IV. Adherence to, or Departure from, Language of Statute (Agpalo, pp.

206-268)

A. Literal interpretation
i. Plain-meaning rule
• Bustamante v. National Labor Relations Commission, G.R. No. 111651, March 15, 1996.

ii. Dura lex sed lex

Republic Flour Mills, Inc. v. The Commissioner of Customs, supra.
Espiritu v. Cipriano, supra.
Ichong v. Hernandez, supra.
Baking v. The Director of Prisons, supra.

B. Departure from literal interpretation

Matabuena v. Cervantes, G.R. No. 28771, March 31, 1971.

Co v. Electoral Tribunal of the House of Representatives, G.R. Nos. 92191- 92, July 30, 1991.
LVN Pictures, Inc. v. Philippine Musicians Guild (FFW), G.R. No. 12582, January 28, 1961.
Kapatiran ng mga Naglilingkod sa Pamahalaan ng Pilipinas v. Tan, G.R. No. 81311, June 30, 1988.
Rubi v. The Provincial Board of Mindoro, G.R. No. 14078, March 7, 1919.

C. Implications
Escribano v. Avila, supra.
The United States v. Ah Chong, G.R. No. 5272, March 19, 1910.
Manila Prince Hotel v. Government Service Insurance System, supra.
Lacson v. Roque, supra.
De Los Santos v. Mallare, supra.

V. Interpretation of Words and Phrases (Agpalo, pp. 269-350)

A. Generally
• Molina v. Rafferty, supra.

i. Statutory definition
Endencia v. David, supra.
Amadora v. Honorable Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 47745, April 15, 1988

ii. Words construed in their ordinary sense

Mustang Lumber, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 104988, June 18, 1996.
People v. Kottinger, G.R. No. 20569, October 29, 1923.
iii. General words construed generally
• Philippine Acetylene Company v. Central Bank of the Philippines, G.R. No. 17097, September 29, 1964.

iv. Generic term includes things that arise thereafter

• Gatchalian v. Commission on Elections, supra.

v. Words with commercial or trade meaning

• The San Miguel Corporation v. The Municipal Council, G.R. No. 30761, July 11, 1973.

vi. Words with technical or legal meaning

• Krivenko v. The Register of Deeds, City of Manila, supra.

vii. How identical terms in same statute construed

• Krivenko v. The Register of Deeds, City of Manila, supra.

viii. Meaning of word qualified by purpose of statute

• The Philippine Association of Government Retirees, Inc. v. The Government Service Insurance System (G

ix. Word or phrase construed in relation to other provisions

• Molina v. Rafferty, supra.

x. Meaning of term dictated by context

• Krivenko v. The Register of Deeds, City of Manila, supra.

xi. Where the law does not distinguish

• Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, Inc. v. Gimenez, G.R. No. 14787, January 28, 1961.

xii. Disjunctive and conjunctive words

• People v. Martin, G.R. No. 33487, May 31, 1971.

B. Associated words
i. Noscitur a sociis
Aboitiz Shipping Corporation v. The City of Cebu, supra.
Magtajas v. Pryce Properties Corporation, Inc., supra.

ii. Ejusdem generis

National Power Corporation v. Angas, G.R. No. 60255, May 8, 1992.
The United States v. Santo Niño, G.R. No. 5000, March 11, 1909.
iii. Expressio unius est exclusion alterius
Espiritu v. Cipriano, supra.
Callanta v. Carnation Philippines, Inc., G.R. No. 70615, October 28, 1986

iv. Casus omissus

• People v. Manantan, G.R. No. 14129, July 31, 1962, supra.

v. Doctrine of last antecedent

Roldan v. Villaroman, G.R. No. 46825, October 18, 1939.
Nera v. Garcia, supra.

vi. Reddendo singuila singuilis

• King v. Hernaez, supra.

C. Provisos, exceptions, and saving clauses

The United States v. Santo Niño, supra.

The Manila Electric Company v. The Public Utilities Employees’ Association, G.R. No. 1206, October 30, 19
Chinese Flour Importers Association, Manila, Philippines v. Price Stabilization Board (PRISCO), supra.
Bautista v. Fule, G.R. No. 1577, January 31, 1950.

VI. Statute Construed as Whole and in Relation to Other Statutes (Agpalo, pp. 351-392)
A. Statute construed as whole
Manila Lodge No. 761 v. The Honorable Court of Appeals, supra.
Del Mar v. Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation, supra.

B. Statutes construed in relation to the Constitution and other statutes

i. Statutes construed in harmony with the Constitution
• The Philippine Long Distance Co. v. The Collector of Internal Revenue, supra.

ii. Statutes in pari materia

• City of Naga v. Agna, G.R. No. 36049, May 31, 1976.

iii. General and special statutes

• Lichauco & Company, Inc. v. Apostol, supra.
Primicias v. Ocampo, G.R. No. 6120, June 30, 1953.

iv. Reference statutes

People v. Martin, G.R. No. 38019, May 16, 1980.
v. Supplemental statutes

vi. Reenacted statutes

• In re Dick, supra. vii. Adopted statutes

VII. Strict or Liberal Construction (Agpalo, pp. 393-452)

United States v. Estapia, supra.

Philippine National Bank v. Jacinto, G.R. No. 3477, March 19, 1951.
The City of Manila v. Chinese Community of Manila, G.R. No. 14355, October 31, 1919.
C & C Commercial Corporation v. National Waterworks and Sewerage Authority, G.R. No. 27275, Novemb
Manila Lodge No. 761 v. The Honorable Court of Appeals, supra.
Hebron v. Reyes, supra.
Reyes v. Republic, supra.
Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority v. Marcos, G.R. No. 120082, September 11, 1996.
Alliance of Government Workers (AGW) v. The Honorable Minister of Labor and Employment, supra.
Mobil Philippines Exploration, Inc. v. Customs Arrastre Service, G.R. No. 23139, December 17, 1966.
Uy Coque v. Sioca, G.R. No. 20392, November 20, 1923.
Salaysay v. Castro, supra.
Hidalgo v. Hidalgo, supra.
Ortigas & Co. Limited Partnership v. Feati Bank and Trust Co., G.R. No. 24670, December 14, 1979.

Section 5, Republic Act No. 7160.

Article X, Section 5, 1987 Constitution.

Republic v. Ablaza, G.R. No. 14519, July 26, 1960.

Jamora v. Meer, G.R. No. 48129, November 11, 1942.
Ibasco v. Ilao, G.R. No. 17512, December 29, 1960.
Tolentino v. Catoy, supra.
People v. Moran, G.R. No. 17905, January 27, 1923.
Duncan v. Court of First Instance of Rizal (Branch X), G.R. No. 30576, February 10, 1976.
Board of Administrators, Philippine Veterans Administration v. Bautista, G.R. No. 37867, February 22, 1982
City of Baguio v. Marcos, supra.

VIII. Mandatory and Directory Statutes (Agpalo, pp. 453-487)

In re Guariña, G.R. No. 1179, January 8, 1913.
Mendoza v. Cayas, G.R. Nos. 8562-63, December 17, 1955.
Gonzales v. Court of Tax Appeals, G.R. No. 14532, May 26, 1965.
Vda. de Mesa v. Mencias, G.R. No. 24583, October 29, 1966.
Luna v. Rodriguez, G.R. No. 12581, March 13, 1917.
Gador v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 52365, January 22, 1980.
In re Paraguas, July 6, 1976.
Viuda e Hijos de Pedro P. Rojas v. Rafferty, G.R. No. 12182, March 27, 1918.
Ramos v. Villaverde, G.R. No. 3655, April 28, 1951.
Marcelino v. Cruz, G.R. No. 42428, March 18, 1983.

IX. Prospective and Retroactive Statutes (Agpalo, pp. 488-528)

Republic v. Samia, G.R. No. 17569, May 31, 1963.
Ramirez v. Court of Appeals, G.R. Nos. 23587-88, June 10, 1976.
• People v. Zeta, G.R. No. 7140, December 22, 1955.

X. Amendment, Revision, Codification, and Repeal (Agpalo, pp. 529-580)

XI. Constitutional Construction (Agpalo, pp. 581-730)

• Francisco v. House of Representatives, G.R. No. 160261, November 10, 2003.
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