Hi Class,

Please find below the list of reading assignments until finals. However, please note that I reserve the
right to add more reading assignments as I see fit.

Thanks.

Mar


I. NATURE AND CONCEPT OF STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION
National Federation of Labor (NFL) v. Eisma, G.R. L-61236, January 31, 1984
Luzon Surety Co., Inc. De Garcia, G.R. No. 25659, October 31, 1969, 20 SCRA
111 (1969)
Matabuena v. Cervantes, G.R. No. 28771, March 31, 1971, 38 SCRA 284 (1971)
People v. Nazario, G.R. No. 44143, August 31, 1988, 165 SCRA 186 (1988)

II. STRICT AND LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION: MANDATORY AND DIRECTORY
2.1 General Rule
2.2 PENAL STATUTES
Martin Centeno v. Hon. Victoria Villalon-Pernillos, GR. No. 113092, 236 197
(1994)
Cesario Ursua v. Court of Appeals, GR. No. 112170, 256 SCRA 147 (1996)
People of the Philippines v. Walpan Ladjaalam y Mihajil, GR No. 136149-51,
340 SCRA 617 (2000)
2.3 TAX LAWS
Republic of the Phil. v. Intermediate Appellate Court, GR No. 69344, 196 SCRA
335 (1991)
Acting Commissioner of Customs v. Manila Electric Company, GR No. L-23623,
77 SCRA 469 (1977)
Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. PLDT, GR No. 140230, 478 SCRA 61
(2005)
2.4 Naturalization Laws
Ong Chia v. Republic of the Phil, GR No. 127240, 328 SCRA 749 (2000)
2.5 Insurance Law
Finman General Assurance Corp. v. CA, GR No. 100970, 213 SCRA 493 (1992)
2.6 Labor and Social Legislations
GSIS v. Marian Vicencio, GR No. 176832, 588 SCRA 138 (2009)
Maria Manahan v. Employees Compensation Commision, GR. No. L-44899, 104
SCRA 198 (1981)
Salvador Lazo v. ECC, GR No. 78617, 186 SCRA 569 (1990)
2.7 Retirement Laws
Francisco Tantuico v. Hon. Eufemio Domingo, GR No. 96422, 230 SCRA 391
(1994)
2.8 Election Rules
Roleto Pahilan v. Rudy Tabalba, GR No. 110170, 230 SCRA 205 (1994)
2.9 Rules of Court
DSM Construction and Development Corp. v. CA, GR No. 166993, 478 SCRA 618
(2005)


III. OBJECTS AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION
a. Verba Legis or literal interpretation/plain meaning rule
Colgate Palmolive Philippines, Inc. v. Gimenez, G.R. No. 14787, January 28,
1961, 1 SCRA 267 (1961)
b. Ratio Legis or interpretation by considering the spirit and reason of the law/Golden Rule
Hidalgo v. Hidalgo, G.R. Nos. 25326-27, May 29, 1970, 33 SCRA 195 (1970)
c. Mens Legislatoris/Mischief Rule
US v. Toribio, 15 Phil. 85 (1910)
Macabenta v. Davao Stevedore Terminal Co., G.R. No. 27489, April 30, 1970, 32
SCRA 553 (1970)
d. Equity of the Statute
- Civil Code, Articles 9 and 10
Amatan v. Aujero, AM No. RTJ-93-956, September 27, 1995, 248 SCRA 511
(1995)

IV. INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION IN RELATION TO LANGUAGE OF THE
STATUTE
a. Common Meaning Rule
Kuenzle & Streiff v. Collector of Customs, 32 Phil. 510 (1915)
Song Kiat Chocolate Factory v. Central Bank of the Philippines, 102 Phil. 477
(1957)
Tan, et. al. v. People, G.R. No. 115507, May 19, 1998, 290 SCRA 117 (1998)
b. Terms with Legal Meaning
Bernardo v. Bernardo, G.R. No. 5872, November 29, 1954, 96 Phil. 202 (1954)
c. Terms with Multiple Meaning
Malanyaon v. Lising, G.R. No. 56028, July 30, 1981, 106 SCRA 237 (1981)
d. Doctrine of Associated Words or Noscitur a Sociis
Buenaseda v. Flavier, G.R. No. 106719, September 21, 1993
e. Ejusdem Generis Rule
Vera v. Cuevas, G.R. Nos. L-33693-94, May 31, 1979
f. Expressio Unius Exclusio Alterius Rule
San Pablo Manufacturing Corporation v. CIR, G.R. No. 147749, June 22, 2006
g. Casus Omissus Rule
People v. Manantan, G.R. No. 14129, July 31, 1962
h. Ubi Lex Non Distinguit Nec Nos Distinguere Debemos
Ramirez v. Court of Appeals, G.R. Nos. 93833, September 28, 1995, 248 SCRA
590 (1995)
i. Doctrine of Last antecedent
Florentino v. Philippine National Bank, 98 Phil. 969 (1956)
j. Reddendo Singula Singulis
People v. Tamani. G.R. Nos. 22160-61, January 21, 1974, 55 SCRA 153 (1974)
k. Doctrine of Necessary Implication
DAR v. Philippine Communications Satellite Corporation, G.R. Nos. 152640,
June 15, 2006
l. Verbal or Clerical Errors
Rufino Lopez & Sons v. CTA, G.R. No. 9274, February 1, 1957, 100 Phil. 850
(1957)
m. Number, Gender and Tense
Santillon v. Miranda, G.R. No. 19281, June 30, 1965, 14 SCRA 563 (1965)
n. Conjunctive and Disjunctive Words
Amon Trading Corporation v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 158585, December 13,
2005, 477 SCRA 552 (2005)
o. Use of Shall and May
Office of the Ombudsman v. Macabulos, G.R. No. 159395, May 7, 2008

V. AIDS IN INTERPRETATION AND CONSTRUCTION
5.1 Intrinsic Aids
5.1.1 Title
Central Capiz v. Ramirez, 40 Phil. 883 (1920)
Miriam Defensor Santiago v. COMELEC, GR No. 12735, 270 SCRA 106 (1997)
5.1.2 Preamble
People v. Purisima, G.R. No. 42050-66, November 20, 1978, 86 SCRA 542 (1978)
Florencio Eugenio v. Exec. Secretary Drilon, GR No. 109404, 252 SCRA 106
(1996)
People of the Phil. V. Hon. Vicente Echavez, GR No. L-47757-61, 95 SCRA 663
(1980)
5.1.3 Punctuation Marks
U.S. v. Hart, 26 Phil. 149 (1913)
5.1.4 Definition Sections and Interpretation Clauses
People v. Buenviaje, 47 Phil. 536 (1925)
5.1.5 Capitalization of Letters
Unabia v. City Mayor, 99 Phil. 253 (1956)
5.2 Extrinsic Aids
- Legislative History Prior to Enactment
5.2.1 Contemporaneous Circumstance
Philippine Sugar Centrals Agency v. Collector of Customs, 51 Phil. 131 (1927)
5.2.2 Policy
Sarcos v. Castillo, supra
5.2.3 Legislative History of Statute
Oliva v. Lamadrid, G.R. No. 23196, October 31, 1967, 21 SCRA 737 (1967)
Cecilio de Villa v. Court of Appeals, GR No. 87416, 195 SCRA 722 (1991)
5.2.4 Contemporaneous and Practical Construction
Nestle Philippines v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 86738, November 13, 1991, 203
SCRA 504 (1991)
5.2.5 Other Aids (dictionaries, documents, scientific and political writing, legal
treatises, construction placed by executive officers, etc.)
Misael Vera v. Hon. Serafin Cuevas, GR Nos. L-33693-94, 90 SCRA 379 (1979)
PAFLU v. Bureau of Labor Relations, GR. No. L-43760, 72 SCRA 396 (1976)

VI. CONSTRUCTION OF THE STATUTE AS A WHOLE, ITS PART AND OTHER
STATUTES
Araneta v. Concepcion, G.R. No. 9667, July 31, 1956, 99 Phil. 709 (1956)
Aboitiz Shipping Corporation v. City of Cebu, G.R. No. 14526, March 3, 1965, 13
SCRA 449 (1965)
Magtajas and City of Cagayan de Oro v. Pryce Properties Corporation and
PAGCOR, G.R. No. 111097, July 20, 1994, 234 SCRA 255 (1994)
National Tobacco Administration v. COA, G.R. No. 119385, August 5, 1999, 311
SCRA 755 (1999)
Co v. Civil Register of Manila, G.R. No. 138496, February 23, 2004, 423 SCRA
420 (2004)