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. 252944Nov 2024Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Pacific Hub CorporationThe Court of Tax Appeals can review the tax commissioner's denial of a request to cancel penalties if it was a grave abuse of discretion, and the BIR must give reasons and a prior assessment before seizing property.
- G.R. 254452Nov 2024Heirs of Ferdinand Roxas, Namely: Angela Margarita T. Roxas, Dyan Paula T. Roxas, Michael Jude T. Roxas, and Maria Katrina T. Roxas v. Heirs of Melania Roxas, Namely: Manuel a. Roxas, Maria Rosario Roxas-Ureta, Alexander a. Roxas, Salome Roxas-Pantaleon, Paul Gerardo Roxas, Elaine Roxas Gamboa, Ma. Imelda Roxas-Cruz, and David Anthony RoxasWhen a parent pays for land but puts the title in a child's name, the law presumes the parent gave it to the child, and that presumption is not overturned just because the parent kept using the property.
- G.R. 261323Nov 2024Captain Ramon R. Verga, Jr. v. Harbor Star Shipping Services, IncA seller who can no longer deliver the shares he agreed to sell must return the money he was paid, even if the deal was only oral.
- G.R. 271934Nov 2024Heirs of Aquilino Ramos, Represented by Wilbur M. Ramos, Marilou G. Ilagan, Lydia Galarrita, Benjamin Galarrita, the Municipal Assessor of Alubijid, Misamis Oriental, and Provincial Assessor of Misamis Oriental v. Prosalita Bagares and Danton Bagares, Represented by Proserfina Galarrita ] Marilou G. Ilagan, Benjamin Galarrita, and Elyer Galarrita Vs. Prosalita Galarrita Bagares and Danton Bagares, Represented by Proserfina GalarritaA deed of sale that was tampered with is void and passes no ownership, and buyers of unregistered land cannot claim to be buyers in good faith.
- G.R. 219686Nov 2024Gil Apolinario v. Heirs of Francisco de Los Santos, Represented by Edwin Delos SantosA school principal who supervises a school activity is answerable for the negligence of a minor pupil he directs, but a death-benefit claim for lost income needs real proof, not just the court's notice of a salary.
- G.R. 263047Nov 2024Spouses Noel John M. Kaw** and Josephine Caseres-Kaw,*** v. Heirs of Marilyn Nodalo, Manuel S. Olaso, Manuel S. Olaso III, Lea Lim-Tidma, Nerissa S. Orejo, Zenaida Chiquillo, Ivy Orolfo, Ronnie Gomez, and Gina NuarinSellers cannot cancel a land sale over terms that are not in the written contract, and buyers who file the same claim in two courts commit forum shopping.
- G.R. 251518Nov 2024Del Monte Land Transport Bus Company, Don L. Morales, and Eileen Flores v. Romeo M. Jaranilla, Marlon H. Guantero, and Jesus B. DomanaisAn employee who wins an illegal dismissal case before the Labor Arbiter is paid reinstatement wages for the entire appeal, until a higher body finally reverses the ruling, and does not have to return them if the employer eventually wins.
- A.C. 11777Oct 2024Edna Tan Malapit,* v. Atty. Rogelio M. WatinA lawyer who notarizes a document that indirectly benefits his own family, and then represents the opposing party against his former client in a dispute over that same document, can be suspended and lose his notarial commission.
- G.R. 211309Oct 2024Marcial O. Dagot, Jr., Nelly D. Alangadi, Teresita D. Dalojo and the Heirs of Evangeline D. Ebuenga v. Spouses Go Cheng Key and Chua Siong Kuan, Teresita Dimalanta and Ceferino Dimalanta, Reynaldo Go and Judy Go, Lolita Zabala and Roberto Zabala, Joy Garcia and Eduardo Garcia, Bernardo Go, Ferdinand Go, and the Register of Deeds - Puerto Princesa City Marcial O. Dagot, Jr., Nelly D. Alangadi, Teresita D. Dalojo and the Heirs of Evangeline D. Ebuenga Vs. Spouses Go Cheng Key and Chua Siong Kuan, Teresita Dimalanta and Ceferino Dimalanta, Reynaldo Go and Judy Go, Lolita Zabala and Roberto Zabala, Joy Garcia and Eduardo Garcia, Bernardo Go, Ferdinand Go, and the Register of Deeds - Puerto Princesa CityA losing party cannot undo a final court decision by filing a prohibited second motion for reconsideration, which does not stop the clock for an appeal.
- G.R. 255367Oct 2024Banco de Oro Unibank, Inc. v. the People of the Philippines, and Ruby O. AldaA bank that was the victim of an estafa (swindling) case can ask to join the case on appeal to protect its claim for the money, even after the trial court has already decided the case.
- G.R. 259965Oct 2024Planters Development Bank (Now China Bank Savings, Inc.) v. Fatima D.g. FuerteA bank that promised to pay a lender once a property was transferred to its borrowers did not have to pay when the borrowers' title carried other claims and the transfer looked fraudulent.
- DecisionOct 2024G.r. No. 258321* People of the Philippines, Plaintiff-Appellee, Vs. Jomer Adona y Llemos, Accused-Appellant.A conviction for rape with homicide cannot rest on suspicion: because the circumstantial evidence did not prove with moral certainty that the accused was the killer, he was acquitted.
- G.R. 221190Oct 2024Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Represented by Its Secretary-General, Renato M. Reyes, Jr.; Representative Neri Javier Colmenares; Train Riders Network (Tren), Represented by Its Spokesperson, James Bernard Echano Relativo, and Members, Angelo Villanueva Suarez and Maria Donna Grey Miranda; Maria Finesa Alcantara Cosico; Sammy T. Malunes; Ferdinand Rimando Gaite; and Maria Kristina Cassion v. Hon. Joseph Emilio a. Abaya, in His Capacity as Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications and as Chairman of the Light Rail Transit Authority Board of Directors; Department of Transportation and Communications; Hon. Honorito D. Chaneco, in His Capacity as Administrator of the Light Rail Transit Authority; Light Rail Transit Authority; and Light Rail Manila CorporationThe Supreme Court dismissed the petition against the LRT 1 Extension, Operations and Maintenance concession agreement: the pure legal objections failed, and the rest depended on facts that should first be proven in a lower court.
- G.R. 272898Oct 2024Bernadette Lourdes B. Abejo, Former Executive Director of the Inter-Country Adoption Board v. Commission on Audit, Represented by Chairperson Michael G. AguinaldoAn official who approved an illegal government payout can only be made to return the "net disallowed amount", and that amount is zero when the people who received the money were never ordered to return it.
- G.R. 246422Oct 2024Neri J. Colmenares, Bayan Muna Partylist Representative Carlos Isagani T. Zarate, Anakpawis Partylist Representative Ariel B. Casilao, Gabriela Women'S Partylist Representative Emerancia de Jesus, Gabriela Women'S Partylist Representative Arlene D. Brosas, Act Teachers Partylist Representative Antonio L. Tinio, Act Teachers Partylist Representative Francisca L. Castro, Kabataan Partylist Representative Sarah Jane I. Elago, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) Secretary General Renato Reyes Jr. v. Energy Regulatory Commission (Erc), Commission on Audit, Manila Electric Company (Meralco)The Supreme Court did not decide whether electricity bill deposits are legal, because the petition went straight to the Court, had no real facts behind it and was filed too early while the Energy Regulatory Commission was still finalizing its rules.
- G.R. 244692Oct 2024Mare Claire Ruiz y Serrano,• v. People of the PhilippinesA person who kills while so mentally ill that she cannot understand what she is doing is not criminally liable, but she must be confined in a hospital for treatment and still owes damages to the victim's family.
- G.R. 224581Oct 2024People of the Philippines v. Diosdado Rebuton y Melendez a.k.a. "Dado" and Marilou Rebutazo y Encabo a.k.a. "Loi,"; Marilou Rebutazo y Encabo a.k.a. "Loi,"Two people convicted in a buy-bust drug case were acquitted because the required outside witnesses to the inventory were not present at or near the arrest and arrived only about 30 minutes later.
- G.R. 249890Oct 2024Manuel T. Ubarra, Jr. v. People of the PhilippinesAn acquittal is normally final, but it is void and can be set aside if the trial court denied the State its right to due process, such as by acquitting on an incomplete record without letting the prosecution explain a missing document.
- G.R. 262092Oct 2024Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Estate of Mr. Charles Marvin Romig, Represented by Its Sole Heir Mrs. Maricel Narciso RomigA dollar savings account in a Philippine bank's foreign currency deposit unit is exempt from estate tax, so the estate of the account holder could get back the estate tax it paid on it.
- G.R. 271012Oct 2024Roel Gementiza Padillo v. People of the PhilippinesA man convicted of possessing shabu was acquitted because the record did not show the search warrant was validly issued and carried out, and because the drugs' trail of custody had a big unexplained gap.