GRSI Copyrightregno N94-027G.R. No. L-52304 C'NI(# )*. C%$$ISSI%N %N 'L'C+I%NS Repu,-i.

. o/ the 0hi-ippine* S10R'$' C%1R+ $ani-a 'N &#NC G.R. No. L-52304 January 2 ! "9 0

January 2 ! "9 0R#$%N &.

R#$%N &. C'NI(#! 2'3'RIC% C. C#&IL#%! JR.! N'LS%N J. R%S#L an4 #L'J#N3R% R. #LINS1G! petitioner*! )*. C%$$ISSI%N %N 'L'C+I%NS! C%$$ISSI%N %N #13I+! an4 N#+I%N#L +R'#S1R'R! re*pon4ent*.

C%NC'0CI%N JR.! J.5p 0etition /or prohi,ition an4 6an4a6u* 6oth a prayer /or a 7rit o/ pre-i6inary in8un.tion. %n 3e.e6,er 22. "979! the Interi6 &ata*ang 0a6,an*a ena.te4 &ata* &-g. 5" pro)i4ing /or -o.a- e-e.tion* on January 30! "9 0. Se.tion o/ the *tatute pro)i4e*5 S'C. 3. Citie*. +here *ha-- ,e in ea.h .ity *u.h e-e.ti)e -o.a- o//i.ia-* a* pro)i4e4 in their re*pe.ti)e .harter*! in.-u4ing the .ity 6ayor! the .ity )i.e-6ayor! an4 the e-e.ti)e 6e6,er* o/ the *angguniang pang-ung*o4! a-- o/ 7ho6 *ha--9 ,e e-e.te4 ,y the :ua-i/ie4 )oter* in the .ity. In a44ition thereto! there *ha-- ,e appointi)e *angguniang pang-ung*o4 6e6,er* .on*i*ting o/ the o/ the .ity a**o.iation o/ ,arangay .oun.i-*! the 0re*i4ent o/ the .ity /e4eration o/ the ;a,ataang ,arangay! an4 one repre*entati)e ea.h /ro6 the agri.u-tura- an4 in4u*tria- -a,or *e.tor* 7ho *ha-- ,e appointe4 ,y the 0re*i4ent <0ri6e $ini*ter= 7hene)er! a* 4e ,y the *angguniang pang-ung*o4! *ai4 *e.tor* are o/ *u//i.ient nu6,er in the .ity to 7arrant repre*entation. 1nti- .itie* are re.-a**i/ie4 into high-y ur,ani>e4 an4 .o6ponent .itie* in a..or4an.e 7ith the *tan4ar4* e*ta,-i*he4 in the Lo.a- Go)ern6ent Co4e a* pro)i4e4 /or in #rti.-e ?I! Se.tion 4<"= o/ the Con*titution. any .ity no7 e@i*ting 7ith an annua- regu-ar 4eri)e4 /ro6 in/ra*tru.ture an4 genera- /un4* o/ not -e** than /orty 6i--ion pe*o* <040!000!000.00= at the ti6e o/ the appro)a- o/ thi* #.t *hag ,e .-a**i/ie4 a* a high-y ur,ani>e4 .ity. #-- other .itie* *ha-- ,e .on*i4ere4 .o6ponent* o/ the pro)in.e* 7here they are geographi.a--y -o.ate4.

+he City o/ &aguio! ,e.au*e o/ it* *pe.ia- /un.tion* a* the *u66er .apita- o/ the 0hi-ippine*! *ha-- ,e .-a**i/ie4 a* a high-y ur,ani>e4 .ity irre*pe.ti)e o/ it* in.o6e. +he regi*tere4 )oter* o/ a .o6ponent .ity 6ay ,e entit-e4 to )ote in the e-e.tion o/ the o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e o/ 7hi.h that .ity i* a .o6ponent! i/ it* .harter *o pro)i4e*. Ao7e)er! )oter* regi*tere4 in a high-y ur,ani>e4 .ity! a* hereina,o)e 4e/ine4 *ha-- not parti.ipate nor )ote in the e-e.tion o/ the o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e in 7hi.h the high-y ur,ani>e4 .ity i* geographi.a--y -o.ate4. +o i6p-e6ent thi* #.t! the Co66i**ion on '-e.tion* <C%$'L'C! /or *hort= a4opte4 Re*o-ution No. "42"! 7hi.h rea4* a* /o--o7*5 BA'R'#S! &ata* 0a6,an*a &-g. 5" in .a--ing /or the e-e.tion o/ the pro)in.iago)ernor! pro)in.ia- )i.e-go)ernor an4 6e6,er* o/ the Sangguniang 0an-a-a7igan in ea.h pro)in.e .-a**i/ie4 the .hartere4 .itie* o/ the 0hi-ippine* into Chigh-y ur,ani>e4C an4 C.o6ponentC .itie* ,a*e4 on the annua- regu-ar in.o6e o/ ea.h .ity! an4 pro)i4e4 that Cthe regi*tere4 )oter o/ a .o6ponent .ity 6ay ,e entit-e4 to )ote in the e-e.tion o/ the o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e o/ 7hi.h that .ity i* a .o6ponent! i/ it* .harter pro)i4e*C! ,ut that C)oter* regi*tere4 in a high-y ur,ani>e4 .ity! *ha-- not parti.ipate nor )ote in the e-e.tion o/ the o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e in 7hi.h the high-y ur,ani>e4 .ity i* geographi.a--y -o.ate4CD BA'R'#S! ina*6u.h a* the .harter* o/ the 4i//erent .itie* )ary 7ith re*pe.t to the right o/ their regi*tere4 )oter* to )ote /or the pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e* 7here they are -o.ate4! there i* nee4 to *tu4y the )ariou* .harter* o/ the .itie* an4 4eter6ine 7hat .itie* *ha-- an4 *ha-- not )ote /or pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* pur*uant to &ata* 0a6,an*a &-g. 5"D BA'R'#S! the )oter* in the .itie* *hou-4 ,e a..or4ing-y in/or6e4 i/ they are going to )ote /or pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* or not! /or their proper gui4an.eD N%B! +A'R'2%R'! the Co66i**ion on '-e.tion*! ,y )irtue o/ the po7er* .on/erre4 upon it ,y the Con*titution! the "97 '-e.tion Co4e an4 &ata* 0a6,an*a &-g. 52 <5"= R'S%LE'3! a* it here,y R'S%LE'S! that the :ua-i/ie4 )oter* in ea.h .ity *ha-- or *ha-not ,e entit-e4 to )ote /or the pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e 7here they are geographi.a--y -o.ate4! to 7it5 #. Citie* not entit-e4 to parti.ipate in the e-e.tion o/ pro- pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-*

". &aguio "". $an4aue 2. &ai* "2. $ani-a 3. Can-aon "3. Naga 4. Ca-oo.an "4. %r6o. 5. Ce,u "5. %ro:uieta F. Cota,ato "F. %>a6i* 7. 3agupan "7. 0a*ay . 3a)ao " . Gue>on 9. Genera- Santo "9. San Car-o* <0anga*inan= "0. I-oi-o 20. (a6,oanga

&e.au*e the City o/ Ce,u ha* an in.o6e o/ 05"!F03!"47!F4! it i* .-a**i/ie4 a* a high-y ur,ani>e4 .ity an4 the )oter* thereo/ .annot ta;e part in the e-e.tion o/ the e-e.ti)e pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e o/ Ce,u! a-though the Charter o/ Ce,u City " a--o7* the :ua-i/ie4 )oter* o/ the .ity to )ote in the e-e.tion o/ the pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ the 0ro)in.e o/ Ce,u. +he City o/ $an4aue! not ha)ing an annua- regu-ar in.o6e o/ not -e** than H40 6i--ion! i* .-a**i/ie4 a* a .o6ponent .ity. &ut the regi*tere4 )oter* o/ the .ity .annot )ote /or the pro)in.ia- e-e.ti)e o//i.ia-* ,e.au*e it* Charter 2 e@pre**-y pro)i4e* that the regi*tere4 )oter* o/ the .ity .annot parti.ipate in the e-e.tion o/ the pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ the 0ro)in.e o/ Ce,u! e@.ept to ,e a .an4i4ate there/or. +he petitioner* /i-e4 the in*tant *uit a* ta@payer* an4 regi*tere4 )oter* in the Citie* o/ Ce,u an4 $an4aue. +hey are 6e6,er* o/ a .i)i. an4 non-parti*an group ;no7n a* 3-%-'-R-S <an a..rony6 /or C3'$%CR#CI %R '?+INC+I%N5 R'S%LE'3 +% S1CC''3= 7hi.h .ount* -a7yer* a6ong it* 6e6,er*! an4 e@ten4* /ree -ega- a**i*tan.e to .iti>en* regar4-e** o/ e.ono6i. an4 *o.ia- *tatu* in 6eritoriou* .a*e* in)o-)ing )io-ation o/ .i)i- -i,ertie* an4 ,a*i. hu6an right*. +hey )igorou*-y a**ai- Se.tion 3 o/ &ata* 0a6,an*a &-g. 5"! 7hi.h u*e* the annua- in.o6e o/ a gi)en .ity a* the ,a*i* /or .-a**i/i.ation o/ 7hether or not a parti.u-ar .ity i* a high-y ur,ani>e4 .ity 7ho*e )oter* 6ay not parti.ipate in the e-e.tion o/ pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e 7here the .ity i* geographi.a--y -o.ate4D an4 Repu,-i. #.t No. 55"9! other7i*e ;no7n a* the Charter o/ $an4aue City! 7hi.h 7ent into e//e.t 7ithout the ,ene/it o/ rati/i.ation ,y the re*i4ent* o/ $an4aue in a p-e,i*.ite or re/eren4u6. +hey pray that upon /i-ing o/ the in*tant petition! a re*training or4er ,e i**ue4 Cte6porari-y prohi,iting the ho-4ing o/ e-e.tion /or 0ro)in.ia- Go)ernor an4 other e-e.ti)e pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* in the pro)in.e 7here the " .itie* -i*te4 ,y the re*pon4ent C%$'L'C are -o.ate4! parti.u-ar-y Ce,u City an4 $an4aue City! an4 te6porari-y prohi,iting the Nationa- +rea*urer to re-ea*e pu,-i. /un4* an4 the C%# to pa** in au4it *ai4 /un4* in .onne.tion 7ith an4 /or the purpo*e o/ ho-4ing -o.a- e-e.tion* in *ai4 pro)in.e*D an4 a/ter hearing! to 6a;e the in8un.tion per6anent 4e.-aring un.on*titutiona- an4 there/ore )oi4 Se.tion 9F! #rt. ?EIII o/ the Charter o/ $an4aue! other7i*e ;no7n a* R# 55"9!C an4 *hou-4 the *topping o/ the pro)in.iae-e.tion* in the pro)in.e* .on.erne4 ,e not po**i,-e! the re*pon4ent C%$'L'C ,e 4ire.te4 Cto a--o7 the :ua-i/ie4 regi*tere4 )oter* in the .itie* -i*te4 ,y *ai4 re*pon4ent! parti.u-ar-y Ce,u City an4 $an4aue City! to parti.ipate in the e-e.tion o/! an4 )ote /or! the 0ro)in.ia- Go)ernor an4 other e-e.ti)e pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* an4 preparing the .orre*pon4ing o//i.ia- ,a--ot* /or thi* purpo*e 7hi.h *ha-- pro)i4e *pa.e* therein /or 0ro)in.ia- Go)ernor an4 other e-e.ti)e pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e* .on.erne4! parti.u-ar-y the pro)in.e o/ Ce,u.C +he petitioner* .onten4 that CSe.tion 3 o/ &ata* &-g. 5 3 in*o/ar a* it .-a**i/ie* .itie* in.-u4ing Ce,u .ity a* high-y ur,ani>e4 a* the on-y ,a*i* /or not a--o7ing it* e-e.torate to )ote /or the pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* i* inherent-y an4 pa-pa,-y un.on*titutiona- in that *u.h .-a**i/i.ation i* not ,a*e4 on *u,*tantia- 4i*tin.tion* ger6ane to the purpo*e o/ the -a7 7hi.h in e//e.t pro)i4e* /or an4 regu-ate* the e@er.i*e o/ the right o/ *u//rage! an4 there/ore *u.h unrea*ona,-e .-a**i/i.ation a6ount* to a 4enia- o/ e:ua- prote.tion.C

Be /in4 no 6erit in the petition. +he thru*t o/ the "973 Con*titution i* to7ar4* the /u--e*t autono6y o/ -o.a- go)ern6ent unit*. In the 3e.-aration o/ 0rin.ip-e* an4 State 0o-i.ie*! it i* *tate4 that C+he *tate *ha-- guarantee an4 pro6ote the autono6y o/ -o.a- go)ern6ent unit*! e*pe.ia--y the ,arrio! to en*ure their /u--e*t 4e)e-op6ent a* *e-/-re-iant .o66unitie*.C 4 +o thi* en4! the Con*titution 4ire.t* the Nationa- #**e6,-y to Cena.t a -o.a- go)ern6ent .o4e 7hi.h 6ay not therea/ter ,e a6en4e4 e@.ept ,y the 6a8ority )ote o/ a-- it* 6e6,er*! 4e/ining a 6ore re*pon*i)e an4 a..ounta,-e -o.a- go)ern6ent *tru.ture 7ith an e//e.ti)e *y*te6 o/ re.a--! a--o.ating a6ong the 4i//erent -o.ago)ern6ent* their po7er*! re*pon*i,i-itie*! an4 re*our.e*! an4 pro)i4ing /or the :ua-i/i.ation*! e-e.tion an4 re6o)a-! ter6! *a-arie*! po7er*! /un.tion*! an4 4utie* o/ -o.ao//i.ia-*! an4 a-- other 6atter* re-ating to the organi>ation an4 operation o/ -o.ago)ern6ent unit*!C 5 an4 e6po7ere4 -o.a- go)ern6ent unit* Cto .reate it* o7n *our.e* o/ re)enue an4 to -e)y ta@e*! *u,8e.t to -i6itation* a* 6ay ,e pro)i4e4 ,y -a7.C F #rt. ?I! Se.tion 4<"= o/ the *ai4 Con*titution p-a.e* high-y ur,ani>e4 .itie* out*i4e the *uper)i*ory po7er o/ the pro)in.e 7here they are geographi.a--y -o.ate4. +hi* i* a* it *hou-4 ,e ,e.au*e o/ the .o6p-e@ an4 )arie4 pro,-e6* in a high-y ur,ani>e4 .ity 4ue to a ,igger popu-ation an4 greater e.ono6i. a.ti)ity 7hi.h re:uire greater autono6y. Coro--ary to in4epen4en.e ho7e)er! i* the .on.o6itant -o** o/ the right to parti.ipate in pro)in.ia- a//air*! 6ore parti.u-ar-y the *e-e.tion o/ e-e.ti)e pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* *in.e the*e pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* ha)e .ea*e4 to e@er.i*e any go)ern6enta- 8uri*4i.tion an4 authority o)er *ai4 .ity. +hu*! in the .a*e o/ +e)e* )*. Co66i**ion on '-e.tion 7 thi* Court! in ho-4ing that the regi*tere4 )oter* o/ the City o/ 3u6aguete .annot )ote /or the pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ Negro* %rienta- ,e.au*e the .harter o/ the .ity 4oe* not e@pre**-y a--o7 the )oter* in the .ity to 4o *o! ru-e45 +he .reation o/ 3u6aguete City ha* 6a4e it a po-iti.a- entity *eparate /ro6 an4 in4epen4ent o/ the pro)in.e o/ Negro* %rienta-. +he purpo*e o/ an e-e.tion i* to ena,-e the e-e.torate to .hoo*e the 6en that 7i-- run their go)ern6ent! 7hether nationa-! pro)in.ia-! 6uni.ipa- or .ity. It *o! no u*e/u- en4 7i-- ,e *er)e4 ,y a--o7ing in the a,*en.e o/ e@pre** -egi*-ati)e pre/eren.e the )oter* o/ a .ity to .ea*e4 to ha)e any go)ern6enta- 8uri*4i.tion an4 authority o)er *ai4 .ity. +o .on/ir6 our )ie7 that the .ity o/ 3u6aguete ha* ,een *egregate4 /ro6 the pro)in.e o/ %rienta- Negro* /or purpo*e* o/ pro)in.ia- e-e.tion*! 7e *hou-4 point to the penu-ti6ate *e.tion o/ the .harter pro)i4ing that Cunti- other7i*e pro)i4e4 ,y -a7! the City o/ 3u6aguete *ha-- .ontinue a* part o/ the /ir*t repre*entati)e 4i*tri.t o/ the 0ro)in.e o/ %rienta- Negro*.C +hi* i* an e@pre** e@.eption to the genera- e//e.t o/ *eparation an e@.eption that *er)e* to reiterate or e)en e*ta,-i*h the ru-e. In other 7or4*! the Congre** 6eant that the inha,itant* o/ the .ity 6ay not )ote /or pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-*! ,ut 6ay )ote /or their repre*entati)e in Congre**. +he .-a**i/i.ation o/ .itie* into high-y ur,ani>e4 .itie* an4 .o6ponent .itie* on the ,a*i* o/ their regu-ar annua- in.o6e i* ,a*e4 upon *u,*tantia- 4i*tin.tion. +he re)enue o/ a .ity 7ou-4 *ho7 7hether or not it i* .apa,-e o/ e@i*ten.e an4 4e)e-op6ent a* a re-ati)e-y in4epen4ent *o.ia-! e.ono6i.! an4 po-iti.a- unit. It 7ou-4 a-*o *ho7 7hether the .ity ha*

*u//i.ient e.ono6i. or in4u*tria- a.ti)ity a* to 7arrant it* in4epen4en.e /ro6 the pro)in.e 7here it i* geographi.a--y *ituate4. Citie* 7ith *6a--er in.o6e nee4 the .ontinue4 *upport o/ the pro)in.ia- go)ern6ent thu* 8u*ti/ying the .ontinue4 parti.ipation o/ the )oter* in the e-e.tion o/ pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* in *o6e in*tan.e*. +he petitioner* a-*o .onten4 that the )oter* in $an4aue City are 4enie4 e:ua- prote.tion o/ the -a7 *in.e the )oter* in other .o6ponent .itie* are a--o7e4 to )ote /or pro)in.iao//i.ia-*. +he .ontention i* 7ithout 6erit. +he pra.ti.e o/ a--o7ing )oter* in one .o6ponent .ity to )ote /or pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* an4 4enying the *a6e pri)i-ege to )oter* in another .o6ponent .ity i* a 6atter o/ -egi*-ati)e 4i*.retion 7hi.h )io-ate* neither the Con*titution nor the )oter9* right o/ *u//rage. In the .a*e o/ +e)e* ). Co66i**ion on '-e.tion the Court *ai4. 0etitioner*9 .ontention i* that! a* the Charter o/ 3u6aguete City i* *i-ent a* to the right o/ it* :ua-i/ie4 )oter* to parti.ipate in the e-e.tion o/ pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ Negro* %rientaan4 a* *ai4 )oter* are re*i4ent* o/ the pro)in.e! they are .-ear-y entit-e4 to )ote /or *ai4 pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-*. +he .harter* o/ other re.ent-y /or6e4 .itie* are arti.u-ate on the 6atter. +hu*! in the .a*e o/ &a.o-o4! Ca,anatuan Lega*pi Naga! an4 %r6o.! their .harter* e@pre**-y prohi,it the re*i4ent* therein /ro6 )oting /or pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e to 7hi.h *ai4 .itie* /or6er-y ,e-onge4. 1pon the other han4! the .harter* o/ Cagayan 4e %ro! &utuan! Ca)ite! I-oi-o! Ca-,ayog Lipa San 0a,-o! an4 3agupan .ontain pro)i*ion* e@ten4ing their part in the e-e.tion o/ the pro)in.ia- o//i.ia- .itie* 7ere pre)iou*-y in.-u4e4. +he :ue*tion that pre*ent* it*e-/ ha* re/eren.e to the e//e.t o/ the o6i**ion in the .harter o/ 3u6aguete City o/ an e@pre** pro)i*ion on the right o/ it* re*i4ent* to )ote /or pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ Negro* %rienta-! in the -ight o/ the -egi*-ati)e pra.ti.e that! 7hen 4e*ire4! the right i* either re.ogni>e4 or 7ith4ra7n e@pre**-y. Be are in.-ine4 to o)erru-e petitioner*9 po*ition. +he e:ua- prote.tion o/ the -a7 .onte6p-ate* e:ua-ity in the en8oy6ent o/ *i6i-ar right* an4 pri)i-ege* grante4 ,y -a7. It 7ou-4 ha)e ,een 4i*.ri6inatory an4 a 4enia- o/ the e:ua- prote.tion o/ the -a7 i/ the *tatute prohi,ite4 an in4i)i4ua- or group o/ )oter* in the .ity /ro6 )oting /or pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* 7hi-e granting it to another in4i)i4ua- or group* o/ )oter* in the *a6e .ity. Neither .an it ,e .on*i4ere4 an in/ringe6ent upon the petitioner*9 right* o/ *u//rage *in.e the Con*titution .on/er* no right to a )oter in a .ity to )ote /or the pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e 7here the .ity i* -o.ate4. +heir right i* -i6ite4 to the right to )ote /or e-e.ti)e .ity o//i.ia-* in -o.a- e-e.tion* 7hi.h the :ue*tione4 *tatue* neither 7ith4ra7 nor re*tri.t. +he petitioner* /urther .-ai6 that to prohi,it the )oter* in a .ity /ro6 )oting /or e-e.ti)e pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* 7ou-4 i6po*e a *u,*tantia- re:uire6ent on the e@er.i*e o/ *u//rage an4 7ou-4 )io-ate the *an.tity o/ the ,a--ot! .ontrary to the pro)i*ion* o/ #rt. EI! Se.tion " o/ the Con*titution. +he prohi,ition .onte6p-ate4 in the Con*titution! ho7e)er! ha* re/eren.e to *u.h re:uire6ent*! a* the Eirginia po-- ta@! in)a-i4ate4 in Aarper )*. Eirginia

&oar4 o/ '-e.tion*! 9 or the Ne7 Ior; re:uire6ent that to ,e e-igi,-e to )ote in a *.hoo4i*tri.t! one 6u*t ,e a parent o/ a .hi-4 enro--e4 in a -o.a- pu,-i. *.hoo-! nu--i/ie4 in Jra6er )*. 1nion 2ree S.hoo- 3i*tri.t! 395 1.S. F2"! 7hi.h i6po*e ,ur4en* on the right o/ *u//rage 7ithout a.hie)ing per6i**i,-e e*tate o,8e.ti)e*. In thi* parti.u-ar .a*e! no *u.h ,ur4en* are i6po*e4 upon the )oter* o/ the .itie* o/ Ce,u an4 $an4aue. +hey are /ree to e@er.i*e their right* 7ithout any other re:uire6ent! *a)e that o/ ,eing regi*tere4 )oter* in the .itie* 7here they re*i4e an4 the *an.tity o/ their ,a--ot i* 6aintaine4. It i* a-*o .onten4e4 that the prohi,ition 7ou-4 *u,)ert the prin.ip-e o/ repu,-i.ani*6 a* it 7ou-4 4epri)e a .iti>en hi* right to parti.ipate in the .on4u.t o/ the a//air* o/ the go)ern6ent unit through the e@er.i*e o/ hi* right o/ *u//rage. It ha* ,een pointe4 out! ho7e)er! that the pro)in.ia- go)ern6ent ha* no go)ern6enta- *uper)i*ion o)er high-y ur,ani>e4 .itie*. +he*e .itie* are in4epen4ent o/ the pro)in.e in the a46ini*tration o/ their a//air*. Su.h ,eing the .a*e! it i* ,ut 8u*t an4 proper to -i6it the *e-e.tion an4 e-e.tion o/ the pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* to the )oter* o/ the pro)in.e 7ho*e intere*t* are )ita--y a//e.te4 an4 e@.-u4e there/ro6 the )oter* o/ high-y ur,ani>e4 .itie*. 0etitioner* a**ai- the .harter o/ the City o/ $an4aue a* un.on*titutiona- /or not ha)ing ,een rati/ie4 ,y the re*i4ent* o/ the .ity in a p-e,i*.ite. +hi* .ontention i* untena,-e. +he Con*titutiona- re:uire6ent that the .reation! 4i)i*ion! 6erger! a,o-ition! or a-teration o/ the ,oun4ary o/ a pro)in.e! .ity! 6uni.ipa-ity! or ,arrio *hou-4 ,e *u,8e.t to the appro)a,y the 6a8ority o/ the )ote* .a*t in a p-e,i*.ite in the go)ern6enta- unit or unit* a//e.te4 "0 i* a ne7 re:uire6ent that .a6e into ,eing on-y 7ith the "973 Con*titution. It i* pro*pe.ti)e "" in .hara.ter an4 there/ore .annot a//e.t the .reation o/ the City o/ $an4aue 7hi.h .a6e into e@i*ten.e on June 2"! "9F9. 2ina--y! the petitioner* .-ai6 that po-iti.a- an4 gerry6an4ering 6oti)e* 7ere ,ehin4 the pa**age o/ &ata* &-g. 5" an4 Se.tion 9F o/ the Charter o/ $an4aue City. +hey .onten4 that the 0ro)in.e o/ Ce,u i* po-iti.a--y an4 hi*tori.a--y ;no7n a* an oppo*ition ,ai-i7i.; an4 o/ the tota- 952!7"F regi*tere4 )oter* in the pro)in.e! 234!5 2 are /ro6 Ce,u City an4 44!35 .o6e /ro6 $an4aue City! *o that 27 !940 e-e.tor*! or .-o*e to one-thir4 <"K3= o/ the entire pro)in.e o/ Ce,u 7ou-4 ,e ,arre4 /ro6 )oting /or the pro)in.ia- o//i.ia-* o/ the pro)in.e o/ Ce,u. Su.h .harge ha* no /a.tua- an4 -ega- ,a*i*. CGerry6an4eringC i* a Cter6 e6p-oye4 to 4e*.ri,e an apportion6ent o/ repre*entati)e 4i*tri.t* *o .ontri)e4 a* to gi)e an un/air a4)antage to the party in po7er. "2 +he :ue*tione4 *tatute* in thi* parti.u-ar .a*e 4o not apportion repre*entati)e 4i*tri.t*. +he *ai4 repre*entati)e 4i*tri.t* re6ain the *a6e. Nor ha* it ,een *ho7n that there i* an un/air a4)antage in /a)or o/ the .an4i4ate* o/ the party in po7er. #* the So-i.itor Genera- pointe4 out! it 6ay e)en ,e that the 6a8ority o/ the .ity )oter* are *upporter* o/ the a46ini*tration .an4i4ate*! *o that the ena.t6ent o/ the :ue*tione4 *tatute* 7i-- 7or; to their 4i*a4)antage. BA'R'2%R'! the petition *hou-4 ,e! a* it i* here,y 4i*6i**e4. Co*t* again*t the petitioner*. S% %R3'R'3.

2ernan4o! C.J.! &arre4o! $a;a*iar! #ntonio! #:uino! 2ernan4e>! Guerrero! #,a4 Santo*! 3e Ca*tro an4 $e-en.io-Aerrera! JJ.! .on.ur +eehan;ee! J.! too; no part.