ISABELA STATE UNIVERSITY-COLLEGE OF LAW

LEGAL RESEARCH
FIRST YEAR
FIRST SEMESTER 2020-2021
ATTY. REINA CONSORCIA M. SANTOS

I. INTRODUCTION
a. Definition of Legal Research and its difference from other research disciplines
b. Purpose
c. Plagiarism
I. In the Matter of the Charges of Plagiarism, etc. against Associate Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo,
AM. No. 10-7-17-SC. October 12, 2010; Resolution dated February 8, 2011.

II. GOVERNMENT STRUCTURE

a. History of the Philippines
I. Pre-Spanish (before 1521)
II. Spanish Period (1521-1898)
III. American Period (1898-1946)
IV. Japanese Period (1941-1944)
V. Republic Period (1946-1972)
VI. Martial Law Period (1972-1986)
VII. Republic Revival (1986-present)
b. Branches of the Government
I. Legislative- Article VI, 1987 Philippine Constitution
1. Barangay Association for National Advancement and Transparency (BANAT) v.
Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 179271, July 8, 2009.
2. Atong Paglaum, Inc. v. Commission on Elections, April 2, 2013.
3. How a bill becomes a law
4. Effectivity of Laws
a. Tañada v. Tuvera, G.R. No. 63915, April 24, 1985.
5. Impeachment Process
a. Joseph E. Estrada v. Aniano Desierto, G.R. No. 146710-15, March 2, 2001.
II. Executive- Article VII, 1987 Philippine Constitution
III. Judiciary- Article VIII, 1987 Philippine Constitution
1. Hierarchy of Courts in the Philippines
2. Jurisdiction of each court
3. Quasi-Courts or Quasi-Judicial Agencies
4. Constitutional Commissions
5. Local Governments
6. Other Government Agencies

III. LEGAL SYSTEM

a. Nature of the Philippine Legal System
b. Sources of Law
I. Statutory Law vs. Case Law
c. Classification of Legal Sources
I. Classification by Authority
II. Classification by Sources
III. Classification by Character
1. Rizalito David v. Senate Electoral Tribunal and Mary Grace Poe-Llamanzares, G.R. No.
221538, September 20, 2016.
2. Tecson v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 161434, March 3, 2004

IV. PHILIPPINE LEGAL SYSTEM

a. Primary Sources
I. Constitution
1. Article 7, Civil Code
2. In re: Cunanan, 94 Phil. 534 (1954)
3. Angara v. Electoral Commission, G.R. No. L-45081, July 15, 1936

II. Treaties and International Agreements

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 1. Section 2, Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution
2. Agustin v. Edu, 88 SCRA 19 (1979)
3. Mejoff v. Director of Prisons, G.R. No. L-4254. September 26, 1951
4. Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines v. Duque, G.R. No. 173034.
October 9, 2007
5. Poe-Llamanzares vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 221697, 08 March 2016

III. Congressional Statutes

1. How a bill becomes a law:
a. Section 26(2), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution
b. Section 27, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution
2. Effectivity
a. Article 2, Civil Code
b. Tañada vs. Tuvera, G.R. No. L-63915, 29 December 1986
3. Other Principles
a. Article 3, Civil Code
b. Article 4, Civil Code
c. Article 7
d. Chapters 5 & 6, Book I, Executive Order No. 292, as amended (Administrative
Code of 1987)
e. Tawang Multipurpose Cooperative vs. La Trinidad Water District, G.R. No.
166471, 22 March 2011

IV. Case Law or Jurisprudence

a. Article 8, Civil Code
i. Re: Resolution Granting Automatic Permanent Total Disability Benefits
to Heirs of Justices and Judges Who Die in Actual Service, A. M No. 02-
12-01-SC, November 24, 2004
ii. Floresca v. Philex Mining Company, 135 SCRA 141 (1985)
iii. Columbia Pictures. Inc. et al, v. Court of Appeals, 329 Phil 875 (1996)
iv. Fermin v. People, G.R. No. 157643, 28 March 2008
v. Rommel Jacinto Dantes Silverio vs. Republic of the Phil., G.R. No.
174689, October 19. 2007 (with Article 9)
vi. Reyes v. Lim, G.R. No. 134241, 11 August 2003
b. Decisions
i. Section 1 and 14, Article VIII, 1987 Constitution
ii. Re: Subpoena Duces Tecum of Acting Director Aleu A. Amante. PIAB-C,
Office of the Ombudsman, AM. No. 10-1-13- SC. March 2. 2010
c. Opinion vs. Decision (Dispositive Portion)
i. Del Rosario v. Ilacad v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. L-24435, 26 August
1977
d. Minute Resolutions
i. Phil. Health Care Providers, Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue,
G.R. No. 167330, 18 September 2009
ii. Diaz v. Republic of the Philippines, G.R. No. 181502, 02 February 2010
e. Majority Decision vs. Dissenting Opinion vs. Concurring Opinion vs. Separate
Opinion
f. Per curiam Decision
i. Ramos v. Central Bank of the Philippines, G.R. No. L-29352, 19 February
1986 (See Separate Opinion)
g. Ponente vs. Ponencia
h. Stare Decisis
i. Pepsi Cola Products (Phils.), Inc. v. Efren Espiritu, et al, G.R. No. 150394,
26 June 2007
i. Ratio decidendi (versus result or fallo)
i. Suntay v. Cojuangco-Suntay, G.R. No. 132524, 29 December 1998
ii. Del Rosario v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. L-24435, 26 August 1977
j. Law of the case
i. People of the Philippines v. Olarte, G.R. No. L-22465, 28 February 1967
ii. Ayala Corporation v. Rosa-Diana Realty, G.R. No. 134284, 01 December
2000
iii. Spouses Sy vs. Young, G.R. No. 169214, 19 June 2013
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 k. Res judicata
i. DBP v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 110203, May 9, 2001
ii. Sta. Lucia Realty and Development. Inc., v. Cabrigas, G.R. No. 134895, 19
June 2001
iii. Heirs of the Late Faustina Adalid v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 122202,
26 May 2005
l. Obiter dicta
i. Villanueva v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 142947, 19 March 2002
m. Question of Fact vs. Question of Law
i. Pagsibigan vs. People, G.R. No. 163868, 04 June 2009

V. Local Ordinances and Resolutions

1. Section 1 and 2, Article X of the 1987 Constitution
2. City of Manila v. Laguio, G.R. No. 118127, 12 April 2005

Validity
3. White Light Corp. vs. City of Manila, G.R. No. 122846, 20 January 2009

VI. Administrative Issuances, Rules and Regulations

1. Victorias Milling Co. Inc. v. Social Security Commission, 4 SCRA 627 (1962)
2. National Federation of Sugar Workers v. Ovejera, 114 SCRA 354 (1982)
3. People v. Maceren, G.R. No. L-32166, October 18. 1977
4. Soriano v. Laguardia, G.R. No. 164785, April 29, 2009

Publication Requirement
5. Book VII, Chapter 2, Section 3, Executive Order No. 292, as amended (Administrative
Code of 1987)
6. Philippine Association of Service Exporters. Inc. v. Torres, G.R. No. 98472, August 19.
1993

VII. Custom
1. Ocampo v. Ocampo, G.R. No. 150707, April 14, 2004
2. Yao Kee. e al. v. Sy-Gonzales, G.R. No 55960, 24 November 1988

VIII. Others
1. Chapters 1 and 2, Book III, Executive Order No. 292, as amended (Administrative Code
of 1987)
2. Letters of Instruction
a. DOJ Opinion No. 63. s. 2006, addressed to Congressman Biazon
3. Executive Order vs. Memorandum Circular vs. Memorandum Order vs. Department
Order vs. Administrative Order vs. General or Special Orders