Introduction To Law
Introduction To Law
The first refers to what is known as the state law while the second include
divine law, nature law, moral law, and physical law. (see M.J. Gamboa,
Introduction to Philippines Law, 6th ed., p. 3.)
SUBJECT OF LAW
State law, divine law, natural law, and moral law are comprised in the
definition of Law as a rule of action. They apply to men as rational being only. On
the other hand, physical law operates on all things, including men, without regards
to the latter’s use their will power and intelligence. It is called law only figurative
speaking.
Before proceeding with the discussion of state law, let us first dispose of
those laws with which the state is not directly concerned.
DIVINE LAW
Divine law is the law of religion and faith which concern itself with the
concept of sin (as contrasted with crime) and salvation.
(1) Source. __ It is formally promulgated by God and revealed or divulged to
mankind by means of direct revelation.
(a) Under the old Testament, divine law is embodied in the Ten
Commandments. It is believed by Christian that these laws were
formally given by God, through Moses, the great Hebrew prophet and
leader. (see C. Pascual, Legal Method, 2nd ed., pp.7-8.)
(b) Of course, divine law differs according to what one believes to have
been established and communicated to mankind by revelation. Thus,
to the Mohammedans, divine law is embodied in the Muslim Quoran.
(2) Sanction. __ The sanction of divine law lies in the assurance of certain
rewards and punishments in the present life or in the life to come. (Clark,
Elementary Law, p. 5.)
NATURAL LAW
Natural law may then be defined as the divine inspiration in man of the sense
of justice, fairness, and righteousness, not by divine revelation or formal
promulgation, but by internal dictates of reason alone.
(1) Binding force – Natural law is ever present and binding on all men
everywhere and at all times. There is in every man a basic understanding
of right and wrong based on an understanding of the fundamental
standard or criterion of good and evil. In other words, there are some acts
or conduct which man knows in his heart and his conscience, not by the
dictates of his moral nature, are simply good or bad evil.
Thus, we know that killing for the sake of killing or stealing for the sake of
stealing is bad or evil because it is contrary to what we believe is just, fair
or righteous. When we speak of this inward instinct if justice, fairness and
righteousness in man as divinely inspired by the dictates of his higher
nature, we are talking about natural law or the law of nature. (see C.
Pascual, The Nature and Elements of the Law, 1954 ed., pp. 9-10)
(2) Compared to divine law – While natural law and divine law are very
similar, they are not, however, the same. Divine Law, as the law of
religious faith, is made known to man by means, of direct revelation. On
the other hand, natural law is said to be impressed in man as the core of
this higher self at the very moment of being or, perhaps, even before that.
(see C. Pascual, Legal Method, 2nd ed., p.111.)
(3) Place in state law – Natural law has been regarded as the reasonable
basis of state law.
MORAL LAW
When we talk of moral law, we are speaking of the totality of the norms of
good and right conduct growing out of the collective sense of right and wrong of
every community.
(1) Determination of what is right and wrong – “At a comparatively early
stage of their existence human beings learned that it was good for the
welfare of the group that the privilege to determine what is right and
what is wrong was not left to each member of the group. The mores or
ways of life were then evolved which were always considered right and
correct, and obedience to them was demanded by the group.’’
(2) Sanction. – As distinguished from state law, there is no definite legal
sanction (punishment imposed by law like imprisonment and / or
payment of fines or damages) or violation of purely moral law. “If a
member of the community disregards the moral norms, a spontaneous
social reaction is produced in the form of public displeasure, contempt or
even indignation. If, on the other hand, there is conformity to the moral
norms, there is created spontaneous social response which may be in the
form of public pleasure, approval or even joy. “(see C. Pascual, The Nature
and Elements of Law, 1954 ed., p. 16.)
(3) Binding force. – Moral law is not absolute. It varies with the changing
times, conditions or convictions of the people. For example, polygamy is
considered immoral (it is also a crime) in the Philippines, whereas, it is
allowed in some parts of the world. Today’s fashions in women’s dress
are socially allowed but at different times, they would have been morally
condemned.
(4) Place in state law. – Moral Law, to a great extent, influences or shape
state law.
PHYSICAL LAW
“In the operation or course of nature, there are uniformities of actions and
order of sequence which are the physical phenomena that we sense and feel. They
known as the laws of physical science or physical science or physical law.”
(Ibid., p.19.)
(1) Order or regularity in nature – A law of physical science, being addressed
to object which have no power to disobey, is in reality nothing more than
an order or regularity in nature by which certain results follow certain
causes. (Clark, Elementary Law, p. 34)
(2) Called law only by analogy – In other words, this order or regularity is
called law only by analogy. “Examples of physical law are many. The more
conspicuous ones are the law of gravitation and the law of chemical
combination.” (see C. Pascual, Legal Method, 2nd ed., p.13)
STATE LAW
The kind of law, however, which particularly concerns, us in this work in the
state law or the law that law that is promulgated and enforced by the state.
(1) Other terms used. – This law is called positive law, municipal law, or
imperative law. It is the law that we refer to when we speak of law in
connection with obligations and contracts, marriage, the administrative
of justice, the conduct of elections, and entire governmental process
itself.
(2) Binding force. – As a rule of action, only state law is enforced by the state,
with the aid of its physical force, if necessary.
(3) Concern of state law. – The fields of state law. – The fields of state law
are different from those of divine law, natural law, and moral law. State
law does not concern itself with violations of the latter rules they also
constitute violations of its commands. A full examination of divine law
properly belongs to the fields of philosophical theology; of natural law, to
metaphysics; of moral law, to ethics; and of physical law, to physical
science or physics. (M.J. Gamboa, op. cit. p. 5.)
Leaving aside these topics, we proceed now with the consideration of state
law.
The Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Regional Trial
Courts are considered courts of general or superior jurisdiction.
(2) Special courts. – Aside from these courts, there is, under the
Constitution, a special anti-graft, the Sandiganbayan. (Art. XI, Sec.
4 thereof.) t forms part of the judicial hierarchy together with the
Court of Tax Appeals, a special tax court created by law, on the
same level as the Court of Appeals.
(a) Substantive law or that portion of the body of law creating, defining,
and regulating rights and duties which may be either public or private
in character. An example of substantive private law is the law on
obligations and contracts; and
(b) Adjective law or that portion of the body of law prescribing the
manner or procedure by which rights may be enforced or their
violations redressed. Sometimes, this is called remedial law or
procedural law. The provision of law which says that actions for the
recovery of real property shall be filed with the Regional Trial Court of
the region where the property or any part thereof lies, is an example
of private adjective law.
Rights and duties are useless unless they can be enforced. It is not
enough, therefore that the state regulates the rights and duties of all who
are subject to the law; it must also provide legal remedies by which
substantive law may be administered. Hence, the need for adjective law.
(a) Public law or the body of legal rules which regulates the rights and
duties arising from the relationship of the state to the people.
An example of public law is criminal law, the law which defines crimes
and provides for their punishment. In legal theory, when a person
commits a crime, he violates not only the right of the individual victim
but primarily that of the state because the crime disturbs the peace
and order of the state.
Also included are: international law or that law which governs the
relations among nations or states; constitutional law or that which
governs the relations between the state and its citizens; it establishes
the fundamental powers of the government; administrative law or
that which governs the methods by which the functions of
administrative authorities are to be performed; and criminal
procedure or that branch of private law which governs the methods of
trial and punishment in criminal cases; and
(b) Private law or the body of rules which regulates the relations of
individuals with one another for purely private ends. The law on
obligations and contracts comes under this heading because it deals
with the rights and obligations of the contracting parties only. The
state, however, is also involved in private law; it enforces private law
but simply as an arbiter and not as a party. (see M.J Gamboa,op.cit.,
p.98)
Included in private law are civil law, commercial or mercantile law, and
civil procedure. Civil procedure is that branch of private law which
provides for the means by which private rights may be enforced.
Law on obligations and contracts defined.
“The law of obligations and contracts is the body of rules which deals with
the nature and sources of obligations and the rights and duties arising
from agreements and the particular contracts.” (Ibid; see Art. 1307)
Civil Code of the Philippines.
The law on obligations and contracts is found in Republic Act No. 386,
otherwise known as the Civil Code of the Philippines. When we speak
of civil law, we refer to the law found primarily in our Civil Code.
The Civil Code of the Philippines is based mainly on the Civil Code of
Spain, which tooke effect in the Philippines on December 7, 1889. I t
was approved as Republic Act No. 386 on June 18, 1949 and took effect
on August 30, 1950.
Book IV also contains new provisions dealing with natural obligations which
are found in Title III, Articles 1423-1430.
Thus, ignorance of the provisions of the law imposing a penalty for illegal
possession of prohibited drugs, does not constitute a valid excuse for
their violation.