Republic of the Philippines SUPREME COURT Manila EN BANC G.R. No. 19!9" Ma#ch !$ !1! P%&'&P S&G(R&) A. (ORTUN an* A'BERT 'EE G. ANGE'ES$ Petitione#s$ +s. G'OR&A MACAPAGA',ARRO-O$ MACAPAGA',ARRO-O$ as Coan*e#, in,Chief an* P#esi*ent of the Republic of the Philippines Philippines$$ E)UAR)O E)UAR)O ERM&TA ERM&TA$$ E/ecuti+ E/ecuti+e e S ec ec#e ta ta #0 #0 $ A RM RM E) E) ( OR ORC ES ES O( T% E P%&'&P P%&'&PP&N P&NES ES A(P2$ A(P2$ o# an0 of thei# thei# units$ units$ P%&'&PP&NE NAT&ONA' PO'&CE PNP2$ o# an0 of thei# units$ 3O%N )OES an* 3ANE )OES actin4 u n* n* e# e# t he he i# i# *i #e #e ct ct io ion an * co nt nt #o #o l$l$ Respon*ents. /,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,/ G.R. No. 19!95 )&)AGEN P. )&'ANGA'EN$ Petitione#$ +s. E)UA E)UAR) R)O O R. ERM& ERM&T TA in his his capa capaci cit0 t0 as E/ecuti+e Sec#eta#0$ NORBERTO GON6A'ES in his capacit0 as Sec#eta#0 of National )efense$ RONA')O PUNO in his capacit0 as Sec#eta#0 of & nt nt e# e# io io # an * 'oc al al G o+ o+ e# e#n en en t$ t$ Respon*ents. /,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,/ G.R. No. 19"1 NAT&O NAT&ONA' NA' UN&ON UN&ON O( PEOP'E PEOP'ES7 S7 'A8-E 'A8-ERS RS NUP'2 SECRETA SECRETARR- GENERA' GENERA' NER& 3A&ER 3A&ER CO'MENARES$ BA-AN MUNA REPRESENTAT&E SATUR SATUR C. OCAMPO OCAMPO$$ GABR&E GABR&E'A 'A 8OMEN7 8OMEN7S S PARTPART- REPRESENTAT&E REPRESENTAT&E '&6A '. MA6A$ ATT-. 3U'&US GARC&A MAT&BAG$ MAT&BAG$ ATT-. EP%RA&M B. CORTE6$ ATT-. 3OBERT &'AR)E PA%&'GA$ ATT-. O'TA&RE TA&RE B. A(R&CA$ A(R&CA$ BAGONG BAGONG A'-A A'-ANSAN NSANG G MA:ABA-AN MA:ABA-AN BA-AN2 BA-AN2 SECRETARSECRETAR- GENERA' RENAT RENATO O M. RE-ES$ RE-ES$ 3R. 3R. an* ANT%ONANT%ON- &AN CRU6$ Petitione#s$ +s. PRES&)ENT PRES&)ENT G'OR&A G'OR&A MACAPAGA' MACAPAGA',ARR ,ARROO-O$ O$ E;ECUT&E SECRETAR- E)UAR)O R. ERM&TA$ ARME) (ORCES O( T%E P%&'&PP&NES C%&E( O( STA( STA(( ( GENE GENERA RA' ' &CT &CTOR OR S. &BRA &BRA)O )O$$ P%&'&P P%&'&PP&N P&NE E NAT&O NAT&ONA' NA' PO'&CE PO'&CE )&RECT )&RECTOR OR GENERA' 3ESUS A. ER6OSA$ )EPARTMENT O( 3UST&CE SECRETARSECRETARAGNES ST )E )EANA) ANA)ER ERA$ A$ ARME ARME) ) (OR (ORCES CES O( T%E T%E P%&'&PP&NES EASTERN M&N)ANAO COMMAN)
C%&E( '&EUTENAN '&EUTENANT T GENERA' GENERA' RA-MUN RA-MUN)O )O B. (ERRER$ Respon*ents. Respon*ents. /,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,/ G.R. No. 19"! 3OSEP% NE'SON <. 'O-O'A$ 'O-O'A$ Petitione#$ Petitione#$ +s. %ER %ER E;CE E;CE'' ''EN ENCCPRES PRES&) &)EN ENT T G'OR G'OR&A &A MACAPAGA',ARROMACAPAGA',ARRO-O$ O$ ARME) (ORCES C%&E( O( STA(( A(( GENE GENER RA' &CT &CTOR OR &BR &BRA)O$ A)O$ P%&' P%&'&P &PP& P&NE NE NAT& NAT&ON ONA' A' PO'& PO'&CE CE PNP PNP2$ 2$ )&RE )&RECT CTOR OR GENE GENERA RA' ' 3ESU 3ESUS S ER6 ER6OS OSA$ A$ E;ECUT&E E;ECUT&E SECRETA SECRETARR- E)UAR)O E)UAR)O ERM&TA$ ERM&TA$ Respon*ents. /,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,/ G.R. No. 19"= 3O&TO R. SA'ONGA$ RAU' C. PANGA'ANGAN$ PANGA'ANGAN$ %. %ARR- '. RO
ens$ Petitione#s$ +s. G'OR& G'OR&A A MACAP MACAPAG AGA', A',ARR ARROO-O$ O$ in his sic2 sic2 capacit0 as P#esi*ent of the Republic of the Philippines$ %ON. E)UAR)O ERM&TA$ 3R.$ in his capacit0 capacit0 as E/ecuti+ E/ecuti+e e Sec#eta#0 Sec#eta#0$$ an* %ON. RO'A RO'AN) N)O O AN)A AN)A-A in his his capa capaci cit0 t0 as Sec#eta#0 Sec#eta#0 of the )epa#tent )epa#tent of Bu*4et Bu*4et an* Mana4een Mana4eent$ t$ GENERA' GENERA' &CTOR &CTOR &BRA)O$ &BRA)O$ in his his capa capaci cit0 t0 as A#e A#e* * (o#ce o#ces s of the the Philippine Philippines s Chief of Sta?$ Sta?$ )&RECTOR )&RECTOR 3ESUS ER6OS ER6OSA$ A$ in his capacit capacit0 0 as Chief Chief of the Philippine National Police$ Respon*ents. Respon*ents. /,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,/ G.R. No. 19"@ BA&'ENG S. MANTA8&'$ )ENGCO SABAN$ En4#. OCTO OCTOBE BER R C%&O C%&O$$ A:BA A:BA-AN PARTART- '&ST '&ST REPRESENTAT&ES 8A')EN (. BE''O an* ANA T%ERES&A %ONT&EROS,BARA
P%&'&PP&NES$ T%E )&RECTOR GENERA' O( T%E P%&'&PP&NE NAT&ONA' PO'&CE$ Respon*ents. Respon*ents. / , , , , , , ,, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , / G.R. No. 19" C%R&ST&AN MONSO) an* CAR'OS P. ME)&NA$ 3R.$ Petitione#s$ Petitione#s$ +s. E)UAR) E)UAR)O O R. ERM&T ERM&TA$ A$ in his capaci capacit0 t0 as E/ecuti+e Sec#eta#0$ Respon*ent. Respon*ent.
to subit to that bo*0 a #epo#t in pe#son o# in D#itin4 of he# action.
&n he# #epo#t$ P#esi*ent A##o0o sai* that she acte* base* on he# n*in4 that laDless en ha+e taFen up a#s in Ma4uin*anao an* #isen a4ains a4ainstt the 4o+e#n 4o+e#nen ent. t. The P#esi P#esi*en *entt *esc#i *esc#ibe* be* the scope scope of the up#isi up#isin4$ n4$ the natu#e$ natu#e$ Huantit0$ Huantit0$ an* Hualit0 of the #ebelsI Deapon#0 Deapon#0$$ the o+eent of thei# hea+il0 )EC&S&ON a#e* units in st#ate4ic positions$ the closu#e ABA)$ 3. of the Ma4uin Ma4uin*an *anao ao P#o+i P#o+inci ncial al Capito Capitol$ l$ Apa Apatu tuan an Muni Munici cipa pall %all %all$$ )atu )atu Unsa Unsa0 0 These cases conce#n the constitutionalit0 of a Municipal %all$ an* 15 othe# unicipal halls$ p#esi*ential p#oclaation of a#tial laD an* an* the use of a#o#e* a#o#e* +ehicles$ +ehicles$ tanFs$ tanFs$ an* suspension of the p#i+ile4e of habeas co#pus pat#ol pat#ol ca#s Dith unautho#i unautho#i>e* >e* JPNPKPoli JPNPKPoliceJ ceJ in !9 in a p#o+ince in Min*anao Dhich De#e a#Fin4s. Dith*#aDn afte# ust ei4ht *a0s. On )eceb )ecebe# e# 9$ !9 !9 Con4#e Con4#ess$ ss$ in oint oint session$ session$ con+ene* pu#suant pu#suant to Section Section 1$ The Facts and the Case The essential bacF4#oun* facts a#e not in A#ticle && of the 19= Constitution to #e+ieD *isput *ispute. e. On No+eb No+ebe# e# !"$ !"$ !9 !9 hea+il hea+il0 0 the +ali*it0 of the P#esi*entIs action. But$ tDo a#e a#e* * en$ en$ beli belie+ e+e* e* le* le* b0 the the #uli #ulin4 n4 *a0s late# o# on )ecebe# 1! befo#e Con4#ess Apatuan Apatuan fail0$ fail0$ 4unne* 4unne* *oDn an* bu#ie* bu#ie* coul* act$ the P#esi*en P#esi*entt issue* issue* P#esi*ent P#esi*ential ial un*e# sho+ele* *i#t @= innocent ci+ilians on a P#oclaati P#oclaation on 19"$ 19"$ liftin4 liftin4 a#tial a#tial laD an* hi4hDa0 in Ma4uin*anao. &n #esponse to this #esto#in4 the p#i+ile4e of the D#it of habeas ca#na4e$ ca#na4e$ on No+ebe# No+ebe# !5 P#esi*en P#esi*entt A##o0o A##o0o co#pus in Ma4uin*anao. Ma4uin*anao. issue* issue* P#esi P#esi*en *entia tiall P#ocl P#oclaa aatio tion n 195$ 195$ * ec ecl a# a# in in4 a st at ate of e e e #4 #4 en enc 0 i n Petitione Petitione#s #s Philip Philip Si4f#i* Si4f#i* A. (o#tun an* the Ma4uin*anao$ Sultan :u*a#at$ an* Cotabato othe# petitione#s petitione#s in G.R. G.R. 19!9"$ 19!9"$ 19!95$ 19!95$ Cit0 to p#e+ent an* supp#ess siila# laDless 19" 19"1 1$1 $19 9" "!$ !$ 19" 19"= =$$ 19" 19"@ @$$ an* an* +iolence in Cent#al Min*anao. 19" 19" b#ou4 b#ou4ht ht the p#esen p#esentt action actions s to challen4e challen4e the constituti constitutional onalit0 it0 of P#esi*en P#esi*entt Belie+in4 that she nee*e* 4#eate# autho#it0 to A##o A##o0o 0oIs Is P#oc P#ocla laa ati tion on 19@9 19@9 a?ec a?ecti tin4 n4 put o#*e# in Ma4uin*anao an* secu#e it f#o Ma4uin*anao. But$ 4i+en the p#opt liftin4 of la#4e 4#oups of pe#sons that ha+e taFen up that that p#ocl p#oclaa aatio tion n befo#e befo#e Con4#e Con4#ess ss coul* coul* a#s a4ainst the constitute* autho#ities in the #e+ieD #e+ieD it an* befo#e an0 se#ious se#ious Huestion Huestion p#o+ince$ p#o+ince$ on )ecebe# )ecebe# 5$ !9 P#esi*ent P#esi*ent a?ec a?ecti tin4 n4 the the #i4h #i4hts ts an* an* libe libe#t #tie ies s of A##o0o issue* P#esi*ential P#oclaation 19@9 Ma4uin*a Ma4uin*anaoIs naoIs inhabitant inhabitants s coul* a#ise$ a#ise$ the *ecla#in4 *ecla#in4 a#tial laD an* suspen*in4 suspen*in4 the Cou#t *ees an0 #e+ieD of its constitutionalit0 p#i+ile4e of the D#it of habeas co#pus in that the eHui+alent of beatin4 a *ea* ho#se. p#o+ince p#o+ince e/cept fo# i*entie* i*entie* a#eas of the Mo#o &slaic 'ibe#ation (#ont. (#ont. P#u* P#u*en ence ce an* an* #esp #espec ectt fo# fo# the the co,e co,eHu Hual al *epa#tents of the 4o+e#nent *ictate that TDo TDo *a0s late# o# on )ecebe# $ !9 the Cou#t shoul* be cautious in ente#tainin4 P#esi* P#esi*ent ent A##o0o A##o0o subitt subitte* e* he# #epo#t #epo#t to actions that assail the constitutionalit0 of the Con4# Con4#ess ess in acco# acco#*an *ance ce Dith Dith Sectio Section n 1$ acts acts of the E/ecu E/ecuti+ ti+e e o# the 'e4isl 'e4islati ati+e +e A#ticl A#ticle e && of the 19= 19= Consti Constitut tution ion Dhich Dhich *epa#ten *epa#tent. t. The issue of constituti constitutional onalit0$ it0$ #eHu #eHui# i#e* e* he#$ he#$ Dith Dithin in 5 hou# hou#s s f#o f#o the the sai* the Cou#t in Bi#ao4o +. Philippine T#uth p#oclaation of a#tial laD o# the suspension Coission of !1$1 ust be the +e#0 issue of the p#i+ile4e of the D#it of habeas co#pus$
of the case$ that the #esolution of such issue is p#i+ile4e of the D#it of habeas co#pus$ he a#tial laD an* #esto#ation of the p#i+ile4e of use such n*in4 as basis fo# st#iFin4 *oDn the una+oi*able. sha#es such poDe# Dith the Con4#ess. Thus the D#it of habeas co#pus in Ma4uin*anao Das P#esi*entIs p#oclaation an* suspension. (o#$ 1. The P#esi*entIs p#oclaation o# suspension a supe#+enin4 e+ent that oblite#ate* an0 #stl0$ the Cou#t *i* not *ele4ate an* coul* The issue of the constitutionalit0 of is tepo#a#0$ 4oo* fo# onl0 *a0sL usticiable cont#o+e#s0.! not *ele4ate to the RTC of on Cit0 its P#oclaation 19@9 is not una+oi*able fo# tDo !. % e us t$ Di thi n 5 h ou #s o f t he TDo. Since P#esi*ent A##o0o Dith*#eD poDe# to *ete#ine the factual basis fo# the #easons p#oclaation o# suspension$ #epo#t his action he# p#oclaation of a#tial laD an* p#esi*ential p#oclaation an* suspension. in pe#son o# in D#itin4 to Con4#essL suspension of the p#i+ile4e of the D#it of Secon*l0$ the#e is no shoDin4 that the RTC of One. P#esi*ent A##o0o Dith*#eD he# ". Both houses of Con4#ess$ if not in session habeas co#pus in ust ei4ht *a0s$ the0 ha+e on Cit0 passe* upon the sae e+i*ence p#oclaation of a#tial laD an* suspension of ust ointl0 con+ene Dithin !5 hou#s of the not been eanin4full0 ipleente*. The that the P#esi*ent$ as Coan*e#,in,Chief of the p#i+ile4e of the D#it of habeas co#pus p#oclaation o# suspension fo# the pu#pose of ilita#0 *i* not taFe o+e# the ope#ation an* the A#e* (o#ces$ ha* in he# possession Dhen befo#e the oint houses of Con4#ess coul* #e+ieDin4 its +ali*it0L an* cont#ol of local 4o+e#nent units in she issue* the p#oclaation an* suspension. fulll thei# autoatic *ut0 to #e+ieD an* 5. The Con4#ess$ +otin4 ointl0$ a0 #e+oFe o# Ma4uin*anao. The P#esi*ent *i* not issue an0 The Cou#t *oes not #esol+e pu#el0 +ali*ate o# in+ali*ate the sae. The pe#tinent a# the P#esi*entIs p#oclaation o# laD o# *ec#ee a?ectin4 Ma4uin*anao that aca*eic Huestions to satisf0 schola#l0 p#o+isions of Section 1$ A#ticle && of the suspension$ alloD thei# liite* e?ecti+it0 to shoul* o#*ina#il0 be enacte* b0 Con4#ess. No inte#est$ hoDe+e# intellectuall0 challen4in4 19= Constitution state lapse$ o# e/ten* the sae if Con4#ess *ees in*isc#iinate ass a##est ha* been #epo#te*. these a#e.@ This is especiall0 t#ue$ sai* the Da##ante*. Those Dho De#e a##este* *u#in4 the pe#io* Cou#t in Philippine Association of Colle4es an* Sec. 1. The P#esi*ent shall be the De#e eithe# #elease* o# p#optl0 cha#4e* in Uni+e#sities +. Sec#eta#0 of E*ucation$ Dhe#e Coan*e#-in-Chief of all a#e* fo#ces of &t is e+i*ent that un*e# the 19= Constitution cou#t. &n*ee*$ no petition fo# habeas co#pus the issues J#each constitutional *iensions$ the Philippines an* Dhene+e# it becoes the P#esi*ent an* the Con4#ess act in tan*e ha* been le* Dith the Cou#t #espectin4 fo# then the#e coes into pla0 #e4a#* fo# the necessa#0$ he a0 call out such a#e* fo#ces in e/e#cisin4 the poDe# to p#oclai a#tial a##ests a*e in those ei4ht *a0s. The point is cou#tIs *ut0 to a+oi* *ecision of constitutional to p#e+ent o# supp#ess laDless +iolence$ laD o# suspen* the p#i+ile4e of the D#it of that the P#esi*ent inten*e* b0 he# action to issues unless a+oi*ance becoes e+asion.J in+asion o# #ebellion. &n case of in+asion o# habeas co#pus. The0 e/e#cise the poDe#$ not a**#ess an up#isin4 in a #elati+el0 sall an* The Cou#tIs *ut0 is to stee# clea# of *ecla#in4 #ebellion$ Dhen the public safet0 #eHui#es it$ onl0 seHuentiall0$ but in a sense ointl0 since$ spa#sel0 populate* p#o+ince. &n he# u*4ent$ unconstitutional the acts of the E/ecuti+e o# he a0$ fo# a pe#io* not e/cee*in4 si/t0 *a0s$ afte# the P#esi*ent has initiate* the the #ebellion Das locali>e* an* sDiftl0 the 'e4islati+e *epa#tent$ 4i+en the suspen* the p#i+ile4e of the D#it of habeas p#oclaation o# the suspension$ onl0 the *isinte4#ate* in the face of a *ete#ine* an* assuption that it ca#efull0 stu*ie* those acts co#pus o# place the Philippines o# an0 pa#t Con4#ess can aintain the sae base* on its apl0 a#e* 4o+e#nent p#esence. an* foun* the consistent Dith the the#eof un*e# a#tial laD. 8ithin fo#t0 -ei4ht oDn e+aluation of the situation on the 4#oun*$ fun*aental laD befo#e taFin4 the. JTo hou#s f#o the p#oclaation of a#tial laD o# a poDe# that the P#esi*ent *oes not ha+e. &n 'ansan4 +. Ga#cia$" the Cou#t #ecei+e* *oubt is to sustain.J= the suspension of the p#i+ile4e of D#it of C on se Hu ent l0$ al th ou4h t he e+i*ence in e/ecuti+e session to *ete#ine if Notabl0$ un*e# Section 1$ A#ticle && habeas co#pus$ the P#esi*ent shall subit a Constitution #ese#+es to the Sup#ee Cou#t P#esi*ent Ma#cosI suspension of the p#i+ile4e of the 19= Constitution$ the Cou#t has onl0 #epo#t in pe#son o# in D#itin4 to the Con4#ess. the poDe# to #e+ieD the sucienc0 of the of the D#it of habeas co#pus in 19=1 ha* " *a0s f#o the lin4 of an app#op#iate The Con4#ess$ +otin4 ointl0$ b0 a +ote of at factual basis of the p#oclaation o# sucient factual basis. &n AHuino$ 3#. +. En#ile$5 p#ocee*in4 to #e+ieD the sucienc0 of the least a ao#it0 of all its Mebe#s in #e4ula# suspension in a p#ope# suit$ it is iplicit that Dhile the Cou#t tooF u*icial notice of the factual basis of the p#oclaation of a#tial o# special session$ a0 #e+oFe such the Cou#t ust alloD Con4#ess to e/e#cise its factual bases fo# P#esi*ent Ma#cosI laD o# the suspension of the p#i+ile4e of the p#oclaation o# suspension$ Dhich #e+ocation oDn #e+ieD poDe#s$ Dhich is autoatic #athe# p#oclaation of a#tial laD in 19=!$ it still D#it of habeas co#pus. Thus shall not be set asi*e b0 the P#esi*ent. Upon than initiate*. Onl0 Dhen Con4#ess *efaults in hel* hea#in4s on the petitions fo# habeas The Sup#ee Cou#t a0 #e+ieD$ in an the initiati+e of the P#esi*ent$ the Con4#ess its e/p#ess *ut0 to *efen* the Constitution co#pus to *ete#ine the constitutionalit0 of app#op#iate p#ocee*in4 le* b0 an0 citi>en$ a0$ in the sae anne#$ e/ten* such th#ou4h such #e+ieD shoul* the Sup#ee the a##est an* *etention of the petitione#s. the sucienc0 of the factual basis of the p#oclaation o# suspension fo# a pe#io* to be Cou#t step in as its nal #apa#t. The %e#e$ hoDe+e#$ the Cou#t has not bothe#e* to p#oclaation of a#tial laD o# the suspension *ete#ine* b0 the Con4#ess$ if the in+asion o# constitutional +ali*it0 of the P#esi*entIs e/aine the e+i*ence upon Dhich P#esi*ent of the p#i+ile4e of the D#it of habeas co#pus o# #ebellion shall pe#sist an* public safet0 p#oclaation of a#tial laD o# suspension of A##o0o acte* in issuin4 P#oclaation 19@9$ the e/tension the#eof$ an* ust p#oul4ate #eHui#es it. the D#it of habeas co#pus is #st a political p#ecisel0 because it felt no nee* to$ the its *ecision the#eon Dithin thi#t0 *a0s f#o its Huestion in the han*s of Con4#ess befo#e it p#oclaation ha+in4 been Dith*#aDn Dithin a lin4. Ephasis supplie*2 The Con4#ess$ if not in session$ shall$ Dithin becoes a usticiable one in the han*s of the feD *a0s of its issuance. Mo#e than tDo 0ea#s ha+e passe* tDent0-fou# hou#s folloDin4 such p#oclaation Cou#t. 3ustice Antonio T. C a#pio points out in since petitione#s le* the p#esent actions to o# suspension$ con+ene in acco#*ance Dith its %e#e$ P#esi*ent A##o0o Dith*#eD his *issentin4 opinion the n*in4 of the annul P#oclaation [email protected]Dphi1 8hen the #ules Dithout an0 nee* of a call. P#oclaation 19@9 befo#e the oint houses of Re4ional T#ial Cou#t RTC2 of on Cit0 that Cou#t *i* not *eci*e it then$ it actuall0 opte* //// Con4#ess$ Dhich ha* in fact con+ene*$ coul* no p#obable cause e/ist that the accuse* fo# a *efault as Das its *ut0$ the Huestion Althou4h the abo+e +ests in the P#esi*ent the act on the sae. ConseHuentl0$ the petitions befo#e it coitte* #ebellion in Ma4uin*anao ha+in4 becoe oot an* aca*eic. poDe# to p#oclai a#tial laD o# suspen* the in these cases ha+e becoe oot an* the since the p#osecution faile* to establish the 3ustice Ca#pio of cou#se points out Cou#t has nothin4 to #e+ieD. The liftin4 of eleents of the c#ie. But the Cou#t cannot that shoul* the Cou#t #e4a#* the poDe#s of the
P#esi*ent an* Con4#ess #espectin4 the p#oclaation of a#tial laD o# the suspension of the p#i+ile4e of the D#it of habeas co#pus as seHuential o# oint$ it Doul* be ipossible fo# the Cou#t to e/e#cise its poDe# of #e+ieD Dithin the " *a0s 4i+en it. But those " *a0s$ /e* b0 the Constitution$ shoul* be enou4h fo# the Cou#t to fulll its *ut0 Dithout p#e,eptin4 con4#essional action. Section 1$ A#ticle &&$ #eHui#es the P#esi*ent to #epo#t his actions to Con4#ess$ in pe#son o# in D#itin4$ Dithin 5 hou#s of such p#oclaation o# suspension. &n tu#n$ the Con4#ess is #eHui#e* to con+ene Dithout nee* of a call Dithin !5 hou#s folloDin4 the P#esi*entIs p#oclaation o# suspension. Clea#l0$ the Constitution calls fo# HuicF action
on the pa#t of the Con4#ess. 8hate+e# fo# that action taFes$ the#efo#e$ shoul* 4i+e the Cou#t sucient tie to fulll its oDn an*ate to #e+ieD the factual basis of the p#oclaation o# suspension Dithin " *a0s of its issuance. &f the Con4#ess p#oc#astinates o# alto4ethe# fails to fulll its *ut0 #espectin4 the p#oclaation o# suspension Dithin the sho#t tie e/pecte* of it$ then the Cou#t can step in$ hea# the petitions challen4in4 the P#esi*entIs action$ an* asce#tain if it has a factual basis. &f the Cou#t n*s none$ then it can annul the p#oclaation o# the suspension. But Dhat if the " *a0s 4i+en it b0 the Constitution p#o+es ina*eHuate 3ustice Ca#pio hiself o?e#s the ansDe# in his *issent that ",*a0 pe#io* *oes not ope#ate to *i+est this Cou#t of its u#is*iction o+e# the case. The
settle* #ule is that u#is*iction once acHui#e* is not lost until the case has been te#inate*. The p#oble in this case is that the P#esi*ent abo#te* the p#oclaation of a#tial laD an* the suspension of the p#i+ile4e of the D#it of habeas co#pus in Ma4uin*anao in ust ei4ht *a0s. &n a #eal sense$ the p#oclaation an* the suspension ne+e# tooF o?. The Con4#ess itself a*ou#ne* Dithout touchin4 the atte#$ it ha+in4 becoe oot an* aca*eic. Of cou#se$ the C ou#t has in e/ceptional cases passe* upon issues that o#*ina#il0 Doul* ha+e been #e4a#*e* as oot. But the p#esent cases *o not p#esent sucient basis fo# the e/e#cise of the poDe# of u*icial #e+ieD. The p#oclaation of a#tial laD an* the suspension of the p#i+ile4e of the
D#it of habeas co#pus in this case$ unliFe siila# P#esi*ential acts in the late s an* ea#l0 =s$ appea# o#e liFe sabe#,#attlin4 than an actual *eplo0ent an* a#bit#a#0 use of political poDe#. WHEREFORE, the Court DISMISSES the consolidated petitions on the ground that the same have ecome moot and academic!
SO OR)ERE). ROBERTO A. ABA) Associate 3ustice
