Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2005 > October 2005 Decisions > G.R. No. 162070 - Department of Agrarian Reform v. Delia T. Sutton, et al. :




G.R. No. 162070 - Department of Agrarian Reform v. Delia T. Sutton, et al.

PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

EN BANC

[G.R. NO. 162070 October 19, 2005]

DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM, represented by SECRETARY JOSE MARI B. PONCE (OIC), Petitioner, v. DELIA T. SUTTON, ELLA T. SUTTON-SOLIMAN and HARRY T. SUTTON, Respondents.

D E C I S I O N

PUNO, J.:

This is a Petition for Review filed by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) of the Decision and Resolution of the Court of Appeals, dated September 19, 2003 and February 4, 2004, respectively, which declared DAR Administrative Order (A.O.) No. 9, series of 1993, null and void for being violative of the Constitution.

The case at bar involves a land in Aroroy, Masbate, inherited by respondents which has been devoted exclusively to cow and calf breeding. On October 26, 1987, pursuant to the then existing agrarian reform program of the government, respondents made a voluntary offer to sell (VOS)1 their landholdings to petitioner DAR to avail of certain incentives under the law.

On June 10, 1988, a new agrarian law, Republic Act (R.A.) No. 6657, also known as the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL) of 1988, took effect. It included in its coverage farms used for raising livestock, poultry and swine.

On December 4, 1990, in an en banc decision in the case of Luz Farms v. Secretary of DAR,2 this Court ruled that lands devoted to livestock and poultry-raising are not included in the definition of agricultural land. Hence, we declared as unconstitutional certain provisions of the CARL insofar as they included livestock farms in the coverage of agrarian reform.

In view of the Luz Farms ruling, respondents filed with petitioner DAR a formal request to withdraw their VOS as their landholding was devoted exclusively to cattle-raising and thus exempted from the coverage of the CARL.3

On December 21, 1992, the Municipal Agrarian Reform Officer of Aroroy, Masbate, inspected respondents' land and found that it was devoted solely to cattle-raising and breeding. He recommended to the DAR Secretary that it be exempted from the coverage of the CARL.

On April 27, 1993, respondents reiterated to petitioner DAR the withdrawal of their VOS and requested the return of the supporting papers they submitted in connection therewith.4 Petitioner ignored their request.

On December 27, 1993, DAR issued A.O. No. 9, series of 1993,5 which provided that only portions of private agricultural lands used for the raising of livestock, poultry and swine as of June 15, 1988 shall be excluded from the coverage of the CARL. In determining the area of land to be excluded, the A.O. fixed the following retention limits, viz: 1:1 animal-land ratio (i.e., 1 hectare of land per 1 head of animal shall be retained by the landowner), and a ratio of 1.7815 hectares for livestock infrastructure for every 21 heads of cattle shall likewise be excluded from the operations of the CARL.

On February 4, 1994, respondents wrote the DAR Secretary and advised him to consider as final and irrevocable the withdrawal of their VOS as, under the Luz Farms doctrine, their entire landholding is exempted from the CARL.6

On September 14, 1995, then DAR Secretary Ernesto D. Garilao issued an Order7 partially granting the application of respondents for exemption from the coverage of CARL. Applying the retention limits outlined in the DAR A.O. No. 9, petitioner exempted 1,209 hectares of respondents' land for grazing purposes, and a maximum of 102.5635 hectares for infrastructure. Petitioner ordered the rest of respondents' landholding to be segregated and placed under Compulsory Acquisition.

Respondents moved for reconsideration. They contend that their entire landholding should be exempted as it is devoted exclusively to cattle-raising. Their motion was denied.8 They filed a notice of appeal9 with the Office of the President assailing: (1) the reasonableness and validity of DAR A.O. No. 9, s. 1993, which provided for a ratio between land and livestock in determining the land area qualified for exclusion from the CARL, and (2) the constitutionality of DAR A.O. No. 9, s. 1993, in view of the Luz Farms case which declared cattle-raising lands excluded from the coverage of agrarian reform.

On October 9, 2001, the Office of the President affirmed the impugned Order of petitioner DAR.10 It ruled that DAR A.O. No. 9, s. 1993, does not run counter to the Luz Farms case as the A.O. provided the guidelines to determine whether a certain parcel of land is being used for cattle-raising. However, the issue on the constitutionality of the assailed A.O. was left for the determination of the courts as the sole arbiters of such issue.

On appeal, the Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the respondents. It declared DAR A.O. No. 9, s. 1993, void for being contrary to the intent of the 1987 Constitutional Commission to exclude livestock farms from the land reform program of the government. The dispositive portion reads:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, DAR Administrative Order No. 09, Series of 1993 is hereby DECLARED null and void. The assailed order of the Office of the President dated 09 October 2001 in so far as it affirmed the Department of Agrarian Reform's ruling that petitioners' landholding is covered by the agrarian reform program of the government is REVERSED and SET ASIDE.

SO ORDERED.11

Hence, this petition.

The main issue in the case at bar is the constitutionality of DAR A.O. No. 9, series of 1993, which prescribes a maximum retention limit for owners of lands devoted to livestock raising.

Invoking its rule-making power under Section 49 of the CARL, petitioner submits that it issued DAR A.O. No. 9 to limit the area of livestock farm that may be retained by a landowner pursuant to its mandate to place all public and private agricultural lands under the coverage of agrarian reform. Petitioner also contends that the A.O. seeks to remedy reports that some unscrupulous landowners have converted their agricultural farms to livestock farms in order to evade their coverage in the agrarian reform program.

Petitioner's arguments fail to impress.

Administrative agencies are endowed with powers legislative in nature, i.e., the power to make rules and regulations. They have been granted by Congress with the authority to issue rules to regulate the implementation of a law entrusted to them. Delegated rule-making has become a practical necessity in modern governance due to the increasing complexity and variety of public functions. However, while administrative rules and regulations have the force and effect of law, they are not immune from judicial review.12 They may be properly challenged before the courts to ensure that they do not violate the Constitution and no grave abuse of administrative discretion is committed by the administrative body concerned.

The fundamental rule in administrative law is that, to be valid, administrative rules and regulations must be issued by authority of a law and must not contravene the provisions of the Constitution.13 The rule-making power of an administrative agency may not be used to abridge the authority given to it by Congress or by the Constitution. Nor can it be used to enlarge the power of the administrative agency beyond the scope intended. Constitutional and statutory provisions control with respect to what rules and regulations may be promulgated by administrative agencies and the scope of their regulations.14

In the case at bar, we find that the impugned A.O. is invalid as it contravenes the Constitution. The A.O. sought to regulate livestock farms by including them in the coverage of agrarian reform and prescribing a maximum retention limit for their ownership. However, the deliberations of the 1987 Constitutional Commission show a clear intent to exclude, inter alia, all lands exclusively devoted to livestock, swine and poultry - raising. The Court clarified in the Luz Farms casethat livestock, swine and poultry-raising are industrial activities and do not fall within the definition of "agriculture" or "agricultural activity." The raising of livestock, swine and poultry is different from crop or tree farming. It is an industrial, not an agricultural, activity. A great portion of the investment in this enterprise is in the form of industrial fixed assets, such as: animal housing structures and facilities, drainage, waterers and blowers, feedmill with grinders, mixers, conveyors, exhausts and generators, extensive warehousing facilities for feeds and other supplies, anti-pollution equipment like bio-gas and digester plants augmented by lagoons and concrete ponds, deepwells, elevated water tanks, pumphouses, sprayers, and other technological appurtenances.15

Clearly, petitioner DAR has no power to regulate livestock farms which have been exempted by the Constitution from the coverage of agrarian reform. It has exceeded its power in issuing the assailed A.O.

The subsequent case of Natalia Realty, Inc. v. DAR16 reiterated our ruling in the Luz Farms case. In Natalia Realty, the Court heldthat industrial, commercial and residential lands are not covered by the CARL.17 We stressed anew that while Section 4 of R.A. No. 6657 provides that the CARL shall cover all public and private agricultural lands, the term "agricultural land" does not include lands classified as mineral, forest, residential, commercial or industrial. Thus, in Natalia Realty, even portions of the Antipolo Hills Subdivision, which are arable yet still undeveloped, could not be considered as agricultural lands subject to agrarian reform as these lots were already classified as residential lands.

A similar logical deduction should be followed in the case at bar. Lands devoted to raising of livestock, poultry and swine have been classified as industrial, not agricultural, lands and thus exempt from agrarian reform. Petitioner DAR argues that, in issuing the impugned A.O., it was seeking to address the reports it has received that some unscrupulous landowners have been converting their agricultural lands to livestock farms to avoid their coverage by the agrarian reform. Again, we find neither merit nor logic in this contention. The undesirable scenario which petitioner seeks to prevent with the issuance of the A.O. clearly does not apply in this case. Respondents' family acquired their landholdings as early as 1948. They have long been in the business of breeding cattle in Masbate which is popularly known as the cattle-breeding capital of the Philippines.18 Petitioner DAR does not dispute this fact. Indeed, there is no evidence on record that respondents have just recently engaged in or converted to the business of breeding cattle after the enactment of the CARL that may lead one to suspect that respondents intended to evade its coverage. It must be stressed that what the CARL prohibits is the conversion of agricultural lands for non-agricultural purposes after the effectivity of the CARL. There has been no change of business interest in the case of respondents.

Moreover, it is a fundamental rule of statutory construction that the reenactment of a statute by Congress without substantial change is an implied legislative approval and adoption of the previous law. On the other hand, by making a new law, Congress seeks to supersede an earlier one.19 In the case at bar, after the passage of the 1988 CARL, Congress enacted R.A. No. 788120 which amended certain provisions of the CARL. Specifically, the new law changed the definition of the terms "agricultural activity" and "commercial farming" by dropping from its coverage lands that are devoted to commercial livestock, poultry and swine-raising.21 With this significant modification, Congress clearly sought to align the provisions of our agrarian laws with the intent of the 1987 Constitutional Commission to exclude livestock farms from the coverage of agrarian reform.

In sum, it is doctrinal that rules of administrative bodies must be in harmony with the provisions of the Constitution. They cannot amend or extend the Constitution. To be valid, they must conform to and be consistent with the Constitution. In case of conflict between an administrative order and the provisions of the Constitution, the latter prevails.22 The assailed A.O. of petitioner DAR was properly stricken down as unconstitutional as it enlarges the coverage of agrarian reform beyond the scope intended by the 1987 Constitution.

IN VIEW WHEREOF, the petition is DISMISSED. The assailed Decision and Resolution of the Court of Appeals, dated September 19, 2003 and February 4, 2004, respectively, are AFFIRMED. No pronouncement as to costs.

SO ORDERED.


Endnotes:


1 This is a transaction entered into by the landowner and the government, thru the DAR, the purchase price of the land being the one agreed upon between them, and paid by the Land Bank of the Philippines. Under E.O. No. 229, such transactions shall be exempt from the payment of the capital gains tax and other taxes and fees. As an additional incentive, Section 19 of the CARP gives to landowners who voluntarily offer to sell their land an additional five percent (5%) cash payment.

2 192 SCRA 51 (1990).

3 CA Rollo, pp. 65-66.

4 Id., pp. 67-68.

5 Id., pp. 57-62.

6 Id., pp. 69-71.

7 Id., pp. 72-76.

8 Order, dated October 5, 1995; CA Rollo, pp. 87-89.

9 O.P. Case No. 96-A-6361.

10 CA Rollo, pp. 50-54.

11 CA Decision dated September 19, 2003, penned by Associate Justice Buenaventura J. Guerrero and concurred in by Associate Justices Andres B. Reyes, Jr. and RegaladoE. Maambong; Rollo, pp. 32-43.

12 Administrative Law and Process in a Nutshell, Gellhorn and Levin, 1990 ed., p. 315.

13 Pagpalain Haulers, Inc. v. Trajano, 310 SCRA 354 (1999).

14 Conte v. Commission on Audit, 264 SCRA 19 (1996).

15 Luz Farms case, supra, p. 61.

16 225 SCRA 278 (1993).

17 This same ruling was adapted on February 21, 1995 by then Executive Secretary Teofisto Guingona, Jr., by authority of the President, in his Decision exempting from the coverage of agrarian reform the landholdings of Golden Country Farms, Inc., used in its cattle, swine and poultry operations. See O.P. Case No. 5454, CA Rollo, pp. 103-111.

18 Opposition to Respondent's Motion for Reconsideration, pp. 310-311.

19 Administrative Law, A Text, Reginald Parker, p. 157.

20 Enacted on July 25, 1994.

21 Sections 1 and 3 of R.A. No. 7881.

22 Conte v. Commission on Audit, supra.




Back to Home | Back to Main




















chanrobles.com





ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com






October-2005 Jurisprudence                 

  • A.C. No. 4920 : October 19, 2005 - LEOPOLDO V. CREDITO, AARON J. VELARDE, PEPITO JARANILLA, MIGUEL EXITO JR., CEZAR CRUCERO, NEMESIO CABALLERO, RODOLFO JALANDONI, NILO GAVARAN, ROLANDO BELBAR, SIXTO CRUCERO, TALAVER ELEUTERIO, BONIFACIO LABADIA, ELY ERIMA

  • A.C. No. 5424 - Antonio B. Baltazar v. Atty. Norbin P. Dimalanta.

  • A.C. No. 6396 - Rosalie Dallong-Galicinao v. Atty. Virgil R. Castro.

  • A.M. NO. 05-9-555-RTC - Re: Habitual Tardiness of Ms. Cecilia L. Asilo, Court Stenographer III, Regional Trial Court, Pasig City, Branch 151.

  • A.M. No. 04-11-671-RTC - Re: Findings of Irregularity on the Bundy Cards of Personnel of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 26 and Municipal Trial Court Medina, Misamis Oriental.

  • A.M. No. 98-12-394-RTC - RE: Case Left Undecided by Retired Judge Benjamin A. Bongolan.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-00-1324 - Joaquin Roberto Gozun, et al. v. Judge Vinci G. Gozum.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-05-1573 - Report on the Judicial Audit Conducted in the Municipal Trial Court of Tambulig and the 11th Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Mahayag-Dumingag-Josefina, Both in Zamboanga Del Sur.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-05-1579 - Eduardo C. Dayuno v. Judge Hector B. Barillo, et al.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-05-1586 - Letter Dated November 12, 2004 of Judge Adolfo R. Malingan.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-05-1599 - Maribeth M. Ora v. Judge Romeo A. Almajar.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-91-565 - Patricio T. Junio v. Judge Pedro C. River, Jr.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-05-1603 - Jaime R. Sevilla v. Judge Edison F. Quintin.

  • ADM. MATTER NO. P-03-1669 - Jonolito S. Orasa v. Manuel S. Seva.

  • A. M. No. P-04-1904 - Miramar Fish Co., Inc. v. Bienvenido Jalon, et al.

  • A.M. No. P-04-1911 - Office of the Court Administrator v. Aster A. Madela.

  • A. M. No. P-04-1921 - Office of the Court Administrator v. Fely C. Carriedo.

  • A.M. No. P-05-19966 - Office of the Court Administrator v. Melecio T. Ramos.

  • A.M. No. P-05-1983 - Judge Alpino P. Florendo v. Edmar C. Cadano.

  • A. M. No. P-05-1989 - Report on the Financial Audit Conducted at the MCTC-Mabalacat, Pampanga.

  • A.M. No. P-05-1994 - Alleged Removal of the Bailbond Posted in Criminal Case No. C-67629.

  • A.M. No. P-05-2013 - Linda Ramos v. Linda C. Esteban.

  • A.M. No. P-05-2069 - P/Capt. Romeo M. De Guzman v. Maripi A. Apolonio.

  • A.M. No. P-05-2080 - RE: Habitual Tardiness of Mrs. Natividad M. Calingao.

  • A.M. No. P-05-2086 - RE: Falsification of Daily Time Records of Maria Fe P. Brooks, et al.

  • A.M. No. RTJ-01-1647 - Wong Jan Realty, Inc. v. Hon. Judge Dolores L. Espa ol.

  • A.M. NO. RTJ-02-1713 and A.M. OCA IPI No. 03-1744-RTJ - Romulo D. Jabon v. Judge Sibanah E. Usman.

  • A.M. No. RTJ-03-1794 Formerly OCA IPI No. 00-941-RTJ - P/Supt. Manuel P. Barcena v. Judge Henrick F. Gingoyon. d

  • ADM. MATTER NO. RTJ-04-1848 Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 03-1804-RTJ - Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) v. Hon. Romulo A. Lopez.

  • A.M. No. RTJ-04-1890 - Prosecutor Robert M. Visbal v. Judge Rogelio C. Sescon.

  • A.M. No. RTJ-05-1960 - Juvelyn D. Kilat v. Judge Mariano S. Macias.

  • G.R. No. 122472 - Apex Mining Co., Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, et al.

  • G.R. No. 125254 - Spouses Samuel Ulep, et al. v. Honorable Court of Appeals, et al.

  • G.R. No. 106064 - Spouses Renato Constanino, Jr., et al. v. Hon. Jose B. Cuisia, et al.

  • G.R. No. 132537 - Mary Josephine Gomez et al., v. Roel Sta. Ines, et al.

  • G.R. No. 132759 - Alejandro Danan, et al. v. The Honorable Court of Appeals, et al.

  • G.R. No. 134113 - Air France Philippines v. The Honorable Judge Emilio L. Leachon, et al.

  • G.R. No. 132864 - Philippine Free Press, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, et al.

  • G.R. No. 138550 - American Express International Inc., v. Noel Cordero.

  • G.R. No. 139448 - Jacinto Galang, et al. v. Hon. Court of Appeals, et al.

  • G.R. No. 139526 - Ramatek Philippines, Inc., et al. v. Ma. Anela De Los Reyes.

  • G.R. No. 139736 - Bank of the Philippine Islands v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue.

  • G.R. No. 141715 - Local Superior of the Servants of Charity, Inc., et al. v. Jody King Construction & Development Corporation.

  • G.R. No. 139858 - Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Arturo Tulio.

  • G.R. NO. 142664 - Leoncio Ho, et al. v. Pedro S. Lacsa.

  • G.R. No. 142411 - Winifreda Ursal v. Court of Appeals, et al.

  • G.R. No. 143027 - Encarnacion L. Cuizon, et al. v. Mercedes C. Remoto, et al.

  • G.R. No. 143439 - Maximo Alvarez v. Susan Ramirez.

  • G.R. No. 143951 - Norma Mangaliag, et al. v. Hon. Edelwina Catubig-Pastoral, et al.

  • G.R. NO. 144273 - Rodolfo Ramos, et al. v. Hon. Judge Alfonso V. Combong, Jr., et al.

  • G.R. No. 145259 - Casimiro R. Nadela v. Engineering and Construction Corporation of Asia.

  • G.R. No. 145330 - Spouses Gomer Ramos, et al. v. Spouses Santiago Heruela, et al.

  • G.R. No. 146400 - Bernardito A. Florido v. Shemberg Marketing Corporation.

  • G.R. No. 146987 - Metro Properties, Inc. v. Magallanes Village Association, Inc.

  • G.R. No. 147746 - Perla Compania De Seguros, Inc., et al. v. Sps. Gaudencio Sarangaya III, et al.

  • G.R. No. 147911 - Federico B. Diamante III v. Honorable Sandiganbayan, et al.

  • G.R. No. 148574 - Eugenio G. Palileo, et al. v. National Irrigation Administration.

  • G.R. No. 149175 - Jaime H. Domingo v. Hon. Sandiganbayan, et al.

  • G.R. No. 149259 - People of the Philippines v. Juanito P. Quirol, et al.

  • G.R. No. 151040 - Allied Banking Corporation v. Cheng Yong, et al.

  • G.R. No. 151818 - Oriental Petroleum, et al. v. Marciano V. Fuentes, et al.

  • G.R. No. 151893 - Precy P. Jacang v. Employees' Compensation Commission, et al.

  • G.R. No. 152527 - Joey Guiyab y Danao v. People of the Philippines.

  • G.R. No. 152689 and G.R. NO. 154072 - Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company, Inc., et al. v. Alfredo S. Paguio.

  • G.R. No. 153152 - Ruperto V. Peralta, et al. v. Hon. Aniano Desierto, et al.

  • G.R. 153526 - Florante Soriquez v. Sandiganbayan, et al.

  • G.R. No. 153784 - Romeo C. Cadiz, et al. v. Court of Appeals, et al.

  • G.R. No. 154027 - Spouses Ramon and Rosita Tan v. Gorgonia Bantegui, et al.

  • G.R. No. 154087 - Milagros Ilao-Quianay, et al. v. Rodolfo Mapile.

  • G.R. No. 154190 - MIAA-NAIA Association of Service Operators v. The Ombudsman, et al.

  • G.R. No. 154126 - Allied Banking Corporation v. The Quezon City Government, et al.

  • G.R. No. 154380 - Republic of the Philippines v. Cipriano Orbecido III.

  • G.R. No. 154410 - Heavylift Manila, Inc., et al. v. The Court of Appeals, et al.

  • G.R. No. 154428 - Philippine National Bank v. Shellink Planners, Inc.

  • G.R. No. 154629 - SPO4 Marino Soberano, et al. v. The People of the Philippines.

  • G.R. No. 154798 - Crystal Shipping, Inc., et al. v. Deo P. Natividad.

  • G.R. No. 154993 - Luz R. Yamane v. BA Lepanto Condominium Corporation.

  • G.R. No. 155279 - Micro Sales Operation Network, et al. v. The National Labor Relations Commission, et al.

  • G.R. No. 155737 - R Transport Corporation v. Philippine Hawk Transport Corporation.

  • G.R. No. 155784 - Civil Service Commission v. Ranulfo P. Albao.

  • G.R. No. 156033 - Expresscredit Financing Corporation v. Sps. Morton and Juanita Velasco.

  • G.R. No. 156081 - Ferdinand T. Santos, et al. v. Wilson Go.

  • G.R. No. 156381 - JSS Indochina Corporation v. Gerardo R. Ferrer, et al.

  • G.R. No. 156652 - Dr. Benita F. Osorio v. Hon. Aniano A. Desierto, et al.

  • G.R. No. 156887 - Philippine National Construction Corporation v. Hon. Amalia F. Dy, et al.

  • G.R. No. 157604 - George V. Benedicto v. Hon. Court of Appeals, et al.

  • G.R. No. 157044 - Rodolfo V. Rosales, et al. v. Miguel Castelltort, et al.

  • G.R. No. 158227 - Keppel Bank Philippines, Inc. v. Philip Adao.

  • G.R. No. 158085 - Republic of the Philippines, et al. v. Sunlife Assurance Company of Canada.

  • G.R. No. 158674 - Lapreciosisma Cagungun, et al. v. Planters Development Bank.

  • G.R. No. 158812 - Public Estates Authority, et al. v. Bolinao Security and Investigation Service, Inc.

  • G.R. No. 159048 - Benny Go v. Eliodoro Bacaron.

  • G.R. No. 159592 - Spouses Ferdinand Aguilar, et al. v. Citytrust Finance Corporation.

  • G.R. No. 160073 - Abundio Barayoga, et al. v. Asset Privatization Trust.

  • G.R. No. 159831 - Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation v. John Bordman Ltd. of Iloilo, Inc.

  • G.R. No. 160283 - John Kam Biak Y. Chan, Jr., v. Iglesia ni Cristo Inc.

  • G.R. No. 160573 - Grace A. Basmayor v. Loida B. Atencio.

  • G.R. No. 160966 - Pagoda Philippines, Inc. v. Universal Canning, Inc.

  • G.R. No. 161026 - Hyatt Elevators and Escalators Corporation v. Goldstar Elevators, Phils., Inc.

  • G.R. No. 161733 - Civil Service Commission v. Arnulfo A. Sebastian.

  • G.R. No. 161942 - Jose M. Caringal v. Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

  • G.R. No. 162070 - Department of Agrarian Reform v. Delia T. Sutton, et al.

  • G.R. No. 161997 - Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Philippine National Bank.

  • G.R. No. 162445 - Dionisio L. Bacarra v. National Labor Relations Commission, et al.

  • G.R. No. 163099 - Amadeo Fishing Corporation, et al. v. Romeo Nierra, et al.

  • G.R. No. 163181 - Bonifacio L. Ca'al, Sr. v. People of the Philippines.

  • G.R. No. 163818 - Sebastian Serag, et al. v. Court of Appeals, et al.

  • G.R. No. 164588 - Nautica Canning Corporation, et al. v. Roberto C. Yumul.

  • G.R. No. 164282 - Teresita M. Yujuico v. Hon. Jose L. Atienza, Jr., et al.

  • G.R. No. 164678 - Office of the Ombudsman v. Mary Ann T. Castro.

  • G.R. No. 164736 - Universal Robina Corporation, et al. v. Benito Catapang, et al.

  • G.R. No. 164914 - Natalia Realty, Inc. v. Hon. Mauricio M. Rivera, et al.

  • G.R. No. 164978 - Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., et al. v. Exec. Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita, et al.

  • G.R. No. 164922 - Raymond P. Espidol v. Commission on Elections, et al.

  • G.R. No. 165282 - Electro System Industries Corporation v. National Labor Relations Commission, et al.

  • G.R. No. 165996 - Rodolfo G. Valencia v. The Sandiganbayan.

  • G.R. No. 166152 - Villamor Golf Club, et al. v. Rodolfo F. Pehid.

  • G.R. No. 166379 - Lakpue Drug, Inc., et al. v. Ma. Lourdes Belga.

  • G.R. No. 166664 - Domingo C. Suarez v. Leo B. Saul, et al.

  • G.R. No. 166964 - Patricia L. Tiongson, et al. v. National Housing Authority.

  • G.R. No. 167462 - Manly Express Inc., et al. v. Romualdo Payong, Jr.

  • G.R. No. 167514 - Metropolitan Manila Development Authority v. Trackworks Rail Transit Advertising, Vending and Promotions, Inc.

  • G.R. No. 167886 - Land Bank of the Philippines v. Pamintuan Development Co.

  • G.R. No. 168056 - ABAKADA Guro Party List Officer Samson S. Alcantara, et al. v. The Hon. Executive Secretary Eduardo R. Ermita.