4
4
4
o
o o 4
4
4 4
4 o o o
DE CASTRO v. JBC | March 17, 2010 | Bersamin Petitioner: Arturo Petitioner: Arturo M. De Castro, Castro, Jaime N. Soriano, Philippine Constitution Association P!"#C$NSA% Respondents: Ju&icial an& Bar Council an& Presi&ent 'loria Macapa(al Arro)o Doctrine: Article Doctrine: Article *"", *"", Sec. 1+ o the Constitution 1 prohi-itin( the Presi&ent to mae appointments t/o months -eore the net Presi&ential election is not applicable to the Judiciary. Judiciary . Article *""", *""", Sec. 1%2 /hich proi&es that an) acanc) shall -e ille& /ithin 30 &a)s rom the occurrence thereo is man&ator). ACTS 5he ort orthco hcomin min( ( retirem retirement ent o o Chie Chie Justic Justice e Puno Puno on Ma) 17, 17, 2010 7 &a)s ater the Presi&ential election le& Con(ressman Matias Mat ias *. De Deens ensor or an e6 e6o oic icio io mem mem-er -er o the JB JBC% C% to a&&ress a letter to the JBC reuestin( that the process or nominations -e commence& imme&iatel) imme&iatel).. 5he JBC JBC in its its meeti meetin( n( en -anc -anc pass passe& e& a resolu resolutio tion n that that the) the) unanimousl) a(ree to start the process o illin( up the position o Chie Justice 8e)nato Puno. As a result the JBC opene& the position o Chie Justice or application or recommen&ation an& pu-lishe& its announcement or that purpose. Conor Con ormama-l) l) /ith /ith its eistin eistin( ( practic practice, e, the JBC JBC 9automat 9automatica icall) ll) consi&ere&: the + most senior o the Associate Justices o the Court; Cou rt; An Anton tonio io Car Carpio pio,, 8en 8enato ato Cor Corona ona,, Con Conchi chita ta Car Carpio pio Morales, Pres-iterio J. *elasco, Jr, an& <&uar&o Nachura 5he last t/o &ecline& their nominations%. $ther can&i&ates either applie& or /ere nominate& Can& Ca n&i& i&at ates es /ho ac acce cept pte& e& th thei eirr no nomi mina nati tion on /= /=o o co con& n&it itio ions ns;; 8enato 8en ato Cor Corona ona SC SC%, %, 5eres resita ita #eo #eonar nar&o6D &o6De e Cas Castro tro SC SC%, %, Arturo BrionSC%, <&il-erto <&il-erto San&oal San&i(an-a)an% San&i(an-a)an% Can& Ca n&i& i&at ates es /h /ho o ac acce cept pte& e& th thei eirr no nomi mina nati tion on /= co con& n&it itio ion; n; Antonio Carpio SC%, Conchita Carpio Morales Morales SC% Declinin( Decl inin( their their nominat nominations; ions; At Att) t).. !enr) !enr) *illari *illarica, ca, Att) Att).. 're(orio 're(orio Batiller "n its its meetin meetin( ( o >e- ?, ?, the the JBC JBC resole resole& & to proce procee& e& to to the net step o announcin( the names o the can&i&ate to inite the pu-lic to ile their s/orn complaint, /ritten report or opposition i an); Carpio, Corona, Carpio6Morales, #eonar&o6De Castro, Brion, San&oal Altho Al thou(h u(h the the JBC JBC has alrea alrea&) &) -e(un -e(un the the process process or or the the illin illin( ( o the position o Chie Justice Puno in accor&ance /ith its rules, the JBC is not )et &eci&e& on /hen to su-mit to the Presi& Pre si&ent ent the list o nom nomine inees es or the pos positi ition on &ue to the controers) /hether this /as coere& -) the Constitutional prohi-ition prohi-itin( the Presi&ent to mae appointments t/o -eore the net Presi&ential elections% N$5<; Valenzuela Case "n this this case case,, the Court Court hel& hel& that proh prohii-it itio ions ns oun& oun& in Art Art *"" Section 1+ coere& een @u&icial appointments. Petiti Pet itione oners rs sa) tha thatt this this case case is ali& ali& prec prece&e e&ent nt an& mus mustt -e applie& in the instant case !SS"E: WON the petitioners have locus standi #$ES% #ocu #o cus s Sta Stan& n&i i &e &ei ini niti tion on A ri(h ri(htt o appea appearan rance ce in a cour courtt o @ust @ustice ice on on a (ien (ien uest uestion ion Such Suc h a person personal al sta stae e in the outc outcome ome o o the con contro troer ers) s) "nte "n tere rest st o a pe pers rson on assai assaili lin( n( the consti constitu tuti tion onal alit it) ) must -e &irect an& personal. !e must -e a-le to sho/ that he sustaine&
1 Art. VII, Sec 15 – Two months immediately before the next presidential elections and up to the end of his term, a resident or Actin! resident shall not ma"e appointments, except temporary appointments to executi#e positions when continued #acancies therein will pre$udice public ser#ice or endan!er public safety.
% Art. VIII, Sec & '1( – The Supreme )ourt shall be composed of a )hief *ustice and fourteen Associate *ustices. It may sit en banc or in its discretion, in di#ision of three, fi#e, or se#en +embers. Any #acancy shall be filled within ninety days from the occurrence thereof.
or is in imminent &an(er o sustainin( some &irect in@ur) as a result o its enorcement. o D!RE D! RECT CT !&J &J"R "R$ $ TE TES ST ' mu must st ha hae e a pe pers rson onal al an an& & su-stant su-s tantial ial interest in the case such that he has sustaine& sustaine& or /ill sustain a &irect in@ur) as a result 1. !$ !$<* <*<8 <8,, th the e re reu uir irem emen entt o locus locus stan& stan&ii -e -ein in( ( a me mere re proce& pro ce&ura urall tec techni hnical calit) it) can -e /ai /aie& e& -) the Court in the eercise o its &iscretion. 5he Court ma) thus resole certain issues &ue to their (ar reachin) i*plications een i petitioner has not stan&in( to ile the suit. 5he same is true /hen cases ha& transcendental i*portance 2. 5h 5he e co cour urtt ru rule les s th that at th the e pe peti titi tion oner ers s ha hae e &e &emo mons nstr trat ate& e& a&e a& eua uate te su su-s -sta tant ntia iall in inte tere rest st in th the e ou outc tcom ome e o th the e controers). 5he issues are o TRA&SCE&DE&TA+ !,PORTA&CE. a. 5h 5he e is issu sues es a ae ect ct e eer) er)on one e re re(a (ar& r&le less ss o on one es s pe pers rson onal al interest in lie -ecause the) concern that (reat &ou-t a-out the authorit) o the incum-ent Presi&ent to appoint not onl) the successo succ essorr o the retirin( incum-ent incum-ent Chie Justice, Justice, -ut also others other s /ho ma) sere in the Ju&iciar), Ju&iciar), /hich alrea& alrea&) ) su suers ers rom a ar too (reat num-er o acancies in the rans o trial @u&(es throu(hout the countr) !SS"E: WON the case is justiciable #$ES% 5he realit) is that the JB JBC C al alre read ady y co co** **en ence ced d th the e procee pro ceedin din)s )s (or the sel select ection ion o( the no* no*ine inees es to -e -e inclu&e& in a short list to -e su-mitte& to the Presi&ent or consi&eration o /hich o them /ill succee& Chie Justice Puno as the net Chie Justice 2. Alt Althou hou(h (h the posit position ion is not not )et acan acant, t, the act act that that the JBC JBC -e(an the process o nomin nomination ation pursuant pursuant to its rules an& practices, althou(h it has )et to &eci&e /hether to su-mit the list o nominees to the incum-ent out(oin( Presi&ent or to the net ne t Pr Pres esi& i&en ent, t, ma mae es s th the e si situ tuat atio ion n ri ripe pe o orr @u @u&i &ici cial al &etermination, -ecause the net steps are the pu-lic interie/ o th the e ca can& n&i& i&at ates es,, th the e pr prep epar arat atio ion n o th the e sh shor ortt li list st o can&i&ates, an& the 9interie/ o constitutional eperts, as ma) -e nee&e&.: . 5he resoluti resolution on o the the controer controers) s) /ill /ill surel) surel) settle settle E /ith inali inalit) t) E the na((in( uestions that are preentin( the JBC rom moin( on /ith the process that it alrea&) -e(an, or that are reason rea sons s per persua sua&in &in( ( the JBC to &es &esist ist rom the res restt o the process. . "t is enou(h enou(h that that one alle(es alle(es con&u con&uct ct ar(uaar(ua-l) l) aect aecte& e& /ith /ith a const con stitu itutio tional nal int intere erest st,, -ut see seemin min(l) (l) pro proscr scri-e i-e& & -) the Constitution.. A reasonable certainty o( the occurrence o( Constitution the th e pe perc rcei eive ved d th thre reat at to a co cons nsti titu tuti tion onal al in inte tere rest st is su((ic su( (icien ientt to a(( a((ord ord a bas basis is (or bri brin)i n)in) n) a cha challe llen) n)eeprovided the Court has su((icient (acts be(ore it to enable it to intelli)ently adudicate the issues. issues . 1.
/
!SS"E: WON the prohibition under Section 15, Article VII apply to appointments to fill a vacancy in the S and other appointments appointm ents to the th e judiciary judicia ry #&O% 5/o proisions are seemin(l) in conlict Art. 0!!- Sec 12 E 12 E 5/o months imme&iatel) -eore the net presi&ential elections an& up to the en& o his term, a Presi&ent or Actin( Presi&ent shall not mae appointments, ecept temporar) appointments to eecutie positions /hen continue& acancies therein /ill pre@u&ice pu-lic serice or en&an(er pu-lic saet). saet). Art. 0!!!- Sec 3 #1% E #1% E 5he Supreme Court shall -e compose& o a Chie Justice an& ourteen Associate Justices. "t ma) sit en -anc or in its &iscretion, in &iision o three, ie, or seen Mem-ers. An) acanc) shall -e ille& /ithin ninet) &a)s rom the occurrence thereo
+. ❖
5he Court hel& that the President can appoint the successor o Chie Justice Puno upon his retirement on the (roun& that the proh prohibit ibition ion a)ai a)ainst nst Pres President idential ial appo appoint* int*ents ents under Art. 0!!- Sec. 12 does not e4tend to appoint*ents in the udiciary.. udiciary
!a& the the ramers ramers inten inten&e& &e& to ete eten& n& the the prohi-iti prohi-ition on contai containe& ne& in Art *"", Sec 1+, to the appointment o SC Mem-ers, they could have e4plicitly done so. so . a. 5he) /oul& hae easil) an& surel) surel) /ritt /ritten en the prohi prohi-itio -ition n ma&e eplicit in Art *"" Section 1+ as -ein( euall) applica-le to the appointment o SC Mem-ers in Article *""" itsel -. 5he echa echan(e n(es s &urin( &urin( the &eli-era &eli-eratio tions ns o the Constit Constituti utiona onall Commission sho/ that the illin( o a acanc) in the SC /ithin the 306&a) perio& /as a true man&ate o the Presi&ent o 5h 5he e usa(e usa(e o the the /or& /or& 5shall6 imposes on the Presi&ent the imperati imper atie e &ut) to mae an appoi appointmen ntmentt /ithi /ithin n 30 &a)s rom the occurrence o the acanc). 5he ailure -) the Presi&ent to so /ill -e a clear &iso-e&ience to the Constitution. c. Valen! Valen!uela uela ase #RE0ERSED7777% o 8ee 8eerse& rse& as it &oes not irml) irml) rest on the &eli-erations &eli-erations o the Constitutional Commissions o 5he 306&a) limitati limitation on ie& in Art *""" *""" Sec 1% esta-lishes esta-lishes the &einite man&ate or the Presi&ent as appointin( po/er an& cann ca nnot ot -e &e &ee eat ate& e& -) a me mere re @u @u&i &ici cial al in inte terp rpre reta tati tion on in Valen!uela.. Valen!uela 2. Art Art.. *"" Sec. Sec. 1+ also also &oes N$5 N$5 appl) appl) to other other appoin appointme tments nts in the @u&iciar). a. $ne o o the reason reasons s or the the a&optio a&option n o this Sect Section ion 1+ Art Art *"" *"" /as to eliminate mi&ni(ht appointments rom -ein( ma&e -) an out(oin( Chie <ecutie <ecutie.. As enunc enunciate& iate& in the Aytona case% -. 5he r ra ame mers rs &i& no nott ne nee& e& to e etten en& & th the e pr proh ohii-iiti tion on to appointments in the Ju&iciar) Ju&iciar),, -ecause their establish*ent o( the JBC an& JBC an& their su-@ectin( the nomination an& screenin( o can& ca n&i& i&at ates es o orr @u @u&i &ici cial al po posi siti tion ons s to th the e unhu unhurrie rried d and deliberat deli berate e prio priorr proc process ess o( the JBC ensu ensured red that there 8oul 8o uld d no lo lon) n)er er be *i *idn dni) i)ht ht ap appo poin int* t*en ents ts to th the e Judiciary.. Judiciary c. < <en en can&i& can&i&ate ates s or @u&icia @u&iciall positio positions ns at an) leel leel -ac -ace& e& -) people peo ple in inlue luenti ntial al /it /ith h the Pre Presi& si&ent ent cou coul& l& not al/ al/a) a)s s -e assure& o -ein( recommen&e& or the consi&eration o the Presi&ent, -ecause the) irst ha& to un&er(o the ettin( o the JBC an& pass muster there. &. "n& "n&ee& ee&,, the creati creation on o the JBC JBC /as precis precisel) el) inten inten&e& &e& to &e6 &e6 politiciFe the Ju&iciar) -) &oin( a/a) /ith the interention o the Commission on Appointment Appointments. s. . As /as /as conirme conirme& & -) Assoc Associate iate Justi Justice ce 8e(ala&o, 8e(ala&o, the the election election -an ha& no application to appointments to the Court o Appeals on the -asis o the Constitutional Commissions recor&s SI"# NO$#% ba&it &aya ourt of appeals nila'ay nila( )ehehe* At +ala inset of the record .% .% . 5hr 5hree ee sectio sections ns in Artic Article le *"" concer concern n the appoint appointin( in( po/ers po/ers o the Presi&ent Presi&ent sections sections 1, 1+ an& 1G%. Section 13 and 19 re(e re (err on only ly to ap appo poin int* t*en ents ts 8i 8ith thin in th the e E4 E4ec ecut utiv ive e Depart*ent. E&CE Section 12 *ust also apply only to the E4ecutive Depart*ent. a. 5his concl conclusion usion is is consist consistent ent /ith /ith the rule rule that that eer) eer) part part o the statue must -e interprete& /ith reerence to the contet -. "t is a-sur& a-sur& to assume assume that that the rame ramers rs &eli-e &eli-erat ratel) el) situa situate& te& Sect Se ctio ion n 1+ bet8een Se Sect ctio ion n 1 an an& & Se Sect ctio ion n 1G 1G,, i th the) e) inte in ten& n&e& e& Se Sect ctio ion n 1+ to co coe err al alll i in& n&s s o pr pres esi& i&en enti tial al appointments. o " that /as their intentio intention n in respect respect o app appoin ointme tments nts to the Ju&iciar),, the ramers, i onl) to -e clear, /oul& hae easil) an& Ju&iciar) surel) inserte& a similar prohi-ition in Article *""", most liel) /ithin Section 1% thereo.
G.
1.
a.
1. a.
-.
c.
4 a. -. c. &. e.
" section section 1+ ete eten&s n&s to appoin appointment tments s to the @u&ici @u&iciar) ar),, it /oul& /oul& un&e un &erm rmin ine e th the e in inte tent nt o th the e Co Cons nsti titu tuti tion on o en ensu suin in( ( th the e in&epen&enc in&ep en&ence e o the @u&ic @u&icial ial &epart &epartment ment rom the eec eecutie utie an& le(islatie " the re(ul re(ular ar presi& presi&en enti tial al elect electio ions ns are hel& hel& on Ma) ?, the perio& o the prohi-ition is 112 days. days. " such elections are hel& on Ma) 1, the perio perio& & o the prohi-ition prohi-ition is 1;< days. days. Either period o( the prohibition is lon)er than the (ull *andatory <;=day period. period. 5he 5h e re resu sult lt is that ther there e ar are e at least least 13 oc occa casi sion ons s i.e., i.e., the &ierence -et/een the shortest possi-le perio& o the -an o 103 &a)s an& the 306&a) man&ator) perio& or appointments% in /hich the out(oin( Presi&ent /oul& -e in no position to compl) /ith the constitutional &ut) to ill up a acanc) in the Supreme Court. "t is sae to assume that the ramers o the Constitution coul& not hae inten&e& such an a-sur&it). !SS"E: WON the udiciary Act of 1-./ can still address the situation of havin' the ne0t resident appoint the successor of hieff ustice hie us tice #&O% Section 1>. *acanc) 1>. *acanc) in $ice o Chie Justice. H "n case o a acanc) in the oice o Chie Justice o the Supreme Court or o his ina-ilit) to perorm the &uties an& po/ers o his oice, the) shall &eole upon the Associate Justice Justice /ho is irst in prece&ence, prece&ence, until such &isa-ilit) is remoe&, or another Chie Justice is appointe& an& &ul) ualiie&. 5his proision shall appl) to eer) Associate Justice /ho succee&s to the oice o Chie Justice. 5o rel) on Sec12 Sec12 the the Ju&iciar) Ju&iciar) Ac Actt is to oresta orestallll the imperat imperatie ie nee& to appoint the net Chie Justice the soonest. Appoin App ointme tment nt -) the Presi Presi&en &entt o the Chie Chie Justi Justice ce is neer neer in an actin( capacit). 5he ramers inten&e& the position to -e permanent an& not temporar). Sec 12 12 onl) respo respon&s n&s to to a rare rare situatio situation n in /hich /hich the the ne/ Chie Justice is not )et appointe&, or in /hich the incum-ent Chie Justice is una-le to perorm the &uties an& po/ers o the oice. "t ou( ou(ht ht to -e rem rememem-ere ere&, &, ho/ ho/ee eer, r, that it /as enacte& enacte& -eca -e caus use e th the e Ch Chie ie Ju Just stic ice e ap appo poin inte te& & un un&e &err th the e 13 13+ + Constitution /as su-@ect to the conirmation o the Commission on Ap Appoint pointments ments,, an& the con conirmat irmation ion proce process ss mi(ht tae lon(er than epecte& 5he 5h e la lac c o an) appoi appoint nte& e& occup occupan antt o th the e o oi ice ce o Chie Chie Justice harms the in&epen&ence o the Ju&iciar), -ecause the Chie Justice is the hea& o the entire Ju&iciar). ith the entire Supreme Court -ein( the Presi&ential
1.%% Sec 1. ecttio ion n ?+ ?+% an& Section 3, Article *""" man&ate the JBC to su-mit a list o at least three nominees to the Presi&ent or eer) acanc) in the Ju&iciar). !$<*<8, Sec 1% an& Sec 3% o Art *""" man&ate the Presi&ent to ill the acanc) in the Suprem Sup reme e Cou Court rt /it /ithin hin 30 &a) &a)s s ro rom m the occurre occurrence nce o the
Section -'5( Art VIII – The )ouncil shall ha#e the principal function of recommendin! appointees to the *udiciary
2.%
.%
.%
+.%
acanc), an& /ithin 30 &a)s rom the su-mission o the list, in the case o the lo/er courts. 5he 306&a) 306&a) perio& perio& is &irecte& &irecte& at the the Presi&ent, Presi&ent, not not at the JBC. JBC. 5hus, 5hu s, the JBC should start the process o( selectin) the candidates to (ill the vacancy in the Supre*e Court be(ore the occurrence o( the vacancy 5he JBC JBC has no &is &iscre cretio tion n to su-mit su-mit the list to the Presi& Presi&ent ent ater the acanc) occurs, -ecause that shortens the 306&a) perio& allo/e& -) the Constitution or the Presi&ent to mae the appointment. ,!&!S ,! &!STE TER!A R!A+ + 6 5h 5he e &u &ut) t) o th the e JB JBC C to su-mi su-mitt a li list st o nominees be(ore be(ore the the start o the Presi&ents man&ator) 306&a) perio& to appoint D!SCRET!O&AR$ 6 D!SCRET!O&AR$ 6 selection o( the candidates /hose names /ill -e in the list to -e su-mitte& to the Presi&ent >or man&amu man&amus s to lie a(ainst a(ainst the JBC, JBC, thereo thereore, re, there should be an une une4pl 4plain ained ed del delay ay on its par partt in rec reco* o**en *endin din) ) no*inees to no*inees to the Ju&iciar), that is, in su-mittin( the list to the Presi&ent.
8I#"N'; 1. Dismisses the petitions or certiorari an& man&amus in '.8. No. 131002 an& '.8. No. 13113, an& the petition or man&amus in '.8. No. 1310+7 or -ein( premature 2. Dismisses the petitions or prohi-ition in '.8. No. 13102 an& 1312 or lac o merit . 'rants the petition in A.M. No. 10626+6SC an&, accor&in(l),, &irects the Ju&icial an& Bar Council; accor&in(l) a% 5o resume its procee&in(s or the nomination o can&i&ates to ill the acanc) to -e create& -) the compulsor) retirement o Chie Justice 8e)nato S. Puno -) Ma) 17, 2010 -% 5o prepare the short list o nominees or the position o Chie Justice c% 5o su-mit su-mit to the Presi&ent short list o nominees or the position o CJ on or -eore Ma) 17, 2010 &% 5o 5o continue continue its procee&in(s or the nomination o can&i&ates to ill other acancies in the Ju&iciar) an& su-mit to the Presi&ent the short list o nominees correspon&in( thereto in accor&ance /ith this &ecision.
& Section , Art VIII – The +embers of the Supreme )ourt and $ud!es of lower courts shall be appointed by the resident from a list of at least three nominees prepared by the *udicial and /ar )ouncil for e#ery #acancy. Such appointments need no confirmation. 0or the lower courts, the resident shall issue the appointments within ninety days from the submission of the list
