2012 Bar Examination Coverage

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SYLLABUS FOR THE 2012 BAR EXAMINATIONS
LABOR AND SOCIAL LEGISLATION
I. Fundamental Principles and Policies
A. Constitutional provisions
1. Article II, Secs. 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 18, 20.
2. Article III, Secs. 1, 4, 8.
3. Art. XIII, Secs. 1, 2, 3, 14.
B. Civil Code
1. Article 1700
C. Labor Code
1. Article 3
2. Article 211
3. Article 212
4. Article 255
II. Recruitment and Placement
A. Recruitment of local and migrant workers
1. Recruitment and placement; defined
2. Illegal recruitment, Art. 38 (local), Sec. 6, Migrant Workers Act, R.A. 8042
a) License vs. Authority
b) Essential elements of illegal recruitment
c) Simple illegal recruitment
d) Illegal recruitment in large scale
e) Illegal recruitment as economic sabotage
f) Illegal recruitment vs. Estafa
g) Liabilities
(i) Local employment agency
(ii) Foreign employer
(a) Theory of imputed knowledge
h) Pre-termination of contract of migrant worker
3. Direct hiring
B. Regulation and enforcement
1. Remittance of foreign exchange earnings
2. Prohibited activities
3. Regulatory and visitorial powers of the labor secretary
4. Penalties for illegal recruitment
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III. Labor Standards
A. Hours of work
1. Coverage/exclusions
2. Normal hours of work
a) Exceptions
(i) Health personnel
(ii) Compressed work week
b) Work interruption due to brownouts
c) Meal break
d) Idle time, waiting time, commuting time, travel time, whether part of
hours of work or not
e) Overtime work
(i) Undertime not offset by overtime
(ii) Waiver of overtime pay
3. Night work
4. CBA provision vis-à-vis overtime work
B. Wages
1. “No work, no pay” principle
2. Coverage/exclusions
3. Facilities vs. Supplements
4. Wages vs. Salaries
5. Wage distortion
6. CBA vis-à-vis wage orders – CBA creditability
7. Non-diminution of benefits
8. Worker’s preference in case of bankruptcy
9. Labor Code provisions for wage protection
10. Allowable deductions without employee’s consent
11. Attorney’s fees and union service fee in labor cases
12. Criteria/factors for wage setting
C. Rest day
1. Right to weekly rest day
2. Preference of the employee
3. When work on rest day authorized
D. Holidays
1. Right to holiday pay
a) In case of absences
b) In case of temporary cessation of work
c) Of teachers, piece workers, seafarers, seasonal workers, etc.
2. Exclusions from coverage
E. Leaves
1. Service incentive leave pay
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a) Right to service incentive leave
b) Exclusions from coverage
c) Commutable nature of benefit
2. Maternity leave
a) Coverage
b) Conditions to entitlement
c) Availment
3. Paternity leave
a) Coverage
b) Conditions to entitlement
c) Availment
4. Parental leave
a) Coverage
b) Conditions to entitlement
c) Availment
5. Leaves for victims of violence against women
a) Coverage
b) Conditions to entitlement
c) Availment
F. Service charges
1. Coverage
2. Exclusion
3. Distribution
4. Integration
G. Thirteenth (13th) month pay and other bonuses
1. Coverage
2. Exclusion/exemptions from coverage
3. Nature of 13th month pay
4. Commissions vis-à-vis 13th month pay
5. CBA vis-à-vis 13th month pay
H. Women workers
1. Discrimination (Art. 135, Labor Code)
2. Stipulation against marriage (Art. 136, Labor Code)
3. Prohibited acts (Art. 137, Labor Code)
4. Classification of certain women workers (Art. 138, Labor Code)
5. Anti-Sexual Harassment Act (R.A. 7877)
I. Minor workers (R.A. 7678, R.A. 9231)
1. Regulation of working hours of a child
2. Employment of the child in public entertainment
3. Prohibition of employing minors in certain undertakings and in certain
advertisements
J. Employment of househelpers
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1. Definition
2. Benefits accorded househelpers
3. Termination
4. Reliefs for unjust termination
K. Employment of homeworkers
1. Definition
2. Rights and benefits accorded homeworkers
3. Conditions for deduction from homewoker’s earnings
L. Apprentices and learners
1. Distinctions between learnership and apprenticeship
M. Handicapped workers (R.A. 7277)
1. Definition of “handicapped workers”
2. Rights of disabled workers
3. Prohibitions on discrimination against disable persons
4. Incentives for employers
IV. Termination of Employment
A. Employer-employee relationship
1. Four-fold test
2. Probationary employment
3. Kinds of employment
a) Regular employment
(i) Reasonable connection rule
b) Project employment
(i) Indicators of project employment
c) Seasonal employment
d) Casual employment
e) Fixed term employment
(i) Requisites for validity
4. Job contracting and labor-only contracting
a) When is there “job contracting”?
b) When is there “labor-only contracting”?
c) Conditions that must concur in legitimate job contracting
d) Effects of finding that there is labor-only contracting
B. Termination of employment
1. Substantive due process
a) Just causes
(i) Serious misconduct or willful disobedience
(a) Requisites
(ii) Gross and habitual neglect of duties
(a) Requisites
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(iii) Fraud or willful breach of trust (loss of trust and confidence)
(a) Requisites
(iv) Abandonment of employment; elements that must concur
(v) Termination of employment pursuant to a union security
clause
(vi) Totality of infractions doctrine
b) Authorized causes
(i) Redundancy, retrenchment and closure
(a) Procedural steps required
(b) Requirements for valid retrenchment/redundancy
(c) Criteria in selecting employees for dismissal
(d) Standards to be followed
(ii) Disease or illness
(a) Requisites
2. Procedural due process
a) Procedure to be observed in termination cases
b) Guiding principles in connection with the hearing requirements in
dismissal cases
c) Agabon doctrine
3. Reliefs for illegal dismissal
a) Reinstatement aspect
(i) Immediately executory
(a) Actual reinstatement
(ii) Payroll reinstatement
b) Separation pay in lieu of reinstatement
(i) Strained relation rule
c) Back wages
(i) Components of the amount of back wages
d) Constructive dismissal
e) Preventive suspension
f) Quitclaims
g) Termination of employment by employee
C. Retirement Pay Law
1. Coverage
2. Exclusions from coverage
3. Components of retirement pay
4. Retirement pay under R.A. 7641 vis-à-vis retirement benefits under SSS and
GSIS laws
V. Management Prerogative
A. Discipline
B. Transfer of employees
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C. Productivity standard
D. Grant of bonus
E. Change of working hours
F. Marital discrimination
G. Post-employment ban
H. Limitations in its exercise
VI. Social Legislation
A. SSS Law (R.A. 8282)
1. Coverage
a) Exclusions from coverage
b) Benefits
c) Beneficiaries
B. GSIS Law (R.A. 8291)
1. Coverage
2. Exclusions from coverage
3. Benefits
4. Beneficiaries
C. Limited Portability Law (R.A. 7699)
D. Employee’s compensation – coverage and when compensable
VII. Labor Relations Law
A. Right to self-organization
1. Who may unionize for purposes of collective bargaining
a) Who cannot form, join or assist labor organizations
b) Executive Order No. 180
2. Bargaining unit
a) Test to determine the constituency of an appropriate bargaining
unit
b) Voluntary recognition
(i) Requirements
c) Certification election
(i) In an unorganized establishment
(ii) In an organized establishment
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(iii) Rules prohibiting the filing of petition for certification
election
(iv) Requirements for validity of certification election
(v) Protests and other questions arising from conduct of
certification election
d) Run-off election
(i) Requirements
e) Re-run election
f) Consent election
g) Affiliation and disaffiliation of the local union from the mother
union
(i) Substitutionary doctrine
h) Union dues and special assessments
(i) Requirements for validity
i) Agency fees
(i) Requisites for assessment
B. Right to collective bargaining
1. Duty to bargain collectively
a) Kiok Loy ruling
2. Mandatory provisions of CBA
a) Grievance procedure
b) Voluntary arbitration
c) No strike-no lockout clause
d) Labor management council
3. Unfair Labor Practice in collective bargaining
a) Bargaining in bad faith
b) Refusal to bargain
c) Individual bargaining
d) Blue sky bargaining
e) Surface bargaining
4. Unfair Labor Practice (ULP)
a) ULP of employers
b) ULP of labor organizations
C. Right to peaceful concerted activities
1. Forms of concerted activities
2. Who may declare a strike or lockout?
3. Requisites for a valid strike
4. Requisites for a valid lockout
5. Requisites for lawful picketing
6. Assumption of jurisdiction by the Secretary of Labor or certification of the
labor dispute to the NLRC for compulsory arbitration
7. Nature of assumption order or certification order
8. Effect of defiance of assumption or certification orders
9. Illegal strike
a) Liability of officers of the unions
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b) Liability of ordinary workers
c) Waiver of illegality of strike
10. Injunctions
a) Requisites for labor injunctions
b) “Innocent bystander rule”
VIII. Procedure and Jurisdiction
A. Labor arbiter
1. Jurisdiction
2. Effect of self-executing order of reinstatement on back wages
3. Requirements to perfect appeal to NLRC
B. National labor relations commission (NLRC)
1. Jurisdictions
2. Effect of NLRC reversal of labor arbiter’s order of reinstatement
3. Requirements to perfect appeal to court of appeals
C. Bureau of Labor Relations – med arbiters
1. Jurisdiction (original and appellate)
D. National Conciliation and Mediation Board
1. Conciliation vs. Mediation
2. Preventive mediation
E. DOLE regional directors
1. Small money claims
F. DOLE secretary
1. Visitorial and enforcement powers
2. Power to suspend effects of termination
G. Voluntary arbitrators
1. Submission agreement
2. Rule 43, Rules of Court
H. Court of Appeals
1. Rule 65, Rules of Court
I. Supreme Court
1. Rule 45, Rules of Court
J. Prescription of actions
1. Money claims
2. Illegal dismissal
3. Unfair labor practice
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4. Offenses penalized by the Labor Code and Implementing Rules and
Regulations issued pursuant thereto
INCLUDE: Pertinent Supreme Court decisions promulgated up to January 31, 2012.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This bar coverage description is not intended and should not be used by
law schools as a syllabus or course outline in the covered subjects. It has been drawn up for
the limited purpose of ensuring that candidates reviewing for the bar examinations are guided
on what basic and minimum amounts of laws, doctrines, and principles they need to know and
be able to use correctly before they can be licensed to practice law. More is required for
excellent and distinguished work as members of the Bar.

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SYLLABUS FOR THE 2012 BAR EXAMINATIONS
POLITICAL AND INTERNATIONAL LAW
I. The Constitution
A. Definition, nature and concepts
B. Parts
C. Amendments and revisions
D. Self-executing and non-self-executing provisions
E. General provisions
II. General Considerations
A. National territory
1. Archipelagic doctrine
B. State immunity
C. Principles and policies
D. Separation of powers
E. Checks and balances
F. Delegation of powers
G. Forms of government
III. Legislative Department
A. Who may exercise legislative power
1. Congress
2. Regional/Local legislative power
3. People’s initiative on statutes
a) Initiative and referendum
B. Houses of Congress
1. Senate
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2. House of Representatives
a) District representatives and questions of apportionment
b) Party-list system
C. Legislative privileges, inhibitions and disqualifications
D. Quorum and voting majorities
E. Discipline of members
F. Electoral tribunals and the commission on appointments
1. Nature
2. Powers
G. Powers of Congress
1. Legislative
a) Legislative inquiries and the oversight functions
b) Bicameral conference committee
c) Limitations on legislative power
(i) Limitations on revenue, appropriations and tariff measures
(ii) Presidential veto and Congressional override
2. Non-legislative
a) Informing function
IV. Executive Department
A. Privileges, inhibitions and disqualifications
1. Presidential immunity
2. Presidential privilege
B. Powers
1. Executive and administrative powers in general
2. Power of appointment
a) In general
b) Commission on appointments confirmation
c) Midnight appointments
d) Power of removal
3. Power of control and supervision
a) Doctrine of qualified political agency
b) Executive departments and offices
c) Local government units
4. Military powers
5. Pardoning power
a) Nature and limitations
b) Forms of executive clemency
6. Diplomatic power
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7. Powers relative to appropriation measures
8. Delegated powers
9. Veto powers
10. Residual powers
C. Rules on Succession
V. Judicial Department
A. Concepts
1. Judicial power
2. Judicial review
a) Operative fact doctrine
b) Moot questions
c) Political question doctrine
B. Safeguards of Judicial independence
C. Judicial restraint
D. Appointments to the Judiciary
E. Supreme Court
1. En banc and division cases
2. Procedural rule-making
3. Administrative supervision over lower courts
VI. Constitutional Commissions
A. Constitutional safeguards to ensure independence of commissions
B. Powers and functions of each commission
C. Prohibited offices and interests
D. Jurisdiction of each constitutional commission
E. Review of final orders, resolutions and decisions
1. Rendered in the exercise of quasi-judicial functions
2. Rendered in the exercise of administrative functions
VII. Bill of Rights
A. Fundamental powers of the state (police power, eminent domain, taxation)
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1. Concept and application
2. Requisites for valid exercise
3. Similarities and differences
4. Delegation
B. Private acts and the bill of rights
C. Due process
1. Relativity of due process
2. Procedural and substantive due process
3. Constitutional and statutory due process
4. Hierarchy of rights
5. Judicial standards of review
6. Void-for-vagueness doctrine
D. Equal protection
1. Concept
2. Requisites for valid classification
3. Standards of judicial review
a) Rational Basis Test
b) Strict Scrutiny Test
c) Intermediate Scrutiny Test
E. Searches and seizures
1. Concept
2. Warrant requirement
a) Requisites
3. Warrantless searches
4. Warrantless arrests
5. Administrative arrests
6. Drug, alcohol and blood tests
F. Privacy of communications and correspondence
1. Private and public communications
2. Intrusion, when allowed
3. Writ of habeas data
G. Freedom of expression
1. Concept and scope
a) Prior restraint (censorship)
b) Subsequent punishment
2. Content-based and content-neutral regulations
a) Tests
b) Applications
3. Facial challenges and the overbreadth doctrine
4. Tests
5. State regulation of different types of mass media
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6. Commercial speech
7. Private vs. Government speech
8. Heckler’s veto
H. Freedom of religion
1. Non-establishment clause
a) Concept and basis
b) Acts permitted and not permitted by the clause
c) Test
2. Free exercise clause
3. Tests
a) Clear and Present Danger Test
b) Compelling State Interest Test
c) Conscientious Objector Test
I. Liberty of abode and freedom of movement
1. Limitations
2. Right to travel
3. Return to return to one’s county
J. Right to information
1. Limitations
2. Publication of laws and regulations
3. Access to court records
4. Right to information relative to
a) Government contract negotiations
b) Diplomatic negotiations
K. Right of association
L. Eminent domain
1. Concept
2. Expansive concept of “public use”
3. Just compensation
a) Determination
b) Effect of delay
4. Abandonment of intended use and right of repurchase
5. Miscellaneous application
M. Contract clause
1. Contemporary application of the contract clause
N. Legal assistance and free access to courts
O. Rights of suspects
1. Availability
2. Requisites
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3. Waiver
P. Rights of the accused
1. Criminal due process
2. Bail
3. Presumption of innocence
4. Right to be heard
5. Assistance of counsel
6. Right to be informed
7. Right to speedy, impartial and public trial
8. Right of confrontation
9. Compulsory process
10. Trials in absentia
Q. Writ of habeas corpus
R. Writ of amparo
S. Self-incrimination clause
1. Scope and coverage
a) Foreign laws
2. Application
3. Immunity statutes
T. Involuntary servitude and political prisoners
U. Excessive fines and cruel and inhuman punishments
V. Non-imprisonment for debts
W. Double jeopardy
1. Requisites
2. Motions for reconsideration and appeals
3. Dismissal with consent of accused
X. Ex post facto laws and bills of attainder
VIII. Citizenship
A. Who are Filipino citizens
B. Modes of acquiring citizenship
C. Naturalization and denaturalization
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D. Dual citizenship and dual allegiance
E. Loss and re-acquisition of Philippine citizenship
F. Natural-born citizens and public office
IX. Law on Public Officers
A. General principles
B. Modes of acquiring title to public office
C. Modes and kinds of appointment
D. Eligibility and qualification requirements
E. Disabilities and inhibitions of public officers
F. Powers and duties of public officers
G. Rights of public officers
H. Liabilities of public officers
1. Preventive suspension and back salaries
2. Illegal dismissal, reinstatement and back salaries
I. Immunity of public officers
J. De facto officers
K. Termination of official relation
L. The civil service
1. Scope
2. Appointments to the civil service
3. Personnel actions
M. Accountability of public officers
1. Impeachment
2. Ombudsman
a) Functions
b) Judicial review in administrative proceedings
c) Judicial review in penal proceedings
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3. Sandiganbayan
4. Ill-gotten wealth
N. Term limits
X. Administrative Law
A. General principles
B. Administrative agencies
1. Definition
2. Manner of creation
3. Kinds
C. Powers of administrative agencies
1. Quasi-legislative (rule making) power
a) Kinds of administrative rules and regulations
b) Requisites for validity
2. Quasi-judicial (adjudicatory) power
a) Administrative due process
b) Administrative appeal and review
c) Administrative res judicata
3. Fact-finding, investigative, licensing and rate-fixing powers
D. Judicial recourse and review
1. Doctrine of primary administrative jurisdiction
2. Doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies
3. Doctrine of finality of administrative action
XI. Election Law
A. Suffrage
B. Qualification and disqualification of voters
C. Registration of voters
D. Inclusion and exclusion proceedings
E. Political parties
1. Jurisdiction of the Comelec over political parties
2. Registration
F. Candidacy
1. Qualifications of candidates
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2. Filing of certificates of candidacy
a) Effect of filing
b) Substitution of candidates
c) Ministerial duty of COMELEC to receive certificate
d) Nuisance candidates
e) Petition to deny or cancel certificates of candidacy
f) Effect of disqualification
g) Withdrawal of candidates
G. Campaign
1. Premature campaigning
2. Prohibited contributions
3. Lawful and prohibited election propaganda
4. Limitations on expenses
5. Statement of contributions and expenses
H. Board of Election Inspectors and Board of Canvassers
1. Composition
2. Powers
I. Remedies and jurisdiction in election law
1. Petition not to give due course to certificate of candidacy
2. Petition to declare failure of elections
3. Pre-proclamation controversy
4. Election protest
5. Quo warranto
J. Prosecution of election offenses
XII. Local Governments
A. Public corporations
1. Concept
a) Distinguished from government-owned or controlled corporations
2. Classifications
a) Quasi-corporations
b) Municipal corporations
B. Municipal corporations
1. Elements
2. Nature and functions
3. Requisites for creation, conversion, division, merger or dissolution
C. Principles of local autonomy
D. Powers of local government units (LGUs)
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1. Police power (general welfare clause)
2. Eminent domain
3. Taxing power
4. Closure and opening of roads
5. Legislative power
a) Requisites for valid ordinance
b) Local initiative and referendum
6. Corporate powers
a) To sue and be sued
b) To acquire and sell property
c) To enter into contracts
(i) Requisites
(ii) Ultra vires contracts
7. Liability of LGUs
8. Settlement of boundary disputes
9. Succession of elective officials
10. Discipline of local officials
a) Elective officials
(i) Grounds
(ii) Jurisdiction
(iii) Preventive suspension
(iv) Removal
(v) Administrative appeal
(vi) Doctrine of condonation
b) Appointive officials
11. Recall
12. Term limits
XIII. National Economy and Patrimony
A. Regalian doctrine
B. Nationalist and citizenship requirement provisions
C. Exploration, development and utilization of natural resources
D. Franchises, authority and certificates for public utilities
E. Acquisition, ownership and transfer of public and private lands
F. Practice of professions
G. Organization and regulation of corporations, private and public
H. Monopolies, restraint of trade and unfair competition
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XIV. Social Justice and Human Rights
A. Concept of social justice
B. Commission on human rights
XV. Education, Science, Technology, Arts, Culture and Sports
A. Academic freedom
XVI. Public International Law
A. Concepts
1. Obligations erga omnes
2. Jus cogens
3. Concept of aeguo et bono
B. International and national law
C. Sources
D. Subjects
1. States
2. International organizations
3. Individuals
E. Diplomatic and consular law
F. Treaties
G. Nationality and statelessness
H. Treatment of aliens
1. Extradition
a) Fundamental principles
b) Procedure
c) Distinguished from deportation
I. International Human Rights Law
1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights
2. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
3. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
J. International Humanitarian Law and neutrality
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1. Categories of armed conflicts
a) International armed conflicts
b) Internal or non-international armed conflict
c) War of national liberation
2. Core international obligations of states in International Humanitarian Law
3. Principles of International Humanitarian Law
a) Treatment of civilians
b) Prisoners of war
4. Law on neutrality
K. Law of the sea
1. Baselines
2. Archipelagic states
a) Straight archipelagic baselines
b) Archipelagic waters
c) Archipelagic sea lanes passage
3. Internal waters
4. Territorial sea
5. Exclusive economic zone
6. Continental shelf
a) Extended continental shelf
7. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
L. International environment law
1. Principle 21 of the Stockholm Declaration
INCLUDE: Pertinent Supreme Court decisions promulgated up to January 31, 2012.
Important note: This bar coverage description is not intended and should not be used by law
schools as a syllabus or course outline in the covered subjects. It has been drawn up for the
limited purpose of ensuring that candidates reviewing for the bar examinations are guided on
what basic and minimum amounts of laws, doctrines, and principles they need to know and be
able to use correctly before they can be licensed to practice law. More is required for excellent
and distinguished work as members of the Bar.

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SYLLABUS FOR THE 2012 BAR EXAMINATIONS
CRIMINAL LAW
I. Revised Penal Code/special laws, presidential decrees, and executive orders
A. Book 1(Articles 1-99, RPC, excluding provisions on civil liability), including
related special laws)
1. Fundamental principles
a) Definition of Criminal Law
(i) Difference between Mala in Se and Mala Prohibita
b) Scope of application and characteristics of Philippine criminal law
(i) Generality
(ii) Territoriality
(iii) Prospectivity
c) Constitutional limitations on the power of Congress to enact penal laws in the
Bill of Rights
(i) Equal protection
(ii) Due process
(iii)Non-imposition of cruel and unusual punishment or excessive fines
(a) Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines (R.A.
9346)
(iv) Bill of attainder
(v) Ex post facto law
2. Felonies
a) Classifications of felonies
b) Elements of criminal liability
c) Impossible crime
d) Stages of execution
e) Conspiracy and proposal
f) Multiple offenders (differences, rules, effects)
(i) Recidivism
(ii) Habituality (Reiteracion)
(iii) Quasi-Recidivism
(iv) Habitual Delinquency
g) Complex crimes vis special complex crimes
3. Circumstances which affect criminal liability
a) Justifying circumstances
(i) Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (R.A. 9262)
(a) Battered woman syndrome
b) Exempting circumstances
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(i) Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (R.A.9344); also refer to Child and
Youth Welfare Code (P.D. 603, as amended)
(a) Definition of child in conflict with the law
(b) Minimum age of criminal responsibility
(c) Determination of age
(d) Exemption from criminal liability
c) Mitigating circumstances
d) Aggravating circumstances
(i) Generic
(ii) Qualifying
(a) Decree Codifying the Laws on Illegal/Unlawful Possession,
Manufacture, Dealing in, Acquisition or Disposition, of Firearms,
Ammunition or Explosives (P.D. 1866, as amended by R.A. 8294) as an
aggravating circumstance
(b) The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A.9165)
(i) As a qualifying aggravating circumstance
(ii) Immunity from prosecution and punishment, coverage
(iii) Minor offenders
(iv) Application/Non application of RPC provisions (Sec. 98, R.A. No.
9165) provisions (sec. 98) cf. Art. 10, RPC
e) Alternative circumstances
f) Absolutory cause
4. Persons criminally liable/Degree of participation
a) Decree Penalizing Obstruction of Apprehension and Prosecution of Criminal
Offenders (P.D. 1829)
(i) Punishable acts
(ii) Compare with Article 20 (accessories exempt from criminal liability)
5. Penalties
a) General principles
(i) Act Prohibiting the Imposition of Death Penalty in the Philippines (R.A.
9346)
b) Purposes
c) Classification
d) Duration and Effect
e) Application
(i) Indeterminate Sentence Law (R.A. 4103, as amended)
(a) Application on the imposed sentence
(b) Coverage
(c) Conditions of parole
(ii) Three-fold rule
(iii) Subsidiary imprisonment
f) Execution and service
(i) Probation Law (P.D. 968, as amended)
(a) Definition of terms
(b) Purpose
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(c) Grant of probation, manner and conditions
(d) Criteria of placing an offender on probation
(e) Disqualified offenders
(f) Period of probation
(g) Arrest of probationer
(h) Termination of probation; exception
(i) The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. 9165)
(ii) Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (R.A. 9344); also refer
to Child and Youth Welfare Code (P.D. 603, as amended)
(a) Definition of child in conflict with the law
(b) Exemption from criminal liability
(c) Juvenile justice and welfare system
g) Distinguished from preventive imprisonment
6. Modification and extinction of criminal liability
a) Prescription of crimes
b) Prescription of penalties
c) Pardon by offended party
d) Pardon by the Chief Executive
e) Amnesty
B. Book II (Articles 114-365), including related special laws
1. Crimes Against National Security (Articles 114-123); in addition:
a) Anti-Piracy and Anti- Highway Robbery (P.D.532)
(i) Definition of terms
(ii) Punishable acts
b) Anti-Hijacking Law (P.D. 6235)
(i) Punishable acts
c) Human Security Act of 2007(R.A. 9372)
(i) Punishable acts of terrorism
(ii) Who are liable
2. Crimes Against the Fundamental Laws of the State (Articles 124-133); in addition:
a) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. 9372)
(i) Period of detention
b) Anti-Torture Act of 2009 (R.A. 9745)
(i) Punishable acts
(ii) Who are liable
3. Crimes Against Public Order (Articles 134-160); in addition:
a) Decree Codifying the Laws on Illegal / Unlawful Possession, Manufacture,
Dealing in, Acquisition or Disposition of Firearms, Ammunition or Explosives (P.D.
1866, as amended by R.A. 8294) as an element of the crimes of rebellion,
insurrection, sedition, or attempted coup d’etat
b) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. 9372)
(i) Punishable acts of terrorism
Page 4 of 7
(ii) Who are liable
(iii) Absorption principle in relation to complex crimes
4. Crimes Against Public Interest (Articles 161-187); in addition:
a) The New Public Bidding Law (R.A. 9184)
(i) Prohibited acts
b) Anti-Alias Law (C.A. 142)
(i) Punishable acts
(ii) Exception
5. Crimes Relative to Opium and Other Prohibited Drugs
a) The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (R.A. 9165)
(i) Punishable acts
(ii) Who are liable
(iii) Attempt or conspiracy, effect on liability
(iv) Immunity from prosecution and punishment
6. Crimes Against Public Morals (Articles 200-202)
7. Crimes Committed by Public Officers (Articles 203-245); in addition:
a) Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act (R.A. 3019, as amended)
(i) Coverage
(ii) Punishable acts
(iii) Exceptions
b) Anti-Plunder Act (R.A. 7080, as amended)
(i) Definition of terms
(ii) Ill-gotten wealth
(iii) Plunder
(iv) Series/Combination
(v) Pattern
c) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. 9372)
(i) Failure to deliver suspect to proper judicial authority
(ii) Infidelity in the custody of detained persons
(iii) False prosecution
8. Crimes Against Persons (Articles 246-266); in addition:
a) Anti-Violence against Women and their Children Act of 2004 (R.A. 9262)
(i) Punishable acts
b) Anti-Child Pornography Act of 2009 (R.A. 9775)
(i) Definition of terms
(ii) Unlawful or punishable acts
c) Anti-Hazing Law (R.A. 8049)
(i) Hazing
(a) Definition
(b) Allowed initiation rites
(ii) Who are liable
(iii) Punishable acts
Page 5 of 7
d) Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act (R.A. 7610, as amended)
(i) Coverage
(ii) Child prostitution, punishable acts
(iii) Child trafficking, punishable acts
e) Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act of 2006 (R.A. 9344); also refer to Child and
Youth Welfare Code (P.D. 603, as amended)
(i) Punishable acts
f) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. 9372)
(i) Punishable acts of terrorism
(ii) Who are liable
9. Crimes Against Personal Liberty and Security (Articles 267-292); in addition:
a) Anti-Wire Tapping Act (R.A. 4200)
(i) Punishable acts
(ii) Exceptions
b) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. 9372
(i) Surveillance of suspects and interception and recording of communications
(ii) Restriction on travel
(iii) Examination of bank deposits and documents
(a) Judicial Authorization
(b) Application
(iv) Unauthorized revelation of classified materials
c) Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (R.A. 9208)
(i) Punishable acts
10. Crimes Against Property (Articles 293-332); in addition:
a) Anti-Fencing Law (P.D. 1612) and its implementing rules and regulations
(i) Fencing
(a) Definition
(b) Presumption of fencing
(ii) Exception
(a) With clearance or permit to sell
b) Bouncing Checks Law (B.P. Blg. 22) plus Administrative Circular No. 12-2000
Re: Penalty for Violation of B.P. 22 and Administrative Circular No. 13-2001 Re:
Clarification of Admin Circular No. 12-2000
(i) Punishable acts
(ii) Evidence of knowledge of insufficient funds
(iii) Preference of imposition of fine
c) Anti-Carnapping Act of 1972 (R.A. 6539)
(i) Definition of terms
(ii) Registration
(iii) Who are liable
(a) Duty of collector of customs
(b) Duty of importers, distributors and sellers
(c) Clearance and permit
(iv) Punishable acts
Page 6 of 7
d) Human Security Act of 2007 (R.A. 9372)
(i) Punishable acts of terrorism
e) Anti-Arson Law (P.D.1613)
(i) Punishable acts
11. Crimes Against Chastity (Articles 333-334, 336-346); in addition:
a) Anti-Photo and Video Voyeurism Act of 2009 (R.A. 9995)
(i) Punishable acts
b) Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act (R.A. 7610, as amended)
(i) Child prostitution and other acts of abuse
(a) Punishable acts
(b) Compare prosecution for Acts of Lasciviousness under Art. 366, RPC
and R.A. 7610, as amended
(ii) Obscene publications and indecent shows
(a) Punishable acts
c) Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (R.A. 9208)
(i) Punishable acts
d) Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004 (R.A. 9262)
(i) Punishable acts
e) Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (R.A. 7877)
(i) Punishable acts
12. Crimes Against Civil Status (Articles 347-352)
13. Crimes Against Honor (Articles 353-364); in addition:
a) Administrative Circular 08-2008 Re: Guidelines in the Observance of a
Rule of Preference in the Imposition of Penalties in Libel Cases
(i) Preference of imposition of fine
14. Criminal Negligence (Article 365)
II. Jurisprudence— Pertinent Supreme Court decisions promulgated up to January
31, 2012.
III. Excluded Topics
A. All special penal laws and Supreme Court Decisions not pertinent to the above outlined
topics are excluded.
B. Penalties of specific crimes.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This bar coverage description is not intended and should not be used by
law schools as a syllabus or course outline in the covered subjects. It has been drawn up for
Page 7 of 7
the limited purpose of ensuring that candidates reviewing for the bar examinations are guided
on what basic and minimum amounts of laws, doctrines, and principles they need to know and
be able to use correctly before they can be licensed to practice law. More is required for
excellent and distinguished work as members of the Bar.

1
SYLLABUS FOR THE 2012 BAR EXAMINATIONS
CIVIL LAW
I. Effect and Application of Laws
A. When law takes effect (Civil Code, Art. 2)
B. Ignorance of the law (Civil Code, Art. 3)
C. Retroactivity of laws (Civil Code, Art. 4)
D. Mandatory or prohibitory laws (Civil Code, Art. 5)
E. Waiver of rights (Civil Code, Art. 6)
F. Repeal of laws (Civil Code, Art. 7)
G. Judicial decisions (Civil Code, Art. 8)
H. Duty to render judgment (Civil Code, Art. 9)
I. Presumption and applicability of custom (Civil Code, Arts. 10-12)
J. Legal periods (Civil Code, Art. 13, as amended by Book I, Sec. 31 of the
Administrative Code of 1987 (EO 292))
K. Applicability of penal laws (Civil Code, Art. 14)
L. Conflict of laws (Civil Code, Arts. 15-18)
II. Human Relations (Civil Code, Arts. 19-22)
Exclude: Independent Civil Actions and prejudicial questions which will be covered by
the examinations in Remedial Law
PERSONS
I. Persons and Personality (Civil Code)
A. Capacity to act
1. Civil personality (Art. 37)
2. Restrictions on capacity to act (Arts. 38-39)
3. Birth (Arts. 40-41)
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4. Death (Arts. 42-43)
a) Compare Art. 43 with Rule 131, Sec. 3 (jj) presumption of survivorship
5. Juridical Persons, Civil Code, Arts. 44-46
B. Domicile and residence (Arts. 50-51)
II. Marriage (Family Code)
Exclude: Muslim Code (P.D. 1083)
A. Nature of marriage
B. Requisites
1. Kinds of requisites (Family Code, Arts. 2-3)
3. Effect of absence of requisites (Art. 4)
4. Essential requisites (Art. 5)
a) Age
b) Consent
5. Formal (Arts. 7, 31, 32)
6. Ceremony (Art. 6)
7. Solemnizing authority (Art. 7-8, 10)
a) Exceptions (Art. 35 (2))
8. License required (Arts. 3 (2), 9, 11, 20, 26)
a) Foreign national (Art. 21)
b) Exceptions (Arts. 27, 31-32, 34)
9. Marriage certificate (Art. 22)
Exclude: Duties of a Civil Registrar under Arts. 12-19, 23-25
B. Effect of marriage celebrated abroad and foreign divorce (Art. 26)
C. Void and voidable marriages
1. Void marriages (Arts. 5, 35, 36-38, 52-53)
a) Absence of requisites (Art. 35)
b) Psychological incapacity (Art. 36)
c) Incestuous marriages (Arts. 37-38)
2. Prescription (Art. 39)
3. Subsequent marriage (Arts. 40-44)
4. Annullable marriage (Arts. 14, 45-46)
5. Voidable marriages (Art. 45-47)
6. Presence of prosecutor (Art. 48)
7. Pendency of action (Art. 49)
8. Effects of nullity (Arts. 50-54)
Exclude: A.M. No. 02-11-10-SC, Rule on Declaration of Absolute Nullity of Void
Marriages and Annulment of Voidable Marriages; R.A. 6955, entitled “An Act to
3
Declare Unlawful the Practice of Matching Filipino Women for Marriage to Foreign
Nationals on a Mail Order Basis and Other Similar Practices…”; R.A. 9208 or the
Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003
III. Legal Separation
A. Grounds (Art. 55 and R.A. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their
Children Act of 2004)
B. Defenses (Arts. 56-57)
C. Cooling-off period (Art. 58)
D. Reconciliation efforts (Art. 59)
E. Confession of judgment (Art. 60)
F. Effects of filing petition (Art. 61)
G. Effects of pendency (Art. 62)
H. Effects of legal separation (Arts. 63-64)
1. Reconciliation (Arts. 65-67)
Exclude: A.M. No. 02-11-11-SC or the Rule on Legal Separation
IV. Rights and Obligations Between Husband and Wife
A. Essential obligations (Art. 68)
B. Family domicile (Art. 69)
C. Support (Art. 70)
D. Management of household (Art. 71)
E. Effect of neglect of duty (Art. 72)
F. Exercise of profession (Art. 73)
Exclude: R.A. 7192 or the Women in Development and Nation Building Act; R.A. 8187,
or the Paternity Leave Act of 1996; R.A. 9710 or The Magna Carta of Women.
V. Property Relations of the Spouses
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A. Marriage settlements (Arts. 76-81)
B. Donations by reason of marriage (Arts. 82-83, 86, 43(3), 50)
C. Void donations by the spouses (Art. 87)
D. Absolute Community of Property
1. General provisions (Arts. 75-85, 88-90)
2. What constitutes community property (Arts. 91-93)
3. Charges upon and obligations of the community property (Arts. 94-95)
4. Ownership, administration, enjoyment and disposition of the community
property (Arts. 96-98)
5. Dissolution of community regime (Arts. 99-101)
6. Liquidation of the absolute community assets and liabilities (Arts. 102-104)
E. Conjugal Partnership of Gains
1. General provisions (Arts. 105-108)
2. Exclusive property of each spouse (Arts. 109-115)
3. Conjugal partnership property (Arts. 116-120)
4. Charges upon and obligations of the Conjugal Partnership of Gains (Arts. 121-
123)
5. Administration of the Conjugal Partnership of Gains (Arts. 124-125)
6. Dissolution of the regime of Conjugal Partnership of Gains (Arts. 126-128)
7. Liquidation of the conjugal partnership assets and liabilities (Arts. 129-133)
F. Separation of property of the spouses and administration of common property by one
spouse during the marriage (Arts. 134-142)
G. Regime of separation of property (Arts. 143-146)
H. Property regime of unions without marriage (Arts. 147-148)
VI. The Family
A. The family as an institution (Arts. 149-151)
B. The family home (Arts. 152-165)
Exclude: Arts. 157, 161 and 162
VII. Paternity and Filiation
A. Legitimate children (Arts. 163-171)
B. Proof of filiation (Arts. 172-174)
5
C. Illegitimate children (Art. 175 and Art. 176 as amended by R.A. 9255 allowing
illegitimate children to use the surname of their father)
D. Legitimated children (Arts. 177-182)
Exclude: A.M. No. 06-11-5-SC or the Rule on DNA Evidence
VIII. Adoption
A. Domestic Adoption Act of 1998 (R.A. 8552)
1. Who can adopt
2. Who can be adopted
3. Rights of an adopted child (include Family Code, Arts. 189 and 190 on
successional rights)
4. Rescission of adoption
Exclude:
1. Rule on Adoption (A.M. No. 02-6-02-SC )
2. R.A. 9523, entitled “An Act Requiring Certification of the Department of Social
Welfare and Development (DSWD) to Declare a “Child Legally Available for
Adoption” as a Prerequisite for Adoption Proceedings….”
B. Inter-Country Adoption Act of 1995 (R.A. 8043)
1. Who can adopt
2. Who can be adopted
Exclude: Arts. 183-188, 191-193 of the Family Code
IX. Support
A. What it comprises (Art. 194)
B. Who are obliged (Arts. 195-197, 199-200, 206-208)
C. Support during marriage litigation (Art. 198)
D. Amount (Arts. 201-202)
E. When demandable (Art. 203)
F. Options (Art. 204)
G. Attachment (Art. 205)
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X. Parental Authority
A. General provisions (Arts. 209-215)
B. Substitute and special parental authority (Arts. 216-219)
C. Effect of parental authority upon the persons of the children (Arts. 220-224)
Exclude:
1. Rule on Guardianship of Minors (A.M. No. 03-02-05-SC)
2. Rules on Custody of Minors and Writ of Habeas Corpus in Relation to
Custody of Minors (A.M. No. 03-04-04-SC)
3. Solo Parents' Welfare Act of 2000 (R.A. 8972)
4. The Early Childhood Care and Development Act (R.A. 8980)
D. Effects of parental authority upon the property of the children (Arts. 225-227)
Exclude: R.A. 9231, entitled “An Act Providing for the Elimination of the Worst
Forms of Child Labor and Affording Stronger Protection for the Working Child…”
which will be covered under Labor Law
E. Suspension or termination of parental authority (Arts. 228-233)
1. Child Abuse Law (R.A. 7610)
XI. Emancipation (Arts. 234 and 236, as amended by R.A. 6809 which lowered the
age of majority)
XII. Summary Judicial Proceedings in Family Law Cases
XIII. Retroactivity of the Family Code (Art. 256)
Exclude: Arts. 254-255, 257 of the Family Code
XIV. Funerals (Civil Code, Arts. 305-310)
Exclude: Care and Education of Children (Arts. 356-363, Civil Code)
XV. Use of Surnames
Arts. 364-369, 369-380 (other articles repealed by Family Code)
XVI. Absence (Civil Code, Art. 43; Art. 41 Family Code)
7
A. Provisional measures in case of absence (Arts. 381-383)
B. Declaration of absence (Arts. 384-386)
C. Administration of the property of the absentee (Arts. 387- 389)
D. Presumption of death (Arts. 390-392)
Exclude: Arts. 393-396 on contingent assets
XVII. Civil Registrar
A. Arts. 407-413
B. Correction of Clerical Errors (R.A. 9048, entitled “An Act Authorizing the City or
Municipal Civil Registrar or the Consul General to Correct a Clerical or Typographical
Error in an Entry and/or Change of First Name or Nickname in the Civil Register Without
Need of a Judicial Order….”)
C. Rule 108, Rules of Court
Exclude: Act No. 375 and the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 9048
PROPERTY
I. Characteristics
II. Classification (Arts. 415-418)
A. Hidden treasure (Arts. 438-439)
B. Right of accession (Art. 440)
1. Fruits (Arts. 441-444)
2. With respect to immovable property
a) Builder, planter, sower on land of another in the concept of owner
(i) Builder, planter, sower in good faith (Arts. 448-456)
(ii) Builder, planter, sower in bad faith (Arts. 449-450)
b) Usufructuary (Art. 579)
3. Lands adjoining river banks
a) Alluvion (Art. 457)
b) Change of course of river (Arts. 461-462 and P.D. 1067 or the Water
Code)
8
c) Avulsion (Arts. 459-463)
4. Islands (Arts. 464-465)
C. By object
1. Real or immovable
2. Personal or movable
D. By owner
1. Of public dominion
2. Of private ownership
a) Patrimonial property
(i) Distinction between private property of individual persons and
of state entities
E. By nature
1. Consumable/non-consumable vs. Fungible/non-fungible
III. Ownership
A. Right in general
1. Bundle of rights
a) Jus utendi, fruendi, abutendi, vindicandi, disponendi (possidendi)
(i) Actions to recover ownership and possession of real property
(a) Distinctions between accion reivindicatoria, accion
publiciana, accion interdictal
(b) Distinction between forcible entry and unlawful
detainer
(ii) Actions for recovery of possession of movable property
(iii) Requisites for recovery of property
(a) Proof of right
(b) Identity
(c) Reliance on strength of own evidence, not weakness of
defendant’s claim
2. Distinction between real and personal rights
B. Modes of acquiring ownership
1. Original
2. Derivative
C. Limitations
1. General limitations: taxation, eminent domain, police power
2. Specific limitations: those imposed by law (sic utere tuo, nuisance, state of
necessity), easements voluntarily imposed by owner (servitudes, mortgages
imposed by contract)
9
IV. Accession
A. Right to hidden treasure
B. General rules
1. For immovables:
a) Accession discreta (natural, industrial, civil fruits) and continua
(over immovables: artificial/industrial and natural)
b) Accession industrial (building, planting, sowing in good faith or bad
faith)
c) Accession natural (accretion, avulsion, rivers, islands)
2. For movables:
a) Accession continua (conjunction, adjunction, commixtion/ confusion,
specification)
b) Rules for determining the principal and accessory
V. Quieting of Title to or Interest in and Removal or Prevention of Cloud over Title to
or Interest in Real Property (Arts. 476-481)
A. Requirement
B. Distinction between quieting of title and removing/preventing a cloud
C. Prescription/non-prescription of action
VI. Co-ownership
A. Characteristics of co-ownership
1. In general
2. Special rules
a) Concept of condominium
(i) Condominium corporation
(ii) Interest in real property
(iii) Concept of common areas, amendment
(iv) Documents to consider (master deed, declaration of
restrictions, articles and by-laws of the condominium corporation
or the association, where applicable)
b) Rights and obligations of condominium owners
(i) Contributions/dues
(ii) P.D. 957, The Subdivision and Condominium Buyers'
Protective Decreeand R.A. 6552, Realty Installment Buyer Act
c) Grounds for partition of common areas, or dissolution of the
condominium
B. Source of co-ownership
10
C. Rights of co-owners
1. Distinction between right to property owned in common and full ownership
over his/her ideal share
2. Right to oppose acts of alteration
3. Right to partition
4. Right to contributions for expenses (necessary expenses, taxes)
5. Waiver
6. Right to redemption of co-owners share
D. Termination/extinguishment
1. Effect of partition
2. Rights against individual co-owners in case of partition
3. Partition in case co-owners cannot agree
VII. Possession
A. Characteristics
B. How acquired (Art. 531)
C. Effects of possession
1. Possessor in good faith (Arts. 544, 526-527)
a) Right to pending fruits (Art. 545)
b) Right to be reimbursed
(i) Necessary and useful expenses (Arts. 546-547)
(ii) Expenses for pure luxury (Art. 548)
2. Possessor in bad faith (Arts. 449, 549, 552)
D. Loss or unlawful deprivation of a movable (Arts. 559, 1505(3))
1. Period to recover (Arts. 1140, 1134, 1132, 1133)
2. Finder of lost movable (Arts. 719-720)
3. Distinguished from voidable title (Art. 1506)
E. In concept of owner, holder, in one’s own name, in name of another
F. Rights of the possessor
G. Loss/termination
VIII. Usufruct
A. Characteristics
B. Classification
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C. Rights and obligations of usufructuary
D. Rights of the owner
E. Extinction/termination
IX. Easements (Arts. 613, 615-616)
A. Characteristics
B. Classification
1. Legal easements
a) Right of way
2. Voluntary easements (Art. 688)
a) Effect of zoning ordinance
C. Modes of acquiring easements
1. Compulsory easements (Arts. 620-624)
2. Easement of light and view (Arts. 669-673)
D. Rights and obligations of dominant and subservient estate
E. How terminated
X. Nuisance (Arts. 694-707)
A. Definition
B. Classification
C. Remedies
XI. Modes of Acquiring Ownership (Art. 712)
A. Occupation (Art. 713)
B. Donation
1. Definition (Arts. 725-726, 746)
2. Characteristics
a) Extent to which donor may donate property
b) Reservations and reversions
12
3. Kinds
a) Donation inter vivos (Art. 729)
b) Donation by reason of marriage (Family Code, Arts. 82-83, 86)
c) Donation mortis causa (Art. 728)
d) Onerous donation (Art. 733)
e) Simple, modal, conditional
4. Formalities required
a) How made and accepted
b) Perfection
c) Differences between formalities for donation of real, personal
properties
(i) Movables (Art. 748)
(ii) Immovables (Art. 749)
5. Qualifications of donor, donee
6. Effects of donation/limitations
a) In general
b) Double donations
c) Excessive/inofficious
d) Scope of amount (Arts. 750-752)
e) In fraud of creditors (Art. 759)
7. Void donations (Arts. 739-740, 1027)
8. Revocation or reduction
a) Grounds for revocation, grounds for reduction
b) How done
c) Effects
c) Prescription
e) Inofficious donations (Arts. 760-761, 771-773)
f) Ingratitude (Arts. 765, 769)
Exclude: Intellectual creations
PRESCRIPTION
I. Definition (Art. 1106)
A. Acquisitive (Art. 1117)
1. Characteristics
2. Ordinary
a) Good faith (Art. 1127)
b) Just title (Arts. 1129-1130)
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3. Extraordinary (Arts. 1137 and 1132, second par.)
4. Requisites (Arts. 1118-1125)
5. Period (Arts. 1132, 1134, 1138)
6. What cannot be required by acquisitive prescription
B. Extinctive
1. Characteristics
2. Requisites
3. Periods
II. No Prescription Applicable
A. By offender (Art. 1133)
B. Registered lands (P.D. 1529)
C. Art. 1143, Civil Code
1. Action legal to demand a right of way (Art. 649)
2. To abate a nuisance
D. Action to quiet title if plaintiff is in possession
E. Void contracts (Art. 1410)
F. Action to demand partition (Art. 494)
1. Distinguished from laches
G. Property of public dominion
III. Prescription or limitation of actions
A. To recover movables (Art. 1140)
B. To recover immovables (Art. 1141)
C. Other actions (Arts. 1142-1149)
IV. Interruption (Art. 1155)
OBLIGATIONS
I. Definition
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II. Elements of an Obligation
III. Different Kinds of Prestations
IV. Classification of Obligations
V. Sources of obligations (Arts. 1156-1157)
A. A single act or omission can give rise to different causes of action
B. Natural obligations
C. Extra-contractual obligations
VI. Nature and Effect of Obligations
A. Obligation to give
1. A determinate or specific thing
2. An indeterminate or generic thing
B. Obligation to do or not to do
C. Breaches of obligations
1. Complete failure to perform
2. Default, delay or mora – no default unless creditors makes a demand;
exceptions (Art. 1169)
a) Mora solvendi
b) Mora accipiendi
c) Compesatio morae
3. Fraud in the performance of obligation
a) Waiver of future fraud is void (Art. 1171)
4. Negligence (culpa) in the performance of obligation
a) Diligence normally required is ordinary diligence or diligence of a good
father of a family
b) Exception: common carriers which are required to exercise
extraordinary diligence
5. Contravention of the tenor of obligation
6. Legal excuse for breach of obligation: fortuitous event; requisites
D. Remedies available to creditor in cases of breach
1. Specific performance
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a) Substituted performance by a third person on obligation to deliver
generic thing and in obligation to do, unless a purely personal act
2. Rescission (resolution in reciprocal obligations)
3. Damages, in any event
4. Subsidiary remedies of creditors (Art. 1177)
a) Accion subrogatoria
a) Accion pauliana
c) Accion directa (Arts. 1652, 1608, 1729, 1893)
VII. Kinds of Civil Obligations
A. Pure (Arts. 1179-1180)
B. Conditional (Art. 1181)
1. Suspensive condition
2. Resolutory condition
3. Potestative: casual or mixed
a) Obligations subject to potestative suspensive conditions are void (Art.
1182)
4. Effect of the happening of suspensive condition or resolutory condition (Art.
1187)
a) Extent of retroactivity
5. Effect of improvement, loss or deterioration of specific thing before the
happening of a suspensive condition in obligation to do or not to do (Art. 1189)
6. Effect when a resolutory condition in obligation to do or not to do happens
and there is improvement, loss or deterioration of the specific thing (Art. 1190,
par. 3)
C. Obligation with a period or a term (Art. 1193)
1. Presumption that period is for the benefit of both debtor and creditor (Art.
1196)
2. Effect if suspensive period is for the benefit of both debtor and creditor
3. Effect if given to debtor alone
a) Instances when debtor losses benefit of period (Art. 1198)
2. Resolutory period
3. Definite or indefinite period
a) Instances when courts may fix the period (Art. 1197)
b) Creditor must ask court to set the period before he can demand
payment
D. Alternative or facultative (Art. 1199)
1. Difference between alternative and facultative obligations
2. Effect of loss of specific things or impossibility of performance of alternative,
through fault of debtor/creditor or through fortuitous events
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VIII. Joint and Solidary Obligation
A. Joint (divisible) obligation
1. Concurrence of two or more creditors and or two or more debtors
a) Joint obligation is presumed, unless otherwise indicated by the law or
nature of obligation (Art. 1207)
b) Obligation presumed to be divided into as many equal shares as there
are creditors or debtors
c) Each credit is distinct from one another, therefore a joint debtor
cannot be required to pay for the share of another with debtor, although
he may pay if he wants to (Art. 1209)
d) Insolvency of a joint debtor, others not liable for his share (Art. 1209)
B. Joint indivisible obligation
1. Obligation cannot be performed in parts but debtors are bound jointly
2. In case of failure of one joint debtor to perform his part (share), there is
default but only the guilty debtor shall be liable for damages
C. Solidary obligation
1. Mutual agency among solidary debtors (Arts. 1214, 1215)
2. Mutual guaranty among solidary debtors (Arts. 1216, 1217, 1222)
3. Each one of solidary creditors may do whatever may be useful to the others,
but not anything prejudicial to them (Art. 1212);
a) Effect of any novation, compensation, confusion or remission of debt
executed by a solidary creditor
D. Divisible and indivisible (Art. 1225)
E. Obligations with a penal clause (Arts. 1226, 1228-1230)
IX. Extinguishment of Obligations
A. Payment (Arts. 1236-1238)
1. Dation in payment (Art. 1245)
2. Form of payment (Art. 1249)
3. Extraordinary inflation or deflation (Art. 1250)
4. Application of payment (Art. 1252-1254)
5. Tender of payment and consignation (Arts. 1256-1261)
B. Loss of determinate thing due or impossibility or difficulty of performance (Arts.
1262, 1266-1267)
C. Condonation or remission of debt (Art. 1270)
1. Express condonations and required formality thereof (Art. 1270)
2. Implied (Arts. 1271, 1272, 1274)
17
D. Confusion or Merger of Rights (Arts. 1275, 1272)
E. Compensation
1. Kinds (Arts. 1278, 1279)
a) Legal compensation (Arts. 1286-1290)
b) Agreement (Art. 1282)
c) Voluntary (Art. 1282)
d) Judicial (Art. 1283)
e) Facultative
2. Obligations not compensable (Art. 1287-1288)
F. Novation (Arts. 1291-1304)
CONTRACTS
I. Essential Requisites (Art. 1261)
II. Kinds of Contracts
A. Consensual
B. Real
C. Formal or solemn
1. Donations (Arts. 748-749)
2. Partnership where real property contributed (Arts. 1771, 1773)
3. Antichresis (Art. 2134)
4. Agency to sell real property or an interest therein (Art. 1874)
5. Stipulation to charge interest (Art. 1956)
6. Stipulation limiting common carrier’s duty of extraordinary diligence to
ordinary diligence (Art. 1744)
7. Chattel mortgage
8. Sale of large cattle
III. Formality (Arts. 1356, 1357, 1358)
IV. Defective Contracts
A. Rescissible contracts (Art. 1381)
1. Difference with rescission (resolution) under Art. 1191
B. Voidable contracts (Arts. 1328-1344, 1390-1402)
18
C. Unenforceable contracts (Arts. 1403-1408, 1317)
D. Void contracts (Arts. 1409, 1346)
1. Pactum commissorium (Arts. 2088, 2130, 1390)
2. Pactum de non alienando (Art. 2130)
3. Pactum leonina (Art. 1799)
V. Effect of contracts (Art. 1311)
SALES
I. Introduction
A. Definition of sales (Arts. 1458, 1470)
B. Essential requisites of a contract of sale (Art. 1505)
C. Stages of contract of sale
D. Obligations created (Art. 1165)
E. Characteristics of a contract of sale
F. Sale is title and not mode
G. Sale distinguished from other contracts
H. Contract of sale/contract to sell
II. Parties to a Contract of Sale
A. Capacity of parties (Arts. 1489-1492)
B. Absolute incapacity (Arts. 1327, 1397, 1399)
C. Relative incapacity: married persons
D. Special disqualifications (Arts. 1491-1492)
III. Subject Matter
A. Requisites of a valid subject matter (Arts. 1459-1465)
19
B. Particular kinds
IV. Obligations of the Seller to Transfer Ownership
A. Sale by a person not the owner at time of delivery (Arts. 1462, 1505, 1459)
1. Exceptions
B. Sale by a person having a voidable title (Arts. 1506, 559)
V. Price
A. Meaning of price (Arts. 1469-1474)
B. Requisites for a valid price
C. How price is determined
D. Inadequacy of price (Arts. 1355, 1470)
E. When no price agreed (Art. 1474)
F. Manner of payment must be agreed upon
G. Earnest money vs. Option money (Art.1482)
VI. Formation of Contract of Sale
A. Preparatory (Art. 1479)
1. Offer (Art. 1475)
2. Option contract (Arts. 1479, 1324)
3. Right of first refusal
4. Mutual promise to buy and sell (Art. 1479)
B. Perfection (Arts. 1475, 1319, 1325, 1326)
C. Formalities of the contract, Art. 1403 (d) (e)
VII. Transfer of Ownership
A. Manner of transfer (Arts. 1477, 1496-1501)
B. When delivery does not transfer title
20
C. Kinds of delivery
D. Double sales (Art. 1544)
E. Property Registration Decree
1. Requisites for registration of deed of sale in good faith
2. Accompanied by vendor’s duplicate certificate of title, payment of capital gains
tax, and documentary tax registration fees
VIII. Risk of Loss
A. General rule (Arts. 1263, 1189)
B. When loss occurred before perfection
C. When loss occurred at time of perfection (Arts. 1493 and 1494)
D. When loss occurred after perfection but before delivery
E. When ownership is transferred (Art. 1504)
IX. Documents of Title
A. Definition (Art. 1636)
B. Purpose of documents of title
C. Negotiable documents of title
D. Non-negotiable documents of title
E. Warranties of seller of documents of title (Art. 1516)
F. Rules on levy/garnishment of goods (Arts. 1514, 1519, 1520)
X. Remedies of an Unpaid Seller
A. Definition of unpaid seller (Art. 1525)
B. Remedies of unpaid seller
XI. Performance of Contract
21
A. Delivery of thing sold
1. Sale of movables (Arts. 1522, 1537, 1480)
2. Sale of immovables (Arts. 1539, 1543)
3. Inspections and acceptance
B. Payment of price
XII. Warranties
A. Express warranties
B. Implied warranties (Art. 1547)
C. Effects of warranties
D. Effects of waivers
E. Buyer’s options in case of breach of warranty (Art. 1599)
XIII. Breach of Contract
A. Remedies of the seller (Arts. 1636, 1594)
1. Sale of movables
B. Recto Law: sale of movables on installment (Arts. 1484-1486)
C. Sale of immovables
1. P.D. 957, Secs. 23, 24
2. Sale of immovables on installment (Maceda Law)
D. Remedies of the buyer
1. Sale of movable
2. Sale of immovables
XIV. Extinguishment of the Sale
A. Causes (Arts. 1600, 1231)
B. Conventional redemption (Art. 1601)
C. Equitable mortgage (Arts. 1602-1604)
D. Distinguished from option to buy (Art. 1602)
E. Period of redemption (Art. 1606)
22
F. Exercise of the right to redeem (Art. 1616)
G. Legal redemption (Art. 1619)
H. Age redemption (Art. 1619)
XV. The Subdivision and Condominium Buyers' Protective Decree (P.D. 957)
XVI. The Condominium Act (R.A. 4726)
Exclude: Electronic Commerce Act of 2000 (R.A. 8792); Public Land Law, Retail Trade and
Liberalization Act, Bulk Sales Law (Act No. 3952)
SUCCESSION
I. General Provisions (Arts. 774-780)
A. Definition/what is transmitted (Arts. 774, 776, 781)
B. When succession occurs (Art. 777)
C. Kinds of successors: heirs, devisees, legatees (Art. 782)
II. Testamentary Succession
A. Wills
1. In general
a) Definition and characteristics (Arts. 783-787)
(i) Act of making a will a strictly personal act (Arts. 784-785, 787)
(a) Exception (Art. 786)
(ii) Rules of construction and interpretation (Arts. 788-794)
(iii) Law governing formal validity (Art. 795)
2. Testamentary capacity and intent (Arts. 796-803)
a) Age requirement (Art. 797)
b) Soundness of mind (Arts. 798-801)
(i) When testator is deemed to be of sound mind
(ii) Presumptions
(iii) Supervening incapacity
23
3. Form
a) Rules governing the formal validity of wills (Arts. 17, 815-817, 819)
(i) See law governing substantive validity (Arts.15, 16, 1039)
b) Common requirements (Art. 804)
(i) In writing
(ii) Language/dialect requirement
c) Notarial wills
(i) Arts. 805-806
(ii) Special rules for handicapped testators (Arts. 807-808)
(iii) Substantial compliance (Art. 809)
(iv) Witnesses to wills(Arts. 820-824)
d) Holographic wills
(i) Requirements (Arts. 810-814)
(a) Requirements in case of alterations (Art. 814)
(ii) Witnesses required for probate (Art. 811)
e) Joint wills (Arts. 818-819)
4. Codicils (Arts. 825-826)
a) Definition and formal requirements
5. Incorporate by reference (Art. 827)
6. Revocation (Arts. 828-834)
a) Kinds (Art. 830)
7. Allowance and disallowance of wills (Arts. 838-839)
a) Probate requirement (Art. 838)
(i) Issues to be resolved in probate proceedings (Art. 839)
(a) Exceptions: when practical considerations demand the
intrinsic validity of the will be resolved
(ii) Effect of final decree of probate, res judicata on formal
validity
b) Grounds for denying probate (Art. 839)
B. Institution of heirs (Arts. 840-856)
1. Preterition (Art. 854)
a) Definition
b) Requisites
c) Effects
(i) Effects of preterition, devisees only entitled to completion of
legitime
2. Concept – Art. 854
3. Compulsory heirs in the direct line
4. Preterition vs. Disposition less than legitime/donation inter vivos – Arts. 855,
906-918
24
C. Substitution of heirs (Arts. 857-870)
1. Definition (Art. 857)
2. Kinds (Arts. 858-860)
3. Simple substitution (Art. 859)
4. Fideicommissary substitution (Arts. 863-866, 869)
D. Conditional testamentary dispositions and testamentary dispositions with a term
(Arts. 871-885)
E. Legitime (Arts. 886-914)
1. Definition (Art. 886)
2. Compulsory heirs and various combinations (Arts. 887-903)
3. Reserva troncal (Art. 891)
4. Disinheritance
a) Disinheritance for cause (Art. 919)
(i) Reconciliation (Art. 922)
(ii) Rights of descendants of person disinherited (Art. 923)
b) Disinheritance without cause (Art. 918)
5. Legacies and devisees (Arts. 924-959)
III. Legal or Intestate Succession (Arts. 960-1014)
A. General provisions (Arts. 960-969)
1. Relationship (Arts. 963-969)
2. Right of representation (Arts. 970-977)
B. Order of intestate succession (Arts. 978-1014, 992)
IV. Provisions Common to Testate and Intestate Succession (Arts. 1015-1105)
A. Right of accretion (Arts. 1015-1023)
1. Definition and requisites (Arts. 1015-1016)
B. Capacity to succeed by will or intestacy (Arts. 1024-1040)
1. Persons incapable of succeeding (Arts. 1027, 739, 1032)
2. Unworthiness vs. Disinheritance
C. Acceptance and repudiation of the inheritance (Arts.1041-1057)
D. Collation (Arts. 908-910, 1061-1062)
E. Partition and distribution of estate (Arts. 1078-1105)
1. Partition (Arts. 1079, 1080)
2. Partition inter vivos
3. Effects of partition (Arts. 1091, 1097, 1100, 1104-1105)
25
Exclude: Executors and administrators (Arts. 1058-1060), which will be covered under
Remedial Law
PARTNERSHIP
I. Contract of Partnership
A. Definition
B. Elements
C. Rules to determine existence
D. How partnership is formed
E. Partnership term
F. Universal vs. Particular; General vs. Limited
G. Partnership by estoppel
H. Partnership v. Joint venture
I. Professional partnership
J. Management (Arts. 1800-1803)
II. Rights and Obligations of Partnership
III. Rights and Obligations of Partners Among Themselves
IV. Obligations of Partnership/Partners to Third Persons
V. Dissolution (Art. 1830)
VI. Limited Partnership
A. Definition
26
B. How limited partnership is formed/amended
C. Rights and obligations of a limited partner
Exclude: Questions requiring application of SEC opinions or regulations
AGENCY
I. Definition of Agency
II. Powers (Arts. 1877-1878)
A. To bind principal (Arts. 1897-1902)
B. Exception (Art. 1883)
III. Express vs. Implied Agency
IV. Agency by Estoppel
V. General vs. Special Agency
VI. Agency Couched in General Terms
VII. Agency Requiring Special Power of Attorney
VIII. Agency by Operation of Law
IX. Rights and Obligations of Principal
X. Irrevocable Agency (Arts. 1927-1930)
XI. Modes of Extinguishment
27
COMPROMISE
I. Definition (Art. 2028)
II. Void Compromise (Art. 2035)
III. Effect (Arts. 2037, 2041)
CREDIT TRANSACTIONS
I. Loan
A. Commodatum vs. Mutuum
B. Obligations of bailor and bailee
C. Interest and the suspension of usury law
II. Deposit
A. Voluntary deposit
B. Necessary deposit
C. Judicial deposit
III. Guaranty and Suretyship
A. Nature and extent of guaranty
B. Effects of guaranty
C. Extinguishment of guaranty
D. Legal and judicial bonds
IV. Pledge
28
A. Definition
B. Kinds
C. Essential requirements
D. Obligation of pledge
E. Rights of pledgor
F. Perfection (Arts. 2093, 2096)
G. Foreclosure (Arts. 2112, 2115)
H. Pledge by operation of law (Art. 2121-2122)
I. Distinguished from chattel mortgage (Arts. 2140, 1484)
V. Real Mortgage
A. Definition and characteristics
B. Essential requisites
C. Foreclosure
VI. Antichresis
A. Definition and characteristics
B. Obligations of antichretic creditor
VII. Chattel Mortgage
A. Definition and characteristics
B. Registration
VIII. Quasi-contracts
A. Negotiorum gestio
B. Solutio indebiti
29
IX. Concurrence and Preference of Credits
A. Meaning of concurrence and preference
B. Preferred credits on specific movables
C. Exempt property
D. Classification of credits
E. Order of preference of credits
X. Insolvency Law
A. Definition of insolvency
B. Suspension of payments
C. Voluntary insolvency
D. Involuntary insolvency
Exclude: Warehouse Receipts Law, Usury Law
LEASE
I. Lease of Things
II. Lease of Work or Services
III. Lease of Rural and Urban Lands
A. Qualified persons
B. Registration
C. Prohibitions
30
IV. Rights and Obligations of Lessor and Lessee
V. Special Rules for Lease of Rural/Urban Lands
VI. Household Service
VII. Contract of Labor
A. Obligation in case of death/injury of laborers
VIII. Contract for Piece of Work
LAND TITLES AND DEEDS
I. Torrens System
A. Concept and background
B. Certificate of title
II. Regalian Doctrine
A. Concept
B. Effects
C. Concept of native title, time immemorial possession
III. Citizenship Requirement
A. Individuals and corporations
IV. Original Registration
A. Who may apply
1. Under P.D. 1529
31
2. Under C.A. 141
3. Under R.A. 8371
B. Registration process and requirements
C. Remedies
D. Cadastral registration
V. Subsequent Registration
A. Voluntary dealings
B. Involuntary dealings
VI. Non-registrable Properties
VII. Dealings with Unregistered Lands
Exclude:
1. History of land laws
2. Remedies sufficiently covered under Remedial Law
3. Registration of judgments, orders and partitions
4. Assurance fund
5. Registration of patents
6. Administrative structure of the Register of Deeds
7. Consultas.
TORTS AND DAMAGES
Book I--Torts
I. Principles
A. Abuse of right; elements
B. Unjust enrichment
C. Liability without fault
D. Acts contrary to law
32
E. Acts contrary to morals
II. Classification of Torts
A. According to manner of commission: intentional, negligent and strict liability
B. According to scope: general or specific
III. The Tortfeasor
A. The direct tortfeasor
1. Natural persons
2. Juridical persons
B. Persons made responsible for others
1. In general
a) Quasi-delicts under Art. 2180, and the Family Code, Arts.
218-219, 221
(i) Elements; definition
(ii) Distinguished from culpa contractual and culpa criminal
b) Indirect liability for intentional acts
c) Presumption of negligence on persons indirectly responsible
d) Nature of liability; joint or solidary?
2. In particular
a) Parents
b) Guardians
c) Owners and managers of establishments and enterprises
d) Employers
(i) Meaning of employers
(ii) Requisites
(a) Employee chosen by employer or through another
(b) Services rendered in accordance with orders which
employer has authority to give
(c) Illicit act of employee was on the occasion or by reason
of the functions entrusted to him
(d) Presumption of negligence
(iii) Employer need not be engaged in business or industry
(iv) Defense of diligence in selection and supervision
(v) Nature of employer’s liability
e) State
f) Teachers and heads of establishments of arts and trades
C. Joint tortfeasors (Art. 2194, Civil Code)
33
IV. Act of Omission and Its Modalities
A. Concept of act
V. Proximate Cause
A. Concept
1. Definition
2. Test
3. Distinguished from immediate cause
4. Distinguished from intervening cause
5. Distinguished from remote and concurrent
B. Cause in fact
1. Substantial factor test
2. Concurrent causes
C. Legal cause
1. Natural and probable consequences
2. Foreseeability
D. Efficient intervening cause
E. Cause vs. Condition
F. Last clear chance
VI. Legal Injury
A. Concept
B. Elements of right
C. Violation of right or legal injury
D. Classes of injury
1. Injury to persons
2. Injury to property
3. Injury to relations
VII. Intentional Torts
34
A. General
1. Concept
2. Classes
a) Interference with persons and property
(i) Physical harms
(ii) Non-physical harms
b) Interference with relations
B. Interference with rights to persons and property
1. Intentional physical harms
a) General
(i) Concept
(ii) Kinds
b) Violation of persons security, physical injuries (Art. 33, Civil Code)
(i) Battery (physical injury)
(ii) Assault (grave threat)
c) False imprisonment (illegal detention)
d) Trespass to land
(i) Concept
(ii) Elements
e) Interference with personal property
(i) Trespass to chattels
(ii) Conversion
2. Intentional non-physical harms
a) General
(i) Concept
(ii) Kinds
b) Violation of personal dignity
c) Infliction of emotional distress
d) Violation of privacy
(i) Appropriation
(ii) Intrusion
(iii) Public disclosure of private facts
(iv) False light in the public eye
e) Disturbance of peace of mind
f) Malicious prosecution
g) Defamation
(i) Defenses
(a) Absence of elements
(b) Privilege
h) Fraud or misrepresentation (formerly deceit)
i) Seduction
j) Unjust dismissal
C. Interference with relations
1. General
35
a) Concept
b) Kinds
2. Family relations
a) Alienation of affection
b) Loss of consortium
c) Criminal conversation (adultery)
3. Social relations
a) Meddling with or disturbing family relations
b) Intriguing to cause another to be alienated from his friends
4. Economic relations
a) Interference with contractual relations
b) Unfair competition
5. Political relations
a) Violation of right to suffrage (Civil Code, Art. 32)
b) Violation of other political rights (freedom of speech, press, assembly
and petition, etc.)
6. Defenses
a) Absence of element
b) Privilege
(i) Consent
(ii) Self-defense and defense of others
(iii) Necessity (Civil Code, Art. 429)
(iv) Defense of property
(v) Authority of law
c) Prescription
d) Waiver
e) Force majeure
VIII. Negligence
A. Concept
B. Good father of a family or reasonably prudent man
C. Standard of care
1. Civil Code, Art. 1173
2. Emergency rule
D. Unreasonable risk of harm
E. Evidence
36
F. Presumption of negligence
1. Legal provisions
2. Res ipsa loquitur
G. Defenses
1. Complete
a) Absence of element
(i) Due diligence
(ii) Acts of public officers
b) Accident or fortuitous event
c) Damnum absque injuria
d) Authority of law
e) Assumption of risk
f) Last clear chance
g) Prescription (Civil Code, Arts. 1144, 1146, and 1150)
h) Waiver
i) Double recovery (Civil Code, Art. 2177)
IX. Special Liability in Particular Activities
A. General
1. Concept
B. Products liability
1. Manufacturers or processors
a) Elements
b) Consumer Act [R.A. 7394, Secs. 92-107, (Ch. 1)]
C. Nuisance (Civil Code, Arts. 694-707)
1. Nuisance per se and nuisance per accidence
2. Public nuisance and private nuisance
3. Attractive nuisance
D. Violation of constitutional rights
1. Violation of civil liberties
E. Violation of rights committed by public officers
F. Provinces, cities and municipalities
G. Owner of motor vehicle
H. Proprietor of building or structure or thing
I. Head of family
37
X. Strict Liability
A. Animals
1. Possessor and user of an animal
B. Nuisance (supra)
1. Classes
a) Per se or per accidents
b) Public or private
2. Easement against nuisance
C. Products liability (supra)
1. Consumer act
Book II--Damages
I. General Considerations
A. Classification
1. Under Art. 2197 of the Civil Code
2. According to purpose
3. According to manner of determination
4. Special and ordinary
II. Actual and Compensatory Damages
A. Concept
B. Requisites
1. Alleged and proved with certainty
2. Not speculative
C. Component elements
1. Value of loss; unrealized profit
2. Attorney’s fees and expenses of litigation
3. Interest
D. Extent or scope of actual damages
1. In contracts and quasi-contracts
2. In crimes and quasi-delicts
III. Moral Damages
38
A. Concept (Arts. 2217-2218)
B. When recoverable (Arts. 2219-2220)
1. In seduction, abduction, rape and other lascivious acts
2. In acts referred to in Arts. 21, 26, 27, 28, 29, 32, 34 & 35, Civil Code,
3. In cases of malicious prosecution
IV. Nominal Damages
A. Concept
B. When awarded
V. Temperate or Moderate Damages
A. Concept
B. When awarded
VI. Liquidated Damages
A. Concept (Civil Code, Art. 2226)
B. Rules governing in case of breach of contract
VII. Exemplary or Corrective Damages
A. Concept (Civil Code, Art. 2229)
B. When recovered
1. In criminal offenses (Civil Code, Art. 2230)
2. In quasi-delicts (Civil Code, Art. 2231)
3. In contracts and quasi-contracts (Civil Code, Art. 2232)
C. Requisites
1. Arts. 2233, 2234
VIII. Damages in Case of Death
A. In crimes and quasi-delicts causing death
1. In death caused by breach of conduct by a common crime
IX. Graduation of Damages
39
A. Duty of injured party
1. Art. 2203
B. Rules
1. In crimes
2. In quasi-delict (Civil Code, Art. 2214)
3. In contracts, quasi-contracts and quasi-delicts (Civil Code, Art. 2215)
4. Liquidated damages (Civil Code, Art. 2227)
5. Compromise
X. Miscellaneous Rules
A. Damages that cannot co-exist
1. Nominal with other damages (Art. 2223)
2. Actual and liquidated (Art. 2226)
B. Damages that must co-exist
1. Exemplary with moral, temperate, liquidated or compensatory
C. Damages that must stand alone
1. Nominal damages (Art. 2223)
Exclude: Distinction between tort and quasi-delict
Include: Pertinent Supreme Court decisions promulgated up to January 31, 2012.
Important note: This bar coverage description is not intended and should not be used by law
schools as a syllabus or course outline in the covered subjects. It has been drawn up for the
limited purpose of ensuring that candidates reviewing for the bar examinations are guided on
what basic and minimum amounts of laws, doctrines, and principles they need to know and be
able to use correctly before they can be licensed to practice law. More is required for excellent
and distinguished work as members of the Bar.

Page 1 of 17
SYLLABUS FOR THE 2012 BAR EXAMINATIONS
MERCANTILE LAW
I. Letters of Credit
A. Definition/concept
B. Governing laws
C. Nature of letter of credit
D. Parties to a letter of credit
1. Rights and obligations of parties
E. Basic principles of letter of credit
1. Doctrine of independence
2. Fraud exception principle
3. Doctrine of strict compliance
II. Warehouse Receipts Law
A. Nature and functions of a warehouse receipt
1. To whom delivered
2. Kinds
3. Distinction between a negotiable instrument and a negotiable warehouse receipt
4. Rights of a holder of a negotiable warehouse receipt as against a transferee of a nonnegotiable
warehouse receipt
B. Duties of a warehouseman
C. Warehouseman’s lien
III. Trust Receipts Law
A. Definition/concept of a trust receipt transaction
1. Loan/security feature
2. Ownership of the goods, documents and instruments under a trust receipt
B. Rights of the entruster
1. Validity of the security interest as against the creditors of the entrustee/innocent
purchasers for value
Page 2 of 17
C. Obligations and liability of the entrustee
1. Payment/delivery of proceeds of sale or disposition of goods, documents or instruments
2. Return of goods, documents or instruments in case of sale
3. Liability for loss of goods, documents or instruments
4. Penal sanction if offender is a corporation
D. Remedies available
IV. Negotiable Instruments Law
A. Forms and interpretation
1. Requisites of negotiability
2. Kinds of negotiable instrument
B. Completion and delivery
1. Insertion of date
2. Completion of blanks
3. Incomplete and undelivered instruments
4. Complete but undelivered instruments
C. Rules of interpretation
D. Signature
1. Signing in trade name
2. Signature of agent
3. Indorsement by minor or corporation
4. Forgery
E. Consideration
F. Accommodation party
G. Negotiation
1. Distinguished from assignment
2. Modes of negotiation
3. Kinds of indorsement
H. Rights of the holder
1. Holder in due course
2. Defenses against the holder
I. Liabilities of parties
1. Maker
2. Drawer
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3. Acceptor
4. Indorser
5. Warranties
J. Presentment for payment
1. Necessity of presentment for payment
2. Parties to whom presentment for payment should be made
3. Dispensation with presentment for payment
4. Dishonor by non-payment
K. Notice of dishonor
1. Parties to be notified
2. Parties who may give notice of dishonor
3. Effect of notice
4. Form of notice
5. Waiver
6. Dispensation with notice
7. Effect of failure to give notice
l. Discharge of negotiable instrument
1. Discharge of negotiable instrument
2. Discharge of parties secondarily liable
3. Right of party who discharged instrument
4. Renunciation by holder
M. Material alteration
1. Concept
2. Effect of material alteration
N. Acceptance
1. Definition
2. Manner
3. Time for acceptance
4. Rules governing acceptance
O. Presentment for acceptance
1. Time/place/manner of presentment
2. Effect of failure to make presentment
3. Dishonor by non-acceptance
P. Promissory notes
Q. Checks
1. Definition
2. Kinds
3. Presentment for payment
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a) Time
b) Effect of delay
V. Insurance Code
A. Concept of insurance
B. Elements of an insurance contract
C. Characteristics/nature of insurance contracts
D. Classes
1. Marine
2. Fire
3. Casualty
4. Suretyship
5. Life
6. Compulsory motor vehicle liability insurance
E. Insurable interest
1. In life/health
2. In property
3. Double insurance and over insurance
4. Multiple or several interests on same property
F. Perfection of the contract of insurance
1. Offer and acceptance/consensual
a) Delay in acceptance
b) Delivery of policy
2. Premium payment
3. Non-default options in life insurance
4. Reinstatement of a lapsed policy of life insurance
5. Refund of premiums
G. Rescission of insurance contracts
1. Concealment
2. Misrepresentation/omissions
3. Breach of warranties
H. Claims settlement and subrogation
1. Notice and proof of loss
2. Guidelines on claims settlement
a) Unfair claims settlement; sanctions
b) Prescription of action
c) Subrogation
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VI. Transportation Law
A. Common carriers
1. Diligence required of common carriers
2. Liabilities of common carriers
B. Vigilance over goods
1. Exempting causes
a) Requirement of absence of negligence
b) Absence of delay
c) Due diligence to prevent or lessen the loss
2. Contributory negligence
3. Duration of liability
a) Delivery of goods to common carrier
b) Actual or constructive delivery
c) Temporary unloading or storage
4. Stipulation for limitation of liability
a) Void stipulations
b) Limitation of liability to fixed amount
c) Limitation of liability in absence of declaration of greater value
5. Liability for baggage of passengers
a) Checked-in baggage
b) Baggage in possession of passengers
C. Safety of passengers
1. Void stipulations
2. Duration of liability
a) Waiting for carrier or boarding of carrier
b) Arrival at destination
3. Liability for acts of others
a) Employees
b) Other passengers and strangers
4. Extent of liability for damages
D. Bill of lading
1. Three-fold character
2. Delivery of goods
a) Period for delivery
b) Delivery without surrender of bill of lading
c) Refusal of consignee to take delivery
3. Period for filing claims
4. Period for filing actions
E. Maritime commerce
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1. Charter parties
a) Bareboat/demise charter
b) Time charter
c) Voyage/trip charter
2. Liability of ship owners and shipping agents
a) Liability for acts of captain
b) Exceptions to limited liability
3. Accidents and damages in maritime commerce
a) General average
b) Collisions
4. Carriage of Goods by Sea Act
a) Application
b) Notice of loss or damage
c) Period of prescription
d) Limitation of liability
F. Public Service Act
1. Definition of public utility
2. Necessity for certificate of public convenience
a) Requisites
(i) Citizenship
(ii) Promotion of public interests
(iii) Financial capability
b) Prior operator rule
(i) Meaning
(ii) Exceptions
(iii) Ruinous competition
3. Fixing of rate
a) Rate of return
b) Exclusion of income tax as expense
4. Unlawful arrangements
a) Boundary system
b) Kabit system
5. Approval of sale, encumbrance or lease of property
G. The Warsaw Convention
1. Applicability
2. Limitation of liability
a) Liability to passengers
b) Liability for checked baggage
c) Liability for hand-carried baggage
3. Willful misconduct
VII. The Corporation Code
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A. Corporation, defined
B. Classification of corporations
C. Nationality of corporations
1. Control test
2. Grandfather rule
D. Corporate juridical personality
1. Doctrine of separate juridical personality
a) Liability for tort and crimes
b) Recovery of damages
2. Doctrine of piercing the corporate veil
a) Grounds for application of doctrine
b) Test in determining applicability
E. Capital structure
1. Number and qualifications of incorporators
2. Minimum capital stock and subscription requirements
3. Corporate term
4. Classification of shares
F. Incorporation and organization
1. Promoter
a) Liability of promoter
b) Liability of corporation for promoter’s contracts
2. Subscription contract
3. Pre-incorporation subscription agreements
4. Consideration for stocks
5. Articles of incorporation
a) Contents
b) Non-amendable items
6. Corporate name -- limitations on use of corporate name
7. Registration and issuance of certificate of incorporation
8. Election of directors or trustees
9. Adoption of by-laws
a) Requisites of valid by-laws
b) Binding effects
c) Amendments
G. Corporate powers
1. General powers, theory of general capacity
2. Specific powers, theory of specific capacity
a) Power to extend or shorten corporate term
b) Power to increase or decrease capital stock or incur, create, increase bonded
indebtedness
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c) Power to deny pre-emptive rights
d) Power to sell or dispose of corporate assets
e) Power to acquire own shares
f) Power to invest corporate funds in another corporation or business
g) Power to declare dividends
h) Power to enter into management contract
i) Ultra vires acts
(i) Applicability of ultra vires doctrine
(ii) Consequences of ultra vires acts
j) Doctrine of individuality of subscription
k) Doctrine of equality of shares
l) Trust fund doctrine
3. How exercised
a) By the shareholders
b) By the board of directors
c) By the officers
H. Stockholders and members
1. Fundamental rights of a stockholder
2. Participation in management
a) Proxy
b) Voting trust
c) Cases when stockholders’ action is required
(i) By a majority vote
(ii) By a two-thirds vote
(iii) By cumulative voting
3. Proprietary rights
a) Right to dividends
b) Right of appraisal
c) Right to inspect
d) Pre-emptive right
e) Right to vote
f) Right to dividends
4. Remedial rights
a) Individual suit
b) Representative suit
c) Derivative suit
5. Obligation of a stockholder
6. Meetings
a) Regular or special
(i) When and where
(ii) Notice
b) Who calls the meetings
c) Quorum
d) Minutes of meetings
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I. Board of directors and trustees
1. Repository of corporate powers
2. Tenure, qualifications and disqualifications of directors
3. Elections
a) Cumulative voting
b) Quorum
4. Removal
5. Filling of vacancies
6. Compensation
7. Disloyalty
8. Business judgment rule
9. Solidary liabilities for damages
10. Liability for watered stocks
11. Personal liabilities
12. Responsibility for crimes
13. Special fact doctrine
14. Inside information
15. Contracts
a) By self-dealing directors with the corporation
b) Between corporations with interlocking directors
16. Executive committee
a) Creation
b) Limitations on its powers
17. Meetings
a) Regular or special
(i) When and where
(ii) Notice
b) Who presides
c) Quorum
d) Rule on abstention
J. Capital affairs
1. Certificate of stock
a) Nature of the certificate
b) Uncertificated shares
c) Negotiability
(i) Requirements for valid transfer of stocks
d) Issuance
(i) Full payment
(ii) Payment pro-rata
e) Stock and transfer book
(i) Contents
(ii) Who may make valid entries
f) Lost or destroyed certificates
g) Situs of the shares of stock
2. Watered stocks
a) Definition
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b) Liability of directors for watered stocks
c) Trust fund doctrine for liability for watered stocks
3. Payment of balance of subscription
a) Call by board of directors
b) Notice requirement
4. Sale of delinquent shares
a) Effect of delinquency
b) Call by resolution of the board of directors
c) Notice of sale
d) Auction sale
5. Alienation of shares
a) Allowable restrictions on the sale of shares
b) Sale of partially paid shares
c) Sale of a portion of shares not fully paid
d) Sale of all of shares not fully paid
e) Sale of fully paid shares
f) Requisites of a valid transfer
g) Involuntary dealings
K. Dissolution and liquidation
1. Modes of dissolution
a) Voluntary
(i) Where no creditors are affected
(ii) Where creditors are affected
(iii) By shortening of corporate term
b) Involuntary
(i) By expiration of corporate term
(ii) Failure to organize and commence business within 2 years from
incorporation
(iii) Legislative dissolution
(iv) Dissolution by the SEC on grounds under existing laws
2. Methods of liquidation
a) By the corporation itself
b) Conveyance to a trustee within a 3-year period
c) By management committee or rehabilitation receiver
d) Liquidation after three years
L. Other corporations
1. Close corporations
a) Characteristics of a close corporation
b) Validity of restrictions on transfer of shares
c) Issuance or transfer of stock in breach of qualifying conditions
d) When board meeting is unnecessary or improperly held
e) Pre-emptive right
f) Amendment of articles of incorporation
g) Deadlocks
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2. Non-stock corporations
a) Definition
b) Purposes
c) Treatment of profits
d) Distribution of assets upon dissolution
3. Religious corporations
a) Corporation sole
(i) Nationality
(ii) Religious societies
4. Foreign corporations
a) Bases of authority over foreign corporations
(i) Consent
(ii) Doctrine of “doing business” (relate to definition under the Foreign
Investments Act, R.A. 7042)
b) Necessity of a license to do business
(i) Requisites for issuance of a license
(ii) Resident agent
c) Personality to sue
d) Suability of foreign corporations
e) Instances when unlicensed foreign corporations may be allowed to sue
isolated transactions
f) Grounds for revocation of license
M. Merger and consolidation
1. Definition and concept
2. Constituent vs. Consolidated corporation
3. Plan of merger or consolidation
4. Articles of merger or consolidation
5. Procedure
6. Effectivity
7. Limitations
8. Effects
VIII. Securities Regulation Code (R.A. 8799)
A. State policy (purpose)
B. Powers and functions of the SEC
1. Regulatory
2. Adjudicative
C. Securities required to be registered
1. Exempt securities
2. Exempt transactions
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D. Procedure for registration of securities
E. Prohibitions on fraud, manipulation and insider trading
1. Manipulation of security prices
2. Short sales
3. Fraudulent transactions
4. Insider trading
F. Protection of investors
1. Tender offer rule
2. Rules on proxy solicitation
3. Disclosure rule
G. Civil liability
IX. Banking Laws
A. The New Central Bank Act (R.A. 7653)
1. State policies
2. Creation of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
3. Responsibility and primary objective
4. Monetary board - powers and functions
5. How the BSP handles banks in distress
a) Conservatorship
b) Closure
c) Receivership
d) Liquidation
6. How the BSP handles exchange crisis
a) Legal tender power
b) Rate of exchange
B. Law on Secrecy of Bank Deposits (R.A. 1405, as amended)
1. Purpose
2. Prohibited acts
3. Deposits covered
4. Exceptions
5. Garnishment of deposits, including foreign deposits
6. Penalties for violation
C. General Banking Act (R.A. 8791)
1. Definition and classification of banks
2. Distinction of banks from quasi-banks and trust entities
3. Bank powers and liabilities
a) Corporate powers
b) Banking and incidental powers
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4. Diligence required of banks - relevant jurisprudence
5. Nature of bank funds and bank deposits
6. Stipulation on interests
7. Grant of loans and security requirements
a) Ratio of net worth to total risk assets
b) Single borrower’s limit
c) Restrictions on bank exposure to DOSRI (directors, officers, stockholders and
their related interests)
8. Penalties for violations
a) Fine, imprisonment
b) Suspension or removal of director or officer
c) Dissolution of bank
D. Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation Act
1. Basic policy
2. Concept of insured deposits
3. Liability to depositors
a) Deposit liabilities required to be insured with PDIC
b) Commencement of liability
c) Deposit accounts not entitled to payment
d) Extent of liability
e) Determination of insured deposits
f) Calculation of liability
(i) Per depositor, per capacity rule
(ii) Joint accounts
(iii) Mode of payment
(iv) Effect of payment of insured deposit
(v) Payments of insured deposits as preferred credit under Art. 2244, Civil
Code
(vi) Failure to settle claim of insured depositor
(vii) Failure of depositor to claim insured deposits
(a) Examination of banks and deposit accounts
(b) Prohibition against splitting of deposits
(c) Prohibition against issuances of TROs, etc.
X. Intellectual Property Law (excluding implementing rules and regulations)
A. Intellectual property rights in general
1. Intellectual property rights
2. Differences between copyrights, trademarks and patent
3. Technology transfer arrangements
B. Patents
1. Patentable inventions
2. Non-patentable inventions
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3. Ownership of a patent
a) Right to a patent
b) First-to-file rule
c) Inventions created pursuant to a commission
d) Right of priority
4. Grounds for cancellation of a patent
5. Remedy of the true and actual inventor
6. Rights conferred by a patent
7. Limitations of patent rights
a) Prior user
b) Use by the government
8. Patent infringement
a) Tests in patent infringement
(i) Literal infringement
(ii) Doctrine of equivalents
b) Civil and criminal action
c) Prescriptive period
d) Defenses in action for infringement
9. Licensing
a) Voluntary
b) Compulsory
10. Assignment and transmission of rights
C. Trademarks
1. Definitions of marks, collective marks, trade names
2. Acquisition of ownership of mark
3. Acquisition of ownership of trade name
4. Non-registrable marks
5. Prior use of mark as a requirement
6. Tests to determine confusing similarity between marks
a) Dominancy test
b) Holistic test
7. Well-known marks
8. Rights conferred by registration
9. Use by third parties of names, etc. similar to registered mark
10. Infringement and remedies
a) Trademark infringement
b) Damages
c) Requirement of notice
11. Unfair competition
12. Trade names or business names
13. Collective marks
14. Criminal penalties for infringement, unfair competition, false designation of origin, and
false description or misrepresentation
D. Copyrights
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1. Basic principles, Secs. 172.2, 175, and 181
2. Copyrightable works
a) Original works
b) Derivative works
3. Non-copyrightable works
4. Rights of copyright owner
5. Rules on ownership of copyright
6. Limitations on copyright
a) Doctrine of fair use
b) Copyright infringement
(i) Remedies
(ii) Criminal penalties
XI. Special Laws
A. The Chattel Mortgage Law (Act 1508 in rel. to Arts. 1484, 1485, 2140 and 2141 of the Civil Code)
1. Essential requisites
2. Formal requisites
3. Registration, when and where
4. After-acquired property
5. After-incurred obligation
6. Right of junior mortgagee
7. Foreclosure procedure
8. Redemption
9. Claim for deficiency
a) General rule
b) Exception
c) Article 1484
B. Real Estate Mortgage Law (Act 3135, as amended by R.A. 4118)
1. Coverage
2. Remedies available to mortgagee upon default of the mortgagor
3. Need for special power of attorney
4. Authority to foreclose extrajudicially
5. Procedure
a) Where to file
b) Where to sell
c) Posting requirement
d) Publication requirement
(i) Sufficiency of newspaper publication
(ii) Need for republication in case of postponement
(iii) Personal notice to the mortgagor when and when not needed
6. Possession by purchaser of foreclosed property
7. Remedy of debtor if foreclosure is not proper
8. Redemption
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a) Who may redeem
b) Amount of redemption price
c) Period for redemption
d) Effect of pendency of action for annulment of sale
9. Writ of possession
a) Ministerial duty of the court
b) Enforcement against third parties
c) Pendency of action for annulment of sale
10. Annulment of sale
C. Truth in Lending Act (R.A. 3765)
1. Purpose
2. Obligation of creditors to person to whom credit is extended
3. Covered and excluded transactions
4. Consequences of non-compliance with obligation
D. Anti-money Laundering Law (R.A. 9160, as amended by R.A. 9194)
1. Policy of the law
2. Covered institutions
3. Obligations of covered institutions
4. Covered transactions
5. Suspicious transactions
6. When is money laundering committed
7. Unlawful activities or predicate crimes
8. Anti-money laundering council
9. Functions
10. Freezing of monetary instrument or property
11. Authority to inquire into bank deposits
E. Foreign Investments Act (R.A. 7042)
1. Policy of the law
2. Definition of terms
a) Foreign investment
b) “Doing business” in the Philippines
c) Export enterprise
d) Domestic market enterprise
3. Registration of investments of non-Philippine nationals
4. Foreign investments in export enterprises
5. Foreign investments in domestic market enterprises
6. Foreign investment negative list
INCLUDE: Pertinent Supreme Court decisions promulgated up to January 31, 2012.
Important note: This bar coverage description is not intended and should not be used
by law schools as a syllabus or course outline in the covered subjects. It has been
Page 17 of 17
drawn up for the limited purpose of ensuring that candidates reviewing for the bar
examinations are guided on what basic and minimum amounts of laws, doctrines, and
principles they need to know and be able to use correctly before they can be licensed to
practice law. More is required for excellent and distinguished work as members of the
Bar.

Page 1 of 29
SYLLABUS FOR THE 2012 BAR EXAMINATIONS
TAXATION
I. General Principles of Taxation
A. Definition and concept of taxation
B. Nature of taxation
C. Characteristics of taxation
D. Power of taxation compared with other powers
1. Police power
2. Power of eminent domain
E. Purpose of taxation
1. Revenue-raising
2. Non-revenue/special or regulatory
F. Principles of sound tax system
1. Fiscal adequacy
2. Administrative feasibility
3. Theoretical justice
G. Theory and basis of taxation
1. Lifeblood theory
2. Necessity theory
3. Benefits-protection theory (Symbiotic relationship)
4. Jurisdiction over subject and objects
H. Doctrines in taxation
1. Prospectivity of tax laws
2. Imprescriptibility
3. Double taxation
a) Strict sense
b) Broad sense
c) Constitutionality of double taxation
d) Modes of eliminating double taxation
4. Escape from taxation
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a) Shifting of tax burden
(i) Ways of shifting the tax burden
(ii) Taxes that can be shifted
(iii) Meaning of impact and incidence of taxation
b) Tax avoidance
c) Tax evasion
5. Exemption from taxation
a) Meaning of exemption from taxation
b) Nature of tax exemption
c) Kinds of tax exemption
(i) Express
(ii) Implied
(iii) Contractual
d) Rationale/grounds for exemption
e) Revocation of tax exemption
6. Compensation and set-off
7. Compromise
8. Tax amnesty
a) Definition
b) Distinguished from tax exemption
9. Construction and interpretation of:
a) Tax laws
(i) General rule
(ii) Exception
b) Tax exemption and exclusion
(i) General rule
(ii) Exception
c) Tax rules and regulations
(i) General rule only
d) Penal provisions of tax laws
e) Non-retroactive application to taxpayers
(i) Exceptions
I. Scope and limitation of taxation
1. Inherent limitations
a) Public purpose
b) Inherently legislative
(i) General rule
(ii) Exceptions
(a) Delegation to local governments
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(b) Delegation to the president
(c) Delegation to administrative agencies
c) Territorial
(i) Situs of taxation
(a) Meaning
(b) Situs of income tax
(1) From sources within the Philippines
(2) From sources without the Philippines
(3) Income partly within and partly without the Philippines
(c) Situs of property taxes
(1) Taxes on real property
(2) Taxes on personal property
(d) Situs of excise tax
(1) Estate tax
(2) Donor’s tax
(e) Situs of business tax
(1) Sale of real property
(2) Sale of personal property
(3) VAT
d) International comity
e) Exemption of government entities, agencies, and instrumentalities
2. Constitutional limitations
a) Provisions directly affecting taxation
(i) Prohibition against imprisonment for non-payment of poll tax
(ii) Uniformity and equality of taxation
(iii) Grant by congress of authority to the president to impose tariff rates
(iv) Prohibition against taxation of religious, charitable entities, and
educational entities
(v) Prohibition against taxation of non-stock, non-profit institutions
(vi) Majority vote of congress for grant of tax exemption
(vii) Prohibition on use of tax levied for special purpose
(viii) President’s veto power on appropriation, revenue, tariff bills
(ix) Non-impairment of jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
(x) Grant of power to the local government units to create its own sources of
revenue
(xi) Flexible tariff clause
(xii) Exemption from real property taxes
(xiii) No appropriation or use of public money for religious purposes
b) Provisions indirectly affecting taxation
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(i) Due process
(ii) Equal protection
(iii) Religious freedom
(iv) Non-impairment of obligations of contracts
J. Stages of taxation
1. Levy
2. Assessment and collection
3. Payment
4. Refund
K. Definition, nature, and characteristics of taxes
L. Requisites of a valid tax
M. Tax as distinguished from other forms of exactions
1. Tariff
2. Toll
3. License fee
4. Special assessment
5. Debt
N. Kinds of taxes
1. As to object
a) Personal, capitation, or poll tax
b) Property tax
c) Privilege tax
2. As to burden or incidence
a) Direct
b) Indirect
3. As to tax rates
a) Specific
b) Ad valorem
c) Mixed
4. As to purposes
a) General or fiscal
b) Special, regulatory, or sumptuary
5. As to scope or authority to impose
a) National – internal revenue taxes
b) Local – real property tax, municipal tax
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6. As to graduation
a) Progressive
b) Regressive
c) Proportionate
II. National Internal Revenue Code of 1997, as amended (NIRC)
A. Income taxation
1. Income tax systems
a) Global tax system
b) Schedular tax system
c) Semi-schedular or semi-global tax system
2. Features of the Philippine income tax law
a) Direct tax
b) Progressive
c) Comprehensive
d) Semi-schedular or semi-global tax system
3. Criteria in imposing Philippine income tax
a) Citizenship principle
b) Residence principle
c) Source principle
4. Types of Philippine income tax
5. Taxable period
a) Calendar period
b) Fiscal period
c) Short period
6. Kinds of taxpayers
a) Individual taxpayers
(i) Citizens
(a) Resident citizens
(b) Non-resident citizens
(ii) Aliens
(a) Resident aliens
(b) Non-resident aliens
(1) Engaged in trade or business
(2) Not engaged in trade or business
(iii) Special class of individual employees
(a) Minimum wage earner
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b) Corporations
(i) Domestic corporations
(ii) Foreign corporations
(a) Resident foreign corporations
(b) Non-resident foreign corporations
(iii) Joint Venture and Consortium
c) Partnerships
d) General professional partnerships
e) Estates and trusts
f) Co-ownerships
7. Income taxation
a) Definition
b) Nature
c) General principles
8. Income
a) Definition
b) Nature
c) When income is taxable
(i) Existence of income
(ii) Realization of income
(a) Tests of realization
(b) Actual vis-à-vis constructive receipt
(iii) Recognition of income
(iv) Methods of accounting
(a) Cash method vis-à-vis accrual method
(b) Installment payment vis-à-vis deferred payment vis-à-vis percentage
completion (in long term contracts)
d) Tests in determining whether income is earned for tax purposes
(i) Realization test
(ii) Claim of right doctrine or doctrine of ownership, command, or control
(iii) Economic benefit test, doctrine of proprietary interest
(iv) Severance test
9. Gross income
a) Definition
b) Concept of income from whatever source derived
c) Gross income vis-à-vis net income vis-à-vis taxable income
d) Classification of income as to source
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(i) Gross income and taxable income from sources within the Philippines
(ii) Gross income and taxable income from sources without the Philippines
(iii) Income partly within or partly without the Philippines
e) Sources of income subject to tax
(i) Compensation income
(ii) Fringe benefits
(a) Special treatment of fringe benefits
(b) Definition
(c) Taxable and non-taxable fringe benefits
(iii) Professional income
(iv) Income from business
(v) Income from dealings in property
(a) Types of properties
(1) Ordinary assets
(2) Capital assets
(b) Types of gains from dealings in property
(1) Ordinary income vis-à-vis capital gain
(2) Actual gain vis-à-vis presumed gain
(3) Long term capital gain vis-à-vis short term capital gain
(4) Net capital gain, net capital loss
(5) Computation of the amount of gain or loss
(a) Cost or basis of the property sold
(b) Cost or basis of the property exchanged in corporate
readjustment
(1) Merger
(2) Consolidation
(3) Transfer to a controlled corporation (tax-free
exchanges)
(c) Recognition of gain or loss in exchange of property
(1) General rule
(a) Where no gain or loss shall be recognized
(2) Exceptions
(a) Meaning of merger, consolidation, control
securities
(b) Transfer of a controlled corporation
(6) Income tax treatment of capital loss
(a) Capital loss limitation rule (applicable to both corporations
and individuals)
(b) Net loss carry-over rule (applicable only to individuals)
(7) Dealings in real property situated in the Philippines
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(8) Dealings in shares of stock of Philippine corporations
(a) Shares listed and traded in the stock exchange
(b) Shares not listed and traded in the stock exchange
(9) Sale of principal residence
(vi) Passive investment income
(a) Interest income
(b) Dividend income
(1) Cash dividend
(2) Stock dividend
(3) Property dividend
(4) Liquidating dividend
(c) Royalty income
(d) Rental income
(1) Lease of personal property
(2) Lease of real property
(3) Tax treatment of
(a) Leasehold improvements by lessee
(b) VAT added to rental/paid by the lessee
(c) Advance rental/long term lease
(vii) Annuities, proceeds from life insurance or other types of insurance
(viii) Prizes and awards
(ix) Pensions, retirement benefit, or separation pay
(x) Income from any source whatever
(a) Forgiveness of indebtedness
(b) Recovery of accounts previously written off
(c) Receipt of tax refunds or credit
(d) Income from any source whatever
(e) Source rules in determining income from within and without
(1) Interests
(2) Dividends
(3) Services
(4) Rentals
(5) Royalties
(6) Sale of real property
(7) Sale of personal property
(8) Shares of stock of domestic corporation
(f) Situs of income taxation (see page 2 under inherent limitations,
territorial)
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(g) Exclusions from gross income
(1) Rationale for the exclusions
(2) Taxpayers who may avail of the exclusions
(3) Exclusions distinguished from deductions and tax credit
(4) Under the constitution
(a) Income derived by the government or its political
subdivisions from the exercise of any essential governmental
function
(5) Under the tax code
(a) Proceeds of life insurance policies
(b) Return of premium paid
(c) Amounts received under life insurance, endowment or
annuity contracts
(d) Value of property acquired by gift, bequest, devise or
descent
(e) Amount received through accident or health insurance
(f) Income exempt under tax treaty
(g) Retirement benefits, pensions, gratuities, etc.
(h) Winnings, prizes, and awards, including those in sports
competition
(6) Under a tax treaty
(7) Under special laws
(h) Deductions from gross income
(1) General rules
(a) Deductions must be paid or incurred in connection with
the taxpayer’s trade, business or profession
(b) Deductions must be supported by adequate receipts or
invoices (except standard deduction)
(2) Return of capital (cost of sales or services)
(a) Sale of inventory of goods by manufacturers and
dealers of properties
(b) Sale of stock in trade by a real estate dealer and dealer
in securities
(c) Sale of services
(3) Itemized deductions
(a) Expenses
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(a) Nature: ordinary and necessary
(b) Paid and incurred during taxable year
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(2) Salaries, wages and other forms of compensation for
personal services actually rendered, including the grossedup
monetary value of the fringe benefit subjected to fringe
benefit tax which tax should have been paid
(3) Traveling/transportation expenses
(4) Cost of materials
(5) Rentals and/or other payments for use or possession of
property
(6) Repairs and maintenance
(7) Expenses under lease agreements
(8) Expenses for professionals
(9) Entertainment expenses
(10) Political campaign expenses
(11) Training expenses
(b) Interest
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(2) Non-deductible interest expense
(3) Interest subject to special rules
(a) Interest paid in advance
(b) Interest periodically amortized
(c) Interest expense incurred to acquire property for
use in trade/business/profession
(c) Taxes
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(2) Non-deductible taxes
(3) Treatments of surcharges/interests/fines for delinquency
(4) Treatment of special assessment
(5) Tax credit vis-à-vis deduction
(d) Losses
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(2) Other types of losses
(a) Capital losses
(b) Securities becoming worthless
(c) Losses on wash sales of stocks or securities
(d) Wagering losses
(e) NOLCO
(e) Bad debts
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(f) Depreciation
(1) Requisites for deductibility
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(2) Methods of computing depreciation allowance
(a) Straight-line method
(b) Declining-balance method
(c) Sum-of-the-years-digit method
(g) Charitable and other contributions
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(2) Amount that may be deducted
(h) Contributions to pension trusts
(1) Requisites for deductibility
(4) Optional standard deduction
(a) Individuals, except non-resident aliens
(b) Corporations, except non-resident foreign corporations
(5) Personal and additional exemption (R.A. 9504, Minimum Wage
Earner Law)
(a) Basic personal exemptions
(b) Additional exemptions for taxpayer with dependents
(c) Status-at-the-end-of-the-year rule
(6) Items not deductible
(a) General rules
(b) Personal, living or family expenses
(c) Amount paid for new buildings or for permanent
improvements (capital expenditures)
(d) Amount expended in restoring property (major repairs)
(e) Premiums paid on life insurance policy covering life or any
other officer or employee financially interested
(f) Interest expense, bad debts, and losses from sales of
property between related parties
(g) Losses from sales or exchange or property
(h) Non-deductible interest
(i) Non –deductible taxes
(j) Non-deductible losses
(k) Losses from wash sales of stock or securities
(i) Exempt corporations
10. Taxation of resident citizens, non-resident citizens, and resident aliens
a) General rule that resident citizens are taxable on income from all sources within
and without the Philippines
b) Taxation on compensation income
(i) Inclusions
(a) Monetary compensation
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(1) Regular salary/wage
(2) Separation pay/retirement benefit not otherwise exempt
(3)Bonuses, 13th month pay, and other benefits not exempt
(4) Director’s fees
(b) Non-monetary compensation
(1) Fringe benefit not subject tax
(ii) Exclusions
(a) Fringe benefit subject to tax
(b) De minimis benefits
(c) 13th month pay and other benefits and payments specifically excluded
from taxable compensation income
(iii) Deductions
(a) Personal exemptions and additional exemptions
(b) Health and hospitalization insurance
(c) Taxation of compensation income of a minimum wage earner
(1) Definition of statutory minimum wage
(2) Definition of minimum wage earner
(3) Income also subject to tax exemption: holiday pay, overtime pay,
night shift differential, and hazard pay
c) Taxation of business income/income from practice of profession
d) Taxation of passive income
(i) Passive income subject to final tax
(a) Interest income
(b) Royalties
(c) Dividends from domestic corporation
(d) Prizes and other winnings
(ii) Passive income not subject to final tax
e) Taxation of capital gains
(i) Income from sale of shares of stock of a Philippine corporation
(a) Shares traded and listed in the stock exchange
(b) Shares not listed and traded in the stock exchange
(ii) Income from the sale of real property situated in the Philippines
(iii) Income from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of other capital
assets
11. Taxation of non-resident aliens engaged in trade or business
a) General rules
b) Cash and/or property dividends
c) Capital gains
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Exclude non-resident aliens not engaged in trade or business
12. Individual taxpayers exempt from income tax
a) Senior citizens
b) Exemptions granted under international agreements
13. Taxation of domestic corporations
a) Tax payable
(i) Regular tax
(ii) Minimum corporate income tax (MCIT)
(a) Imposition of MCIT
(b) Carry forward of excess minimum tax
(c) Relief from the MCIT under certain conditions
(d) Corporations exempt from the MCIT
(e) Applicability of the MCIT where a corporation is governed both under
the regular tax system and a special income tax system
b) Allowable deductions
(i) Itemized deductions
(ii) Optional standard deduction
c) Taxation of passive income
(i) Passive income subject to tax
(a) Interest from deposits and yield or any other monetary benefit from
deposit substitutes and from trust funds and similar arrangements and
royalties
(b) Capital gains from the sale of shares of stock not traded in the stock
exchange
(c) Income derived under the expanded foreign currency deposit system
(d) Intercorporate dividends
(e) Capital gains realized from the sale, exchange, or disposition of lands
and/or buildings
(ii) Passive income not subject to tax
d) Taxation of capital gains
(i) Income from sale of shares of stock
(ii) Income from the sale of real property situated in the Philippine
(iii) Income from the sale, exchange, or other disposition of other capital
assets
e) Tax on proprietary educational institutions and hospitals
f) Tax on government-owned or controlled corporations, agencies or
instrumentalities
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14. Taxation of resident foreign corporations
a) General rule
b) With respect to their income from sources within the Philippines
c) Minimum corporate income tax
d) Tax on certain income
(i) Interest from deposits and yield or any other monetary benefit from
deposit substitutes, trust funds and similar arrangements and royalties
(ii) Income derived under the expanded foreign currency deposit system
(iii) Capital gain from sale of shares of stock not traded in the stock exchange
(iv) Intercorporate dividends
Exclude:
(i) International carrier
(ii)Offshore banking units
(iii)Branch profits remittances
(iv) Regional or area headquarters and regional operating headquarters of
multinational companies
15. Taxation of non-resident foreign corporations
a) General rule
b) Tax on certain income
(i) Interest on foreign loans
(ii) Intercorporate dividends
(iii) Capital gains from sale of shares of stock not traded in the stock
exchange
Exclude:
(i) Non-resident cinematographic film owner, lessor or distributor
(ii) Non-resident owner or lessor of vessels chartered by Philippine nationals
(iii) Non-resident owner or lessor of aircraft machineries and other equipment
16. Improperly accumulated earnings of corporations
17. Exemption from tax on corporations
18. Taxation of partnerships
19. Taxation of general professional partnerships
20. Taxation on estates and trusts
a) Application
b) Exception
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c) Determination of tax
(i) Consolidation of income of two or more trusts
(ii) Taxable income
(iii) Revocable trusts
(iv) Income for benefit of grantor
(v) Meaning of “in the discretion of the grantor”
21. Withholding tax
a) Concept
b) Kinds
(i) Withholding of final tax on certain incomes
(ii) Withholding of creditable tax at source
c) Withholding on wages
(i) Requirement for withholding
(ii) Tax paid by recipient
(iii) Refunds or credits
(iv) Year-end adjustment
(v) Liability for tax
d) Withholding of VAT
e) Filing of return and payment of taxes withheld
(i) Return and payment in case of government employees
(ii) Statements and returns
f) Final withholding tax at source
g) Creditable withholding tax
(i) Expanded withholding tax
(ii) Withholding tax on compensation
h) Fringe benefit tax
B. Estate tax
1. Basic principles
2. Definition
3. Nature
4. Purpose or object
5. Time and transfer of properties
6. Classification of decedent
7. Gross estate vis-à-vis net estate
8. Determination of gross estate and net estate
9. Composition of gross estate
10. Items to be included in gross estate
11. Deductions from estate
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12. Exclusions from estate
13. Tax credit for estate taxes paid in a foreign country
14. Exemption of certain acquisitions and transmissions
15. Filing of notice of death
16. Estate tax return
C. Donor’s tax
1. Basic principles
2. Definition
3. Nature
4. Purpose or object
5. Requisites of valid donation
6. Transfers which may be constituted as donation
a) Sale/exchange/transfer of property for insufficient consideration
b) Condonation/remission of debt
7. Transfer for less than adequate and full consideration
8. Classification of donor
9. Determination of gross gift
10.Composition of gross gift
11.Valuation of gifts made in property
12.Tax credit for donor’s taxes paid in a foreign country
13. Exemptions of gifts from donor’s tax
14. Person liable
15. Tax basis
D. Value-Added Tax (VAT)
1. Concept
2. Characteristics
3. Impact of tax
4. Incidence of tax
5. Tax credit method
6. Destination principle
7. Persons liable
8. VAT on sale of goods or properties
a) Requisites of taxability of sale of goods or properties
9. Zero-rated sales of goods or properties, and effectively zero-rated sales of goods or
properties
10. Transactions deemed sale
a) Transfer, use or consumption not in the course of business of goods/properties
originally intended for sale or use in the course of business
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b) Distribution or transfer to shareholders, investors or creditors
c) Consignment of goods if actual sale not made within 60 days from date of
consignment
d) Retirement from or cessation of business with respect to inventories on hand
11. Change or cessation of status as VAT-registered person
a) Subject to VAT
(i) Change of business activity from VAT taxable status to VAT-exempt status
(ii) Approval of request for cancellation of a registration due to reversion to
exempt status
(iii) Approval of request for cancellation of registration due to desire to revert
to exempt status after lapse of 3 consecutive years
b) Not subject to VAT
(i) Change of control of a corporation
(ii) Change in the trade or corporate name
(iii) Merger or consolidation of corporations
12. VAT on importation of goods
a) Transfer of goods by tax exempt persons
13. VAT on sale of service and use or lease of properties
a) Requisites for taxability
14. Zero-rated sale of services
15. VAT exempt transactions
a) VAT exempt transactions, in general
b) Exempt transaction, enumerated
16. Input tax and output tax, defined
17. Sources of input tax
a) Purchase or importation of goods
b) Purchase of real properties for which a VAT has actually been paid
c) Purchase of services in which VAT has actually been paid
d) Transactions deemed sale
e) Transitional input tax
f) Presumptive input tax
g) Transitional input tax credits allowed under the transitory and other
provisions of the regulations
18. Persons who can avail of input tax credit
19. Determination of output/input tax; VAT payable; excess input tax credits
a) Determination of output tax
b) Determination of input tax creditable
c) Allocation of input tax on mixed transactions
d) Determination of the output tax and VAT payable and computation of VAT
payable or excess tax credits
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20. Substantiation of input tax credits
21. Refund or tax credit of excess input tax
a) Who may claim for refund/apply for issuance of tax credit certificate
b) Period to file claim/apply for issuance of tax credit certificate
c) Manner of giving refund
d) Destination principle or cross-border doctrine
22. Invoicing requirements
a) Invoicing requirements in general
b) Invoicing and recording deemed sale transactions
c) Consequences of issuing erroneous VAT invoice or VAT official receipt
23. Filing of return and payment
24. Withholding of final VAT on sales to government
E. Compliance requirements (internal revenue taxes)
1. Administrative requirements
a) Registration requirements
(i) Annual registration fee
(ii) Registration of each type of internal revenue tax
(iii) Transfer of registration
(iv) Other updates
(v) Cancellation of registration
(vi) Power of the commissioner to suspend the business operations of any
person who fails to register
b) Persons required to register for VAT
(i) Optional registration for VAT of exempt person
(ii) Cancellation of VAT registration
(iii) Changes in or cessation of status of a VAT-registered person
c) Supplying taxpayer identification number (TIN)
d) Issuance of receipts or sales or commercial invoices
(i) Printing of receipts or sales or commercial invoices
(ii) Invoicing requirements for VAT
(a) Information contained in the VAT invoice or VAT official receipt
(b) Consequences of issuing erroneous VAT invoice or official receipts
e) Exhibition of certificate of payment at place of business
f) Continuation of business of deceased person
g) Removal of business to other location
2. Tax returns
a) Income tax returns
(i) Individual tax returns
(a) Filing of individual tax returns
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(1) Who are required to file
(a) Return of husband and wife
(b) Return of parent to include income of children
(c) Return of persons under disability
(2) Who are not required to file
(b) Where to file
(c) When to file
(ii) Corporate returns
(a) Requirement for filing returns
(1) Declaration of quarterly corporate income tax
(a) Place of filing
(b)Time of fling
(2) Final adjustment return
(a)Place of filing
(b)Time of filing
(3) Taxable year of corporations
(4) Extension of time to file return
(b) Return of corporation contemplating dissolution or reorganization
(c) Return on capital gains realized from sale of shares of stock not
traded in the local stock exchange
(iii) Returns of receivers, trustees in bankruptcy or assignees
(iv) Returns of general partnerships
(v) Fiduciary returns
b) Estate tax returns
(i) Notice of death to be filed
(ii) Estate tax returns
(a) Requirements
(b) Time of filing and extension of time
(c) Place of filing
(iii) Discharge of executor or administrator from personal liability
(a) Definition of deficiency
c) Donor’s tax returns
(i) Requirements
(ii) Time and place of filing
d) VAT returns
(i) In general
(ii) Where to file the return
e) Withholding tax returns
(i) Quarterly returns and payments of taxes withheld
(ii) Annual information return
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3. Tax payments
a) Income taxes
(i) Payment, in general; time of payment
(ii) Installment payment
(iii) Payment of capital gains tax
b) Estate taxes
(i) Time of payment
(a) Extension of time
(ii) Liability for payment
(a) Discharge of executor or administrator from personal liability
(b) Definition of deficiency
(iii) Payment before delivery by executor or administrator
(a) Payment of tax antecedent to the transfer of shares, bonds or rights
(iv) Duties of certain officers and debtors
(v) Restitution of tax upon satisfaction of outstanding obligations
c) Donor’s taxes
(i) Time and place of payment
d) VAT
(i) Payment of VAT
(ii) Where to pay the VAT
F. Tax remedies under the NIRC
1. Taxpayer’s remedies
a) Assessment
(i) Concept of assessment
(a) Requisites for valid assessment
(b) Constructive methods of income determination
(c) Inventory method for income determination
(d) Jeopardy assessment
(e) Tax delinquency and tax deficiency
(ii) Power of the commissioner to make assessments and prescribe additional
requirements for tax administration and enforcement
(a) Power of the commissioner to obtain information, and to
summon/examine, and take testimony of persons
(iii) When assessment is made
(a) Prescriptive period for assessment
(1) False, fraudulent, and non-filing of returns
(b) Suspension of running of statute of limitations
(iv) General provisions on additions to the tax
(a) Civil penalties
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(b) Interest
(v) Assessment process
(a) Tax audit
(b) Notice of informal conference
(c) Issuance of preliminary assessment notice
(d) Notice of informal conference
(e) Issuance of preliminary assessment notice
(f) Exceptions to issuance of preliminary assessment notice
(g) Reply to preliminary assessment notice
(h) Issuance of formal letter of demand and assessment notice/final
assessment notice
(i) Disputed assessment
(j) Administrative decision on a disputed assessment
vi) Protesting assessment
(a) Protest of assessment by taxpayer
(1)Protested assessment
(2)When to file a protest
(3) Forms of protest
(b) Submission of documents within 60 days from filing of protest
(c) Effect of failure to protest
(vii) Rendition of decision by commissioner
(a) Denial of protest
(1) Commissioner’s actions equivalent to denial of protest
(a) Filing of criminal action against taxpayer
(b) Issuing a warrant of distraint and levy
(2) Inaction by commissioner
(viii) Remedies of taxpayer to action by commissioner
(a) In case of denial of protest
(b) In case of inaction by commissioner within 180 days from submission
of documents
(c) Effect of failure to appeal
b) Collection
(i) Requisites
(ii) Prescriptive periods
(iii) Distraint of personal property including garnishment
(a) Summary remedy of distraint of personal property
(1) Procedure for distraint and garnishment
(2) Sale of property distrained and disposition of proceeds
(a) Release of distrained property upon payment prior to sale
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(3) Purchase by the government at sale upon distraint
(4) Report of sale to the BIR
(5) Constructive distraint to protect the interest of the government
(iv) Summary remedy of levy on real property
(a) Advertisement and sale
(b) Redemption of property sold
(c) Final deed of purchaser
(v) Forfeiture to government for want of bidder
(a) Remedy of enforcement of forfeitures
(1) action to contest forfeiture of chattel
(b) Resale of real estate taken for taxes
(c) When property to be sold or destroyed
(d) Disposition of funds recovered in legal proceedings or obtained from
forfeiture
(vi) Further distraint or levy
(vii) Tax lien
(viii) Compromise
(a) Authority of the commissioner to compromise and abate taxes
(ix) Civil and criminal actions
(a) Suit to recover tax based on false or fraudulent returns
c) Refund
(i) Grounds and requisites for refund
(ii) Requirements for refund as laid down by cases
(a) Necessity of written claim for refund
(b) Claim containing a categorical demand for reimbursement
(c) Filing of administrative claim for refund and the suit/proceeding
before the CTA within 2 years from date of payment regardless of any
supervening cause
(iii) Legal basis of tax refunds
(iv) Statutory basis for tax refund under the tax code
(a) Scope of claims for refund
(b) Necessity of proof for claim or refund
(c) Burden of proof for claim of refund
(d) Nature of erroneously paid tax/illegally assessed collected
(e) Tax refund vis-à-vis tax credit
(f) Essential requisites for claim of refund
(v) Who may claim/apply for tax refund/tax credit
(a) Taxpayer/withholding agents of non-resident foreign corporation
(vi) Prescriptive period for recovery of tax erroneously or illegally collected
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(vii) Other consideration affecting tax refunds
2. Government remedies
a) Administrative remedies
(i) Tax lien
(ii) Levy and sale of real property
(iii) Forfeiture of real property to the government for want of bidder
(iv) Further distraint and levy
(v) Suspension of business operation
(vi) Non-availability of injunction to restrain collection of tax
b) Judicial remedies
3. Statutory offenses and penalties
a) Civil penalties
(i) Surcharge
(ii) Interest
(a) In general
(b) Deficiency interest
(c) Delinquency interest
(d) Interest on extended payment
4. Compromise and abatement of taxes
a) Compromise
b) Abatement
G. Organization and Function of the Bureau of Internal Revenue
1. Rule-making authority of the secretary of finance
a) Authority of secretary of finance to promulgate rules and regulations
b) Specific provisions to be contained in rules and regulations
c) Non-retroactivity of rulings
2. Power of the commissioner to suspend the business operation of a taxpayer
III. Local Government Code of 1991, as amended
A. Local government taxation
1. Fundamental principles
2. Nature and source of taxing power
a) Grant of local taxing power under the local government code
b) Authority to prescribe penalties for tax violations
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c) Authority to grant local tax exemptions
d) Withdrawal of exemptions
e) Authority to adjust local tax rates
f) Residual taxing power of local governments
g) Authority to issue local tax ordinances
3. Local taxing authority
a) Power to create revenues exercised through Local Government Units
b) Procedure for approval and effectivity of tax ordinances
4. Scope of taxing power
5. Specific taxing power of Local Government Units (LGUs)
a) Taxing powers of provinces
(i) Tax on transfer of real property ownership
(ii) Tax on business of printing and publication
(iii) Franchise tax
(iv) Tax on sand, gravel and other quarry services
(v) Professional tax
(vi) Amusement tax
(vii) Tax on delivery truck/van
b) Taxing powers of cities
c) Taxing powers of municipalities
(i) Tax on various types of businesses
(ii) Ceiling on business tax impossible on municipalities within Metro Manila
(iii) Tax on retirement on business
(iv) Rules on payment of business tax
(v) Fees and charges for regulation & licensing
(vi) Situs of tax collected
d) Taxing powers of barangays
e) Common revenue raising powers
(i) Service fees and charges
(ii) Public utility charges
(iii) Toll fess or charges
f) Community tax
6. Common limitations on the taxing powers of LGUs
7. Collection of business tax
a) Tax period and manner of payment
b) Accrual of tax
c) Time of payment
d) Penalties on unpaid taxes, fees or charges
e) Authority of treasurer in collection and inspection of books
8. Taxpayer’s remedies
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a) Periods of assessment and collection of local taxes, fees or charges
b) Protest of assessment
c) Claim for refund of tax credit for erroneously or illegally collected tax, fee or
charge
9. Civil remedies by the LGU for collection of revenues
a) Local government’s lien for delinquent taxes, fees or charges
b) Civil remedies, in general
(i) Administrative action
(ii) Judicial action
c) Procedure for administrative action
(i) Distraint of personal property
(ii) Levy of real property, procedure
(iii) Further distraint or levy
(iv) Exemption of personal property from distraint or levy
(v) Penalty on local treasurer for failure to issue and execute warrant of
distraint or levy
d) Procedure for judicial action
B. Real property taxation
1. Fundamental principles
2. Nature of real property tax
3. Imposition of real property tax
a) Power to levy real property tax
b) Exemption from real property tax
4. Appraisal and assessment of real property tax
a) Rule on appraisal of real property at fair market value
b) Declaration of real property
c) Listing of real property in assessment rolls
d) Preparation of schedules of fair market value
(i) Authority of assessor to take evidence
(ii) Amendment of schedule of fair market value
e) Classes of real property
f) Actual use of property as basis of assessment
g) Assessment of real property
(i) Assessment levels
(ii) General revisions of assessments and property classification
(iii) Date of effectivity of assessment or reassessment
(iv) Assessment of property subject to back taxes
(v) Notification of new or revised assessment
h) Appraisal and assessment of machinery
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5. Collection of real property tax
a) Date of accrual of real property tax
b) Collection of tax
(i) Collecting authority
(ii) Duty of assessor to furnish local treasurer with assessment rolls
(iii) Notice of time for collection of tax
c) Periods within which to collect real property tax
d) Special rules on payment
(i) Payment of real property tax in installments
(ii) Interests on unpaid real property tax
(iii) Condonation of real property tax
e) Remedies of LGUs for collection of real property tax
(i) Issuance of notice of delinquency for real property tax payment
(ii) Local government’s lien
(iii) Remedies in general
(iv) Resale of real estate taken for taxes, fees or charges
(v) Further levy until full payment of amount due
6. Refund or credit of real property tax
a) Payment under protest
b) Repayment of excessive collections
7. Taxpayer’s remedies
a) Contesting an assessment of value of real property
(i) Appeal to the Local Board of Assessment Appeals
(ii) Appeal to the Central Board of Assessment Appeals
(iii) Effect of payment of tax
b. Payment of real property under protest
(i) File protest with local treasurer
(ii) Appeal to the Local Board of Assessment Appeals
(iii) Appeal to the Central Board of Assessment Appeals
(iv) Appeal to the CTA
(v) Appeal to the Supreme Court
IV. Tariff and Customs Code of 1978, as amended
A. Tariff and duties, defined
B. General rule: all imported articles are subject to duty.
1. Importation by the government taxable
C. Purpose for imposition
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D. Flexible tariff clause
E. Requirements of importation
1. Beginning and ending of importation
2. Obligations of importer
a) Cargo manifest
b) Import entry
c) Declaration of correct weight or value
d) Liability for payment of duties
e) Liquidation of duties
f) Keeping of records
F. Importation in violation of tax credit certificate
1. Smuggling
2. Other fraudulent practices
G. Classification of goods
1. Taxable importation
2. Prohibited importation
3. Conditionally-free importation
H. Classification of duties
1. Ordinary/regular duties
a) Ad valorem; methods of valuation
(i) Transaction value
(ii) Transaction value of identical goods
(iii) Transaction value of similar goods
(iv) Deductive value
(v) Computed value
(vi) Fallback value
b) Specific
2. Special duties
a) Dumping duties
b) Countervailing duties
c) Marking duties
d) Retaliatory/discriminatory duties
e) Safeguard
I. Drawbacks
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J. Remedies
1. Government
a) Administrative/extrajudicial
(i) Search, seizure, forfeiture, arrest
b) Judicial
(i) Rules on appeal including jurisdiction
2. Taxpayer
a) Protest
b) Abandonment
c) Abatement and refund
V. Judicial Remedies (R.A. 1125, as amended, and the Revised Rules of the Court of
Tax Appeals)
A. Jurisdiction of the Court of Tax Appeals
1. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over civil tax cases
a) Cases within the jurisdiction of the court en banc
b) Cases within the jurisdiction of the court in divisions
2. Criminal cases
a) Exclusive original jurisdiction
b) Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in criminal cases
B. Judicial procedures
1. Judicial action for collection of taxes
a) Internal revenue taxes
b) Local taxes
(i) Prescriptive period
2. Civil cases
a) Who may appeal, mode of appeal, effect of appeal
(i) Suspension of collection of tax
a) Injunction not available to restrain collection
(ii) Taking of evidence
(iii) Motion for reconsideration or new trial
b) Appeal to the CTA, en banc
c) Petition for review on certiorari to the Supreme Court
3. Criminal cases
a) Institution and prosecution of criminal actions
(i) Institution on civil action in criminal action
b) Appeal and period to appeal
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(i) Solicitor General as counsel for the people and government officials sued in
their official capacity
c) Petition for review on certiorari to the Supreme Court
C. Taxpayer’s suit impugning the validity of tax measures or acts of taxing authorities
1. Taxpayer’s suit, defined
2. Distinguished from citizen’s suit
3. Requisites for challenging the constitutionality of a tax measure or act of taxing
authority
a) Concept of locus standi as applied in taxation
b) Doctrine of transcendental importance
c) Ripeness for judicial determination
INCLUDE: Pertinent Supreme Court decisions promulgated up to January 31, 2012.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This bar coverage description is not intended and should not be used by
law schools as a syllabus or course outline in the covered subjects. It has been drawn up for
the limited purpose of ensuring that candidates reviewing for the bar examinations are guided
on what basic and minimum amounts of laws, doctrines, and principles they need to know and
be able to use correctly before they can be licensed to practice law. More is required for
excellent and distinguished work as members of the Bar.

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SYLLABUS FOR THE 2012 BAR EXAMINATIONS
LEGAL AND JUDICIAL ETHICS
I. LEGAL ETHICS
A. Practice of law
1. Concept
a) Privilege
b) Profession, not business
2. Qualifications
3. Appearance of non-lawyers
a) Law student practice
b) Non-lawyers in courts
c) Non-lawyers in administrative tribunals
d) Proceedings where lawyers are prohibited from appearing
4. Sanctions for practice or appearance without authority
a) Lawyers without authority
b) Persons not lawyers
5. Public officials and practice of law
a) Prohibition or disqualification of former government attorneys
b) Public Officials who cannot practice law or with restrictions
6. Lawyers authorized to represent the government
7. Lawyer’s oath
B. Duties and responsibilities of a lawyer
1. To society
a) Respect for law and legal processes
b) Efficient and convenient legal services
c) True, honest fair, dignified and objective information on legal services
d) Participation in the improvement and reforms in legal system
e) Participation in legal education program
2. To the legal profession
a) Integrated Bar of the Philippines
(i) Membership and dues
b) Upholding the dignity and integrity of the profession
c) Courtesy, fairness and candor towards professional colleagues
d) No assistance in unauthorized practice of law
3. To the courts
a) Candor, fairness and good faith towards the courts
b) Respect for courts and judicial officers
c) Assistance in the speedy and efficient administration of justice
d) Reliance on merits of his cause and avoidance of any impropriety which tends
to influence or gives the appearance of influence upon the courts
4. To the clients
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a) Availability of service without discrimination
(i) Services regardless of person’s status
(ii) Services as counsel de officio
(iii) Valid grounds for refusal
b) Candor, fairness and loyalty to clients
(i) Confidentiality rule
(ii) Privileged communications
(iii) Conflict of interest
(iv) Candid and honest advice to clients
(v) Compliance with laws
(vi) Concurrent practice of another profession
c) Client’s moneys and properties
(i) Fiduciary relationship
(ii) Co-mingling of funds
(iii) Delivery of funds
(iv) Borrowing or lending
d) Fidelity to client’s cause
e) Competence and diligence
(i) Adequate protection
(ii) Negligence
(ii) Collaborating counsel
(iii) Duty to apprise client
f) Representation with zeal within legal bounds
(i) Use of fair and honest means
(ii) Client’s fraud
(iii) Procedure in handling the case
g) Attorney’s fees
(i) Acceptance fees
(ii) Contingency fee arrangements
(iii) Attorney’s liens
(iv) Fees and controversies with clients
(v) Concepts of attorney’s fees
(a) Ordinary concept
(b) Extraordinary concept
h) Preservation of client’s confidences
(i) Prohibited disclosures and use
(ii) Disclosure, when allowed
i) Withdrawal of services
C. Suspension, disbarment and discipline of lawyers
1. Nature and characteristics of disciplinary actions against lawyers
a) Sui generis
b) Prescription
2. Grounds
3. Proceedings
4. Discipline of Filipino lawyers practicing abroad
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D. Readmission to the Bar
1. Lawyers who have been suspended
2. Lawyers who have been disbarred
3. Lawyers who have been repatriated
E. Mandatory Continuing Legal Education
1. Purpose
2. Requirements
3. Compliance
4. Exemptions
5. Sanctions
F. Notarial Practice
1. Qualifications of notary public
2. Term of office of notary public
3. Powers and limitations
4. Notarial register
5. Jurisdiction of notary public and place of notarization
6. Revocation of commission
7. Competent evidence of identity
8. Sanctions
II. JUDICIAL ETHICS
A. Sources
1. New Code of Judicial Conduct for the Philippine Judiciary (Bangalore Draft)
2. Code of Judicial Conduct
B. Qualities
1. Independence
2. Integrity
3. Impartiality
4. Propriety
5. Equality
6. Competence and diligence
C. Discipline of members of the Judiciary
1. Members of the Supreme Court
a) Impeachment
2. Lower court judges and justices
3. Grounds
4. Impeachment
5. Sanctions imposed by the Supreme Court on erring members of the Judiciary
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INCLUDE: Pertinent Supreme Court decisions promulgated up to January 31, 2012.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This bar coverage description is not intended and should not be used by
law schools as a syllabus or course outline in the covered subjects. It has been drawn up for
the limited purpose of ensuring that candidates reviewing for the bar examinations are guided
on what basic and minimum amounts of laws, doctrines, and principles they need to know and
be able to use correctly before they can be licensed to practice law. More is required for
excellent and distinguished work as members of the Bar.

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SYLLABUS FOR THE 2012 BAR EXAMINATIONS
REMEDIAL LAW
I. General Principles
A. Concept of remedial law
B. Substantive law as distinguished from remedial law
C. Rule-making power of the Supreme Court
1. Limitations on the rule-making power of the Supreme Court
2. Power of the Supreme Court to amend and suspend procedural rules
D. Nature of Philippine courts
1. Meaning of a court
2. Court as distinguished from a judge
3. Classification of Philippine courts
4. Courts of original and appellate jurisdiction
5. Courts of general and special jurisdiction
6. Constitutional and statutory courts
7. Courts of law and equity
8. Principle of judicial hierarchy
9. Doctrine of non-interference or doctrine of judicial stability
II. Jurisdiction
A. Jurisdiction over the parties
1. How jurisdiction over the plaintiff is acquired
2. How jurisdiction over the defendant is acquired
B. Jurisdiction over the subject matter
1. Meaning of jurisdiction over the subject matter
2. Jurisdiction versus the exercise of jurisdiction
3. Error of jurisdiction as distinguished from error of judgment
4. How jurisdiction is conferred and determined
5. Doctrine of primary jurisdiction
6. Doctrine of adherence of jurisdiction
7. Objections to jurisdiction over the subject matter
8. Effect of estoppel on objections to jurisdiction
C. Jurisdiction over the issues
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D. Jurisdiction over the res or property in litigation
E. Jurisdiction of courts
1. Supreme Court
2. Court of Appeals
3. Court of Tax Appeals
4. Sandiganbayan
5. Regional Trial Courts
6. Family Courts
7. Metropolitan Trial Courts/Municipal Trial Courts
8. Shariah Courts
F. Jurisdiction over small claims, cases covered by the Rules on Summary Procedure and
barangay conciliation
G. Totality rule
III. Civil Procedure
A. Actions
1. Meaning of ordinary civil actions
2. Meaning of special civil actions
3. Meaning of criminal actions
4. Civil actions versus special proceedings
5. Personal actions and real actions
6. Local and transitory actions
7. Actions in rem, in personam and quasi in rem
B. Cause of action
1. Meaning of cause of action
2. Right of action versus cause of action
3. Failure to state a cause of action
4. Test of the sufficiency of a cause of action
5. Splitting a single cause of action and its effects
6. Joinder and misjoinder of causes of action
C. Parties to civil actions
1. Real parties in interest; indispensable parties;
Representatives as parties; necessary parties; indigent parties; alternative
Defendants
2. Compulsory and permissive joinder of parties
3. Misjoinder and non-joinder of parties
4. Class suit
5. Suits against entities without juridical personality
6. Effect of death of party litigant
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D. Venue
1. Venue versus jurisdiction
2. Venue of real actions
3. Venue of personal actions
4. Venue of actions against non-residents
5. When the rules on venue do not apply
6. Effects of stipulations on venue
E. Pleadings
1. Kinds of pleadings
a) Complaint
b) Answer
(i) Negative defenses
(ii) Negative pregnant
(iii) Affirmative defenses
c) Counterclaims
(i) Compulsory counterclaim
(ii) Permissive counterclaim
(iii) Effect on the counterclaim when the complaint is dismissed
d) Cross-claims
e) Third (fourth, etc.) party complaints
f) Complaint-in-intervention
g) Reply
2. Pleadings allowed in small claim cases and cases covered by the Rules on
Summary Procedure
3. Parts of a pleading
a) Caption
b) Signature and address
c) Verification and certification against forum shopping
(i) Requirements of a corporation executing the
verification/certification of non-forum shopping
d) Effect of the signature of counsel in a pleading
4. Allegations in a pleading
a) Manner of making allegations
(i) Condition precedent
(ii) Fraud, mistake, malice, intent, knowledge and other condition
of the mind, judgments, official documents or acts
b) Pleading an actionable document
c) Specific denials
(i) Effect of failure to make specific denials
(ii) When a specific denial requires an oath
5. Effect of failure to plead
a) Failure to plead defenses and objections
b) Failure to plead a compulsory counterclaim and cross-claim
6. Default
a) When a declaration of default is proper
b) Effect of an order of default
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c) Relief from an order of default
d) Effect of a partial default
e) Extent of relief
f) Actions where default are not allowed
7. Filing and service of pleadings
a) Payment of docket fees
b) Filing versus service of pleadings
c) Periods of filing of pleadings
d) Manner of filing
e) Modes of service
(i) Personal service
(ii) Service by mail
(iii) Substituted service
(iv) Service of judgments, final orders or resolutions
(v) Priorities in modes of service and filing
(vi) When service is deemed complete
(vii) Proof of filing and service
8. Amendment
a) Amendment as a matter of right
b) Amendments by leave of court
c) Formal amendment
d) Amendments to conform to or authorize presentation of evidence
e) Different from supplemental pleadings
f) Effect of amended pleading
F. Summons
1. Nature and purpose of summons in relation to actions in personam, in rem
and quasi in rem
2. Voluntary appearance
3. Personal service
4. Substituted service
5. Constructive service (by publication)
a) Service upon a defendant where his identity is unknown or where his
whereabouts are unknown
b) Service upon residents temporarily outside the
Philippines
6. Extra-territorial service, when allowed
7. Service upon prisoners and minors
8. Proof of service
G. Motions
1. Motions in general
a) Definition of a motion
b) Motions versus pleadings
c) Contents and form of motions
d) Notice of hearing and hearing of motions
e) Omnibus motion rule
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f) Litigated and ex parte motions
g) Pro-forma motions
2. Motions for bill of particulars
a) Purpose and when applied for
b) Actions of the court
c) Compliance with the order and effect of noncompliance
d) Effect on the period to file a responsive pleading
3. Motion to dismiss
a) Grounds
b) Resolution of motion
c) Remedies of plaintiff when the complaint is dismissed
d) Remedies of the defendant when the motion is denied
e) Effect of dismissal of complaint on certain grounds
f) When grounds pleaded as affirmative defenses
g) Bar by dismissal
h) Distinguished from demurrer to evidence under Rule 33
H. Dismissal of actions
1. Dismissal upon notice by plaintiff; two-dismissal rule
2. Dismissal upon motion by plaintiff; effect on existing counterclaim
3. Dismissal due to the fault of plaintiff
4. Dismissal of counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party complaint
I. Pre-trial
1. Concept of pre-trial
2. Nature and purpose
3. Notice of pre-trial
4. Appearance of parties; effect of failure to appear
5. Pre-trial brief; effect of failure to appear
6. Distinction between pre-trial in civil case and pre-trial in criminal case
7. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
J. Intervention
1. Requisites for intervention
2. Time to intervene
3. Remedy for the denial of motion to intervene
K. Subpoena
1. Subpoena duces tecum
2. Subpoena ad testificandum
3. Service of subpoena
4. Compelling attendance of witnesses; contempt
5. Quashing of subpoena
L. Modes of discovery
1. Depositions pending action; depositions before action or pending appeal
a) Meaning of deposition
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b) Uses; scope of examination
c) When may objections to admissibility be made
d) When may taking of deposition be terminated or its scope limited
2. Written interrogatories to adverse parties
a) Consequences of refusal to answer
b) Effect of failure to serve written interrogatories
3. Request for admission
a) Implied admission by adverse party
b) Consequences of failure to answer request for admission
c) Effect of admission
d) Effect of failure to file and serve request for admission
4. Production or inspection of documents or things
5. Physical and mental examination of persons
6. Consequences of refusal to comply with modes of discovery
M. Trial
1. Adjournments and postponements
2. Requisites of motion to postpone trial
a) For absence of evidence
b) For illness of party or counsel
3. Agreed statement of facts
4. Order of trial; reversal of order
5. Consolidation or severance of hearing or trial
6. Delegation of reception of evidence
7. Trial by commissioners
a) Reference by consent or ordered on motion
b) Powers of the commissioner
c) Commissioner’s report; notice to parties and hearing on the report
N. Demurrer to evidence
1. Ground
2. Effect of denial
3. Effect of grant
4. Waiver of right to present evidence
5. Demurrer to evidence in a civil case versus demurrer to evidence in a criminal
case
O. Judgments and final orders
1. Judgment without trial
2. Contents of a judgment
3. Judgment on the pleadings
4. Summary judgments
a) For the claimant
b) For the defendant
c) When the case not fully adjudicated
d) Affidavits and attachments
5. Judgment on the pleadings versus summary judgments
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6. Rendition of judgments and final orders
7. Entry of judgment and final order
P. Post-judgment remedies
1. Motion for new trial or reconsideration
a) Grounds
b) When to file
c) Denial of the motion; effect
d) Grant of the motion; effect
e) Remedy when motion is denied, fresh 15-day period rule
2. Appeals in general
a) Judgments and final orders subject to appeal
b) Matters not appealable
c) Remedy against judgments and orders which are not appealable
d) Modes of appeal
(i) Ordinary appeal
(ii) Petition for review
(iii) Petition for review on certiorari
e) Issues to be raised on appeal
f) Period of appeal
g) Perfection of appeal
h) Appeal from judgments or final orders of the MTC
i) Appeal from judgments or final orders of the RTC
j) Appeal from judgments or final orders of the CA
k) Appeal from judgments or final orders of the CTA
l). Review of final judgments or final orders of the COA
m) Review of final judgments or final orders of the Comelec
n) Review of final judgments or final orders of the CSC
o) Review of final judgments or final orders of the Ombudsman
p) Review of final judgments or final orders of the NLRC
q) Review of final judgments or final orders of quasi-judicial agencies
3. Relief from judgments, orders and other proceedings
a) Grounds for availing of the remedy
b) Time to file petition
c) Contents of petition
4. Annulment of judgments or final orders and resolutions
a) Grounds for annulment
b) Period to file action
c) Effects of judgment of annulment
5. Collateral attack of judgments
Q. Execution, satisfaction and effect of judgments
1. Difference between finality of judgment for purposes of appeal; for purposes
of execution
2. When execution shall issue
a) Execution as a matter of right
b) Discretionary execution
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3. How a judgment is executed
a) Execution by motion or by independent action
b) Issuance and contents of a writ of execution
c) Execution of judgments for money
d) Execution of judgments for specific acts
e) Execution of special judgments
f) Effect of levy on third persons
4. Properties exempt from execution
5. Proceedings where property is claimed by third persons
a) In relation to third party claim in attachment and replevin
6. Rules on redemption
7. Examination of judgment obligor when judgment is unsatisfied
8. Examination of obligor of judgment obligor
9. Effect of judgment or final orders
10. Enforcement and effect of foreign judgments or final orders
R. Provisional remedies
1. Nature of provisional remedies
2. Jurisdiction over provisional remedies
3. Preliminary attachment
a) Grounds for issuance of writ of attachment
b) Requisites
c) Issuance and contents of order of attachment; affidavit and bond
d) Rule on prior or contemporaneous service of summons
e) Manner of attaching real and personal property; when property
attached is claimed by third person
f) Discharge of attachment and the counter-bond
g) Satisfaction of judgment out of property attached
4. Preliminary injunction
a) Definitions and differences: preliminary injunction and temporary
restraining order
b) Requisites
c) Kinds of injunction
d) When writ may be issued
e) Grounds for issuance of preliminary injunction
f) Grounds for objection to, or for the dissolution of injunction or
restraining order
g) Duration of TRO
h) In relation to R.A. 8975, ban on issuance of TRO or writ of injunction
in cases involving government infrastructure projects
i) Rule on prior or contemporaneous service of summons in relation to
attachment
5. Receivership
a) Cases when receiver may be appointed
b) Requisites
c) Requirements before issuance of an order
d) General powers of a receiver
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e) Two kinds of bonds
f) Termination of receivership
6. Replevin
a) When may writ be issued
b) Requisites
c) Affidavit and bond; redelivery bond
d) Sheriff’s duty in the implementation of the writ; when property is
claimed by third party
S. Special civil actions
1. Nature of special civil actions
2. Ordinary civil actions versus special civil actions
3. Jurisdiction and venue
4. Interpleader
a) Requisites for interpleader
b) When to file
5. Declaratory reliefs and similar remedies
a) Who may file the action
b) Requisites of action for declaratory relief
c) When court may refuse to make judicial declaration
d) Conversion to ordinary action
e) Proceedings considered as similar remedies
(i) Reformation of an instrument
(ii) Consolidation of ownership
(iii) Quieting of title to real property
6. Review of judgments and final orders or resolution of the Comelec and COA
a) Application of Rule 65 under Rule 64
b) Distinction in the application of Rule 65 to judgments of the Comelec
and COA and the application of Rule 65 to other tribunals, persons and
officers
7. Certiorari, prohibition and mandamus
a) Definitions and distinctions
(i) Certiorari distinguished from appeal by certiorari
(ii) Prohibition and mandamus distinguished from injunction
b) Requisites
c) When petition for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus is proper
d) Injunctive relief
e) Exceptions to filing of motion for reconsideration before filing petition
f) Reliefs petitioner is entitled to
g) Actions/omissions of MTC/RTC in election cases
h) When and where to file petition
i) Effects of filing of an unmeritorious petition
8. Quo warranto
a) Distinguish from quo warranto in the omnibus election code
b) When government commence an action against individuals
c) When individual may commence an action
d) Judgment in quo warranto action
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e) Rights of a person adjudged entitled to public office
9. Expropriation
a) Matters to allege in complaint for expropriation
b) Two stages in every action for expropriation
c) When plaintiff can immediately enter into possession of the real
property, in relation to R.A. 8974
d) New system of immediate payment of initial just compensation
e) Defenses and objections
f) Order of expropriation
g) Ascertainment of just compensation
h) Appointment of commissioners; commissioner’s report; court action
upon commissioner’s report
i) Rights of plaintiff upon judgment and payment
j) Effect of recording of judgment
10. Foreclosure of real estate mortgage
a) Judgment on foreclosure for payment or sale
b) Sale of mortgaged property; effect
c) Disposition of proceeds of sale
d) Deficiency judgment
(i) Instances when court cannot render deficiency judgment
e) Judicial foreclosure versus extrajudicial foreclosure
f) Equity of redemption versus right of redemption
11. Partition
a) Who may file complaint; who should be made defendants
b) Matters to allege in the complaint for partition
c) Two stages in every action for partition
d) Order of partition and partition by agreement
e) Partition by commissioners; appointment of commissioners,
commissioner’s report; court action upon commissioner’s report
f) Judgment and its effects
g) Partition of personal property
h) Prescription of action
12. Forcible entry and unlawful detainer
a) Definitions and distinction
b) Distinguished from accion publiciana and accion reivindicatoria
c) How to determine jurisdiction in accion publiciana and accion
reivindicatoria
d) Who may institute the action and when; against whom the action may
be maintained
e) Pleadings allowed
f) Action on the complaint
g) When demand is necessary
h) Preliminary injunction and preliminary mandatory injunction
i) Resolving defense of ownership
j) How to stay the immediate execution of judgment
k) Summary procedure, prohibited pleadings
13. Contempt
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a) Kinds of contempt
b) Purpose and nature of each
c) Remedy against direct contempt; penalty
d) Remedy against indirect contempt; penalty
e) How contempt proceedings are commenced
f) Acts deemed punishable as indirect contempt
g) When imprisonment shall be imposed
h) Contempt against quasi-judicial bodies
IV. Special Proceedings
A. Settlement of estate of deceased persons, venue and process
1. Which court has jurisdiction
2. Venue in judicial settlement of estate
3. Extent of jurisdiction of probate court
4. Powers and duties of probate court
B. Summary settlement of estates
1. Extrajudicial settlement by agreement between heirs, when allowed
2. Two-year prescriptive period
3. Affidavit of self-adjudication by sole heir
4. Summary settlement of estates of small value, when allowed
5. Remedies of aggrieved parties after extra-judicial settlement of estate
C. Production and probate of will
1. Nature of probate proceeding
2. Who may petition for probate; persons entitled to notice
D. Allowance or disallowance of will
1. Contents of petition for allowance of will
2. Grounds for disallowing a will
3. Reprobate
a) Requisites before a will proved abroad will be allowed in the Philippines
4. Effects of probate
E. Letters testamentary and of administration
1. When and to whom letters of administration granted
2. Order of preference
3. Opposition to issuance of letters testamentary; simultaneous filing of petition
for administration
4. Powers and duties of executors and administrators; restrictions on the powers
5. Appointment of special administrator
6. Grounds for removal of administrator
F. Claims against the estate
1. Time within which claims shall be filed; exceptions
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2. Statute of non-claims
3. Claim of executor or administrator against the estate
4. Payment of debts
G. Actions by and against executors and administrators
1. Actions that may be brought against executors and administrators
2. Requisites before creditor may bring an action for recovery of property
fraudulently conveyed by the deceased
H. Distribution and partition
1. Liquidation
2. Project of partition
3. Remedy of an heir entitled to residue but not given his share
4. Instances when probate court may issue writ of execution
I. Trustees
1. Distinguished from executor/administrator
2. Conditions of the bond
3. Requisites for the removal and resignation of a trustee
4. Grounds for removal and resignation of a trustee
5. Extent of authority of trustee
J. Escheat
1. When to file
2. Requisites for filing of petition
3. Remedy of respondent against petition; period for filing a claim
K. Guardianship
1. General powers and duties of guardians
2. Conditions of the bond of the guardian
3. Rule on guardianship over minor
L. Adoption
1. Distinguish domestic adoption from inter-country adoption
2. Domestic Adoption Act
a) Effects of adoption
b) Instances when adoption may be rescinded
c) Effects of rescission of adoption
3. Inter-country adoption
a) When allowed
b) Functions of the RTC
c) “Best interest of the minor” standard
M. Writ of habeas corpus
1. Contents of the petition
2. Contents of the return
3. Distinguish peremptory writ from preliminary citation
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4. When not proper/applicable
5. When writ disallowed/discharged
6. Distinguish from writ of amparo and habeas data
7. Rules on Custody of Minors and Writ of Habeas Corpus in Relation to Custody
of Minors (A.M. No. 03-04-04-SC)
N. Writ of Amparo (A.M. No. 07-9-12-SC)
1. Coverage
2. Distinguish from habeas corpus and habeas data
3. Differences between amparo and search warrant
4. Who may file
5. Contents of return
6. Effects of failure to file return
7. Omnibus waiver rule
8. Procedure for hearing
9. Institution of separate action
10. Effect of filing of a criminal action
11. Consolidation
12. Interim reliefs available to petitioner and respondent
13. Quantum of proof in application for issuance of writ of amparo
O. Writ of Habeas Data (A.M. No. 08-1-16-SC)
1. Scope of writ
2. Availability of writ
3. Distinguish from habeas corpus and amparo
4. Who may file
5. Contents of the petition
6. Contents of return
7. Instances when petition be heard in chambers
8. Consolidation
9. Effect of filing of a criminal action
10. Institution of separate action
11. Quantum of proof in application for issuance of writ of amparo
P. Change of name
1. Differences under Rule 103, R.A. 9048 and Rule 108
2. Grounds for change of name
Q. Absentees
1. Purpose of the rule
2. Who may file; when to file
R. Cancellation or correction of entries in the civil registry
1. Entries subject to cancellation or correction under Rule 108, in relation to R.A.
9048
S. Appeals in special proceeding
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1. Judgments and orders for which appeal may be taken
2. When to appeal
3. Modes of appeal
4. Rule on advance distribution
V. Criminal Procedure
A. General matters
1. Distinguish jurisdiction over subject matter from jurisdiction over person of the
accused
2. Requisites for exercise of criminal jurisdiction
3. Jurisdiction of criminal courts
4. When injunction may be issued to restrain criminal prosecution
B. Prosecution of offenses
1. Criminal actions, how instituted
2. Who may file them, crimes that cannot be prosecuted de officio
3. Criminal actions, when enjoined
4. Control of prosecution
5. Sufficiency of complaint or information
6. Designation of offense
7. Cause of the accusation
8. Duplicity of the offense; exception
9. Amendment or substitution of complaint or information
10. Venue of criminal actions
11. Intervention of offended party
C. Prosecution of civil action
1. Rule on implied institution of civil action with criminal action
2. When civil action may proceed independently
3. When separate civil action is suspended
4. Effect of the death of accused or convict on civil action
5. Prejudicial question
6. Rule on filing fees in civil action deemed instituted with the criminal action
D. Preliminary investigation
1. Nature of right
2. Purposes of preliminary investigation
3. Who may conduct determination of existence of probable cause
4. Resolution of investigation prosecutor
5. Review
6. When warrant of arrest may issue
7. Cases not requiring a preliminary investigation
8. Remedies of accused if there was no preliminary investigation
9. Inquest
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E. Arrest
1. Arrest, how made
2. Arrest without warrant, when lawful
3. Method of arrest
a) By officer with warrant
b) By officer without warrant
c) By private person
4. Requisites of a valid warrant of arrest
5. Determination of probable cause for issuance of warrant of arrest
6. Distinguish probable cause of fiscal from that of a judge
F. Bail
1. Nature
2. When a matter of right; exceptions
3. When a matter of discretion
4. Hearing of application for bail in capital offenses
5. Guidelines in fixing amount of bail
6. Bail when not required
7. Increase or reduction of bail
8. Forfeiture and cancellation of bail
9. Application not a bar to objections in illegal arrest, lack of or irregular
preliminary investigation
10. Hold departure order & bureau of immigration watch list
G. Rights of the accused
1. Rights of accused at the trial
2. Rights of persons under custodial investigation
H. Arraignment and plea
1. Arraignment and plea, how made
2. When should plea of not guilty be entered
3. When may accused enter a plea of guilty to a lesser offense
4. Accused plead guilty to capital offense, what the court should do
5. Searching inquiry
6. Improvident plea
7. Grounds for suspension of arraignment
I. Motion to quash
1. Grounds
2. Distinguish from demurrer to evidence
3. Effects of sustaining the motion to quash
4. Exception to the rule that sustaining the motion is not a bar to another
prosecution
5. Double jeopardy
6. Provisional dismissal
J. Pre-trial
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1. Matters to be considered during pre-trial
2. What the court should do when prosecution and offended party agree to the
plea offered by the accused
3. Pre-trial agreement
4. Non-appearance during pre-trial
5. Pre-trial order
6. Referral of some cases for court annexed mediation and judicial dispute
resolution
K. Trial
1. Instances when presence of accused is required by law
2. Requisite before trial can be suspended on account of absence of witness
3. Trial in absentia
4. Remedy when accused is not brought to trial within the prescribed period
5. Requisites for discharge of accused to become a state witness
6. Effects of discharge of accused as state witness
7. Demurrer to evidence
L. Judgment
1. Requisites of a judgment
2. Contents of judgment
3. Promulgation of judgment; instances of promulgation of judgment in absentia
4. When does judgment become final (four instances)
M. New trial or reconsideration
1. Grounds for new trial
2. Grounds for reconsideration
3. Requisites before a new trial may be granted on ground of newly discovered
evidence
4. Effects of granting a new trial or reconsideration
5. Application of Neypes doctrine in criminal cases
N. Appeal
1. Effect of an appeal
2. Where to appeal
3. How appeal taken
4. Effect of appeal by any of several accused
5. Grounds for dismissal of appeal
O. Search and seizure
1. Nature of search warrant
2. Distinguish from warrant of arrest
3. Application for search warrant, where filed
4. Probable cause
5. Personal examination by judge of the applicant and witnesses
6. Particularity of place to be searched and things to be seized
7. Personal property to be seized
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8. Exceptions to search warrant requirement
a) Search incidental to lawful arrest
b) Consented search
c) Search of moving vehicle
d) Check points; body checks in airport
e) Plain view situation
f) Stop and frisk situation
g) Enforcement of custom laws
h) Remedies from unlawful search and seizure
P. Provisional remedies
1. Nature
2. Kinds of provisional remedies
VI. Evidence
A. General principles
1. Concept of evidence
2. Scope of the Rules on Evidence
3. Evidence in civil cases versus evidence in criminal cases
4. Proof versus evidence
5. Factum probans versus factum probandum
6. Admissibility of evidence
a) Requisites for admissibility of evidence
b) Relevance of evidence and collateral matters
c) Multiple admissibility
d) Conditional admissibility
e) Curative admissibility
f) Direct and circumstantial evidence
g) Positive and negative evidence
h) Competent and credible evidence
7. Burden of proof and burden of evidence
8. Presumptions
a) Conclusive presumptions
b) Disputable presumptions
9. Liberal construction of the rules of evidence
10. Quantum of evidence (weight and sufficiency of evidence)
a) Proof beyond reasonable doubt
b) Preponderance of evidence
c) Substantial evidence
d) Clear and convincing evidence
B. Judicial notice and judicial admissions
1. What need not be proved
2. Matters of judicial notice
a) Mandatory
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b) Discretionary
3. Judicial admissions
a) Effect of judicial admissions
b) How judicial admissions may be contradicted
4. Judicial notice of foreign laws, law of nations and municipal ordinance
C. Object (real) evidence
1. Nature of object evidence
2. Requisites for admissibility
3. Categories of object evidence
4. Demonstrative evidence
5. View of an object or scene
6. Chain of custody in relation to Section 21 of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs
Act of 2002
7. Rule on DNA Evidence (A.M. No. 06-11-5-SC)
a) Meaning of DNA
b) Applicable for DNA testing order
c) Post-conviction DNA testing; remedy
d) Assessment of probative value of DNA evidence and admissibility
e) Rules on evaluation of reliability of the DNA testing methodology
D. Documentary evidence
1. Meaning of documentary evidence
2. Requisites for admissibility
3. Best Evidence Rule
a) Meaning of the rule
b) When applicable
c) Meaning of original
d) Requisites for introduction of secondary evidence
4. Rules on Electronic Evidence (A.M. No. 01-7-01-SC)
a) Meaning of electronic evidence; electronic data massage
b) Probative value of electronic documents or evidentiary weight; method of proof
c) Authentication of electronic documents and electronic signatures
d) Electronic documents and the hearsay rule
e) Audio, photographic, video and ephemeral evidence
5. Parol Evidence Rule
a) Application of the parol evidence rule
b) When parol evidence can be introduced
c) Distinctions between the best evidence rule and parol evidence rule
6. Authentication and proof of documents
a) Meaning of authentication
b) Public and private documents
c) When a private writing requires authentication; proof of a private writing
d) When evidence of authenticity of a private writing is not required (ancient
documents)
e) How to prove genuineness of a handwriting
f) Public documents as evidence; proof of official record
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g) Attestation of a copy
h) Public record of a public document
i) Proof of lack of record
j) How a judicial record is impeached
k) Proof of notarial documents
l) How to explain alterations in a document
m) Documentary evidence in an unofficial language
E. Testimonial evidence
1. Qualifications of a witness
2. Competency versus credibility of a witness
3. Disqualifications of witnesses
a) Disqualification by reason of mental capacity or immaturity
b) Disqualification by reason of marriage
c) Disqualification by reason of death or insanity of adverse party
d) Disqualification by reason of privileged communications
(i) Husband and wife
(ii) Attorney and client
(iii) Physician and patient
(iv). Priest and penitent
(v). Public officers
(vi). Parental and filial privilege rule
4. Examination of a witness
a) Rights and obligations of a witness
b) Order in the examination of an individual witness
(i) Direct examination
(ii) Cross examination
(iii) Re-direct examination
(iv) Re-cross examination
(v) Recalling the witness
c) Leading and misleading questions
d) Methods of impeachment of adverse party’s witness
e) How the witness is impeached by evidence of inconsistent statements (laying
the predicate)
f) Evidence of the good character of a witness
5. Admissions and confessions
a) Res inter alios acta rule
b) Admission by a party
c) Admission by a third party
d) Admission by a co-partner or agent
e) Admission by a conspirator
f) Admission by privies
g) Admission by silence
h) Confessions
i) Similar acts as evidence
6. Hearsay Rule
a) Meaning of hearsay
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b) Reason for exclusion of hearsay evidence
c) Exceptions to the hearsay rule
(i) Dying declaration
(ii) Declaration against interest
(iii) Act or declaration about pedigree
(iv) Family reputation or tradition regarding pedigree
(v) Common reputation
(vi) Part of the res gestae
(vii) Entries in the course of business
(viii) Entries in official records
(ix) Commercial lists and the like
(x) Learned treaties
(xi) Testimony or deposition at a former trial
7. Opinion rule
a) Opinion of expert witness
b) Opinion of ordinary witness
8. Character evidence
a) Criminal cases
b) Civil cases
9. Rule on Examination of a Child witness (A.M. No. 004-07-SC)
a) Applicability of the rule
b) Meaning of “child witness”
c) Competency of a child witness
d) Examination of a child witness
e) Live-link TV testimony of a child witness
f) Videotaped deposition of a child witness
g) Hearsay exception in child abuse cases
h) Sexual abuse shield rule
i) Protective orders
F. Offer and objection
1. Offer of evidence
2. When to make an offer
3. Objection
4. Repetition of an objection
5. Ruling
6. Striking out of an answer
7. Tender of excluded evidence
G. Supreme Court rulings as of January 31, 2012
VII. Revised Rules on Summary Procedure
A. Cases covered by the rule
B. Effect of failure to answer
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C. Preliminary conference and appearances of parties
VIII. Katarungang Pambarangay
A. Cases covered
B. Subject matter for amicable settlement
C. Venue
D. When parties may directly go to court
E. Execution
F. Repudiation
IX. Rule of Procedure for Small Claims Cases (A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC)
A. Scope and applicability of the rule
B. Commencement of small claims action; response
C. Prohibited pleadings and motions
D. Appearances
E. Hearing; duty of the judge
F. Finality of judgment
X. Rules of Procedure for Environmental Cases (A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC)
A. Scope and applicability of the rule
B. Civil procedure
1. Prohibition against temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction
2. Pre-trial conference; consent decree
3. Prohibited pleadings and motions
4. Temporary environmental protection order (TEPO)
5. Judgment and execution; reliefs in a citizen’s suit
6. Permanent environmental protection order; writ of continuing mandamus
7. Strategic lawsuit against public participation
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C. Special proceedings
1. Writ of Kalikasan
2. Prohibited pleadings and motions
3. Discovery measures
4. Writ of continuing mandamus
D. Criminal procedure
1. Who may file
2. Institution of criminal and civil action
3. Arrest without warrant, when valid
4. Procedure in the custody and disposition of seized items
5. Bail
6. Arraignment and plea
7. Pre-trial
8. Subsidiary liabilities
E. Evidence
1. Precautionary principle
2. Documentary evidence
INCLUDE: Pertinent Supreme Court decisions promulgated as of January 31, 2012.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This bar coverage description is not intended and should not be used by
law schools as a syllabus or course outline in the covered subjects. It has been drawn up for
the limited purpose of ensuring that candidates reviewing for the bar examinations are guided
on what basic and minimum amounts of laws, doctrines, and principles they need to know and
be able to use correctly before they can be licensed to practice law. More is required for
excellent and distinguished work as members of the Bar.