VI NUYA VS.SEC.ROMULO G. R.No.162230,Apr i l28,2010 FACTS: Thi si sanor i gi nalPe t i t i onf orCer t i or ar i underRul e65oft heRul esofCour twi t han appl i c at i o nf o rt hei s s uanc eofawr i to f pr el i mi naryma mandat oryi nj unct i onagai nst t heOfficeoft heExecut i veSecr et ary,t he Sec r e t ar yoft heDF A,t heSec r e t ar yoft he DOJ,andt heOSG. G. Pet i t i oner sar eal lmemb mber soft heMA MALAYA LOLAS,anonst ock,nonpr ofitorg ani zat i on r e g i s t e r e dwi t ht heSEC,e s t a bl i s he df ort he pur po s eofpr o v i di ngai dt ot hev i c t i mso f r a peb yJa pa ne s emi mi l i t a r yf o r c esi nt he Phi l i ppi nesdur i ngt heSecondWor l dWar . Pe t i t i o ne r sc l a i mt ha ts i nce1998,t heyha v e approac hedt heExec ut i veDepart ment t hr ought heDO DOJ,DFA,andOSG, G, r e q ue s t i ngas s i s t a ncei nfil i ngac l a i m agai nstt heJapaneseoffic ffici al sandmi mi l i t ary offic fficer swhoor dere dt hee st abl i shmentof t he“ comf mf ortwome men”st at i onsi nt he Phi l i ppi nes .Buto ffic ffic i a l so ft heExe c ut i v e Depart mentdecl i nedt oassi stt he pe t i t i o ne r s ,a ndt o okt hepo si t i o nt ha tt he i ndi vi dualcl ai msoft hecomf mf ortwome menf or comp mpensat i onhadal r eadybeenf ul l y sat i sfiedbyJapan’ scomp mpl i ancewi t ht he PeaceTreat ybet weent hePhi l i ppi nesand Japan. He nc e ,t hi spe t i t i o n whe r ep e t i t i o ne r spr a y f o rt hi sc our tt o( a)de c l ar et hatr e s po nde nt s comm mmi t t edgrav eabuseofdi scr et i on a mo mo unt i ngt ol ac ko re x c e s sofdi sc r e t i o ni n r e f us i ngt oe s po us et he i rc l a i msf o rt he cr i mesagai nsthumani t yandwa warcr i mes comm mmi t t edagai nstt hem; m;and( b)comp mpelt he r e s po nde nt st oe s po uset he i rc l a i msf o r offic ffici alapol ogyandot herf orms msof r e par a t i o nsa gai ns tJa pa n be f o r et he I nt e r nat i o nalCo ur to fJus t i c e( I CJ)and o t he ri nt e r nat i o nalt r i buna l s . Respondent sma mai nt ai nt hatal lcl ai msoft he Phi l i ppi ne sandi t snat i o nal sr e l at i v et ot he warwer edeal twi t hi nt heSanFr anci sco Pe a c eTr e a t yo f1951a ndt hebi l a t er a l Reparat i onsAgr eeme mentof1956. OnJanuar y15,1997,t heAsi anWome men’ s Fundandt hePhi l i ppi negov er nments i gned aMe Memo mor andum ofUnder s t andi ngf or medi calandwel f ar esupportpr ogr ams msf or f or mercomf mf or twome men.Ove rt henextfive y ear s ,t hes ewer ei mpl e me nt edbyt he Depar t mentofSoci alWel f areand Dev el opme ment . I SSUE UE: WO WON t heExecut i v eDepar t me ntcommi mmi t t ed g r a vea bus eofdi sc r e t i o ni nno te s po us i ng pe t i t i o ne r s ’ c l ai msf o ro ffic ffic i ala po l o gyand ot herf orms msofr eparat i onsagai nstJapan.
RUL ULI NG: G: Pet i t i onl acksme meri t .Fr om aDo Dome mest i cLaw Per spect i ve,t heExecut i veDepart menthas t hee x c l us i v epr e r o g at i v et ode t e r mi mi ne whe t he rt oespousepe t i t i oner s ’cl ai ms agai nstJapan. Po l i t i c alq ue s t i o nsr e f e r“ t ot ho seque s t i o ns whi c h,unde rt heCons t i t ut i on,ar et obe de c i de db yt hepe o pl ei nt he i rs o ver e i g n c apac i t y ,o ri nr e g ar dt owhi c hf ul l di s c r e t i o nar ya ut ho r i t yhasbee nde l eg a t e d t ot hel e gi s l at i v eore x e cut i v ebr a nc ho ft he gover nment .I ti sconcer nedwi t hi ssues dependentupont hewi sdom, m,notl egal i t yof apa r t i c ul arme mea s ur e . ” Onet y peofc as eofpo l i t i c alq ue s t i o ns i nv ol v e sque s t i onsoff or e i g nr e l at i ons .I ti s wel l es t abl i shedt hat“ t heconductoft he f o r e i g nr e l at i o nso fo urg o v er nme nti s comm mmi t t edbytheConst i t ut i ont ot he e xe cut i v eandl e gi s l at i v e– ‘ t hepol i t i c al ’ – depar t ment soft hegove r nment ,andt he pr opri et yofwhatmaybedonei nt he e x er c i s eo ft hi spo l i t i c alpo we we ri sno ts ubj e c t t oj udi c i ali nqui r yorde ci s i on. ”a r ede l i c at e , c o mp mpl ex ,a ndi nv o l vel a r g eel e me me nt so f prophec y .Theyar eandshoul dbe unde r t a ke no nl yb yt ho s edi r e c t l y r e s po ns i bl et ot hepe o pl ewho s ewe l f a r et he y advanceori mper i l . Butno ta l lc as e si mpl i c at i ngf o r e i g n r e l at i o nspr e s e ntpo l i t i c alq ue s t i o ns ,and c o ur t sc e r t ai nl ypo ss e s st hea ut ho r i t yt o c o ns t r ueori nv al i dat et r e at i e sande x e cut i v e agre eme ment s.Howev er ,t hequest i onwhet her t hePhi l i ppi negover nmentshoul despouse c l ai msofi t snat i o nal sag ai ns taf o r e i g n g o v er nme nti saf o r e i g nr e l at i o nsma mat t e r ,t he aut hori t yf orwhi chi sdemo monst r abl y comm mmi t t edbyourConst i t ut i onnott ot he c o ur t sbutt ot hepo l i t i c albr a nc he s .I nt hi s case,t heExecut i veDepar t menthasal r eady de c i de dt hati ti st ot hebe s ti nt e r e s to ft he c o unt r yt owai v eal lc l ai msofi t snat i o nal s f orr e par a t i o nsag a i ns tJa pa ni nt heTr ea t y ofPeaceof1951.Thewi sdom ofsuch de c i s i o ni sno tf o rt hec our t st oq ue s t i o n. ThePr esi dent ,notCongr ess,hast hebe t t er opport uni t yofknowi ngt hecondi t i ons whi c hpr ev ai li nf or ei gncount r i es ,and e s pe c i al l yi st hi st r uei nt i meofwa r .Hehas hi sc o nfide nt i a ls o ur c e so fi nf o r ma ma t i o n.He ha shi sag e nt si nt hef or mo fdi pl o ma ma t i c , consul arandot heroffic ffici al s. TheExecut i v eDepar t me nthasde t er mi ned t hatt a ki nguppe t i t i o ne r s ’c a usewo ul dbe i ni mi c alt oourc o unt r y ’ sf o r e i g npo l i c y i nt e r e s t s ,a ndc oul ddi s r upto urr e l at i o ns wi t hJapan,t her ebycr eat i ngser i ous i mpl i c at i onsf ors t a bi l i t yi nt hi sr e gi on.For t het oovert urnt heExecut i veDepart ment ’ s det er mi nat i onwo woul dme meanan ass es sme ment o ft hef or e i g npo l i cyj udg me me nt sbya
c o or di na t epo l i t i c a lbr a nc ht owhi c h aut hor i t yt omaket hatj udgmenthasbeen c o ns t i t ut i o na l l yc o mmi t t e d. Fr o m amuni c i pa ll a w pe r s p e c t i v e ,c e r t i o r a r i wi l lnotl i e.Asagener alpr i nci pl e,wher e suchanext r aor di naryl engt hoft i mehas l apsedbet weent het r eat y’ sconcl usi onand ourconsi der at i on–t heExecut i vemustbe g i v e nampl edi s c r e t i o nt oas s e s st hef o r e i g n po l i c yc ons i de r a t i o nso fe s po us i ngac l a i m agai nstJapan,f r om t hest andpoi ntofbot h t hei nt e r e s t soft hepe t i t i o ne r sa ndt ho seo f t heRe publ i c ,a ndde c i deo nt ha tb as i si f apol ogi esar esuffici ent ,andwhet her f ur t he rs t e psar eappr o pr i a t eo rne c e s s ar y . I nt hei nt e r nat i onals phe r e ,t r adi t i onal l y , t heo nl yme ansa v ai l abl ef o ri ndi v i dua l st o br i ngacl ai m wi t hi nt hei nt er nat i onall egal sys t em hasbeenwhent hei ndi vi duali sabl e t oper suadeagover nmentt obr i ngacl ai m o nt hei ndi v i dua l ’ sbe ha l f .Byt a ki ngupt he c as eo fo neo fi t ss ubj e c t sa ndbyr e s o r t i ng t odi pl o mat i cac t i o n ori nt e r nat i o nalj udi c i al pr o ce e di ng sonhi sbe hal f ,aSt at ei si n r e a l i t yas s er t i ngi t sownr i g htt oens ur e ,i n t hepe r s ono fi t ss ubj e c t s ,r e s pe c tf o rt he r ul e sofi nt e r nat i o nall a w. Wi t hi nt hel i mi t spr escr i bedbyi nt er nat i onal l a w,aSt a t ema ye x er c i s edi pl o ma t i c pr ot ect i onbywhat eve rmeansandt o what ev erext enti tt hi nksfit ,f ori ti si t sown r i g htt ha tt heSt at ei sas s e r t i ng .Sho ul dt he na t ur a lo rl e g a lpe r s o no nwho s ebe ha l fi ti s ac t i ngc ons i de rt ha tt he i rr i g ht sar eno t adequat el ypr ot ect ed,t heyhavenor emedy i ni nt e r nat i onall a w.Al lt he yc andoi sr e s or t t ona t i o nall a w,i fme ansar eav ai l abl e ,wi t h av i e wt of ur t he r i ngt he i rc a us eoro bt a i ni ng r e dr e s s .Al lt he s eque s t i o nsr e ma i nwi t hi n t hepr ovi nceofmuni ci pall aw anddonot affe c tt hepo si t i o ni nt e r nat i o nal l y . Eventhei nvocat i onofj uscogensnorms a nde r g ao mne sobl i g a t i o nswi l lno ta l t e r t hi sa nal y s i s .Pe t i t i o ne r sha v eno ts ho wn t hatt hecr i mescommi t t edbyt heJapanese a r myv i o l a t e dj usc o ge nspr o hi bi t i o nsatt he t i met heT r e a t yo fPe a cewa ss i g ne d,o rt ha t t hedut yt opr o s e c ut epe r p e t r a t o r so f i nt ernat i onalcri mesi saner gaomnes o bl i g at i o no rha sat t a i ne dt hes t a t usofj us cogens. Thet er m er gaomnes( Lat i n:i nr el at i ont o e v e r y o ne )i ni nt e r na t i o na ll a w ha sbe e n us e da sal e g a lt e r m de s c r i bi ngobl i g a t i o ns owedbySt at est owar dst hecommuni t yof s t at e sasawho l e .Es s e nt i aldi s t i nc t i o n shoul dbedrawnbet weent heobl i gat i onsof aSt a t et o wa r dst hei nt e r na t i o na l communi t yasawhol e,andt hosear i si ng vi sàvi sanot herSt at ei nt hefiel dof di pl o mat i cpr o t e c t i o n.Byt he i rv e r ynat ur e , t hef o r me ra r et hec o nc e r no fal lSt a t e s .I n vi ew oft hei mpor t anceoft her i ght s
i nv o l v e d,al lSt at e sc anbehe l dt oha v ea l e gali nt e r e s ti nt he i rpr o t e ct i on;t he yar e obl i gat i onser gaomnes. Thet er m“ j uscogens”( l i t er al l y ,“ compel l i ng l aw” )r ef er st onor mst hatcommand per empt oryaut hori t y ,super sedi ng confli ct i ngt r eat i esandcust om.Juscogens normsar econsi der edper empt oryi nt he senset hatt heyar emandat ory ,donotadmi t der ogat i on,andcan bemodi fiedonl yby g e ne r a li nt e r na t i o na lno r msofe q ui v a l e nt aut ho r i t y WHEREFORE,t hePe t i t i oni sher eby DI SMI SSED.
Tañada,etal . ,v.Angar a,etal . ,G. R.No. 118295,May2,1997 D E C ISIO N ( EnBanc) J PANGANI BAN ,. :
I .
THEFACTS
Pe t i t i one r sSenat or sTañada,e t al . q ue s t i o ne dt hec ons t i t ut i onal i t yoft he concurr encebyt hePhi l i ppi neSenat eoft he Pr e s i de nt ’ sr at i fic at i ono ft hei nt e r nat i o nal Agr eeme ntes t abl i shi ngt heWor l dTr ade Or gani zat i on( WTO) .Theyar guedt hatt he WTO Agr eeme ntvi ol at est hemandat eoft he 1987Co ns t i t ut i o nt o“ de v e l o pas e l f r e l i ant andi ndependentnat i onaleconomy e ffe ct i v el yc ont r o l l e dbyFi l i pi nos...( t o) g i v epr e f e r e nc et oq ual i fie dFi l i pi no s( a ndt o ) pr o mo t et hepr e f e r e nt i alus eofFi l i pi no l abo r ,do me s t i cmat e r i al sandl o cal l y pr oducedgoods. ”Furt her ,t heycont ended t ha tt he“ na t i o na lt r e a t me nt ”a nd“ par i t y pr ovi si ons”oft heWTO Agr eement“ pl ace nat i onal sandpr oduct sofmemberc ount r i es o nt hes amef o o t i ngasFi l i pi no sandl o c al pr o duc t s , ”i nc ont r a v e nt i ono ft he“ Fi l i pi no Fi r s t ”po l i c yofo urCo ns t i t ut i o n,andr e nde r me a ni ng l e s st hep hr a s e“ e ffe c t i v e l y c ont r o l l e dbyFi l i pi nos . ” I I . THE I SSUE Doest he1987Const i t ut i onpr ohi bi tour c o unt r yf r o m pa r t i c i pa t i ngi nwo r l dwi de t r a del i be r a l i z a t i o na nde c o no mi c g l o ba l i z a t i o n andf r o mi nt e g r at i ngi nt oa g l o bale c onomyt hati sl i be r a l i z e d, de r e g ul a t e da ndpr i v a t i z e d ? I I I . THE RULI NG [ TheCo ur tDI SMI SSED t hepe t i t i o n.I t s us t ai ne dt hec onc ur r e nc eoft hePhi l i ppi ne Se nat eo ft hePr e si de nt ’ sr at i fic at i o no ft he Agr e emente s t abl i shi ngt heWTO. ]
NO,t he1987Const i t ut i onDOES NOTpr o hi bi to urc o unt r yf r o m par t i c i pat i ng i nwo r l dwi det r adel i be r al i z at i o nand e c o no mi cg l o bal i z at i o nandf r o mi nt e gr at i ng i nt oag l o bale c ono myt hati sl i be r a l i z ed, de r e g ul at e dandpr i v at i z e d.
Ther ear eenoughbal anci ngpr ovi si onsi n t heCo ns t i t ut i o nt oal l o wt heSe nat et or at i f y t hePhi l i ppi neconcur r encei nt heWTO Agr eeme nt . [ W] hi l et heConst i t ut i oni ndeedmandat esa bi asi nf av orofFi l i pi nogoods,ser vi ces, l a bo ra nde nt e r p r i s e s ,a tt hes amet i me ,i t r ecogni zest heneedf orbusi nessexchange wi t ht her es toft hewor l dont hebasesof e q ua l i t ya ndr e c i pr o c i t ya ndl i mi t s pr o t e c t i o no fFi l i pi noe nt e r pr i s e so nl y a g ai ns tf o r e i g nc o mpe t i t i o na ndt r a de pr a c t i c e st ha ta r eunf ai r .I no t he rwo r ds ,t he Const i t ut i ondi dnoti nt endt opur suean i s ol at i oni s tpol i c y .I tdi dno ts huto utf or e i g n i nvest ment s,goodsandserv i cesi nt he devel opmentoft hePhi l i ppi neeconomy. Whi l et heCons t i t ut i ondoesnotencour age t heunl i mi t e de nt r yo ff o r e i g ng oo ds , s e r v i c e sandi nv e s t me nt si nt ot hec ount r y ,i t do esno tpr o hi bi tt he me i t he r . I nf ac t ,i t al l owsanexchangeont hebasi sofequal i t y andr e c i pr o c i t y ,f r o wni ngonl yonf o r e i g n c o mpe t i t i o nt ha ti s . unf ai r [ T] hecons t i t ut i onalpol i c yofa“ s e l f r e l i ant andi ndependentnat i onaleconomy”does no tne c e ss ar i l yr ul eoutt hee nt r yoff o r e i g n i nv e s t me nt s ,g oo dsands e r v i c e s .I t cont empl at esnei t her“ economi csecl usi on” nor“ mendi cancyi nt hei nt ernat i onal communi t y . ”Asexpl ai nedbyConst i t ut i onal Commi ssi onerBer nardoVi l l egas,sponsorof t hi sc ons t i t ut i onalpol i c y: Ec o no mi cs el f r e l i anc ei sapr i mar yo bj e c t i v e o fade v e l o pi ngc o unt r yt hati ske e nl yawar e o fo v e r de pe nde nc eo ne x t e r n alas s i s t anc ef o r e v e ni t smo s tb as i cn e eds .I tdo e sno tme an at her ,i t aut ar kyo re c o no mi cs e c l us i o n;r meansav oi di ngmendi cancyi nt he i nt er nat i onalcommuni t y .I ndependence r ef er st ot hef r eedom f r om unduef orei gn c o nt r o lo ft henat i o nale c ono my ,e s pe c i a l l y i ns uc hs t r a t e g i ci ndus t r i e sasi nt he dev el opmentofnat ur alr esour cesand publ i cut i l i t i e s. TheWTO r el i anceon“ mo s tf av or ednat i on, ” “ na t i o na lt r e a t me nt , ”a nd“ t r a dewi t ho ut di scr i mi nat i on”cannotbest r uckdownas unc o ns t i t ut i o nalasi nf ac tt he ya r er ul e sof e qual i t yandr e c i pr o c i t yt hatappl yt oal l WTO me mber s.Asi def r om envi si oni nga t r a depo l i c yba s edo n“ e q ua l i t yand r e c i pr o ci t y , ”t hef undame nt a ll a w
e nc o ur a g e si ndus t r i e st ha ta r e“ c o mpe t i t i v e i nbot hdomest i candf ore i gnmarket s, ” t he r e b yde mo ns t r a t i ngacl e a rpo l i c yag a i ns t ashel t er eddomest i ct r adeenvi r onment ,but o nei nf a v o ro ft hegr a dua lde v e l o pme nto f r obusti ndust ri est hatcancompet ewi t ht he bes ti nt hef or ei gnmar ke t s.I ndeed,Fi l i pi no managersandFi l i pi noent er pr i seshave showncapabi l i t yandt enaci t yt ocompet e i nt e r nat i onal l y .Andg i v e naf r e et r a de envi r onment ,Fi l i pi noent r epr eneur sand manage r si nHongkonghavedemonst r at ed t heFi l i pi noc apa c i t yt ogr o wa ndt opr o s pe r agai nstt hebestoffer edunderapol i cy ofl ai ssezf ai r e. I ti st r ue ,a sal l e ge dbype t i t i one r s , t hatb r o adc o ns t i t ut i o nalpr i nc i pl e sr e q ui r e t heSt at et odevel opani ndependent na t i o na le c o no mye ffe c t i v e l yc ont r o l l e db y Fi l i pi no s;andt opr o t e c ta nd/o rpr e f e r Fi l i pi nol abo r ,pr o duc t s ,do me s t i cmat e r i a l s a ndl o c al l ypr o duc e dg o ods .Buti ti se qua l l y t ruet hats uchpri nci pl es— whi l eservi ngas j udi ci alandl egi sl at i v egui des— ar enoti n t he ms e l v e ss o ur c e so fc a us e so fa c t i o n. Mo r e o v e r ,t he r ear eot he re q ua l l y f undame nt alc ons t i t ut i o nalpr i nc i pl e sr e l i e d uponbyt heSenat ewhi c hmandat et he pur s ui to fa“ t r a depo l i c yt hats e r v e st he g e ne r a lwe l f ar ea ndut i l i z e sal lf o r msand arr angement sofexchangeont hebasi sof e q ua l i t yandr e c i pr o c i t y ”a ndt hepr o mo t i o n o fi ndus t r i e s“ whi c ha r ec ompe t i t i v ei nbo t h domest i candf orei gnmarket s, ”t her eby j us t i f yi ngi t saccept anceofsai dt r eat y .So t o o,t heal l e g e di mpa i r me nto fs o v e r e i g nt yi n t hee xe r c i s eofl e gi s l at i v eandj udi c i al power si sbal ancedbyt headopt i onoft he g e ne r al l yac c ept e dpr i nc i pl e sof i nt e r na t i o nall a w aspa r to ft hel a wo ft he l andandtheadher enceoft heConst i t ut i on t ot hepo l i c yo fc o ope r a t i o na nda mi t ywi t h al lnat i o ns . Thatt heSenat e,af t erdel i ber at i onand v ot i ng,v ol unt ar i l yandov er whel mi ngl ygav e i t sconsentt ot heWTO Agr ee mentt her eby ma ki ngi t“ apa r to ft hel a wo ft hel a nd”i sa l e gi t i mat ee x er c i s eofi t ss ov e r e i g ndut yand power .Wefindno“ pat entandgr oss” a r bi t r a r i ne s sord e s po t i s m“ b yr e a so no f pa ss i o no rpe r s o nalho s t i l i t y ”i ns uc h e x e r c i s e .I ti sno ti mpo s si bl et osur mi s et hat t hi sCo ur t ,o ra tl e a s ts o meo fi t sme mbe r s , ma yev e nag r e ewi t hpe t i t i o ne r st ha ti ti s moreadvant ageoust othenat i onali nt er est t ost ri kedownSenat eResol ut i onNo.97. tal e galr e as o n Butt ha ti sno t oat t r i but e gr aveabuseofdi scr et i ont ot heSenat eand t onul l i f yi t sde c i s i o n.T odosowo ul d c o ns t i t ut eg r a v eabus ei nt hee x e r c i s eofo ur ownj udi ci alpoweranddut y. I ne l udi bl y ,wha tt heSe na t edi dwa sav a l i d
e x e r c i s eofi t saut ho r i t y .Ast owhe t he rs uc h e x e r c i s ewaswi s e ,be ne fic i alo rv i a bl ei s o ut s i det her e a l mo fj udi c i a li nq ui r yand r e v i e w.Tha ti sama t t e rb e t we e nt hee l e c t e d pol i cymaker sandt hepeopl e.Ast owhet her t henat i onshoul dj oi nt hewor l dwi demarc h t o wa r dt r a del i be r a l i z a t i o na nde c o no mi c g l o bal i z a t i o ni sama t t e rt hato urp e opl e s ho ul dde t e r mi nei ne l e c t i ngt he i rpo l i c y maker s.Af t eral l ,t heWTO Agr eement al l owswi t hdrawalofmembers hi p,shoul d t hi sbet hepo l i t i c alde s i r eo fame mbe r .
TANADA v.ANGARA 272SCRA 18,May2,1997 Fa c t s: Thi si sape t i t i onseeki ngt onul l i f yt he Phi l i ppi ner a t i fic at i o no ft heWo r l dT r ade Or gani zat i on( WTO)Agre ement .Pet i t i oner s quest i ont heconcurr enceofher ei n r e s po nde nt sac t i ngi nt he i rc a pa ci t i e sas Senat orsvi asi gni ngt hesai dagreement . TheWTO opensaccesst of or ei gnmar ke t s, e s pe c i al l yi t sma j o rt r a di ngpar t ne r s , t hr o ug ht her e d uc t i o no ft ar i ffso ni t s e xpor t s ,par t i c ul ar l yag r i c ul t ur a land i ndust ri alpr oduct s.Thus,pr ovi desnew o ppo r t uni t i e sf o rt hes e r v i c es ec t o rc os tand uncer t ai nt yassoci at edwi t hexport i ngand morei nvest menti nt hecount ry .Thesear e t hepr e di c t e dbe ne fit sa sr e fl ec t e di nt he agre ementandasvi ewedbyt hesi gnat ory Senat or s,a“ f r eemar ket ”es pouse dbyWTO. Pet i t i oner son t heot herhandvi ewedt he WTO agr eeme ntasonet hatl i mi t s,r es t r i ct s andi mpai rPhi l i ppi neeconomi csover ei gnt y andl e gi s l at i v epo we r .Thatt heFi l i pi noFi r s t po l i c yo ft heCo ns t i t ut i o nwa st a ke nf o r g r ant e dasi tg i v e sf or e i g nt r a di ng i nt e r v e nt i o n. I ssue:Whet herornott her ehasbeena grav eabuseofdi scr et i onamount i ngt ol ack o re x ce s so fj ur i s di c t i o no nt hepar to ft he Se na t ei ng i v i ngi t sc onc ur r e nc eoft hes ai d WTO agr eeme nt . Hel d: I ni t sDe c l ar a t i o n ofPr i nc i pl e sands t at e po l i c i e s ,t heCo ns t i t ut i o n“ a do pt st he g e ne r al l yac c ept e dpr i nc i pl e sof i nt e r nat i o nall a w aspar to ft hel a wo ft he l a nd,a nda dhe r e st ot h epo l i c yofpe a c e , e q ua l i t y ,j us t i c e ,f r e e do m,c o ope r a t i o nand ami t y,wi t ha l lnat i o ns .Byt hedo c t r i neof i ncorpor at i on,t hecount ryi sboundby g e ne r al l yac c ept e dpr i nc i pl e sof i nt e r na t i o na ll a w,whi c ha r ec o ns i de r e d aut omat i cal l ypartofourownl aws.Pact a suntservanda–i nt ernat i onalagreement s mus tbepe r f o r me di ng o odf a i t h.At r e a t yi s notamer emoralobl i gat i onbutcr eat esa l e g al l ybi ndi ngobl i g at i ono nt hepar t i e s .
Thr oughWTO t hesov er ei gnt yoft hes t at e c a nno ti nf a c ta ndr e a l i t ybec o ns i de r e da s abs ol ut ebe c aus ei ti sar e g ul a t i o no f commer ci alr el at i onsamongnat i ons.Such aswhenPhi l i ppi nesj oi nedt heUni t ed Nat i o ns( UN)i tc ons e nt e dt or e s t r i c ti t s s o v e r e i g nt yr i g htunde rt he“ c o nc e pto f s o v e r e i g nt yasaut o l i mi t a t i o n. ”Wha tSe na t e di dwa sav al i de x e r c i s eofa ut ho r i t y .Ast o det ermi newhet hersuchexer ci sei swi se, benefici alorvi abl ei sout si det her eal m of j udi ci ali nqui r yandr evi ew.Theactof si gni ngt hesai dagreementi snota l e g i s l a t i v er e s t r i c t i o na sWTO al l o ws wi t hdr awalofme mber shi pshoul dt hi sbe t hepol i t i c alde s i r eo fame mbe r .Al s o,i t s ho ul dno tbev i e we da sal i mi t a t i o no f ec onomi csov er ei gnt y .WTO r emai nsast he o nl yv i abl est r uc t ur ef o rmul t i l at e r a lt r a di ng andtheveri t abl ef orum f ort hedevel opment ofi nt e r nat i onalt r a del a w.I t sal t e r nat i v ei s i s ol at i on,s t ag nat i o ni fno te c onomi cs el f de s t r uc t i o n.Thus ,t hepe o pl ebeal l o we d, t hr ought hei rdul yel ect edofficer s,make t he i rf r e ec hoi c e. Pe t i t i o ni sDI SMI SSED f o rl a c ko fme r i t .
Mi ght yCorpor at i on vsENJGal l oWi ner s ( GR No154342,Jul y14,2004,Cor ona) F a c t s : Res pondentmanuf act ur ewi nesanduse s t het r a de ma r k“ Ga l l o ”f o ri t spr o duc t .On t heo t he rhand,t hepe t i t i o ne ri sa manuf act ur erofci gare t t eandal souses “ Gal l o ”i ni t spr o duc t s . I s s ue : I st he r ei nf r i ng e me nt ? Hel d: Att het i met hecauseofact i onaccr uedi n t hi scase,t heI PC wasnotyetenact edsot he r el ev antl awsusedwer et heTr ademar kLaw andt hePari sConvent i on. TheSC hel dt hatt her ewasnoi nf r i ngeme nt . Theuseoft her espondentoft hemar k “ Gal l o ”f o ri t swi nepr o duc t swase x c l us i v e i nnat ur e.Thecour tment i onedt wot ypesof conf usi oni nTr ademar kI nf r i ngement : Conf usi onofGoods–whenanot her wi se pr udentpur chaseri si nducedt opur chase o nepr o duc ti nt hebe l i e ft hathei s pur chasi nganot her ,i nwhi chcase def endant ’ sgoodsar et henbr oughtast he pl a i nt i ff’ sandi t spo orq ual i t yr e fle c t sbadl y o nt hepl ai nt i ff’ sr e put at i o n. Conf usi onofBusi ness–wher ei nt hegoods o ft hepa r t i e sar edi ffe r e ntbutt he def endant ’ spr oductcanr easonabl y( t hough mi st akenl y)beassumedt oori gi nat ef r om t hepl ai nt i ff,t husde c e i v i ngt hepubl i ci nt o bel i evi ngt hatt her ei ssomeconnect i on
be t weent hepl ai nt i ffanddef endantwhi c h, i nf ac t ,doe sno te x i s t . I nde t e r mi ni ngt hel i ke l i ho odo fc o nf us i o n, t heCour tmustconsi der : ( a)t her esembl ancebet weent he t r ademar ks; ( b)t hes i mi l ar i t yoft heg oo dst owhi c ht he t r ademarki sat t ached; ( c )t hel i ke l ye ffe c to nt hepur c ha se r ;a nd ( d)t her e gi s t r a nt ’ sex pr e s sori mpl i e d c o ns e nta ndo t he rf a i ra ndequi t a bl e c o ns i de r a t i o ns . I nt hi scase,t heSC empl oyi ngt he domi nancyt est ,concl udedt hatt her ei sno l i ke l i ho odo fc onf us i o n.The ymat e r i al l y di fferi ncol ors cheme,artwor ksand marki ngs.Furt her ,t het wogoodsar enot c l o s e l yr e l a t e dbe c a us ehepr o duc t sbel o ng t odi ffe r e ntc l as s i fic at i ons ,f o r m, composi t i onandt heyhavedi ffer ent i nt endedmar ket sorconsumer s.
DFA vs .NLRC G. R.No.113191,18 Sept ember1996 F a c t s : On27January1993,pri vat er espondent Ma gna y ifil e da ni l l e g aldi s mi s s a lc a s e agai nstADB.Twosummonse swer ese r ve d, onesentdi r ect l yt ot heADB andt heot her t hr ought heDepar t mentofForei gnAffai r s ( " DFA" ) .ADB andt heDFAnot i fied r espondentLaborAr bi t ert hatt heADB,as wel lasi t sPr esi dentandOfficer s,wer e cove r edbyani mmuni t yf r om l egalpr ocess e x c eptf o rbo r r o wi ng s ,g uar a nt i e so rt hes al e o fs e c ur i t i e spur s uantt oAr t i c l e50( 1)and Ar t i cl e55oft heAgr eeme ntEs t abl i shi ngt he Asi anDev el opme ntBank( t he" Char t er " )i n r e l a t i o nt oSe c t i o n5a ndSe c t i o n44o ft he Agr eeme ntBe t weenTheBankAndThe Gover nmentOfThePhi l i ppi nesRegar di ng TheBank' sHeadquar t er s( t he " Headquart er sAgr eement " ) . TheLaborAr bi t ert ookcogni z anceoft he compl ai ntont hei mpre ssi ont hatt heADB hadwai vedi t sdi pl omat i ci mmuni t yf r om s ui ta nd,i nt i me ,r e nde r e dade c i s i o ni n f avourMagnayi . TheADB di dnotappealt hedeci si on. I ns t ead,on03Nov ember1993,t heDFA r e f e r r e dt hema t t e rt ot heNLRC;i ni t s r e f e r r a l ,t heDF As o ug hta" f o r ma lv a c at i o n oft hevoi dj udgment . "WhenDFA f ai l edt o obt ai naf avorabl edeci si onf r om t heNLRC, i tfil edape t i t i onf orc er t i or ar i . I s s ue s : 1.Whe t herornotADB i si mmunef r om sui t 2.Whe t he ro rno tbye nt e r i ngi nt os e r v i c e c o nt r a ct swi t hdi ffe r e ntpr i v a t ec o mpa ni e s , ADB hasdescendedt ot hel ev elofan ordi narypart yt oacommer ci alt r ansact i on
g i v i ngr i s et oawa i v e ro fi t si mmuni t yf r o m s ui t 3.Whet herornott heDFAhast hel egal s t andi ngt ofil et hepr e s e ntp e t i t i o n 4.Whet herornott heext r aordi naryr emedy ofc spr o pe ri nt hi sc as e er t i or ar ii Hel d: Undert heChart erandHeadquart er s Agr eeme nt ,t heADB enj oysi mmuni t yf r om l e g alpr o ce s sofe v e r yf o r m,e x c epti nt he speci fiedcasesofborr owi ngandguarant ee o pe r a t i o ns ,a swe l la st hepur c ha s e ,s a l e a ndunde r wr i t i ngo fs e c ur i t i e s .TheBa nk’ s officer s,ont hei rpart ,enj oyi mmuni t yi n r e s pe c to fa l la c t spe r f o r me db yt he mi n t hei roffici alcapaci t y.TheChart erandt he Headquart er sAgr eementgr ant i ngt hese i mmuni t i e sandpr i v i l e g e sar et r e a t y cove nant sandcommi t ment svol unt ari l y assumedbyt hePhi l i ppi negov er nment whi c hmus tber espect ed. Be i ngani nt e r na t i o na lo r g a ni z a t i o nt ha tha s beenext endedadi pl omat i cs t at us,t heADB i si nde pe nde nto ft hemuni c i pa ll a w. " Oneoft hebasi ci mmuni t i esofan i nt e r na t i o na lo r g a ni z a t i o ni si mmuni t yf r o m l oc alj ur i s di c t i on,i . e . ,t hati ti si mmune f r om t hel egalwri t sandpr ocessesi ssuedby t het r i buna l soft hec ount r ywhe r ei ti s f o und.Theobv i o usr e a s onf o rt hi si st ha t t hes ubj e c t i o no fs uc ha no r g a ni z a t i o nt o t heaut ho r i t yoft hel o c alc o ur t swo ul d affor daconveni entmedi um t hr uwhi cht he ho s tg o v e r nme ntma yi nt e r f e r ei nt he i r o pe r a t i o nsore v e ni nflue nc eorc o nt r o li t s po l i c i e sa ndde c i s i o nso ft heo r g ani z a t i o n; besi des,suc hsubj ect i ont ol ocalj ur i sdi ct i on woul di mpai rt hecapaci t yofsuc hbodyt o di s c har g ei t sr e s pons i bi l i t i e si mpar t i al l yon behal fofi t sme mber s t at es. " 2.No.TheADB di dn' tdescendt ot hel evelof anor di narypart yt oacommer ci al t r ansact i on,whi chshoul dhaveconst i t ut ed awa i v e ro fi t si mmuni t yf r o ms ui t ,b y e nt e r i ngi nt os e r v i c ec ont r a c t swi t hdi ffe r e nt pr i vat ecompani es.“ Ther earet wo c o nfli c t i ngc onc e pt so fs o v e r e i g ni mmuni t y , eachwi del yhel dandfirml y e s t a bl i s he d.Ac c or di ngt ot hec l as s i c alor a bs o l ut et he o r y ,as ov e r e i g nc anno t ,wi t ho ut i t sconsent ,bemadear espondenti nt he Co ur t so fa no t he rs o v e r e i g n.Ac c o r d i ngt o t hene we ro rr e s t r i c t i v et he or y ,t he i mmuni t yo ft hes o v e r e i g ni sr e c o g ni z e donl y wi t hr egar dt opubl i cact soract sj ur e i mpe r i i o fas t a t e ,butno twi t hr e g a r d t opr i v at eac torac t s ur j eg es t i o ni s. “ Ce r t ai nl y ,t heme r ee nt e r i ngi nt oa c o nt r a c tb yaf o r e i g ns t at ewi t hapr i v at e part ycannotbet heul t i mat et est .Suchan a c tc ano nl ybet hes t a r to ft hei nq ui r y .The l o gi c alq ue s t i o ni swhe t he rt hef o r e i g ns t at e i se ng ag e di nt heac t i v i t yi nt her e g ul ar
c our s eo fbus i ne s s.I ft hef or e i g ns t at ei s no te ng a g edr e g ul a r l yi nabus i ne s so rt r a de , t hepar t i c ul a ra c to rt r a ns a c t i o nmus tt he n bet es t edbyi t snat ur e.I ft heacti si n pur s ui to faso v er e i g nac t i v i t y ,o rani nc i de nt t he r e o f ,t he ni ti sanac t ur , j ei mper i i e s pe c i al l ywhe ni ti sno tunde r t a ke nf o rg a i n o rpr o fit . ” Theser vi cecont r act sr ef er r edt obypr i vat e r espondenthavenotbeeni nt endedbyt he ADB f orpr ofitorgai nbutar eoffici al ac t s ov erwhi chawai ve rofi mmuni t ywoul dnot a t t ac h. 3.Yes.TheDFA' sf unct i oni ncl udes,among i t so t he rma nda t e s ,t hede t e r mi na t i o no f pe r s o nsandi ns t i t ut i o nsco v e r e db y di pl omat i ci mmuni t i es,adet er mi nat i on whi c h,whenc hal l enged,ent i t l esi tt oseek r e l i e ff r o mt hec our ts oasno tt os e r i o us l y i mpa i rt hec onduc to ft hec ount r y ' sf o r e i g n r e l a t i o ns .TheDF Amus tbea l l o we dt o pl eadi t scasewhenevernecessaryor adv i s abl et oe na bl ei tt ohe l pke e pt he c r e di bi l i t yo ft hePhi l i ppi nego v e r nme nt bef or et hei nt er nat i onalcommuni t y.When i nt ernat i onalagr eement sar econcl uded,t he pa r t i e st he r e t oar ede e me dt oha v el i k e wi s e ac c ept e dt her e s pons i bi l i t yofs e ei ngt oi t t ha tt he i ra gr e e me nt sa r ed ul yr e g ar de d.I n o urc o unt r y ,t hi st a s kf al l spr i nc i pal l yon t heDFA asbei ngt hehi ghestexecut i ve depart mentwi t ht heco mpet enceand aut ho r i t yt os oac ti nt hi sas pe c to ft he i nt e r na t i o na la r e na .I nHo l ySe ev s .Ho n. Ro s ar i o ,Jr . ,t hi sCo ur tha se x pl a i ne dt he z: mat t e ri ng oo dde t a i l ;vi " I nPubl i cI nt e r na t i o na lLa w,whe nas t a t eo r i nt e r na t i o na la ge nc ywi s he st opl e a d sover ei gnordi pl omat i ci mmuni t yi na f o r e i g nc o ur t ,i tr e q ue s t st heFo r e i g nOffic e o ft hes t a t ewhe r ei ti ss ue dt oc onv e yt ot he c o ur tt ha ts ai dde f e ndanti se nt i t l e dt o i mmuni t y . " I nt heUni t e dSt a t e s ,t hepr o c e dur e f o l l o we di st hepr o c es sof' s ug ge s t i on, 'whe r e t hef or e i g ns t at eort hei nt e r nat i o nal or gani zat i onsuedi nanAmer i cancour t r equest st heSecr et aryofSt at et omakea de t e r mi na t i o na st owhe t he ri ti se nt i t l e dt o i mmuni t y .I ft heSe c r e t a r yo fSt a t efi nds t hatt hedef endanti si mmunef r om sui t ,he, i nt ur n,a s kst heAt t o r ne yGe ne r a lt o s ubmi tt ot hec our ta' s ug g e s t i o n't ha tt he de f e nda nti se nt i t l e dt oi mmuni t y . " I nt hePhi l i ppi ne s ,t hepr a ct i c ei sf ort he f o r e i g ng o v e r nme nto rt hei nt e r na t i o na l o r g ani z a t i o nt ofir s ts e c ur ea ne x e cut i v e e ndo r s e me nto fi t sc l a i mo fs o v e r e i g no r di pl omat i ci mmuni t y .Buthow t he Phi l i ppi neFore i gnOfficeconveysi t s e ndo r s e me ntt ot hec o ur t sv a r i e s .I n I nt e r nat i o nalCat ho l i cMi g r a t i o n Commi ss i onvs .Cal l ej a,190SCRA130 ( 1990) ,t heSe c r e t ar yo fFo r e i g nAffai r sj us t
s ental e t t e rdi r e c t l yt ot heSe cr e t ar yof LaborandEmpl oyment ,i nf ormi ngt hel at t er t hatt her espondent empl oyercoul dnotbe suedbecausei tenj oyeddi pl omat i c i mmuni t y .I nWor l dHeal t hOr gani zat i onvs. Aqui no,48SCRA242( 1972) ,t heSecr e t ar y o fFo r e i g nAffa i r ss e ntt het r i alc o ur ta t e l e g r a mt ot ha te ffe c t .I nBa e r v s .Ti z o n,57 SCRA1( 1974) ,t heU. S.Embassyas kedt he Se c r e t a r yo fFo r e i g nAffa i r st or e q ue s tt he So l i c i t o rGe ne r a lt omake ,i n be ha l fo ft he Commanderoft heUni t edSt at esNav alBase a tOl o ng a poCi t y ,Za mba l e s ,a' s ug g e s t i o n't o r espondentJudge.TheSol i ci t orGener al e mbo di e dt he' s ug g e s t i o n'i nama ni f e s t a t i o n c u sc ur i ae. andmemor andum asami " I nt hecaseatbench,t heDepart mentof Forei gnAffai r s,t hr ought heOfficeofLegal Affai r smo v edwi t ht hi sCour tt obe al l o we dt oi nt e r v e neo nt hes i deo f pe t i t i o ne r .TheCo ur tal l o we dt hes ai d Depar t mentt ofil ei t smemor andum i n s uppo r to fpe t i t i one r ' sc l ai m ofs ov e r e i g n i mmuni t y . " I ns o mec as e s ,t hede f e ns eo fs o v e r e i g n i mmuni t ywassubmi t t eddi r ect l yt ot he l ocalcour t sbytherespondent st hr ough t he i rpr i v a t eco uns e l s .I nc a s e swhe r et he f ore i gnst at esbypasst heFore i gnOffice,t he cour t scani nqui r ei nt ot hef act sandmake t hei rowndet ermi nat i onast othenat ur eof t heac t sa ndt r a ns ac t i o nsi nv o l v e d. " 4.Y es .Re l at i v et ot hepr o pr i e t yo ft he er t i or ar i ext r aor di naryremedyofc ,t heCour t has,underspeci alci r cumst ances,so a l l o we dandent e r t a i ne ds uc hape t i t i o n when( a)t heques t i onedor derordeci si oni s i s s ue di ne x c e s sofo rwi t ho ut j ur i sdi ct i on,or( b)wher et heor deror de ci s i oni sapat e ntnul l i t y ,whi c h,v er i l y ,ar e t heci r cumst ancest hatcanbesai dt o obt ai ni nt hepres entcase.Whenan adj udi c at o ri sde v oi do fj ur i s di c t i ono na mat t erbef orehi m,hi sact i ont hatassumes o t he r wi s ewo ul dbeac l e a rnul l i t y . Pe t i t i onf orc i sGRANTED,andt he er t i or ar i de c i s i o no ft heLa bo rAr bi t e r ,da t e d31 Augus t1993i sVACATED f orbei ngNULL AND VOI D. Jeffr e yLi angv s.Peopl eoft hePhi l i ppi nes Fac t s : OnJanuar y28& 31,1994Jeffr eyLi ang a l l e dg e l yut t e r e dde f a ma t o r ywo r dsa gai ns JoyceVCabalaChi nesenat i onalwhowas empl oyedandamemberoft hecl er i calst aff ofAsi anDev el opmentBank( ADB) .TheMTC ofMandal uyongdi smi sse dt heCr i mi nal I nf ormat i onagai nstLi ang,pur suantt oan advi cef r om t heDepar t mentofForei gn Affai r st hatLi angenj oyedi mmuni t yf r om l e g a lpr o c e s s e s.Butt heRe g i o na lT r i a lCo ur t ofPasi gsetasi det heOr deroft heMTC.
Jeffr e yLi angbr oughtt hi spe t i t i onwi t ht hi s Court( TheSupr emeCourt )f orr evi ew.Thi s Co ur tde nyt hepe t i t i o nf o rr e v i e w.Thus , t hi smo t i o nf o rr e c o ns i de r a t i o no fade c i s i o n oft heSupr emeCour t . Pr i o rt ot hi si nc e de nt ,t he r ewa sa n " Agr ee mentBe t wee nt heAsi anDev el opment Bankandt heGov er nmentoft heRepubl i c o ft hePhi l i ppi ne sRe g a r di ngt he Headquart er soft heAsi anDev el opment Bank"wher ei nsect i on45oft hesai d agreementst at est hat : Offic e r sands t aff o ft hebank ,i nc l udi ngf o r t hepur po seoft hi sAr t i c l eex pe r t sand c o ns ul t ant spe r f o r mi ngmi s s i o nsf o rt he Bank,s hal le nj o yt hef o l l o wi ngpr i v i l e ge s andi mmuni t i es: a. )I mmuni t yf r o ml e galpr o c e sswi t hr e spe c t t oac t spe r f o r me db yt he mi nt he i ro ffic i al capaci t yexceptwhent heBankwai vest he i mmuni t y. I s s ue : Whe t herornott hes t at eme nt sal l egedl y ut t er edbyJeffr eyLi angwer emadewhi l ehe i si nt hepe r f o r ma nc eo fhi so ffic i a l f unct i ons,sot hathecani nvokeSect i on45 oft heAgr ee ment .
Hel d: ( t ) hei mmuni t ygr ant edt oofficer sandst aff o ft heADB i sno ta bs o l ut e ;i ti sl i mi t e dt o act sperf ormedi nanoffici alcapaci t y. Fur t her mor e,wehel dt hatt hei mmuni t y cannotcove rt hecommi ssi onofacri me suchassl anderoror aldef amat i oni nt he nameofoffici aldut y . t heMot i onsf orReconsi der at i onfil edby Jeffr e yLi angar eDENI ED wi t hFI NALI TY.
REPUBLI C OFI NDONESI Avs.JAMES VI NZON [ G. R.No.154705.June26,2003] FACTS: Pe t i t i o ne rVi nz o ne nt e r e di nt oa Mai nt enanceAgr eementwi t hr es pondent . Themai nt enanceagr eeme nti ncl udest he f o l l o wi ngs pe c i fice q ui pme nt s :ai r c ondi t i oni nguni t s ,g ene r at ors e t s ,e l e ct r i c al f ac i l i t i e s ,wa t e rhe at e r sa ndwat e rmo t o r pumps.Theagre ementshal lbeeffect i vef or 4years . Thenew Mi ni s t erCounsel l or al l egedl yf oundr espondent ' swor kand s e r v i c e suns a t i s f a c t o r ya ndno ti n compl i ancewi t ht hest andardsseti nt he Agr eeme nt .Ther espondentt er mi nat edt he agreementwi t ht her espondent .Thel at t er c l a i mt ha ti twa sunl a wf ula nda r bi t r a r y . Respondentfil edaMot i ont oDi smi ss
al l e g i ngt hatt heRe publ i co fI ndo ne s i a,asa f o r e i g ns t a t e ,ha ss o v e r e i g ni mmuni t yf r o m sui tandcannotbesuedaspart ydef endant i nt hePhi l i ppi ne s . I SSUE:W/N t heCAer r edi nsust ai ni ngt he t r i alc our t ' sde c i s i o nt hatpe t i t i o ne r sha v e wai v edt hei ri mmuni t yf r om sui tbyusi ngas i t sba s i st hepr o v i s i o ni nt heMa i nt e na nc e Agr eeme nt . HELD: Theme r eent er i ngi nt oacont r actby af o r e i g ns t at ewi t hapr i v at epar t yc anno t becons t r uedast heul t i mat et es tofwhe t her orno ti ti sanac tj ur ii mpe r i iorj ur i g e s t i oni s .Suc hac ti sonl yt hes t a r to ft he i nq ui r y .The r ei snodi s put et ha tt he est abl i shmentofadi pl omat i cmi ssi oni san ac tj ur ii mpe r i i .Thes t a t ema ye nt e ri nt o c o nt r a c t swi t hpr i v at ee nt i t i e st omai nt ai n t hepremi ses,f urni shi ngsandequi pmentof t heembassy.TheRepubl i cofI ndonesi ai s ac t i ngi npur s ui to fas ov e r e i g n ac t i v i t y wheni tent er edi nt oacont r actwi t ht he r es pondent .Themai nt enanceagr eement wasent er edi nt obyt heRepubl i cof I ndo ne s i ai nt hedi s c har g eo fi t s gover nment alf unct i ons.I tcannotbe deemedt ohavewai ve di t si mmuni t yf r om s ui t .
KHOSROW MI NUCHER vs.HON.COURT OFAPPEALSandARTHUR SCALZO ( G. R. No.142396 Febr uary11,2003) Facts Vi ol at i onoft he“ Danger ousDr ugsActof 1972, ”wasfil edagai nstMi nucherf ol l owi ng a“ buybustoper at i on”conduct edby Phi l i ppi nepo l i c enar c o t i ca ge nt s accompani edbyScal zoi nt hehouseof Mi nucher ,anI r ani annat i onal ,wher eher oi n wassai dt ohav ebeensei z ed.Mi nuc herwas l at e ra c qui t t e dbyt hec our t . Mi nucherl at eronfil edf ordamagesduet o t r umpedupchar ge sofdrugt r afficki ng madebyAr t hurScal z o. Scal zoonhi scount er cl ai mst hathe hadact edi nt hedi schargeofhi soffici al dut i esasbei ngmer el yan agentoft heDr ug Enf orc ementAdmi ni st r at i onoft heUni t ed St at esDepart mentofJust i ce. Scal zosubsequent l yfil edamot i ont o di smi sst hecompl ai ntont hegroundt hat , bei ngaspeci alagentoft heUni t edSt at es Dr ugEnf or ce mentAdmi ni st r at i on,hewas e nt i t l e dt odi pl o ma t i ci mmuni t y .He at t achedt ohi smot i onDi pl omat i cNot eof t heUni t edSt at esEmbassyaddr ess edt o DOJoft hePhi l i ppi nesandaCer t i ficat i onof Vi ceConsulDonnaWoodwar d,cer t i f yi ng t hatt heno t ei sat r ueandf ai t hf ulc opyof
i t sor i g i nal .Tr i alc our tde ni e dt hemo t i o nt o di smi ss. I SSUE Whe t herornotAr t hurScal z oi si ndeed e nt i t l e dt odi pl o ma t i ci mmuni t y . RULI NG YES. Af or ei gnagent ,oper at i ngwi t hi nat er r i t or y , canbecl oakedwi t hi mmuni t yf r om sui tas l o ngasi tc a n bee s t a bl i s he dt ha thei s ac t i ngwi t hi nt hedi r e c t i v e soft hes e ndi ng s t a t e . Theconsentori mpr i mat uroft hePhi l i ppi ne g o v er nme ntt ot heac t i v i t i e so ft heUni t e d St at esDr ugEnf or cementAgency,howev er , canbegl eanedf r om t heundi sput edf act si n t hecase. Theoffici ale xc hangesofcommuni cat i on be t weenagenci esoft hegov er nme ntoft he t wocount ri es Cert i ficat i onsf r om offici al sofbot ht he Phi l i ppi neDepart mentofFor ei gnAffai r s andt heUni t edSt at esEmbassy Pa r t i c i pa t i o no fme mbe r so ft hePhi l i ppi ne Nar co t i csCommandi nt he“ buybust o pe r a t i o n”c o nduc t e da tt her e s i de nc eo f Mi nucheratt hebehestofScal zo Thesema ybei nadequat et osuppor tt he “ di pl o mat i cs t at us ”o ft hel at t e rbutt he y g i v ee no ug hi ndi c a t i o nt ha tt hePhi l i ppi ne g o v e r nme ntha sg i v e ni t si mpr i ma t ur ,i fno t c ons e nt ,t ot heac t i v i t i e swi t hi nPhi l i ppi ne t e r r i t o r yo fag e ntSc al z ooft heUni t e dSt at e s Dr ugEnf or ce mentAge ncy . Thej obdescr i pt i onofScal z ohast asked hi mt oconductsurv ei l l anceonsuspect ed dr ugs uppl i e r sand,a f t e rha v i ngas c e r t a i ne d t het ar g e t ,t oi nf o r ml o call a we nf o r c e r swho woul dt henbeexpect edt omaket hear r es t . I nc onduc t i ngs ur v e i l l anc eac t i v i t i e so n Mi nuc he r ,l a t e ra c t i nga st h epo s e ur buy e r dur i ngt hebuybustoper at i on,andt hen becomi ngapr i nci palwi t nessi nt hecr i mi nal caseagai nstMi nucher , Scal zohardl ycan besai dt ohaveact ed be yondt hescopeofhi soffici alf unct i onor dut i e s . Citation. 1997 I.C.J. 7, reprinted in 37 I.L.M. 162 (1998)
Brief Fact Summary. Hungary (P) cai!ed t"at C#ec"$%$&a'ia () &i$ated t"e pr$&i%i$n% $ a treaty *"en it appr$priated t"e *ater% $ t"e anu+e i&er t$ c$n%truct a da!.
Synopsis of Rule of Law. -aterc$ur%e %tate% %"a participate in t"e u%e, de&e$p!ent and
pr$tecti$n $ an internati$na *aterc$ur%e in an euita+e and rea%$na+e !anner. Facts. In 1977, Hungary (P) and C#ec"$%$&a'ia () %igned a /reaty $r t"e c$n%tructi$n $ da!% and $t"er pr$0ect% a$ng t"e anu+e i&er t"at +$rdered +$t" nati$n%. C#ec"$%$&a'ia () +egan *$r' $n da!!ing t"e ri&er in it% territ$ry *"en Hungary (P) %t$pped *$r'ing $n t"e pr$0ect and neg$tiati$n c$ud n$t re%$&e t"e !atter *"ic" ed Hungary (P) t$ ter!inate t"e /reaty. Hungary (P) +a%ed it% acti$n $n t"e act t"at t"e da!!ing $ t"e ri&er "ad +een agreed t$ $ny $n t"e gr$und $ a 0$int $perati$n and %"aring $ +eneit% a%%$ciated *it" t"e pr$0ect, t$ *"ic" C#ec"$%$&a'ia () "ad una*uy uniateray a%%u!ed c$ntr$ $ a %"ared re%$urce.
Issue. "a *aterc$ur%e %tate% participate in t"e u%e, de&e$p!ent and pr$tecti$n $ an internati$na *aterc$ur%e in an euita+e and rea%$na+e !anner Held. e%. -aterc$ur%e %tate% %"a participate in t"e u%e, de&e$p!ent and pr$tecti$n $ an internati$na *aterc$ur%e in an euita+e and rea%$na+e !anner. Hungary (P) *a% depri&ed $ it% rig"t% t$ an euita+e and rea%$na+e %"are $ t"e natura re%$urce% $ t"e anu+e +y C#ec"$%$&a'ia () and a%$ aied t$ re%pect t"e pr$p$rti$naity t"at i% reuired +y internati$na a*. C$$perati&e ad!ini%trati$n !u%t +e ree%ta+i%"ed +y t"e partie% $ *"at re!ain% $ t"e pr$0ect. Discussion. /"e C$urt4% deci%i$n *a% t"at t"e 0$int regi!e !u%t +e re%t$red. In $rder t$ ac"ie&e !$%t $ t"e /reaty4% $+0ecti&e%, c$!!$n utii#ati$n $ %"ared *ater re%$urce% *a% nece%%ary. Hence, t"e deendant *a% n$t aut"$ri#ed t$ pr$ceed *it"$ut t"e painti4% c$n%ent.
BayanvsZamor a G.R.No.138570 Oct ober10,2000 Bay anvsZamor a F a c t s : TheUni t edSt at espanelme twi t ht he Phi l i ppi nepanelt odi scussed,among o t he r s ,t hepo ss i bl ee l e me nt soft heVi s i t i ng For cesAgr eement( VFA) .Thi sr esul t edt oa s e r i e sofc o nf e r e nc e sandne g o t i a t i o nswhi c h cul mi nat edonJanuar y12and13,1998. Ther eaf t er ,Pr esi dentFi delRamo sappr ov ed t heVFA,whi chwasre spect i vel ysi gnedby Secr et arySi azonandUni t edSt at es AmbassadorThomasHubbar d. Pr es.JosephEst r adarat i fiedt heVFA on Oct ober5,1998andonMay27,1999,t he s e na t eappr o v e di tby( 2/3)v o t e s .
CauseofAct i on:
Pe t i t i o ne r s ,amo ngo t he r s ,as s e r tt hatSe c . 25,Ar tXVI I Io ft he1987c o ns t i t ut i o ni s appl i c abl eandno tSe c t i o n21,Ar t i c l eVI I . Fo l l o wi ngt hea r g ume nto ft hepe t i t i o ne r , unde rt he ypr o v i s i o nc i t e d,t he“ f o r e i g n mi l i t ar ybas e s,t r o ops ,o rf ac i l i t i e s ”ma ybe a l l o we di nt hePhi l i ppi ne sunl e s st he f o l l o wi ngc o ndi t i o nsa r es uffic i e nt l yme t : a)i tmus tbeat r e at y , b)i tmus tbedul yconcur r edi nbyt he s e nat e ,r a t i fie dbyama j o r i t yoft hev o t e s c a s ti nana t i o na lr e f e r e ndum he l df o rt ha t purposei fsorequi r edbycongr ess,and c)r ecogni zedassuchbyt heot her c ont r a ct i ngs t at e . Respondent s,ont heot herhand,ar guet hat Se c t i o n 21Ar t i c l eVI Ii sappl i c abl es ot hat , whati sr equi r esf orsuc ht r eat yt obev al i d andeffect i vei st heconcurr encei nbyat l e a s tt wo t hi r dso fa l lt heme mbe r soft he senat e. I SSUE: I st heVFA gover nedbyt hepr ovi si onsof Se c t i o n 21,Ar tVI Io ro fSe c t i o n 25,Ar t i c l e XVI I Ioft heCons t i t ut i on? HELD: Se c t i o n 25,Ar t i c l eXVI I I ,whi c hs pe c i fic al l y de al swi t ht r e a t i e si nv ol v i ngf or e i g nmi l i t ar y bases,t r oopsorf aci l i t i esshoul dappl yi n t hei ns t a ntc a s e .T oac e r t a i ne x t e nta ndi n al i mi t e ds e ns e ,ho we v e r ,t hepr o v i s i o nso f s ec t i on21,Ar t i c l eVI Iwi l lfindappl i c abi l i t y wi t hr egar dt ot hei ssueandf ort hesol e pur poseofdet er mi ni ngt henumberofvot es r e q ui r e dt oobt a i nt hev al i dc o nc ur r e nc eof t hesenat e. TheCons t i t ut i on,makesnodi s t i nct i on be t ween“ t r ansi ent ”and“ per manent . ”We findno t hi ngi ns e c t i o n25,Ar t i c l eXVI I It ha t r e qui r e sf or e i g nt r o opsorf ac i l i t i e st obe st at i onedorpl acedper manent l yi nt he Phi l i ppi ne s . I ti si nc o ns e q ue nt i a lwhe t he rt heUni t e d St a t e st r e a t st heVF Ao nl ya sane x e c ut i v e agreementbecause,underi nt er nat i onall aw, anexecut i veagre ementi sasbi ndi ngasa t r e at y .
Sal ongavsSmi t h * * Thi scasei sconsol i dat edwi t hSal onga vsDani elSmi t h& BAYAN vsGl or i a Ar r oyo Ont he1st ofNove mber2005,Dani elSmi t h c o mmi t t e dt hecr i meofr a peag ai ns tNi c o l e . Hewasconvi ct edoft hesai dcr i meandwas
order edbyt hecourtt osuffer i mpri sonment .Smi t hwasaUSser vi ce man convi ct edofacri meagai nstourpenall aws andt hecr i mewascommi t t edwi t hi nt he c o unt r y ’ sj ur i s di c t i o n.Butpur s ua ntt ot he VFA,at r eat ybe t weent heUSand Phi l i ppi nes,t heUSembassywasgr ant ed c us t o dyov e rSmi t h.Ni c o l e ,t o g e t he rwi t h t heot he rpe t i t i o ne r sappe al e dbe f o r et heSC as s ai l i ngt hev al i di t yoft heVFA.The i r cont ent i oni st hatt heVFA wasnotr at i fied byt heUSsenat ei nt hesamewayour senat er at i fiedt heVFA. st heVFA voi dandunconst i t ut i onal I SSUE:I & whe t he ro rno ti ti ss e l f e x e cut i ng . HELD: TheVFAi sasel f execut i ng Agr eeme ntbecauset hepar t i esi nt endi t s pr o v i s i o nst obee nf or c e abl e ,pr e c i s e l y becauset heVFAi si nt endedt ocar r yout obl i gat i onsandunder t aki ngsundert heRPUSMut ualDef enseTr eat y .Asamat t erof f act ,t heVFAhasbeeni mpl ement edand e x e c ut e d,wi t ht heUSf a i t hf ul l yc ompl y i ng wi t hi t sobl i gat i ont opr oduceSmi t hbef or e t hec our tdur i ngt het r i a l . TheVFAi scov er edbyi mpl eme nt i ng l e g i s l a t i o ni na smuc hasi ti st hev e r y pur poseandi nt entoft heUSCongr esst hat e x e c ut i v ea gr e e me nt sr e g i s t e r e dunde rt hi s Actwi t hi n60daysf r om t hei rr at i ficat i onbe i mmedi at el yi mpl ement ed.TheSC not ed t hatt heVF Ai sno tl i keot he rt r e at i e st hat needi mpl ement i ngl egi sl at i onsuchasthe Vi ennaConv ent i on.Asr egar dst he i mpl ement at i onoft heRPUSMut ual De f e ns eTr e at y ,mi l i t a r yai do ras s i s t anc e hasbeengi venunderi tandt hi scanonl ybe donet hr oughi mpl ement i ngl egi sl at i on.The VFAi t sel fi sanot herf or m ofi mpl eme nt at i on ofi t spr o v i s i ons .
Bay anMunav s.Romul o-GR No.159618 CaseDi ges t F a c t s : Pet i t i onerBayan Munai sadul yregi st er ed pa r t y l i s tg r o upe s t abl i s he dt or e p r e s e ntt he ma r g i na l i z e ds e c t o r sofs o c i e t y .Re s po nde nt Bl asF.Opl e,now deceased,wast he Se c r e t a r yofFo r e i g nAffa i r sdur i ngt he pe r i o dma t e r i a lt ot hi sc a s e .Re s po nde nt Al ber t oRomul owasi mpl eadedi nhi s c a pa c i t ya st he nEx e c ut i v eSe c r e t ar y . RomeSt at ut eoft heI nt er nat i onalCri mi nal Cour t Havi ngakeydet er mi nat i vebear i ngont hi s casei st heRomeSt at ut eest abl i shi ngt he I nt e r na t i o na lCr i mi na lCo ur t( I CC)wi t h“ t he po we rt oe x er c i s ei t sj ur i s di c t i o no v er per sonsf ort hemostser i ouscri mesof i nt er nat i onalconcer nxxxandshal lbe
compl ement aryt ot henat i onalcri mi nal j ur i sdi ct i ons. ”Theser i ouscr i me sadv er t ed t ocovert hoseconsi der edgraveunder i nt e r na t i o na ll a w,s uc ha sg e no c i de ,c r i me s agai nsthumani t y ,warcr i mes,andcr i mesof a gg r e s s i o n. OnDec ember28,2000,t heRP,t hr ough Charg ed’ Affai r esEnr i queA.Manal o,si gned t heRomeSt at ut ewhi ch,byi t st erms,i s “ s ubj e c tt or a t i fic at i o n,ac c e pt a nc eo r appr o v a l ”byt hes i g nat o r ys t a t e s .Aso ft he fil i ngoft hei ns t antpe t i t i o n,o nl y92outof t he139si gnat orycount ri esappeart ohave c o mpl e t e dt her a t i fic a t i o n,a ppr o v a la nd c o nc ur r e nc epr o c e s s .ThePhi l i ppi ne si sno t amongt he92. RPUSNonSur r enderAgr eement OnMay9,2003,t henAmbass adorFr anci s J.Ri cci ar donesentUSEmbassyNot eNo. 0470t ot heDepar t mentofForei gnAffai r s ( DFA)pr oposi ngt het er msoft henons ur r e nde rbi l a t e r a la gr e e me nt( Ag r e e me nt , her ei naf t er )bet weentheUSAandt heRP. Vi aExc hangeofNot esNo.BFO028037 dat edMay13,2003( E/N BFO02803, he r e i naf t e r ) ,t heRP ,r e pr e s e nt e dbyt he n DFASec r et aryOpl e,agr ee dwi t hand acce pt edt heUSproposal se mbodi edunder t heUSEmbassyNot eadver t edt oandputi n effec tt heAgr eementwi t ht heUS gover nment .I nesse ,t heAgr eementai mst o pr o t e c twha ti tr e f e r st oandde fine sa s “ per sons”oft heRPandUSf r om f ri vol ous andhar assmentsui t st hatmi ghtbe br oughtagai ns tt hem i ni nt er nat i onal t r i bunal s . 8I ti sr e fle ct i v eoft hei nc r e as i ng pa ceo ft hes t r a t e g i cs e c ur i t yandde f e ns e part ner shi pbet weent het wocount r i es.As o fMa y2,2003,s i mi l a rbi l a t e r a la gr e e me nt s hav ebee neffec t edbyandbe t wee nt heUS and33ot hercount r i es. TheAgr eeme ntper t i nent l ypr ovi desas f ol l o ws : 1.Forpur posesoft hi sAgr eement , “ per sons”arecur r entorf ormerGover nment o ffic i al s ,e mpl o y e es( i nc l udi ngc ont r a c t o r s ) , o rmi l i t ar ype r s o nne lo rna t i o na l sofo ne P a r t y . 2.Pe r s o nso fo nePa r t ypr e s e nti nt he t e r r i t o r yo ft heo t he rs hal lno t ,abs e ntt he e x pr e s sc o ns e nto ft hefir s tPar t y , ( a )bes ur r e nde r e do rt r a ns f e r r e dbya ny me a nst oanyi nt e r na t i o na lt r i buna lf o ra ny pur pose,unl esssucht r i bunalhasbeen est abl i shedbytheUN Securi t yCounci l ,or ( b)bes ur r e nde r e do rt r a ns f e r r e db ya ny me a nst oanyo t he re nt i t yo rt hi r dc o unt r y ,
o re xpe l l e dt oat hi r dcount r y ,f o rt he pur p os eo fs ur r e nde rt oo rt r a ns f e rt oany i nt e r na t i o nalt r i bunal ,unl e s ss uc ht r i bunal hasbeenest abl i shedbyt heUN Secur i t y Counci l . 3.Whe nt he[ US]e x t r a di t e s ,s ur r e nde r s ,o r o t he r wi s et r a ns f e r sape r s o no ft he Phi l i ppi ne st oat hi r dco unt r y ,t he[ US]wi l l no tag r e et ot hes ur r e nde ro rt r a ns f e ro f t hatper sonbythethi r dcount ryt oany i nt e r na t i o nalt r i bunal ,unl e s ss uc ht r i bunal hasbeenest abl i shedbyt heUN Secur i t y Counci l ,absentt heexpr essconsentoft he Gover nmentoft heRepubl i coft he Phi l i ppi ne s[ GRP] . 4.Whent he[ GRP]ext r adi t es,surr ender s,or o t he r wi s et r a ns f e r sape r s o no ft he[ USA]t o at hi r dc ount r y ,t he[ GRP]wi l lno tag r e et o t hes ur r e nde ro rt r a ns f e ro ft ha tp e r s o nby t het hi r dc o unt r yt oa nyi nt e r na t i o na l t ri bunal ,unl esssucht ri bunalhasbeen est abl i shedbyt heUN Securi t yCounci l , absentt heexpr essconsentoft he Gov er nmentoft he[ US] . 5.Thi sAgr eementshal lr emai ni nf orce unt i loneyearaf t ert hedat eonwhi chone par t yno t i fie st heot he ro fi t si nt e ntt o t er mi nat et heAgr eement .Thepr ovi si onsof t hi sAgr eementshal lcont i nuet oappl ywi t h r e s pe c tt oanyac to c c ur r i ng ,o ra ny al l e g at i onar i s i ng ,be f o r et heeffe c t i v edat eof t e r mi na t i o n. I nr e s po ns et oaq ue r yoft he nSo l i c i t o r Gener alAl f r edoL.Beni payoon t hest at usof t henonsur r enderagr eement ,Ambass ador Ri c c i ar do ner e pl i e di nhi sl e t t e ro fOc t o be r 28,2003t hatt heexchangeofdi pl omat i c no t e sco ns t i t ut e dal e g al l ybi ndi ng agreementunderi nt ernat i onall aw;and t hat ,underUSl aw,t hesai dagr eementdi d notr equi r et headvi ceandconsentoft heUS Senate. I nt hi spr o ce e di ng ,pe t i t i o ne ri mput e sgr a v e a bus eo fdi s c r e t i o nt or e s po nde nt si n concl udi ngandr at i f yi ngt heAgr eementand pr ayst hati tbest ruckdownas unc o ns t i t ut i o nal ,o ratl e as tde c l a r e da s wi t houtf or ceandeffect . I ss ue:Whe t herornott heRPUSNON SURRENDERAGREEMENTi sv oi dabi ni t i o f o rc ont r a c t i ngobl i g at i o nst hatar ee i t he r i mmoralorot herwi seatvari ancewi t h uni v e r s al l yr e c og ni z e dpr i nc i pl e sof i nt e r nat i onall a w. Rul i ng :Thepe t i t i o ni sbe r e f to fme r i t . Val i di t yoft heRPUSNonSur r ender Agr eeme nt
Pe t i t i one r ’ si ni t i alc hal l e ng eag ai ns tt he Agr eeme ntr el at est of or m,i t st hr eshol d post ur ebei ngt hatE/N BFO02803cannot beav al i dme di um f orconcl udi ngt he Agr eeme nt . Pe t i t i o ne r s ’ c ont e nt i o n– – pe r hapst ake n una wa r eo fc e r t a i nwe l l r e c o g ni z e d i nt e r nat i o naldo ct r i ne s ,pr a ct i c e s,and j ar gons– – i sunt enabl e.Oneoft hesei st he do c t r i neo fi nc or p or a t i o n,ase x pr e s s edi n Se ct i on2,Ar t i c l eI Ioft heCons t i t ut i on, wher ei nt hePhi l i ppi nesadopt st hegener al l y ac c e pt e dpr i nc i pl e so fi nt e r nat i o nall a wa nd i nt e r na t i o na lj ur i s pr ude nc easpar to ft he l a wo ft hel a nda nda dhe r e st ot hepo l i c yo f pe a c e ,c o ope r a t i o n,a nda mi t ywi t ha l l nat i o ns .Ane x c ha ng eofno t e sf al l s“ i nt ot he c a t e g or yo fi nt e r g o v e r nme nt a la gr e e me nt s , ” whi c hi sani nt er nat i onal l yaccept edf or m of i nt ernat i onalagr eement .TheUni t edNat i ons Tr eat yCol l ect i ons( Tr eat yRef er enceGui de) definest het er m asf ol l ows: An“ e xc hangeofnot es”i sar ecor dofa r out i neagr eement ,t hathasmany s i mi l ar i t i e swi t ht hepr i v at el a wc ont r a ct . Theagr eeme ntconsi s t soft hee xc hangeof t wodocument s,eachoft hepart i esbei ngi n t hepossessi onoft heonesi gnedbyt he r e pr e s e nt a t i v eo ft heo t he r .Unde rt heus ua l pr o c e dur e ,t hea cc e pt i ngSt a t er e p e at st he t e xto ft heoffe r i ngSt at et or e c or di t s as s e nt .Thes i g nat o r i e soft hel e t t e r sma ybe gover nmentMi ni st er s,di pl omat sor depar t ment alheads.Thet echni queof e x c hang eofno t e si sf r e que nt l yr e s or t e dt o , e i t he rb ec aus eofi t ss pe e dypr o ce dur e ,o r , s o me t i me s ,t oa v oi dt hepr o c e s so fl e g i s l at i v e appr oval . I nanot herperspect i ve,t het erms“ exchange ofnot es”and“ execut i veagreement s”have beenusedi nt er c hangeabl y ,exc hangeof no t e sbe i ngc o ns i de r e daf o r mo fe x e c ut i v e agr ee mentt hatbecomesbi ndi ngt hr ough execut i veact i on.Ont heot herhand, exec ut i veagr eement sconcl udedbyt he Pr esi dent“ somet i mest aket hef orm of exchangeofnot esandatot hert i mest hatof mor ef or maldocument sdenomi nat ed ‘ ag r e e me nt s ’o r‘ pr o t o co l s . ’ ”Asf o r me rUS Hi ghCommi ssi onert ot hePhi l i ppi nes Fr anci sB.Sayreobserv edi nhi swork,The Co ns t i t ut i o na l i t yo fT r a deAg r e e me ntAc t s : Thepoi ntwher eor di nar ycor r espondence be t weent hi sandot hergov er nme nt sends andagr ee ment s–whe t herdenomi nat ed execut i veagre ement sorexchangeofnot es orot her wi se–begi n,maysomet i mesbe di fficul tofr eadyascer t ai nment .xxx I ti sf ai r l yc l e arf r o mt hef or e g oi ng
di squi si t i ont hatE/N BFO02803––bei t vi ewedast heNonSur r enderAgr eeme nt i t s e l f ,ora sani nt e gr a li ns t r ume nto f accept ancet her eoforasconsentt obe bound– – i sar ecogni z edmo deofconcl udi ng al e g al l ybi ndi ngi nt e r nat i o nalwr i t t e n cont r actamongnat i ons. Agr eeme ntNotI mmor al /NotatVar i ance wi t hPr i nci pl esofI nt er nat i onalLaw Pet i t i onerur gest hatt heAgr eementbe s t r uc kdo wna sv o i da bi ni t i of o ri mpo s i ng i mmoralobl i gat i onsand/orbei ngat v ar i ancewi t hal l egedl yuni v er sal l y r e c o gni z e dpr i nc i pl e sofi nt e r nat i o nall a w. Thei mmor alaspectpr oceedsf r om t hef act t hatt heAgr eement ,aspet i t i onerwoul dput i t ,“ l eavescri mi nal si mmunef r om r e s po ns i bi l i t yf o runi mag i nabl eat r o c i t i e s t hatdeepl yshockt heconsci enceof humani t y;xxxi tpr ecl udesourcount ry f r om del i ver i nganAmer i cancri mi nalt othe [ I CC]xxx. ” 63 Theabov ear gume nti saki ndofr ecy cl i ngof pe t i t i one r ’ se ar l i e rpos i t i on,whi c h,as al r eadydi scussed,cont endst hatt heRP,by e nt e r i ngi nt ot heAg r e e me nt ,v i r t ual l y a bdi c a t e di t ss o v e r e i g nt yandi nt hepr o c e s s unde r mi ne di t st r e a t yo bl i g a t i o nsunde rt he Ro meSt a t ut e ,c o nt r a r yt oi nt e r na t i o na ll a w pr i nc i pl e s . TheCour ti snotper suaded.Sufficei tt o s t a t ei nt hi sr e g ar dt ha tt heno ns ur r e nde r agreement ,asapt l ydescr i bedbyt he Sol i c i t o rGe ne r a l ,“ i sanas s er t i o n byt he Phi l i ppi ne sofi t sde s i r et ot r yandpuni s h cr i mesunderi t snat i onall aw.xxxThe agreementi sar ecogni t i onoft hepri macy a ndco mpe t e nc eo ft heco unt r y ’ sj udi c i a r yt o t r yo ffe ns e sunde ri t sna t i o na lc r i mi na ll a ws anddi s pe ns ej us t i c ef ai r l yandj udi c i o us l y . ” Pe t i t i o ne r ,webe l i e v e ,l abor sunde rt he er r oneousi mpr essi ont hatt heAgr eement woul dal l ow Fi l i pi nosandAme r i cans c o mmi t t i nghi g hc r i me so fi nt e r na t i o na l c o nc e r nt oe s c apec r i mi na lt r i a la nd puni s hme nt .Thi si sma ni f e s t l yi nc o r r e c t . Per sonswhomayhav ec ommi t t edact s penal i ze dundert heRomeSt at ut ecanbe pr osecut edandpuni shedi nt hePhi l i ppi nes ori nt heUS;orwi t ht heconsentoft heRP ort heUS,bef oret heI CC,assumi ng,f ort he no nc e ,t hatal lt hef o r mal i t i e sne c e ss ar yt o bi ndbot hcount r i est ot heRomeSt at ut e havebeen met .Forper spect i ve,whatt he Agr eeme ntcont ext ual l ypr ohi bi t si st he s ur r e nde rb ye i t he rp ar t yofi ndi v i dual st o i nt e r nat i onalt r i bunal s ,l i ket heI CC, wi t houtt heconsentoft heot herpar t y , whi c hma ydesi r et opr osecut et hecr i me
unde ri t se x i s t i ngl a ws .Wi t ht hev i e w we t a keo ft hi ng s ,t he r ei sno t hi ngi mmo r a lo r vi ol at i v eofi nt er nat i onall aw concept si nt he a c to ft hePhi l i ppi ne so fa s sumi ngc r i mi na l j ur i sdi ct i onpur suantt ot henonsur r ender agr ee mento ve ranoffenseconsi der ed cri mi nalbybot hPhi l i ppi nel awsandt he RomeSt at ut e. China National Machinery v. Santamaria Facts: On 14 September 2002, petitioner China National Machinery & Equipment Corp. !roup" CNME!", repre#ente$ by it# chairper#on, %enon'bin, entere$ into a Memoran$um o( )n$er#tan$in' *ith the North +uon %ail*ay# Corporation Northrail", repre#ente$ by it# pre#i$ent, -o#e +. Corte#, -r. (or the con$uct o( a (ea#ibility #tu$y on a po##ible rail*ay line (rom Manila to San ernan$o, +a )nion the Northrail /roect". On 0 u'u#t 200, the E3port mport 5an6 o( China E7M 5an6" an$ the 8epartment o( inance o( the /hilippine# 8O" entere$ into a Memoran$um o( )n$er#tan$in' u' 0 MO)", *herein China a'ree$ to e3ten$ /re(erential 5uyer9# Cre$it to the /hilippine 'oernment to (inance the Northrail /roect. ;he Chine#e 'oernment $e#i'nate$ E7M 5an6 a# the len$er, *hile the /hilippine 'oernment name$ the 8O a# the borro*er. )n$er the u' 0 MO), E7M 5an6 a'ree$ to e3ten$ an amount not e3cee$in' )S8 400,000,000 in (aor o( the 8O, payable in 20 year#, *ith a <=year 'race perio$, an$ at the rate o( > per annum. On 1 October 200, the Chine#e mba##a$or to the /hilippine#, ?an' Chun'ui mb. ?an'", *rote a letter to 8O Secretary -o#e #i$ro Camacho Sec. Camacho" in(ormin' him o( CNME!9# $e#i'nation a# the /rime Contractor (or the Northrail /roect. On 0 8ecember 200, Northrail an$ CNME! e3ecute$ a Contract 'reement (or the con#truction o( Section , /ha#e o( the North +uon %ail*ay Sy#tem (rom Caloocan to Malolo# on a turn6ey ba#i# the Contract 'reement". @ ;he contract price (or the Northrail /roect *a# pe''e$ at )S8 421,0<0,000. On 2A ebruary 2004, the /hilippine 'oernment an$ E7M 5an6 entere$ into a counterpart (inancial a'reement B 5uyer Cre$it +oan 'reement No. 5+ 040<< the +oan 'reement".n the +oan 'reement, E7M 5an6 a'ree$ to e3ten$ /re(erential 5uyer9# Cre$it in the amount o( )S8 400,000,000 in (aor o( the /hilippine 'oernment in or$er to (inance the con#truction o( /ha#e o( the Northrail /roect. On 1 ebruary 200A, re#pon$ent# (ile$ a Complaint (or nnulment o( Contract an$ nunction *ith )r'ent Motion (or Summary earin' to 8etermine the E3i#tence o( act# an$ Circum#tance# -u#ti(yin' the ##uance o( ?rit# o( /reliminary /rohibitory an$ Man$atory nunction an$or ;%O a'ain#t CNME!, the O((ice o( the E3ecutie Secretary, the 8O, the 8epartment o( 5u$'et an$ Mana'ement, the National Economic 8eelopment uthority an$ Northrail.;he ca#e *a# (ile$ be(ore the %e'ional ;rial Court, National Capital -u$icial %e'ion, Ma6ati City, 5ranch 14< %;C 5r. 14<". n the Complaint, re#pon$ent# alle'e$ that the Contract 'reement an$ the +oan 'reement *ere oi$ (or bein' contrary to a" the Con#titutionD b" %epublic ct No. 1F4 %.. No. 1F4", other*i#e 6no*n a# the !oernment /rocurement %e(orm ctD c" /re#i$ential 8ecree No. 144<, other*i#e 6no*n a# the !oernment u$itin' Co$eD an$ $" E3ecutie Or$er No. 22, other*i#e 6no*n a# the $mini#tratie Co$e.
On 1< May 200@, %;C 5r. 14< i##ue$ an Omnibu# Or$er $enyin' CNME!9# Motion to 8i#mi## an$ #ettin' the ca#e (or #ummary hearin' to $etermine *hether the inunctie relie(# praye$ (or #houl$ be i##ue$.CNME! then (ile$ a Motion (or %econ#i$eration,*hich *a# $enie$ by the trial court in an Or$er $ate$ 10 March 200F.;hu#, CNME! (ile$ be(ore the C a /etition (or Certiorari *ith /rayer (or the ##uance o( ;%O an$or ?rit o( /reliminary nunction $ate$ 4 pril 200F. the appellate court $i#mi##e$ the /etition (or Certiorari.Sub#equently, CNME! (ile$ a Motion (or %econ#i$eration,*hich *a# $enie$ by the C in a %e#olution $ate$ < 8ecember 200F.
Petitioners Argument: /etitionerclaim# that the E7M 5an6 e3ten$e$ (inancial a##i#tance to Northrail becau#e the ban6 *a# man$ate$ by the Chine#e 'oernment, an$ not becau#e o( any motiation to $o bu#ine## in the /hilippine#, it i# clear (rom the (ore'oin' proi#ion# that the Northrail /roect *a# a purely commercial tran#action. Respondents Argument: re#pon$ent# alle'e$ that the Contract 'reement an$ the +oan 'reement *ere oi$ (or bein' contrary to a" the Con#titutionD b" %epublic ct No. 1F4 %.. No. 1F4", other*i#e 6no*n a# the !oernment /rocurement %e(orm ctD c" /re#i$ential 8ecree No. 144<, other*i#e 6no*n a# the !oernment u$itin' Co$eD an$ $" E3ecutie Or$er No. 22, other*i#e 6no*n a# the $mini#tratie Co$e. Issues: ?hether or not petitioner CNME! i# an a'ent o( the #oerei'n /eople9# %epublic o( China. ?hether or not the Northrail contract# are pro$uct# o( an e3ecutie a'reement bet*een t*o #oerei'n #tate#.
Ruling: ;he in#tant /etition i# DNID. /etitioner China National Machinery & Equipment Corp. !roup" i# not entitle$ to immunity (rom #uit, an$ the Contract 'reement i# not an e3ecutie a'reement. CNME!9# prayer (or the i##uance o( a ;%O an$or ?rit o( /reliminary nunction i# DNID (or bein' moot an$ aca$emic. ;he Court e3plaine$ the $octrine o( #oerei'n immunity in Holy See v. Rosario,to *it: ;here are t*o con(lictin' concept# o( #oerei'n immunity, each *i$ely hel$ an$ (irmly e#tabli#he$. ccor$in' to the cla##ical or ab#olute theory, a sovereign cannot! "ithout its consent! #e made a respondent in the courts o$ another sovereign. ccor$in' to the ne*er or re#trictie theory, the immunity o$ the sovereign is recogni%ed only "ith regard to pu#lic acts or acts jure imperii o$ a state! #ut not "ith regard to private acts or acts jure gestionis.Empha#i# #upplie$D citation# omitte$." # it #tan$# no*, the application o( the $octrine o( immunity (rom #uit ha# been re#tricte$ to #oerei'n or 'oernmental actiitie# jure imperii ".;he mantle o( #tate immunity cannot be e3ten$e$ to commercial, priate an$ proprietary act# jure gestionis". Since the /hilippine# a$here# to the re#trictie theory, it i# crucial to a#certain the le'al nature o( the act inole$ B *hether the entity claimin' immunity per(orm# 'oernmental, a# oppo#e$ to proprietary, (unction#. # hel$ in )nite$ State# o( merica . %ui $mitte$ly, the +oan 'reement *a# entere$ into bet*een E7M 5an6 an$ the /hilippine 'oernment, *hile the Contract 'reement *a# bet*een Northrail an$ CNME!. lthou'h the Contract 'reement i# #ilent on the cla##i(ication o( the le'al nature o( the tran#action, the
(ore'oin' proi#ion# o( the +oan 'reement, *hich i# an ine3tricable part o( the entire un$erta6in', nonethele## reeal the intention o( the partie# to the Northrail /roect to cla##i(y the *hole enture a# commercial or proprietary in character. ;hu#, piecin' to'ether the content an$ tenor o( the Contract 'reement, the Memoran$um o( )n$er#tan$in' $ate$ 14 September 2002, mb. ?an'9# letter $ate$ 1 October 200, an$ the +oan 'reement *oul$
reeal the $e#ire o( CNME! to con#truct the +uon %ail*ay# in pur#uit o( a purely commercial actiity per(orme$ in the or$inary cour#e o( it# bu#ine##.
