GAMINDE v.

COA
GR No. 140335 | December 13, 2000
Pardo, J.
Petitioner: Atty. Thelma P. Gamine
Re!"onent!: #ommi!!ion on A$it an%or &on. #el!o D.
Gan'an
&on. Ra$l #. (lore! an )mman$el *. Dalman
+,--A./+ D0#TR1N): Term i! the time $rin' 2hich the
o3cer may claim to hol o3ce a! o4 ri'ht, an 56e! the
inter7al a4ter 2hich the !e7eral inc$mbent! !hall !$ccee
one another.
+/**AR,:
(A#T+: 0n 8$ne 11, 1993, the Pre!ient o4 the
Phili""ine! a""ointe "etitioner Thelma P. Gamine, a
interim, #ommi!!ioner, #i7il +er7ice #ommi!!ion. +he
a!!$me o3ce on 8$ne 22, 1993, a4ter ta:in' an oath o4
o3ce. 0n +e"tember 0;, 1993, the #ommi !!i on on
A""oi ntment, #on're!! o4 the Phi l i ""i ne! con5rme
the a""ointment. &o2e7er, on (ebr$ary 24, 199<, "etitioner
!o$'ht clari5cation 4rom the 03ce o4 the Pre!ient a! to the
e6"iry ate o4 her term o4 o3ce. 1n re"ly to her re=$e!t, the
#hie4 Pre!iential -e'al #o$n!el, in a letter ate A"ril 0;,
199<. 0"ine that "etitioner>! term o4 o3ce 2o$l e6"ire on
(ebr$ary 02, 2000, not on (ebr$ary 02, 1999.Relyin' on !ai
a7i!ory o"inion, "etitioner remaine in -eon, 2rote o3ce
a4ter (ebr$ary 02, 1999. 0n (ebr$ary 04,1999, #hai rman
#ora?on Al ma G. e the #ommi !!i on on A$i t
re=$e!ti n' o"i ni on on 2hether or not #ommi!!ioner
Thelma P. Gamine an her co@termin$! !taA may be "ai
their !alarie! not2ith!tanin' the e6"iration o4 their
a""ointment! on (ebr$ary 02, 1999.
0n (ebr$ary 1<, 1999, the General #o$n!el, #ommi!!ion on
A$it, i!!$e an o"inion that Bthe term o4 #ommi!!ioner
Gamine ha! e6"ire on (ebr$ary 02, 1999 a! !tate inher
a""ointment con4ormably 2ith the con!tit$tional
intent.C#on!e=$ently, on *arch 24, 1999, #+# Re!ient
A$itor (lo7ita! /. (eli"e i!!$e notice o4 i!allo2ance No.
99@002@101 D99E, i!allo2in' in a$it the !alarie! an
emol$ment! "ertainin' to "etitioner an her co@termin$!
!taA, eAecti7e (ebr$ary 02, 1999. 0n A"ril 5, 1999, "etitioner
a""eale the i!allo2ance to the #ommi!!ion on A$it
)nbanc.
0n 8$ne 15, 1999, the #ommi!!ion on A$it i!!$e Deci!ion
i!mi!!in' "etitioner>! a""eal.
The #ommi!!ion on A$it a3rme the "ro"riety o4 the
i!allo2ance, holin' that the i!!$e o4 "etitioner>! term o4
o3ce may be "ro"erly are!!e by mere re4erence to her
a""ointment "a"er 2hich !et the e6"iration ate on (ebr$ary
02,1999, an that the #ommi!!ion i! bere4t o4 "o2er to
reco'ni?e an e6ten!ion o4 her term, not e7en 2ith the im"lie
ac=$ie!cence o4 the 03ce o4 the Pre!ient.
1n time, "etitioner mo7e 4or recon!ierationF ho2e7er,
on A$'$!t 1;, 1999, the #ommi!!ion on A$it enie the motion.
1++/): Ghether the term o4 o3ce o4 Gamine a!
#ommi!!ioner o4 the #+# e6"ire on (eb 2, 1999, a! !tate in
her a""ointment "a"er or on (eb 02, 2000 a! !he claim!.
&)-D: Gamine>! term en! on (eb 2, 1999 a! !tate in her
a""ointment "a"er! an not on (eb 2, 2000 a! !he claim!.
The o"inion o4 the De"$ty )6ec +ecretary D+i 4ormer #hie4
8$!tice #orona yan, H$!t in ca!e he a!:!E that her term 2a!
$ntil (eb 2, 2000 i! incorrect.
Term 7. Ten$re
TermIthe time $rin' 2hich the o3cer may claim to hol
o3ce a! o4 ri'ht, an 56e! the inter7al a4ter 2hich the
!e7eral inc$mbent! !hall !$ccee one another.
Ten$reImay be !horter than the term 4or rea!on! 2ithin
or beyon the "o2er o4 the inc$mbent.
Rotation%#ycle
Republic v. Imperial: the o"eration o4 the rotational "lan
re=$ire! t2o ini!"en!ible conition!, 1E that the term! o4
the 5r!t 3 commi!!ioner! !ho$l start on a common date
an 2E that any 7acancy $e to eath, re!i'nation or
i!ability be4ore the e6"iration o4 the term !ho$l only be
5lle only 4or the unexpired balance of the term.
#on!e=$ently, the term! o4 the 5r!t #hairmen an
#ommi!!ioner! o4 the #on!tit$tional #ommi!!ion! $ner
the 19<; #on!tit$tion m$!t !tart on a common ate,
irre!"ecti7e o4 the 7ariation! in the ate! o4 a""ointment!
an =$ali5cation! o4 the a""ointee!, in orer that the
e6"iration o4 the 5r!t term! o4 !e7en, 57e an three year!
!ho$l lea to the re'$lar rec$rrence o4 the t2o@year
inter7al bet2een the e6"iration o4 the term!. The
a""ro"riate !tartin' "oint o4 term! $ner the 19<; #on!ti
m$!t be on (eb 2, 19<;Ithe date of adoption of the
Consti. In case of belated appointment or
qualication! the time bet"een the start of the
term and actual qualication must be counted
a#ainst the appointee.
JRea =$ic:ly the i!c$!!ion on com"$tation o4 term! in the
ratio o4 the i'e!t to better $ner!tan.
(A#T+:
Nat$re o4 the #a!eI!"ecial ci7il action 4or certiorari !ee:in'
to ann$l or !et a!ie t2o Beci!ion!C o4 the #ommi!!ion on
A$it r$lin' that Gamine>! term o4 o3ce a! #ommi!!ioner,
#i7il +er7ice #ommi!!ion, to 2hich !he 2a! a""ointe on
8$ne 11, 1993, e6"ire on (ebr$ary 02, 1999, a! !et 4orth in
her a""ointment "a"er.
A""ointment Pa"er
Thelma Gamine 2a! a""ointe by the Pre!ient a! ad
interim #ommi!!ioner o4 the #i7il +er7ice #ommi!!ion on
8$ne 11, 1993. +he a!!$me o3ce on 8$ne 22 a4ter ta:in' an
oath an her a""ointment 2a! con5rme by #on're!! on
+e"tember ;, 1993.
&er a""ointment "a"er rea!:
11 June 1993
Madam
Pursuant to the provisions of existin! la"s, #ou are hereb#
appointed, ad interim, $%MMI&&I%'(R, $I)I* &(R)I$(
$%MMI&&I%', for a term expiring February 2, 1999.
+# virtue hereof, #ou ma# ,ualif# and enter upon
the performance of the duties of the o-ce, furnishin!
this %-ce and the $ivil &ervice $ommission "ith copies
of #our oath of o-ce..
Re=$e!t 4or #lari5cation
0n (eb 24, 199<, Gamine !o$'ht clari5cation 4rom
the 03ce o4 the Pre! a! to 2hen her term o4 o3ce e6"ire!. 1n
a letter, #hie4 Pre!iential -e'al #o$n!el o"ine that
Gamine>! term o4 o3ce 2ill e6"ire on (ebr$ary 02, $%%%
an not on (ebr$ary 2, &'''.
Gamine relie on the o"inion an !taye in o3ce
e7en a4ter (eb 2, 1999. 0n (eb 4, 1999, the #hairman o4 the
#+#, De -eon, 2rote the #ommi!!ion on A$it to a!: 4or their
o"inion on the e6"iration o4 Gamine>! term o4 o3ce. An
2hether or not Gamine an her co@termino$! !taA may be
"ai !alarie! not2ith!tanin' the e6"iration o4 the
a""ointment! on (eb 2, 2000.
#0A Deci!ion
0n (eb 1<, the General #o$n!el o4 #0A i!!$e an o"inion
!tatin' that Gamine>! term o4 o3ce ha! e6"ire on (eb 2,
1999 Ba! !tate in her a""ointment con4ormably 2ith the
con!tit$tional intent.C
#on!e=$ently, the #+# Re!ient A$itor i!!$e a notice o4
i!allo2ance, i!allo2in' in a$it the !alarie! an
emol$ment! o4 Gamine an her co@termino$! !taA, eAecti7e
(eb 2, 1999.
Gamine a""eale the i!allo2ance to the #ommi!!ion en
banc. 0n 8$ne 15,1999, the #0A i!!$e a eci!ion i!mi!!in'
the a""eal an a3rme the i!allo2ance. The term o4 o3ce
can be "ro"erly are!!e by mere re4erence to her
a""ointment "a"er. #0A al!o !ai that it oe! not ha7e the
"o2er to e6ten the term o4 Gamine, not e7en 2ith the
im"lie ac=$ie!cence o4 the 03ce o4 the Pre!ient.
Gamine mo7e 4or recon!ieration b$t 2a! enie by the
#0A. &ence, the "etition.
1++/): Ghether the term o4 o3ce o4 Gamine a!
#ommi!!ioner o4 the #+# e6"ire on (eb 2, 1999, a! !tate in
her a""ointment "a"er or on (eb 02, 2000 a! !he claim!.
&)-D: ()E*E+O*E, 2e aH$'e that the term o4 o3ce o4
*!. Thelma P. Gamine a! #ommi!!ioner, #i7il +er7ice
#ommi!!ion, $ner an a""ointment e6tene to her by
Pre!ient (iel K. Ramo! on 8$ne 11, 1993, e6"ire on
(ebr$ary 02, 1999. &o2e7er, !he !er7e a! de facto o3cer
in 'oo 4aith $ntil (ebr$ary 02, 2000, an th$! entitle to
recei7e her !alary an other emol$ment! 4or act$al !er7ice
renere. #on!e=$ently, the #ommi!!ion on A$it erre in
i!allo2in' in a$it !$ch !alary an other emol$ment!,
incl$in' that o4 her co@termino$! !taA.
ACCO*DING,-, 2e R)K)R+) the eci!ion! o4 the
#ommi!!ion on A$it in!o4ar a! they i!allo2 the !alarie! an
emol$ment! o4 #ommi!!ioner Thelma P. Gamine an her
cotermino$! !taA $rin' her ten$re a!de facto o3cer 4rom
(ebr$ary 02, 1999, $ntil (ebr$ary 02, 2000.
RAT10:
*otation.C/cle of Terms
Article I0! 1ection &2$3! &'45 Constitution
&ection 1 /01. 2he $hairman and the $ommissioners shall be
appointed b# the President "ith the consent of the
$ommission on 3ppointments for a term of seven years
without reappointment. %f those frst appointed, the
Chairman shall hold ofe for seven years, a
Commissioner for fve years, and another
Commissioner for three years, "ithout
reappointment. 3ppointment to an# vacanc# shall be onl#
for the unexpired term of the predecessor. In no case shall
an# Member be appointed or desi!nated in a temporar# or
actin! capacit#..
The 5r!t !y!tem o4 a re'$lar rotation or cycle in the
member!hi" o4 the #+# 2a! 5r!t intro$ce in the 19;3
#on!tit$tion. Thi! 2a! co"ie 4rom the 1935 #on!ti on the
rotation%cycle o4 the #0*)-)#
Republic v. Imperial: the o"eration o4 the rotational "lan
re=$ire! t2o ini!"en!ible conition!, 1E that the term! o4
the 5r!t 3 commi!!ioner! !ho$l start on a common date
an 2E that any 7acancy $e to eath, re!i'nation or
i!ability be4ore the e6"iration o4 the term !ho$l only be
5lle only 4or the unexpired balance of the term.
#on!e=$ently, the term! o4 the 5r!t #hairmen an
#ommi!!ioner! o4 the #on!tit$tional #ommi!!ion! $ner
the 19<; #on!tit$tion m$!t !tart on a common ate,
irre!"ecti7e o4 the 7ariation! in the ate! o4 a""ointment!
an =$ali5cation! o4 the a""ointee!, in orer that the
e6"iration o4 the 5r!t term! o4 !e7en, 57e an three year!
!ho$l lea to the re'$lar rec$rrence o4 the t2o@year
inter7al bet2een the e6"iration o4 the term!. The
a""ro"riate !tartin' "oint o4 term! $ner the 19<; #on!ti
m$!t be on (eb 2, 19<;Ithe ate o4 ao"tion o4 the
#on!ti. 1n ca!e o4 belate a""ointment or =$ali5cation,
the time bet2een the !tart o4 the term an act$al
=$ali5cation m$!t be co$nte a'ain!t the a""ointee.
Term 7. Ten$re
TermIthe time $rin' 2hich the o3cer may claim to hol
o3ce a! o4 ri'ht, an 56e! the inter7al a4ter 2hich the
!e7eral inc$mbent! !hall !$ccee one another.
Ten$reImay be !horter than the term 4or rea!on! 2ithin
or beyon the "o2er o4 the inc$mbent.
Article LK111, Tran!itory Pro7i!ion! o4 the 19<; #on!ti
B+)#. 15. The inc$mbent *ember! o4 the #i7il +er7ice
#ommi!!ion, the #ommi!!ion on )lection!, an the
#ommi!!ion on A$it !hall contin$e in o3ce 4or one year
a4ter the rati5cation o4 thi! #on!tit$tion, $nle!! they are
!ooner remo7e 4or ca$!e or become inca"acitate to
i!char'e the $tie! o4 their o3ce or a""ointe to a ne2
term there$ner. 1n no ca!e !hall any *ember !er7e
lon'er than !e7en year! incl$in' !er7ice be4ore the
rati5cation o4 thi! #on!tit$tion.C
Thi! "ertain! to TEN6*E and NOT TE*M o4 the
inc$mbent *ember! o4 the #+#, #omelec an #0A.
The tran!itory "ro7i!ion! mean that inc$mbent member!
o4 the #on#om! !hall contin$e in o3ce 4or one more year
a4ter the rati5cation o4 the #on!tit$tion $ner their
e6i!tin' a""ointment! an at the i!cretion o4 the
a""ointin' "o2er 2ho may c$t !hort their TEN6*E by:
1. Remo7al 4rom o3ce 4or ca$!e
2. .ecomin' inca"acitate to i!char'e $tie! o4 their
o3ce
3. Their a""ointment to a ne2 term there$ner
All o4 2hich ha7e to occur before the end of the
one /ear period after the e7ectivit/ of the
Constitution.
The transitor/ provisions do not a7ect the term of
o8ce 9ed in Article I0! "hich provides for a seven:
ve:three /ear rotational interval for the rst
appointees.
#om"$tation o4 the T)R*+ o4 the 5r!t a""ointee! an their
!$cce!!or! to the #+# by their re!"ecti7e line!
(1R+T -1N)I#hairmanI; year!
+tart: (eb 2, 19<;F )n: (eb 1, 1994
0n 8an$ary 30, 19<<, +to. Toma! 2a! a""ointe a!
#hairman o4 the #+#. &er a""ointment 2a! con5rme by
#on're!! on *arch 2, 19<<. +he a!!$me o3ce on *arch
4, 19<<.
&er term ene on (eb 2, 1994 b$t !he !er7e a! de facto
#hairman $ntil *arch 4, 1995.
0n *arch 5, 1995, De -eon 2a! a""ointe to a re'$lar
!e7en@year term. This term must be deemed to start
on +eb $! &'';! immediatel/ succeedin# her
predecessor. &er term 2ill th$! en on (eb 1, 2001.
+)#0ND -1N)I#ommi!!ionerI(ir!t A""ointee 4or 5 year!
DThis is "here Gaminde falls3
+tart: (eb 2, 19<;F )n: (eb 2, 1992
The #ommi!!ioner be4ore Gamine al!o !er7e a! de
facto #ommi!!ioner 4or one year a4ter the e6"iration o4 hi!
term, 2hich 2a! on (eb 2, 1992.
Gamine, 2ho 2a! a""ointe in 1993, i! eeme to ha7e
!tarte her term on (eb 2, 1992. +he i! bo$n by the
term! o4 her a""ointment 2hich 2a! to en in (eb 2,
1999. The o"inion o4 De"$ty )6ec +ecretary #orona that
her term 2ill e6"ire on (eb 2, 2000 2a! 2ron'.
T&1RD -1N)I#ommi!!ionerI(ir!t A""ointee 4or 3 year!
+tart: (eb 2, 19<;F )n: (eb 2, 1990
#ommi!!ioner ,an'o 2a! alreay inc$mbent
#ommi!!ioner at the time o4 the ao"tion o4 the 19<;
#on!ti. &i! e6tene ten$re ene on (eb 2, 19<<.
1n *ay 19<<, #ory a""ointe him 4or a three year term
2hich ene on (eb 2, 1990. .$t he !er7e a! de facto
commi!h $ntil *ay 31, 1991.
)reneta 2a! then a""ointe 4or a term e6"irin' on (eb 2,
199;.
Pattern: Re'$lar inter7al o4 7acancy e7ery 2 year!:
(eb 2, 1994 4or the 5r!t #hairman
(eb 2, 1992 4or the 5r!t 57e@year term commi!!ioner
(eb 2, 1990 4or the 5r!t three@year term commi!!ioner
Their !$cce!!or! m$!t maintain the t2o year inter7al.
Ty"e +tart Term )n Term Ten$re
#hairman (ir!t ;
year
ori'inal
(eb 2,
19<;
(eb 2,
1994
*ar 4,
19<<@*ar
<, 1995
+$cce!!or
1
(eb 2
1994
(eb 2001 *ar 22,
199 M(eb
2, 2001
+$cce!!or
2
(eb 2001 (eb 200< 4444
2
n
*ember
(ir!t
A""ointee
D5 year!E
(eb 19<; (eb 1992 *ar 4
19<<@*ar
4 1993
+$cce!!or
1
DGAMIND
E3
(eb 1992 (eb 1999 8$ne 11,
1993I(eb
2 , 2000
+$cce!!or
2
(eb 1999 (eb 200N +e" <,
2000 to
(eb 2,
200N
3
r
(ir!t (eb 19<; (eb 1990 *ay 30,
*ember A""ointee
D3 year!E
19<< to
*ay 31,
1991
+$cce!!or
1
(eb 1990 (eb 199; Dec 12
1991 to
(eb 02
199;
+$cce!!or
2
(eb 199; (eb 2004
.a!ta the term i! 56e. +o i4 they e6ten their ten$re, the
"er!on 2ho 2ill !$ccee them 2ill !tart 4rom the en o4 the
term an not 4rom the en o4 the ten$re.