RULES OF LEGAL REASONING 1.

Interpretare   et   concordare   legibus   est

optimus interpretandi – The best method of
I. RULES OF COLLISION interpretations   is   that   which   makes   laws
consistent with other laws
Situation: One or Two laws dealing with the same  2. Leges   posteriores   priores   contrarias
subject matter or facts abrogant – A later law repeals an earlier law
because it is legislative will
GENERAL RULE: Harmonize

A. Provisions vis­à­vis Provisions
D. General laws vis­à­vis Special laws
Rules: 
Principles:
1. Construe as a whole
2. Choose Specific over general 1. Generalia   specialibus   non   derogant  –   the
provisions of a general law must yield to a
B. Laws vis­à­vis Constitution specific one.
2. Generalis   clausula   non   porrigitur   ad   ea
Rules: quae antea specialiter sunt comprehensa –
If   both   statutes   are   irreconcilable,   the
1. The Constitution prevails over statutes general   law   must   give   way   to   the   special
provisions   as   an   exception   to   the   general
C. Laws­vis­à­vis Laws provisions. 

Rules: E. Laws vis­à­vis Ordinances

1. Choose   a   specific   law   rather   than   general Test of a valid ordinance:

even   if   their   enactment   dates   may   be
different.
2. Statutes must be construed and harmonized
with other statutes to form a uniform system
of jurisprudence.
3. New statutes must be construed with already
existing laws.
4. Choose   statutory   provisions   over   common
law.
5. An amended act is to be construed as if the
original has been repealed, and a new and
independent act has been adopted.
Principles:
1. must not contravene the Constitution or any
statute
2. must not be unfair or oppressive 
3. must not be partial or discriminatory
4. must not prohibit but may regulate trade
5. must be general and consistent with public
policy
6. must not be unreasonable
Rules:
1. The   Constitution   prevails   over
administrative order.
2. Statutes   prevail   over   administrative   order
and ordinances.
 3. Basic laws prevail over rules and regulations
II. RULES OF INTERPRETATION
AND CONSTURCTION
Interpretation refers to how a law or provision
is applied. It relies on the material of the law
itself.
Rules:
1. Verba legis   ­ When the language of law is
clear, there is no need for interpretation.
2. If the first rule is not enough, construe the
meaning of the law.
Construction  allows the person to utilize other
reference materials or tools in order to ascertain
the true meaning of the law.
Rule:
1. Construction   may   only   be   allowed   if   the
process   of   interpretation   fails   or   is
inadequate.
Principle:
1. Semper in dubiis benigniora praeferenda  ­
Words are presumed  to have been employed
by  the   lawmaker   in  ordinary   and  common
use.
2. The court is left to resolve ambiguity
III. RULES OF JUDGEMENT
Judicial   Power  is   the   power   to   hear   and   decide
cases   pending   between   two   parties   who   have   the
right to sue and be sued in the courts of law and
equity.
Doctrine   of   judicial   supremacy   ­  The   only
empowered  entity  by  the   Constitution  to   interpret
and   construe   laws   is   the  Judicial   Branch.
(Supreme court and lower court)
Requisites for the exercise of judicial review:
1) an actual and appropriate case and controversy
exists; 
(2) a personal and substantial interest of the party
raising the constitutional question; 
(3) the exercise of judicial review is pleaded at the
earliest opportunity; 
(4) the constitutional question raised is the very lis
mota of the case.
Judicial   Controversy  involves   a   definite   and
concrete touching on the legal relations of parties
having adverse legal interests. 
Rules:
1. All   conclusions   by   the   Supreme   court   en
banc   or   in   division   must   be   reached   in
consultation before the case is assigned to a
member for the writing of the opinion of the
court.
2. A certification must be signed by the Chief
Justice   and   shall   be   issued   and   a   copy
attached to the record and served upon the
parties.
3. Any member who took no part, or dissented,
or abstained from a decision must state the
reason. 
4. No decision shall be rendered by any court
without expressing clearly the facts and the
 law on which it is based nor shall a petition
for review or motion for reconsideration of a IV. RULES OF PROCEDURE
decision be denied without stating the legal
basis.  Rules of procedure refers to the process of how
5. No   judge   or   court   shall   decline   to   render a   litigant   would   protect   his   right   through
judgement by reason of silence, obscurity or intervention   of   the   court   or   any   other
insufficiency of laws.  administrative body.
6. The   Supreme   Court   can   promulgate
decisions that provide for guidelines on how Rules:
the   courts   can   formulate   or   arrive   at   a
decision.  1. Administrative   Rules   of   procedure   are
generally   given   a   liberal   construction
Cardinal requirements of due process in because they are summary in nature. 
administrative proceedings: 2. The nature of the action determined the kind
of proceedings it will follow. 
1. The   right   to   a   hearing   which   includes   the 3. The   rules   should   be   read   and   interpreted
right   of   the   party   interested   or   affected to first   in   their   natural   and   common
present his own case and submit evidence in acceptation. 
support thereof. 4. Rules of procedure should viewed as mere
2. The   tribunal   must   consider   the   evidence tools designs to facilitate the attainment of
presented. justice. 
3. The   decision   must   have   some   basis   to 5. The   rules   must   be   relaxed   for   substantive
support itself justice.
4. The   evidence   must   be   “substantial.”   It
means   such   relevant   evidence   as   a
reasonable mind might accept as adequate to
support a conclusion.
5. The   decision   must   be   rendered   on   the
evidence presented at the hearing, or at least
contained in the record and disclosed to the
parties affected.
6. The administrative body or any of its judges,
therefore,   must   act   on   its   or   his   own
independent   consideration   of   the   law   and
facts   of   the   controversy,   and   not   simply
accept the views of a subordinate in arriving
at a decision.
7. The   administrative   body should,   in   all
controversial   questions,   render   its   decision
in   such   a   manner   that   the   parties   to   the
proceeding   can   know   the   various   issues
involved, and the reasons for the decisions
rendered.