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AMICUS CURIAE
Friend of the court.
Someone who is not a party to a case and offers information that bears on the case, but who
has not been solicited by any of the parties to assist a court.
ANTE LITEM MOTAM
Prior to the controversy
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COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE V. CENTRAL LUZON DRUG CORPORATION,
456 SCRA 414 (2005)
The special law is to be taken as an exception to the general law in the absence of special
circumstances forcing a contrary conclusion.
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EX ABUDANTI CAUTELA
Out of an abundance of caution.
In law, describes someone taking precautions against a very remote contingency.
Executive Order No. 641, s. 2007
AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF PROVIDENT FUNDS IN
THE GOVERNMENT
SECTION 7. Restriction on Compensation and Expenses. All members, officers and staff
of the Board shall serve without compensation, except for payment of actual overtime services
rendered by the support staff. Reasonable expenses incurred by the members of the Board in
connection with Board activities may, however, be reimbursed upon presentation of receipts and
other documentary evidences in support of claims. Any claim for reimbursement of actual and
necessary expenses incurred in connection with activities of the Board shall be evaluated and
processed in accordance with existing accounting and auditing rules and regulations.
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HOSPICIO DE SAN JOSE BARILI V. DAR, 470 SCRA 609 (2005)

It is jurisprudentially entrenched that a subsequent general law should not be construed to
repeal or modify a prior special law.
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INTERPRETARE ET CONCORDARE LEGIBUS EST OPTIMUS INTERPRETANDI
Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with other statutes as to form a uniform
system of jurisprudence.
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JG SUMMIT HOLDINGS, INC. V. COURT OF APPEAL, ET. AL., 345 SCRA 143 (2000)
The repeal of a statute does not operate to impair or otherwise affect rights which have been
vested or accrued while the statute was in force.
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LAGUNA LAKE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY V. COURT OF APPEALS, 251 SCRA 42
(1995)
Where there is a conflict between a general law and a special statute, the special statute should
prevail since it evinces the legislative intent more clearly than the general statute.
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OPTIMA STATULI INTERPRETATIX EST EPSUM STATUTUM
The best interpreter of the statute is the statute itself.
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RATIO LEGIS EST ANINA
Interpreted in accordance with the intent of its framers.
REDDENDO SINGULA SINGULIS

By referring each to each; referring each phrase or expression to its corresponding object. It is a
rule of construction used typically in distributing property. For example, when a will says "I
devise and bequeath all my real and personal property to A", the principle of reddendo singula
singulis would apply as if it read "I devise all my real property, and bequeath all my personal
property, to B", since the word devise is appropriate only to real property and the term bequeath
is appropriate only to personal property.
ROBERTS V. PAPIO, 515 SCRA 346 (2007); OCAMPO V. OCAMPO, ET. AL., 427 SCRA 545
(2004)
Pursuant to Section 47 of Act No. 497, otherwise known as The Land Registration Act, a
certificate of is conclusive proof of ownership over the property when duly certified under the
signature of the Clerk of the Register of Deeds of the province or city where the land is situated.
Being the primary proof of ownership of the land, it requires more than a bare allegation to
defeat the face value of a certificate of title which enjoys a legal presumption of regularity of
issuance.
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SANTIAGO vs. COMELEC, G.R. 127325, March 19, 1997; PEOPLE v. VERA, 65 Phil. 56
[1937]
Potestas delegata non delegari potest - what has been delegated, cannot be delegated.
Exceptions:
(1)
Delegation of tariff powers to the President under Section 28(2) of Article VI of the
Constitution;
(2)
Delegation of emergency powers to the President under Section 23(2) of Article VI of the
Constitution;
(3)

Delegation to the people at large;

(4)

Delegation to local governments; and

(5)

Delegation to administrative bodies.

SPOUSES MELCHOR AND ALDE V. BERNAL, ET. AL., 616 SCRA 60 (2010); SECTION 48,
PD NO. 1529
A Torrens Certificate of Title cannot be altered, modified, or cancelled except in a direct
proceeding in accordance with law.
T
TENIO- OBSEQUIO VS. COURT OF APPEALS, 230 SCRA 550 (1994)

The Torrens system was adopted in this country because it was believed to be the most
effective measure to guarantee the integrity of land titles and to protect their indefeasibility once
the claim of ownership is established and recognized.
There can be no such thing as automatic cancellation of the Torrens Certificate of Title simply
because the same would impair public confidence in the certificate of title, for everyone dealing
with property registered under the Torrens system would have to inquire in every instance as to
whether the title has been regularly issued by the court.
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UT MAGIS VALEAT QUAM PEREAT
The Constitution is to be interpreted as a whole.
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VERBA LEGIS
The words used in the Constitution must be given their ordinary meaning except where
technical terms are employed.
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