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. 263553Nov 2023People of the Philippines v. Xxx263553When a grandfather rapes his minor granddaughter, his moral authority over her takes the place of force or threats, and his own admission in court that she is his granddaughter is enough to prove the family relationship.
- G.R. 262732Nov 2023People of the Philippines v. Mongcao Basaula Sabino a.k.a. "Mongkao Basaola Sabino" a.k.a. "Salik" and Saima Diambangan MipandongDrug agents may do the inventory of seized drugs at their office instead of the arrest site if there is a good reason, and the drugs' identity is still protected.
- G.R. 258316Nov 2023People of the Philippines v. Norberto Verdadero y PimentelIn a drug case, police must mark the seized drugs right away at the place of arrest, and failing to do so without a good reason breaks the chain of custody and leads to acquittal.
- A.C. 11795Nov 2023Gilda J. Rosca v. Atty. Michael John C. DelmendoA government lawyer who took millions of pesos from a private person by promising to speed up a land title, and used fake documents to do it, was disbarred.
- G.R. 262812Nov 2023The People of the Philippines v. XxxA person cannot be convicted of the more serious crime of qualified rape when the charge says the victim's father committed it but the proof shows he is her stepfather, so he is convicted of simple rape instead.
- G.R. 241844Nov 2023(Formerly Udk 16236) Ethyl Huiso Ebal & Her Minor Child, on Behalf of the Deceased Edville Cliano Beltran v. Thenamaris Philippines, Inc., Narcissus Enterprises S.a., Gregorio F. Ortega, President & All Corporate Officers and Directors, and the Ship, M/t Seacross Thenamaris Philippines, Inc., Narcissus Enterprises S.a., Captain Christopher Abuy, and Captain William Magallanes Vs. Ju-Ann Beltran and Jhun Ville Beltran, as Wife/child & Heirs of Edville BeltranWhen a seafarer dies of an illness not listed as occupational, the law presumes it is work-related, and the employer must prove it was not.
- A.C. 11026Nov 2023Dauin Point Land Corp., Represented by Ralph Gavin Hughes Atty. Richard R. Enojo, Provincial Legal Officer, Province of Negros OrientalA government lawyer who uses his office letterhead and legal opinions to push his own private claim over a piece of land commits gross misconduct and can be suspended and fined.
- A.C. 13789Nov 2023(Formerly Cbd Case No. 19-6041) Fadi Hasan Mahmoud Shumali v. Atty. James Bryan O. AgustinA lawyer cannot hold on to a client's passport to pressure for unpaid legal fees, because a passport is not the client's property to be subject to a lawyer's lien.
- G.R. 254764Nov 2023Playinn, Inc. v. Prudential Guarantee and Assurance, IncA surety that issues a performance bond for a construction contract is bound by the construction arbitration clause, but a writ of execution cannot make it liable for more than what the final award says.
- A.C. 13911Oct 2023Joy Cadiogan Calixto v. Atty. Cora Jane P. Baleros Rimas Gawigaen Calixto Vs. Atty. Cora Jane P. BalerosA notary public lawyer who notarizes a document without the signer present gets suspended and loses the right to be a notary, and if her whereabouts are unknown, her suspension starts when the decision is delivered to her address on record with the IBP.
- G.R. 261280Oct 2023Incumbent and Former Employees of the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) Regional Office (Ro) Xiii: dela Calzada, Michelle P., Cardona-Ato, Elvie, Batincila, Glenn B., Berido, Jazmin D., Caduyac, Fides Joy a., Calamba, Mary Jean G., Cariño, Mylah Faye Aurora B., Castillon, Mitchell C., Gidacan, Emmanuel Z., Harting, Graziella C., Jaquilmac, Ann B., Lariba, Elsie E., Maur, Melanie a., Mendez, Rhea Mae C., Miculob, Ian G., Mission, Naomi T., Neisler, Anna Loraine M., Olam, Gemima a., Paradiang, Eddie B. Tener, Renante O.; Torralba, April Kristine G., Torotoro, Shirley C., Verdun, Sherwin E., and Villanueva, Francisco Romulus C., v. Commission on Audit, Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, Commissioner Rolando C. Pondoc, the Regional Director COA Regional Office Caraga the Cluster Director, Cluster 2 — Legislative and Oversight, National Government SectorThe Commission on Audit cannot, on its own, undo a final ruling that excused certain employees from refunding disallowed benefits just because the officers who approved the benefits asked for reconsideration.
- A.M. P-12-3098Oct 2023(Formerly Oca Ipi No. 11-3704-P) Reynaldo M. Solema v. Ma. Consuelo Joie Almeda-Fajardo, Sheriff IV, Branch 93, Regional Trial Court, San Pedro, LagunaA court sheriff who takes money directly from a party for the costs of enforcing a court order, and releases a seized vehicle without following the rules, commits gross misconduct and dishonesty.
- G.R. 262664Oct 2023Manuel Lopez Bason v. People of the Philippines, Represented by the Office of the Solicitor GeneralA judge may approve a drug suspect's plea bargain even if the prosecutor objects, but only after checking the accused's character and the strength of the evidence, and a drug dependency test is not required before approval.
- A.M. P-22-057Oct 2023(Formerly Oca Ipi No. 20-4993-P) Eva Krissel Caparos v. Debhem E. Fajardo, Stenographer III, Branch 170, Regional Trial Court, Malabon CityA court employee who takes money from a litigant, even on a promise to speed up a case, is guilty of gross misconduct and is dismissed from service.
- G.R. 185184Oct 2023Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, Represented by Its Administrator, Diosdado Jose M. Allado v. Provincial Government of Bulacan, Represented by Gov. Josefina M. dela CruzThe Province of Bulacan cannot make MWSS pay a national wealth share for water stored in Angat Dam, because dam water is already taken from its natural source and MWSS is not engaged in utilizing and developing national wealth for profit.
- G.R. 195837Oct 2023Republic of the Philippines v. Honorable Sandiganbayan, 5th Division, Don Ferry, and Cesar Zalamea Republic of the Philippines Vs. Sandiganbayan, 5th Division, Lucio C. Tan, Estate of Ferdinand E. Marcos (Represented by Imelda R. Marcos, Imee M. Manotoc, Irene M. Araneta, and Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.), Imelda R. Marcos, Carmen Khao Tan, Florencio T. Santos, Natividad P. Santos, Domingo Chua, Tan Hui Nee, Mariano Tan Eng Lian, Estate of Benito Tan Kee, Hiong (Represented by Tarciana C. Tan), Florencio N. Santos, Jr., Harry C. Tan, Tan Eng Chan, Chung Poe Kee, Mariano Khoo, Manuel Khoo, Miguel Khoo, Jamie Khoo, Elizabeth Khoo, Celso C. Ranola, William T. Wong, Ernesto B. Lim, Benjamin T. Albacita, Don Ferry, Willy Co, Federico Moreno, Panfilo O. Domingo, Heirs of Gregorio Licaros, Cesar Zalamea, Shareholdings, Inc., Allied Banking Corp., Foremost Farms Inc., Fortune Tobacco Corp., Maranaw Hotels and Resorts Corp., Virginia Tobacco Redrying Plant, Northern Tobacco Redrying Plant, Asia Brewery Inc., Sipalay Trading Corp., Himmel Industries, Grandspan Development Corp., Basic Holdings Corp., Progressive Farms, Inc., Manufacturing Services and Trade Corp., Allied Leasing & Finance Corp. Jewel Holdings Inc., Iris Holdings and Development Corp., and Virgo Holdings and Development Corp. Republic of the Philippines Vs. Sandiganbayan 5th Division, Lucio C. Tan, Estate of Ferdinand E. Marcos (Represented by Imelda R. Marcos, Imee M. Manotoc, Irene M. Araneta, and Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.), Imelda R. Marcos, Carmen Khao Tan, Florencio T. Santos, Natividad P. Santos, Domingo Chua, Tan Hui Nee, Mariano Tan Eng Lian, Estate of Benito Tan Kee Hiong (Represented by Tarciana C. Tan), Florencio N. Santos, Jr., Harry C. Tan, Tan Eng Chan, Chung Poe Kee, Mariano Khoo, Manuel Khoo, Miguel Khoo, Jamie Khoo, Elizabeth Khoo, Celso C. Ranola, William T. Wong, Ernesto B. Lim, Benjamin T. Albacita, Don Ferry, Willy Co, Federico Moreno, Panfilo O. Domingo, Heirs of Gregorio Licaros, Cesar Zalamea, Shareholdings Inc., Allied Banking Corp., Foremost Farms Inc., Fortune Tobacco Corp., Maranaw Hotels and Resorts Corp., Virginia Tobacco Redrying Plant, Northern Tobacco Redrying Plant, Asia Brewery Inc., Sipalay Trading Corp., Himmel Industries, Grandspan Development Corp., Basic Holdings Corp., Progressive Farms, Inc., Manufacturing Services and Trade Corp., Allied Leasing & Finance Corp., Jewel Holdings Inc., Iris Holdings and Development Corp., and Virgo Holdings and Development Corp. Republic of the Philippines Vs. Sandiganbayan 5th Division, Lucio C. Tan, Estate of Ferdinand E. Marcos (Represented by Imelda R. Marcos, Imee M. Manotoc, Irene M. Araneta, and Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.), Imelda R. Marcos, Carmen Khao Tan, Florencio T. Santos, Natividad P. Santos, Domingo Chua, Tan Hui Nee, Mariano Tan Eng Lian, Estate of Benito Tan Kee Hiong (Represented by Tarciana C. Tan), Florencio N. Santos, Jr., Harry C. Tan, Tan Eng Chan, Chung Poe Kee, Mariano Khoo, Manuel Khoo, Miguel Khoo, Jamie Khoo, Elizabeth Khoo, Celso C. Ranola, William T. Wong, Ernesto B. Lim, Benjamin T. Albacita, Don Ferry, Willy Co, Federico Moreno, Panfilo O. Domingo, Heirs of Gregorio Licaros, Cesar Zalamea, Shareholdings Inc., Allied Banking Corp., Foremost Farms Inc., Fortune Tobacco Corp., Maranaw Hotels and Resorts Corp., Virginia Tobacco Redrying Plant, Northern Tobacco Redrying Plant, Asia Brewery Inc., Sipalay Trading Corp., Himmel Industries, Grandspan Developlvient Corp., Basic Holdings Corp., Progressive Farms, Inc., Manufacturing Services and Trade Corp., Allied Leasing & Finance Corp., Jewel Holdings Inc., Iris Holdings and Development Corp., and Virgo Holdings and Development CorpThe Republic lost its long-running case to recover alleged ill-gotten wealth from Lucio Tan and the Marcoses because its key evidence was hearsay or inadmissible and it did not prove that undue advantage of office was used to acquire the assets.
- A.C. 13557Oct 2023Dominador C. Fonacier v. Atty. Gregorio E. MaunahanA lawyer who notarizes a document without checking the signer's identity with proper ID, and who does not record it in his notarial register, can be suspended and fined even if he acted without intent to cheat.
- G.R. 256868Oct 2023People of the Philippines v. Corazon C. GernaleA tax assessment based only on a BIR letter notice, with no letter of authority, is void, and a corporate officer cannot be made personally liable for the corporation's unpaid taxes.
- G.R. 261171Oct 2023Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Bw Shipping Philippines, IncA Philippine manning agency that recruits crew for foreign shipping companies can get a refund of its unused input VAT, because its foreign clients were not shown to be doing business in the Philippines.
- G.R. 246531Oct 2023Benedict Princer San Juan v. Regus Service Centre Philippines B.vA manager can be validly fired for losing the employer's trust when his drunken, improper conduct at a company team building and his behavior afterward during the investigation gave the company a basis to no longer trust him.