This is the Law.

Jose C. Sison

While the principal source of our rights are found in the Constitution,
there are of course other laws governing nearly all other aspects of human
endeavors. But all laws under which we live and work as supposed to be
written in black and white. We have already pointed out our written
Constitution and the Civil Code. Then there will be a new Family Code as
a spin-off from the Civil Code specially dealing with husband-wife and
family relations. But aside from them, there are other written laws and
codes which are actually the acts and statutes adopted by the Philippine
Congress, more notable the Revised Penal Code, the Code of Commerce,
the Corporation Code, the Insurance Code, Internal Revenue Code, Labor
Code, and myriad of other Republic Acts. Also, included are the local
ordinances of the city and municipal councils. These are, altogether,
known as the statutory laws that affect each of us.

But these are not all the written laws. Certain rules and regulations
maybe promulgated by various government administrative agencies in
order to implement the legislative enactments of Congress. The rules of
the motor vehicle or land transportation office, the Bureau of Internal
Revenue Regulation, the rules and regulations of the Department of Labor,
the Executive Orders issued by the President, are examples of these laws.
They are collectively known as administrative laws or regulations.

And finally, there are the decisions by our own courts. Once these
decisions become final, whether they reach the Supreme Court, which is
the final arbiter, or not they become part of the laws of the land and are
known as case laws. They have the full force of law behind them. What
they say must be complied with and the government’s enforcement agency
shall see to it that this is done especially if the decision carries with it a
penalty of fine or imprisonment or both.

All these written laws can be found in the various branches and
department concerned of the government. But to find the court cases and
decisions that are meaningful to anyone, and to interpret them, you must
go to a lawyer. Or hopefully, you may find this column useful.
(A Law Each Day Keeps the Trouble Away, The Philippine Star, February 17, 1988).