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CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
for Reconsideration.
CONTENTION:
** Supreme Court erred when it ruled that there is no legal
basis to support the contention that the CHR enjoys fiscal
autonomy.
** Supreme Court erred in stating that the special provision
of the RA No. 8522 did not specifically mention CHR as
among those offices to which the special provision to
formulate and implement organizational structures apply, but
merely states its coverage to include constitutional
commissions and offices enjoying fiscal autonomy;
** Supreme Court erred when it ruled that the CHR although
admittedly a constitutional creation is nonetheless not
included in the genus of the offices accorded fiscal autonomy
by constitutional or legislative fiat.
** Supreme Court erred in deciding to reinstate the ruling
dated 29 march 1999 of the civil service commission
national capital region;
** Supreme Court erred in deciding to disallow the
Commission On Human Rights Resolution No. A98-047 dated
September 04, 1998, Resolution No. A98-055 dated 19
october 1998 and Resolution No. A98-062 dated 17
November 1998 without the approval of the department of
budget and management.
ISSUES:
1. WON CHREA has the capacity to sue and/or the proper
party
2. WON CHR is one of the constitutional bodies clothed
with fiscal autonomy
3. WON approval of DBM is a condition precedent to the
approval of the scheme
HELD:
1. YES.
On petitioner's personality to bring this suit, we held in a
multitude of cases that a proper party is one who has
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
EO
is
only
directory
and
not
HELD:
1. NO. Petitioner lacks locus standi.
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
DOCTRINE:
In case of doubt, the Constitution should be considered selfexecuting rather than non-self-executing.
Unless it is expressly provided that a legislative act is
necessary to enforce a constitutional mandate, the
presumption now is that all provisions of the constitution are
self-executing.
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
provision
is
not,
by
itself,
fully
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
autonomy.
HELD:
Yes. The COAs authority to conduct post-audit examinations
on constitutional bodies granted fiscal autonomy is provided
under Section 2(1), Article IX-D of the 1987 Constitution. This
authority, however, must be read not only in light of the
Courts fiscal autonomy, but also in relation with the
constitutional provisions on judicial independence and the
existing jurisprudence and Court rulings on these matters.
The concept of the independence of the three branches of
government extends from the notion that the powers of
government must be divided to avoid concentration of these
powers in any one branch; the division, it is hoped, would
avoid any single branch from lording its power over the other
branches or the citizenry. To achieve this purpose, the divided
power must be wielded by co-equal branches of government
that are equally capable of independent action in exercising
their respective mandates; lack of independence would result
in the inability of one branch of government to check the
arbitrary or self-interest assertions of another or others.
Thus, judicial independence can be broken down into two
distinct concepts: decisional independence and institutional
independence. Decisional independence refers to a judges
ability to render decisions free from political or popular
influence based solely on the individual facts and applicable
law.On the other hand, institutional independence
describes the separation of the judicial branch from the
executive and legislative branches of government.
While, as a general proposition, the authority of legislatures
to control the purse in the first instance is unquestioned, any
form of interference by the Legislative or the Executive on
the Judiciarys fiscal autonomy amounts to an improper check
on a co-equal branch of government. If the judicial branch is
to perform its primary function of adjudication, it must be
able to command adequate resources for that purpose. This
authority to exercise (or to compel the exercise of) legislative
power over the national purse (which at first blush appears to
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
DOCTRINE:
The amending process both as to proposal and ratification
raises a judicial question.
FACTS:
President Marcos issued PD. No. 991 calling for a national
referendum on October 16, 1976 for the Citizens Assemblies
("barangays") to resolve, among other things, the issues of
martial law, the assembly, its replacement, the powers of
such replacement, the period of its existence, the length of
the period for tile exercise by the President of his present
powers. Thereafter, the President issued PD No. 1031,
amending PD No. 991, by providing for the manner of voting
and canvass of votes in "barangays" (Citizens Assemblies)
applicable to the national referendum-plebiscite of October
16, 1976.
Soon, the President issued PD No. 1033, stating the questions
to be submitted to the people in the referendum-plebiscite on
October 16, 1976. The Decree recites in its "whereas" clauses
that the people's continued opposition to the convening of
the National Assembly evinces their desire to have such body
abolished and replaced thru a constitutional amendment,
providing for a legislative body, which will be submitted
directly to the people in the referendum-plebiscite of October
16. The questions ask, to wit: (1) Do you want martial law to
be continued? (2) Whether or not you want martial law to be
continued, do you approve the following amendments to the
Constitution? For the purpose of the second question, the
referendum shall have the effect of a plebiscite within the
contemplation of Section 2 of Article XVI of the Constitution.
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
the Constitution.3
Still another petition for Prohibition with Preliminary
Injunction was filed on October 5, 1976 by RAUL M.
GONZALES, his son RAUL, JR., and ALFREDO SALAPANTAN,
docketed as L- 44714, to restrain the implementation of
Presidential Decrees relative to the forthcoming ReferendumPlebiscite of October 16.
These last petitioners argue that even granting him
legislative powers under Martial Law, the incumbent
President cannot act as a constituent assembly to propose
amendments to the Constitution; a referendum-plebiscite is
untenable under the Constitutions of 1935 and 1973; the
submission of the proposed amendments in such a short
period of time for deliberation renders the plebiscite a nullity;
to lift Martial Law, the President need not consult the people
via referendum; and allowing 15-.year olds to vote would
amount to an amendment of the Constitution, which confines
the right of suffrage to those citizens of the Philippines 18
years of age and above.
We find the petitions in the three entitled cases to be devoid
of merit.
Issues:
1. WON Pablo and Pablito Sanidad have locus
standi.
2. WON the amendment process is justiciable.
3. WON
President
Marcos
can
amendments to the Constitution.
propose
Held:
1. Yes. Pablo and Pablito Sanidad possess locus standi. It
is now an ancient rule that Presidential Decrees may
be contested by one who will sustain direct injuries as
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
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DOCTRINE:
RA 6735 is incomplete, inadequate, or wanting in essential
terms and conditions insofar as initiative on amendments to
the Constitution is concerned.
FACTS:
Private respondent Atty. Jesus S. Delfin filed with public
respondent COMELEC a "Petition to Amend the Constitution,
to Lift Term Limits of Elective Officials, by People's Initiative"
(hereafter, Delfin Petition). The Delfin Petition alleged, among
others, that the provisions sought to be amended are
Sections 4 and 7 of Article VI, Section 4 of Article VII, and
Section 8 of Article X of the Constitution. Attached to the
petition is a copy of a "Petition for Initiative on the 1987
Constitution" embodying the proposed amendments which
consist in the deletion from the aforecited sections of the
provisions concerning term limits, and with the following
proposition: DO YOU APPROVE OF LIFTING THE TERM LIMITS
OF ALL ELECTIVE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, AMENDING FOR
THE PURPOSE SECTIONS 4 AND 7 OF ARTICLE VI, SECTION 4
OF ARTICLE VII, AND SECTION 8 OF ARTICLE X OF THE 1987
PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION? After complying with the order
of the COMELEC, the petition was set for hearing. After
hearing their arguments, the COMELEC directed Delfin and
the
oppositors
to
file
their
"memoranda
and/or
oppositions/memoranda" within five days. The petitioners
herein (Santiago, Padilla, Ongpin) filed a special civil action
for prohibition for the ff. reasons: (1) The constitutional
provision on people's initiative to amend the Constitution can
only be implemented by law to be passed by Congress. No
such law has been passed; (2) It is true that R.A. No. 6735
provides for three systems of initiative, namely, initiative on
the Constitution, on statutes, and on local legislation.
However, it failed to provide any subtitle on initiative on the
Constitution, unlike in the other modes of initiative, which are
specifically provided for in Subtitle II and Subtitle III; (3)
Republic Act No. 6735 provides for the effectivity of the law
after publication in print media. This indicates that the Act
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
initiative
on
RULING:
No.
Section 2 of Article XVII of the Constitution provides for the
exercise of the right of the people to propose amendments to
the Constitution through initiative.The Congress shall provide
for the implementation of the exercise of this right. This
provision is not self-executory. The Court agrees that R.A. No.
6735 was, as its history reveals, intended to cover initiative
to propose amendments to the Constitution. However, it is
not in full compliance with the power and duty of Congress to
"provide for the implementation of the exercise of the right.
First, contrary to the assertion of public respondent
COMELEC, Section 2 of the Act does not suggest an initiative
on amendments to the Constitution. The said section reads:
Sec. 2. Statement and Policy. The power of the people
under a system of initiative and referendum to directly
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
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CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
Issues:
(1) WON Petitioners have legal standing.
(2) Whether or Not Proclamation No. 427 and General Order
No.
4
are
constitutional?
Held:
(1) No. Petitioners Sanlakas and PM assert that:
a. As a basic principle of the organizations and as an
important plank in their programs, petitioners are committed
to assert, defend, protect, uphold, and promote the rights,
interests, and welfare of the people, especially the poor and
marginalized classes and sectors of Philippine society.
Petitioners are committed to defend and assert human rights,
including political and civil rights, of the citizens.
b. Members of the petitioner organizations resort to mass
actions and mobilizations in the exercise of their
Constitutional rights to peaceably assemble and their
freedom of speech and of expression under Section 4,
Article III of the 1987 Constitution, as a vehicle to publicly
ventilate their grievances and legitimate demands and to
mobilize public opinion to support the same.
Even assuming that petitioners are "people's organizations,"
this status would not vest them with the requisite personality
to question the validity of the presidential issuances
Only real parties in interest or those with standing, as the
case may be, may invoke the judicial power. The jurisdiction
of this Court, even in cases involving constitutional
questions, is limited by the "case and controversy"
requirement of Art. VIII, 5. This requirement lies at the very
heart of the judicial function. It is what differentiates
decisionmaking in the courts from decisionmaking in the
political departments of the government and bars the
bringing of suits by just any party.
That petitioner SJS officers/members are taxpayers and
citizens does not necessarily endow them with standing. A
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
the bench and the bar, and in the present petitions, the
military and the police, on the extent of the protection
given by constitutional guarantees. And lastly, respondents
contested actions are capable of repetition. Certainly, the
petitions are subject to judicial review.
An otherwise "moot" case may still be decided "provided the
party raising it in a proper case has been and/or continues to
be prejudiced or damaged as a direct result of its issuance."
The present case falls right within this exception to the
mootness rule pointed out by the Chief Justice.
Additional Info:
By way of summary, the following rules may be culled from
the cases decided by this Court. Taxpayers, voters,
concerned citizens, and legislators may be accorded standing
to sue, provided that the following requirements are met:
(1) the cases involve constitutional issues;
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
FACTS:
These cases are about the constitutionality of a presidential
proclamation of martial law and suspension of the privilege of
habeas corpus in 2009 in a province in Mindanao which were
withdrawn after just eight days.
On November 23, 2009 heavily armed men, allegedly led by
the ruling Ampatuan family, gunned down and buried under
shoveled dirt 57 innocent civilians on a highway in
Maguindanao. In response to this, President Arroyo issued
Presidential Proclamation 1946 on November 24, declaring a
state of emergency in Maguindanao, Sultan Kudarat, and
Cotabato City to prevent and suppress similar lawless
violence. On December 4, 2009 President Arroyo issued
Presidential Proclamation 1959 declaring martial law and
suspending the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in that
province except for identified areas of the Moro Islamic
W/N the courts can still pass upon the constitutionality of the
Presidential Proclamation
HELD:
NO. Here, President Arroyo withdrew Proclamation 1959
before the joint houses of Congress, which had in fact
convened, could act on the same. Consequently, the
petitions in these cases have become moot and the Court
has nothing to review. The lifting of martial law and
restoration of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in
Maguindanao was a supervening event that removed any
justiciable controversy. The court dismissed the consolidated
petitions on the ground that the same have become moot
and academic.
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
should
grant
the
said
motion
for
HELD:
NO. Petitioners threshold argument delves on possibilities,
on matters that may or may not occur. The conjectural and
speculative nature of the first issue raised is reflected in the
very manner of its formulation and by statements, such as
"the public pronouncements of public respondent COMELEC x
x x clearly show that there is a high probability that there will
be automated failure of elections"; "there is a high
probability that the use of PCOS machines in the May 2010
elections will result in failure of elections"; "the unaddressed
logistical nightmaresand the lack of contingency plans that
should have been crafted as a result of a pilot testmake an
automated failure of elections very probable"; and "COMELEC
committed grave abuse of discretion when it signed x x x the
CHRISTINE CRUZ, STEVEN GATACELO, LORALYN LAZARO, RAMON MUNEZ, ANGELO MURILLO A.Y. 2014-2015
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