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. 249759Apr 2026Juanito B. Soto v. Cassandra Reyes-Soto and the Republic of the PhilippinesA marriage can be declared void for psychological incapacity even without violence or infidelity, if both spouses had deeply rooted personality problems from before the wedding that made real married life impossible.
- G.R. 263728Apr 2026Serafin P. Lopez, Jr. v. Government Service Insurance System, Represented by Its President and General Manager, Rolando L. MacasaetA government worker who leaves the service and waits 15 years before trying to keep his GSIS life endowment policy alive loses the right to its maturity benefits, and can only collect the policy's cash surrender value.
- G.R. 270344Apr 2026People of the Philippines v. Katchan Irizumi y Borromeo @ "Hapon,"A drug conviction cannot stand when the police did not have the required outside witnesses at or near the place of arrest and left other gaps in how they handled the seized drugs.
- G.R. E-02121Apr 2026Shopping Center Management Corporation v. Nelly a. GaluteraA raffle promoter must honor the plain words of its own rules, and a declared winner cannot be disqualified through a stretched reading of them.
- G.R. E-00224Apr 2026Christopher H. Piccio v. Office of the Ombudsman, Darell Bajalan dela Flor, Nelia F. Basañes, and Edna EscanerA losing complainant cannot use certiorari to reopen the factual findings of the Ombudsman, and officials who honestly believed they could use leftover project funds were not found dishonest.
- G.R. 270273Apr 2026Noli dela Cruz v. Jorivel Cariño, Represented by Her Attorney-in-Fact, Joymae CariñoA gate placed across a recorded right of way, which blocks or hampers a neighbor's access to the public road, is a nuisance and must be removed even if it is not locked.
- G.R. 256978Apr 2026Ecowaste Coalition, Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (Idis), Jayvie Cabajes, Anecita Abadijas, Kisha Erah Muaña, Ma. Erlinda Coleen Salamat, and Francisco Dangla III, in Their Personal v. Secretary Roy Cimatu, in His Capacity as Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (Denr)Even an important environmental case cannot go straight to the Supreme Court when it depends on scientific facts that a lower court or agency must first examine.
- G.R. 270295Apr 2026Lotrim Construction, Inc., Represented by Its President, Engineer Odilon Marlon L. Gaviola, and Engineer Odilon Marlon L. Gaviola v. Commission on AuditA contractor on a government project that was paid more than the value of the work it actually did must return the excess, and it cannot wait years to question the Commission on Audit's authority.
- A.M. P-26-313Apr 2026(Formerly Oca Ipi No. 08-2926-P) Edgar B. Buyag v. Rachel M. Caliwag, Officer-in-Charge/interpreter III, Branch 2, Regional Trial Court, Bangued, AbraA court employee who demands money in exchange for releasing a document in her custody is guilty of gross misconduct, and moving to another government office does not let her escape punishment.
- A.C. 12880Apr 2026Reinario* B. Bihag, Mateo Cortes, Benjamin Cabatic, Nassrollah D. Montud, Teddy Bernales, Karim Macarompan, Donato Calica, Jr., Claire Grebern Elumir, and Edgar Demavivas v. Atty. Edgardo O. EraA disbarred lawyer cannot undo a final decision by calling his motion something else, and his refusal to return the money he was ordered to give back to his former client leads to contempt and a writ of execution.
- G.R. 275424Apr 2026Ernesto D. Arriesgado v. Multinational Maritime, Inc., Mms. Co. Ltd. and/or Capt. Banny B. BrionesA seafarer hurt in a basketball game on board his ship can claim disability benefits, and if the company doctor never gives a proper final assessment on time, his disability is treated as total and permanent.
- G.R. 240263-64Apr 2026Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, Inc. v. Commissioner of CustomsRoyalties that an importer must pay to its foreign parent company to sell branded goods are added to the value of the imported goods for customs duties, and VAT on imports also covers arrastre and wharfage fees.
- G.R. 260164Mar 2026Roberto a. Ramirez v. People of the PhilippinesA former pilot who flew his ex-employer's aircraft without consent is guilty of simple theft, because even using a thing without the owner's consent counts as gain.
- G.R. 275887Mar 2026Erlinda Umali Cabrera v. People of the PhilippinesA clerk of court who cannot produce missing court funds when the auditors demand them is presumed to have used the money personally, and is guilty of malversation unless she gives a satisfactory explanation.
- G.R. 278542Mar 2026Lorna Guevarra y Reyes v. People of the PhilippinesA teacher who punishes a child in a way meant to shame and humiliate her, not just to discipline her, commits child abuse.
- A.M. P-26-316Mar 2026Joseph Dominic M. Capule v. Conrado T. Felipe, Utility Worker II, Office of the Clerk of Court, Regional Trial Court, Malolos City, BulacanCourt employees may not smoke or vape in court premises outside designated areas, and doing so is punishable even if the act seems minor.
- G.R. 276986Feb 2026Republic of the Philippines v. Ma. Theresa Ramoran-Wong and Vincent L. WongA husband's unwillingness to oppose the case does not prove that the couple conspired, and a marriage can be declared void for psychological incapacity when the spouse's lasting personality problems, existing before the wedding, make him unable to do the basic duties of marriage.
- G.R. 267860Feb 2026People of the Philippines v. Xxx267860An adult who persuades or influences a minor, such as a teacher with a 14-year-old student, into sex commits child sexual abuse under R.A. 7610, even if the child seemed to go along, and the word moral ascendancy need not appear in the charge.
- G.R. 265114Feb 2026Lizza C. Santos v. Local Civil Registrar of Manila and the Civil Registrar GeneralA person who says her signature on a marriage certificate was forged must prove it with clear and convincing evidence; her own denial and friendly witnesses are not enough.
- G.R. 272556Feb 2026Empire East Land Holdings, Inc. v. John Edrem BautistaIf a condominium developer takes a buyer's reservation payments but never issues the promised Contract to Sell, the buyer can cancel and get everything back, and the developer may also be ordered to pay exemplary damages for dragging out the case.