Stat Con Reviewer

Verba Legis
- plain meaning rule
- when the law is clear and unequivocal the Court has no other alternative but to apply the law and not
to interpret
Director of Lands vs CA
Globe Mackay Cable vs NLRC
Socorro Ramirez vs CA: legislative intent is determined principally from the language of a statute
Felicito Basbacio vs Office of the Secretary, DOJ: when the language of the statute is clear it should be
given its natural meaning

Index animi sermo est
-speech is the index of intention
Globe Mackay Cable vs NLRC

Dura Lex Sed Lex
- the Court cannot shy away from applying the law when no interpretation is needed no matter how
harsh the law may be

Ut res magis valeat quam pereat
-that construction is to be sought which gives effect to the whole of the statute - its very word
-in interpreting a statute care should be taken that every part be given effect
JMM Promotions and Management vs NLRC

Cessante ratione legis, cessat ipsa lex
-when the reason of the law ceases, the law itself ceases
B/Gen. Jose Commendador vs B/Gen. Demetrio Camera

Ratio legis est anima
-the reason of law is its soul
B/Gen. Jose Commendador vs B/Gen. Demetrio Camera

Doctrine of implications
-that which is plainly implied in the language of a statute is as much a part of it as that which is
expressed
City of Manila vs Judge Amador Gomez

Ubi lex non distinguit nec nos distinguere debemos
-where the law does not distinguish, courts should not distinguish
De Villa vs CA
Colgate-Palmolive Phil., Inc. vs Gimenez
Pilar vs COMELEC
Phil. British Assurance Co., Inc. vs Intermediate Appellate Court
People vs Evangelista and Tugonon
Ejusdem generis
-where general words follow an enumeration of persons or things by words of a particular and specific
meaning, such general words are not to be construed in their widest extent, but are to be held as
applying only to persons or things of the same kind or class as those specifically mentioned.
Republic vs Migrino
Vera vs Cuevas
People vs Echaves

Expressio Unius Est Exclusio Alterius
-express mention of one person, thing, act or consequence excludes all others
San Pablo Manufacturing Co. vs Commission of Internal Revenue

Noscitor a Sociis
-where a particular word is equally susceptible of various meanings, its correct construction may be
made specific by considering the company of terms in which it is found or with which it is associated
Dra. Brigida Buenaseda vs Sec Juan Flavier
Source: Statutory Construction by Diaz