RULES/DOCTRINE/MAXIM
ARTICLE III
TITLE – every bill shall embrace only
one subject which shall be expressed
in the title
Preamble – may restrict what
otherwise appears to be a broad
scope of a law
Context of the whole text – intention
must be ascertained from the whole
text and every part of the act
Punctuation marks – aids of low
degree and can never control against
intelligible meaning of written
words; not part of statute or the
English language
Semicolon – indicate separation
Comma – divide sentences and its
parts
Capitalization of letter – aid of low
degree
Headnotes and epigraph – not
intended to much weight; statute are
divided into several subjects having
appropriate headings they are
controlling upon the subject
Lingual text unless otherwise
provided, statute is officially
promulgated in English and Spanish
shall govern but in case of ambiguity
the Spanish text can be consulted to
explain the English text
RESTRICTIONS
IN GENERAL
Not resorted when statute is clear
resorted to remove doubt not to
create it
if chapter or section heading has
been inserted merely for
convenience or reference, and
not as integral part of the statute
EXAMPLE
Ebarle v Sucaldito – EO 264
Issue: “ outlining the procedure by which
complaints charging govt official and
employees with commission of irregularities
shld be guided”
Ruling: this only applies to admin cases and
not to criminal complaints
City of Baguio v Marcos
Issue: 40 year period to file for re-opening of
cadastral preceeding ( RA 931) date it is filed
or on the date the decision became final
Ruling:
People v Purisima
Issue: PD 9 that penalizes carrying of bladed
weapons
Ruled: pursuant to the preamble the events
that led to the enactment is the state of
martial law wherein subversion etc is
prominent
People v Echavez
Issue: PD 772 squatting of rural agricultural
lands be punishable
Ruling: it only applies to urban area to prevent
illegal construction in squatter areas
Nera v Garcia
Issue: “if the charge against such subordinate
or employee involves dishonesty, oppression,
or grave misconduct or neglect in the
performance of duty”
Ruling: preventive suspension for the grounds
of grave misconduct or neglect of duty should
be done during the performance of duty
Unabia v City Mayor
Issue: “Civil Service (group) and civil service
(system)”
People v Yabut
Issue: Art 160 of RPC – Commission of another
crime xxx previous offense
Ruling: cannot limit the text to mean that the
crime committed should be different from the
old one