Professional Documents
Culture Documents
b) Party-list system
C. Legislative privileges, inhibitions and disqualifications
D. Quorum and voting majorities
E. Discipline of members
F. Electoral tribunals and the Commission on Appointments
1. Nature
2. Powers
G. Powers of Congress
1. Legislative
a) Legislative inquiries and the oversight functions
b) Bicameral conference committee
c) Limitations on legislative power
(i) Limitations on revenue, appropriations and tariff measures
(ii) Presidential veto and Congressional override
2. Non-legislative
a) Informing function
b) Power of impeachment
c) Other non-legislative powers
IV. Executive Department
A. Privileges, inhibitions and disqualifications
1. Presidential immunity
2. Presidential privilege
B. Powers
1. Executive and administrative powers in general
2. Power of appointment
a) In general
b) Commission on Appointments confirmation
c) Midnight appointments
d) Power of removal
3. Power of control and supervision
a) Doctrine of qualified political agency
b) Executive departments and offices
c) Local government units
4. Military powers
5. Pardoning power
a) Nature and limitations
b) Forms of executive clemency
6. Diplomatic power
7. Powers relative to appropriation measures
8. Delegated powers
9. Veto powers
10. Residual powers
11. Executive privilege
C. Rules of Succession
V. Judicial Department
A. Concepts
1. Judicial power
2. Judicial review
a) Operative fact doctrine
b) Moot questions
c) Political question doctrine
B. Safeguards of Judicial independence
C. Judicial restraint
D. Appointments to the Judiciary
E. Supreme Court
1. En banc and division cases
2. Procedural rule-making
3. Administrative supervision over lower courts
4. Original and appellate jurisdiction
F. Judicial privilege
VI. Constitutional Commissions
A. Constitutional safeguards to ensure independence of commissions
B. Powers and functions of each commission
C. Prohibited offices and interests
D. Jurisdiction of each constitutional commission
E. Review of final orders, resolutions and decisions
1. Rendered in the exercise of quasi-judicial functions
2. Rendered in the exercise of administrative functions
H. Freedom of religion
1. Non-establishment clause
a) Concept and basis
b) Acts permitted and not permitted by the clause
c) Test
2. Free exercise clause
3. Tests
a) Clear and Present Danger Test
b) Compelling State Interest Test
c) Conscientious Objector Test
I. Liberty of abode and freedom of movement
1. Limitations
2. Right to travel
a) Watch-list and hold departure orders
3. Return to ones country
J. Right to information
1. Limitations
2. Publication of laws and regulations
3. Access to court records
4. Right to information relative to:
a) Government contract negotiations
b) Diplomatic negotiations
K. Right of association
L. Eminent domain
1. Concept
2. Expansive concept of public use
3. Just compensation
a) Determination
b) Effect of delay
4. Abandonment of intended use and right of repurchase
5. Miscellaneous application
M. Contract clause
1. Contemporary application of the contract clause
N. Legal assistance and free access to courts
O. Rights of suspects
1. Availability
2. Requisites
3. Waiver
P. Rights of the accused
1. Criminal due process
2. Bail
3. Presumption of innocence
4. Right to be heard
5. Assistance of counsel
6. Right to be informed
7. Right to speedy, impartial and public trial
8. Right of confrontation
9. Compulsory process
10. Trials in absentia
Q. Writ of habeas corpus
R. Writs of amparo, habeas data, and kalikasan
S. Self-incrimination clause
1. Scope and coverage
a) Foreign laws
2. Application
3. Immunity statutes
T. Involuntary servitude and political prisoners
U. Excessive fines and cruel and inhuman punishments
V. Non-imprisonment for debts
W. Double jeopardy
1. Requisites
2. Motions for reconsideration and appeals
3. Dismissal with consent of accused
X. Ex post facto laws and bills of attainder
VIII. Citizenship
A. Who are Filipino citizens
B. Modes of acquiring citizenship
3. Sandiganbayan
4. Ill-gotten wealth
N. Term limits
X. Administrative Law
A. General principles
B. Administrative agencies
1. Definition
2. Manner of creation
3. Kinds
C. Powers of administrative agencies
1. Quasi-legislative (rule-making) power
a) Kinds of administrative rules and regulations
b) Requisites for validity
2. Quasi-judicial (adjudicatory) power
a) Administrative due process
b) Administrative appeal and review
c) Administrative res judicata
3. Fact-finding, investigative, licensing and rate-fixing powers
D. Judicial recourse and review
1. Doctrine of primary administrative jurisdiction
2. Doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies
3. Doctrine of finality of administrative action
XI. Election Law
A. Suffrage
B. Qualification and disqualification of voters
C. Registration of voters
D. Inclusion and exclusion proceedings
E. Political parties
1. Jurisdiction of the COMELEC over political parties
2. Registration
F. Candidacy
1. Qualifications of candidates
2. Filing of certificates of candidacy
a) Effect of filing
b) Substitution of candidates
c) Ministerial duty of COMELEC to receive certificate
d) Nuisance candidates
e) Petition to deny or cancel certificates of candidacy
f) Effect of disqualification
g) Withdrawal of candidates
G. Campaign
1. Premature campaigning
2. Prohibited contributions
3. Lawful and prohibited election propaganda
4. Limitations on expenses
5. Statement of contributions and expenses
H. Board of Election Inspectors and Board of Canvassers
1. Composition
2. Powers
I. Remedies and jurisdiction in election law
1. Petition not to give due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy
2. Petition for disqualification
3. Petition to declare failure of elections
4. Pre-proclamation controversy
5. Election protest
6. Quo warranto
J. Prosecution of election offenses
XII. Local Governments
A. Public corporations
1. Concept
a) Distinguished from government-owned or controlled corporations
2. Classifications
a) Quasi-corporations
b) Municipal corporations
B. Municipal corporations
1. Elements
2. Nature and functions
3. Requisites for creation, conversion, division, merger or dissolution
10
11
12
6. Conflicts of jurisdiction
J. Treatment of aliens
1. Extradition
a) Fundamental principles
b) Procedure
c) Distinguished from deportation
K. International Human Rights Law
1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
L. International Humanitarian Law and neutrality
1. Categories of armed conflicts
a) International armed conflicts
b) Internal or non-international armed conflict
c) War of national liberation
2. Core international obligations of states in International Humanitarian Law
3. Principles of International Humanitarian Law
a) Treatment of civilians
b) Prisoners of war
4. Law on neutrality
M. Law of the sea
1. Baselines
2. Archipelagic states
a) Straight archipelagic baselines
b) Archipelagic waters
c) Archipelagic sea lanes passage
3. Internal waters
4. Territorial sea
5. Exclusive economic zone
6. Continental shelf
a) Extended continental shelf
7. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
N. Madrid Protocol and the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property
O. International environmental law
1. Principle 21 of the Stockholm Declaration
P. International economic law
13
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. This listing of covered topics is not intended and should not be used by the law schools as a
course outline. This was drawn up for the limited purpose of ensuring that Bar candidates are
guided on the coverage of the 2015 Bar Examinations.
2. All Supreme Court decisions - pertinent to a given Bar subject and its listed topics, and
promulgated up to March 31, 2015 - are examinable materials within the coverage of the
2015 Bar Examinations.
COVERAGE
H. Separation Pay
I. Retirement Pay
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Eligibility
Amount
Retirement benefits of workers paid by results
Retirement benefits of part-time workers
Taxability
J. Women Workers
a. Provisions against discrimination
b. Stipulation against marriage
c. Prohibited acts
d. Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (R.A. No. 7877)
K. Employment of Minors (Labor Code and R.A. No. 7678, R.A. No. 9231)
L. Househelpers (Labor Code as amended by R.A. No. 7655, An Act Increasing the
Minimum Wage of Househelpers; see also Household Service under the Civil Code)
M. Employment of Homeworkers
N. Apprentices and Learners
O. Persons with disability (R.A. No. 7277, as amended by R.A. No. 9442)
a. Definition
b. Rights of persons with disability
c. Prohibition on discrimination against persons with disability
d. Incentives for employers
IV. Termination of Employment
A. Employer-employee relationship
1. Four-fold test
2. Kinds of employment
a. Probationary
b. Regular
c. Project employment
d. Seasonal
e. Casual
f. Fixed-term
3. Job contracting
a. Articles 106 to 109 of the Labor Code
b. Department Order No. 18-A
c. Department Circular No. 01-12
4. Beneficiaries
B. GSIS Law (R.A. No. 8291)
1. Coverage
2. Exclusions from coverage
3. Benefits
4. Beneficiaries
C. Limited Portability Law (R.A. No. 7699)
D. Employees compensation coverage and when compensable
VII. Labor Relations Law
A. Right to self-organization
1. Who may unionize for purposes of collective bargaining
a) Who cannot form, join or assist labor organizations
2. Bargaining unit
a) Test to determine the constituency of an appropriate bargaining unit
b) Voluntary recognition
(i) Requirements
c) Certification election
(i) In an unorganized establishment
(ii) In an organized establishment
d) Run-off election
(i) Requirements
e) Re-run election
f) Consent election
g) Affiliation and disaffiliation of the local union from the mother union
(i) Substitutionary doctrine
h) Union dues and special assessments
(i) Requirements for validity
i) Agency fees
(i) Requisites for assessment
B. Right to collective bargaining
1. Duty to bargain collectively
a) When there is absence of a CBA
b) When there is a CBA
2. Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)
a) Mandatory provisions of CBA
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. This listing of covered topics is not intended and should not be used by the law schools as a
course outline. This was drawn up for the limited purpose of ensuring that Bar candidates are
guided on the coverage of the 2015 Bar Examinations.
2. All Supreme Court decisions - pertinent to a given Bar subject and its listed topics, and
promulgated up to March 31, 2015 - are examinable materials within the coverage of the
2015 Bar Examinations.
COVERAGE
CIVIL LAW
I.
II.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
The Family
VII.
Civil Law
VIII. Adoption
A. Domestic Adoption Act of 1998 (R.A. No. 8552)
Exclude:
1. Rule on Adoption (A.M. No. 02-6-02-SC )
2. R.A. No. 9523, entitled An Act Requiring Certification of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development to Declare a Child Legally Available for
Adoption as a Prerequisite for Adoption Proceedings x x x.
B. Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995 (R.A. No. 8043)
Exclude: Articles 183-188, 191-193 (Family Code)
IX.
X.
XI.
Emancipation (Arts. 234 and 236, Family Code, as amended by R.A. No. 6809
which lowered the age of majority)
XII.
Civil Law
Use of Surnames
Arts. 364-369, 369-380, Civil Code (other articles repealed by Family Code)
XVI.
Characteristics
II.
Classification
III.
Ownership
IV.
Accession
V.
VI.
Co-ownership
VII.
Possession
VIII. Usufruct
IX.
Easements
X.
Nuisance
XI.
I.
Definition
II.
No prescription applicable
III.
4
OBLIGATIONS
I.
Definition
II.
Elements of an Obligation
III.
IV.
Classification of Obligations
V.
Sources of Obligations
VI.
VII.
Extinguishment of Obligations
CONTRACTS
I.
Essential Requisites
II.
Kinds of Contracts
III.
Formality
IV.
Defective Contracts
V.
Effect of Contracts
SALES
I.
II.
III.
Subject Matter
IV.
V.
Price
VI.
Civil Law
VII.
Civil Law
Transfer of Ownership
Documents of Title
X.
XI.
Performance of Contract
XII.
Warranties
XV.
XVI.
I.
General Provisions
II.
Testamentary Succession
III.
IV.
I.
Contract of Partnership
II.
III.
IV.
V.
Dissolution
VI.
Limited Partnership
AGENCY
I.
Definition of Agency
II.
Powers
III.
IV.
Agency by Estoppel
V.
VI.
VII.
X.
Irrevocable Agency
XI.
Modes of Extinguishment
COMPROMISE
I.
Definition
II.
Void Compromise
III.
Effect
CREDIT TRANSACTIONS
I.
Loan
II.
Deposit
III.
Civil Law
IV.
Pledge
V.
Real Mortgage
Antichresis
VII.
Chattel Mortgage
Include: Act 1508
VIII. Quasi-contracts
IX.
I.
Lease of Things
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
VII.
VIII. Contract for Piece of Work (Exclude, for inclusion in Labor Law)
LAND TITLES AND DEEDS
I.
Torrens System
II.
Regalian Doctrine
III.
Citizenship Requirement
IV.
Original Registration
Civil Law
V.
Subsequent Registration
VI.
Non-registrable Properties
VII.
Principles
II.
Classification of Torts
III.
The Tortfeasor
IV.
V.
Proximate Cause
VI.
Legal Injury
VII.
Intentional Torts
VIII. Negligence
IX.
X.
Strict Liability
Book II--Damages
I.
General Considerations
II.
Civil Law
III.
Moral Damages
IV.
Nominal Damages
V.
VI.
Liquidated Damages
VII.
Civil Law
Graduation of Damages
X.
Miscellaneous Rules
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. This listing of covered topics is not intended and should not be used by the law schools as a
course outline. This was drawn up for the limited purpose of ensuring that Bar candidates are
guided on the coverage of the 2015 Bar Examinations.
2. All Supreme Court decisions - pertinent to a given Bar subject and its listed topics, and
promulgated up to March 31, 2015 - are examinable materials within the coverage of the
2015 Bar Examinations.
COVERAGE
LAW ON TAXATION
2015 BAR EXAMINATIONS
Law on Taxation
Law on Taxation
4. Refund
K. Definition, nature, and characteristics of taxes
L. Requisites of a valid tax
M. Tax as distinguished from other forms of exactions
1. Tariff
2. Toll
3. License fee
4. Special assessment
5. Debt
N. Kinds of taxes
1. As to object
a) Personal, capitation, or poll tax
b) Property tax
c) Privilege tax
2. As to burden or incidence
a) Direct
b) Indirect
3. As to tax rates
a) Specific
b) Ad valorem
c) Mixed
4. As to purposes
a) General or fiscal
b) Special, regulatory, or sumptuary
5. As to scope or authority to impose
a) National internal revenue taxes
b) Local real property tax, municipal tax
6. As to graduation
a) Progressive
b) Regressive
c) Proportionate
II. National Internal Revenue Code (NIRC) of 1997, as amended
A. Income taxation
1. Income tax systems
a) Global tax system
b) Schedular tax system
c) Semi-schedular or semi-global tax system
2. Features of the Philippine income tax law
Law on Taxation
a) Direct tax
b) Progressive
c) Comprehensive
d) Semi-schedular or semi-global tax system
3. Criteria in imposing Philippine income tax
a) Citizenship principle
b) Residence principle
c) Source principle
4. Types of Philippine income tax
5. Taxable period
a) Calendar period
b) Fiscal period
c) Short period
6. Kinds of taxpayers
a) Individual taxpayers
(i) Citizens
(a) Resident citizens
(b) Non-resident citizens
(ii) Aliens
(a) Resident aliens
(b) Non-resident aliens
(1) Engaged in trade or business
(2) Not engaged in trade or business
(iii) Special class of individual employees
(a) Minimum wage earner
b) Corporations
(i) Domestic corporations
(ii) Foreign corporations
(a) Resident foreign corporations
(b) Non-resident foreign corporations
(iii) Joint venture and consortium
c) Partnerships
d) General professional partnerships
e) Estates and trusts
f) Co-ownerships
7. Income taxation
a) Definition
b) Nature
c) General principles
Law on Taxation
Law on Taxation
8. Income
a) Definition
b) Nature
c) When income is taxable
(i) Existence of income
(ii) Realization of income
(a) Tests of realization
(b) Actual vis--vis constructive receipt
(iii) Recognition of income
(iv) Methods of accounting
(a) Cash method vis--vis accrual method
(b) Installment payment vis--vis deferred payment vis--vis percentage
completion (in long-term contracts)
d) Tests in determining whether income is earned for tax purposes
(i) Realization test
(ii) Claim of right doctrine or doctrine of ownership, command, or control
(iii) Economic benefit test, doctrine of proprietary interest
(iv) Severance test
(v) All events test
9. Gross income
a) Definition
b) Concept of income from whatever source derived
c) Gross income vis--vis net income vis--vis taxable income
d) Classification of income as to source
(i) Gross income and taxable income from sources within the Philippines
(ii) Gross income and taxable income from sources without the Philippines
(iii) Income partly within or partly without the Philippines
e) Sources of income subject to tax
(i) Compensation income
(ii) Fringe benefits
(a) Special treatment of fringe benefits
(b) Definition
(c) Taxable and non-taxable fringe benefits
(iii) Professional income
(iv) Income from business
(v) Income from dealings in property
(a) Types of properties
(1) Ordinary assets
(2) Capital assets
(b) Types of gains from dealings in property
Law on Taxation
Law on Taxation
(2) Dividends
(3) Services
(4) Rentals
(5) Royalties
(6) Sale of real property
(7) Sale of personal property
(8) Shares of stock of domestic corporation
(f) Situs of income taxation (see page 2 under inherent limitations,
territorial)
(g) Exclusions from gross income
(1) Rationale for the exclusions
(2) Taxpayers who may avail of the exclusions
(3) Exclusions distinguished from deductions and tax credit
(4) Under the Constitution
(a) Income derived by the government or its political
subdivisions from the exercise of any essential governmental
function
(5) Under the Tax Code
(a) Proceeds of life insurance policies
(b) Return of premium paid
(c) Amounts received under life insurance, endowment or
annuity contracts
(d) Value of property acquired by gift, bequest, devise or
descent
(e) Amount received through accident or health insurance
(f) Income exempt under tax treaty
(g) Retirement benefits, pensions, gratuities, etc.
(h) Winnings, prizes, and awards, including those in sports
competition
(6) Under special laws
(a) Personal Equity and Retirement Account
(h) Deductions from gross income
(1) General rules
(a) Deductions must be paid or incurred in connection with
the taxpayers trade, business or profession
(b) Deductions must be supported by adequate receipts or
invoices (except standard deduction)
(c) Additional requirement relating to withholding
(2) Return of capital (cost of sales or services)
Law on Taxation
10
Law on Taxation
(d) Losses
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(2) Other types of losses
(a) Capital losses
(b) Securities becoming worthless
(c) Losses on wash sales of stocks or securities
(d) Wagering losses
(e) Net Operating Loss Carry-Over (NOLCO)
(e) Bad debts
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(2) Effect of recovery of bad debts
(f) Depreciation
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(2) Methods of computing depreciation allowance
(a) Straight-line method
(b) Declining-balance method
(c) Sum-of-the-years-digit method
(g) Charitable and other contributions
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(2) Amount that may be deducted
(h) Contributions to pension trusts
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(i) Deductions under special laws
(4) Optional standard deduction
(a) Individuals, except non-resident aliens
(b) Corporations, except non-resident foreign corporations
(c) Partnerships
(5) Personal and additional exemption (R.A. No. 9504, Minimum
Wage Earner Law)
(a) Basic personal exemptions
(b) Additional exemptions for taxpayer with dependents
(c) Status-at-the-end-of-the-year rule
(d) Exemptions claimed by non-resident aliens
(6) Items not deductible
(a) General rules
(b) Personal, living or family expenses
(c) Amount paid for new buildings or for permanent
improvements (capital expenditures)
(d) Amount expended in restoring property (major repairs)
11
Law on Taxation
12
Law on Taxation
13
Law on Taxation
(a) Interest from deposits and yield, or any other monetary benefit from
deposit substitutes and from trust funds and similar arrangements
and royalties
(b) Capital gains from the sale of shares of stock not traded in the stock
exchange
(c) Income derived under the expanded foreign currency deposit system
(d) Inter-corporate dividends
(e) Capital gains realized from the sale, exchange, or disposition of lands
and/or buildings
(ii) Passive income not subject to tax
d) Taxation of capital gains
(i) Income from sale of shares of stock
(ii) Income from the sale of real property situated in the Philippines
(iii) Income from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of other capital
assets
e) Tax on proprietary educational institutions and hospitals
f) Tax on government-owned or controlled corporations, agencies or
instrumentalities
14. Taxation of resident foreign corporations
a) General rule
b) With respect to their income from sources within the Philippines
c) Minimum Corporate Income Tax
d) Tax on certain income
(i) Interest from deposits and yield, or any other monetary benefit from
deposit substitutes, trust funds and similar arrangements and royalties
(ii) Income derived under the expanded foreign currency deposit system
(iii) Capital gains from sale of shares of stock not traded in the stock
exchange
(iv) Inter-corporate dividends
Exclude:
(i) International carrier
(ii) Offshore banking units
(iii) Branch profits remittances
(iv) Regional or area headquarters and regional operating
headquarters of multinational companies
15. Taxation of non-resident foreign corporations
a) General rule
b) Tax on certain income
(i) Interest on foreign loans
(ii) Inter-corporate dividends
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
14
Law on Taxation
(iii) Capital gains from sale of shares of stock not traded in the stock
exchange
Exclude:
(i) Non-resident cinematographic film-owner, lessor or distributor
(ii) Non-resident owner or lessor of vessels chartered by Philippine
nationals
(iii) Non-resident owner or lessor of aircraft machineries and other
equipment
Improperly accumulated earnings of corporations
Exemption from tax on corporations
Taxation of partnerships
Taxation of general professional partnerships
Withholding tax
a) Concept
b) Kinds
(i) Withholding of final tax on certain incomes
(ii) Withholding of creditable tax at source
c) Withholding of VAT
d) Filing of return and payment of taxes withheld
(i) Return and payment in case of government employees
(ii) Statements and returns
e) Final withholding tax at source
f) Creditable withholding tax
(i) Expanded withholding tax
(ii) Withholding tax on compensation
g) Timing of withholding
B. Estate tax
1. Basic principles
2. Definition
3. Nature
4. Purpose or object
5. Time and transfer of properties
6. Classification of decedent
7. Gross estate vis--vis net estate
8. Determination of gross estate and net estate
9. Composition of gross estate
10. Items to be included in gross estate
11. Deductions from estate
12. Exclusions from estate
15
Law on Taxation
C. Donors tax
1. Basic principles
2. Definition
3. Nature
4. Purpose or object
5. Requisites of valid donation
6. Transfers which may be constituted as donation
a) Sale/exchange/transfer of property for insufficient consideration
b) Condonation/remission of debt
7. Transfer for less than adequate and full consideration
8. Classification of donor
9. Determination of gross gift
10. Composition of gross gift
11. Valuation of gifts made in property
12. Tax credit for donors taxes paid in a foreign country
13. Exemptions of gifts from donors tax
14. Person liable
15. Tax basis
D. Value-Added Tax (VAT)
1. Concept
2. Characteristics/Elements of a VAT-Taxable transaction
3. Impact of tax
4. Incidence of tax
5. Tax credit method
6. Destination principle
7. Persons liable
8. VAT on sale of goods or properties
a) Requisites of taxability of sale of goods or properties
9. Zero-rated sales of goods or properties, and effectively zero-rated sales of goods
or properties
10. Transactions deemed sale
a) Transfer, use or consumption not in the course of business of
goods/properties originally intended for sale or use in the course of business
b) Distribution or transfer to shareholders, investors or creditors
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
16
Law on Taxation
Consignment of goods if actual sale not made within 60 days from date of
consignment
d) Retirement from or cessation of business with respect to inventories on hand
Change or cessation of status as VAT-registered person
a) Subject to VAT
(i) Change of business activity from VAT taxable status to VAT-exempt
status
(ii) Approval of request for cancellation of a registration due to reversion to
exempt status
(iii) Approval of request for cancellation of registration due to desire to revert
to exempt status after lapse of 3 consecutive years
b) Not subject to VAT
(i) Change of control of a corporation
(ii) Change in the trade or corporate name
(iii) Merger or consolidation of corporations
VAT on importation of goods
a) Transfer of goods by tax exempt persons
VAT on sale of service and use or lease of properties
a) Requisites for taxability
Zero-rated sale of services
VAT exempt transactions
a) VAT exempt transactions, in general
b) Exempt transaction, enumerated
Input tax and output tax, defined
Sources of input tax
a) Purchase or importation of goods
b) Purchase of real properties for which a VAT has actually been paid
c) Purchase of services in which VAT has actually been paid
d) Transactions deemed sale
e) Presumptive input
f) Transitional input
Persons who can avail of input tax credit
Determination of output/input tax; VAT payable; excess input tax credits
a) Determination of output tax
b) Determination of input tax creditable
c) Allocation of input tax on mixed transactions
d) Determination of the output tax and VAT payable and computation of VAT
payable or excess tax credits
Substantiation of input tax credits
Refund or tax credit of excess input tax
17
Law on Taxation
a) Who may claim for refund/apply for issuance of tax credit certificate
b) Period to file claim/apply for issuance of tax credit certificate
c) Manner of giving refund
d) Destination principle or cross-border doctrine
22. Invoicing requirements
a) Invoicing requirements in general
b) Invoicing and recording deemed sale transactions
c) Consequences of issuing erroneous VAT invoice or VAT official receipt
23. Filing of return and payment
24. Withholding of final VAT on sales to government
E. Tax remedies under the NIRC
1. Taxpayers remedies
a) Assessment
(i) Concept of assessment
(a) Requisites for valid assessment
(b) Constructive methods of income determination
(c) Inventory method for income determination
(d) Jeopardy assessment
(e) Tax delinquency and tax deficiency
(ii) Power of the Commissioner to make assessments and prescribe additional
requirements for tax administration and enforcement
(a) Power of the Commissioner to obtain information, and to
summon/examine, and take testimony of persons
(iii) When assessment is made
(a) Prescriptive period for assessment
(1) False, fraudulent, and non-filing of returns
(b) Suspension of running of statute of limitations
(iv) General provisions on additions to the tax
(a) Civil penalties
(b) Interest
(c) Compromise penalties
(v) Assessment process
(a) Tax audit
(b) Notice of informal conference
(c) Issuance of preliminary assessment notice
(d) Notice of informal conference
(e) Issuance of preliminary assessment notice
(f) Exceptions to issuance of preliminary assessment notice
(g) Reply to preliminary assessment notice
18
Law on Taxation
19
Law on Taxation
20
Law on Taxation
(i) Surcharge
(ii) Interest
(a) In general
(b) Deficiency interest
(c) Delinquency interest
(d) Interest on extended payment
4. Compromise and abatement of taxes
a) Compromise
b) Abatement
F. Organization and Function of the Bureau of Internal Revenue
1. Rule-making authority of the Secretary of Finance
a) Authority of Secretary of Finance to promulgate rules and regulations
b) Specific provisions to be contained in rules and regulations
c) Non-retroactivity of rulings
2. Power of the Commissioner to suspend the business operation of a taxpayer
III. Local Government Code of 1991, as amended
A. Local government taxation
1. Fundamental principles
2. Nature and source of taxing power
a) Grant of local taxing power under the local government code
b) Authority to prescribe penalties for tax violations
c) Authority to grant local tax exemptions
d) Withdrawal of exemptions
e) Authority to adjust local tax rates
f) Residual taxing power of local governments
g) Authority to issue local tax ordinances
3. Local taxing authority
a) Power to create revenues exercised through Local Government Units
b) Procedure for approval and effectivity of tax ordinances
4. Scope of taxing power
5. Specific taxing power of Local Government Units
a) Taxing powers of provinces
(i) Tax on transfer of real property ownership
(ii) Tax on business of printing and publication
(iii) Franchise tax
(iv) Tax on sand, gravel and other quarry services
(v) Professional tax
6.
7.
8.
9.
21
Law on Taxation
22
Law on Taxation
23
Law on Taxation
24
Law on Taxation
25
Law on Taxation
b) Local taxes
(i) Prescriptive period
2. Civil cases
a) Who may appeal, mode of appeal, effect of appeal
(i) Suspension of collection of tax
a) Injunction not available to restrain collection
(ii) Taking of evidence
(iii) Motion for reconsideration or new trial
b) Appeal to the CTA, en banc
c) Petition for review on certiorari to the Supreme Court
3. Criminal cases
a) Institution and prosecution of criminal actions
(i) Institution of civil action in criminal action
b) Appeal and period to appeal
(i) Solicitor General as counsel for the people and government officials
sued in their official capacity
c) Petition for review on certiorari to the Supreme Court
C. Taxpayers suit impugning the validity of tax measures or acts of taxing authorities
1. Taxpayers suit, defined
2. Distinguished from citizens suit
3. Requisites for challenging the constitutionality of a tax measure or act of taxing
authority
a) Concept of locus standi as applied in taxation
b) Doctrine of transcendental importance
c) Ripeness for judicial determination
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. This listing of covered topics is not intended and should not be used by the law schools as a
course outline. This was drawn up for the limited purpose of ensuring that Bar candidates are
guided on the coverage of the 2015 Bar Examinations.
2. All Supreme Court decisions - pertinent to a given Bar subject and its listed topics, and
promulgated up to March 31, 2015 - are examinable materials within the coverage of the
2015 Bar Examinations.
COVERAGE
MERCANTILE LAW
2015 BAR EXAMINATIONS
I. Letters of Credit
A. Definition and Nature of Letter of Credit
B. Parties to a Letter of Credit
1. Rights and Obligations of Parties
C. Basic Principles of Letter of Credit
1. Doctrine of Independence
2. Fraud Exception Principle
3. Doctrine of Strict Compliance
Mercantile Law
3. Effect of Notice
4. Form of Notice
5. Waiver
6. Dispensation with Notice
7. Effect of Failure to Give Notice
K. Discharge of Negotiable Instrument
1. Discharge of Negotiable Instrument
2. Discharge of Parties Secondarily Liable
3. Right of Party Who Discharged Instrument
4. Renunciation by Holder
L. Material Alteration
1. Concept
2. Effect of Material Alteration
M. Acceptance
1. Definition
2. Manner
3. Time for Acceptance
4. Rules Governing Acceptance
N. Presentment for Acceptance
1. Time/Place/Manner of Presentment
2. Effect of Failure to Make Presentment
3. Dishonor by Non-Acceptance
O. Promissory Notes
P. Checks
1. Definition
2. Kinds
3. Presentment for Payment
a. Time
b. Effect of Delay
Mercantile Law
Mercantile Law
Mercantile Law
V. Transportation Laws
A. Common Carriers
1. Diligence Required of Common Carriers
2. Liabilities of Common Carriers
B. Vigilance over Goods
1. Exempting Causes
a. Requirement of Absence of Negligence
b. Absence of Delay
c. Due Diligence to Prevent or Lessen the Loss
2. Contributory Negligence
3. Duration of Liability
a. Delivery of Goods to Common Carrier
b. Actual or Constructive Delivery
c. Temporary Unloading or Storage
4. Stipulation for Limitation of Liability
a. Void Stipulations
b. Limitation of Liability to Fixed Amount
c. Limitation of Liability in Absence of Declaration of Greater Value
5. Liability for Baggage of Passengers
a. Checked-In Baggage
b. Baggage in Possession of Passengers
C. Safety of Passengers
1. Void Stipulations
2. Duration of Liability
a. Waiting for Carrier or Boarding of Carrier
b. Arrival at Destination
3. Liability for Acts of Others
a. Employees
b. Other Passengers and Strangers
4. Extent of Liability for Damages
D. Bill of Lading
1. Three-Fold Character
2. Delivery of Goods
a. Period of Delivery
b. Delivery Without Surrender of Bill of Lading
c. Refusal of Consignee to Take Delivery
3. Period for Filing Claims
4. Period for Filing Actions
E. Maritime Commerce
1. Charter Parties
a. Bareboat/Demise Charter
b. Time Charter
c. Voyage/Trip Charter
2. Liability of Ship Owners and Shipping Agents
a. Liability for Acts of Captain
b. Exceptions to Limited Liability
3. Accidents and Damages in Maritime Commerce
a. General Average
b. Collisions
4. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
a. Application
b. Notice of Loss or Damage
c. Period of Prescription
d. Limitation of Liability
F. The Warsaw Convention
1. Applicability
2. Limitation of Liability
a. Liability to Passengers
b. Liability for Checked Baggage
c. Liability for Handcarried Baggage
3. Willful Misconduct
Mercantile Law
B. Classes of Corporations
C. Nationality of Corporations
1. Place of Incorporation Test
2. Control Test
3. Grandfather Rule
D. Corporate Juridical Personality
1. Doctrine of Separate Juridical Personality
a. Liability for Torts and Crimes
b. Recovery of Moral Damages
2. Doctrine of Piercing the Corporate Veil
a. Grounds for Application of Doctrine
b. Test in Determining Applicability
E. Incorporation and Organization
1. Promoter
a. Liability of Promoter
b. Liability of Corporation for Promoters Contracts
2. Number and Qualifications of Incorporators
3. Corporate Name Limitations on Use of Corporate Name
4. Corporate Term
5. Minimum Capital Stock and Subscription Requirements
6. Articles of Incorporation
a. Nature and Function of Articles
b. Contents
c. Amendment
d. Non-Amenable Items
7. Registration and Issuance of Certificate of Incorporation
8. Adoption of By-Laws
a. Nature and Functions of By-Laws
b. Requisites of Valid By-Laws
c. Binding Effects
d. Amendment or Revision
F. Corporate Powers
1. General Powers, Theory of General Capacity
Mercantile Law
Mercantile Law
c. Management Contracts
12. Executive Committee
13. Meetings
a. Regular or Special
i. When and Where
ii. Notice
b. Who Presides
c. Quorum
d. Rule on Abstention
H. Stockholders and Members
1. Rights of a Stockholder and Members
a. Doctrine of Equality of Shares
2. Participation in Management
a. Proxy
b. Voting Trust
c. Cases When Stockholders Action is Required
i. By a Majority Vote
ii. By a Two-Thirds Vote
iii. By Cumulative Voting
3. Proprietary Rights
a. Right to Dividends
b. Right of Appraisal
c. Right to Inspect
d. Pre-Emptive Right
e. Right to Vote
f. Right to Dividends
g. Right of First Refusal
4. Remedial Rights
a. Individual Suit
b. Representative Suit
c. Derivative Suit
5. Obligation of a Stockholder
Mercantile Law
10
6. Meetings
a. Regular or Special
i. When and Where
ii. Notice
b. Who Calls the Meetings
c. Quorum
d. Minutes of the Meetings
I. Capital Structure
1. Subscription Agreements
2. Consideration for Stocks
3. Shares of Stock
a. Nature of Stock
b. Subscription Agreements
c. Consideration for Shares of Stock
d. Watered Stock
i. Definition
ii. Liability of Directors for Watered Stocks
iii. Trust Fund Doctrine for Liability for Watered Stocks
e. Situs of the Shares of Stock
f. Classes of Shares of Stock
4. Payment of Balance of Subscription
a. Call by Board of Directors
b. Notice Requirement
c. Sale of Delinquent Shares
i. Effect of Delinquency
ii. Call by Resolution of the Board of Directors
iii. Notice of Sale
iv. Auction Sale and the Highest Bidder
5. Certificate of Stock
a. Nature of the Certificate
b. Uncertificated Shares
c. Negotiability
i. Requirements for Valid Transfer of Stocks
Mercantile Law
11
Mercantile Law
d. Issuance
i. Full Payment
ii. Payment Pro-Rata
e. Lost or Destroyed Certificates
6. Stock and Transfer Book
a. Contents
b. Who May Make Valid Entries
7. Disposition and Encumbrance of Shares
a. Allowable Restrictions on the Sale of Shares
b. Sale of Partially Paid Shares
c. Sale of a Portion of Shares Not Fully Paid
d. Sale of All of Shares Not Fully Paid
e. Sale of Fully Paid Shares
f. Requisites of a Valid Transfer
g. Involuntary Dealings with Shares
J. Dissolution and Liquidation
1. Modes of Dissolution
a. Voluntary
i. Where No Creditors Are Affected
ii. Where Creditors Are Affected
iii. By Shortening of Corporate Term
b. Involuntary
i. By Expiration of Corporate Term
ii. Failure to Organize and Commence Business Within 2 Years from
Incorporation
iii. Legislative Dissolution
iv. Dissolution by the SEC on Grounds under Existing Laws
2. Methods of Liquidation
a. By the Corporation Itself
b. Conveyance to a Trustee within a Three-Year Period
c. By Management Committee or Rehabilitation Receiver
d. Liquidation after Three Years
12
Mercantile Law
K. Other Corporations
1. Close Corporations
a. Characteristics of a Close Corporation
b. Validity of Restrictions on Transfer of Shares
c. Issuance or Transfer of Stock in Breach of Qualifying Conditions
d. When Board Meeting is Unnecessary or Improperly Held
e. Pre-Emptive Right
f. Amendment of Articles of Incorporation
g. Deadlocks
2. Non-Stock Corporations
a. Definition
b. Purposes
c. Treatment of Profits
d. Distribution of Assets upon Dissolution
3. Religious Corporations - Exclude
4. Foreign Corporations
a. Bases of Authority over Foreign Corporations
i. Consent
ii. Doctrine of Doing Business (related to definition under the Foreign
Investments Act, R.A. No. 7042)
b. Necessity of a License to Do Business
i. Requisites for Issuance of a License
ii. Resident Agent
c. Personality to Sue
d. Suability of Foreign Corporations
e. Instances When Unlicensed Foreign Corporations May Be Allowed to Sue
Isolated Transactions
f. Grounds for Revocation of License
L. Mergers and Consolidations
1. Definition and Concept
2. Constituent vs. Consolidated Corporation
3. Plan of Merger or Consolidation
4. Articles of Merger or Consolidation
5. Procedure
13
6. Effectivity
7. Limitations
8. Effects
Mercantile Law
14
Mercantile Law
15
b. First-to-File Rule
c. Inventions Created Pursuant to a Commission
d. Right of Priority
4. Grounds for Cancellation of a Patent
5. Remedy of the True and Actual Inventor
6. Rights Conferred by a Patent
7. Limitations of Patent Rights
a. Prior User
b. Use by the Government
8. Patent Infringement
a. Tests in Patent Infringement
i. Literal Infringement
ii. Doctrine of Equivalents
b. Defenses in Action for Infringement
9. Licensing
a. Voluntary
b. Compulsory
10. Assignment and Transmission of Rights
C. Trademarks
1. Definition of Marks, Collective Marks, Trade Names
2. Acquisition of Ownership of Mark
3. Acquisition of Ownership of Trade Name
4. Non-Registrable Marks
5. Prior Use of Mark as a Requirement
6. Tests to Determine Confusing Similarity between Marks
a. Dominancy Test
b. Holistic Test
7. Well-Known Marks
8. Rights Conferred by Registration
9. Use by Third Parties of Names, etc. Similar to Registered Mark
10. Infringement and Remedies
a. Trademark Infringement
b. Damages
Mercantile Law
16
Mercantile Law
c. Requirement of Notice
11. Unfair Competition
12. Trade Names or Business Names
13. Collective Marks
D. Copyrights
1. Basic Principles, Sections 172.2, 175 and 181
2. Copyrightable Works
a. Original Works
b. Derivative Works
3. Non-Copyrightable Works
4. Rights of Copyright Owner
5. Rules on Ownership of Copyright
6. Limitations on Copyright
a. Doctrine of Fair Use
b. Copyright Infringement
E. Rules of Procedure for Intellectual Property Rights Cases (A.M. No. 10-3-10-SC)
X. Special Laws
A. The Chattel Mortgage Law and Real Estate Mortgage Law (Excluded and made
a part of Civil Law coverage)
B. Anti-Money Laundering Act (R.A. No. 9160, as amended by R.A. No. 9194)
1. Policy of the Law
2. Covered Institutions
3. Obligations of Covered Institutions
4. Covered Transactions
5. Suspicious Transactions
6. When Is Money Laundering Committed
7. Unlawful Activities or Predicate Crimes
8. Anti-Money Laundering Council
9. Functions
10. Freezing of Monetary Instrument or Property
11. Authority to Inquire Into Bank Deposits
17
Mercantile Law
COVERAGE
CRIMINAL LAW
I.
Fundamental principles
a) Definition of Criminal Law
(i) Mala in Se and Mala Prohibita
(ii) Construction of penal laws
b) Scope of application and characteristics of Philippine criminal law
(i) Generality
(ii) Territoriality
(iii) Prospectivity
(a) Effects of repeal/amendment of penal law
c) Constitutional limitations on the power of Congress to enact penal laws
(i) Equal protection
(ii) Due process
(iii) Non-imposition of cruel and unusual punishment or excessive fines
(a) Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines (R.A.
No. 9346)
(iv) Bill of attainder
(v) Ex post facto law
2.
Felonies
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
Classifications of felonies
Elements of criminal liability
Impossible crime
Stages of execution
Conspiracy and proposal
Multiple offenders (differences, rules, effects)
(i) Recidivism
(ii) Habituality (Reiteracion)
(iii) Quasi-Recidivism
(iv) Habitual Delinquency
g) Continuing crimes
h) Complex crimes and special complex crimes
Criminal Law
4.
5.
Penalties
a) General principles
Criminal Law
(i) Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines (R.A. No.
9346)
b) Purposes
c) Classification
d) Duration and Effect
e) Application
(i) Indeterminate Sentence Law (R.A. No. 4103, as amended)
(a) Application on the imposed sentence
(b) Coverage
(c) Conditions of parole
(ii) Three-fold rule
(iii) Subsidiary imprisonment
f) Execution and service
(i) Probation Law (P.D. 968, as amended)
(a) Definition of terms
(b) Purpose
(c) Grant of probation, manner and conditions
(d) Criteria of placing an offender on probation
(e) Disqualified offenders
(f) Period of probation
(g) Arrest of probationer
(h) Termination of probation; exception
(i) The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. No. 9165)
(ii) Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (R.A. No. 9344); also
refer to Child and Youth Welfare Code (P.D. 603, as amended)
(a) Definition of child in conflict with the law
(b) Exemption from criminal liability
(c) Juvenile justice and welfare system
6.
B.
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
7.
Criminal Law
Criminal Law
(i) Fencing
(a) Definition
(b) Presumption of fencing
(ii) Exception
(a) With clearance or permit to sell
b) Bouncing Checks Law (B.P. Blg. 22), plus Administrative Circular No. 12-2000
Re: Penalty for Violation of B.P. 22 and Administrative Circular No. 13-2001
Re: Clarification of Admin. Circular No. 12-2000; and P.D. No. 1689 (Increasing
the Penalty for Certain Forms of Swindling or Estafa)
(i) Punishable acts
(ii) Evidence of knowledge of insufficient funds
(iii) Preference of imposition of fine
c) Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972 (R.A. No. 6539), as amended by R.A. No.
7659
(i) Registration
(iii) Who are liable
(a) Duty of Collector of Customs
(b) Duty of importers, distributors and sellers
(c) Clearance and permit
(iv) Punishable acts
d) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. No. 9372)
(i) Punishable acts of terrorism
e) Anti-Arson Law (P.D. 1613)
(i) Punishable acts
11. Crimes Against Chastity (Articles 333-334, 336-346)
Include:
a) Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 (R.A. No. 9995)
(i) Punishable acts
b)
Criminal Law
d) Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (R.A. No. 9262)
(i) Punishable acts
12. Crimes Against Civil Status (Articles 347-352)
13. Crimes Against Honor (Articles 353-364)
Include:
a) Administrative Circular 08-2008 Re: Guidelines in the Observance of a
Rule of Preference in the Imposition of Penalties in Libel Cases
(i) Preference of imposition of fine
14. Criminal Negligence (Article 365)
EXCLUDE: a. Penalties for specific crimes
b. Special criminal laws not included in the above listing
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. This listing of covered topics is not intended and should not be used by the law schools as a
course outline. This was drawn up for the limited purpose of ensuring that Bar candidates are
guided on the coverage of the 2015 Bar Examinations.
2. All Supreme Court decisions - pertinent to a given Bar subject and its listed topics, and
promulgated up to March 31, 2015 - are examinable materials within the coverage of the
2015 Bar Examinations.
COVERAGE
REMEDIAL LAW
1. General Principles
1.1. Concept of remedial law
1.2. Substantive law vis--vis remedial law
1.3. Rule-making power of the Supreme Court
1.3.1 Limitations on the rule-making power of the Supreme Court
1.3.2. Power of the Supreme Court to amend and suspend procedural rules
1.4. Nature of Philippine courts
1.4.1. Meaning of a court
1.4.2. Court as distinguished from a judge
1.4.3. Classification of Philippine courts
1.4.4. Courts of original and appellate jurisdiction
1.4.5. Courts of general and special jurisdiction
1.4.6. Constitutional and statutory courts
1.4.7. Courts of law and equity
1.4.8. Principle of judicial hierarchy
1.4.9. Doctrine of non-interference or doctrine of judicial stability
2. Jurisdiction
2.1
2.2
2.3.
2.4
2.5.
Jurisdiction of courts
Remedial Law
Supreme Court
Court of Appeals
Court of Tax Appeals
Sandiganbayan
Over small claims; cases covered by the Rules on Summary Procedure and
Barangay conciliation
Totality rule
3. Civil Procedure
3.1.
Actions
3.1.1. Meaning of ordinary civil actions
3.1.2. Meaning of special civil actions
3.1.3. Meaning of criminal actions
3.1.4. Civil actions versus special proceedings
3.1.5. Personal actions and real actions
3.1.6. Local and transitory actions
3.1.7. Actions in rem, in personam and quasi in rem
3.1.8. Independent Civil Actions
3.2.
Cause of action
3.2.1. Meaning of cause of action
3.2.2. Right of action versus cause of action
3.2.3. Failure to state a cause of action
3.2.4. Test of the sufficiency of a cause of action
3.2.5. Splitting a single cause of action and its effects
3.2.6. Joinder and mis-joinder of causes of action
3.3.
3.4.
Venue
3.4.1. Venue versus jurisdiction
3.4.2. Venue of real actions
3.4.3. Venue of personal actions
Remedial Law
Pleadings
3.5.1. Kinds of pleadings
a) Complaint
b) Answer
i. Negative defenses
ii. Negative pregnant
iii. Affirmative defenses
c) Counterclaims
i. Compulsory counterclaim
ii. Permissive counterclaim
iii. Effect on the counterclaim when the complaint is dismissed
d) Cross-claims
e) Third (fourth, etc.) party complaints
f) Complaint-in-intervention
g) Reply
3.5.2. Pleadings allowed in small claim cases and cases covered by the Rules on
Summary Procedure
3.5.3. Parts of a pleading
a) Caption
b) Signature and address
c) Verification and certification against forum shopping
i. Requirements of a corporation executing the
verification/certification of non-forum shopping
d) Effect of the signature of counsel in a pleading
3.5.4. Allegations in a pleading
a) Manner of making allegations
i. Condition precedent
ii. Fraud, mistake, malice, intent, knowledge and other condition
of the mind, judgments, official documents or acts
b) Pleading an actionable document
c) Specific denials
i. Effect of failure to make specific denials
ii. When a specific denial requires an oath
3.5.5. Effect of failure to plead
a) Failure to plead defenses and objections
b) Failure to plead a compulsory counterclaim and cross-claim
3.5.6. Default
a) When a declaration of default is proper
b) Effect of an order of default
c) Relief from an order of default
d) Effect of a partial default
e) Extent of relief
f) Actions where default is not allowed
Remedial Law
Summons
3.6.1. Nature and purpose of summons in relation to actions in personam, in rem
and quasi in rem
3.6.2. Voluntary appearance
3.6.3. Personal service
3.6.4. Substituted service
3.6.5. Constructive service (by publication)
a) Service upon a defendant where his identity is unknown or his
whereabouts are unknown
b) Service upon residents temporarily outside the Philippines
3.6.6. Extra-territorial service, when allowed
3.6.7. Service upon prisoners and minors
3.6.8. Proof of service
3.7.
Motions
3.7.1. Motions in general
a) Definition of a motion
b) Motions versus pleadings
c) Contents and forms of motions
d) Notice of hearing and hearing of motions
e) Omnibus motion rule
f) Litigated and ex parte motions
g) Pro-forma motions
3.7.2. Motions for bill of particulars
a) Purpose and when applied for
b) Actions of the court
Remedial Law
Dismissal of actions
3.8.1. Dismissal upon notice by plaintiff; two-dismissal rule
3.8.2. Dismissal upon motion by plaintiff; effect on existing counterclaim
3.8.3. Dismissal due to the fault of plaintiff
3.8.4. Dismissal of counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party complaint
3.9.
Pre-trial
3.9.1. Concept of pre-trial
3.9.2. Nature and purpose
3.9.3. Notice of pre-trial
3.9.4. Appearance of parties; effect of failure to appear
3.9.5. Pre-trial brief; effect of failure to file
3.9.6. Distinction between pre-trial in civil case and pre-trial in criminal case
3.9.7. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
a) Special Rules of Court on ADR (A.M. No. 07-11-08-SC)
3.10. Intervention
3.10.1. Requisites for intervention
3.10.2. Time to intervene
3.10.3. Remedy for the denial of motion to intervene
3.11. Subpoena
3.11.1. Subpoena duces tecum
3.11.2. Subpoena ad testificandum
3.11.3. Service of subpoena
3.11.4. Compelling attendance of witnesses; contempt
3.11.5. Quashing of subpoena
3.12. Modes of discovery
3.12.1. Depositions pending action; depositions before action or pending appeal
a) Meaning of deposition
b) Uses; scope of examination
c) When may objections to admissibility be made
d) When may taking of deposition be terminated or its scope limited
3.12.2. Written interrogatories to adverse parties
Remedial Law
Remedial Law
Remedial Law
Provisional remedies
3.18.1. Nature of provisional remedies
3.18.2. Jurisdiction over provisional remedies
3.18.3. Preliminary attachment
a) Grounds for issuance of writ of attachment
b) Requisites
c) Issuance and contents of order of attachment; affidavit and bond
d) Rule on prior or contemporaneous service of summons
e) Manner of attaching real and personal property; when property
attached is claimed by third person
f) Discharge of attachment and the counter-bond
g) Satisfaction of judgment out of property attached
3.18.4. Preliminary injunction
a) Definitions and differences: preliminary injunction and temporary
restraining order; status quo ante order
b) Requisites
c) Kinds of injunction
d) When writ may be issued
e) Grounds for issuance of preliminary injunction
f) Grounds for objection to, or for the dissolution of injunction or
restraining order
g) Duration of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)
h) In relation to R.A. No. 8975, ban on issuance of TRO or writ of
injunction in cases involving government infrastructure projects
i) Rule on prior or contemporaneous service of summons in relation to
attachment
3.18.5. Receivership
a) Cases when receiver may be appointed
b) Requisites
c) Requirements before issuance of an order
d) General powers of a receiver
e) Two kinds of bonds
f) Termination of receivership
3.18.6. Replevin
a) When may writ be issued
b) Requisites
Remedial Law
10
Remedial Law
accion interdictal
How
to
11
Remedial Law
Special Proceedings
4.1. Settlement of estate of deceased persons, venue and process
4.1. 1. Which court has jurisdiction
4.1. 2. Venue in judicial settlement of estate
4.1. 3. Extent of jurisdiction of probate court
4.1.4. Powers and duties of probate court
4.2. Summary settlement of estates
4.2.1. Extrajudicial settlement by agreement between heirs, when allowed
4.2.2. Two-year prescriptive period
4.2.3. Affidavit of self-adjudication by sole heir
4.2.4. Summary settlement of estates of small value, when allowed
4.2.5. Remedies of aggrieved parties after extrajudicial settlement of estate
4.3. Production and probate of will
4.3.1. Nature of probate proceeding
4.3.2. Who may petition for probate; persons entitled to notice
4.4. Allowance or disallowance of will
4.4. 1. Contents of petition for allowance of will
4.4. 2. Grounds for disallowing a will
4.4. 3. Reprobate
a) Requisites before a will proved abroad would be allowed in the
Philippines
4.4.4. Effects of probate
4.5. Letters testamentary and of administration
4.5. 1. When and to whom letters of administration granted
4.5. 2. Order of preference
4.5. 3. Opposition to issuance of letters testamentary; simultaneous filing of
petition for administration
4.5. 4. Powers and duties of executors and administrators; restrictions on the
powers
4.5. 5. Appointment of special administrator
4.5. 6. Grounds for removal of administrator
4.6. Claims against the estate
4.6.1. Time within which claims shall be filed; exceptions
4.6.2. Statute of non-claims
4.6.3. Claim of executor or administrator against the estate
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4.10. Escheat
4.10.1. When to file
4.10.2. Requisites for filing of petition
4.10.3. Remedy of respondent against petition; period for filing a claim
4.11. Guardianship
4.11.1. General powers and duties of guardians
4.11.2. Conditions of the bond of the guardian
4.11.3. Rule on guardianship over minor
4.12. Adoption
4.12.1. Distinguish domestic adoption from inter-country adoption
4.12.2. Domestic Adoption Act
a) Effects of adoption
b) Instances when adoption may be rescinded
c) Effects of rescission of adoption
4.12.3. Inter-country adoption
a) When allowed
b) Functions of the RTC
c) Best interest of the minor standard
4.13. Writ of habeas corpus
4.13.1. Contents of the petition
4.13.2. Contents of the return
4.13.3. Distinguish peremptory writ from preliminary citation
4.13.4. When not proper/applicable
4.13.5. When writ disallowed/discharged
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Criminal Procedure
5.1. General matters
5.1.1. Distinguish jurisdiction over subject matter from jurisdiction over person of the
accused
5.1.2. Requisites for exercise of criminal jurisdiction
5.1.3. Jurisdiction of criminal courts
5.1.4. When injunction may be issued to restrain criminal prosecution
5.2. Prosecution of offenses
5.2.1. Criminal actions, how instituted
5.2.2. Who may file them, crimes that cannot be prosecuted de officio
5.2.3. Criminal actions, when enjoined
5.2.4. Control of prosecution
5.2.5. Sufficiency of complaint or information
5.2.6. Designation of offense
5.2.7. Cause of the accusation
5.2.8. Duplicity of the offense; exception
5.2.9. Amendment or substitution of complaint or information
5.2.10. Venue of criminal actions
5.2.11. Intervention of offended party
5.3. Prosecution of civil action
5.3.1. Rule on implied institution of civil action with criminal action
5.3.2. When civil action may proceed independently
5.3.3. When separate civil action is suspended
5.3.4. Effect of death of the accused or convict on civil action
5.3.5. Prejudicial question
5.3.6. Rule on filing fees in civil action deemed instituted with the criminal action
5.4. Preliminary investigation
5.4.1. Nature of right
5.4.2. Purposes of preliminary investigation
5.4.3. Who may conduct determination of existence of probable cause
5.4.4. Resolution of investigation prosecutor
5.4.5. Review
5.4.6. When warrant of arrest may issue
5.4.7. Cases not requiring a preliminary investigation
5.4.8. Remedies of accused if there was no preliminary investigation
5.4.9. Inquest
5.5. Arrest
5.5.1. Arrest, how made
5.5.2. Arrest without warrant, when lawful
5.5.3. Method of arrest
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Nature
When a matter of right; exceptions
When a matter of discretion
Hearing of application for bail in capital offenses
Guidelines in fixing amount of bail
Bail when not required
Increase or reduction of bail
Forfeiture and cancellation of bail
Application not a bar to objections in illegal arrest, lack of or irregular
preliminary investigation
5.6.10. Hold departure order & Bureau of Immigration watchlist
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5.12. Judgment
5.12.1. Requisites of a judgment
5.12.2. Contents of judgment
5.12.3. Promulgation of judgment; instances of promulgation of judgment in absentia
5.12.4. When does judgment become final (four instances)
5.13. New trial or reconsideration
5.13.1. Grounds for new trial
5.13.2. Grounds for reconsideration
5.13.3. Requisites before a new trial may be granted on ground of newly-discovered
evidence
5.13.4. Effects of granting a new trial or reconsideration
5.13.5. Application of Neypes doctrine in criminal cases
5.14. Appeal
5.14.1. Effect of an appeal
5.14.2. Where to appeal
5.14.3. How appeal taken
5.14.4. Effect of appeal by any of several accused
5.14.5. Grounds for dismissal of appeal
5.15. Search and seizure
5.15.1. Nature of search warrant
5.15.2. Distinguish from warrant of arrest
5.15.3. Application for search warrant, where filed
5.15.4. Probable cause
5.15.5. Personal examination by judge of the applicant and witnesses
5.15.6. Particularity of place to be searched and things to be seized
5.15.7. Personal property to be seized
5.15.8. Exceptions to search warrant requirement
a) Search incidental to lawful arrest
b) Consented search
c) Search of moving vehicle
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Evidence
6.1. General principles
6.1.1. Concept of evidence
6.1.2. Scope of the Rules on Evidence
6.1.3. Evidence in civil cases versus evidence in criminal cases
6.1.4. Proof versus evidence
6.1.5. Factum probans versus factum probandum
6.1.6. Admissibility of evidence
a) Requisites for admissibility of evidence
b) Relevance of evidence and collateral matters
c) Multiple admissibility
d) Conditional admissibility
e) Curative admissibility
f) Direct and circumstantial evidence
g) Positive and negative evidence
h) Competent and credible evidence
6.1.7. Burden of proof and burden of evidence
6.1.8. Presumptions
a) Conclusive presumptions
b) Disputable presumptions
6.1.9. Liberal construction of the rules of evidence
6.1.10. Quantum of evidence (weight and sufficiency of evidence)
a) Proof beyond reasonable doubt
b) Preponderance of evidence
c) Substantial evidence
d) Clear and convincing evidence
6.2. Judicial notice and judicial admissions
6.2.1. What need not be proved
6.2.2. Matters of judicial notice
a) Mandatory
b) Discretionary
6.2.3. Judicial admissions
a) Effect of judicial admissions
b) How judicial admissions may be contradicted
6.2.4. Judicial notice of foreign laws, law of nations and municipal ordinance
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and objection
Offer of evidence
When to make an offer
Objection
Repetition of an objection
Ruling
Striking out of an answer
Tender of excluded evidence
8.
9.
Cases covered
Subject matter for amicable settlement
Venue
When parties may directly go to court
Execution
Repudiation
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IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. This listing of covered topics is not intended and should not be used by the law schools as a
course outline. This was drawn up for the limited purpose of ensuring that Bar candidates are
guided on the coverage of the 2015 Bar Examinations.
2. All Supreme Court decisions - pertinent to a given Bar subject and its listed topics, and
promulgated up to March 31, 2015 - are examinable materials within the coverage of the
2015 Bar Examinations.
COVERAGE
I. LEGAL ETHICS
A. Practice of law (Rule 138)
1. Concept
a) Privilege
b) Profession, not business
2. Qualifications
3. Appearance of non-lawyers
a) Law student practice (Rule 138-A)
b) Non-lawyers in courts
c) Non-lawyers in administrative tribunals
d) Proceedings where lawyers are prohibited from appearing
4. Sanctions for practice or appearance without authority
a) Lawyers without authority
b) Persons not lawyers
5. Public officials and practice of law
a) Prohibition or disqualification of former government attorneys
b) Public officials who cannot practice law or with restrictions
6. Lawyers authorized to represent the government
7. Lawyers oath
B. Duties and responsibilities of a lawyer
1. To society
a) Respect for law and legal processes
b) Efficient and convenient legal services
c) True, honest, fair, dignified and objective information on legal services
d) Participation in the improvement and reforms in the legal system
e) Participation in legal education program
2. To the legal profession
a) Integrated Bar of the Philippines (Rule 139-A)
(i) Membership and dues
g) Attorneys fees
(i) Acceptance fees
(ii) Contingency fee arrangements
(iii) Attorneys liens
(iv) Fees and controversies with clients
(v) Concepts of attorneys fees
(a) Ordinary concept
(b) Extraordinary concept
h) Preservation of clients confidences
(i) Prohibited disclosures and use
(ii) Disclosure, when allowed
i) Withdrawal of services
C. Suspension, disbarment and discipline of lawyers (Rule 139-B, Rules of Court)
1. Nature and characteristics of disciplinary actions against lawyers
a) Sui generis
b) Prescription
2. Grounds
3. Proceedings
4. Discipline of Filipino lawyers practicing abroad
D. Readmission to the Bar
1. Lawyers who have been suspended
2. Lawyers who have been disbarred
3. Lawyers who have been repatriated
E. Mandatory Continuing Legal Education
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Purpose
Requirements
Compliance
Exemptions
Sanctions
Bar Matter 2012, Rule on Mandatory Legal Aid Service
F. Court Records and General Duties of Clerks and Stenographer (Rule 136)
G. Legal Fees (Rule 141)
1. Manner of payment
2. Fees in lien
3. Persons authorized to collect legal fees
H. Costs
1. Recovery of costs (Rule 142)
a) Prevailing party
b) Dismissed appeal or action
c) Frivolous appeal
d) False allegations
e) Non-appearance of witness
IMPORTANT NOTES:
1. This listing of covered topics is not intended and should not be used by the law schools as a
course outline. This was drawn up for the limited purpose of ensuring that Bar candidates are
guided on the coverage of the 2015 Bar Examinations.
2. All Supreme Court decisions - pertinent to a given Bar subject and its listed topics, and
promulgated up to March 31, 2015 - are examinable materials within the coverage of the
2015 Bar Examinations.