July 2016

54republic acts
  1. 01RA 10922ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL LITERACY ACTAn Act Declaring the Second Week of November of Every Year as Economic and Financial Literacy WeekThe President has no power to discipline or remove a Deputy Ombudsman, because the Constitution makes the Office of the Ombudsman independent.
    In Force
  2. 02RA 10906ANTI-MAIL ORDER SPOUSE ACTAn Act Providing Stronger Measures Against Unlawful Practices, Businesses, and Schemes of Matching and Offering Filipinos to Foreign Nationals for Purposes of Marriage or Common Law Partnership, Repealing for the Purpose Republic Act No. 6955, Also Referred to as the “anti-Mail Order Bride Law”A Bar passer cannot be barred from taking the Lawyer's Oath just because a criminal case is pending against her, since being accused is not the same as being guilty.
    In Force
  3. 03RA 10907CAMIGUIN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT ACTAn Act Declaring Tourism Development Areas in the Province of Camiguin, Organizing the Camiguin Tourism Council and Mandating Support for Tourism Development in the Province of CamiguinTaxi drivers who pay a daily boundary are employees, and a company that takes their taxis away without notice because of unpaid boundary has illegally dismissed them.
    In Force
  4. 04RA 10908INTEGRATED HISTORY ACT OF 2016An Act Mandating the Integration of Filipino-Muslim and Indigenous Peoples History, Culture and Identity in the Study of Philippine History in Both Basic and Higher EducationA court employee who resigns to escape an investigation can still be punished, and charging irregular fees and refusing to pay debts hurts the Judiciary's reputation.
    In Force
  5. 05RA 10909NO SHORTCHANGING ACT OF 2016An Act Prohibiting Business Establishments from Giving Insufficient or No Change to Consumers and Providing Penalties Therefor
    In Force
  6. 06RA 10911ANTI-AGE DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT ACTAn Act Prohibiting Discrimination Against Any Individual in Employment on Account of Age and Providing Penalties ThereforAn employee who resigns with a polite, thankful letter and offers no proof that her employer knew of and ignored the harassment cannot later claim she was forced out.
    In Force
  7. 07RA 10912CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ACT OF 2016An Act Mandating and Strengthening the Continuing Professional Development Program for All Regulated Professions, Creating the Continuing Professional Development Council, and Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other Related PurposesTwo trademarks can share the same main word and still coexist when the products are unrelated, so a maker of air conditioners may register KURA even though a hotel and resort business already uses KURA HOTEL and KURA RESORT.
    In Force
  8. 08RA 10913ANTI-DISTRACTED DRIVING ACTAn Act Defining and Penalizing Distracted DrivingA power plant that is fined by the electricity spot market operator for breaking its market rules cannot send that penalty to arbitration; its remedy is a petition for certiorari in the Court of Appeals.
    In Force
  9. 09RA 10915PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURAL AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING ACT OF 2016An Act Strengthening, Modernizing and Aligning the Practice of Agricultural Engineering in the Country into the Internationally Recognized Practice of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering, and for Other PurposesEven when an employee's misconduct could be punished by dismissal under company rules, firing him is too harsh if it was his first offense in 28 years of good service and he did not act with wrongful intent.
    In Force
  10. 10RA 10916ROAD SPEED LIMITER ACT OF 2016An Act Requiring the Mandatory Installation of Speed Limiter in Public Utility and Certain Types of VehiclesPolice officers who grab a person off the street without any legal basis are guilty of grave misconduct and oppression, and must be dismissed from service.
    In Force
  11. 11RA 10919UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OF SOUTHERN PHILIPPINES (USTSP) ACTAn Act Establishing the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines (Ustsp), Providing for the Purpose the Amalgamation of the Mindanao Untvtrsity of Science and Technology (Must) and the Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology (Moscat), and Appropriating Funds ThereforA person who lures a homeless 13-year-old with false promises and offers her for sex is guilty of qualified trafficking, and the child's consent does not matter.
    In Force
  12. 12RA 10918PHILIPPINE PHARMACY ACTAn Act Regulating and Modernizing the Practice of Pharmacy in the Philippines, Repealing for the Purpose Republic Act Numbered Five Thousand Nine Hundred Twenty-One (R.a. No. 5921), Otherwise Known as the Pharmacy LawA judge who leaves dozens of cases undecided past the deadline is liable for gross neglect of duty even after he retires, but this does not automatically make him unfit to be a lawyer.
    In Force
  13. 13RA 10870PHILIPPINE CREDIT CARD INDUSTRY REGULATION LAWAn Act Regulating the Philippine Credit Card IndustryA teenager who committed rape of a very young child can be held criminally responsible if he acted with discernment, but because he was a minor his penalty is lowered, and since the death penalty no longer exists, the lowering is counted from reclusion perpetua.
    In Force
  14. 14RA 10871BASIC LIFE SUPPORT TRAINING IN SCHOOLS ACTAn Act Requiring Basic Education Students to Undergo Age-Appropriate Basic Life Support Training
    In Force
  15. 15RA 10879MIMAROPA ACTAn Act Establishing the Southwestern Tagalog Region to Be Known as the Mimaropa RegionCourts cannot rule on whether billboard-leasing companies are mass media when the only basis is a vague, unnamed foreign buyer, because that would be an advisory opinion on a problem that has not yet happened.
    In Force
  16. 16RA 10882AFP DERIVATIVE RETIREMENT PENSION FOR CHILDREN/SURVIVORS ACT OF 2016An Act Exempting Surviving Children of Military Personnel Who Are Mentally Incapacitated from Termination of Benefits upon Reaching the Age of Twenty-One (21), Amending for the Purpose Section 25 of Presidential Decree Numbered Sixteen Hundred and Thirty -Eight, Otherwise Known as the AFP Military Personnel Retirement and Separation Decree of 1979, as AmendedThe Court affirmed the murder conviction of three Caloocan police officers for killing 17-year-old Kian Loyd Delos Santos, rejecting their claim of a lawful shootout, while lowering the money awards and removing the no-parole phrase.
    In Force
  17. 17RA 10883NEW ANTI-CARNAPPING ACT OF 2016An Act Providing for a New Anti-Carnapping Law of the PhilippinesA buyer who was not part of a land case cannot simply be ordered to give up his titles, but a cancelled notice of a pending case that was cancelled irregularly means he must prove he checked beyond the title.
    In Force
  18. 18RA 10884BALANCED HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AMENDMENTSAn Act Strengthening the Balanced Housing Development Program, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 7279, as Amended, Otherwise Known as the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992A private complainant may challenge an acquittal in the criminal aspect through certiorari in the RTC if the public prosecutor agrees, but here the challenge failed because the trial court did nothing grossly wrong.
    In Force
  19. 19IRR · RA 10752Committee for the Preparation of the IRR of Ra 10752 Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10752, an Act Facilitating the Acquisition of Right-of-Way, Site or Location for National Government Infrastructure Projects
    In Force
  20. 20RA 10896An Act Renewing for Another Twenty-Five (25) Years the Franchise Granted to People'S Broadcasting Service, Inc. Under Republic Act No. 7477. as Amended by Republic Act No. 9213The Supreme Court turned the Judicial Integrity Board into a new Judicial Integrity Office that handles complaints against court personnel and lower-court judges.
    In Force
  21. 21RA 10894An Act Extending to Another Twenty-Five (25) Years the Franchise Granted to the Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (Pt&t) to Establish, Install, Maintain and Operate Wire and/or Wireless Telecommunications Systems, Lines, Circuits and Stations Throughout the Philippines for Public Domestic and International Communications Under Republic Act No. 4161, as AmendedWhen the victim herself testifies in court that the rape was not completed, the Court cannot convict for consummated rape, but it can still convict the accused of attempted rape if his acts clearly showed he began to commit it.
    In Force
  22. 22RA 10895An Act Granting the Avocado Broadband Telecoms, Inc. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain Telecommunications Systems Throughout the PhilippinesA person who admits killing someone and claims self-defense must prove it with clear and convincing evidence, and small differences in the prosecution witnesses' stories will not free him if he cannot.
    In Force
  23. 23RA 10897An Act Granting the Ama Telecommunications, Inc. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain Telecommunications Systems in the PhilippinesA petition against a congressional contempt order is dismissed as moot once the contempt order is lifted, the committee finishes its inquiry, and that Congress ends, because the Court can no longer give any useful relief.
    In Force
  24. 24RA 10898An Act Granting the Infinivan, Inc. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain Telecommunications Systems Throughout the PhilippinesA court clerk who used a co-worker's name to attend a convention, claimed the reimbursement and falsified her time record lost all her retirement benefits, even though she had already retired.
    In Force
  25. 25RA 10899An Act Granting Veritas Media Arts Inc. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations in the Province of Bohol and the VisayasA victim who says no, or tries to stop the act, even only in the middle of it, has resisted, and ignoring that is the force that makes the act rape.
    In Force
  26. 26RA 10900An Act Extending for Another Twenty-Five (25) Years the Franchise Granted to Bell Telecommunication Philippines. Inc., Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 7692, Entitled "an Act Granting to Bell Telecommunication Philippines, Inc., a Franchise to Install, Operate and Maintain Telecommunications Systems Throughout the Philippines and for Other Purposes"When an accused appeals a conviction for a lesser crime, he gives up the protection against double jeopardy, so the Court may convict him of the graver crime originally charged.
    In Force
  27. 27RA 10901An Act Granting the Pilipinas Asian Pearl Airways. Inc. a Franchise to Establish, Operate and Maintain Domestic and International Air Transport ServicesA court sheriff who offers to settle a litigant's case for a fee, and takes money for it, is guilty of gross misconduct and dishonesty and is dismissed from the service.
    In Force
  28. 28RA 10902An Act Granting the Metro Connections and Telecom Corp. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain Telecommunications Systems Throughout the PhilippinesA trial judge cannot refuse a drug accused's request to plead guilty to a lesser offense just because he faces two charges from the same incident or because of the type and amount of drugs involved.
    In Force
  29. 29RA 10903An Act Granting the Megamanila Telecom Corp. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain Telecommunications Systems Throughout the Philippines
    In Force
  30. 30RA 10904An Act Granting the Pilipinas Radio Waves Corp. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain Radio and/or Television Broadcasting Stations Throughout the PhilippinesA dismissed employee can vote in a union election only if he has challenged his dismissal before a labor arbiter, and a notice of strike filed with the NCMB does not count.
    In Force
  31. 31RA 10905An Act Requiring All Franchise Holders or Operators of Television Stations and Producers of Television Programs to Broadcast or Present Their Programs with Closed Captions Option, and for Other PurposesA man who rubbed his private part against an eight-year-old girl was convicted of statutory acts of lasciviousness under the Revised Penal Code, not under the child abuse law, because a child that young cannot give any consent.
    In Force
  32. 32RA 10910An Act Increasing the Prescriptive Period for Violations of Republic Act No. 3019, Otherwise Known as the “anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act’, from Fifteen (15) Years to Twenty (20) Years, Amending Section II ThereofA clerk of court who repeatedly follows up other courts' cases for litigants and hints at a favor in exchange for a favorable ruling can be punished even after resigning, and here was disbarred.
    In Force
  33. 33RA 10914An Act Granting Philippine Citizenship to Hans-Peter SmitThe tax bureau cannot collect a tax assessment that was made by auditors with no proper written authority, and it also loses the right to collect if it waits years without acting.
    In Force
  34. 34RA 10917An Act Amending Certain Provisions of Republic Act No. 9547, Otherwise Known as an Act Strengthening and Expanding the Coverage of the Special Program for Employment of Students, Amending for the Purpose Provisions of Republic Act No. 7323, Otherwise Known as the Special Program for Employment of StudentsA public officer in charge of government money who cannot satisfactorily explain a cash shortage found by state auditors can be convicted of malversation without direct proof that he spent the money.
    In Force
  35. 35RA 10920An Act Separating the Conner Central National High School – Cupis Annex II in Barangay Cupis, Municipality of Conner, Province of Apayao from the Conner Central National High School, Converting It into an Independent National Technical-Vocational High School to Be Known as Cupis National High School and Appropriating Funds Therefor
    In Force
  36. 36RA 10921An Act Separating the Conner Central National High School – Ili Annex IV in Barangay Ili, Municipality of Conner, Province of Apayao from the Conner Central National High School, Converting It into an Independent National High School to Be Known as Ili National High School and Appropriating Funds ThereforOnce the tax evasion case against the petitioners was finally dismissed, their petition about the Court of Tax Appeals' handling of their motion became moot, so the Supreme Court dismissed it without ruling on the issues.
    In Force
  37. 37RA 10891An Act Granting the First Bay Power Corp. (Fbpc) a Franchise to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain a Distribution System for the Conveyance of Electric Power to the End Users in the Municipality of Bauan, Province of BatangasReporting on a matter of public interest, based on documents and an official's statements, is protected from a damages suit for defamation, and a losing suit does not by itself entitle the defendant to damages.
    In Force
  38. 38RA 10892An Act Renewing for Another Twenty-Five (25) Years the Franchise Granted to Ibaan Electric Corporation (Formerly Ibaan Electric and Engineering Corporation) to Construct, Operate, and Maintain an Electric Light, Heat, and Power System in the Municipality of Ibaan, Province of Batangas Under Republic Act No. 7578A judgment, even one based on a compromise agreement, can be annulled if a person who had to be included in the case was never made a party, because the court then had no jurisdiction.
    In Force
  39. 39RA 10893An Act Renewing for Another Twenty-Five (25) Years the Franchise Granted to Masbate Community Broadcasting Co., Inc. Under Republic Act No. 7510, Entitled "an Act Granting the Masbate Community Broadcasting Co., Inc., a Franchise to Construct, Install, Operate and Maintain Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations in the Islands of Masbate and Romblon and the Whole of the Visayas, and for Other Purposes"Appeals from a regional trial court's conviction of low-ranking officials under the Anti-Graft Law belong to the Sandiganbayan, so a Court of Appeals ruling on such an appeal is void, and the accused should not suffer for the court clerk's wrong transmittal.
    In Force
  40. 40RA 10872An Act Separating the Cagasat National High School – Magsaysay Annex in Barangay Magsaysay, Municipality of Cordon, Province of Isabela from the Cagasat National High School, Converting It into an Independent National High School to Be Known as Cordon National High School and Appropriation Funds ThereforA title that comes from an emancipation patent issued without the required first step is void, so it loses to an older, valid title.
    In Force
  41. 41RA 10873An Act Separating the Conner Central National High School – Talifugo Annex in Barangay Talifugo, Municipality of Conner, Province of Apayao from the Conner Central National High School, Converting It into an Independent National High School to Be Known as Talifugo National High School and Appropriating Funds ThereforThe Supreme Court refused to issue a writ of kalikasan, a special order to protect the environment, over nickel mining on Sibuyan Island because the residents did not prove damage big enough to affect two or more cities or provinces.
    In Force
  42. 42RA 10874An Act Separating the Pio DA Lim Memorial School of Arts and Trades – Tanglagan Annex in Barangay Tanglagan, Municipality of Calanasan, Province of Apayao from the Pio DA Lim Memorial School of Arts and Trades, Converting It into an Independent National Technical–vocational High School to Be Known as Tanglagan National High School and Appropriating Funds ThereforA person who gets children to come to his house to be sexually abused for money is guilty of qualified trafficking, and the children's willingness is no defense.
    In Force
  43. 43RA 10875An Act Establishing a National Science and Technology High School in Barangay San Jose City of Antipolo, Province of Rizal to Be Known as Antipolo City National Science and Technology High School and Appropriating Funds ThereforThe Court of Tax Appeals may stop the tax collector from collecting a tax without requiring the taxpayer to post a bond when the assessment is clearly illegal, and the Supreme Court will not undo that.
    In Force
  44. 44RA 10876An Act Separating the Kalinga National High School – Ambato Tinglayan Annex in Barangay Ambato-Legleg, Municipality of Tinglayan, Province of Kalinga from the Kalinga National High School, Converting It into an Independent National High School to Be Known as Tinglayan National High School and Appropriating Funds ThereforFacing criminal charges, even while detained, does not make someone a nuisance candidate; the COMELEC need only look for a real intention to run, and it is the voters who decide whether a candidate deserves to win.
    In Force
  45. 45RA 10877An Act Separating the Gov. Alfredo Abueg Sr. National Technology and Vocational Memorial High School – Aribungos Extension in Barangay Aribungos, Municipality of Brooke'S Point, Province of Palawan from the Gov. Alfredo Abueg Sr. National Technology and Vocational Memorial High School, Converting It into an Independent National High School to Be Known as Inil U. Taha National High School and Appropriating Funds ThereforA land dispute between farmers is not an agrarian case just because one side says so; unless there is a tenancy relationship, the regular courts can hear a forcible entry case.
    In Force
  46. 46RA 10878An Act Strengthening and Institutionalizing Direct Credit Support of the Land Bank of the Philippines to Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, Small Farmers and Fisherfolk, Further Amending Republic Act No. 3844, Otherwise Known as the "Agricultural Land Reform Code", as AmendedThe Land Bank of the Philippines is a public corporation, so summons must be served on its executive head, but a court can order the bank's own lawyer to serve the summons so the case can go on.
    In Force
  47. 47RA 10881An Act Amending Investment Restrictions in Specific Laws Governing Adjustment Companies, Lending Companies, Financing Companies and Investment Houses Cited in the Foreign Investment Negative List and for Other PurposesA tax delinquency sale is void if the notices were sent to the wrong address, so the buyer gets no title and no writ of possession.
    In Force
  48. 48RA 10880An Act Creating an Additional Branch of the Regional Trial Court with Seat at Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro in the Fourth Judicial Region, Further Amending for the Purpose Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, Otherwise Known as "the Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980", as Amended, and Appropriating Funds ThereforThe Supreme Court upheld the drug convictions because the police followed the rules on handling the seized shabu, and a short delay in handing it to the investigator did not break the chain of custody.
    In Force
  49. 49RA 10885An Act Granting the Makinig Network, Inc. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain Radio and/or Television Broadcasting Stations Throughout the PhilippinesA man caught with a kitchen knife during the election period was acquitted because the prosecution did not prove he was at or near a polling place at the times the law covers.
    In Force
  50. 50RA 10886An Act Renewing for Another Twenty-Five (25) Years the Franchise Granted to Kalayaan Broadcasting System, Incorporated Under Republic Act No. 7303, as Amended by Republic Act No. 8105, Entitled "an Act Granting the Kalayaan Broadcasting System, Incorporated, a Franchise to Construct, Install, Operate and Maintain Radio Broadcasting Stations in the Island of Mindanao and for Other Purposes"A man convicted of bigamy who said he would give himself up when told by the NBI of his arrest warrant was credited with voluntary surrender, and his prison term was reduced.
    In Force
  51. 51RA 10887An Act Amending the Franchise Granted to Byers Communications, Inc. Under Republic Act No. 8107, Expanding Its Scope into National Coverage, and Renewing Its Term for Another Twenty-Five (25) YearsA tenant's option to buy the land, written only in the first lease, did not carry over to a later lease that merely extended the rental, so the tenant could not force the sale.
    In Force
  52. 52RA 10888An Act Renewing for Another Twenty-Five (25) Years the Franchise Granted to Zoe Broadcasting. Inc., Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 7297, Entitled "an Act Granting the Zoe Broadcasting Network. Inc. a Franchise to Construct, Install, Operate and Maintain Radio and Television Broadcasting Stations Throughout the Philippines, and for Other Purposes", as Amended by Republic Act No. 7968A mayor who fails to account for cash advances after repeated demands can be convicted of malversation and of failing to render accounts, and paying part of the money later does not erase the crime.
    In Force
  53. 53RA 10889An Act Renewing for Another Twenty-Five (25) Years the Franchise Granted to Corona International, Inc. Under Republic Act No. 7398The Supreme Court dismissed the Republic's challenge to a discovery order because later events made the question moot, meaning a ruling would no longer have any practical effect.
    In Force
  54. 54RA 10890An Act Granting the Mactan Electric Company, Inc. (Meco) a Franchise to Construct Install, Establish, Operate and Maintain a Distribution System for the Conveyance of Electric Power to the End Users in the City of Lapu-Lapu and the Municipality of Cordova Province of CebuA person who wants to adopt a child whose mother has handed the child over to him must first get a DSWD certificate that the child is legally available for adoption.
    In Force