Political Law

Public International Law

Course Outline

I. Fundamental Concepts and Principles of International Law

A. Definition

B. Sources of International Law

1. International Treaties and Conventions

2. International Customs
3. General Principles of International Law
4. Judicial Decisions
5. Writings of Publicists
6. Concepts
a. Obligations erga omnes
b. Jus Cogens
c. Ex aequo et bono

C. Relationship of International Law with National Law

1. Doctrine of Incorporation

Section 2, Article II of the Philippine Constitution

Cases:

Pharmaceutical Healthcare Association of the Philippines vs. Health

Secretary Duque, G. R. No. 173034, 9 October 2007
Bayan Muna vs. Romulo, G. R. No. 159618, 1 February 2011
Kuroda vs. Jalandoni, 83 Phil 171
United States of America vs. Guinto, 182 SCRA 645
Agustin vs. Edu, 88 SCRA 195
Marcos vs. Manglapus, 177 SCRA 668

2. Doctrine of Transformation

Section 21, Article VII of the Philippine Constitution

WHO vs. Aquino, 48 SCRA 242

3. Conflict between International Law and Municipal Law

(a) Domestic Sphere

i. Conflict with the Constitution

ii. Conflict with a Statute

Cases:

Abbas vs. Comelec, 179 SCRA 287

Ichong vs. Hernandez, 10 Phil 1156
(b) International Sphere

II. Subjects of International Law

1. States

i. Recognition of States and Governments

Declaratory Theory vs. Constitutive Theory
De Jure vs. De Facto Recognition

ii. Creation and Extinction of States

iii. Principle of State Continuity

2. The Vatican City and the Holy See

Case: Holy See vs. del Rosario, 238 SCRA 524

3. Colonies and Dependencies

4. Territories Under International Control or Supervision
5. The United Nations
6. Belligerent Communities

i. Recognition of Belligerency

7. International Administrative Bodies

8. Individuals

i. Nationality and Statelessness

ii. International Protection of Human Rights

III. Fundamental Rights of States

A. Sovereignty

1. Principle of Sovereign Immunity

a. absolute immunity
b. restrictive immunity

acta jure imperii vs. acta juri gestionis

Cases:

China National Machinery and Equipment Corp. vs. Santamaria, G. R.

No. 18557, 7 February 2012
USA vs. Ruiz, 136 SCRA 487
JUSMAG vs. NLRC, G.R. No. 108813, 15 December 1994
Holy See vs. Rosario, 238 SCRA 524
US vs. Reyes, 219 SCRA 192
Shauf vs. Court of Appeals, 191 SCRA 713
2. Immunity of International Organizations

Case:

International Catholic Migration vs. Calleja, 190 SCRA 130 (1990)

B. Equality

C. Territorial Integrity and Jurisdiction

Territorial Integrity

1. Land Territory
2. Maritime Territory
3. Air Territory

Jurisdiction

1. Basis for the Exercise of Jurisdiction

a. Territoriality Principle
b. Nationality Principle
c. Protective Principle
d. Universality Principle
e. Passive Personality Principle

2. Extradition

a. Principle of Specialty
b. Double Criminality Rule
c. Retroactive Application

Case:

Wright vs. Court of Appeals, G. R. No. 113213, 15 August 1994

Government of Hong Kong vs. Olalia, G. R. No. 153675, 19 April 2007

3. Treatment of Aliens

D. Diplomatic Relations/Legation

1. Head of State
2. Establishment of Resident Missions
3. Diplomatic Corps
4. Appointment of Envoys
5. Diplomatic Immunities and Privileges

Cases:

Minucher vs. Court of Appeals, G. R. No. 142396, 11 February 2003

WHO vs. Aquino, 48 SCRA 242
Republic of Indonesia vs. Vinzons, G. R. No. 154705, 26 June 2003
Shauf vs. Court of Appeals, 191 SCRA 713
Arigo vs. Swift, G. R. No. 206510, 16 September 2014
E. Existence and Self-Preservation

1. Use of Force Short of War

a. Breaking of Diplomatic Relations

b. Retorsion
c. Reprisals
d. Other Forms of Retaliatory Actions

2. War

3. Neutrality

IV. Treaties and Other International Agreements

A. Definition, Form, Requisites for Validity

B. Treaties vs. Executive Agreements

Case:

Bayan Muna vs. Romulo, G. R. No. 159618, 1 February 2011

Commissioner of Customs vs. Eastern Sea Trading, 3 SCRA 351
USAFFE Veterans Association, Inc. vs. Treasurer, 105 Phil 1030
Intellectual Property Association vs. Ochoa, G. R. No. 204605, 19 July
2016

1. Treaty Making Process

2. Fundamental Principles Concerning Treaties
3. Invalidity, Termination and Suspension of the Operation of
Treaties

V. Settlement of Disputes

A. Amicable Modes
B. Hostile Methods
C. Role of United Nations

V. International Human Rights Law

A. Universal Declaration of Human Rights

B. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
C. International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

VI. International Humanitarian Law and Neutrality

A. Categories of Armed Conflicts

1. International Armed Conflicts
2. Internal or Non-International Armed Conflict
3. War of National Liberation
B. Core International Obligations of States in International
Humanitarian Law
C. Principles of International Humanitarian Law
1. Treatment of Civilians
2. Prisoners of War

D. Law on Neutrality

E. R. A. 9851, Philippine Act on Crimes Against International

Humanitarian Law, Genocide and Other Crimes Against Humanity

VII. Law of the Sea

A. Baselines
B. Archipelagic States
1. Straight Archipelagic Baselines
2. Archipelagic Waters
3. Archipelagic Sea Lanes Passage
4. Regime of Islands

C. Internal Waters
D. Territorial Sea
E. Exclusive Economic Zone
F. Continental Shelf
1. Extended Continental Shelf
G. International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea

Magallona vs. Ermita, G.R No. 187167. July 16, 2011

VIII. Basic Principles of International Environmental Law

A. Precautionary Principle