The following are basic doctrines, principles, rules and theories in remedial law

that all law students and bar candidates should remember.

[1] AUTER ACTION PENDANT: It refers to the situation where two actions are
pending between the same parties for the same cause of action, so that one of
them becomes unnecessary and vexatious. It is based on the policy against
multiplicity of suits.

[2] BERRY RULE: Filing of motion for new trial based on newly discovered
evidence which cannot be produced in court despite exercise of due diligence,
and if considered would probably alter the outcome of the case.

[3] BUBBLE BURST THEORY: The rule on presumption of law shall not apply
in case there is evidence to the contrary.

[4] CHAIN OF CUSTODY: Is "the duly recorded authorized movements and

custody of seized drugs or controlled chemicals or plant sources of dangerous
drugs or laboratory equipment of each stage, from the time of
seizure/confiscation to receipt in the forensic laboratory to safekeeping to
presentation in court for destruction." (see also: People vs. Alivio, G.R. No.
177771, May 30, 2011).

[5] CONTINUING THREAT: In order that writ of amparo can be issued, the
threat on the right to life liberty or security must be actual and continuing and
not merely imaginary, thereby depriving the petitioner of his said right from the
inception up to the termination of the case.

[6] FALSA DEMONSTRATIO NON NOCET: It is a rule which states that where
there are two descriptions in a deed, the one as it were, super added to the
other, and one description being complete and sufficient in itself, and the other
which is subordinate and super added is incorrect, the incorrect description or
feature or circumstance of the description is rejected as a surplusage, and the
complete and correct description is allowed to stand alone. (Please see: Myers
vs. Ladd, 26 Ill, 515, 417)

[7] FRESH PERIOD: It is a procedural law as it prescribes a fresh period of 15

days within which an appeal may be made in the event that the motion for
reconsideration is denied by the lower court. Following the rule on retroactivity
of procedural laws, the “fresh period rule” should be applied to pending
actions, such as the present case. (Priscilla Alma Jose vs. Ramon Javellana, et
al., G.R. No. 158239, January 25, 2012)
[8] FRUIT OF THE POISONOUS TREE: The warrant issued by the judge did
not comply with the requisites of the law, and therefore, void, or when the
search made without warrant is unjustifiable, whether it is found or discovered
afterwards, cannot be used as evidence against the suspect. The items or
articles obtained are the “fruits of a poisoned tree.”(People vs. Burgos, 144
SCRA 1; People vs. Montilla, 285 SCRA 703; Manalili vs. CA, 280 SCRA 400)

[9] HYPOTHETICAL ADMISSION or PRESUMPTION OF TRUTH: When a

motion to dismiss is filed, the material allegations of the complaint are deemed
to be hypothetically admitted. This hypothetical admission, extends not only
from the relevant and material facts well pleaded in the complaint, but also to
inferences that may be fairly deduced from them. (The Municipality of Hagonoy,
Bulcan, et al. vs. Hon. Simeon Dumdum, Jr., G.R. No. 168289, March 22,
2010)

[10] IMMUTABILITY OF JUDGMENT: Once the judgment becomes final and

executory, it can no longer be amended, set aside, or disturbed

[11] INDEPENDENT RELEVANT STATEMENT: Regardless of the truth or

falsity of a statement, when what is relevant is the fact that such statement
has been made, the hearsay rule does not apply and the statement may be
shown. (Jose Espinelia.k.aDaniloEspineli vs. People of the Philippines, G.R. No.
179535, June 9, 2014)

[12] INTERLOCKING CONFESSION: These are extrajudicial confessions which

were independently made without collusion, are identical with each other in
their material respects and confirmatory of the other. They are, therefore, also
admissible as circumstantial evidence against their co-accused implicated
therein to show the probability of the latter’s actual participation in the
commission of the crime.

[13] JUDICIAL COURTESY: “[d]ue respect for the Supreme Court and practical
and ethical considerations should have prompted the appellate court wait for
the final determination of the petition [for certiorari] before taking cognizance of
the case and trying to render moot exactly what was before this [C]ourt.” The
principle of judicial courtesy applies only “if there is a strong probability that
the issues before the higher court would be rendered moot and moribund as a
result of the continuation of the proceedings in the lower court.”(Juan Trajano
aka Johnny vs. Uniwide Sales Warehouse ClubG.R. 190253, June 11, 2014)
[14] LAW OF THE CASE: It has been defined as the opinion delivered on a
former appeal, and means, more specifically, that whatever is once irrevocably
established as the controlling legal rule of decision between the same parties in
the same case continues to be the law of the case, whether correct on general
principles or not, so long as the facts on which such decision was predicated
continue to be the facts of the case before the court.

[15] MATERIAL DATES: Under the material dates rule, a petition must alleged
three (3) material dates which is necessary which are as follows: 1) The date
when the judgment or final order or resolution was received; 2) The date when
the motion for reconsideration or new trial was filed; and 3) The date when the
notice of the denial thereof was received. (Great Southern Maritime Services
Corporation vs. Acuna, 452 SCRA 422, February 28, 2005)

[16] NON-PROSEQUITUR: Once a case is dismissed for failure to prosecute,

the dismissal has the effect of an adjudication on the merits and is understood
to be with prejudice to the filing of another action unless otherwise provided in
the order of dismissal.

[17] NON-SUITED: Failure of the plaintiff to appear on the scheduled pre-trial

conference would result to the dismissal of the case with prejudice, unless
otherwise ordered by the court to be without prejudice.

[18] PARTY AUTONOMY: Parties have the freedom to expressly stipulate or

agree by virtue of written agreement on how their disputes will be settled by
submitting their differences to an arbitrator before an action may be
commenced in court.

[19] PRESUMED IDENTITY APPROACH: Where a foreign law is not pleaded

or, even if pleaded, is not proved, the presumption is that foreign law is the
same as ours. (ATCI Overseas Corporation, Amalia G. Ikdal And Ministry Of
Public Health-Kuwait Vs. Ma. JosefaEchin, G.R. No. 178551, October 11, 2010)

[20] PRIMARY JURISDICTION: When an administrative body is clothed with

original and exclusive jurisdiction, courts are utterly without power and
authority to exercise concurrently such jurisdiction. Accordingly, all the
proceedings of the court in violation of that doctrine and all orders and
decisions reached are null and void. (Manolito Agra, et al., vs. Commission on
Audit, G.R. No. 167807, December 6, 2011)
[21] RECOUPMENT: A compulsory counterclaim arises out of or is connected
with the transaction or occurrence constituting the subject matter of the
opposing party’s claim which does not require the presence of a third person
over whom the court cannot acquired jurisdiction;

[22] RELAXED ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE: In the proper resolution of the

case, the court has the discretion to admit rather inadmissible evidence
provided it has a relation to other evidence already presented which is relevant
to the fact in issue in the case.

[23] RES JUDICATA IN PRISON GREY: Accused cannot be twice put in

jeopardy of an offense, acquittal or conviction in either one will bar the
prosecution for another offense, or his was terminated without the express
consent of the accused.

[24] SET-OFF: A permissive counterclaim does not arise out of and is not
connected with the transaction or occurrence constituting the subject matter of
the opposing party’s claim which required the presence of a third person for its
adjudication;

[25] SEXUAL ABUSE SHIELD: The following evidence is not admissible in any
criminal proceeding involving alleged child sexual abuse: (1) Evidence offered to
prove that the alleged victim engaged in other sexual behavior; and(2) Evidence
offered to prove the sexual predisposition of the alleged victim. (b) Exception. —
Evidence of specific instances of sexual behavior by the alleged victim to prove
that a person other than the accused was the source of semen, injury, or other
physical evidence shall be admissible.

[26] STATUTE OF NON-CLAIMS: Immediately after granting letters

testamentary or administration, the court shall issue a notice requiring all
persons having money claims against the decedent to file them in the office of
the clerk of court which shall state the time of the filing of the claim against
estate, which shall not be more than twelve (12) months but less than six (6)
months after the date of first publication of the notice, but before distribution
is entered, upon application of an unpaid creditor who failed to file his claim,
the court on cause shown may allow the claim to be filed within the time not
exceeding one (10 month.
[27] STRONG ARM OF EQUITY: At times referred to as the “Strong Arm of
Equity,” [the Court has] consistently ruled that there is no power the exercise
of which is more delicate and which calls for greater circumspection than the
issuance of an injunction. It should only be extended in cases of great injury
where courts of law cannot afford an adequate or commensurate remedy in
damages; “in cases of extreme urgency; where the right is very clear; where
considerations of relative inconvenience bear strongly in complainant’s favor;
where there is a willful and unlawful invasion of plaintiff’s right against his
protest and remonstrance, the injury being a continuing one, and where the
effect of the mandatory injunction is rather to re-establish and maintain a pre-
existing continuing relation between the parties, recently and arbitrarily
interrupted by the defendant, than to establish a new relation.”(Thunder
Security and Investigation Agency vs. National Food Authority, supra)

[28] TRANSCENDENTAL IMPORTANCE: Suspension of the rules of procedure

in case the subject matter of the action is of great importance/involving
national interest;

[29] TWO-DISMISSAL: When the notice operates as an adjudication upon the

merits when filed by a plaintiff who has once dismissed in a competent court
an action based on or including the same claim.

[30] VIATORY RIGHT OF WITNESS: If the witness resides more than 100 km
from the place where he is to travel by the ordinary course of travel, or if he is a
detention prisoner and no permission is obtained from the court in which his
case is pending, then he cannot be compelled to attend the trial. The right is
available only in CIVIL cases.