LITERAL INTERPRETATION

If a statute is clear, plain and free from ambiguity, it must be given its literal meaning and
applied without attempted interpretation. Verba legis non est recedendum, from the words of a
statute there should be no departure.

.LITERAL INTERPRETATIONLiteral Meaning or plain-meaning rule
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As a general rule, the intent of legislature to be and t her eaf t er as cer t ai ned gi ven
ef f ect i s t he i nt ent expressed in the language of the statute.
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Plain meaning rule:
verba legis
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Index animi sermo:
speech is the index of intention.
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Verba Legis non est recedendum:
from the words of astatute there should be no departure.
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Wh a t i s n o t c l e a r l y p r o v i d e d i n t h e l a w c a n n o t b e extended to those
matters outside its scope

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Where what is not clearly provided in the law is readinto law by construction because it is more
logical andwise, it would be to encroach upon legislativeprerogative to define the wisdom of
the law, which is judicial legislation.
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To depart from the meaning expressed by words is toalter the statute, to legislate and not to
interpret.
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Maledicta est expositioquae corrumpit textum
: or it isdangerous construction which is against the text

KAPISANAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA v. MANILA RAILROAD COMPANY
GR NO. L-25316
Petitioner: Kapisanan nga mga manggagawa sa Manila Railroad Company Credit
Union
Respondent: Manila Railroad Company

Facts:
The petitioner-appealant seeks a reversal of the decision dismissing its petition
for mandamus based on the claim of the right granted by Section 62 of Rep. Act.
No. 2023, more specifically the two paragraphs thereof: (1) A member of a
cooperative may, notwithstanding the provisions of existing laws, execute an
agreement in favor of the cooperative authorizing his employer to deduct from
the salary or wages payable to him by the employer such amount as may be
specified in the agreement and to pay the amount so deducted to the cooperative
in satisfaction of any debt or any demand owing from the member to the
cooperative. (2) Upon the exemption of such agreement the employer shall if so
required by the cooperative by a request in writing and for so long as such debt or
other demand or any part of it remains unpaid, make the claimant and remit forth
with the amount so deducted to the cooperative.

The petitioner contends that the under the provisions of Rep. Act. 2023, the loans
granted to its members enjoy first priority in the payroll collection from the
respondents employees wages and salary. The court determined that the only
effect of Rep. Act. 2023 is to compel the employer to deduct the employees debt
from the latters salary and turn this over to the employees credit union but this
does not convert the credit unions credit into a first priority credit.

Issue: Whether or not the law does give first priority in the matter of payments to
the obligations of the employees in favor of their credit unions.

Held: If the legislative intent of enacting the pars. 1 and 2 of Section 62 of Rep.
Act. No. 2023 were to give first priority in the matter of payments to the
obligations of the employees in favor of their credit unions, then the law would
have so expressedly declared. There is no ambiguity. As thus worded, it was so
applied. When the statutory norm speaks unequivocally, there is nothing for the
courts to do except to apply it.
The Supreme Court affirmed the appealed decision.