Sources of Law

 Constitution – Fundamental Law of the land

     1. Legislations -  Passed by Senate and House

            of Representatives 

     2. Administrative issuances – Quasi Legislative Functions

     3. Jurisprudence – Decisions of the Supreme Court

                 (SCRA) Stare decisis 

     4. Treaties and Generally accepted principles of 

             International  Law - Art II Sec 2, Pacta sundservanda 

     5. Customs – habits and practices through long and   accepted usage have  

                                       become binding rules of conduct

    vii)vii) Principles of Justice and Equity – common law jurisdiction

      a.b. Characteristics of Law

-- Rule of Conduct

-- Obligatory

-- Promulgated by legitimate authority

-- Of common observance and benefit 

-- Supreme Court

-- Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of  Tax Appeals

-- Regional Trial Court

Organization of courts

-- Supreme Court

-- Court of Appeals, Sandiganbayan, Court of  Tax Appeal

-- Regional Trial Court

-- Metropolitan Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court

   Quasi Judicial Bodies

      1.1. Comelec

     2.2. NLRC

     3.3. LTFRC

    4.4. ERB

Quantum of Evidence

- Criminal cases: Proof Beyond Reasonable Doubt 

- Civil cases: Preponderance of Evidence-greater weight of all the evidence which as a whole shows that the act sought to be proved is more probable than not.

- Administrative cases: Substantial Evidence 

– Such evidence that a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion 

 Effects and Applications of law

- - -  Requirement for publication

1.1. 15 days after publication in OG or newspaper

2.2. Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance

3.3. Due Process

- - - Law is prospective except:

1.1. If the law provides for retroactivity

2.2. Penal law insofar as it favors the accused

3.3. Remedial or curative law 

- - -  Computing time

1.1.  Year is 12 calendar months

2.2. Month is 30 days ,except when it refers to a calendar  month

3.3. First day excluded, last day included 

 - - -  Conflict of Laws Provisions

      a. Penal laws apply to all who sojourn to Phil’s

      b. Family Law and inheritance based on national law of the party   regardless   

              of where he lives

      c.  Forms and solemnities of contracts and other instrument based on the

               place where it is executed

e.f. Obligations and Contracts Defined  

The body of rules which deals with the nature and sources of obligations and the rights and duties arising from agreements and the particular contracts. 

Obligation –  A Juridical relation whereby a person may demand from another the observance of a determinative conduct (giving, doing, not doing), and in case of breach, may demand satisfaction from the assets of the latter.

Contract – Meeting of the mind between two persons whereby one binds himself, with respect to the other, to give something or to render some service. 

A contract necessarily gives rise to an obligation but an obligation does not always need to have a contract.

f. g.  Corporation and Partnership Defined

Partnership – Two or more persons bind themselves tocontribute money, property, or industry to a commonfund, with the intention of dividing the profits among themselves.

Corporation – Artificial being created by operation of law,having right of succession and the powers, attributes,properties expressly authorized by law or incident to its existence.

 I. General Provisions, Nature and Effects of Obligations 

       a. General Provision 

-         - Juridical Necessity – enforce compliance; seek damages

-         - To give, to do, and not to do – Examples 

     -   - Four essential requisites of an obligation

·        A passive subject (Debtor – to give; Obligor –   to do )

·     An active subject (Creditor/Obligee)

·         Object (Prestation) – subject matter

·        Juridical tie (Vinculum) – Source of Obligation 

-         - Form as a manifestation of intent; but no specific form unless required by law