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.
- A.C. 9162Aug 2023(Formerly Cbd Case No. 06-1698) Teresa P. Sierra v. Atty. Joseph Anthony M. Alejandro and Atty. Carmina a. AbbasWhen a trial court has already taken up and decided a forum shopping issue in a case, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines cannot decide that same issue in a disbarment case against the lawyers.
- G.R. 261972Aug 2023People of the Philippines v. Mark Angelo Concepcion y BacuñoA person who claims insanity as a defense must prove with clear and convincing evidence that he had completely lost his mind at the time of the crime, and killing a toddler is murder because the child cannot defend himself.
- G.R. 226098Aug 2023Roberto Bacar v. People of the Philippines and Vicente Tan Vicente Tan Vs. Michael MercadoTenants already declared by the agrarian adjudication board to be tenants of a landowner cannot be convicted of stealing the produce they harvested from that land.
- G.R. 228919Aug 2023Luzviminda Palo v. Spouses Rey C. Baquirquir and Fleurdeline B. Baquirquir, Takeshi Nakamura, Atty. Orpha T. Casul-ArendainA mortgage clause that merely says the property may be foreclosed judicially or extrajudicially does not give the lender the express power to sell the property, so a foreclosure without that power is void.
- G.R. 255931Aug 2023Xxx255931,* v. People of the PhilippinesWhen a minor aged 12 to below 18 is forced into sex, the crime is rape under the Revised Penal Code, which carries a heavier penalty, and not a violation of the child abuse law.
- G.R. 247439Aug 2023Sheriff Albert a. dela Cruz of the Sandiganbayan Security and Sheriff Services, the Sandiganbayan Security and Sheriff Services v. Wellex Group, IncA company that borrowed money from funds later found to be ill-gotten wealth cannot use the defense that the State waited too long to collect, because the State's right to recover ill-gotten wealth never expires.
- G.R. 261670Aug 2023Allan Gacasan y Langamin v. People of the PhilippinesA person who hands over fake bank notes and takes payment for them cannot claim he did not know they were fake, and he is guilty of illegal possession and use of false bank notes.
- G.R. 232778Aug 2023Republic of the Philippines v. Spouses Rolly D. Tan and Grace TanA land registration case still pending when the new law (Republic Act No. 11573) took effect must be sent back so the applicants can meet the new, simpler rules on proving that the land is alienable and on how long they or their predecessors possessed it.
- A.C. 12443Aug 2023Bernaldo E. Valdez v. Atty. Winston B. HipeA suspended lawyer may go back to practice as soon as he files a sworn statement that he served his suspension, without waiting for the Court to confirm it.
- A.M. 17-12-02-SCAug 2023Re: Consultancy Services of Helen P. MacasaetThe eight consultancy contracts with Helen P. Macasaet stay void, but because everyone acted in good faith she may keep a fair payment for the work she actually did, to be computed by the Court itself.
- A.C. 8219Aug 2023Office of the Provincial Prosecutor of Cavite, Department of Justice. v. Atty. Leonuel N. MasA lawyer who was already disbarred cannot be disbarred a second time, but the Court can still record the penalty, make him return the money, and bar him from judicial clemency.
- G.R. 258873Aug 2023People of the Philippines v. Abdul Azis y Sampaco a.k.a. "Mohammad Macapundag Guimbor" @ "Major" and Alibair Macadato y Macadato @ "Ongkay,"Police who see a suspect hand over a bag of shabu may arrest him without a warrant, and missing witnesses at the inventory do not free the accused if the police gave good reasons and the drugs' integrity was preserved.
- G.R. 267487Aug 2023Jose P. Singh v. Perfecto S. Corpus, Jr. and Marlene S. CorpusFiling a baseless disbarment complaint to pressure a lawyer into returning his acceptance fee is malicious prosecution, but the damages awarded must be kept within amounts the Court has allowed in similar cases.
- G.R. 259469Aug 2023Buyayo Aliguyon v. Jeffrey a.k.a. 'Napadawan' Dummang, Johnny a.k.a. 'Bidang' Dummang, Minda Dummang, and Donato DummangA landowner who orally agreed to give one hectare to his son's creditors for the son's debt and P8,000.00 is bound by that deal, which was already partly carried out, even though no deed was signed and his wife never consented.
- G.R. 260912Aug 2023The Department of Energy v. Commissioner of Internal RevenueThe Court refused to reconsider its ruling that a tax dispute between two government agencies, the Department of Energy and the BIR, must be settled administratively and not in the Court of Tax Appeals.
- G.R. 254206Aug 2023People of the Philippines v. Tito Pajarilla y AlasA rape victim's clear and credible testimony can convict the accused, and a weak alibi from a neighbor living 20 meters away cannot defeat it.
- G.R. 244017Aug 2023Rosalia T. Caballero v. Laverne Realty & Development Corporation, Vivian P. Razote,* Treasurer of Las Piñas City and Registrar of Deeds of Las Piñas CityA property sold at a tax delinquency sale is lost only if the city followed every required step, including making sure the owner (or the occupant or administrator) actually received the warrant of levy; otherwise the sale is void.
- G.R. 266439Aug 2023Teresito Radonis Quiqui v. People of the PhilippinesA trial court may approve a drug accused's plea to a lesser offense even if the prosecutor objects only because of a Department of Justice circular, as long as the plea fits the Supreme Court's plea bargaining framework.
- G.R. 248584Aug 2023Felix G. Valenzona v. the People of the PhilippinesA corporation's president cannot be convicted of a crime under a special law just because he holds the title; the prosecution must show he himself took part in, or had the power to prevent, the violation.
- G.R. 255014Aug 2023Presidential Commission on Good Government v. C&o Investment and Realty Corp. and Miguel CojuangcoThe government's anti-ill-gotten-wealth commission cannot hold on to a property through a sequestration letter signed by someone who had no power to issue it, and a void order cannot be saved by estoppel.