Statutory Construction

1S, AY 2020-2021

Atty. Roi Andrei S. Galang

Course Outline

Textbook: Agpalo, Statutory Construction,  6th Edition (2009)

I. Introduction

A. Law, Definition, Concept

B. Parts of Statutes (Agpalo, 10-16)

C. Enrolled Bill Doctrine (Agpalo, 28-29)

1. Fariñas v. Executive Secretary (G.R. No. 147387, 10 December 2003)

D. Presumption of constitutionality (Agpalo, 66-68)

1. Philippine Migrants Rights Watch, Inc., v. OWWA (G.R. No. 166923, 26

November 2014)

E. Test of constitutionality (Agpalo, 87-88)

1. Void-for-vagueness doctrine

a. Estrada v. Sandiganbayan  (G.R. No. 148560, 19 November 2001)

b. Romualdez v. Sandiganbayan  (G.R. No. 152259, 29 July 2004)

i. Dissenting Opinion, Tinga, J.

c. David v. Arroyo,  489 SCRA 260 (2006)

 d. Romualdez v. COMELEC (G.R. No. 167011, 30 April 2008)

i. Dissenting Opinion, Tinga, J.

ii. Resolution on the MR, (G.R. No. 167011, 11 December 2008)

F. Effects of unconstitutionality; invalidity due to change in conditions;

doctrine of operative fact (Agpalo, 88-92)

1. Rutter v. Esteban (G.R. No. L-3708, 18 May 1953)

2. Film Development Council of the Philippines v. Colon Heritage Realty

Corporation, G.R. No. 203754, 16 June 2015

G. Partial invalidity (Agpalo, 92-96)

1. Disini v. Secretary of Justice  (G.R. No. 203335, 11 February 2014)

H. When laws take effect (Agpalo, 96-101)

1. Tañada v. Tuvera, (G.R. No. L-63915, 29 December 1986)

2. Philippine International Trading Corporation v. Angeles, (G.R. No. 108461,

21 October 1996)

I. Manner of computing time (Agpalo, 102-103)

1. Yapdiangco v. Buencamino (G.R. No. L-28841, 24 June 1983)

II. Construction and Interpretation of Statutes

A. Definition of “construction” (Agpalo, 104)

B. Legislative intent, purpose and meaning (Agpalo, 108-109)

C. Power to Construe, Limitations (Agpalo, 120-156)

1. Verba Legis Rule

 a. Padilla v. Congress  (G.R. No. 231671, 25 July 2017),

i. Concurring and Dissenting Opinion, Leonen, J.

2. Prospective application of judicial decisions

a. Co v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 100776, 28 October

1993)

III. Aids to Construction (Agpalo, 157-205)

A. Generally

1. Ebarle v. Sucaldito, 156 SCRA 803 (1987)

2. People v. Purisima, 86 SCRA 542

3. Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. TMX Sales, 205 SCRA 184

(1992)

B. Legislative History

1. Francisco v. Boiser, 332 SCRA 792 (2000)

C. Contemporary Construction, Stare Decisis

1. Adasa v. Abalos, G.R. No. 168617, 19 February 2007

2. Philippine Scout Veterans Security and Investigation Agency v.

NLRC, 262 SCRA 112 (1996)

3. Villena v. Spouses Chavez, 415 SCRA 33 (2003)

4. Lee v. Lui Man Chong, (G.R. No. 209535, 15 June 2015)

5. Lazatin v. Desierto, (G.R. No. 147097, 5 June 2009)

IV. Adherence To, or Departure from Language of Statute (Agpalo, 206-268)

A. Plain-meaning Rule

1. National Federation of Labor v. NLRC  (327 SCRA 158 [2000])

B. Dura lex, sed lex

1. Obiasca v. Basallote  (G.R. No. 176707, 17 February 2010)

2. Sagana v. Francisco  (G.R. No. 161952, 2 October 2009)

C. Departure from Literal Interpretation

1. Santiago v. COMELEC (270 SCRA 106 [1997])

2. Co v. Electoral Tribunal of HOR (199 SCRA 692 [1991])

3. Sarcos v. Castillo  (G.R. No. 29755, 31 January 1969)

4. U.S. v. Toribio  (15 Phil. 85 [1910])

5. Comendador v. De Villa  (200 SCRA 80 [1991])

6. Oliveros v. Villaluz  (G.R. No. 34636, 30 May 1974)

7. People v. Purisima  (G.R. No. 42050, 20 November 1978)

V. Interpretation of Words and Phrases (Agpalo, 269 to 350)

A. General and Particular Uses of Words

1. Matuguina Integrated Wood Products v. CA, 263 SCRA 490

(1996)

2. Malanyaon v. Lising, 106 SCRA 237 (1981)

3. Tan v. Crisologo, G.R. No. 193993, 8 November 2017

B. Associated Words

1. Noscitur a sociis

a. Aisporna v. Court of Appeals, 11 SCRA 459 (1982)

b. Da-ichi Electronics Manufacturing v. Villarama, Jr., 238

SCRA 267 (1994)

2. Ejusdem Generis

a. Magtajas v. Pryce Properties, 234 SCRA 255 (1994)

b. Republic v. Santua, G.R. No. 155703, 8 September 2008

c. PBA v. CA, 337 SCRA 358 (2000)

3. Expressio unius est exclusio alterius

a. Malinias v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 146943, 4 October 2002

b. Sterling Selections Corporation v. LLDA, G.R. No. 171427,

30 March 2011

4. Dissimilum Dissimilis est ratio

a. Garvida v. Sales, 271 SCRA 767 (1997)

5. Casus omissus

a. COA v. Province of Cebu, 371 SCRA 196 (2001)

b. Spouses Delfino v. St. James Hospital, Inc., G.R. No.

166735, 23 November 2007

6. Doctrine of last antecedent

a. Cadayona v. CA, G.R. No. 128772, 3 February 2000

7. Ubi lex non distinguit nec nos distinguere debemos

 a. Ramirez v. Court of Appeals, 248 SCRA 590 (1995)

b. MTRCB v. ABS-CBN, G.R. No. 155282, 17 January 2005

8. Reddendo singula singulis

a. People v. Tamani, 55 SCRA 153 (1974)

b. Amadora v. CA, 160 SCRA 315 (1988)

9. Provisos, Exceptions and Excepting Clauses

C. Doctrine of necessary implication (Agpalo, 254-268)

a. Macalintal v. PET, G.R. No. 191618, 7 June 2011

b. Pepsi-Cola v. Secretary of Labor, (G.R. No. 96663, 10

August 1999)

VI. Statutes Construed as a Whole and in Relation to Other Statutes

A. Aquino v. Quezon City (G.R. No. 137534, 3 August 2006)

B. Gaanan v, IAC, 145 SCRA 112 (1986)

C. Sajonas v. CA (G.R. No. 102377, 5 July 1996)

D. McGee v. Republic (94 Phil. 820, 1954)

E. Mutuc v. COMELEC  (G.R. No. 32717, 26 November 1970)

F. Republic v. Asuncion ( 231 SCRA 211)

G. Lichauco and Co. v. Apostol (44 Phil. 138 [1992])

VII. Strict or Liberal Construction(Agpalo, 393-452)

 A. Statutes Strictly Construed

1. U.S. v. Abad Santos,  36 Phil. 243 (1917)

2. U.S. v. Go Chico,  14 Phil. 128 (1909)

3. U.S. v. Ah Chong,

4. People v. Manantan, 115 Phil. 637 (1962)

5. Realty Investment, Inc. v. Valderama, 84 Phil. 842 (1951)

6. Arriete v. Director of Public Works, 58 Phil. 507 (1933)

7. C& C Commercial Corp. v. NAWASA  (G.R. No. 27275, 18

November 1967)

8. Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Guerrero  (G.R. No. L-

20942, 22 September 1967)

B. Statutes Liberally Construed

1. Alfanta v. Noe  (G.R. No. 32362, 19 September 1973)

2. Proctor and Gamble v. Municipality of Jagna (G.R. No. 24265,

28 December 1979)

3. Republic v. Ablaza, 108 Phil. 1105 (1960)

4. Ginete v. Arcangel, 21 SCRA 1178

5. Tolentino v. Catoy, 82 Phil. 300 (1948)

6. Yapdiangco v. Buencamino (G.R. No. 28841, 24 June 1983)

7. Sea Power Shipping Enterprises v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No.

138270, 6 June 2001)

VIII. Mandatory and Directory Statutes (Agpalo, 453-487)

 A. Acosta v. Adaza  (G.R. No. 168617, 19 February 2007)

B. Gachon v. Devera, Jr., 274 SCRA 540 (1997)

C. De Mesa v. Mencias, (G.R. No. 24583, 29 October 1966)

D. Querubin v. Court of Appeals, 82 Phil. 226 (1948)

E. Marcelino v. Cruz (G.R. No. 42428, 18 March 1983)

IX. Prospective and Retroactive Statutes (Agpalo, 488-528)

A. Prospective Effect

1. Ex Post Facto law

a. Presidential Ad Hoc Fact-Finding Committee v.

Desierto (G.R. No. 145184, 14 March 2008)

b. Concepcion v. Garcia,  54 Phil. 81 (1929)

2. Bill of Attainder

a. People v. Ferrer,  (G.R. No. 32613, 27 December 1972)

3. U.S. v. Macasaet, 11 Phil. 447 (1908)

4. Yu Oh v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 125297, 6 June 2003)

B. Retroactive Effect

1. Castro v. Sagales, 94 Phil. 208 (1953)

2. Tayag v. Court of Appeals,  209 SCRA 665

X. Amendment, Revision, Codification and Repeal (Agpalo, 529-580)

XI. Constitutional Construction (Agpalo, 581 to 730)

A. Francisco v. House of Representatives (G.R. No. 160261, 10

November 2003)