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. 261807Aug 2024Teddy Peña y Romero v. People of the PhilippinesA person convicted of a minor crime with a short jail sentence can ask the Supreme Court to let him do community service instead, even if the law allowing it came after his trial.
- G.R. 261612Aug 2024Arsenio Managuelod y Tandayu v. People of the PhilippinesA man was acquitted of carrying a knife during the election period because the prosecution's proof that he had the knife was doubtful.
- G.R. 263920Aug 2024People of the Philippines v. Benjamin Olidan y Erlandez, Crispin Araneta y Pelaez, Lynfer Bicodo y Baylon, Rogelio Caloring,** Annabelle Olidan y Araneta, Godofredo Navanes y Lorenzo,*** Po1 Jose Lonmar Zapatos y Fiel, and Po1 Antonio Castillo y Domingo, and Rey Alada ; Benjamin Olidan y ErlandezA man who guarded the safe house where kidnapped children were held is as guilty as the kidnappers, and because four people were kidnapped he is convicted of four counts of kidnapping for ransom.
- G.R. 254283Aug 2024Orlando Rodriguez and Daryl Rama v. San Roque Metals, IncA company cannot use small settlement payments to wipe out a final judgment for illegally dismissed workers, and it cannot keep raising the same argument in different courts.
- G.R. 266145Aug 2024Ma. Dulce C. Fernandez, as Represented by Her Attorneys-in-Fact Jaime C. Fernandez, Roberto C. Fernandez, and Ma. Elena C. Fernandez v. Enrique C. FernandezA person who has a lifetime right to use and possess a property, called a usufruct, can eject even a co-owner who stays there only because she tolerated it.
- G.R. 257821Aug 2024Rogelio Garalde Mendaros, Romeo dela Cruz, Jr., Julius Caesar Gutierrez, Rey Abalos, Jeremiah Muga, King Michael Muit, and June Suarez v. Lazada E-Services Phil., Inc./allan David AnchetaDelivery riders whom Lazada hired under contracts calling them independent contractors were in fact regular employees, so ending their contracts after one year was illegal dismissal.
- G.R. 185110Aug 2024Premiere Development Bank,• v. Spouses Engracio T. Castañeda•• and Lourdes E. Castañeda,•••A bank cannot use a borrower's payment on a personal loan to pay other loans owed by separate companies, even if the borrower is an officer of those companies, and a bank that insists on doing so in bad faith must pay damages.
- G.R. 271209Aug 2024Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth), Philhealth President and Chief Executive Officer, and Philhealth Regional Office-National Capital Region, Through Its Vice President v. Dr. Jose Mari del Valle GalauranPhilHealth cannot withdraw a doctor's accreditation through its President or a regional vice president, because only the PhilHealth Board can do that, and it must give the doctor a fair hearing, including the documents that make up the charge.
- A.C. 11001Aug 2024(Formerly Cbd Case No. 21-6449) Grand Pillar International Development, Inc., Represented by Its Chief Executive Officer, Josephine F. Chua v. Atty. Nini D. CruzA lawyer who has already been disbarred for the same act cannot be disbarred again in another complaint over the same facts, but she can still be fined for ignoring orders of the Supreme Court and the IBP.
- G.R. 263887Aug 2024Philippine Primark Properties, Inc. v. China Banking Corporation Trust and Assets Management GroupA bank's trust department is only a part of the bank and has no separate legal personality, so it cannot sue or be sued on its own, and a dismissal on that ground should be challenged by certiorari, not an ordinary appeal.
- G.R. 246379Aug 2024Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Dohle Shipmanagement Philippines CorporationFor old VAT refund claims, the 120 days the tax bureau has to decide start from when the taxpayer submits complete documents, so a company that added documents later still filed its court case on time.
- G.R. 273136Aug 2024Eliseo Mijares Rio, Jr., Augusto Cadeliña Lagman, and Franklin Fayloga Ysaac v. Commission on Elections En BancA court cannot order the Commission on Elections to decide a motion in a particular way, but the Commission must still resolve pending motions quickly under its own rules.
- A.M. 24-04-09-SCAug 2024Re: Draft Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 11691 or the Judiciary Marshals ActThe Supreme Court approved the rules that put the Judiciary Marshals Act into operation, creating an armed security and investigation office to protect judges, court staff and court buildings.
- A.M. RTJ-23-039Aug 2024(Formerly Jib Fpi No. 21-075-Rtj) Rolly C. Castillo v. Hon. Miguel S. Asuncion, Presiding Judge, Branch 99, Regional Trial Court, Antipolo City, RizalA judge who sat on a request for a writ of preliminary injunction for almost seven years is guilty of gross neglect of duty, and being busy or the pandemic does not excuse a delay that started before it.
- G.R. 271741Aug 2024Datu Sajid S. Sinsuat, Ebrahim P. Diocolano, and Feby a. Acosta v. Hon. Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, in His Capacity as Interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Government, and Bangsamoro Transition Authority (Bta) Mayor Datu Tucao O. Mastura, for Himself and as Representative of the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, and the Liga Ng Mga Barangay of the Municipality of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao del Norte, Represented by Bai Aliyyah Nadrah M. Macasindil Vs. Bangsamoro Transition Authority (Bta), and Hon. Ahod Balawag Ebrahim, in His Capacity as the Interim Chief Minister of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and the Commission on ElectionsWhen new municipalities are created, the voters of the mother town that will shrink must also be allowed to vote in the plebiscite, not just the voters of the new town.
- G.R. 254976Aug 2024Marcelino dela Cruz Lingganay v. del Monte Land Transport Bus Company, Inc. and Narciso MoralesA worker who wants to add new money claims to a labor complaint must do so before filing his position paper, or get the Labor Arbiter's permission. A bus driver with repeated accidents, the last one very costly, was also validly dismissed.
- G.R. 261123Aug 2024Duty to Energize the Republic Through the Enlightenment of the Youth Party-List, Represented by Ronald Gian Carlo L. Cardema and Representative Ducielle Marie S. Cardema v. Commission on Elections, House of Representatives, Komunidad Ng Pamilya, Pasyente at Persons With Disabilities Party-List and Its Nominees Led by Rowena Amelia v. Guanzon Duty to Energize the Republic Through the Enlightenment of the Youth Party-List, Represented by Ronald Gian Carlo L. Cardema and Representative Ducielle Marie S. Cardema Vs. Ma. Rowena Amelia v. GuanzonA party-list group cannot replace all of its nominees after the election and after the deadline set by COMELEC, because the voters have a right to know who the nominees are before they vote.
- G.R. 232269Jul 2024(Formerly Udk 15799) Shela Bacaltos Asilo v. Presiding Judge Maria Luisa Lesle G. Gonzales-Betic, Branch 225, Regional Trial Court, Quezon CityTo have a foreign divorce recognised in the Philippines, the petition itself must state the foreign spouse's nationality and national law allowing the divorce and remarriage, and these must be proven in court.
- G.R. 257219Jul 2024(Formerly Udk No. 16941) Tullett Prebon (Philippines), Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal RevenueA company claiming a tax refund can prove its income was reported through the combined weight of its records, and its past tax returns are accepted as proof of earlier excess credits unless the tax bureau shows they are false.
- G.R. 201881Jul 2024Spouses Flavio P. Bautista and Zenaida L. Bautista v. Premiere Development Bank, Substituted by Security Bank Savings Corporation, and Atty. Pacita Araos,* Senior Assistant Vice President and Acting Head of Legal and Collection GroupA bank whose foreclosure sale was void and whose 10-year deadline has passed cannot foreclose again, and it also cannot sue to collect the loan, because filing for foreclosure was its choice of remedy.