CALTEX VS. PALOMAR

FACTS

Caltex Philippines Inc., appellee, conceived and laid groundwork for a promotional scheme called “Caltex Hooded Pump Contest”. Foreseeing the extensive use of mails for publicizing the contest and transmission of communications relative thereto, a letter to the Post-master General. Appellant was sent justifying the position of non-violation of the anti-lottery provisions of the Postal Law. Unimpressed, the appellant opined the scheme falls within the purview of the said law and declined grant of requested clearance with a threat of fraud orders the appellee if the contest was conducted.

ISSUE
Whether or not the proposed scheme by Caltex requires Statutory Construction to inquire into the intended meaning of the provisions of the Postal Law.


HELD
Yes, Statutory Construction is required because the specific statutory provisions relied upon by both parties are not identical. Statutory construction is the art or process of discovering or expounding the meaning and intension of the authors of the law with respect to its application to a given case, where that intention is rendered doubtful, amongst others, by reason of the fact that the given case is not explicitly provided for in the law.

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