WORDS AND PHRASES

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1. “Due notice” simply means the information that must be given or made to a particular person or
to the public within a legally mandated period of time so that its recipient will have the
opportunity to respond to a situation or to allegations that affect the individual s or public s
legal rights or duties. Securities and Exchange Commission vs. Universal Rightfield Property
Holdings, Inc., p. 198
2. Good faith is an intangible and abstract quality with no technical meaning or statutory
definition, and it encompasses, among other things, an honest belief, the absence of malice and
the absence of design to defraud or to seek an unconscionable advantage. Garcia vs. Commision
on Elections, p. 256
3. Contempt of court has been defined as a defiance of the authority, justice or dignity of the court;
such conduct as tends to bring the authority and administration of the law into disrespect or to
interfere with or prejudice parties litigant or their witnesses during litigation. Marcelo vs.
Dalmacio-Joaquin, p. 298
4. Respondent judge demonstrated grave abuse of authority, which has been defined as a
misdemeanor committed by a public officer, who under color of his office, wrongfully inflicts
upon any person any bodily harm, imprisonment or other injury; it is an act of cruelty, severity,
or excessive use of authority. Marcelo vs. Dalmacio-Joaquin, p. 299
5. Litis pendentia is a Latin term meaning a pending suit and is variously referred to in some
decisions as lis pendens and auter action pendant. Villamor, Jr. vs. Manalastas, p.404
6. Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 1, Series of 2002, which implements Republic
Act (RA) No. 9165, defines chain of custody as the duly recorded authorized movements and
custody of seized drugs or controlled chemicals or plant sources of dangerous drugs or
laboratory equipment of each stage, from the time of seizure/confiscation to receipt in the
forensic laboratory to safekeeping to presentation in court for destruction. People vs. Nuarin, p.
505
7. “Marking” means the placing by the apprehending officer or the poseur-buyer of his/her initials
and signature on the items seized. People vs. Nuarin, p. 505
8. Mental retardation has been defined as a chronic condition that exists at birth or early childhood
and characterized by impaired intellectual functioning measured by standardized tests. People
vs. Nerio, Jr., p. 520
9. A purchaser in good faith is one who buys the property of another without notice that some
other person has a right to, or an interest in, such property and pays a full and fair price for the
same at the time of such purchase, or before he has notice of some other person s claim or
interest in the property. Go vs. Estate of the Late Felisa Tamio de Buenaventura, p. 633

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1. Section 1, Memorandum Circular No. 15 of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) defines
disgraceful and immoral conduct as a willful act that violates basic decency or morality of
society. Commitee on Ethics & Special Concerns, Court of Appeals, Manila vs. Naig, p. 67
2. Conduct prejudicial to the best interest of service, on the other hand, is defined by Largo v.
Court of Appeals, 537 SCRA 721 (2007), as any misconduct which need not be related or
connected to the public officers official functions [but tends to tarnish] the image and integrity
of his/her public office. Abos vs. Borromeo IV, p.79
3. A de facto officer is one who is in possession of an office and who openly exercises its
functions under color of an appointment or election, even though such appointment or election
may be irregular. Zoleta vs. Sandiganbayan (Fourth Division), p. 110
 4. A public officer is defined in the Revised Penal Code (RPC) as any person who, by direct
provision of the law, popular election, or appointment by competent authority, shall take part in
the performance of public functions in the Government of the Philippine Islands, or shall
perform in said Government or in any of its branches public duties as an employee, agent, or
subordinate official, of any rank or class. Zoleta vs. Sandiganbayan (Fourth Division), p. 112
5. The term voucher, when used in connection with disbursement of money, implies some
instrument that shows on what account or by what authority a particular payment has been
made, or that services have been performed which entitle the party to whom it is issued to
payment. Zoleta vs. Sandiganbayan (Fourth Division), p. 112
6. Under Article 1232 of the Civil Code, payment means not only the delivery of money but also
the performance, in any other manner, of an obligation. Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs.
Standard Chartered Bank, p. 175
7. Simple neglect of duty is defined as the failure to give proper attention to a task expected of an
employee resulting from either carelessness or indifference. Rodriguez-Angat vs. Government
Service Insurance System, p. 285
8. Supervening events are circumstances that transpire after the decision s finality rendering the
execution of the judgment unjust and inequitable. Go vs. Echavez, p.506
9. Section 83 of Commonwealth Act (C.A.) No. 141 defines public domain lands classified as
reservations for public and quasi-public uses as any tract or tracts of land of the public domain
which the President, by proclamation and upon recommendation of the Secretary of Agriculture
and Natural Resources, may designate as reservations for the use of the Republic of the
Philippines or any of its branches, or of the inhabitants thereof or for quasi-public uses or
purposes when the public interest requires it. Navy Officers' Village Association, Inc. (NOVAI)
vs. Republic, p. 526

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1. The Revised Penal Code (RPC), in Article 14(16), defines treachery as the direct employment
of means, methods, or forms in the execution of the crime against persons which tend directly
and specially to insure its execution, without risk to the offender arising from the defense which
the offended party might make. People vs. Llobera, p. 381
2. The Supreme Court (SC) has defined contempt of court as: a willful disregard or disobedience
of a public authority. Kimteng vs. Young, p. 410
3. In a long line of cases, this Court had ruled that a purchaser in good faith and for value is one
who buys property of another without notice that some other person has a right to, or interest in,
such property and pays full and fair price for the same at the time of such purchase or before he
or she has notice of the claim or interest of some other person in the property. Bliss
Development Corp./Home Guaranty Corporation vs. Diaz p. 454
4. Jurisdiction is defined as the power and authority of a court to hear, try, and decide a case.
Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) vs. Dumayas, p. 525