Practice question
An official confronts two legal questions: coverage under RA 6713 and liability under a different statute that supplies its own definition of public officer. Counsel copies RA 6713's definition into the second statute without analyzing its text or purpose. What caution follows Laurel?
- Every statute necessarily uses an identical definition.
- A compensation reference in one statute repeals all other definitions.
- The controlling definition and purpose must be identified for each legal question rather than mechanically transferred between statutes.
- Only dictionary definitions may be used.
- No law may define public officials.
Legal references
- Laurel v. Desierto, G.R. No. 145368, April 12, 2002, main decision, nature of public office: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2002/apr2002/gr_145368_2002.html
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