VI.

USE OF WORDS AND PHRASES

A. Ubi lex non distinguit nec nos distinguere debemos (When the law does not distinguish,
courts should not distinguish)

Philippine British Assurance Co., Inc. v. The Honorable Intermediate Appellate Court
(G.R. No. L-72005, May 29, 1987)
Juanito Pilar v. Commission on Elections (G.R. No. 115245, July 11, 1995)
People v. Hon. Judge Antonio Evangelista et al. (G.R. No. 110898, February 20, 1996)
Cecilio de Villa v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 87416, April 8, 1991) - When the law does
not make any exceptions, courts shouldnt make any.

B. Ejusdem Generis (Where general words of a particular, and specific meaning, such general
words are not to be construed in their widest extent, but are to be held as applying only to
persons or things of the same kind or class as those specifically mentioned

Colgate-Palmolive Philippines, Inc. v. Hon. Pedro M. Jimenez (G.R. No. L-14787, January
28, 1961) - General Terms limited by Special Terms
Republic v. Hon. Eutropio Migrinio et al. (G.R. No. 89483, August 30, 1990)
People v. Hon. Vicente B. Echavez, Jr. et al. (G.R. Nos. L-47757-61, January 28, 1980)
Misael P. Vera et al. v. Hon. Serafin R. Cuevas et al. (G.R. Nos. L 33693-94, May 31, 1979)

C. Expressio Unius Est Exclusio Alterius (The express mention of one person, thing or
consequence is tantamount to an express exclusion of all others.)

San Pablo Manufacturing Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue (G.R. No.
147749, June 22, 2006)
Parayno v. Jovellanos et al. (G.R. No. 148408, July 14, 2006)

D. Noscitur A Sociis (Associated words explain and limit each other.)

Dra. Brigida S. Buenaseda, et al. v. Sec. Juan Flavier, et al. (G.R. No. 106719, September
21, 1993)

E. Use of Negative and Affirmative Words

Manolo P. Fule v. The Honorable Court of Appeals (G.R. No. L-79094, June 22, 1988)

F. Use of Permissive and Imperative Words

Purita Bersabal v. Hon. Judge Serafin Salvador (G.R. No. L-35910, July 21, 1978)
Jenette Marie B. Crisolog v. Globe Telecom, Inc., et al. (G.R. No. 167631, December 16,
2005)
Loyola Grand Villas Homeowners Association, Inc. v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 117188,
August 7, 1997) The word must is not always imperative.
Munoz v. COMELEC et al. (G.R. No. 170678, July 17, 2006)

G. Use of Conjunctive and Disjunctive Words


H. Computing Time

PNB v. Court of Appeals (222 SCRA 134, May 17, 1993)

I. Use of a Proviso

ALU-TUCP v. NLRC et al. (G.R. No. 109902, August 2, 1994)

VII. Presumptions
A. Against Unconstitutionality

Aris Inc. v. NLRC et al. (G.R. No. 90501, August 5, 1991)
Lim v. Pacquing et al. (G.R. No. 115044, January 27, 1995) and Guingona et al. v. Reyes et
al. (G.R. No. 117263, January 27, 1995)
Lim et al. v. People et al. (G.R. No. 149276, September 27, 2002)

B. Against Injustice

Salvacion v. Central Bank (G.R. No. 94723, August 21, 1997)
Alonzo et al. v. Intermediate Appellate Court et al. (G.R. No. L-72873, May 28, 1987)

C. Against Implied Repeals

Berces, Jr. v. Guingona, Jr. et al. (G.R. No. 112099, February 21, 1995)
Mecano v. Commission on Audit (G.R. No. 103982, December 11, 1992)
Republic v. ICC (G.R. No. 141667, July 17, 2006)
GSIS v. City Assessor of Iloilo City et al. (G.R. No. 147192, June 27, 2006)

D. Against Ineffectiveness
E. Against Absurdity

Ursua v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 112170, April 10, 1996)

F. Against Violations of International Law

VIII. Intrinsic Aids
Miriam Defensor Santiago et al. v. Comelec et al. (G.R. No. 127325, March 19, 1997)
Eugenion v. Drilon et al. (G.R. No. 109404, January 22, 1996)
People v. Echavez, Jr. et al. (G.R. Nos. L-47757-61, January 28, 1980)


IX. Extrinsic Aids
Commissioner of Customs v. ESSO Standard Eastern, Inc. (G.R. No. L-28329, August 7,
1975)
Vera et a. v. Cuevas, et al. (G.R. Nos. L33693-94, May 31, 1979)
PAFLU v. Bureau of Labor Relations et al. (G.R. No. L-43760, August 21, 1976)
Eastern Telecommunications Philippines, Inc. et al. v. International Communications
Corp. (G.R. No. 135992, January 31, 2006)
De Villa v. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 87416, April 8, 1991)
NAPOLCOM v. De Guzman, Jr. et al. (G.R. No. 106724, February 9, 1994)
CASCO Philippine Chemical Co., Inc. v. Gimenez (G.R. No. L-17931, February 28, 1963)