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Automotive Parts & Equipment Company, Inc. vs. Lingad

31st October 1969

ak801807
30 SCRA 248 , 140 Phil. 580 , No. L-26406
Primary Holding
The Supreme Court ruled that Section 19 of Republic Act No. 602, which prohibits the reduction of wages exceeding the minimum wage, applies to all employers regardless of when they commenced operations.
Background
The petitioner, Automotive Parts & Equipment Company, was incorporated in 1961 and had been paying its employees on both daily and monthly bases. Following the enactment of Republic Act No. 4180 in 1965, which amended the minimum wage law, the Secretary of Labor mandated an increase in monthly wages to a minimum of P180.00. The company contested this requirement, seeking a declaratory relief to interpret its obligations under the law.
Statutory Construction

National Marketing Corp. vs. Tecson

27th August 1969

ak067424
29 SCRA 70 , 139 Phil. 584 , No. L-29131
Primary Holding
An action to revive a judgment must be filed within ten years or 3,650 days from the date the judgment became final, as defined by Article 13 of the Civil Code. Beyond this period, revival is barred by prescription.
Background
The Price Stabilization Corporation obtained a final judgment in 1955 against Miguel Tecson. Years later, the National Marketing Corporation, as its successor, attempted to revive this judgment in 1965. The trial court dismissed the case, finding that the action was filed beyond the ten-year prescription period. The only issue on appeal was whether the action to revive had prescribed.
Statutory Construction

Laura Corpus, et al. vs. Felardo Paje and The Victory Liner Transportation Co., Inc.

31st July 1969

ak122160
G.R. No. L-26737
Primary Holding
The acquittal of an accused in a criminal case for reckless imprudence on the ground that the fact from which civil liability might arise did not exist is a bar to a subsequent civil action for damages based on the same act (delict). Alternatively, if the civil action is founded on quasi-delict, it must be filed within the four-year prescriptive period from the date of the incident, which is not interrupted by the institution of the criminal action.
Background
The case originated from a vehicular accident on December 23, 1956, in Lubao, Pampanga. A passenger bus owned by Victory Liner Transportation Co., Inc. and driven by Felardo Paje collided with a jeep driven by Clemente Marcia. The collision resulted in the death of Clemente Marcia and physical injuries to two other individuals. This event triggered both criminal and civil proceedings to determine liability for the death and damages.
Persons and Family Law
Article 33, Civil Code

People vs. Lava

16th May 1969

ak022947
28 SCRA 72 , No. L-4974, , No. L-4975, , No. L-4976 , No. L-4977 , No. L-4978
Primary Holding
The Supreme Court ruled that the accused should only be charged with simple rebellion, as established in People v. Hernandez (1956), and that rebellion cannot be complexed with other common crimes like murder, arson, and robbery. The Court upheld the doctrine that when common crimes are committed in furtherance of rebellion, they are absorbed into the crime of rebellion itself.
Background
The accused, high-ranking members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan (HMB), were charged with rebellion for engaging in armed attacks, raids, and assassinations aimed at overthrowing the government. The trial court found them guilty of rebellion with multiple murders, arsons, and robberies, sentencing several to death or life imprisonment. On appeal, the Supreme Court re-evaluated the conviction under established jurisprudence.
Philosophy of Law

City of Baguio vs. Marcos

28th February 1969

ak680073
27 SCRA 342 , 136 Phil. 569 , No. L-26100
Primary Holding
Lessees of public land possess legal standing to oppose petitions to reopen cadastral proceedings under R.A. 931. The 40-year period under R.A. 931 is calculated from the law’s approval (1953), making the 1922 cadastral decision eligible for reopening.
Background
The case originated from a 1912 cadastral proceeding (Civil Reservation Case No. 1) declaring the land public in 1922. In 1961, Belong Lutes petitioned to reopen the case, claiming ancestral possession. Petitioners, as tree farm lessees, opposed the reopening but were dismissed by lower courts. The Supreme Court reversed these rulings.
Statutory Construction

Republic vs. PLDT

27th January 1969

ak453367
136 Phil. 20 , 26 SCRA 620 , No. L-18841
Primary Holding
The Republic of the Philippines, exercising its sovereign power of eminent domain, can compel PLDT to interconnect its telephone system with the government system, even without a voluntary contract, provided that just compensation is paid to PLDT for the use of its facilities and services.
Background
The Bureau of Telecommunications, a government entity, sought to interconnect its Government Telephone System (GTS) with PLDT's telephone network to provide broader telecommunication services to the public, including overseas calls. PLDT initially allowed interconnection through leased trunk lines but later severed these connections, citing unauthorized commercial use and competition from the Bureau. The Republic then filed suit to compel interconnection.
Constitutional Law II
Eminent Domain

Tijam vs. Sibonghanoy

15th April 1968

ak037088
23 SCRA 29 , No. L-21450
Primary Holding
A party is barred by laches from invoking the defense of lack of jurisdiction when they have actively participated in the case proceedings through various stages for an unreasonable and unexplained length of time, sought affirmative relief, and only raised the jurisdictional question after receiving an unfavorable decision on the merits.
Background
The case originated from a simple collection suit for P1,908.00 filed by the spouses Tijam against the spouses Sibonghanoy in the CFI of Cebu shortly after the Judiciary Act of 1948 (RA 296) took effect, which placed such amounts under the exclusive original jurisdiction of inferior courts. A writ of attachment against the Sibonghanoys' property was dissolved upon the posting of a counter-bond by the Manila Surety and Fidelity Co., Inc. (Surety).
Civil Procedure I

Province of Zamboanga del Norte vs. City of Zamboanga

28th March 1968

ak384710
22 SCRA 1334 , 131 Phil. 446 , No. L-24440
Primary Holding
Republic Act 3039 is constitutional insofar as it transfers properties of the former Zamboanga province used for governmental purposes (public properties) to Zamboanga City without compensation, but unconstitutional for properties not used for such purposes (patrimonial properties), as the latter requires due process and just compensation for valid transfer.
Background
The Municipality of Zamboanga was the capital of Zamboanga Province. Commonwealth Act 39 converted the Municipality into Zamboanga City and stipulated that the City would purchase provincial properties in Zamboanga City when the capital moved. The capital moved to Dipolog, and later Republic Act 711 divided Zamboanga Province into Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga del Sur. Republic Act 3039 later amended Commonwealth Act 39 to transfer the properties to Zamboanga City for free, leading to this legal challenge by Zamboanga del Norte, seeking payment for its share of the properties.
Property and Land Law

Katz vs. United States

18th December 1967

ak574343
389 U.S. 347
Primary Holding
The Fourth Amendment protects people, not places, and its reach does not depend on physical penetration into a constitutionally protected area; electronic eavesdropping on conversations made from a public phone booth, where the user has a justifiable expectation of privacy, constitutes a "search and seizure" requiring a warrant based on probable cause.
Background
The case arose from an FBI investigation into the petitioner's suspected involvement in transmitting gambling information via telephone between Los Angeles, Miami, and Boston, in violation of federal law.
Constitutional Law II
Searches and Seizures

Gonzales vs. Commission on Elections

9th November 1967

ak403726
21 SCRA 774 , 129 Phil. 7 , No. L-28196 , No. L-28224
Primary Holding
The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Republic Act No. 4913 and the congressional resolutions proposing the amendments, ruling that submission during a general election complied with Article XV. However, six justices in concurring opinions found the public’s awareness insufficient for valid ratification.
Background
Congress passed Resolutions 1 and 3 (proposing amendments) and Resolution 2 (calling a future constitutional convention) on March 16, 1967. RA 4913 scheduled the plebiscite during the 1967 general election. Petitioners argued the amendments were rushed and inadequately publicized.
Statutory Construction

Lidasan vs. Commission on Elections

25th October 1967

ak047045
21 SCRA 496 , 128 Phil. 526 , No. L-28089
Primary Holding
RA 4790 is void for violating the Single Subject Rule under Article VI, Section 21(1) of the 1935 Constitution.
Background
RA 4790 aimed to create Dianaton from barrios in Lanao del Sur and Cotabato. The Office of the President urged suspending its implementation, but COMELEC enforced it. Petitioner Bara Lidasan, a Cotabato resident, challenged the law’s validity.
Statutory Construction

Ermita-Malate Hotel and Motel Operators Association, Inc. vs. City Mayor of Manila

31st July 1967

ak423474
20 SCRA 849 , 128 Phil. 473 , No. L-24693
Primary Holding
Ordinance No. 4760 of the City of Manila is constitutional, as the petitioners failed to present sufficient evidence to overcome the presumption of its validity, and the ordinance is a valid exercise of police power aimed at safeguarding public morals.
Background
The Ermita-Malate Hotel and Motel Operators Association challenged Ordinance No. 4760, arguing it was unconstitutional and beyond the powers of the Manila Municipal Board. They claimed the ordinance violated due process by imposing unreasonable fees and regulations, invading privacy, and lacking certainty. The City Mayor defended the ordinance as a valid exercise of police power to curb immorality.
Constitutional Law II
Police Power

Stonehill vs. Diokno

19th June 1967

ak432252
20 SCRA 383 , 126 Phil. 738 , G. R. No. L-19550
Primary Holding
Search warrants must be issued based upon probable cause for one specific offense and must particularly describe the things to be seized to be constitutionally valid; evidence obtained in violation of the constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures is inadmissible (exclusionary rule); the right to object to an unlawful search and seizure is personal and cannot be invoked by corporate officers for searches conducted on corporate premises.
Background
Government prosecutors applied for and were granted 42 search warrants by various judges against the petitioners (corporate officers) and the corporations they managed. The applications alleged violations of Central Bank Laws, Tariff and Customs Laws, the Internal Revenue Code, and the Revised Penal Code, leading to searches of offices, warehouses, and residences, and the seizure of numerous documents and items.
Constitutional Law II
Searches and Seizures

Loving vs. Virginia

12th June 1967

ak356953
388 U.S. 1
Primary Holding
Statutes prohibiting marriage solely on the basis of racial classifications violate the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment, as the freedom to marry is a fundamental right and racial classifications are subject to the most rigid scrutiny and must serve a permissible state objective independent of racial discrimination.
Background
The case arose within the context of Virginia's long-standing statutory scheme aimed at preventing interracial marriages, rooted in historical practices dating back to the colonial period and solidified by the Racial Integrity Act of 1924. At the time of the litigation, Virginia was one of 16 states still enforcing such anti-miscegenation laws, which reflected historical doctrines of white supremacy and racial purity.
Constitutional Law II
Equal Protection

Bellis vs. Bellis

6th June 1967

ak036910
20 SCRA 358 , G.R. No. L-23678
Primary Holding
The national law of a foreign decedent determines the intrinsic validity of their will, the order of succession, the amount of successional rights, and the capacity to succeed, even if the properties are located in the Philippines; Philippine laws on legitimes and public policy do not apply to the succession of foreign nationals.
Background
Amos G. Bellis, a citizen of Texas, U.S.A., had legitimate children from two marriages and three illegitimate children. He executed a will in the Philippines, where some of his assets were located, providing specific legacies for his first wife and his three illegitimate children, with the remainder of his estate going to his seven legitimate children. At the time of his death, he was a resident of Texas. The will did not conform to the Philippine system of legitimes, which grants compulsory shares to illegitimate children.
Persons and Family Law Wills and Succession

Caltex (Philippines), Inc. vs. Palomar

29th September 1966

ak979503
18 SCRA 247 , 124 Phil. 763 , No. L-19650
Primary Holding
Promotional contests lacking consideration (no payment, purchase, or value given by participants) do not qualify as lotteries or prohibited gift enterprises under the Postal Law.
Background
Caltex designed the “Caltex Hooded Pump Contest” in 1960 to boost sales. Participants estimated gas pump output for prizes. The Postmaster General blocked mail use for the contest, calling it a lottery. Caltex sought declaratory relief to affirm its legality.
Statutory Construction

Pelaez vs. The Auditor General

24th December 1965

ak139410
122 Phil. 965 , G. R. No. L-23825
Primary Holding
The power to create municipal corporations is strictly legislative in nature and cannot be delegated to the President; Section 68 of the Revised Administrative Code, insofar as it grants the President the power to create municipalities, constitutes an undue delegation of legislative power because it fails to provide a sufficient standard for the President to follow, and is therefore unconstitutional.
Background
The President of the Philippines, from September 4 to October 29, 1964, issued thirty-three Executive Orders creating new municipalities, purportedly pursuant to Section 68 of the Revised Administrative Code. This action prompted Vice-President Emmanuel Pelaez, as a taxpayer, to question the legality of these creations and the underlying statutory authority, fearing the unauthorized expenditure of public funds.
Constitutional Law I

Wassmer vs. Velez

26th December 1964

ak912210
12 SCRA 648 , G.R. No. L-20089
Primary Holding
While a mere breach of promise to marry is not an actionable wrong in itself, a person who, after making formal wedding preparations (such as applying for a license, sending invitations, and preparing for the ceremony), abruptly and unjustifiably cancels the wedding, causing public humiliation and injury, commits an act contrary to good customs and can be held liable for damages under Article 21 of the Civil Code.
Background
Francisco Velez and Beatriz Wassmer were engaged and had formally planned their wedding. This included securing a marriage license, distributing invitations, purchasing attire, and receiving bridal shower gifts. Two days before the set date, Velez suddenly left a note cancelling the wedding, citing his mother's opposition. He then sent a telegram promising to return but never did, prompting Wassmer to sue for damages due to the public humiliation and expenses incurred.
Persons and Family Law

De la Cerna vs. Rebaca-Potot

23rd December 1964

ak932855
12 SCRA 576 , 120 Phil. 1361 , 63 OG No. 38 , No. L-20234
Primary Holding
A final decree of probate by a court of competent jurisdiction is conclusive as to the validity and due execution of a will regarding the estate of the deceased testator, even if the will is a prohibited joint will; however, such a decree does not bind the estate of the other joint testator who was still alive at the time of the first probate, as the court lacks jurisdiction over the estate of a living person.
Background
In 1939, a married couple executed a single document as their joint last will and testament, bequeathing two parcels of land to their niece. This occurred during the effectivity of the Civil Code of 1889, which, like the subsequent Civil Code of 1950, strictly prohibited joint wills. The dispute arose decades later when the heirs of the husband challenged the validity of the testamentary disposition after both spouses had passed away.
Wills and Succession
Law governing form and content

Bolinao Electronics Corporation vs. Valencia

30th June 1964

ak243676
11 SCRA 486 , 120 Phil. 469 , No. L-20740
Primary Holding
The Secretary of Public Works and Communications improperly initiated license renewal investigations after condoning late filings through an official circular. The Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) unlawfully attempted to operate a TV channel in Luzon despite budgetary restrictions.
Background
The Secretary of Public Works and Communications improperly initiated license renewal investigations after condoning late filings through an official circular. The Philippine Broadcasting Service (PBS) unlawfully attempted to operate a TV channel in Luzon despite budgetary restrictions.
Statutory Construction

Jacobellis vs. Ohio

22nd June 1964

ak737310
378 U.S. 184
Primary Holding
Material cannot be proscribed as obscene unless it is "utterly without redeeming social importance," and the "contemporary community standards" by which obscenity is judged are those of the nation as a whole, not a particular local community; furthermore, the Supreme Court has an obligation to make an independent constitutional judgment on the facts of the case as to whether the material is constitutionally protected.
Background
The case arose from the criminal prosecution of a movie theater manager in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, for exhibiting a film deemed obscene under state law. This occurred during a period of significant legal debate and development regarding the definition of obscenity and the extent of First Amendment protection for expressive materials, particularly those dealing with sex.
Constitutional Law II
Freedom of Expression

People vs. Hernandez

30th May 1964

ak952010
11 SCRA 223 , No. L-6025 , No. L-6026
Primary Holding
The Supreme Court affirmed the doctrine in People v. Hernandez (1956), holding that rebellion absorbs all crimes committed in furtherance of rebellion and cannot be charged as a complex crime with murder, arson, or robbery. The Court modified the penalties imposed, aligning them with those prescribed for rebellion under Articles 134 and 135 of the Revised Penal Code.
Background
The accused were leaders or members of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and the Hukbong Mapagpalaya ng Bayan (HMB), formerly known as Hukbalahap (Huks). The government alleged that they conspired to overthrow the government through armed rebellion, organizing violent raids, ambushes, and assassinations. The trial court sentenced several defendants to death or life imprisonment, leading to an appeal before the Supreme Court.
Philosophy of Law

De Ramas vs. Court of Agrarian Relations

29th May 1964

ak885506
11 SCRA 171 , 120 Phil. 168 , No. L-19555
Primary Holding
Section 14 of Republic Act No. 1199, which allows tenants to change their tenancy contract from share to leasehold, is constitutional and does not violate the constitutional prohibition against impairment of contracts.
Background
Geronimo B. Ramos, a tenant of Mateo de Ramas, sought to change their tenancy agreement from share to leasehold under Section 14 of Republic Act No. 1199. De Ramas refused, leading Ramos to file a petition with the Court of Agrarian Relations, which ruled in favor of Ramos. De Ramas appealed, challenging the constitutionality of Section 14.
Philosophy of Law

New York Times Co. vs. Sullivan

9th March 1964

ak220660
376 U.S. 254
Primary Holding
A State cannot, under the First and Fourteenth Amendments, award damages to a public official for defamatory falsehood relating to his official conduct unless he proves that the statement was made with "actual malice"—that is, with knowledge of its falsity or with reckless disregard of whether it was true or false.
Background
The case arose during the height of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, specifically in Montgomery, Alabama, a focal point of civil rights activism and resistance. The advertisement in question, "Heed Their Rising Voices," sought support for the civil rights movement and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and criticized the actions of Southern officials, including those in Montgomery, in suppressing civil rights activities.
Constitutional Law II
Freedom of Expression

Brehm vs. Republic

30th September 1963

ak978065
9 SCRA 172 , G.R. No. L-18566
Primary Holding
The absolute prohibition in Article 335(4) of the New Civil Code, which states that non-resident aliens "cannot adopt," is a mandatory provision that disqualifies a non-resident alien from adopting in the Philippines, even if he is the step-father of the child to be adopted.
Background
Gilbert R. Brehm, an American citizen serving in the U.S. Navy and temporarily assigned at Subic Bay, married Ester Mira, a Filipina citizen. Ester had a daughter, Elizabeth, from a previous relationship with another American who had left the country. After their marriage, the couple and the child resided in Manila, with Gilbert providing care and support. To formalize their family unit and give the child a legitimate status, the spouses filed a joint petition to adopt Elizabeth.
Persons and Family Law

Sherbert vs. Verner

17th June 1963

ak644642
374 U.S. 398
Primary Holding
A state cannot constitutionally apply its unemployment compensation eligibility provisions to deny benefits to an individual who refuses to work on their Sabbath due to sincerely held religious beliefs, as such a denial imposes an unconstitutional burden on the free exercise of religion, unless the state can demonstrate a compelling state interest justifying such infringement and that no alternative forms of regulation would suffice.
Background
The case arose from the conflict between an individual's religious observance, specifically the Seventh-Day Adventist practice of observing Saturday as the Sabbath, and a state's unemployment compensation law requiring availability for work. Appellant Adell Sherbert was a member of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church and was discharged by her employer when she refused to work on Saturdays after her employer switched to a six-day work week. Her subsequent inability to find other employment that did not require Saturday work led to her claim for unemployment benefits.
Constitutional Law II
Freedom of Religion

Vera vs. People of the Philippines and Court of Appeals

31st January 1963

ak623026
117 Phil. 170 , G. R. No. L-18184
Primary Holding
Amnesty presupposes the commission of a crime; therefore, an accused who denies committing the offense charged cannot simultaneously invoke the benefits of an amnesty proclamation, as amnesty is in the nature of a plea of confession and avoidance.
Background
The case arose in the aftermath of World War II in the Philippines, during which various guerrilla units operated. The Amnesty Proclamation No. 8, series of 1946, was issued to provide a means for individuals who committed acts penalized under the Revised Penal Code in furtherance of the resistance movement against the Japanese or against persons aiding the enemy to be absolved of criminal liability. The petitioners were members of Vera's Guerrilla Party, and the victim, Amadeo Lozañes, was a lieutenant of the Hunter's ROTC Guerrilla organization, with a history of rivalry between the two groups.
Constitutional Law I

Aznar vs. Garcia

31st January 1963

ak099588
7 SCRA 95 , No. L-16749
Primary Holding
When Philippine law directs the application of a foreign national's law to matters of succession, the term "national law" is understood to encompass the entirety of that foreign law, including its conflict-of-laws rules. If the foreign law contains a conflict-of-laws rule that refers the matter back to the law of the decedent's domicile, the Philippine court shall accept this referral (renvoi) and apply its own internal law on succession.
Background
Edward E. Christensen, a citizen of the State of California, lived for most of his life in the Philippines, where he died. He left a will that provided a legacy of P3,600 to Helen Christensen Garcia, who had been judicially declared his acknowledged natural child in a separate proceeding, while leaving the bulk of his substantial estate to his other daughter, Maria Lucy Christensen. This disposition was valid under the internal law of California, which grants testators complete freedom of disposition. However, it contravened Philippine law, which designates acknowledged natural children as forced heirs entitled to a specific portion of the estate known as the legitime. The conflict arose as to which law should govern the intrinsic validity of the will's provisions.
Persons and Family Law

Engel vs. Vitale

25th June 1962

ak957958
370 U.S. 421
Primary Holding
State officials may not compose an official state prayer and require its recitation in public schools, even if the prayer is denominationally neutral and pupils may remain silent or be excused, because such a practice violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.
Background
The New York State Board of Regents, a governmental agency with supervisory powers over the State's public school system, composed and recommended a prayer for recitation in public schools. The prayer was part of a "Statement on Moral and Spiritual Training in the Schools." The respondent Board of Education of Union Free School District No. 9, New Hyde Park, New York, adopted this recommendation and directed its principal to have the prayer said aloud by each class at the beginning of each school day in the presence of a teacher.
Constitutional Law II
Freedom of Religion

Mendoza vs. Alcala

29th August 1961

ak406778
G.R. No. L-14305 , 2 SCRA 1032
Primary Holding
An acquittal in a criminal case on the ground that the accused's guilt has not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt does not extinguish the civil liability arising from the same act or omission and does not bar a subsequent civil action to enforce it.
Background
The dispute originated from a transaction where Gaudencio T. Mendoza gave Maximo M. Alcala the sum of P1,100. A receipt signed by Alcala indicated this amount was an advance payment for 100 cavans of palay that Alcala promised to deliver by a specific date. When Alcala failed to deliver the palay, Mendoza initiated criminal proceedings for estafa against him.
Persons and Family Law
Article 29 & 33, New Civil Code

Cui vs. Arellano University

30th May 1961

ak734243
112 Phil. 135 , G.R. No. L-15127
Primary Holding
A contractual stipulation requiring a student to waive their right to transfer to another school unless they refund the scholarship benefits previously granted is void for being contrary to public policy, as scholarships are awarded in recognition of merit and not as a business scheme to retain students.
Background
The case arose from a dispute between Emeterio Cui, a law student, and Arellano University. Cui had been awarded scholarship grants by the university for scholastic merit. Before receiving these grants, he was made to sign a contract waiving his right to transfer to another school without refunding the scholarship amount. Cui later transferred to another university, and Arellano University refused to release his academic transcripts necessary for the bar examination unless he repaid the scholarship funds.
Obligations and Contracts

Republic vs. La Orden de PP. Benedictinos de Filipinas

28th February 1961

ak396070
1 SCRA 646 , 111 Phil. 230 , No. L-12792
Primary Holding
The trial court erred in dismissing the expropriation case without receiving evidence on the necessity of taking the appellee's property for public use. The issue of necessity is a question of fact that requires presentation of evidence by both parties.
Background
To alleviate traffic congestion on Legarda Street, the government planned to extend Azcarraga Street. This extension required acquiring a portion of land owned by La Orden de PP. Benedictinos de Filipinas, where San Beda College is located. Negotiations failed, leading the government to initiate expropriation proceedings.
Constitutional Law II
Eminent Domain

Hermosisima vs. Court of Appeals, et al.

30th September 1960

ak130576
109 Phil. 629 , G.R. No. L-14628
Primary Holding
An action for breach of a promise to marry is not a valid basis for recovering moral damages under Philippine law, as Congress deliberately omitted provisions from the Civil Code that would have sanctioned such claims.
Background
The case originated from an intimate relationship between Soledad Cagigas, a 36-year-old former teacher, and Francisco Hermosisima, an apprentice pilot nearly ten years her junior. Their relationship led to Cagigas becoming pregnant. Hermosisima promised to marry her but subsequently married another woman. Cagigas filed a suit for acknowledgment of their child, support, and moral damages for the broken promise. The lower courts granted the moral damages, framing the petitioner's actions as a form of seduction, which prompted the petitioner to elevate the issue to the Supreme Court.
Persons and Family Law

Caltex (Phil.) Inc. vs. Felias

30th June 1960

ak597591
108 Phil. 873 , No. L-14309
Primary Holding
Paraphernal property of the wife is not liable for the debts of the husband, even if a conjugal house is built on it, if the land was exclusively owned by the wife prior to the construction and debt incurrence.
Background
Caltex sought to enforce a judgment against Felisa Felias's husband, Simeon Sawamoto, by levying and selling a land parcel (Lot No. 107) originally owned by Felisa Felias's parents and later donated to her. Caltex claimed the land became conjugal property due to the construction of a conjugal house on it during the marriage and was thus subject to levy for the husband’s debt.
Property and Land Law

Commissioner Internal Revenue vs. Filipinas Compañia de Seguros

29th April 1960

ak186834
107 Phil. 1055 , No. L-14880
Primary Holding
Tax laws are prospective unless expressly stated otherwise; Republic Act No. 1612’s increased rates for real estate dealer’s fixed annual tax applied prospectively from its effective date (August 24, 1956) and could not retroactively impose additional liability for taxes already paid for 1956.
Background
Respondent Filipinas Compañía de Seguros, a real estate dealer, paid P150 as the 1956 fixed annual tax under the original National Internal Revenue Code. RA 1612 (effective August 24, 1956) introduced graduated rates. The Commissioner later demanded an additional P350, claiming retroactive application. The Court of Tax Appeals ruled for the respondent, prompting the Commissioner’s appeal to the Supreme Court.
Statutory Construction

Ocampo vs. Florenciano

23rd February 1960

ak805771
107 Phil. 35 , G.R. No. L-13553
Primary Holding
A decree of legal separation may be granted even if the defendant spouse admits to the offense or expresses conformity to the separation, provided that the decree is based on independent evidence of the ground (adultery) and not solely on a confession of judgment, and provided there is no collusion between the parties to simulate the ground.
Background
The case arises from a petition for legal separation filed by a husband against his wife after discovering her in the act of sexual intercourse with another man in 1955. This incident followed a history of the wife's previous infidelity in 1951 and her eventual abandonment of the conjugal home in 1952.
Persons and Family Law
Legal separation

Gerona vs. Secretary of Education

12th August 1959

ak011651
106 Phil. 2 , No. L-13954
Primary Holding
The requirement of observing the flag ceremony, including saluting the flag, singing the national anthem, and reciting the patriotic pledge, as mandated by Department Order No. 8, s. 1955, does not violate the constitutional provision on freedom of religion and the exercise thereof, as the flag ceremony is a civic and patriotic exercise, not a religious one, and compliance with such non-discriminatory school regulations is a prerequisite for attendance in public schools.
Background
On June 11, 1955, Republic Act No. 1265, "An Act Making Flag Ceremony Compulsory in all Educational Institutions," was approved. Section 2 of this Act authorized the Secretary of Education to issue rules and regulations for the proper conduct of the flag ceremony. Consequently, on July 21, 1955, the Secretary of Education issued Department Order No. 8, series of 1955, detailing the rules for the compulsory daily flag ceremony in all public and private schools.
Constitutional Law II Philosophy of Law
Freedom of Religion

Evangelista vs. Alto Surety & Ins. Co., Inc.

23rd April 1958

ak523989
103 Phil. 401 , No. L-11139
Primary Holding
A house constructed on leased land is considered immovable property, not personal property, for purposes of attachment and execution, regardless of agreements between private parties treating it as chattel. Therefore, the rules for attaching immovable property must be followed.
Background
Santos Evangelista sued Ricardo Rivera for a sum of money and obtained a writ of attachment on a house Rivera built on leased land. Later, Alto Surety & Insurance Co., Inc. claimed ownership of the same house based on a prior auction sale resulting from a separate case against Rivera. Evangelista sued to establish his title and gain possession.
Property and Land Law

Roth vs. United States

24th June 1957

ak704418
354 U.S. 476
Primary Holding
Obscenity is not within the area of constitutionally protected speech or press under the First Amendment (as applied to the Federal Government) or the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment (as applied to the States); the appropriate standard for judging obscenity is whether, to the average person, applying contemporary community standards, the dominant theme of the material taken as a whole appeals to prurient interest.
Background
The cases arose from separate prosecutions under federal and state laws aimed at curbing the dissemination of obscene materials. Roth operated a publication and sales business in New York, utilizing mails for circulars and advertising. Alberts ran a mail-order business in Los Angeles, selling books deemed obscene. These prosecutions reflected societal concerns and legislative efforts to regulate materials considered harmful to public morals, specifically those dealing with sex in a manner deemed offensive or appealing to prurient interest.
Constitutional Law II
Freedom of Expression

Ichong vs. Hernandez

31st May 1957

ak330887
101 Phil. 1155 , G.R. No. L-7995
Primary Holding
Republic Act No. 1180, which effectively nationalizes the retail trade business by prohibiting aliens (except US citizens and those already engaged in the business as of May 15, 1954, under specific conditions) from participating, constitutes a valid exercise of the State's police power and does not infringe upon the constitutional guarantees of due process and equal protection, nor does it violate treaty obligations or the constitutional requirement that the subject of a bill be expressed in its title.
Background
The enactment of Republic Act No. 1180 stemmed from a deep-seated nationalistic concern, present since the 1935 Constitutional Convention and amplified over time, regarding the perceived economic dominance and control exerted by aliens, particularly in the vital retail trade sector, which was viewed as a threat to the Philippines' economic independence, national security, and the welfare of Filipino retailers and consumers.
Constitutional Law II
Due Process

American Bible Society vs. City of Manila

30th April 1957

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101 Phil. 386 , G. R. No. L-9637
Primary Holding
A municipal ordinance imposing license fees on the sale of merchandise, when applied to the distribution and sale of bibles and religious literature by a non-profit religious corporation, constitutes an unconstitutional restraint on the free exercise of religion and the dissemination of religious beliefs, as it is not a nominal fee for regulation but a tax on a constitutional privilege. However, an ordinance requiring a Mayor's permit for businesses, trades, or occupations, if generally applicable and not imposing a charge on the enjoyment of a constitutional right or taxing religious practices, is not per se unconstitutional but may be inapplicable if the underlying activity it seeks to regulate (through related tax ordinances) is constitutionally protected from such taxation.
Background
The American Bible Society (ABS), a non-profit religious missionary corporation, had been distributing and selling bibles and religious materials in the Philippines since 1898. In 1953, the City Treasurer of Manila informed ABS that it was considered to be conducting the business of "general merchandise" and required it to secure a Mayor's permit and pay license fees for the period from the 4th quarter of 1945 to the 2nd quarter of 1953, based on City Ordinances. ABS paid the assessed amount under protest and filed suit to challenge the legality and constitutionality of these ordinances as applied to its activities.
Constitutional Law II
Freedom of Religion

Tañada vs. Cuenco

28th February 1957

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103 Phil. 1051 , G. R. No. L-10520
Primary Holding
The Senate may not validly elect as members of the Senate Electoral Tribunal Senators who have not been nominated by the political parties specified in Article VI, Section 11 of the Constitution; the party having the largest number of votes in the Senate is entitled to nominate three members, and the party having the second largest number of votes has the exclusive right to nominate the other three Senator-members. Any nomination for these constitutionally allocated party slots made by an entity other than the designated political party is null and void.
Background
The dispute originated from the organization of the Senate Electoral Tribunal after the 1955 general elections. At that time, the Senate was overwhelmingly dominated by the Nacionalista Party, which had 23 Senators, while the Citizens Party, represented solely by Senator Lorenzo M. Tañada, was the party with the second largest number of votes. The constitutional provision for the Senate Electoral Tribunal requires six Senators as members: three to be nominated by the party with the largest number of votes and three by the party with the second largest number of votes. The conflict centered on how these nominations, particularly for the minority slots, should proceed given this significant disparity in party representation.
Constitutional Law I

Velayo, etc. vs. Shell Co. of the Phils., et al.

31st October 1956

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100 Phil. 186 , G.R. No. L-7817
Primary Holding
A creditor who, after participating in a meeting with other creditors of an insolvent debtor to arrange for a fair pro-rata distribution of assets, takes advantage of information obtained therein to secretly assign its credit to another entity to attach the debtor's property abroad, acts in bad faith and contrary to morals and public policy, and is liable for damages to the insolvent's estate under the Civil Code.
Background
Commercial Air Lines, Inc. (CALI), a Philippine corporation, was in a state of insolvency, owing significant debts to multiple creditors, including a substantial amount to Shell Company of the Philippine Islands, Ltd. (Shell) for fuel supplies. CALI's management, seeking to avoid formal insolvency proceedings and ensure an equitable settlement, convened a meeting of its principal creditors to disclose its financial situation and discuss a plan for the fair distribution of its remaining assets, one of which was a valuable Douglas C-54 airplane located in California, USA.
Persons and Family Law

Espique vs. Espique

28th June 1956

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99 Phil. 448 , No. L-8029
Primary Holding
An invalid donation of immovable property, while not transferring title, can serve as a valid basis for acquisitive prescription if accompanied by open, continuous, adverse, and public possession in the concept of owner for the period required by law.
Background
The case stemmed from a partition action where plaintiffs claimed common ownership of land and sought damages for lost profits. The defendant asserted sole ownership based on a donation propter nuptias received in 1906 and his subsequent adverse possession for over 40 years, arguing for prescription and lack of cause of action for partition.
Property and Land Law

Bermoy, et al. vs. Philippine Normal College

18th May 1956

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99 Phil. 1031 , G.R. No. L-8670
Background
The case revolves around employees of the Philippine Normal College seeking compensation for salary differentials and overtime pay. Their lawsuit was initially dismissed on the grounds that the college lacked the juridical capacity to be sued. This dismissal led to an appeal to the Supreme Court, where the central question became whether the Philippine Normal College could indeed be sued as a juridical entity.
Constitutional Law I

Cruz vs. Pahati

13th April 1956

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98 Phil. 788 , No. L-8257
Primary Holding
The original owner of a movable property, who was unlawfully deprived of it due to fraud, has a better right to recover possession than a subsequent purchaser, even if the latter acted in good faith and for value.
Background
Plaintiff Cruz owned an automobile. He entrusted it to Belizo, along with a letter intended to request a new registration certificate, under the pretext that Belizo would find a buyer. Belizo, however, fraudulently altered the letter into a deed of sale and sold the car to Bulahan, who then sold it to Pahati. Cruz filed a replevin action to recover the automobile.
Property and Land Law

Carandang vs. Santiago, etc. and Valenton

25th May 1955

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97 Phil. 94 , No. L-8238
Primary Holding
Article 33 of the Civil Code permits a civil action for physical injuries to proceed independently of a criminal case, regardless of whether the offense is classified as physical injuries, frustrated homicide, or another crime involving bodily harm.
Background
After Tomas Valenton Jr. was convicted of frustrated homicide for attacking Carandang, Carandang filed a civil suit for damages. The trial court suspended the civil case pending the criminal appeal. Carandang challenged this suspension via certiorari.
Statutory Construction

Enriquez, et al. vs. Abadia, et al.

9th August 1954

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95 Phil. 627 , No. L-7188
Primary Holding
The formal validity of a will is determined by the law in force at the time the instrument was executed, and a subsequent law with more liberal requirements cannot validate a will that was void for failure to comply with the legal formalities existing at the time of its creation.
Background
In 1923, Father Sancho Abadia, a parish priest in Cebu, wrote a document intended to be his last will and testament, disposing of properties valued at approximately P8,000. He died in 1943, but the petition for probate was not filed until 1946. At both the time of the will's execution and the testator's death, the law (Act No. 2645) required strict formalities for wills, including marginal signatures by the testator and witnesses on every page and numbering of pages in letters, while holographic wills were entirely unrecognized.
Wills and Succession
Law governing form and content

In re: Cunanan, et al.

18th March 1954

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94 Phil. 534
Primary Holding
The Supreme Court declared Republic Act No. 972 unconstitutional, except for the portion relating to bar examinations from 1953 to 1955, which remained valid due to a lack of unanimity in the decision.
Background
Post-WWII bar candidates who narrowly failed petitions sought admission under RA 972, which retroactively reduced passing averages. The Court initially adjusted passing grades annually but rejected legislative interference, citing the need to protect public interest in legal practice standards.
Statutory Construction

Endencia and Jugo vs. David

31st August 1953

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93 Phil. 696 , 146 Phil. 469 , Nos. L-6355-56
Primary Holding
Section 13 of Republic Act No. 590 is unconstitutional because taxing judicial salaries violates the constitutional prohibition against diminishing judicial compensation, and Congress cannot legislate to override the judiciary’s constitutional interpretation.
Background
Judges Pastor M. Endencia and Fernando Jugo sued for refunds of income taxes withheld from their salaries. The lower court ruled in their favor, citing Perfecto v. Meer. The Collector of Internal Revenue appealed, arguing Congress’s enactment of RA 590 validated the taxation.
Statutory Construction
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