Reading guide: Particular Rules of Construction

Must read: Highlighted cases

Verba legis or plain meaning rule.

Agpalo, Statutory Construction, 2009 Ed., pp. 130-131, citing Republic v. Lacap, G.R. No. 158253, Mar. 2, 2007

Verba legis, when applied.

SWS & Pulse Asia, Inc. v Comelec, G.R. No. 208062, Apr. 7, 2015

Evidence of ambiguity.
SWS & Pulse Asia, Inc. v Comelec, G.R. No. 208062, Apr. 7, 2015
Sec. 5.2.a., R.A. No. 9006, cited in SWS & Pulse Asia, Inc. v Comelec, G.R. No. 208062, Apr. 7, 2015

Dura lex sed lex.

Agpalo, Statutory Construction, 2009 Ed., p. 209, citing Go v. Anti-Chinese League of the Phils., 84 Phil. 468
(1949); Gonzales v. Gonzales, 58 Phil. 67 (1933); Republic v. Go Bon Lee, 111 Phil. 805 (1961); Velasco v. Lopez, 1 Phil.
720 (1903)

Ratio legis.
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 62, citing U.S. v. Yee Ngee How, D.C. Cal. 105,
F.Supp. 577
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 62, citing U.S. v. Freeman, 11 L. ed., p. 274
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 62, citing 82 C.J.S., pp. 618-620
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 62, citing Case v. Olso, 14 N.W. 2d., p. 717

Mens legislatories.
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 66, citing 82 C.J.S., p. 593
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 66, citing In re Marshall, 69 A. 2d., 619

Ejusdem generis.
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, pp. 67-68, citing Crawford, Statutory Construction, p.
191

Ejusdem generis, purpose.

Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, pp. 67-68, citing 2 Sutherland,
Statutory Construction, 3rd ed., pp. 395, 400

Reddendo singuala singulis.

Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 71, citing 2 Sutherland, Statutory Construction, 3rd
ed., p. 423
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 71, citing Crawford, Statutory Construction, Sec. 194
Art. XI, Sec. 3(1), 1987 Constitution, cited in Francisco Jr. v. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, Nov.
10, 2003
Art. XI, Sec. 3(5), 1987 Constitution, cited in Francisco Jr. v. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, Nov.
10, 2003
Art. XI, Sec. 3(5), 1987 Constitution, cited in Francisco Jr. v. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, Nov.
10, 2003
Father Bernas, clarifying the word initiate during oral arguments as Amicus Curiae, cited in Francisco Jr. v.
House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, Nov. 10, 2003
Art. XI, Sec. 3(1), 1987 Constitution, cited in Francisco Jr. v. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, Nov.
10, 2003
Francisco Jr. v. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, Nov. 10, 2003

Distribution of antecedent and consequent.

Lacuna v. Abes, 133 Phil. 770, 773-774 (1968), citing Art. 32, Revised Penal Code, cited in Aratea v.
Comelec, G.R. No. 195229, Oct. 9, 2012
Lacuna v. Abes, 133 Phil. 770, 773-774 (1968), cited in Aratea v. Comelec, G.R. No. 195229, Oct. 9,
2012
People v. Silvallana, 61 Phil. 636 (1935), cited in Aratea v. Comelec, G.R. No. 195229, Oct. 9, 2012
Aratea v. Comelec, G.R. No. 195229, Oct. 9, 2012
Aratea v. Comelec, G.R. No. 195229, Oct. 9, 2012, citing Art. 30, Revised Penal Code
Aratea v. Comelec, G.R. No. 195229, Oct. 9, 2012, citing Art. 32, Revised Penal Code

Expressio unius ext exclusio alterius.

Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 71, citing Walla Walla v. Walla Water Co., 43 L. ed.,
p. 341
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 71, citing Dave’s Place v. Liquor Control Comm., 269
N.W., p. 504
Art. VII, Sec. 16, 1st sentence, 1987 Constitution, cited in Calderon v. Carale, G.R. No. 91636, Apr. 23, 1992
Calderon v. Carale, G.R. No. 91636, Apr. 23, 1992
Sarmiento III v. Mison, G.R. No. 79974, Dec. 17, 1987, cited in Calderon v. Carale, G.R. No. 91636, Apr. 23,
1992
Bautista v. Salonga, G.R. No. 86439, Apr. 13, 1989, cited in Calderon v. Carale, G.R. No. 91636, Apr. 23, 1992
Quintos Deles v. The Commission on Constitutional Commissions, G.R. No. 83216, Sept. 4, 1989, cited in
Calderon v. Carale, G.R. No. 91636, Apr. 23, 1992
Sarmiento III v. Mison, G.R. No. 79974, Dec. 17, 1987, cited in Calderon v. Carale, G.R. No. 91636, Apr. 23,
1992

Exception.
Chua v. CSC, G.R. No. 88979, Feb. 7, 1992
Sec. 2, R.A. No. 6683, cited in Chua v. CSC, G.R. No. 88979, Feb. 7, 1992
R.A. No. 6683, cited in Chua v. CSC, G.R. No. 88979, Feb. 7, 1992
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Noscitur a sociis.
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 79, citing Animal Rescue League v. Assessors, 138
A.L.R., p. 110
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 79, citing Re Stryker, 70 Am. St. Rep. 489
People v. Delantar, G.R. No. 169143, Feb. 7, 2007; Republic v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 84895, May 4, 1989,
citing Co Kim Cham v. Valdez Tan Keh and Dizon, 75 Phil. 371 (1945), cited in Kua v. Barbers, G.R. No. 159410, Jan. 28,
2008
Oil and Natural Gas Commission v. CA, 354 Phil. 830, 841 (1998), citong Luzon Stevedoring Co. v. Trinidad, 43
Phil. 803 (1922), cited in Kua v. Barbers, G.R. No. 159410, Jan. 28, 2008
Sec. 16, P.D. No. 564, cited in Kua v. Barbers, G.R. No. 159410, Jan. 28, 2008
Sec. 17, P.D. No. 564, cited in Kua v. Barbers, G.R. No. 159410, Jan. 28, 2008
Sec. 18, P.D. No. 564, cited in Kua v. Barbers, G.R. No. 159410, Jan. 28, 2008
Sec. 19, P.D. No. 564, cited in Kua v. Barbers, G.R. No. 159410, Jan. 28, 2008
Sec. 20, P.D. No. 564, cited in Kua v. Barbers, G.R. No. 159410, Jan. 28, 2008
Sec. 21, P.D. No. 564, cited in Kua v. Barbers, G.R. No. 159410, Jan. 28, 2008
Kua v. Barbers, G.R. No. 159410, Jan. 28, 2008
R.A. 7160, cited in Magtajas v. Pryce Properties and Pagcor, G.R. No. 111097, July 20, 1994
Sec. 458(1)(V), Local Government Code of 1991, cited in Magtajas v. Pryce Properties and Pagcor, G.R. No.
111097, July 20, 1994
P.D. 1869, cited in Magtajas v. Pryce Properties and Pagcor, G.R. No. 111097, July 20, 1994
Magtajas v. Pryce Properties and Pagcor, G.R. No. 111097, July 20, 1994

Casus omissus.
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 80, citing Hazelrigg v. Penitentiary Comrs., 184 Ark.
154
Martin, Statutory Construction, 6th ed., reprinted 1980, p. 80, citing 50 Am. Jur., p. 233
Black’s Law Dictionary, Fifth Ed., p. 198, cited in Chavez v. JBC, et al., G.R. No. 202242, Apr. 16, 2013
Agpalo, Statutory Construction, 2009 Ed., p. 231, cited in Chavez v. JBC, et al., G.R. No. 202242, Apr. 16,
2013
Agpalo, Statutory Construction, 2009 Ed., p. 231, citing Cartwrite v. Cartwrite, 40 A2d 30, 155 ALR 1088
(1944), cited in Chavez v. JBC, et al., G.R. No. 202242, Apr. 16, 2013
Agpalo, Statutory Construction, 2009 Ed., p. 232, citing Cartwrite v. Cartwrite, 40 A2d 30, 155 ALR 1088
(1944), cited in Chavez v. JBC, et al., G.R. No. 202242, Apr. 16, 2013
Chavez v. JBC, et al., G.R. No. 202242, Apr. 16, 2013

Exception.
Sec. 2, R.A. 6683, cited in Chua v. CSC, G.R. No. 88979, Feb. 7, 1992
H.B. No. 33399, cited in Chua v. CSC, G.R. No. 88979, Feb. 7, 1992
Sec. 3, H.B. No. 33399, cited in Chua v. CSC, G.R. No. 88979, Feb. 7, 1992
Chua v. CSC, G.R. No. 88979, Feb. 7, 1992