Facts:

• Seismundo Ramos, a cabaret owner, challenges the closure of his establishment by the local authorities in Daet, Philippines.
• The closure was ordered on September 6, 1954, because the cabaret violated a law that prohibited the establishment of amusement places within a certain distance from public buildings, schools, hospitals, and churches.
• The cabaret on Salcedo Street, where Ramos' establishment was located, stood 183 meters from the Roman Catholic church and about 150 meters from Briola's Hospital.
• Ramos appealed to the court of first instance of Camarines Norte to issue him a permit to re-open his cabaret at its old site.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The court ruled against Ramos and denied his petition to re-open his cabaret.
• The court held that the closure of the cabaret was legal and that the repeal of a law does not render previous...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The court based its decision on the principle of statutory construction.
• The court stated that the repeal of a law does not render illegal whatever was done or ordered pursuant to its provisions.
• In this case, the closure of Ramos' cabaret was ordered in accordance with the law that prohibited the establishment of amusement places within a certain distance from public buildings, schools, hospitals, and churches.
• Even if the law was later amended to remove the grounds for closure, the court held that the amendment...continue reading