REASONS BEHIND THE LAW

1. The purpose of the law is ….

2. The law is designed to ….
3. It is intended to shield ….
4. It is primarily aimed at protecting _______ from unwarranted________.
5. The rationale behind the law is ….

DEFINITION/EXPLANATION
1. __________ is a comprehensive term used to describe _____________.
2. __________, in its generally accepted sense, refers to _____________.
3. ….. It is a safeguard and guarantee provided by the ______________.
4. ….. It is a kind of relief granted to a ___________ by the ___________.
5. ___________ is a branch of public law (private law) which deals with___.
6. It pertains to …..
7. It connotes a …..
8. ….. is a doctrine in (i.e Civil law) which refers to…..
9. ….. is a principle in (i.e Criminal law) which states that….
10. It presupposes….
11. Its principal identifying feature is …..
12. It is akin to …..
13. The function of which is to ….
14. The office of which is to ….

ENUMERATION
1. In a capsule form, the following are the elements of the crime of _____.
2. In a nutshell, the following are the elements of the crime of ______.
3. The following elements are generally considered in the determination of the presence of (e.i employee-
employer relationship)
4. Among the (i.e defenses/remedies) available to (i.e Mr. X) as provided by the (e.i Civil Code) are:
1. …..
2. …..
5. The following are the requisites for….
6. In order that a case for (i.e BP 22) to prosper, the following elements must be attendant/present:
7. To constitute (e.i homicide), the following requisites must concur:
8. (i.e Legal compensation) requires the concurrence of the following conditions:

DISTINCTION
1. The (i.e two) may be distinguished from each other in the following ways:
a. ….
b. ….
2. In the first, it is necessary that there be … , whereas in the second, it is sufficient that there be….
3. In the former, …. while in the latter, …..
4. The former requires … while the latter ….
5. ….. on the other hand, ________ is …..

ANSWERING QUESTIONS WITH VAGUE FACTS (or which requires qualification)

But if the facts are complete in itself, do not attempt to add facts or assume anything.
1. We must distinguish. If …. (or as far as the _______ is concerned)….
2. It depends. If …. (as far as the _________ is concerned)
3. The question requires a qualified answer. If ….
4. I will qualify. If …..
5. On the assumption that ….
6. My answer must be qualified.

JURISDICTION
1. The case is beyond the ambit of the jurisdiction of the (i.e Regional Trial Court)
pg. 1
2. It is within the ambit of the (i.e Secretary of Labor’s) power
3. It is not within the province of the (i.e Municipal Trial Court)
4. It is clearly within the powers of the (i.e Labor Arbiter) to ….
5. The case of (i.e ejectment) lies within the (Municipal Trial Court)
6. The case is cognizable by the (i.e Regional Trial Court)
7. The case is covered by the (Rules on Summary Procedure)
8. The law vests upon the (i.e Secretary of Justice) the power to ….

ELABORATING/EXPOUNDING ANSWERS
1. It should be borne in mind that….
2. It must be noted that ….
3. It may be recalled that…..
4. It is worth observing ….
5. It must be taken into consideration that….
6. More importantly, ….
7. Significantly, …..
8. Corollarily, ….
9. Furthermore, ….
10. Moreover, ….
11. Moreso, ….
12. Parenthetically, …
13. In other words, ….
14. Otherwise stated ….
15. Simply put, …
16. Simply stated, ….
17. The reasons are obvious (expound)
18. The reasons are plain (expound)
19. The reasons are well-known (expound)
20. Under the same line of reasoning, …
21. As regards ….
22. With regard to… (it is an error to state “with regardS to”)
23. Anent the (i.e first issue)…
24. As far as the _______ is concerned,…
25. This is indicated by the fact that ….
26. The language of the law leaves no room for doubt that ….
27. Justice and fair-play dictates that….
28. Applying the principle of ….
29. For all its conceded merits, (i.e equity is available in the absence of law and not as its replacement)
30. The law is categorical with regard to ….
31. Notwithstanding the … (i.e execution of the document)
32. It is beyond debate that ….
33. It is imperative to look at ….
34. This is consistent with the time-honored maxim (i.e nullum crimen nulla poena sine lege).
35. As it is imbued with public interest, …
36. In like manner,
37. In the same manner,
38. In the same vein,
39. In the same breath,
40. In fine,
41. It bears articulating that…
42. The controlling element in the (i.e crime of estafa) is….
43. By analogy ….
44. Suffice it to state that ….
45. Emphasis must also be placed at….
46. Manifestly, there was (i.e grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction)
47. Needless to stress that ….
pg. 2
48. It goes without saying that ….
49. The Supreme Court frowns upon the (i.e illegal practice of forum shopping as it erodes the administration
of justice and makes a mockery of the justice system)
50. There is no denying in this case, that (i.e the petitioner never raised the issue of jurisdiction )
51. It is now too late in the day for the respondent/defendant to (i.e raise the issue of…)
52. Equally telling is the (i.e factual finding of the lower court ) that …
53. The gravamen of the (i.e the crime of rebellion is an armed public uprising against the government)
54. It cannot be denied that (i.e the petitioner is also guilty of negligence)
55. Attention must be drawn to the fact that ….
56. _________ and __________ are two mutually exclusive remedies. An application of one precludes the
application of the other.
**Inserted words***
Logic and prudence dictate that ….
Old as a mountain is the rule that ….
More telling is…
It bears stressing that

CITING LAW PROVISIONS

1. No less than the (i.e 1987 Constitution) provides for the….
2. The (i.e Rules of Court) substantially provides in part that ….
3. Under the broad principles of (i.e due process clause)…
4. Under the all-encompassing doctrine of (i.e incontestability clause)
5. Under the law….
6. According to the (i.e Family Code)…
7. The law is explicit on the matter…
8. The law explicitly expresses in part that….
9. By express provision of law, …
10. By operation of law ….
11. As a matter of law ….
12. Worth remembering is the rule on ______ which provides in part that ….
13. Decisive on the matter is the pertinent provision of the (i.e Law on Property)…
14. The law prescribes certain rules on ….
15. The law provides….

QUOTING SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

1. The Supreme Court in one case, had the occasion to rule that…
2. In a long-line of cases decided by the Supreme Court, it has always been (consistently) held that….
3. In a litany of cases decided by the Supreme Court,
4. In a long-string of cases decided by the highest court of the land,
5. According to several cases decided by the Supreme Court, …
6. In a series of cases decided by the Supreme Court,
*Do not use the words series, litany or long-line if there is only one decision/jurisprudence for that topic.
7. In one case decided by the highest court of the land, it was held that…
8. In one case, the Supreme Court ruled that…
9. It has been said that…
10. In a recent case, the Supreme Court has laid to rest the issue of whether or not….
11. It is well settled in this jurisdiction…
12. It is well settled in this country…
13. The Supreme Court has steadfastly adhered to the doctrine which states that…
14. In a case with similar facts, the Supreme Court ruled that….
15. In several notable Supreme Court decisions, the highest court declared that….
16. The Supreme Court has often stressed that…
17. In the landmark case of ________ (if the case if famous), the Supreme Court laid down the doctrine which
substantially provides that…
18. As enunciated by the Supreme Court in one case,….
19. The court has repeatedly ruled ….
pg. 3
20. A case in point is a case already decided by no other than the highest court of the land, where the
Supreme Court held that…
***Inserted words***
This follows an unbroken stream of rulings that….
The court has held time and again that…
In a bevy of cases,…
In the lucid words of the Supreme Court, …

EMPHASIZING CASE DOCTRINES/JURISPRUDENCE

1. It is hornbook doctrine in ( ie. Civil Law) that….
2. Immortal is the rule that….
3. Well settled is the rule…
4. Well entrenched is the principle that…
5. Elementary is the rule that…
6. The cardinal rule in (i.e Labor law) is that
7. It is a familiar canon in (i.e political law) that
8. By well settled public law …
9. Basic is the rule in (i.e Criminal law)…
10 It is an elementary principle in …
11. It is a fundamental doctrine in….
12. Well accepted is the rule that…
13. It is axiomatic in (i.e civil law ) that…
14. Enshrined in the 1987 Constitution is the rule that (ie. no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property
without due process of law)
15. Consonant with the rule on….
16. It is a recognized doctrine in (ie. Civil Law) that
17. It is a basic tenet in (ie. Commercial Law)
18. Consistent with current jurisprudence…
19. It is a legal presumption, born of wisdom and experience, that…
20. The Philippines adhere to the principle of….
***Inserted words***
This proceeds from the legal precept that…
This is in keeping with the principle or canon that…
Worthy of special note is the rule regarding…
The thrust of the law is to…
The kernel of the law is to…
The long-standing rule, applied with great consistency is that…

REFERRING BACK TO THE CASE

1. Applying the said law/doctrine in the instant case,
2. From the facts given, noteworthy is the…
3. From the facts of the case, it is readily observable that….
4. In the instant case, it may be observed that….
5. It is crystal clear from the facts presented that (i.e the crime of teason) is present (or was committed).
6. In the present case, it is immediately noticeable that the element of _____ is wanting (or lacking).
7. Under the circumstances, the proper remedy would be ….
8. The case obtaining indicates a case of (i.e BP 22)
9. It logically follows….
10. It goes without saying…
11. Even assuming arguendo, for the sake of argument that….
12. The situation in the case at hand….
13. The situation presented evinces a case of ….
14. The facts sufficiently indicated…
15. In the given facts, it is immediately apparent that….
16. It is evident that…
17. In the same token…
pg. 4
18. Under the facts stated in the problem…
19. In the case under consideration,…
20. Worth stressing is the fact that…
21. In the given problem,…
22. The facts would reveal that…
23. Worth emphasizing is the fact that…
24. A careful perusal of the facts of the case would reveal that…
25. A careful scrutiny of the actuations of the accused would reveal that…
26. A careful reading of the (i.e deed of absolute sale) would reveal that…
27. A cursory examination of the …
***Inserted words***
Under the factual milieu of the case,…

ANSWERING IN THE POSITIVE

1. The petition is meritorious.
2. The contention has legal basis.
3. The case will prosper.
4. The argument is proper.
5. The provision is perfectly applicable.
6. The action is tenable.
7. The motion should be granted.
8. The Judge is correct.
9. The petition is impressed with merit.
10. Yes. It is a (i.e patent violation) of the …
11. There is merit in the petition.
12. The petitioner’s contention is sustainable.
***Inserted words***
I am disposed to agree with the contention of…

ANSWERING IN THE NEGATIVE

1. The contention does not hold water.
2. The contention is totally misplaced.
3. It is now too late in the day to raise the issue of…
4. The petition is not meritorious.
5. The evidence presented deserves scant consideration.
6. The contention has no legal basis.
7. The argument is bereft of merit.
8. The petition is devoid of merit.
9. Petitioner’s reliance on the (i.e doctrine of…) is inappropriate. The doctrine of …. does not apply in cases
where/of….
10. It is a futile gesture on the part of the respondent to invoke the rule on…
11. The theory/argument has no ground to stand upon.
12. The contention has no leg with which to stand on.
13. The position of the petitioner runs counter with the doctrine of…
14. The case will not prosper.
15. The case is not tenable.
16. The act of the accused in …. is of no moment.
17. The assertion lacks substance.
18. The decision is erroneous.
19. The court cannot countenance the (i.e inconsistent postures of the petitioner)
20. The testimony that… cannot be given credence.
21. The evidence presented has no probative value.
22. The allegation is belied by the fact that…
23. To put it otherwise would be to render the law on _____ useless/futile.
24. The actuations of the accused in (i.e fleeing and hiding) negates (i.e innocence).
25. While it is true that ______, it does not, however mean….
pg. 5
26. It is not correct to say that…
27. It is not proper to state that…
28. It is not accurate to conclude outright that…
29. A contrary conclusion would erode the rule that provides in part that. …
30. To sustain the contention would be to render the law on _____ nugatory.
31. It would be absurd and incongruous to sustain the argument that…
32. It is not enough that….
33. The fact that… is immaterial since…
34. The fact that…. is irrelevant since….
35. In itself, mere ……. is not sufficient (i.e to warrant conviction)…
36. There is no cogent reason to disturb the ruling of the (i.e Court of Appeals)
37. The claim for (i.e moral damages) must necessarily fail.
***Inserted words***
The arguments are barren and futile.
The petition will not lie.

CONCLUDING WORDS
1. From the gamut of evidence on hand, it can be gathered/deduced that…
2. Finally,…
3. Hence,…
4. Therefore,….
5. From the foregoing, it can be deduced that there is really…
6. From the foregoing, it is now safe to conclude that…
7. Lastly,…
8. Consequently,…
9. As a necessary consequence…
10. The logical implication is that…
11. At any rate..
12. In view of the foregoing…
13. As an inevitable conclusion,…
14. In the light of the circumstances,…
15. Undoubtedly,…
16. Indubitably,…
17. Clearly, the case at hand falls squarely within the purview of…
18. Verily, he/she has committed…
19. For this/these reason/s, it is unavoidable to conclude that…
20. Based on the facts obtaining….
21. In this light,….
22. Clearly therefore, applying the aforecited ruling in the case at hand,…
23. In light of the foregoing, it is beyond cavil (doubt) that…
24. There is no doubt that…
25. Inescapably, therefore,….
26. All things considered,…
27. It follows therefore that…
28. As a logical result…
29. In sum,…
30. In view of the fact that…
31. All told…
***Inserted words***
Applying all the considerations to the case…
Premises considered, …

pg. 6