Statutory Construction

PART 1:
BASIC PRINCIPLES

I. What is Statutory Construction?

 Caltex vs. Palomar, G.R. No. L-19650, September 29, 1966

Construction is the art or process of discovering and expounding

the meaning and intention of the authors of the law with respect to
its application to a given case, where that intention is rendered
doubtful, amongst others, by reason of the fact that the given case
is not explicitly provided for in the law.

II. When Do You Apply the Principles of Statutory Construction?

 Daoang vs. Municipal Judge of San Nicolas, G.R. No. L-34568 ,

March 28, 1988
 Amores vs. HRET, G.R. No. 189600, June 29, 2010
 Republic Flour Mills, Inc. vs. Commissioner of Customs, G.R. No. L-
28463, May 31, 1971
 Kapisanan ng mga Manggawa sa Manila Railroad Company Credit
Union vs. Manila Railroad Company, February 28, 1979
 Radio Communications of the Phil. vs. NTC, G.R. No. L-68729, May
29, 1987
 Republic vs. Toledano, G.R. No. 94147, June 8, 1994

III. Which Branch of Government Interprets the Law?

IV. Requirement of Publication of Statutes

 Tanada vs. Tuvera (Resolution), G.R. No. L-63915, December 29,

1986

V. Judicial Legislation

 Floresca vs. Philex Mining, G.R. No. L-30642 April 30, 1985
 Republic vs. CA and Molina, G.R. No. 108763, February 13, 1997

VI. Spirit over Letter of the Law (Ratio Legis Est Anima Legis)

 Paras vs COMELEC, G.R. No. 123169, November 4, 1994

 China Bank vs Ortega, G.R. No. L-34964, January 31, 1973

VII. The construction of the law obtains the force of law (Legis
interpretatio legis vim obtinet)

 People vs Jabinal, G.R. No. L-30061, February 27, 1974

PART 2:

1
 EXECUTIVE CONSTRUCTION

I. Executive Construction Given Great Weight

 Adasa vs Abalos, G.R. No. 168617, February 19, 2007

II. When Executive Construction Not Given Weight

 IBAA Employees’ Union vs Inciong, G.R. No. L-52415, October 23,

1984

III. Administrative Rule vs. Administrative Opinion

 Victorias Milling Co. Inc. vs. Social Security Commission, G.R. No. L-
16704, March 17, 1962

PART 3:
CONSTRUCTION OF SPECIFIC TYPES OF LEGISLATION

I. Constitution

 Francisco vs. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261,

November 10, 2003
 Sarmiento vs Mison, G.R. No. 79974, December 17, 1987
 Aglipay vs Ruiz, G.R. No. 45459, March 13, 1937
 Manila Prince Hotel vs GSIS, G.R. No. 122156, February 3, 1997
 Oposa vs Factoran, G.R. No. 101083, July 30, 1993

II. Labor Laws

 Manahan vs Employees Compensation Commission, G.R. No. L-

44899, April 22, 1981

Retirement Laws
 Tantuico, Jr. vs Domingo, G.R. No. 96422, February 28, 1994

Note: Relate with Article 4, Labor Code

III. Tax Laws

Tax Burdens
 Philacor Credit Corporation Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G.R.
No. 169899, February 6, 2013

Tax Exemptions
 Commissioner of Internal Revenue vs Guerrero, G.R. No. L-20942,
September 22, 1967

Tax Refunds
 Applied Food Ingredients vs Commissioner of Internal Revenue,
G.R. No. 184266, November 11, 2013

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IV. Penal Laws

 People vs Temporada, G.R. No. 173473, December 17, 2008

Conflict between Spanish text and English text

 People vs Manaba, G.R. No. 38725, October 31, 1933

Note: Relate with Article 22, Revised Penal Code

V. Election Laws

 Hipe vs COMELEC. G.R. No. 181528, October 2, 2009

 Amora, jr. vs COMELEC, G.R. No. 192280, January 25, 2011

VI. Insurance

 De La Cruz vs Capital Insurance & Safety Co, Inc. , G.R. No. L-

21574, June 30, 1966
 Qua Chee Gan vs. Law Union & Rock Insurance, G.R. No. L-4611,
December 17, 1955

VII. Naturalization Laws

 Benjamin Co vs Republic, G.R. No. L-12150, May 26, 1960

 Velasco vs Republic, G.R. No. L-14214, May 25, 1960
 Co Y Quing Reyes Vs. Republic, G.R. No. L-10761, November 29,
1958

VIII. Expropriation Laws

 Heirs of Jugalbot vs Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 170346, March 12,

2007

IX. Wills

 Tampoy vs Alberastine, G.R. No. L-14322. February 25, 1960

 Rodriguez vs Alcala, G.R. No. 32672, November 5, 1930

X. Rules of Court

 Anama vs Court of appeals, G.R. No. 187021, January 25, 2012

Note: See Section 6, Rule 1, 1997 Rules of Court