Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
November 29, 1920
In re Application of MAX SHOOP for admission to practice law

MALCOLM, J .:
Application has been made to this court by Max Shoop for admission to practice law in the
Philippines Islands under paragraph four of the Rules for the Examination of Candidates for
Admission to the Practice of Law, effective July 1, 1920. The supporting papers show that the
applicant has been admitted to practice, and has practiced for more than five years in the highest
court of the State of New York.
THE RULES
That portion of the rules of this court, in point, is as follows:
Applicants for admission who have been admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the
United States or in any circuit court of appeal or district court, therein, or in the highest court
of any State or territory of the United States, which State or territory by comity confers the
same privilege on attorneys admitted to practice in the Philippine Islands, and who can show
by satisfactory affidavits that they have practiced at least five years in any of said courts,
may, in the discretion of the court, be admitted without examination.
The above rule requires that New York State by comity confer the privilege of admission without
examination under similar circumstances to attorneys admitted to practice in the Philippine Islands.
The rule of the New York court permits admission without examination, in the discretion of the
Appellate Division in several cases, among which are the following:
1. Any person admitted to practice and who has practiced five years as a member of the bar
in the highest law court in any other state or territory of the American Union or in the District
of Columbia.
2. Any person admitted to practice and who has practiced five years in another country
whose jurisprudence is based on the principles of the English Common Law.
This court is advised informally that under this rule one member of the bar of the Philippine Islands
has been admitted to practice, without examination, in the State of New York, and one member of
the same bar has been refused such admission, the latter being the more recent case. The rulings of
the New York court have not been bought to the attention of this court authoritatively, but assuming
that reports of such rulings by the New York court are true, in view of the apparent conflict, it seems
proper to enter upon the consideration of whether or not under the New York rule as it exits the
principle of comity is established. It must be observed that under the rules of both jurisdictions,
admission in any particular case is in the discretion of the court. Refusal to admit in any particular
case is not necessarily conclusive as to the general principles established by the rules.
THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS A TERRITORY.
Under paragraph 1 of the New York rule, practice for five years in the highest court in any "State or
territory of the American Union" is the basic qualification. If the Philippine Islands is a territory of the
United States within the meaning of the word as used in that rule, comity would seem to exist.
The word "territory" has a general and a technical meaning. It is clear that the Philippine Islands is
not an "organized territory" incorporated into the United States under the constitution. (Dorr vs. U.S.,
195 U.S., 138.) It is likewise clear that the Philippine Islands is not a "foreign country." (The Diamond
Rings, 183 U.S., 176.) In the language of that case it is a "territory of the United States over which
civil government could be established." So also is Porto Rico (De Lima vs. Bidwell, 182 U.S., 1.) It
has been held that Porto Rico is not a foreign territory and that the United States laws covering
"territories." such as the Federal Employer's Liability Act, includes Porto Rico. (American Railroad
Co. of Porto Rico vs. Didricksen, 227 U.S., 145.) Porto Rico, Hawaii, and Alaska are now
incorporated, organized territories of the United States. (Muratti vs. Foote, 25 Porto Rico, 527;
Hawaii vs. Mankichi, 190 U.S., 197; Rasmussen vs. U.S., 197 U.S., 516.)
An opinion of the Attorney-General of the United States holds that
While, like Porto Rico, the Philippine Islands are not incorporated in the United States, they
clearly are territory of the United States and to the extent that Congress has assumed to
legislate for them, they have been granted a form of territorial government, and to this extent
are a territory. (30 Op. Atty.-Gen., U.S., 462, reversing 24 Op. Atty.-Gen. U.S., 549.)
Further, the Philippine Islands have been held not to be "another country" within the meaning of the
Cuban Commercial Treaty. (Faber vs. U.S., 221 U.S., 649.) Chief Justice Marshall, in construing the
phrase "United States" once observed:
Does this term designate the whole or any particular portion of the American Empire?
Certainly this question can admit of but one answer. It is the name given to our great
Republic, which is composed of states and territories. The District of Columbia or the territory
west of Missouri is not less within the United States than Maryland or Pennsylvania.
(Loughborough vs. Blake, 5 Wheat [U.S.], 317, at p. 319.)
This is the broad general view which would seem to have been the point of view of the New York
courts in using the phrase "Any state or territory of the American Union." The New York rule
contemplates "state," "territory," and "another country." It seems clear that the Philippine Islands is
not "another country." It is not believed that the New York court intended the word territory to be
limited to the technical meaning of organized territory, or it would have used the more accurate
expression. the full phraseology, "any state or territory of the American Union," indicates a sweeping
intention to include all of the territory of the United States, whatever the political subdivision might
be, as distinguished from foreign country. Otherwise, the Philippine Islands would be in an
anomalous position like unto Edward Everett Hale's "A Man Without a Country" a land neither
"another country," nor a "state," nor a "territory" a land without status.
Of course the construction of what is intended by the use of that phrase is for the New York courts
finally to determine, but in the absence of any authoritative decision from the New York courts on the
point, we feel justified in concluding that under paragraph 1 of the New York rule there exists
between that jurisdiction and this, with reference to admission of attorneys without examination, a
basis of comity sufficient to satisfy the requirement in the rule of this court in that regard.
A COMMON LAW JURISDICTION.
But assuming that comity is not permitted under paragraph 1 of the New York rule, we turn to a
consideration of whether or not it exits by virtue of paragraph 2. This rule applies to "another country
whose jurisprudence is based on the principles of the English Common Law." We have then further
to assume that if the Philippine Islands is not a "state or territory," that it must be "another country."
The question then presented is upon what principles is the present jurisprudence of these Islands
based? this is a question which can property be answered by this court. It is a problem, however,
upon which books could be and have been written. We will endeavor to make a brief analysis of the
situation.
What is "jurisprudence based on the principles of the English Common Law?" Jurisprudence is the
groundwork of the written law, or, as Bouvier defines it, "The science of law. The particular science
of giving a wise interpretation to the laws and making a just application of them to call cases as they
arise." In an untechnical sense, it sometimes means Case Law.
COMMON LAW IN THE UNITED STATES.
We must assume that the New York court, in using this phrase, considered that the jurisprudence of
New York State was based upon the principles of the English common Law. We should, therefore,
consider to what extent the English Common Law principles apply to New York. In a case in 1881
we find the following:
And the Common Law of England was the law of the colony at that date (April 19, 1775), so
far as it was applicable to the circumstances of the Colonists. And it has since continued so
to be, when conformable to our institutions, unless it was established by an English statute
which has since been abrogated or was rejected in colonial jurisprudence, or has been
abolished by our legislation. (cutting vs. Cutting, 86 N.Y., 522, p. 529.)
And again:
This court has interpreted this provision of the constitution to man not that all of the Common
Law of England was the law of the Colonists at the time of the making of the Constitution, but
only so much of it as was applicable to the circumstances of the Colonists and conformable
to our institutions. Cutting vs. Cutting, 86 N.Y., 522, p. 529; Williams vs. Williams, 8 N.Y.,
525, p. 541. (Shayne vs. Evening Post Publishing Co., 168 N.Y., 70, at p. 76.)
In Morgan vs. King (30 Barber [N.Y.], 9), the New York court said that in adopting the English
Common Law, New York adopted:
The written law of England as a constantly improving science rather than as an art; as a
system of legal logic, rather than as a code of rules, that is, that the fundamental
principles and modes of reasoning and the substance of the rules of the Common Law are
adopted as illustrated by the reasons on which they are based, rather than the mere words in
which they are expressed.
Once more, in 1903, the New York court said in connection with a question of the right of the public
to use the foreshore:lawph!l. net
In adopting the Common Law of the Mother country we did not incorporate into our system of
jurisprudence any principles which are essentially inconsonant with our circumstances or
repugnant to the spirit of our institutions. (Barnes vs. Midland Railroad Terminal Co., 193
N.Y., 378, at p. 384.)
The above statements of the New York court clearly indicate the scope of the English Common Law
in that state. In most of the States, including New York, codification and statute law have come to be
a very large proportion of the law of the jurisdiction, the remaining proportion being a system of case
law which has its roots, to a large but not an exclusive degree, in the old English cases. In fact,
present day commentators refer to American jurisprudence or Anglo-American jurisprudence as
distinguished from the English Common Law.
Accordingly, in speaking of a jurisprudence which is "based on the English Common Law," for
present purpose at least, it would seem property to say that the jurisprudence of a particular
jurisdiction is based upon the principles of that Common Law, if, as a matter of fact, its statute law
and its case law to a very large extent includes the science and application of law as laid Down by
the old English cases, as perpetuated and modified by the American cases.
COMMON LAW ADOPTED BY DECISION.
The concept of a common law is the concept of a growing and ever-changing system of legal
principles and theories. and it must be recognized that due to the modern tendency toward
codification (which was the principle of the Roman and Civil Law), there are no jurisdictions to-day
with a pure English Common Law, with the exception of England itself. In the United States the
English Common Law is blended with American codification and remnants of the Spanish and
French Civil Codes. There a legal metamorphosis has occurred similar to that which is transpiring in
this jurisdiction to-day. Some of the western states, which were carved out of the original Louisiana
territory, have adopted the Common Law by decision. (State vs. Twogood, 7 Iowa, 252;
Barlow vs. Lambert, 28 Alabama, 704; Parsons vs. Lindsay, 41 Kansas, 336; McKennen vs. Winn, 1
Okla., 327.)
Louisiana has long been recognized as the one State of the Union which retained a portion of the
Civil Law. In a case in 1842 in Louisiana, the court considered the question of whether a protest on a
promissory note had been made within the required time. The court rejected the straight Civil code
rule, and adopted the custom of New Orleans, which was the law of the sister States, saying:
The superior court of the late territory of Orleans very early held that although the laws of Spain were
not abrogated by the taking possession of the country by the United States, yet from that event the
commercial law of the Union became the commercial law of New Orleans; and this court has
frequently recognized the correctness of these early decisions, principally in bills of exchange,
promissory notes and insurance. (Wagner vs. Kenner, 2 Rob. [La.], 120.)
In Xiques vs. Bujac (7 La. Ann., 498, p. 504), the court after deciding a question involving the
dedication of real property according to the Civil code rules, said:
I must add that the general doctrine laid down in Common Law courts has been admitted by
our courts with some modification resulting from our different systems of law.lawph!l.net
Louisiana, by statute, adopted certain common law rules, and with reference to these the court said,
in State vs.McCoy (8 Rob. [La.], 545):
We concur with the counsel in believing that the legislature in adopting the Common Law
rules of proceeding, method of trial, etc., adopted the system as it existed in 1805, modified,
explained and perfected by statutory enactment, so far as those enactments are not found to
be inconsistent with the peculiar character and genius of our government and institution.
From this brief survey of the extent of the English Common Law basis in the States, we may
conclude (1) that the New York court in referring to a jurisdiction whose jurisprudence is based on
the English Common Law, uses the phrase in a general sense; and (2) that such Common Law may
become the basis of the jurisprudence by decision of the courts where practical considerations and
the effect of sovereignty gives ground for such a decision. If, in the Philippines Islands, a
comparatively young jurisdiction, English Common Law principles as embodied in Anglo-American
Jurisprudence are used and applied by the courts to the extent that such Common Law principles
are not in conflict with the local written laws, customs, and institutions as modified by the change of
sovereignty and subsequent legislation, and there is no other foreign case law system used to any
substantial extent, then it is proper to say in the sense of the New York rule that the "jurisprudence"
of the Philippine Islands is based on the English Common Law.
IN THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
The extent of the English or the Anglo-American Common Law here has not been definitely decided
by this court. But when the subject has been referred to by this court there has been a striking
similarity to the quotations from the American decisions above cited with reference to the English
Common Law.
In Alzua and Arnalot vs. Johnson (21 Phil., 308), this court, in passing upon an objection of counsel,
that while a certain rule was universally recognized and applied in the courts of England and the
United States, it was not the law in the Philippine Islands, said:
To this we answer that while it is true that the body of the Common Law as known to Anglo-
American jurisprudence is not in force in these Islands, "nor are the doctrines derived
therefrom binding upon our courts, save only in so far as they are founded on sound
principles applicable to local conditions, and are not in conflict with existing law"
(U.S. vs. Cuna, 12 Phil., 241); nevertheless many of the rules, principles, and doctrines of
the Common Law have, to all intents and purposes, been imported into this jurisdiction, as a
result of the enactment of new laws and the organization and establishment of new
institutions by the Congress of the United States or under its authority; for it will be found that
many of these laws can only be construed and applied with the aid of the Common Law from
which they are derived, and that to breathe the breath of life into many of the institutions
introduced in these Islands under American sovereignty recourse must be had to the rules,
principles, and doctrines of the Common Law under whose protecting aegis and prototypes
of these institutions had their birth.
x x x x x x x x x
And it is safe to say that in every volume of the Philippine Reports numbers of cases might
be cited wherein recourse has been had to the rules, principles and doctrines of the
Common Law in ascertaining the true meaning and scope of the legislation enacted in and
for the Philippine Islands since they passed under American sovereignty. (Pp. 331, 333.)
And later in speaking of the judicial system of the Philippines Islands (page 333):
The spirit with which it is informed, and indeed its very language and terminology would be
unintelligible without some knowledge of the judicial system of England and the United
States. Its manifest purpose and object was to replace the old judicial system, with its
incidents and traditions drawn from Spanish sources, with a new system modelled in all its
essential characteristics upon the judicial system of the United States. It cannot be doubted,
therefore, that any incident of the former system which conflicts with the essential principles
and settled doctrines on which the new system rests must be held to be abrogated by the
law organizing the new system.
In U.S. vs. De Guzman (30 Phil., 416), the court spoke as follows:
We have frequently held that, for the proper construction and application of the terms and
provisions of legislative enactments which have been borrowed from or modelled upon
Anglo-American precedents, it is proper and of times essential to review the legislative
history of such enactments and to find an authoritative guide for their interpretation and
application in the decisions of American and English courts of last resort construing and
applying similar legislation in those countries. (Kepner vs. U.S., 195 U.S., 100; 11 Phil., 669;
Serra vs. Mortiga, 204 U.S., 470; 11 Phil., 762; Alzua and Arnalot vs. Johnson, 21 Phil.,
308.) Indeed it is a general rule of statutory construction that courts may take judicial notice
of the origin and history of the statutes which they are called upon to construe and
administer, and of the facts which affect their derivation, validity and operation. (2 Lewis'
Sutherland on Statutory Construction, sec. 309.)
In U.S. vs. Abiog and Abiog (37 Phil., 137), this court made this further statement on the subjects:
To elucidate the principles of the Anglo-American Common Law are for the Philippines,
just as they were for the State of Louisiana and just as the English Common Law was for the
United States, of far-reaching influence. The Common Law is entitled to our deepest respect
and reverence. The courts are constantly guided by its doctrines. Yet it is true as heretofore
expressly decided by this Court that "neither English nor American Common Law is in
force in these Islands, nor are the doctrines derived therefrom binding upon our courts, save
only in so far as they are founded on sound principles applicable to local conditions, and are
not in conflict with existing law." (U.S. vs. Cuna [1908], 12 Phil., 241.)
What we really have, if we were not too modes to claim it, is a Philippine Common Law
influenced by the English and American Common Law, the derecho comun of Spain, and the
customary law of the Islands and builded on a case law of precedents. Into this Philippine
Common Law, we can properly refuse to take a rule which would estop other courses of
reasoning and which, because of a lack of legal ingenuity would permit men guilty of
homicide to escape on a technicality.
At this juncture, three years after the last quoted comment, the influence of English and American
jurisprudence can be emphasized even more strongly. A survey of recent cases in the Philippine
Reports, and particularly those of the last few years, shows an increasing reliance upon English and
American authorities in the formation of what may be termed a Philippine Common Law, as
supplemental to the statute law of this jurisdiction. An analysis will show that a great preponderance
of the jurisprudence of this jurisdiction is based upon Anglo-American case law precedents,
exclusively in applying those statutory laws which have been enacted since the change of
sovereignty and which conform more or less to American statutes, and to a large extent in
applying and expanding the remnants of the Spanish codes and written laws.
PHILIPPINE STATUTE LAW.
Introductory to analyzing what Spanish written laws remain in force to-day, we will consider in a
general way those Spanish laws which were in force at the time of the change of severeignty.
Spanish law became highly codified during the nineteenth century. All of the laws of Spain were,
however, not made applicable to the Philippine Islands; only those were effective here which were
extended by royal decree. The chief codes of Spain made effective in the Philippine were as follows:
Penal Code 1887
Code of Commerce 1888
Ley Provisional, Code of Criminal Procedure, and Code of Civil Procedure 1888
Civil Code 1889
(Except portion relating to marriage, thus reviving a portion of Marriage Law of 1870.)
Marriage Law
1870
Mortgage Law 1889
Railway Laws
1875 and
1877
Law of Waters 1866
In addition to these there were certain special laws having limited application: Las Siete Partidas;
Las Leyes de Toro; Leyes de las Indias; La Novisima Recopilacion; Mining Law; Notarial Law;
Spanish Military Code, and the Corpyright Law.
The foregoing were written laws which, by change of sovereignty, acquired the force of statute law in
the Philippine Islands. There was no properly called Common Law or Case Law of Spain to
accompany and amplify these statues, although there were, of course, the customs of the people of
the Islands, which continued, in a sense, unwritten law. Spanish jurisprudence does not recognize
the principle of stare decisis; consequently, there could be no Common Law in any sense analogous
to the English or American Common Law. Article 6 of the Civil Code provides:
When there is no law exactly applicable to the point in controversy, the customs of the place
shall be observed and in the absence thereof, the general principles of law.
In order to determined the general principles of law "judicial decision cannot be resorted to" . . . . (2
Derecho Civil of Sanchez roman, pp. 79-81; 1 Manresa, p. 80.) A lower court of Spain is at liberty to
disregard the decisions of a higher court. This is the general continental rule. (Holland's
Jurisprudence, 11th Ed., pp. 68-70.) "The Partidas is still the basis of Spanish Common Law, for the
more recent compilations are chiefly founded on it and cases which cannot be decided either by
these compilations or by the local fueros must be decided by the provisions of thePartidas." (IV
Dunham, History of Spain, p. 109.)
The Partidas is a code law and cannot in any proper sense be considered as Common Law. It
specifically provided, however, for recourse to customs when the written law was silent. The
customs to which resort is to be had are the customs of the particular place where the case arise;
the customs of one locality in Spain having no effect on the application of law in another place. (1
Manresa, pp. 77-79; Civil Code, art. 6; Code of Commerce, art. 2.) Accordingly, the Spanish
customary law could not have any force here. The law or custom cannot be migratory. Manresa
does not defined what is meant by "general principles of law." but from his discussion under article 6
of the Civil Code it appears how far from a case law system is Spanish jurisprudence. He formulates
the rule that courts are governed: first, by written law; second, by the customs of the place; third, by
judicial decision; and fourth, by general principles of law. In fact, un urging that resort to judicial
decisions should come before resort to general principles of law, Manresa rather implies that the
practice of the courts is the contrary.
English Common Law is quite a different conception. While it grew out of the early Anglo-Saxon
customs, it came in time to be a case law of binding force which controlled custom. In fact, it became
so binding that it was found necessary, in order to effect justice in particular cases, to establish the
Court of Chancery, which became the court of equity. The English Common Law recognizes custom
only in so far as it does not conflict with the well settled principles of that law. Under the Spanish
system, on the other hand, when the written law is silent, before considering precedents in the cases
the court is governed by the customs of the locality at the time.
Consequently, by the change of sovereignty there was no body of case law or common law of Spain
which could be considered as existing in connection with the written law retained in force in these
Islands. The only amplification of that written law was the local customs of the people of the Islands.
This is particularly true of Spanish decision rendered since the change of sovereignty, which do not
preclude the local courts from exercising an independent judgment. (Cordova vs. Rijos, 227 U.S.,
375.)
SPANISH STATUTE LAW.
The Spanish statute law, as amplified by Spanish commentaries but without a background of
Spanish precedent or case law, was by the change of sovereignty, severed from Spanish
jurisprudence and made effective in this jurisdiction to the same extent as if Congress had enacted
new laws for the Philippines modelled upon those same Spanish statutes. This retention of the local
private law was merely in accordance with the principles of International Law in that regard.
However, by the mere fact of the change of sovereignty, all portions of that statute law which might
be termed political law were abrogated immediately by the change of sovereignty. Also, all Spanish
laws, customs, and rights of property inconsistent with the Constitution and American principles and
institutions were thereupon superseded. (Sanchez vs. U.S., 216 U.S., 167.)
We will give a brief analysis of the further extent to which the Spanish statute law has been repealed
and cut down since the change of sovereignty. The table is the note
1
below illustrates the situation in
a general way.
Even the Spanish Civil Code has been largely modified as will appear from the table in the
note
2
below.
CASES UNDER AMERICAN DERIVED STATUTES.
It thus appears that the bulk of present day Statute Law is derivative from Anglo-American sources;
derivative within the sense of having been copied, and in the sense of having been enacted by
Congress or by virtue of its authority. This court has repeatedly held that in dealing with the cases
which arise under such statute law the court will be governed by the Anglo-American cases in
construction and application. (U.S. vs. De Guzman, 30 Phil., 416, at p. 419; U.S. vs. Cuna, 12 Phil.,
241; Cerezo vs. Atlantic, Gulf & Pacific Co., 33 Phil., 245, 428, 429.)
To illustrate more clearly the scope of the use of Anglo-American cases in this connection, a bried
analysis of some of the more recent decisions of this court is advisable. For convenience the cases
will be taken up in the note
3
by subjects. In all of them, Anglo-American decisions and authorities are
used and relied upon to a greater or less degree. Although in many cases the use is by way of
dictum, nevertheless, the net result is the building up of a very substantial elaboration of Anglo-
American case law.
From the foregoing selection of the more recent and typical cases, it appears how broad is the scope
of the use of Anglo-American authorities and precedents in the field of law subjects affected by
American derived legislation. In the application of those statutes in the many cases which come
before the court, there is bound to be developed a substantial common law. There is no question
that this exists. We are merely concerned with its extent and source.
CASES UNDER SPANISH STATUTES.
In addition to the subjects covered above, there is a wide field of use of Anglo-American cases in the
interpretation and application of the remnants of the Spanish statutes. Such is of even greater
importance in showing the real permanency of the hold which Anglo-American Common Law has
fastened upon the jurisprudence of this jurisdiction. An analysis of the cases, particularly those of the
later years, justifies completely the well-expressed opinion of former Attorney-General Araneta
quoted below:
We cannot say with certainty that the courts of the Philippine Islands will, in the absence of a
statute, be guided by the common law. It has been said that the common law is expanded
slowly and carefully by judicial decisions based on a standard of justice derived from the
habits, customs, and thoughts of a people, and by this standard doubtful cases are
determined; that the office of the judge is not to make the common law but to find it, and
when it is found to affix to it his official mark by which it becomes more certainly known and
authenticated. The announcement of the law comes from the courts after they have had the
benefit of the learning of counsel, which to be comprehensive and useful must embrace a
knowledge of the people and their customs, as well as a knowledge of the principles
established by prior decisions. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that the courts of the
Philippine Islands in cases not controlled by statute will lay down principles in keeping with
the common law, unless the habits, customs, and thoughts of the people of these Islands are
deemed to be so different from the habits, customs, and thoughts of the people of England
and the United States that said principles may not be applied here. (4 Op. Atty.-Gen. P.I.,
510, 511.)
To illustrate the scope of the use of Anglo-American cases in connection with the remaining Spanish
statutes, a brief analysis
4
of the more recent cases under a few of the principal subjects, will be
appropriate. Frequently in these cases reference to Anglo-American precedents is for the purpose of
showing that Spanish law and the Anglo-American law s the same, and frequently it is for the
purpose of amplifying or extending the Spanish statutes. In most cases it is for the purpose of
applying those statutes to the particular case before the court; but whatever the use, the fact
remains that through the influence of these cases a broad exposition of American case law is made.
The last group of recent cases, which are but typical of many others in the Reports, illustrates clearly
the fact that Anglo-American case law plays a very great part in amplifying and applying the law on
those subjects which are still governed by the remaining portions of the Spanish statutes.
The foregoing two groups of cases in combination, those under the subjects covered by Spanish
statutes and those under the subjects covered by American-Philippine legislation and effected by the
change of sovereignty, show conclusively that Anglo-American case law has entered practically
every one of the leading subjects in the field of law, and in the large majority of such subjects has
formed the sole basis for the guidance of this court in developing the local jurisprudence. The
practical result is that the part twenty, years have developed a Philippine Common Law or case law
based almost exclusively, except where conflicting with local customs and institutions, upon Anglo-
American Common Law. The Philippine Common Law supplements and amplifies our statute law.
COLLATERAL INFLUENCES.
This conclusion is further justified by the practical situation which has surrounded the Bench and Bar
of the Philippine Islands for many years and which there is very reason to believe will continue
unabated in the future.
This court his, in any increasing degree during the past twenty years, cited and quoted from Anglo-
American cases and authorities in its decisions. The following analysis of the citations of the last
twenty volumes of the Philippine Reports show this graphically.
Cases cited.
Volume. U.S. Philippines Spain England
20
........................................
207 63 21 1
21
........................................
217 127 10 3
22
........................................
273 73 21 5
23
........................................
211 181 18 4
24
........................................
194 108 19 1
25
........................................
143 98 24 2
26
........................................
257 104 23
27
........................................
145 132 25 1
28
........................................
145 130 24 3
29
........................................
152 136 9 1
30
........................................
98 85 11
31
........................................
159 103 8 1
32
........................................
103 8 1
33
........................................
121 137 6 5
34
........................................
214 163 34
35
........................................
109 159 17 4
36
........................................
125 217 21 2
37
........................................
340 242 23 5
38
........................................
161 175 19 8
39
........................................
228 143 13 6


3,810

2,752

361

52
The American citations are over ten times as numerous as the Spanish citations. (In Vol. 1 there
were 63 Spanish to 53 United States.) Add to this the cumulative effect of perpetuating this ratio
through the citations of Philippine cases in which American cases have been cited, and it is obvious
that Spanish decisions have had comparatively slight effect in the development of our case law.
It is a fact of considerable practical importance that there are no digests of Spanish decisions to aid
the study of Bench and Bar. On the other hand, the local libraries contain both digests and reports of
the Federal Courts and Supreme Court of the United States, and of most of the State courts, and
also many reports of the English courts. Added to his is a liberal supply of English and American text
books. The foregoing not only has a natural influence on the results of the work of the Bench, but it
has a very decided influence on the development of the present Bar of the Philippine Islands; each
year adds to the preponderance of lawyers trained chiefly from a study of Anglo-American case law.
The fact that prolific use of Anglo-American authorities is made in the decisions of this court,
combined with the fact that the available sources for study and reference on legal theories are
mostly Anglo-American, present a practical situation at this moment from which this court can draw
but one conclusion, namely, that there has been developed, and will continue, a common law in the
jurisprudence of this jurisdiction (which for purposes of distinction may properly be termed a
Philippine Common Law), based upon the English Common Law in its present day form of an Anglo-
American Common Law, which common law is effective in all of the subjects of law in this jurisdiction
in so far as it does not conflict with the express language of the written law or with the local customs
and institutions.
CONCLUSIONS.
We may summarize our conclusions as follows:
(1) The Philippine Islands is an unorganized territory of the United States, under a civil
government established by the Congress.
(2) In interpreting and applying the bulk of the written laws of this jurisdiction, and in
rendering its decision in cases not covered by the letter of the written law, this court relies
upon the theories and precedents of Anglo- American cases, subject to the limited exception
of those instances where the remnants of the Spanish written law present well-defined civil
law theories and of the few cases where such precedents are inconsistent with local customs
and institutions.
(3) The jurisprudence of this jurisdiction is based upon the English Common Law in its
present day form of Anglo-American Common Law to an almost exclusive extent.
(4) By virtue of the foregoing, the New York rule, given a reasonable interpretation, permits
conferring privileges on attorneys admitted to practice in the Philippine Islands similar to
those privileges accorded by the rule of this court.
Accordingly, the supporting papers filed by the applicant in this case showing to the satisfaction of
the court his qualifications as an attorney-at-law, his petition is hereby granted and he is admitted to
the practice of law in the Philippine Islands. Our decision is based upon our interpretation of the New
York rule, and it does not establish a precedent which may be controlling on this court with respect
to future applications if our interpretation is not borned out by the future enforcement of that rule by
the New York court. So ordered.
Mapa, C.J., Johnson, Araullo, Streets, Avancea and Villamor, JJ., concur.