THE BLUEBOOK

T2.33 Philippines
Cases
SUPREME COURT
Citation format: <case name>, <volume number> <reporter abbreviation> <first page>, <page(s) of
specific material, if desired> (<date of decision>) (<country abbreviation if not evident from context>).
Or: <case name>, <volume number>:<number> O.G. <first page>, <page(s) of specific material, if
desired> (<date of decision>) (<country abbreviation if not evident from context>).
Or: <case name>, G.R. No. <docket number>, <parallel citation, if desired> (<date of decision>)
(<country abbreviation if not evident from context>), <URL to official source, if no parallel citation to a
print source provided>.
**Parallel citations are used when the same case is printed in two or more different reporters. In other
words, a parallel citation references location information for more that one source of a case. Rules
10.3.1 and 10.3.3 illustrate when and how to use a parallel citation.
The two major instances in which a parallel citation may be needed are:
1. If there is a state reporter that prints the case in addition to a regional reporter, cite both the state and
regional reporters (Rule 10.3.1). Cite the state reporter first, then the regional reporter. or
2. If the citation is in public domain format, give both the public domain citation and the regional reporter
citation (Rule 10.3.3). Put the public domain citation first, then the regional reporter citation.
DO NOT include a parallel cite if:
1. The case will be filed with a federal court.or
2. The case was filed with a court outside of the state. In this case, only cite to the regional reporter.
Example:
➢ People v. Quimson, 419 Phil. Rep. 28, 33–43 (Oct. 5, 2001).
➢ Banez v. Banez, 99:30 O.G. 4775 (July 28, 2003) (Phil.).
➢ Gonzalez v. Katigbak, G.R. No. L-69500, 37 S.C.R.A. 717, 728 (July 22, 1985) (Phil.).
➢ Papertech, Inc. v. Josephine P. Katando, G.R. No. 236020 (Jan. 8, 2020) (Phil.),
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/10680.
Supreme Court of the Philippines (S.C.) (highest appeals court and the only court that can produce
binding precedents): Cite to an official reporter or to an unofficial reporter in the following order of
preference:

Official Gazette 1902–date O.G.

Supreme Court Reports, annotated 1961–date S.C.R.A.

Philippine Reports 1901–date Phil. Rep.

 The Supreme
Court (http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph)

COURT OF APPEALS
Citation format: <case name>, <CA-docket and case type>, No. <docket number>, <parallel citation,
if desired>, (<court abbreviation if not evident from context>, <date of decision>) (<country
abbreviation if not evident from context>), <URL to official source, if no parallel citation to a print
source provided>.
➢ Mighty Corp. v. J. Noli C. Diaz, et. al., CA-G.R. SP No. 150100 (Mar. 28, 2018)
(Phil.),http://services.ca.judiciary.gov.ph/casestatusinquirywar/faces/jsp/view/ViewResult.js
p.
Court of Appeals of the Philippines (C.A.) (appellate court of general jurisdiction and its doctrinal
pronouncements on matters falling within its jurisdiction have persuasive weight if not appealed and
until overturned by the supreme court in a subsequent case): Cite to an unofficial reporter
The Court of Appeals (http://ca.judiciary.gov.ph)
Constitution
The current Constitution of the Philippines was ratified in 1987. Citation format: Const.
(<promulgation year, if citing a previous constitution>), <article>, <section> (<country abbreviation
if not evident from context>).
➢ Const., (1987), art. VI (Phil.).
➢ Const. (1973), art. VII, § 1 (Phil.).
➢ Const. (1935), art. VII, § 1 (Phil.).
Codes
Give the code name, subdivision if relevant, legislation type and number, and amendment information
if applicable.
➢ Administrative Code, Book III, Title I, Chapter 2, § 2, Exec. Ord. No. 292, as amended by
Rep. Act 6682 (Phil.).
➢ Civil Code, § 10, Rep. Act 386, as amended (Phil.).
➢ Family Code, Exec. Ord. 209, as amended (Phil.).
➢ Insurance Code, Rep. Act No. 10607 (Phil.).
➢ Labor Code, Pres. Dec. No. 442, as amended (Phil.).
➢ Local Government Code, Rep. Act No. 8424, as amended (Phil.).
➢ National Internal Revenue Code, Rep. Act No. 8424 (Phil.).
➢ Omnibus Election Code, B.P. Blg., 881, as amended (Phil).
➢ Revised Corporation Code, Rep. Act No. 11232 (Phil).
➢ Revised Penal Code, Act No. 3815, as amended (Phil.).
➢ Tariff and Customs Code, Rep. Act No. 1937, as amended (Phil.).
 Legislation
Citation format: <statute name or short title>, <legislation type> No. <number>, <section(s) of
specific material, if desired> (<date of enactment>), <reporter abbreviation> (<series>), Book <book
number>, p. <first page>, <page(s) of specific material, if desired> (<country abbreviation if not
evident from context>).
Or: <statute name or short title>, Rep. Act No. <number>, <section(s) of specific material, if desired>,
<volume number>:<number> O.G. <first page>, <page(s) of specific material, if desired> (<date of
enactment>) (<country abbreviation if not evident from context>).
Or: <statute name or short title>, <legislation type> No. <number>, <section(s) or article(s) of specific
material, if desired>, <parallel citation, if desired> (<date of enactment>) (<country abbreviation if
not evident from context>), <URL to official source, if no parallel citation to a print source provided>.
For Batas Pambansa:
Citation format: <statute name or short title>, B.P. Blg. <number>, <section(s) of specific material,
if desired> (<date of enactment>), <reporter abbreviation> (<series>), Book <book number>, p. <first
page>, <page(s) of specific material, if desired> (<country abbreviation if not evident from context>).
Or: <statute name or short title>, B.P. Blg. <number>, <section(s) or article(s) of specific material, if
desired>, <parallel citation, if desired> (<date of enactment>) (<country abbreviation if not evident
from context>), <URL to official source, if no parallel citation to a print source provided>.
➢ An Act providing for a System of Overseas Absentee Voting by Quali- fied Citizens of the
Philippines Abroad, Appropriating Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes, Rep. Act No.
9189, § 5(a), 99:19 O.G. 2297 (May 12, 2003) (Phil.).
➢ Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004, Rep. Act No. 9262, § 5(e)(1)
(Mar. 8, 2004) (Phil.), https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2004/03/08/republic-act-no-9262-
s-2004.
***Cite codes and legislation to a source in the following order of preference:

Official Gazette 1902–date O.G.

The Official Gazette Website

(http://officialgazette.gov.ph)

Types of legislation:

➢ Acts (Nos. 1–4275) 1900–1934 Act

➢ Commonwealth Acts 1935–1945 Comm. Act
(Nos. 1–733)
➢ Republic Acts (Nos. 1946–1972 Rep. Act
1–6635)
➢ Presidential Decrees 1972–1982 Pres. Dec.
(Nos. 1–2027)
➢ Batas Pambansa (Nos. 1978–1986 B.P.Blg.
1–884)
 ➢ Republic Acts (Nos. 1987–date Rep. Act
6636–current)
Executive issuances
Citation format: <issuing agency>, <issuance name or short title>, <issuance
type> No. <number>, <section(s) or articles(s) of specific material, if desired>, <volume
number>: <number> O.G. <first page>, <page(s) of specific material, if desired> (<date of promulgation>)
(<country abbreviation if not evident from context>).
Or: <issuing agency>, <issuance name or short title>, <issuance type> No. <number>, <section(s) or
articles(s) of specific material, if desired>, <parallel citation, if desired> (<date of promulgation>)
(<country abbreviation if not evident from context>), <URL to official source, if no parallel citation to a
print source provided>.
➢ Office of the President, Establishing a System to Ensure Smooth Flow of Transactions in
Government and Prompt Response to Public Requests, Mem. Circ. No. 60, § 1,89 O.G. 4747
(July 8, 1993) (Phil.).

➢ Office of the President, Increasing the Amount of Employment Compensation Benefits for
Employees in the Public Sector, Exec. Ord. No. 135, § 3 (Apr. 23, 2013) (Phil.),
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/2013/04/23/executive-order-no-135-s-2013.
Types of executive issuances:

Administrative Order Admin. Ord.

Executive Order Exec. Ord.

General Order Gen. Ord

Memorandum Circular Mem. Circ.

Memorandum Order Mem. Ord.

Presidential Proclamation Pres. Proc.

Special Order Sp. Ord.

Treaties
Cite the title, the date of signature or accession by the Philippines, and the date of entry into force. Cite at
least one Philippine source and one other source listed in table T4, if available, or two sources listed
in table T4.
➢ Treaty of Friendship with India, July 11, 1952 (1953), II-2 D.F.A.T.S. 1, 2 P.T.S. 797, 203 U.N.T.S.
73 (Phil.).
➢ Department of Foreign Affairs Treaty D.F.A.T.S.
Series

➢ Philippine Treaty Series P.T.S.