By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico The case of LIGAYA S. NOVICIO vs. ALMA AGGABAO (G. R. 141332; Dec. 11, 2003) is a libel case decided by the Third Division of the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Renato Corona, when he was still an Associate Justice, wrote the decision. The case started in 1995 when Novicio, who
June 28, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico The case of OGIE DIAZ, Petitioner, vs. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent, G.R. No. 159787, promugated by the First Division of the Supreme Court on May 25, 2007, is a libel case involving personalities who are still known today. It illustrates how the requisites of the crime of libel should
June 8, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico The case of EMMA J. CASTILLO, Complainant, vs. JUDGE MANUEL M. CALANOG, JR., Respondent, A.M. No. RTJ-90-447, promulgated by the Supreme Court en banc on July 12, 1991, documented the fall of one of the most powerful judges in the country: the Presiding Judge of Branch 76 of the Regional
May 31, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico The Supreme Court en banc, in the case of BAYAN MUNA PARTY-LIST REP. CARLOS ISAGANI T. ZARATE, et al., Petitioners, vs. H. E. BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III, et al., Respondents (G. R. No. 220028, Nov. 10, 2015), decided a case where the petitioners, who are all identified as left-leaning
May 18, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico In the first half of April 2021, President Rodrigo Duterte, who is 76 years old, was not seen in public for around 2 weeks. This caused the rumor mills around the country to overheat. They spewed all kinds of wild imaginations, including one which alleged that he has died
May 3, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico Law students have always been taught that corporations have personalities separate and distinct from that of their stockholders. This, law professors said, is a fiction of law, which can be pierced or set aside in certain instances. The case of CONCEPT BUILDERS, INC., Petitioner, v. THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS, COMMISSION,
April 7, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico This is an exceptional case where the municipal judge conducted a preliminary investigation when, around 3 years before, the Rules had already been amended and deprived municipal judges or judges of first level courts of the authority to conduct the same. This is the case of LYDELLE L. CONQUILLA,
March 29, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico The novel question presented to the Supreme Court in the case of EVELYN CHUA-QUA, Petitioner, v. HON. JACOBO C. CLAVE, in his capacity as Presidential Executive Assistant, and TAY TUNG HIGH SCHOOL, INC., Respondents, G. R. No. 49549, promulgated by its Second Division on August 30, 1990 and penned by Associate
March 6, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico In the first day of the oral arguments before the Supreme Court last Feb. 2, 2021, former Integrated Bar of the Philippines National President, who was also Pres. Benigno Aquino’s first Solicitor-General, Atty. Jose Anselmo “Joel” Cadiz, my Sigma Rhoan brod, spoke first and led the attack on the
February 17, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico This is a case involving a Regional Trial Judge, Peter, and his paramour, Maria. I have changed their real names in order to protect their privacy. Justice Alicia Austria-Martinez wrote the decision for the Supreme Court’s Third Division. Maria had filed a letter-complaint dated June 13, 2007 against Judge
February 8, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico This question has hounded every attempt to amend or revise the 1987 Constitution since it became effective on February 2, 1987. The problem arose because it does not provide whether the Senate and the House of Representatives shall vote jointly or separately. It provides: “Section 1. Any amendment to,
January 29, 2021
By Atty. Rolex T. Suplico The title of today’s case should have been “AN ORDINARY, PLAIN-LOOKING 43-YEAR-OLD WOMAN WITH TWO (2) TEEN AGED CHILDREN”. Its too long. So, I cut it. This phrase was used by a lawyer to refer to his married paramour. I had wanted to ask him: Was it worth it?
January 22, 2021