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. 221060Aug 2023Marken, Incorporated,* v. Landbank of the Philippines, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (Darab)A landowner who disagrees with the agrarian board's land price must go to the Special Agrarian Court, not straight to the Court of Appeals, and idle land is not exempt from agrarian reform just because it was once a fishpond.
- DecisionAug 2023G.r. No. 199539* Sioland Development Corporation, as Represented by Ceo Elizabeth Sio, Petitioner, Vs. Fair Distribution Center Corporation, Represented by Esteban L. Alba, Jr., Respondent.A buyer who lets a deadline to answer a lawsuit pass can be declared in default, and a claim of payment fails without receipts, since invoices only prove delivery and later deliveries do not prove earlier bills were paid.
- DecisionAug 2023G.r. No. 235484* the City Government of Antipolo and the City Treasurer of Antipolo, Petitioners, Vs. Transmix Builders & Construction, Inc., Respondent.A city treasurer must send the warrant of levy for unpaid real property tax to the owner named on the land title, not just the person named in the tax declaration, or the levy, auction and forfeiture are void.
- G.R. 258257Aug 2023Pedro "Pepe" Talisay v. People of the PhilippinesPlacing a man's penis on top of a girl's vagina, without proof of any penetration or intent to penetrate, is lascivious conduct against a child, not rape, but it is still punished heavily.
- G.R. 246942Aug 2023People of the Philippines v. Josephine Angsico, Virgilio v. Dacalos, Felicisimo F. Lazarte, Jr., Josephine T. Espinosa, and Noel a. Lobrido; Josephine Casenas-Hottle (Formerly Angsico), Virgilio v. Dacalos, Felicisimo F. Lazarte, Jr., and Noel a. Lobrido People of the Philippines Vs. Josephine Angsico, Robert Balao, Virgilio v. Dacalos, Felicisimo F. Lazarte, Jr., Josephine T. Espinosa, Noel a. Lobrido, and Jose M. Cruz; Josephine T. EspinosaGovernment officials who sign off on an inflated final payment to a contractor, knowing the required approval for extra work is missing, are guilty of graft, and a boss cannot simply rely on subordinates when red flags are present.
- G.R. 263706Aug 2023People of the Philippines v. Annie Frency Nuñez y Adolfo a.k.a. "Faith,"Recruiting minors to be offered to a customer for sex in exchange for money is qualified trafficking in persons, and the minors' consent is meaningless.
- G.R. 251872Aug 2023People of the Philippines v. Vanessa Banaag y BaylonThe Court held that a trafficker's conviction could not be for the qualified (child) version because the prosecution did not properly prove the victim's age, but it still convicted her of ordinary trafficking.
- G.R. 264958Aug 2023People of the Philippines v. Jonnel Delos Reyes y TungolTying up a 15-year-old and pushing him into a 20-foot pit, where he stayed for two days, is serious illegal detention, and the accused was sentenced to reclusion perpetua.
- G.R. 262197Aug 2023People of the Philippines v. Joko Celis y Pine a.k.a. "Jaztine" or "Joco/joko,"A man who recruited girls and offered them to customers for sex was convicted of qualified trafficking in persons, and the crime is complete even if no sex act has happened yet.
- A.M. 22-09-16-SCAug 2023Re: Statements Made by Lorraine Marie T. Badoy Allegedly Threatening Judge Marlo a. Magdoza-Malagar. Atty. Rico v. Domingo, Dean Antonio Gabriel M. La Viña, Dean Ma. Soledad Deriquito-Mawis, Dean Anna Maria D. Abad, Dean Rodel a. Taton, Atty. Artemio P. Calumpong, Atty. Christianne Grace F. Salonga, Atty. Ray Paolo J. Santiago, and Atty. Ayn Ruth Z. Tolentino-Azarcon Vs. Lorraine Marie T. Badoy-PartosaFreedom of expression lets people criticize judges, but social media posts that threaten a judge and incite violence over a pending case are not protected speech and are punishable as contempt of court.
- G.R. 262581Aug 2023People of the Philippines v. Sps. Xxx262581 and Yyy262581A father who rapes his minor daughter, with the mother holding the girl down, is guilty of qualified rape, and the mother is equally liable as a conspirator.
- G.R. 255740Aug 2023Pastor Corpus, Jr. y Belmoro v. People of the PhilippinesA person cannot be convicted of a lesser crime that had already prescribed (the time to file had run out) when the case was filed, even if he was charged with a graver crime.
- G.R. 258060Aug 2023People of the Philippines v. Edward Dalisay y BagroPolice can frisk a person when there are at least two suspicious circumstances, but even then they must follow the drug-evidence rules, including a complete chain of custody, or the drug charge fails.
- G.R. 245855Aug 2023Romeo Dc. Resulta v. Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office (Pacpo)-Luzon, Represented by Marivic B. dela CruzA government employee cannot be dismissed for grave misconduct just because of his position or because he signed documents; there must be evidence of his own deliberate wrongdoing.
- G.R. 240632Aug 2023Librado C. Navarro v. Commission on Audit, Director Roland a. Rey, Regional Director, Commission on Audit, Regional Office No. Xiii, Caraga Region, Butuan City Charlito R. Lerog, Aprodecio a. Alba, Roberto v. Viduya, Daisy a. Ronquillo, Lorna S. Salgado, and Belma K. Lomantas Vs. Commission on Audit, Represented by Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, Commissioner Jose a. Fabia, and Commissioner Isabel D. Agito Racquel L. Bautista, Estefa R. Maata, and Laila P. Manlucob Vs. Commission on Audit, Represented by Chairperson Michael G. Aguinaldo, Commissioner Jose a. Fabia, and Commissioner Isabel D. Agito Gilbert P. Abugan Vs. Commission on Audit and Regional Director, COA Regional Office No. XiiiThe Commission on Audit cannot disallow a city's purchase of an excavator when the machine actually met the bid requirements, and the city officials who followed the procurement rules are cleared.
- G.R. 261207Aug 2023Topbest Printing Corporation, as Duly Represented by Shirley L. Dionisio v. Sofia C. Gemora, in Her Capacity as Director IV of the Commission on Audit, Edna P. Salaguban, Supervising Auditor, Fahad Bin Abdul Malik N. Tomawis, Audit Team LeaderA company that lets a COA audit decision become final by filing a petition in the Supreme Court instead of appealing to the COA Commission Proper cannot reopen the case, and must return the money it received under a disguised subcontract.
- A.M. RTJ-21-2604Aug 2023Office of the Court Administrator v. Hon. Jesus B. Mupas, Former Presiding Judge, Atty. Melben Rey M. Madrid, Branch Clerk of Court, Liza I. Doctolero, Court Stenographer, and Hermito dela Cruz III, Criminal Clerk-in-Charge, All of the Regional Trial Court of Pasay City, Branch 112A court employee who ignores the judge's clear orders on how to safeguard cash evidence, and loses it as a result, can be dismissed from the service for gross neglect of duty.
- G.R. 239350Aug 2023J. Paul Q. Octaviano v. Board of Architecture of the Professional Regulation Commission, Professional Regulation Commission and United Architects of the PhilippinesThe Court upheld the rules requiring architects to be members of, and pay dues to, the United Architects of the Philippines, because the Architecture Act allows these requirements and they are a valid regulation of the profession.
- A.C. 8471Aug 2023Judge Ray Alan T. Drilon and Atty. Corazon P. Romero v. Atty. Ariel D. MaglalangA lawyer who gave his client a fake court order was disbarred, meaning he lost his license to practice law.
- G.R. 261156Aug 2023Robert Catan y Masangkay v. People of the PhilippinesDemanding money from two teenagers by threatening to post a girl's nude photos online, and picking up the payment, is simple robbery, and doing it through the internet raises the penalty by one degree.