ONG vs. HERRERA-MARTINEZ G.R. No. 87743 August 21, 1990 PARAS, PARAS, J. Facts: Petitioner Robert F. Ong assais t!e a""oint#ent an$ assu#"tion o% $uties as &oun'ior in t!e &it( &oun'i &oun'i o% )ania o% res"on$ent res"on$ent )a. *eresita resita +errera)a +errera)artine rtine-, -, in "a'e o% $e'ease$ $e'ease$ &oun'ior Saturnino +errera !o re"resente$ t!e *!ir$ /istri't o% )ania. Saturnino +errera, as one o% t!e ibera Par( 'an$i$ates $u( ee'te$ as &oun'ior %or )anias *!ir$ /istri't in t!e o'a ee'tions o% Januar( 18, 1988. +e $ie$ on O'tober 14, 1988 t!us eaing t!e "osition o"en %or t!e a""oint#ent o% a uai%ie$ re"a'e#ent %ro# t!e sa#e "oiti'a "art( !ere t!e $e'ease$ 'oun'ior beonge$. Res"on$ent )a. *eresita +errera)artine-, +erreras $aug!ter, as a""ointe$ an$ assu#e$ t!e $uties as &oun'ior o% !er $e'ease$ %at!er. Petitioner Robert F. Ong assais t!e a""oint#ent o% )artine-. Ong 'onten$s t!at !e as a""ointe$ on Februar( 9, 1989 as &oun'ior b( t!e Se'retar( o% o'a Goern#ent to %i t!e a'an'( 'reate$ b( t!e ate +errera. On t!e sa#e $ate, "etitioner too !is oat! o% o%%i'e as su'! 'oun'ior a%ter !i'! t!e Se'retar( o% o'a Goern#ent in%or#e$ )a(or Ge#iiano o"e-, Jr. an$ 5i'e)a(or an$ Presi$ing O%%i'er /anio a'una o% t!e a""oint#ent o% "etiti "etitione oner. r. ieise, ieise, in !is st 6n$ors 6n$orse#e e#ent nt o% )ar'! )ar'! 13, 1989, 1989, t!e n$ers n$erse'r e'reta etar( r( o% o'a o'a Goern#ent Goern#ent %orar$e$ "etitioners "etitioners a""oint#ent a""oint#ent to Presi$ing Presi$ing O%%i'er O%%i'er o% t!e &it( &oun'i /anio a'una. +oeer, Ong an$ ot!er 'oa""ointees ere %or#a( e'u$e$ %ro# t!e reguar session o% t!e &it( &oun'i it! siteen :1;< 'oun'iors oting %or su'! e'usion an$ none against it, it! t!e rest o% t!e &oun'i #e#bers abstaining. A""oint#ent "ro'ess o% )artine-= )artine-= •
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Noe#ber 4, 1988= Nine out o% t!e eeen in'u#bent P &oun'iors in t!e &it( &oun'i en$orse$ t!e a""oint#ent o% res"on$ent "er t!eir resoution. *!is resoution as %orar$e$ to t!e O%%i'e o% t!e &!air#an o% t!e ibera Part(, )ania &!a"ter. )ar'! 1, 1989= A%oresai$ &!air#an, in turn, no#inate$ res"on$ent %or a""oint#ent "er !is etterno#ination to Presi$ent &ora-on Auino t!ru t!e Se'retar( o% o'a Goern#ent. )ar'! 8, 1989= Senate Presi$ent Joito Saonga as Nationa +ea$ o% t!e ibera Part( as %urnis!e$ it! a 'o"( o% t!is etterno#ination. )ar'! )ar'! 13, 1989= 1989= &ongre &ongress# ss#an an eonar$ eonar$o o Fuguso Fuguso as Presi$ Presi$ent ent o% t!e P *!ir$ *!ir$ /istri /istri't 't &!a"ter aso no#inate$ res"on$ent to Nationa Presi$ent Saonga o% t!e Part(. Presi$ent Saonga, in turn, no#inate$ res"on$ent to Se'retar( uis Santos o% t!e /e"art#ent o% o'a Goern#ent "ursuant to Se'tion >0 o% t!e o'a Goern#ent &o$e. )ar'! )ar'! 17, 1989= 1989= Se'ret Se'retar( ar( Santos Santos,, a'ting a'ting %or t!e Presi$ Presi$ent ent,, issue$ issue$ an a""oin a""oint#e t#ent nt to res"on$ent. )ar'! 21, 1989= *!e %irst session $a( a%ter res"on$ents a""oint#ent, t!e &it( &oun'i, b( a ote o% tent(%our #e#bers in %aor it! no #e#ber o""osing re'ogni-e$ !er as #e#ber o% sai$ &oun'i. Fina(, t!e Presi$ing O%%i'er o% t!e &it( &oun'i $ire'te$ its Se'retariat to in'u$e t!e na#e o% res"on$ent in t!e "a(ro o% t!e &it( &oun'i.
)artine)artine- t!us assu#e$ assu#e$ an$ "er%or#e$ "er%or#e$ !er $uties as &oun'ior &oun'ior %or t!e *!ir$ /istri't o% )ania unti t!e restraining or$er o% t!e &ourt issue$ on A"ri 20, 1989 as re'eie$ b( res"on$ent. Petitioners 'ontention= 1. *!e Se'reta Se'retar( r( o% t!e /e"art# /e"art#ent ent o% o'a o'a Goern Goern#e #ent, nt, in a""oint a""ointing ing res"on$e res"on$ent nt )artine)artineon )ar'! 17, 1989, violated the election ban on appointments un$er appointments un$er Res. No. 20>4 o% t!e &o#ee' $ate$ /e'e#ber 7, 1988 sin'e !er a""oint#ent as not 'eare$ %or ee#"tion %ro# t!e ee'tion ban an$, t!ere%ore, t!e sa#e as #a$e be(on$ an$ in e'ess o% t!e Se'retar(s aut!orit( an$ b( reason o% !i'!, t!e a""oint#ent is nu an$ oi$. 2. Res"on$ on$ent Matine! is not a membe o" the #ibeal $at% an$ $at% an$ 'annot be a""ointe$ to t!e "osition o% &oun'ior, a a'an'( 'reate$ b( t!e $eat! o% a #e#ber o% sai$ Part(. 3. $etitione&s appointment is valid, valid , 'o#"ete an$ be(on$ re'a. 4. $etitione is entitled to entitled to t!e "osition !e$ b( res"on$ent. Res"on$ents 'ontention= '. Petitioner #ise$ t!e &ourt in 'ai#ing t!at !e !as a rig!t to t!e 'onteste$ "osition. +is a""oint#ent as in$orse$ on( b( t!e *reasurer o% t!e P &!a"ter, 3r$ /istri't o% )ania. *!e *reasurers in$orse#ent as not non nor aut!ori-e$ b( t!e !ea$ o% t!e P in sai$ $istri't. Neit!er as t!e no#ination broug!t to t!e attention o% t!e &!air#an o% t!e P, )ania &!a"ter. +en'e, "etitioners a""oint#ent as oi$ %ro# t!e er( beginning %or lac( o" a)thoit% o" the Teas)e *ho nominated him. 2. Petiti Petitione onerr !as no rig!t rig!t to t!e "osition "osition an$ an$ %or !i'! !i'! reason, reason, he lac(s the le+al pesonalit% to instit)te the pesent petition %or petition %or quo warranto, mandamus an$ "ro!ibition. 3. ?!ie ?!ie "etitione "etitionerr 'ai#s 'ai#s t!at !e too !is oat! on Februar( Februar( 9, 1989 !i'! as a 'a'uat 'a'uate$ e$ #oe to aoi$ t!e ee'tion ban on a""oint#ents, !e use$ a Resi$en'e &erti%i'ate issue$ on Februar( 22, 1989 on(. *!is #eans t!at he co)ld not have ta(en his alle+ed oath be"oe the iss)ance o" the esidence ceti"icate. 4. *!e appointment o" espondent possesses all the e,)isites o" a valid appointment a''or$ing to ega an$ reguar "ro'e$ures. S!e aers t!at !er a""oint#ent as in$orse$ b( nine out o% eeen P in'u#bent 'oun'iors an$ t!at !er no#ination as %aorab( in$orse$ b( t!e ibera Part( !ierar'!( %ro# t!e &!air#an o% t!e *!ir$ /istri't, t!ru t!e &!air#an o% t!e )ania &!a"ter u" to t!e Nationa Presi$ent o% t!e P@ an$, t!at s!e as $u( a""ointe$ on t!e basis o% t!e series o% no#inations o% t!e P !ierar'!(. >. *!e appointment o" espondent is not coveed b% the election ban contemplated un$er contemplated un$er Se'. 2;1 :g< o% t!e O#nibus e'tion &o$e. Iss)es: ?!et!er or not Petitioner Ong s!ou$ be 'oun'ior. BNO ?!et!er or not Se'. 2;1:g< o% t!e O& a""ies in t!is 'ase. BNO • •
R)lin+: *!e 'ase 'ase %or res"on res"on$en $entt a""ear a""ears s #erito #eritoriou rious. s. Res"on Res"on$en $entt !a$ gone gone t!roug! t!roug! t!e regua reguarr an$ stan$ar$ no#ination "ro'ess !i'! !a$ been o%%i'ia( a'noe$ge$ b( t!e Se'retar( o% o'a Goern#ent. Se'. >0 o% t!e o'a Goern#ent &o$e "roi$es t!at sin'e $e'ease$ &oun'ior Saturnino +errera !o !a$ 'ause$ t!e 'onteste$ a'an'( 'o#es %ro# t!e ibera Part(, it %oos t!at !is #o$e o% re"a'e#ent s!ou$ be goerne$ b( t!e stan$ing rues o% t!e a%orena#e$ Part(. Notab(, res"on$ents a""oint#ent as a''e"te$ or re'ogni-e$ b( t!e &it( &oun'i in its session o% )ar'! 21, 1989. *!e #inutes o% sai$ session reea t!at tent(%our :24< 'oun'iors ote$ to a''e"t t!e a""oint#ent o% res"on$ent an$ not a singe #e#ber obCe'te$ to or o""ose$ t!e a''e"tan'e.
Rig!t t!en an$ t!ere, t!e Presi$ing O%%i'er announ'e$ t!e a''e"tan'e o% res"on$ents a""oint#ent an$ t!e &!air $ire'te$ t!e Se'retariat to in'u$e !er na#e as a ne #e#ber o% t!e &it( &oun'i. 6n t!e 'ase o% "etitioner, !oeer, a er( $i%%erent s'enario too "a'e. *!e etter $ate$ Februar( 9, 1989 o% Se'retar( uis Santos in%or#ing 5i'e)a(or an$ Presi$ing O%%i'er a'una t!at !e !a$ a""ointe$ "etitioner an$ t!ree ot!er a""ointees, 'arrie$ a reuest t!at $ue re'ognition be a''or$e$ to t!e#, "arti'uar( "etitioner as #e#ber o% t!e &oun'i. Petitioner an$ t!e ot!er a""ointees, as "er #inutes o% t!e &oun'is session o% )ar'! 9, 1989, ere e'u$e$ %ro# t!e session !a b( reason o% t!e se'on$e$ #otion o% t!e )aCorit( Foor ea$er. 6n t!e subseuent session o% t!e &oun'i on )ar'! 14, 1989, "etitioner an$ !is 'oa""ointees ere %or#a( e'u$e$ %ro# t!e session !a !en sitee siteen n :1;< :1;< #e#ber #e#bers s o% t!e &oun'i &oun'i ote$ ote$ in %aor %aor o% t!eir t!eir e'us e'usion ion an$ no one against against it. Signi%i'ant(, su'! e'usion #eant t!at t!e &it( &oun'i re%use$ to re'ogni-e t!eir a""oint#ents. Dot! "etitioner an$ res"on$ent !ae inoe$ t!e ee'tion ban i#"ose$ un$er Se'. 2;1 :g< o% t!e O#nibus e'tion &o$e. *!e ee'tion ban 'oere$ t!e "erio$ %ro# Februar( 11 to )ar'! 27, 1989 b( reason o% t!e Daranga( ee'tion !e$ on )ar'! 28, 1989. Dot! "arties !ae 'a"itai-e$ on t!e "ro!ibitie "roision %or t!e "ur"ose o% !aing t!eir res"e'tie a""oint#ents $e'are$ iega or nu an$ oi$. Se'. 2;1 :g< o% t!e O#nibus e'tion &o$e "roi$es t!us= :g< A""oint#ent o% ne e#"o(ees, 'reation o% ne "osition, "ro#otion, or giing saar( in'reases. /uring t!e "erio$ o% %ort( %ie $a(s be%ore a reguar ee'tion an$ t!irt( $a(s be%ore a s"e'ia s"e'ia ee'tion, ee'tion, :1< an( !ea$, o%%i'ia or a""ointing a""ointing o%%i'er o%%i'er o% a goern#ent goern#ent o%%i'e, agen'( or instru#ent instru#entait( ait(,, !et!er !et!er nationa nationa or o'a, in'u$ing any new new goern goern#en #ento tone ne$ $ or 'ontro 'ontroe e$ $ 'or"or 'or"orati ations ons,, !o a""oin a""oints ts or !ires !ires any employ employee ee !et!er "roisiona, te#"orar( or 'asua, or 'reates an$ %is an( ne "osition, "osition, e'e"t u"on "rior aut!orit( aut!orit( o% t!e &o##ission. &o##ission. *!e &o##ission &o##ission s!a not grant grant t!e aut!orit aut!orit( ( soug!t soug!t uness, uness, it is satis% satis%ie$ ie$ t!at t!e "osition "osition to be %ie$ %ie$ is essentia to t!e "ro"er %un'tioning o% t!e o%%i'e or agen'( 'on'erne$, an$ t!at t!e "osition s!a not be %ie$ in a #anner t!at #a( in%uen'e t!e ee'tion. As an e'e"tion to t!e %oregoing "roisions, a ne e#"o(ee #a( be a""ointe$ in 'ase o% urgent nee$= Proi$e$, !oeer, *!at noti'e o% t!e a""oint#ent s!a be gien to t!e &o##ission it!in t!ree $a(s %ro# t!e $ate o% t!e a""oint#ent. An( a""oint#ent or !iring in ioation o% t!is "roision s!a be nu an$ oi$. *!e a%oreuote$ a%oreuote$ "roision "roision $oes not a""( to bot! assaie$ assaie$ a""oint#ents a""oint#ents be'ause be'ause o% t!e %ooing %ooing reason= The pemanent vacanc% "o co)ncilo eists and its "illin+ )p is +ovened b% the #ocal Govenment ode *hile the appointment e"eed to in the election ban povision is coveed b% the ivil /evice #a*. For !aing satis%ie$ t!e %or#a reuisites an$ "ro'e$ure %or a""oint#ent as &oun'ior, !i'! is an o%%i'ia "osition outsi$e t!e 'onte#"ation o% t!e ee'tion ban, res"on$ents a""oint#ent is $e'are$ ai$. *!e issue on t!e aege$ $is're"an'( beteen t!e $ates o% "etitioners oat! an$ !is resi$en'e 'erti%i'at 'erti%i'ate e nee$ not be ta'e$ no be'ause be'ause it i not an(#ore an(#ore a%%e't a%%e't t!e re'ae$ re'ae$ a""oint#ent a""oint#ent o% "etitioner. 6% eer, t!e #atter 'asts a $oubt on "etitioners 're$ibiit( an$ !onest(. ?+RFOR, t!e "etition is !ereb( /6S)6SS/.
