jan 2023Arturo Realeza y Valenton v. People of the PhilippinesA person who offers someone for sex in exchange for money is guilty of trafficking in persons even if the sex never actually takes place.
- G.R. 228055Jan 2023Ronald Rey Tan Tismo v. Office of the Ombudsman, Basher Sarip Noor, and Manuel Castrodes FeliciaWhen a civil case raises a question that must be settled first, the Ombudsman may pause the criminal complaint but may not simply throw it out.
- G.R. 205699Jan 2023Manuel T. Zulueta v. Cyma Greek Taverna CoFiling a trademark application first does not win the mark if the applicant knew someone else was already using it, because that is bad faith.
- G.R. 259422Jan 2023(Formerly Udk-17231) Kaimo Condominium Building Corporation v. Laverne Realty & Development CorporationA condominium corporation does not commit forum shopping just because individual unit owners filed a separate case, since a corporation is legally separate from its members and the two cases sought different things.
- G.R. 229394Jan 2023Hernando B. Perez, Rosario S. Perez and Ramon C. Arceo, Jr. v. Sandiganbayan and Republic of the Philippines Ernest de Leon Escaler Vs. Sandiganbayan and Republic of the PhilippinesThe government may proceed with a forfeiture case against a former Justice Secretary over about US$2 million allegedly extorted, because the delay did not violate the right to speedy disposition of cases and the earlier dismissal of the criminal cases did not bar it.
- A.C. 13664Jan 2023Atty. Pedro L. Linsangan v. Atty. F. George P. LuceroA lawyer who issues a check that bounces and then ignores the Integrated Bar's orders can be suspended from practicing law.
- A.M. RTJ-23-029Jan 2023(Formerly Oca Ipi No. 19-4955-Rtj) Securities and Exchange Commission, Represented by Commissioner Emilio B. Aquino v. Hon. Oscar P. Noel, Jr., Presiding Judge, Branch 35, Regional Trial Court, General Santos City, South CotabatoA trial court judge who blocked a Securities and Exchange Commission cease and desist order was suspended for two years for gross ignorance of the law.
- A.C. 13588Jan 2023Miguel G. Navarrete and Miguelito G. Navarrete, Jr. v. Atty. Constante v. Brillantes, JrA lawyer who notarized a mortgage using only community tax certificates and private IDs as proof of identity broke the notarial rules and was suspended for six months.
- G.R. 235534Jan 2023Edward R. añonuevo v. Cbk Power Company, Ltd. (Cbk), Hiroshi Tanimura (Chief Administrative Officer-Cbk), Servillano Dunglao (Vp for Administration-Cbk), and Tcs Manpower Services, Inc. (Tcs)A company that hires workers through middlemen who are only labor-only contractors is treated as the workers' real employer, and it cannot lawfully dismiss them just because the contract with the middleman ended.
- G.R. 236118Jan 2023Act Teachers Rep. Antonio Tinio, Bayan Muna Rep. Party-List Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate, and Anakpawis Rep. Party-List Ariel "Ka Ayik" Casilao v. House of Representatives Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, Deputy Speaker Raneo Abu, Majority Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, and Deputy Majority Leader Rep. Arthur Defensor, Jr. Laban Konsyumer, Inc. and Atty. Victorio Mario a. Dimagiba Vs. Executive Secretary Salvador C. Medialdea, Department of Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, Bureau of Internal Revenue Commissioner Caesar R. Dulay, House Speaker Pantaleon D. Alvarez in Representation of the House of Representatives, and Senate President Aquilino D. Pimentel III in Representation of the SenateThe Supreme Court upheld the TRAIN Act (Republic Act No. 10963) as constitutional, finding that it was validly passed and that its fuel and coal excise taxes did not violate due process or equal protection.
- G.R. 251978-80Jan 2023Anecita C. Suyat, Asano E. Aban, and Marcelino P. Endi v. Court of Appeals, Office of the Ombudsman, and Commission on AuditUsing the wrong kind of petition to reach the Supreme Court made the Court of Appeals' decision final, and in any case three town officials were rightly dismissed for buying over P1 million of farm chemicals without public bidding.
- G.R. 257610Jan 2023Glenn Quintos Albano v. Commission on Elections Catalina G. Leonen-Pizarro Vs. Commission on ElectionsCongress may set the qualifications of party-list nominees, but a rule barring anyone who lost an election the year before from being a party-list nominee is unconstitutional because it treats losing candidates unfairly without good reason.
- G.R. 261344Jan 2023Frank Ong Sibuma v. Commission on Elections, Alma L. Panelo, and Stefanie Ann Eriguel CalongcagonThe Supreme Court restored Frank Sibuma as the elected mayor of Agoo, La Union, ruling that the cancellation of his candidacy over a residency claim had no solid basis.
- G.R. 221553Jan 2023In Re: Petition for Registration and Issuance of Title for Lot 2264, Lot 2270 and Lot 2271 of the Himamaylan Cadastre, Province of Negros Occidental, and Miriam Durban Tagamolila, for Herself and as Attorney-in-Fact of Her Sister Cecilia Dima-Ano,* v. Republic of the PhilippinesA person asking to register public land must still prove it is alienable and disposable, but a newer law lets that be proven by a certification from a DENR geodetic engineer, and the Court applied that law to a case already pending.