Banda vs Ermita GR NO. 166620; APRIL 20, 2010

BANDA VS ERMITA (GR NO. 166620; APRIL 20, 2010) FACTS: The FACTS:  The petitioe!" #$e% thi" &'tio &" & '$&"" "it o thei! o *eh&$+  &% o *eh&$+ *eh&$+ o+ &$$ thei! 'oe-p$oe 'oe-p$oee" e" &t the N&tio&$ P!iti/ P!iti/ O'e. The 'h&$ 'h&$$e $e/ /e e the the 'o" 'o"ti tit tti tio o&$ &$it it  o+ Ee' Ee't ti ie e O!%e O!%e!! No. No. 34 345 5 i"" i""e% e% * P!e"i%et G$o!i& M&'&p&/&$ A!!oo hi'h &-e%e% Se'. 6 o+ Ee'tie O!%e! No. 25, !e-oi/ the e'$"ie 7!i"%i'tio o+ the NPO oe! the p!iti/ "e!i'e" !e8i!e-et" o+ /oe!-et &/e'ie" &% i"t!-et&$itie". The pe!'eie it &" & th!e&t to thei! "e'!it o+ te!e &" e-p$oee" o+ the NPO 'ote%i/ th&t it i" *eo/ the ee'tie poe!" o+ P!e". A!!oo to &-e% o! !epe&$ EO No. 25 i""e% * +o!-e! P!e". A8io he the $&tte! "ti$$ ee!'i"e% $e/i"$&tie poe!" &% th&t EO No. 345 io$&te" petioe!"9 "e'!it o+ te!e *e'&"e it p&e" the & +o! the /!&%&$ &*o$itio o+ the NPO. ISSUE: :hethe! ISSUE: :hethe! o! ot the petitio i" i%ee% 8&$i#e% &" & '$&"" "it. :hethe! o! ot P!e". A!!oo '& &-e% o! !epe&$ EO No. 25 * the -e!e i""&'e o+ &othe! ee'tie o!%e!. HELD:  The Sp!e-e o!t !$e% th&t & &'tio %oe" ot *e'o-e & '$&"" "it -e!e$ *e'&"e it i" %e"i/&te% &" "'h i the p$e&%i/". <%e! Section 12, Rule 3 of the Rules of Court, Court, :he the "*7e't -&tte! o+ the 'ot!oe!" i" oe o+ 'o--o o! /ee!&$ ite!e"t to -& pe!"o" "o -e!o" th&t it i" i-p!&'ti'&*$e to 7oi &$$ &" p&!tie", & -*e! o+ the- hi'h the 'o!t #%" to *e "'iet$ -e!o" &% !ep!e"et&tie &" to +$$ p!ote't the ite!e"t" o+ &$$ 'o'e!e% -& "e o! %e+e% +o! the *ee#t o+ &$$. A p&!t p& !t i ite!e"t "h&$$ h&e the !i/ht to ite!ee to p!ote't hi" i%ii%&$ ite!e"t. =!o- the +o!e/oi/ %e#itio, the !e8i"ite" o+ & '$&"" "it &!e> 1) the "*7e't -&tte! o+  'ot!oe!" i" oe o+ 'o--o o! /ee!&$ ite!e"t to -& pe!"o"; 2) the p&!tie" &?e'te% &!e "o -e!o" th&t it i" i-p!&'ti'&*$e to *!i/ the- &$$ to 'o!t; &% 3) the p&!tie" *!i/i/ the '$&"" "it &!e "'iet$ -e!o" o! !ep! ep!e"e e"et& t&ti tie e o+ the the '$&" '$&"" " &% &% '& '& +$$ +$$  p!ot p!ote' e'tt the the ite ite!!e"t" e"t" o+ &$$ &$$ 'o'e!e%. @e!e, the petitio +&i$e% to "t&te the -*e! o+ NPO e-p$oee" ho o$% *e &?e'te% * the &""&i$e% Ee'tie O!%e! &% ho e!e &$$e/e%$ !ep! !ep!e"e e"ete te% % * petiti petitioe oe!". !". It &" the So$i'i So$i'ito! to! Gee! Gee!&$, &$, &" 'o"e 'o"e$$ +o! !e"po%et", ho poite% ot th&t the!e e!e &*ot  e-p$oee" i the NPO. The 64 petitioe!" %ei&*$ 'o-p!i"e% & "-&$$ +!&'tio o+ the NPO e-p$oee" ho- the '$&i-e% to !ep!e"et. !ep!e"et. S*"e8et$, 32 o+ the o!i/i&$ petitioe!" ee'te% & A%&it o+ De"i"t&'e, hi$e oe "i/e% & $ette!

%ei/ ee! "i/i/ the petitio, o"te"i*$ !e%'i/ the -*e! o+  petitioe!" to 3. :e ote th&t 'o"e$ +o! the petitioe!" 'h&$$e/e% the &$i%it o+ the %e"i"t&'e o! ith%!&&$ o+ "o-e o+ the petitioe!" &% i"i&te% th&t "'h %e"i"t&'e &" %e to p!e""!e +!o- peop$e C'$o"e to the "e&t o+ poe!.C Sti$$, ee i+ e e!e to %i"!e/&!% the &%&it o+  %e"i"t&'e #$e% * "o-e o+ the petitioe!", it i" hi/h$ %o*t+$ th&t & "'iet, !ep!e"et&tie -*e! o+ NPO e-p$oee" h&e i"titte% thi" p!po!te% '$&"" "it. A pe!"&$ o+ the petitio it"e$+ o$% "ho th&t o+ the 64 petitioe!" ho "i/e% the Ve!i#'&tioe!ti#'&tio o+ No=o!- Shoppi/, o$ 20 petitioe!" e!e i +&'t -etioe% i the 7!&t &" h&i/ %$ "*"'!i*e% the petitio *e+o!e the ot&! p*$i'. I othe! o!%", o$ 20 petitioe!" e?e'tie$ i"titte% the p!e"et '&"e.

A" to the -e!it" o+ the '&"e, it i" & e$$"ett$e% p!i'ip$e i 7!i"p!%e'e th&t the P!e"i%et h&" the poe! to !eo!/&ie the o'e" &% &/e'ie" i the ee'tie %ep&!t-et i $ie ith the P!e"i%et9" 'o"tittio&$$ /!&te% poe! o+ 'ot!o$ oe! ee'tie o'e" &% * i!te o+ p!eio" %e$e/&tio o+ the $e/i"$&tie poe! to !eo!/&ie ee'tie o'e" %e! ei"ti/ "t&tte". It i" %i"pte% th&t the NPO, &" & &/e' th&t i" p&!t o+ the O'e o+ the P!e"" Se'!et&! (hi'h i &!io" ti-e" h&" *ee & &/e' %i!e't$ &tt&'he% to the O'e o+ the P!e"" Se'!et&! o! &" & &/e' %e! the Phi$ippie I+o!-&tio A/e'), i" p&!t o+ the O'e o+ the P!e"i%et. Pe!tiet to the '&"e &t *&!, Section 31 of the Adinistr!ti"e Code of  1#$% &tho!ie" the P!e"i%et (&) to !e"t!'t!e the ite!&$ o!/&i&tio o+ the O'e o+ the P!e"i%et P!ope!, i'$%i/ the i--e%i&te O'e", the P!e"i%et Spe'i&$ A""i"t&t"A%i"e!" S"te- &% the o--o St&? Sppo!t S"te-, * &*o$i"hi/, 'o"o$i%&ti/ o! -e!/i/ it" the!eo+ o! t!&"+e!!i/ +'tio" +!o- oe it to &othe!, &% (*) to t!&"+e! +'tio" o! o'e" +!o- the O'e o+ the P!e"i%et to & othe! Dep&!t-et o! A/e' i the Ee'tie B!&'h, &% i'e e!"&. I the '&"e &t *&!, the!e &" eithe! & &*o$itio o+ the NPO o! & !e-o&$ o+  & o+ it" +'tio" to *e t!&"+e!!e% to &othe! &/e'. <%e! the &""&i$e% Ee'tie O!%e! No. 345, the NPO !e-&i" the -&i p!iti/ &!- o+ the /oe!-et +o! &$$ Fi%" o+ /oe!-et +o!-" &% p*$i'&tio" *t i the ite!e"t o+ /!e&te! e'oo- &% e'o!&/i/ e'ie' &% p!o#t&*i$it, it -"t o 'o-pete ith the p!i&te "e'to! +o! 'e!t&i /oe!-et p!iti/ 7o*", ith the e'eptio o+ e$e'tio p&!&phe!&$i& hi'h !e-&i" the e'$"ie !e"po"i*i$it o+ the NPO, to/ethe! ith the B&/Fo Set!&$ / Pi$ipi&", &" the o--i""io o E$e'tio" -& %ete!-ie. At -o"t, the!e &" & -e!e &$te!&tio o+ the -&i +'tio o+ the NPO * $i-iti/ the e'$"iit o+ it" p!iti/ !e"po"i*i$it to e$e'tio +o!-". P!"&t to Section 2&, Ch!'ter %, Title I, (oo) III o+ the "&-e o%e, the poe! o+ the P!e"i%et to !eo!/&ie the Ee'tie B!&'h %e! Se'tio 31 i'$%e" "'h poe!" &% +'tio" th&t -& *e p!oi%e% +o! %e! othe! $&". To

*e "!e, & i'$"ie &% *!o&% ite!p!et&tio o+ the P!e"i%et9" poe! to !eo!/&ie ee'tie o'e" h&" *ee 'o"i"tet$ "ppo!te% * "pe'i#' p!oi"io" i /ee!&$ &pp!op!i&tio" $&". Section *$ of R+A+ %*- p!oi%e" th&t the &'t" o+ C"'&$i/ %o, ph&"i/ ot &% &*o$itioC o+ o'e" o$ &% %oe" ot 'oe! the '!e&tio o+ o'e" o! t!&"+e! o+ +'tio". Nee!the$e"", the &'t o+ '!e&ti/ &% %e'et!&$ii/ i" i'$%e% i the "*"e8et p!oi"io o+ Section 2 hi'h ei%et$ "ho" th&t the P!e"i%et i" &tho!ie% to e?e't o!/&i&tio&$ 'h&/e" i'$%i/ the '!e&tio o+ o'e" i the %ep&!t-et o! &/e' 'o'e!e%. Not&*$, i the p!e"et '&"e, the 2&&3 .ener!l A''ro'ri!tions Act, hi'h &" !ee&'te% i 200 (the e&! o+ the i""&'e o+ Ee'tie O!%e! No. 345), $iFei"e /&e the P!e"i%et the &tho!it to e?e't & i%e &!iet o+ o!/&i&tio&$ 'h&/e" i & %ep&!t-et o! &/e' i the Ee'tie B!&'h. Sections %% !nd %$  o+ "&i% A't !e'o/ie the poe! o+ the P!e"i%et to !eo!/&ie ee ee'tie o'e" &$!e&% +%e% * the "&i% &pp!op!i&tio" &'t, i'$%i/ the poe! to i-p$e-et "t!'t!&$, +'tio&$, &% ope!&tio&$ &%7"t-et" i the ee'tie *!e&'!&' &%, i "o %oi/, -o%i+ o! !e&$i/ &pp!op!i&tio" o+ +%" &" -& *e e'e""&! %e! "'h !eo!/&i&tio. Th", i"o+&! &" petitioe!" p!ote"t the $i-it&tio o+ the NPO9" &pp!op!i&tio" to it" o i'o-e %e! Ee'tie O!%e! No. 345, the "&-e i" "t&tto!i$ &tho!ie% * the &*oe p!oi"io". I the p!e"et i"t&'e, io$i/ eithe! & &*o$itio o! t!&"+e! o+  o'e", the &""&i$e% &'tio i" & -e!e !eo!/&i&tio %e! the /ee!&$ p!oi"io" o+  the $& 'o"i"ti/ -&i$ o+ "t!e&-$ii/ the NTA i the ite!e"t o+ "i-p$i'it, e'oo- &% e'ie'. It i" & &'t e$$ ithi the &tho!it o+ the P!e"i%et -oti&te% &% '&!!ie% ot, &''o!%i/ to the #%i/" o+ the &ppe$$&te 'o!t, i /oo% +&ith, & +&'t&$ &""e""-et th&t thi" o!t 'o$% o$ *t &''ept. Reo!/&i&tio" i thi" 7!i"%i'tio h&e *ee !e/&!%e% &" &$i% p!oi%e% the &!e p!"e% i /oo% +&ith. A" & /ee!&$ !$e, & !eo!/&i&tio i" '&!!ie% ot i C/oo% +&ithC i+ it i" +o! the p!po"e o+ e'oo- o! to -&Fe *!e&'!&' -o!e e'iet. I th&t eet, o %i"-i""&$ (i '&"e o+ & %i"-i""&$) o! "ep&!&tio &'t&$$ o''!" *e'&"e the po"itio it"e$+ 'e&"e" to ei"t. A% i th&t '&"e, "e'!it o+ te!e o$% ot *e & hie"e &$$. Be th&t &" it -&, i+ the C&*o$itio,C hi'h i" othi/ e$"e *t & "ep&!&tio o! !e-o&$, i" %oe +o! po$iti'&$ !e&"o" o! p!po"e$ to %e+e&t "e'!it o+ te!e, o! othe!i"e ot i /oo% +&ith, o &$i% C&*o$itioC t&Fe" p$&'e &% h&tee! C&*o$itioC i" %oe, i" oi% ab initio. The!e i" & i&$i% C&*o$itioC &" he!e the!e i" -e!e$ & 'h&/e o+ o-e'$&t!e o+ po"itio", o! he!e '$&i-" o+  e'oo- &!e *e$ie% * the ei"te'e o+ &-p$e +%". I "-, the o!t #%" th&t the petitio +&i$e% to "ho & 'o"tittio&$ i#!-it o! /!&e &*"e o+ %i"'!etio &-oti/ to $&'F o! e'e"" o+ 7!i"%i'tio i P!e"i%et A!!oo9" i""&'e o+ Ee'tie O!%e! No. 345. :@ERE=ORE, the petitio i" he!e* DIS/ISSED  &% the p!&e! +o! & Te-po!&! Re"t!&ii/ O!%e! &%o! & :!it o+ P!e$i-i&! I7'tio i" he!e* DE0IED. No 'o"t".

SO ORDERED.