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. 255538Jan 2023Elena Gaerlan-Ostonal v. Romeo Flores, Randy Flores, Heirs of Florencio Gaerlan, the Office of the Municipal Assessor of Bauang, La Union, and the Office of the Provincial Assessor of La Union Heirs of Efren DelimAn heir can file an ordinary court case to cancel a deed that wrongly took the family's land, without first getting a separate court declaration that she is an heir.
- G.R. 193569Jan 2023Edmond Lim and Gerd Paland v. Catalina SeeBeing the first to file for a trademark does not help if the applicant registered it in bad faith, such as a mere distributor claiming a brand it does not own.
- G.R. 224803Jan 2023Provincial Prosecutor of Albay v. Marivic LobianoA trial judge may dismiss a criminal case for lack of probable cause only in clear-cut cases, so a human trafficking case against a bar owner who hired a minor had to go to trial.
- G.R. 214926Jan 2023Crisostomo B. Aquino v. Agua Tierra Oro Mina (Atom) Development Corporation, Represented by Its Chairman & Ceo, Virgilio a. BoteA company that lost its claim to a Boracay seaside lot could not keep an injunction against a rival occupant, because the government had already classified the lot as forest land and not as foreshore land, so the company had no right to possess it.
- G.R. 246410Jan 2023I-People Manpower Resources, Inc., Elec Qatar and Leopoldo Gangoso, Jr. v. Court of Appeals and Jomer O. MontonAn overseas worker cannot be terminated just by a contract clause allowing termination on one month's notice, because the employer still needs a lawful reason and must prove it.
- G.R. 207153Jan 2023Development Bank of the Philippines v. Monsanto CompanyA foreign company that sells goods in the Philippines through an independent local indentor, which acts in its own name and for its own account, is not considered to be doing business here and can sue without a license.
- G.R. 210780Jan 2023Edward N. Rivo v. Dolores S. RivoA marriage is not void for psychological incapacity just because it became unhappy or one spouse was unfaithful; the incapacity must exist from the time of the wedding and be proven by clear and convincing evidence.
- G.R. 236161Jan 2023Alma C. Lugawe v. Pacific Cebu Resort International, IncMoving some duties away from an employee is not constructive dismissal when it is done in good faith for legitimate business reasons and her rank and pay stay the same.
- G.R. 240255Jan 2023The City Government of Caloocan v. Carmel Development IncA city cannot get a court injunction forcing a private owner to keep its private road open, because it has no clear right over the road and the blockades already existed long before the case was filed.
- G.R. 240542Jan 2023People of the Philippines v. Baltazar Achay, Jr. y DocilA witness who clearly identifies the accused beats a bare denial and alibi, and an alibi only works if it was physically impossible for the accused to be at the crime scene.
- G.R. 258894Jan 2023Glen Orda y Loyola v. People of the PhilippinesIn drug cases, a judge may allow a plea bargain even over the prosecutor's objection, but only after checking whether the accused qualifies under the Supreme Court's guidelines.
- G.R. 207140Jan 2023National Power Corporation v. Provincial Government of Bulacan, Gloria P. Sta. Maria, Municipal Assessor of Norzagaray, and the Municipal Government of Norzagaray, BulacanA taxpayer who claims it is exempt from real property tax must first pay the tax under protest before going to the assessment appeals board, because an exemption claim is about the correctness of the assessment.
- OCA IPI 18-4872-PJan 2023Judge Roderick a. Maxino v. Jaime M. Jasmin, Legal Researcher II, Branch 43, Regional Trial Court, Tanjay City, Negros OrientalA court employee who stays away from work for a long time without approved leave can be dropped from the rolls, even if the complaint against him was dismissed.
- G.R. 206905Jan 2023Junar D. Orillo and Florencio E. Danieles v. People of the PhilippinesPosting someone's criminal complaint on a public bulletin board out of spite is libel, and the Supreme Court replaced the prison sentence with a fine of P6,000.00.
- G.R. 255750Jan 2023People of the Philippines v. Diane Argayan y OgnayonA mother can be convicted of killing her young daughter even though no one saw the killing, when the proven circumstances and her own voluntary admission point to her.
- G.R. 250288Jan 2023John Kriska Logistics, Inc. / John Kriska Distribution Center Inc., and Karen Nerona (Manager) v. Elizardo T. MendozaAn employer who says it paid its worker his wages and benefits must prove it with its own records, and if it fails, the worker's monetary claims are granted.
- G.R. 255470-71Jan 2023Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Cargill Philippines, IncTo get a refund of input VAT on zero-rated export sales, a company only needs to show that its purchases are related to those sales, not that each purchase went directly into the exported product.
- A.C. 9288Jan 2023Virginia N. Jumalon v. Atty. Elmer dela RosaA lawyer who sold farmers' land awarded under the agrarian reform law, hid the buyer and kept the money in his own control was found guilty of gross misconduct, but because he was already disbarred for the same acts, he was fined instead.
- A.C. 13504Jan 2023Maria Cristina G. Dayos v. Atty. Grace C. BuriA lawyer who takes money from a client for a specific purpose, fails to do the work, and does not account for the money can be disbarred, especially after two earlier suspensions.
- A.C. 13615Jan 2023(Formerly Cbd Case No. 11-3166) Juliewhyn R. Quindoza v. Atty. Ernesto David Delos Santos* and Atty. Marujita S. PalabricaA lawyer who has affairs while still legally married is guilty of gross immorality, but the Court suspended him for three years instead of disbarring him because of mitigating circumstances.