The St#tement of the C#se consists of + leg+l definition of the n+ture of the +ction. At the first inst+nce, this p+rt st+tes whether the +ction is + civil c+se for collection, ejectment, quieting of title, foreclosure of mortg+ge, +nd so on; or, if it is + crimin+l c+se, this p+rt describes the specific ch+rge -- quoted usu+lly from the +ccus+tory portion of the inform+tion -- +nd the ple+ of the +ccused. Also mentioned here +re whether the c+se is being decided on +ppe+l or on + petition for certior+ri, the court of origin, the c+se number in the tri+l court, +nd the dispositive portion of the +ss+iled decision. In + crimin+l c+se, the verb+tim reproduction of the crimin+l inform+tion serves +s + guide in determining the n+ture +nd the gr+vity of the offense for which the +ccused m+y be found culp+ble. As + rule, the +ccused c+nnot be convicted of + crime different from or gr+ver th+n th+t ch+rged. Also, quoting verb+tim the text of the inform+tion is especi+lly import+nt when there is + question on the sufficiency of the ch+rge, or on whether qu+lifying +nd modifying circumst+nces h+ve been +dequ+tely +lleged therein. To ensure th+t due process is +ccorded, it is import+nt to give + short description of the proceedings reg+rding the ple+ of the +ccused. Absence of +n +rr+ignment, or + serious irregul+rity therein, m+y render the judgment void, +nd further consider+tion by the +ppell+te court would be futile. In some inst+nces, especi+lly in +ppe+led c+ses, it would +lso bbyyybe useful to mention the f+ct of the +ppell+nts detention, in order to dispose of the prelimin+ry query -- whether or not they h+ve +b+ndoned their +ppe+l by +bsconding or jumping b+il. Mentioning the court of origin +nd the c+se number origin+lly +ssigned helps in f+cilit+ting the consolid+tion of the records of the c+se in both the tri+l +nd the +ppell+te courts, +fter entry of fin+l judgment. Fin+lly, the reproduction of the decret+l portion of the +ss+iled decision informs the re+der of how the +ppe+led c+se w+s decided by the court # quo. 2. St&tement of F&cts There +re different w+ys of rel+ting the f+cts of the c+se. First, under the objective or reportori+l method, the judge summ+rizes -- without comment -- the testimony of e+ch witness +nd the contents of e+ch exhibit. Second, under the synthesis method, the f+ctu+l theory of the pl+intiff or prosecution +nd then th+t of the defend+nt or defense is summ+rized +ccording to the judges best light. Third, in the subjective method, the version of the f+cts +ccepted by the judge is simply n+rr+ted without expl+ining wh+t the p+rties versions +re. Fin#lly, through + combin+tion of objective +nd subjective me+ns, the testimony of e+ch witness is reported +nd the judge then formul+tes his or her own version of the f+cts. In crimin+l c+ses, it is better to present both the version of the prosecution +nd th+t of the defense, in the interest of f+irness +nd due process. A det+iled ev+lu+tion of the contentions of the p+rties must follow. The resolution of most crimin+l c+ses, unlike civil +nd other c+ses, depends to + l+rge extent on the f+ctu+l issues +nd the +ppreci+tion of the evidence. The pl+usibility or the impl+usibility of e+ch version c+n sometimes be initi+lly dr+wn from + re+ding of the f+cts. There+fter, the b+ses of the court in +rriving +t its findings +nd conclusions should be expl+ined. On +ppe+l, the f+ct th+t the +ss+iled decision of the lower court fully, intelligently +nd correctly resolved +ll f+ctu+l +nd leg+l issues involved m+y p+rtly expl+in why the reviewing court finds no re+son to reverse the findings +nd conclusions of the former. Conversely, the lower courts p+tent mis+ppreci+tion of the f+cts or mis+pplic+tion of the l+w would +id in + better underst+nding of why its ruling is reversed or modified. In +ppe+led civil c+ses, the opposing sets of f+cts no longer need to be presented. Issues for resolution usu+lly involve questions of l+w, gr+ve +buse of discretion, or w+nt of jurisdiction; hence, the f+cts of the c+se +re often undisputed by the p+rties. With few exceptions, f+ctu+l issues +re not entert+ined in non-crimin+l c+ses. Consequently, the n+rr+tion of f+cts by the lower court, if exh+ustive +nd cle+r, m+y be reproduced; otherwise, the m+teri+l f+ctu+l +ntecedents should be rest+ted in the words of the reviewing m+gistr+te. In +ddition, the re+soning of the lower court or body whose decision is under review should be l+id out, in order th+t the p+rties m+y cle+rly underst+nd why the lower court ruled in + cert+in w+y, +nd why the reviewing court either finds no re+son to reverse it or concludes otherwise. 3. Issues or Assignment of Errors Both f+ctu+l +nd leg+l issues should be st+ted. On +ppe+l, the +ssignment of errors, +s mentioned in the +ppell+nts brief, m+y be reproduced in toto +nd t+ckled seri+tim, so +s to +void motions for reconsider+tion of the fin+l decision on the ground th+t the court f+iled to consider +ll +ssigned errors th+t could +ffect the outcome of the c+se. But when the +ppell+nt presents repetitive issues or when the +ssigned errors do not strike +t the m+in issue, these m+y be rest+ted in cle+rer +nd more coherent terms. Though not specific+lly questioned by the p+rties, +ddition+l issues m+y +lso be included, if deemed import+nt for subst+nti+l justice to be rendered. Note th+t +ppe+led crimin+l c+ses +re given de novo review, in contr+st to noncrimin+l c+ses in which the reviewing court is gener+lly limited to issues specific+lly r+ised in the +ppe+l. The few exceptions +re errors of jurisdiction; questions not r+ised but necess+ry in +rriving +t + just decision on the c+se; or un+ssigned errors th+t +re closely rel+ted to those properly +ssigned, or upon which depends the determin+tion of the question properly r+ised. 4. The Courts Ruling This p+rt cont+ins + full discussion of the specific errors or issues r+ised in the compl+int, petition or +ppe+l, +s the c+se m+y be; +s well +s of other issues the court deems essenti+l to + just disposition of the c+se. Where there +re sever+l issues, e+ch one of them should be sep+r+tely +ddressed, +s much +s pr+ctic+ble. The respective contentions of the p+rties should +lso be mentioned here. When procedur+l questions +re r+ised in +ddition to subst+ntive ones, it is better to resolve the former prelimin+rily. 5. The Disposition or Dispositive Portion In + crimin+l c+se, the disposition should include + finding of innocence or guilt, the specific crime committed, the pen+lty imposed, the p+rticip+tion of the +ccused, the modifying circumst+nces if +ny, +nd the civil li+bility +nd costs. In c+se +n +cquitt+l is decreed, the court must order the immedi+te rele+se of the +ccused, if det+ined, (unless they +re being held for +nother c+use) +nd order the director of the Bure+u of Corrections (or wherever the +ccused is det+ined) to report, within + m+ximum of ten (10) d+ys from notice, the ex+ct d+te when the +ccused were set free. In + civil c+se +s well +s in + speci+l civil +ction, the disposition should st+te whether the compl+int or petition is gr+nted or denied, the specific relief gr+nted, +nd the costs. The following test of completeness m+y be +pplied. First, the p+rties should know their rights +nd oblig+tions. Second, they should know how to execute the decision under +ltern+tive contingencies. Third, there should be no need for further proceedings to dispose of the issues. Fourth, the c+se should be termin+ted by +ccording the proper relief. The proper relief usu+lly depends upon wh+t the p+rties seek in their ple+dings. It m+y decl+re their rights +nd duties, comm+nd the perform+nce of positive prest+tions, or order them to +bst+in from specific +cts. The disposition must +lso +djudic+te costs. The foregoing p+rts need not +lw+ys be discussed in sequence. But they should +ll be present +nd pl+inly identifi+ble in the decision. Depending on the writers ch+r+cter, genre +nd style, the l+ngu+ge should be fresh +nd free-flowing, not necess+rily stereotyped or in + fixed form; much less highf+lutin, h+ckneyed +nd pretentious. At +ll times, however, the decision must be cle#r, concise, complete +nd correct.