2025 Supreme Court decisions, pro-people

All over the whole world today, there is a global disappointment with established governments. And among the three branches of government: executive, legislative and judiciary, I can say without fear of plausible contradiction that the judicial branch is the most reliable, trustworthy, and most pro-people. Justices and other magistrates are the ones the people can rely upon to administer justice. Their decisions are based on facts and the law, rather than political expediency and partisan agenda.

The executive is headed by the president, the top politician of the nation. His decisions are motivated by political consideration and highly-partisan biases. The legislature is dominated by trapos from well-entrenched political dynasties, protectors of business interests, and defenders of the establishment. These politicians put their own selfish interests over the people’s welfare.

It’s only the judiciary that the people can truly rely upon. As a member of the Bar and as an officer of the Court, I’m pleased to report some landmark decisions promulgated by Supreme Court (SC) that upheld the rights of the people and enforced the law against corruption and abuses by public officials. I have always looked up to the SC as the most morally upright among the three branches of our government. In 2025, I was proven right again.

In People v. Pereda, the SC affirmed the conviction of three policemen for the 2017 murder of Kian de los Santos, 17, falsely accused of being a drug courier. That was an example of an extra-judicial killing which might have been impelled by the verbal pronouncements of a former president now facing trial before the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

In Gonzales v. Geronimo, the SC dismissed a court sheriff found guilty of accepting money in connection with a pending drug case. In that case, the SC emphasized that sheriffs must serve with honesty and diligence because the result of their tasks affect immensely the quality of the administration of justice. In Felongco v. Sanchez, the SC dismissed a Regional Trial Court clerk for receiving money from a litigant in exchange for finding a lawyer for him.

In Morales v. People, it was held by the SC that anyone who paid a party-list so that he could be included as a nominee and thus obtain a congressional seat cannot recover his money because no illegal claim can be made based on an unlawful contract. In Wijangco v. UCPB General Insurance Co., the SC held that when a carnapped vehicle is recovered, the insured isn’t obliged to return the proceeds of insurance he has already received.

In Aragones v. Alltech, it was ruled that once a company makes a job offer to the applicant and the latter accepts it, the management can no longer withdraw it. If the company refuses to give a job to the employee, that’s tantamount to illegal dismissal and the worker would be entitled to legal remedy under the Labor Code. In Amor v. Constant Packaging, when the security guard refuses entry to employees to the premises of the company, that is tantamount to constructive dismissal.

In Apolinario v. Heirs of De los Santos, the SC held that any person, even if not related to the children who are subjected to violence by their parents, may file a complaint against the offender because violations of the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Law are public offenses. In Mother Goose Special School System v. Spouses Pologanas, the SC ordered the school administration to pay damages to a boy who was bullied in school.

In Cambila v. Seabren Security, the security guards are entitled to overtime pay when management puts their working hours on a broken period and the breaks are too short that they couldn’t use them for personal purpose. That means that short break periods are considered as compensable work hours.

In totality all the foregoing decisions by the highest court of the land are deemed victories of the people, of labor and of the public in general. The SC is therefore the peoples' ultimate hope for justice in this country, something we cannot rely on the executive and the legislative to assure us of.

While the executive never ceases to exasperate the masses of poor citizens and the legislative is becoming exceedingly obnoxious, the SC remains "a breath of fresh air inside a catacomb of stench and decay." It is the only remaining bastion of hope and a safe refuge of sad and angry people.