Decision
1
G.R. No. 237428
Republic of the Philippines
Supreme Court Manila
EN BANC REPUBLIC of the PHILIPPINES, represented by SOLICITOR GENERAL JOSE C. CALIA, Petitioner,
G.R. No. #$%&#'
Present: SERENO, C.J., C.J.,* CRP!O, "E#SCO, $R., #EONRDO%DE CS&RO, PER#&, 'ERS(!N, DE# CS&!##O, PER#S%'ERN'E, #EONEN, $RDE#E), CG*!O, (R&!RES, &!$(, RE+ES, $R., nd GES(*NDO, JJ. GES(*NDO, JJ.
! versus !
Pro-u/ted: "ARIA LOURES P. A. SERENO Respondent.
00000000000000000000 00000000000000000000
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% ECISION TIJA", J TIJA", J .( .( Whoever walks in integrity and with moral character walks securely, but he who takes a crooked way will be discovered and punished. %&e o 'i5e, Prover5s 16: (P9
No Prt.
Decision
2
G.R. No. 237428
!nte/rit s, t ti-es, 5een stressed to 5e one o; te re ne> conc concep eptt in te voct voctio ion n o; d-inisterin/ nd dispensin/ =ustice. !n te er 1?66@s, Arncis 'con, piosoper, piosoper, sttes-n, nd =urist, in is B Essay LV! "# Judicature Judicature sid BF5ove tin/s, inte/rit is te $ud/e@ss portion nd proper virtue. Neiter is inte/rit co-pe concept necessittin/ esoteric piosopic disit te > nd nd etic stndrds everti-e. ence, ever =udici =udici o;;icer in n societ is reit te >s nd e/istions, 5ut >it codes nd cnons o; conduct nd etic stndrds s >e, >itout dero/tion. s &o-s $e;;erson re-red, Bit is o; /ret i-portnce to set resoution, never not to 5e sen, never to te n untrut. &ere is no vice so -en, so piti;u, so conte-pti5e nd e >o per-its i-se; to te ie once, ;inds it -uc esier to do it second nd tird ti-e, ti t en/t it 5eco-es 5itu, e tes ies >itout ttendin/ to it, nd truts >itout te >ord@s 5eievin/ i-. &is ;seood o; te ton/ue eds to tt o; te ert nd in ti-e deprves its /ood dispositions. (ent disonest nd -or -iscie; 5reed tt inte/rit is not. !n our =urisdiction, one cnnot 5e ord on >t te > is. 2 &o/ete o/eterr >it >it oter $ustic $ustices, es, te Cie; Cie; $ustic $usticee so so discipines -e-5ers o; o; te 'r ;or -isconduct. -isconduct. &e si/ni;icnce o; pro5it nd nd inte inte/r /rit it s re nd to i-pose rue o; conduct. !ndeed, one >o ec ects ts co-p co-pi in nce ce >it >it te te > > nd nd eti etic c stn stnd drds rds sou soud d 5e tei teir r ;ore-ost derent. No one is 5ove te > nd te Constitution, not even Cie; $ustice >o too n ot to protect nd de;end te Constitution nd o5e te >s o; 1
Http: Http:II> II>>> >>.di .dicti ction onr r.co .co-I5 -I5ro> ro>seI seIint inte/r e/rit itJ J visit visited ed Https:II>>>.te;reedictionr.co-Iinte/ritJ visited on (rc 1, 26189. 2 Conde v. ntermediate $ppellate Court , 228 Pi. 14L, 1L1 18?9.
on
(rc (rc
1,
26189K 26189K
Decision
3
G.R. No. 237428
te nd. &e Court in %rancisco, Jr. Jr. v. &he 'ouse o# (epresentatives (epresentatives ,3 ss it trite Bte Cie; $ustice is not 5ove te > nd neiter is n oter -e-5 -e-5er er o; tis tis Cour Court. t. 4 pu5ic pu5ic o;;ic o;;icers ers >ete >eterr in te Eecut Eecutive ive,, #e/istive or $udici deprt-ents re 5ound to ;oo> te >. !; pu5ic o;;icer viotes te >, e or se s su;;er punis-ent, snctions nd dverse conse is necessr 5ecuse once once >e o o> > ece ecept ptio ions ns,, conc conces essi sion ons, s, >iv >iver er,, susp suspen ensi sion on or non% non% ppiction to tose >o do not >nt to ;oo> te >, no5od ese >i o5e te >. !n tis tis unprec unprecede edente nted d cse cse ;or )uo warranto /inst warranto /inst te incu-5ent Cie; $ustice, te Repu5ic entrets tis Court to decre (ri #ourdes P. P. . Sereno respondent9 inei/i5e to od te i/est post in te $udicir ;or ;iin/ to re/ur discose er ssets, i5iities nd net >ort s -e-5er o; te creer service prior to er ppoint-ent s n ssocite $ustice, nd ter s Cie; $ustice, o; te Supre-e Court, in viotion o; te Constitution, te nti%Gr;t #>, nd te Code o; Conduct nd Etic Stndrds ;or Pu5 Pu5ic ic O;;i O;;ici ci ss nd nd E-p E-po oee ees. s. &e &e Repu Repu5 5ic ic cco ccord rdin in/ / see seess te te nui;iction o; respondent@s ppoint-ent, ssertin/ tt er ;iure to ;ie te re tt se is not possessed o; Bproven inte/rit de-nded o; ever spirnt to te $udicir. The C)se
!nvoin/ te Court@s ori/in =urisdiction under Section L19, rtice "!!! o; te Constitution in retion to te speci civi ction under Rue ?? o; te Rues o; Court, te Repu5ic o; te Piippines Repu5ic9, trou/ te O;;ice o; te Soicitor Soicitor Gener Gener OSG9 ;ied te present Petition L ;or te issu issun nce ce o; te te etr etrord ordin inr r >rit >rit o; )uo warranto warranto to decre decre s void void respondent@s ppoint-ent s Cie; $ustice o; te Supre-e Court nd to oust nd to/eter ecude respondent tere;ro-. The Ante*edents
Aro- Nove-5er 18? to $une 1, 266?, or spnnin/ period o; 26 ers, respondent served s -e-5er o; te ;cut o; te *niversit o; te Piippines%Coe/e o; #> *.P. or *.P. Coe/e o; #>9, initi s te-porr ;cut -e-5er ;ro- Nove-5er 18? to Dece-5er 31, 119 nd nd tere tere; ;te terr, s per- per-ne nent nt ;cu ;cut t -e-5 -e-5er er unti unti er er resi resi/n /nt tio ion n ? tere;ro- on $une 1, 266?. s re/ur ;cut -e-5er, respondent >s pid 5 te -ont 5 5 *.P. *.P. 7 3
4?6 Pi. 836 26639. !d. t 43. L (ollo, (ollo, pp. 3%44. ? !d. t 172. 7 &SN, Or r/u-ents on pri 16, 2618. 4
Decision
4
G.R. No. 237428
'sed on te records o; te *.P. u-n Resources Deveop-ent O;;ice *.P. RDO9, 8 respondent >s on o;;ici eve ;ro- te *.P. *.P. Coe/e o; #> ;or te ;oo>in/ periods: $une 1, 2666
%
( 31, 2661
$une 1, 2661
%
( 31, 2662
Nove-5er 1, 2663
%
( 31, 2664
$une 1, 2664
%
Octo5er 31, 2664
Nove-5er 1, 2664
%
Ae5rur 16, 266L
Ae5rur 11, 266L
%
Octo5er 31, 266L
Nove-5er 1L, 266L
%
( 31, 266?
Mie 5ein/ e-poed t te *.P. Coe/e o; #>, or ;ro- Octo5er 2663 to 266?, respondent >s concurrent e-poed s e/ counse o; te Repu5ic Repu5ic in t>o interntion interntion r5itrtions: r5itrtions: 9 $&C" v. (epublic o# the hilippines and +$$K +$$ K nd 59 %raport $ %rank#urt $irport -ervices Worldwide v. (epublic o# the hilippines P!&CO cses9. &e &e Pers Person on Dt Dt See Seett PDS PDS99 cco cco-p -pi is sed ed unde underr ot ot 5 respondent ;urter detis, -on/ oters, te ;oo>in/ en//e-entsIservices rendered 5 er ;or vrious /overn-ent /encies: 16 Position
Aro- &o
#e/ / Cou Counse nse
14 14 2668 668 14 rs. rs. "rio rious us /enc /encie iess o; /overn-ent O;;ice o; te President, O;;ice o; te Soicitor Gener, (ni !nterntion irport utorit, Deprt-ent o; /ricuture, /ricuture, Deprt-ent o; &rde nd !ndustr, M&O%
8
No. o; Deprt-entI +ers /enc
nne BD o; te Petition. !d. t 173. 16 !d. t 8L6%8L1.
Nture o; >or >or
Supervisor
#e/ vrious interntion trde nd invest-ent > in M&O Genev9, !CS!D Msin/ton, DC9. !CC%!C Sin/pore, Pris9 nd in 5iter dispute resoution
Eecutive Secretries 5erto Ro-uo, Edurdo Er-it nd #endro (endo, Cie; Presidenti #e/ Counse veino Cru
Decision
Deput Co--issioner
L
G.R. No. 237428
A& A& Co--ission, Piippine Coconut utorit
-ecnis-s
nd (ercedits GutierreK Soicitor Geners ;redo 'enipo, ntonio Ncur nd /nes Devnder, (! Gener (n/er ;onso Cusi, Sen. Ed/rdo n/r, Sec. Svdor Escudero, *ndersecretr &o-s
Co--ission on u-n Ri/ts *P Dii-n, Co--on>et ve., C, &E#:28%7689
#e/ nd d-inistrtive
ctin/ Cir-n Co--. 5erdo portder &E#: ?87% 7L719
!ncident, te *.P. RDO certi;ied tt tere >s no record on respondent@s 261 ;ie o; n per-ission to en//e in i-ited prctice o; pro;ession.11 er en//e-ent s e/ counse ;or te Repu5ic continued unti 266. 12 Despit Despitee vin/ vin/ 5een e-po e-poed ed t te *.P. *.P. Coe/ Coe/ee o; #> ;ro;ro Nove-5er 18? to $une 1, 266?, te record o; te *.P. *.P. RDO on contins te StteStte-ent ent o; ssets, ssets, #i5i #i5iiti ities es nd Net Mort Mort S#N9 S#N9 ;or 18L, 18L, 13 16,14 11,1L 13,1? 14,17 1L,18 1?,1 17,26 nd 2662, 21 ;ied 5 respondent respondent.. On te oter oter nd, te records records o; te Centr Centr Records Records Division o; te O;;ice o; te O-5uds-n ieds tt tere is no S#N ;ied 5 respondent ;or cendr ers 1 to 266 ecept ;or te S#N endin/ Dece-5er 18 >ic >s su5scri5ed on in u/ust 2663 nd trns-itted 5 te *.P. *.P. RDO to te O-5uds-n on on Dece-5er 1?, 2663. 22 'e 'ete ted d , in resp respon onde dent ntQQs $d Cautelam +ani#estation-ubmission, +ani#estation-ubmission, se 11
!d. t ?L. !d. t 173. 13 !d. t L7%L7. 14 !d. t L8%L8. 1L !d. t L%L. 1? !d. t ?66%?66. 17 !d. t ?61%?61. 18 !d. t ?62%?62. 1 !d. t ?63%?63. 26 !d. t ?64%?64. 21 !d. t L4%LL. 22 !d. t ?6%?2. 12
Decision
?
G.R. No. 237428
ttced cop o; er S#N ;or 18 23 >ic se supposed sourced ;rote B;iin/ c5inets 24 or Bdr>ers o; *.P. 2L Si-ir, despite vin/ 5een e-poed s e/ counse o; vrious /overn-ent /encies ;ro- 2663 to 266, tere is ie>ise no so>in/ tt se ;ied er S#Ns ;or tese ers, ecept ;or te S#N endin/ Dece-5er 31, 266 >ic >s unsu5scri5ed nd ;ied 5e;ore te O;;ice o; te Cer o; Court on on $une 22, 2612. ;ter vin/ served s pro;essor t te *.P. Coe/e o; #> unti 266?, nd tere;ter s prctitioner in vrious out;its incudin/ s e/ coun counse se ;or ;or te te Repu Repu5 5ic ic unti unti 266 266,, te te resp respon onde dent nt su5su5-it itte ted d er er ppiction ;or te position o; ssocite $ustice o; te Supre-e Court in $u 2616. !n supp suppor ortt o; er er pp ppic ict tio ion n s sso ssoci cit tee $ust $ustic ice, e, resp respon onde dent nt su5-itted to te O;;ice o; Recruit-ent Seection nd No-intion ORSN9 o; te $udici nd 'r Counci $'C9 er S#N ;or te er 266?. 2? &is S#N ;or 266? 5ers no st-p received 5 te *.P. RDO nd >s si/ned on $u $u 27, 27, 2616 2616.. 27 ccord ccordin/ in/ to respon responden dent, t, te $'C consid considere ered d er no-i no-in nti tion on ;or ;or te te posi positi tion on o; sso ssoci cit tee $ust $ustic icee s tt tt o; priv privt tee 28 prctitioner nd not s /overn-ent e-poee. On recent, in etter 2 to te ORSN dted Ae5rur 2, 2618, ie>ise ttced to er $d Cautelam (ni;esttionISu5-ission, respondent >oud epin tt suc S#N >s re intended to 5e er S#N s o; $u 27, 2616. 36 Respondent ;urter epined durin/ te Or r/u-ents tt se -ere do>noded te S#N ;or- nd ;or/ot to erse te er B266? printed tereon nd tt se >s not reere tose ;or te cendr ers 18L, 18, 16, 11, 13, 14, 1L, 1?, 17, 18, nd 2662 or eeven 119 S#Ns ;ied ;ied in er 26%er /overn-ent /overn-ent service service in *.P. *.P. No S#Ns >ere ;ied ;ro- 2663 to 266? >en se >s e-poed s e/ counse ;or te Repu5ic. Neiter >s tere S#N ;ied >en se resi/ned ;ro- *.P. Coe/e o; #> s o; $une 1, 266? nd >en se supposed re%entered /overn-ent service s o; u/ust 1?, 2616. !n t5u t5u rr ;or;or-,, resp respon onde dent nt@s @s inc incus usiv ivee er erss in /ove /overn rn-e -ent nt 23
!d. t 1727%1728. &SN, Or r/u-ents on pri 16, 2618, p. 16L. 2L &SN, Or r/u-ents on pri 16, 2618, p. 126. 2? !d. t ?7%76. 27 !d. 28 !d. t 174. 2 !d. t 172%1736. 36 &SN, Co--ittee on $ustice o; te ouse o; Representtives. Representtives. 31 &SN, Or r/u-ents dted pri 16, 2618. 24
Decision
7
G.R. No. 237428
e-po-ent vis/0/vis te vis/0/vis te S#Ns ;ied 5 er nd vi5e on record re s ;oo>s:
As f)*+ty -e-ber of the U.P. Coee of L)/( 0e)r
Nove-5er 18?
SALN o+ht to be f1ed
SALN )*t+)y f1 f1ed by respondent
S#N S#N s o; NoveNove-5er 5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 18? entr S#N9 31, 18L %no record o; S#N s o; Nove-5er 18? entr S#N9%
187
S#N endin/ Dece-5er %no record% 31, 18?
188
S#N endin/ Dece-5er %no record% 31, 187
18
S#N endin/ Dece-5er %no record% 31, 188
16
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 18 31, 18 sourced 5 respondent ;ro- one o; te B;iin/ c5inets or Bdr>ers o; *.P.9
11
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 16 31, 16
12
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 11 31, 11
13
S#N endin/ Dece-5er %no record% 31, 12
14
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 13 31, 13
1L
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 14 31, 14
1?
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 1L 31, 1L
17
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 1? 31, 1?
18
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 17 31, 17
Decision
8
G.R. No. 237428
1
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 18 31, 31, 18 18 ;i ;ied ed >it >it te te O-5uds-n on Dece-5er 1?, 26639
2666
S#N endin/ Dece-5er %no record% 31, 1
2661
S#N endin/ Dece-5er %no record% 31, 2666
2662
S#N endin/ Dece-5er %no record% 31, 2661
2663
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 2662 31, 2662
2664
S#N endin/ Dece-5er %no record% 31, 2663
266L
S#N endin/ Dece-5er %no record% 31, 2664
266?
S#N endin/ Dece-5er %no record% 31, 266L
$une $une 1, 266? 266?
S#N S#N s s o; $un $unee 1, 266 266? ? %no record o; S#N s o; eit S#N9 $une 1, 266? eit S#N9%
Aeed bre)2 1n o3ern-ent ser31*e fro- J+ne #, #445 +nt1 A++ A++st st 67, 67, #448 #448 b+ b+tt /)s /)s en) en)e ed d )s e) e) *o+n *o+nse se for for the the Rep+b1* fro- J+ne #, #445 to #448. As Asso*1)te J+st1*e of the S+pre-e Co+rt(
u/ust 2616
1?, S#N s o; u/ust 1?, S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 2616 re%entr S#N9 31, 266 5ut ;ied >it te O;;ice o; te Cer o; Court En 1anc on on on $une 22, 2612 nd unsu5scri5ed %no record o; S#N s o; u/ust 1?, 2616 re%entr S#N9%
2611
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 2616 31, 2616 5ut unsu5scri5ed
2612
S#N endin/ Dece-5er S#N S#N endi endin/ n/ Dece Dece-5 -5er er 31, 2611 31, 2611
-ont ;ter, or on u/ust 13, 2616, respondent >s ppointed 5 ten President 'eni/no C. s decred vcnt in 2612, te $'C nnounced 32 te openin/ ;or ppiction nd reco--endtion o; te 32
!d. t 83.
Decision
G.R. No. 237428
position o; Cie; $ustice. Durin/ te 2612 dei5ertions ;or te position o; te Cie; $ustice, te -e-5ers o; te $'C En 1anc >ere 1anc >ere ssocite $ustice Dios Diosd ddo do (. Per Pert t $us $usti tice ce Per Pert t9 9 s cti ctin/ n/ e2 o##ic o##icio io Cir-nK *ndersecretr (ice Arederic #. (usn/i s e2 o##icio -e-5er o##icio -e-5er vice #ei vice #ei (. De #i-K Sentor Arncis $osep G. Escudero nd Representtive Nie &ups s e2 o##icio -e-5ers o##icio -e-5ers representin/ te Con/ressK $ustice Re/ino C. er-osisi- $r. s re/ur -e-5er representin/ te retired Supre-e Court $usticesK $ustice uror Snti/o #/-n s re/ur -e-5er representin/ te Privt Privtee Sector SectorKK tt tt. (ri (ri (i/r (i/ros os N. Aernn% Aernn%C Cos os s re/u re/ur r -e-5er representin/ te !nte/rted 'r o; te PiippinesK nd tt. tt. $ose ". (e=i s re/ur -e-5er representin/ te cde-e. &e $'C Eecutive Co--it Co--ittee tee Eeco Eeco-9 -9 >s co-posed co-posed o; te $'C Re/u Re/urr (e-5ers (e-5ers nd ssist ssisted ed 5 te O;;ic O;;icee o; te te Eecut Eecutive ive O;;ic O;;icer er OEO9 OEO9 eded eded 5 tt. tt. nni S. &%Cpcite tt. Cpcite9. &e $'C nnounce-ent >s preceded 5 n En 1anc -eetin/ 1anc -eetin/ ed on $une 4, 2612 >erein te $'C /reed to reo ers o; pu5ic service, previous S#Ns up to Dece-5er 31, 2611 2611 ;or tose tose in /overn /overn-en -entt service service.. 33 o>eve o>everr, ;or te oter oter =udici =udici vc vcnc ncie ies, s, te te $'C $'C reo t>o S#N S#Ns. s. 34 ccordin/, in te nnounce-ent 3L pu5ised on $une L, 2612, te $'C speci;ic directed te cndidtes ;or te Cie; $ustice post to su5-it, in ddition to te usu docu-entr rein/: 19 19
S>or S>orn n Stt Sttee-en entt o; sse ssets ts,, #i5 #i5i iit itie ies, s, nd nd Net> Net>or ort t S# S#N9 N9:: .
;or t tose in in t te /o /overn-ent: ) pre31o+s SALNs 9+p to $6 e*e-ber #466:
5.
;or tose ;ro- te privte sector: S#N s o; 31 Dece-5er 2611
29 29 Mive iverr in ;vor vor o; te te $'C o; te te con; con;iident denti ii itt o; oc oc nd nd ;orei/n 5n ccounts under te 'n Secrec #> nd Aorei/n Currenc Deposits ct.3? E-psis ours9
&e &e $'C $'C nno nnoun unce ce-e -ent nt ;urt ;urte err prov provid ided ed tt tt Bpp Bppi ic cnt ntss >it >it inco-pete or out%o;%dte docu-entr rei not 5e intervie>ed or considered ;or no-intion. 37 Neverteess, te $'C En 1anc 1anc su5se
&SN dted Ae5rur 12, 2618, %3, Co--ittee on $ustice o; te ouse o; RepresenttivesK see so $oint Co--ent o; $'C Re/ur (e-5ers tt. $ose ". (e=i nd tt. (ri (i/ros Aernn%Cos Re: Resoution dted 26 Ae5rur 26189 in .(. No. 17%11%12%SC nd .(. No. 17%11%17%SC. 34 $'C nnounce-ent dted $une 1, 2612K id. t 216. 3L !d. t 84%8?. 3? !d. t 83. 37 !d. t 8?.
Decision
16
G.R. No. 237428
dedine ;or te ;iin/ o; ppictions or reco--endtions to $u 2, 2612 nd te su5-is su5-issio sion n o; te oter docu-e docu-ent ntr r reo re cndidtes ;or te Cie; $ustice position to su5-it oter docu-entr reiv >iver er,, -edi -edic c cert certi; i;ic ict te, e, 5ortor resuts nd te PDS. On $u 2, 2612, respondent ccepted sever no-intions ;ro- te e/ nd te evn/eic co--unit ;or te position o; Cie; $ustice nd in support o; er no-intion, respondent su5-itted to te ORSN er S#Ns ;or te ers 266, 3 2616,46 nd 2611. 41 Respondent so eecuted >iver o; con;identiit 42 o; er oc nd ;orei/n 5n ccounts. 43 On $u ?, 2612, or even 5e;ore te dedine o; te su5-ission o; te docu-entr reit on/ ist o; te cndidtes totin/ t>ent%t>o 229, respondent incuded, nd scedued te pu5ic intervie> o; sid cndidtes on $u 24%27, 2612. 44 On $u 26, 2612, te $'C in its Spe Speci En 1anc 1anc (eetin/, 4L dei dei5e 5er rte ted d on te te cnd cndid idt tes es ;or ;or te te posi positi tion on o; Cie Cie;; $ust $ustic icee >it >it inco-pete docu-entr docu-entr reit te res: &e Eecutive Eecutive O;;icer O;;icer sed ;or cri;iction, cri;iction, prticur prticur >it respect respect to S#Ns, >eter ;ive L9 S#Ns >oud constitute su5stnti co-pince i; te cndidte s 5een in te /overn-ent service ;or t>ent 269 ers. &e Counci e-ined te ist >it re/rd to te S#Ns, prticur te cndidtes cndidtes co-in/ ;ro- te /overn-ent, /overn-ent, nd identi;ied identi;ied >o -on/ te>oud 5e considered to ve su5stnti co-pied: 1. $ustice $ustice rturo rturo D. 'rion s su5stnti su5stnti co-pied co-pied 2. $ustice $ustice ntonio ntonio &. &. Crpio Crpio s su5stn su5stnti ti co-pied co-pied
38
$'C nnounce-ent dted $une 1, 2612K id. t 216. !d. t 71%72. 46 !d. t 73%74. 41 !d. t 7L%77. 42 !d. t 2?. 43 !d. t 174%17L. 44 (inutes o; $'C (eetin/ dted $u ?, 2612. 4L nne B17 o; te Co--ent. 3
Decision
11
G.R. No. 237428
3. Secretr Secretr #ei #ei (. De #i- #i- s s su5stnt su5stnti i co-pied co-pied 4. Cirperso Cirperson n &eresi &eresit t $. $. er5os er5os s co-pied co-pied L. Soicitor Soicitor Gener Gener Arncis Arncis . $rdee $rdee s co-pie co-pied d ?. $ustic $usticee &eres &eresit it $. #eonrdo%D #eonrdo%Dee Cstr Cstro o s su5stn su5stnti ti co-pied 7. Den Den Ru Ru C. Pn/ Pn/ n n/n /n
&e Eecuti Eecutive ve O;;ic O;;icer er in;orin;or-ed ed te Counci Counci tt tt Den Den Pn/n/n cs ;ive L9 S#Ns. Se >s in;or-ed tt e coud not o5tin te- ;ro- te *.P., 5ut e is trin/ to /et ;ro- te Civi Service Co--ission. $ustice #/- /-n -oved tt te S#Ns o; Den Pn/n/n 5e considered s su5stnti co-pince. 8. Con/re Con/ress ss-n -n Ru;us Ru;us '. Rodri/u Rodri/ue e $ustic $usticee Pert Pert sid sid tt tt s per te report report,, Con/res Con/ress- s-n n Rodri/ue did not su5-it even one S#N. e co--ented tt tt e - - not not 5e inte intere rest sted ed t tou/ ou/ e cce ccept pted ed is is no-intion. &e Eecut Eecutive ive O;;ic O;;icer er in;orin;or-ed ed te Counci Counci tt tt e is 5rod 5rod.. e >s noti;ied noti;ied trou/ trou/ e-i, e-i, s is secretr secretr >oud not /ive is contct nu-5er. . Co--ission Co--issioner er Rene ". Sr-iento Sr-iento s cin/ cin/ S#Ns 64. J+st1*e ")r1) Lo+rdes Lo+rdes P. P. A. Sereno The E;e*+t1 E;e*+t13e 3e Off1*er Off1*er 1nfor-ed 1nfor-ed the Co+n*1 Co+n*1 th)t she h)d not s+b-1tted her SALNs for ) per1od of ten 964: ye)rs, th)t 1s, fro- 68'5 to #445. Sen)tor Es*+dero -ent1oned th)t J+st1*e Sereno /)s h1s professor )t U.P. )nd th)t they /ere re<+1red to s+b-1t SALNs d+r1n those ye)rs.
11. $ud/e (nue (nue D$ Sin/co Sin/co s co-pied co-pied tt. Cos -entioned tt $ud/e Sin/co s to su5-it certi;icte o; ee-ption 5ecuse =ud/es re so reit tt re
Decision
12
G.R. No. 237428
1L. Den Cesr #. "inuev s cin/ cin/ re
'ecuse tere >ere sever cndidtes >it inco-pete docu-entr reeter cndidte s su5stnti co-pied >it te reo >o ;i ;i to co-p o-pet etee te te reed nd considered ;or no-intion, uness te >oud 5e incuded i; in te deter-intion o; te Eeco- e or se s su5stnti co-pied. 47 &us &us,, on $u $u 26, 26, 2612 2612,, te te ORSN ORSN,, trou trou/ / its its ten ten Cie Cie;; tt tt.. Ricrd Pscu tt. tt. Pscu9, inoud ter on testi; tt e sed respondent to su5-it er S#Ns ;ro- 1? to 266?, or spnnin/ period o; 16 ers. 4 Durin/ te Or r/u-ents, respondent >oud -intin tt tt. Pscu on re, >, te ers reitin te period 18? to 266?9 covered 5 er e-po-ent >it te *.P. Coe/e o; #>. !n respo respons nse, e, te te resp respon onde dent nt,, in te te ;te ;tern rnoo oon n o; $u $u 23, 23, 2612 2612,, L6 trns-itted etter o; even dte to te $'C, >ic stted: s ! d noted in - Person Dt Seet, ;ter - resi/ntion ;ro- /overn-ent service in 266?, s pro;essor t te *niversit o; te Piippines Piippines,, ! 5ec-e ;u%ti;u%ti-ee privte privte prctitioner prctitioner.. ence, >en ! >s no-inted ;or te position o; ssocite $ustice o; te Supre-e Court in 2616, - no-intion >s considered s tt o; privte prctitioner, nd not s /overn-ent e-poee. &us, te reit te considertion o; - n-e, >ere tose i-posed on no-inees no-inees ;ro- te privte privte sector, sector, nd - erier%t erier%ter-in er-inted ted /overn-ent /overn-ent service, did not contro nor do-inte te ind o; re
!d. t 288%28. !d. t 28%26. 48 !d. t 276%271. 4 ouse Co--ittee erin/ on Ae5rur 27, 2618. L6 !d. t 78%7 nd 276%271. 47
Decision
13
G.R. No. 237428
-e. Considerin/ tt -ost o; - /overn-ent records in te cde-e re -ore tn ;i;teen ers od, it is reson5e to consider it in;esi5e to retrieve o; tose ;ies. !n n cse, te *niversit o; te Piippines s red cered -e o; cde-icId-inistrtive responsi5iities, -one nd propert ccount5iities nd ;ro- d-inistrtive cr/es s o; 61 $une 266?. Since it is te -inisteri dut o; te ed o; te O;;ice to ensure tt te S#Ns S#Ns o; its its pers person onne ne re re prop proper er ;ie ;ied d nd nd ccocco-p pis ise ed d CSC CSC Resoution No. 6?6231 dted 61 Ae5rur 266? nd CSC (e-ornduCircur No. 16%266? dted 17 pri 266?9, tis cernce cn 5e ten s n ssur ssurnce nce tt tt - previo previous us /overn/overn-ent ent e-po e-poer er consid considere ered d te S#N reeen - service in te *niversit o; te Piippines endin/ in 266? nd - ppoint-ent to te Supre-e Court in 2616 presents 5re in /overn-ent service. ence, in co-pince >it te docu-entr re ;ro- te ti-e o; - ppoint-ent s ssocite $ustice on 1? u/ust 2616. Cons Consid ider erin in/ / tt tt ! ve ve 5een 5een prev previo ious us ce cere red d ;ro;ro- d-inistrtive responsi5iities nd ccount5iities ;ro- - entire erier truncted /overn-ent service, - ! ind reit, 5e si-ir vie>ed s tt ;ro- privte sect sector or,, 5e;o 5e;ore re - ppoi ppoint nt-e -ent nt to te te Gove Govern rn-e -ent nt /in /in in 2616 2616 s ssocite $ustice o; te Supre-e Court. L1
&e etter dted $u 23, 2612 >s received 5 te O;;ice o; te d-ini d-inistr strti tive ve nd Ainnc Ainnci i Servic Services es OAS9 OAS9 nd copies copies tereo tereo;; >ere >ere received 5 te o;;ices o; te $'C re/ur -e-5ers, te ORSN nd te OEO.L2 &e etter etter,, o>eve o>everr, >s neite neiterr e-in e-ined ed 5 te $'C re/u re/ur r -e-5er -e-5erss nor nor >s it dei5e dei5ert rted ed upon eiter eiter 5 te $'C En 1anc 1anc or te L3 Eeco-. t tou ou/ / te te dete deterr-in int tio ion n o; >et >ete err cnd cndid idt tee s s su5stnti co-pied >it te docu-entr res dee/ted to te Eeco-, te tter coud not produce n -inutes o; te -eetin/ or record tt te -e-5ers tereo; dei5erted on te $u 23, 2612 etter o; L1
!d. t 78%7. -ee Co--ent -ee Co--ent o; Eecutive O;;icer tt. Cpcite in .(. No. 17%11%12%SC nd .(. No. 17% 11%17%SC, p. L. L3 -ee $oint -ee $oint Co--ent o; tt. (e=i nd tt. Cos in .(. No. 17%11%12%SC nd .(. No. 17% 11%17%SC, p. ?. L2
Decision
14
G.R. No. 237428
respondent.L4
On te scedued dte o; te intervie> on $u 24, 2612, despite respondent@s su5-ission o; on 3 S#Ns, tt. tt. Pscu prepred Report Re: Docu-entr Reerein respondent >s isted s ppicnt No. 14 >it n opposite nnottion tt se d BCO(P#E&E RE*!RE(EN&S nd note sttin/ B#etter 7I23I12 considerin/ tt er /ove /overn rn-e -ent nt reco record rdss in te te cd cdee-ee re re -ore -ore tn tn 1L er erss od, od, it is reson5e to consider it in;esi5e to retrieve tose ;ies. ; ies. &e &e $'C $'C ten ten proc procee eede ded d to inte interv rvie ie> > te te cnd cndid idt tes es,, inc incud udin in/ / respondent respondent >o >s intervie>e intervie>ed d on $u 27, 2612. On u/ust ?, 2612, te ORSN prepred prepred ist o; te 26 cndidtes, cndidtes, respondent respondent incuded, incuded, vis/3/vis teir S#N su5-issions. Opposite respondentQs n-e >s n enu-ertion o; te S#Ns se su5-itted, i.e., i.e., 266, 2616 nd 2611 nd n ecerpt ;roer $u 23, 2612 etter tt Bconsiderin/ tt respondentQsF /overn-ent records in te cde-e re -ore tn 1L ers od, it is reson5e to consider it in;esi5e to retrieve tose ;ies. On u/ust 13, 2612, te $'C voted on >o >oud >oud 5e incuded in te sort ist nd on te s-e s-e d, d, trnstrns-itt itted ed to te Preside President nt its no-in no-intio tions ns L? ;or ;or te te posi positi tion on o; Cie Cie; ; $ustice, s ;oo>s: 1. 2. 3. 4. L. ?. 7. 8.
Crp Crpio io,, nto ntoni nio o &. &. 5d 5d,, Ro5 Ro5er erto to . 'rio 'rion, n, rtu rturo ro D. $rd $rde ee e, , Arnc Arncis is . Sereno Sereno,, (ri (ri #our #ourdes des P.. )-o )-or r,, Ron Ron do do '. #eonr #eonrdo% do%De De Cstr Cstro, o, &ere &eresit sit $. "i inu nuev ev, , Ces Cesrr #. #.
-ont -ont ;te ;terr resp respon onde dent nt@s @s cce ccept ptn nce ce o; er er no-i no-in nti tion on,, or on u/ust 24, 2612, respondent >s ppointed 5 ten President
#etter dted pri ?, 2618 o; tt. Cpcite to te O;;ice o; $ustice &i=-, certi;in/ tt tere >s no suc -inutes o; -eetin/. &e etter sttes: &is pertins to our reerein te Eecutive Co--ittee o; te $udici nd 'r Counci $'C9 supposed -de deter-intion ;ter te 26 $u 2612 $'C En 1anc -eetin/ 1anc -eetin/ o; >o -on/ te cndidtes ;or te Chie# Justice position Justice position d or d not su5stnti co-pied >it te docu-entr re
Decision
1L
G.R. No. 237428
On u/ust 36, 2617, or ;ive ers ;ter respondent@s ppoint-ent s Cie; $ustice, n i-pec-ent co-pint >s ;ied 5 tt. #rr Gdon tt. Gdon9 /inst respondent >it te Co--ittee on $ustice o; te ous ousee o; Repr Repres esen ent tti tive vess ou ouse se Co--i Co--itt ttee ee on $ust $ustic ice9 e9 ;or ;or cup cup5 5e e viotion o; te Constitution, corruption, i/ cri-es, nd 5etr o; pu5ic trust. &e co-pint so e/ed tt respondent ;ied to -e trut;u decrtions in er S#Ns.
&e i-pec-ent co-pint >s endorsed 5 sever -e-5ers o; te ouse nd, tere;ter, >s ;ound to 5e su;;icient in ;or- nd su5stnce. &e respondent respondent ;ied er ns>er ns>er to te i-pec-ent i-pec-ent co-pint. co-pint. ;ter ;ter te ;iin/ ;iin/ o; te rep nd te re=oinder, te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice conducted sever erin/s on te deter-intion o; pro55e cuse, te st o; >ic >s ed on Ae5rur 27, 2618. L7 Durin/ tese erin/s, it >s reveed tt respondent purported ;ied to ;ie er S#Ns >ie se >s -e-5er o; te ;cut o; te *.P. Coe/e o; #> nd tt se ;ied er S#N on ;or te ers 18, 2662 nd 266?. Durin/ te erin/ on Ae5rur 7, 2618 o; te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice, $ustice, $ustice Pert, s resource resource person 5ein/ ten te ctin/ e2/ o##icio Ci ir-n r-n o; te te $'C $'C, ;urt ;urte err ci ci-e -ed d tt duri durin/ n/ te te $'C $'C dei5ertions in 2612, e >s not -de >re tt respondent su5-itted inco-pete S#Ns nor tt respondent@s etter dted $u 23, 2612 to te $'C >s ever ever dei5e dei5ert rted ed upon. upon. L8 &is &is >s con;ircon;ir-ed ed 5 tt. tt. Aernn Aernn%% L CosK 5 tt. tt. Cpcite, >o e-psied tt 5sed on te ru55er st-p received, on te o;;ices o; te $'C re/ur -e-5ers, te ORSN nd te OEO >ere ;urnised copies o; te etterK ?6 nd 5 tt. Pscu on te 5sis o; te trns-itt etter.?1 &e ;ore/oin/ s>orn decrtions -de durin/ te erin/s 5e;ore te ous ousee Co-Co--it itte teee on $ust $ustic icee sp> sp>ne ned d t>o t>o reev reevn ntt inci incide dent nts: s: one, one, te propos o; te ouse Co--ittee ;or tis Court to investi/te on te proceedin/s o; te $'C retive to te no-intion o; respondent s Cie; $ustice >ic is no> present doceted s .(. No. 17%11%12 nd .(. No. 17%11%17%S 17%11%17%SCK CK nd two, two, te #etter ?2 dted Ae5rur 21, 2618 o; tt. Ei/io ( (r rii to te te OSG OSG re
!d. t 17?%177. &SN dted Ae5rur 7, 2618, "!%3, Co--ittee on $ustice o; te ouse o; Representtives. L &SN &SN dted dted Ae5r Ae5rur ur 12, 2618, 2618, #C#", !!!% !!!%2, 2, Co--i Co--itte tteee on $ustic $usticee o; te ouse ouse o; Representtives. ?6 &SN &SN dted dted Ae5ru Ae5rur r 12, 2618, #EA #EA,, !!% !!%3, 3, Co--it Co--ittee tee on $ustic $usticee o; te ouse o; Representtives. ?1 &SN dted Ae5rur Ae5rur 12, 2618, #C#" #C#", "!!!%4 "!!!%4,, Co--itte Co--itteee on $ustice $ustice o; te ouse o; Representtives. ?2 !d. t 3%4. L8
Decision
1?
G.R. No. 237428
&us, te present petition. The C)se for the Rep+b1*
&e &e Repu Repu5 5ic ic,, tro trou/ u/ te te OSG, OSG, ci ci-s -s tt tt n cti ction on ;or ;or )uo warranto is te proper proper re-ed re-ed to itin te one%er re/e-entr period under Section 11, Rue ??, ?3 o; te Rues o; Cour Courtt sinc sincee respo respond nden ent@ t@ss trn trns/ s/re ress ssio ions ns on on c-e c-e to i/ i/tt duri durin/ n/ te te proceedin/s o; te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice on te e/tions o; te i-pec-ent co-pint ;ied /inst er. terntive, te Repu5ic ci-s tt it s n i-prescripti5e ri/t to 5rin/ )uo warranto petition warranto petition under te -i- nullum tempus occurit regi. !n =usti;in/ resort to petition ;or )uo warranto, warranto , te Repu5ic r/ues tt tt )uo warranto is warranto is vi5e s re-ed even s /inst i-pec5e o;;i o;;ice cers rs,, ie ie respo respond nden ent. t. &e &e Repu Repu5 5ic ic r/u r/ues es tt tt peti petiti tion on ;or ;or )uo warranto is warranto is di;;erent ;ro- te i-pec-ent proceedin/s 5ecuse te >rit o; )uo warranto warranto is is 5ein/ sou/t to ie >ie te i-pec i-pec-e -ent nt co-p co-pint int ccuse ccusess er o; co--it co--ittin tin/ / cup5 cup5e e viotion o; te Constitution nd 5etr o; pu5ic trust >ie in o;;ice. ?4 Citin/ te 2616 Rues o; te Presidenti Eector &ri5un PE&9 nd te cses o; %una o; %una v. Chairman Villar ?L nd 4acionalista nd 4acionalista arty v. 5e Vera, ?? te Repu Repu5 5ic ic r/u r/ues es tt tt )uo warran warranto to - - 5e reso resort rted ed to even even /i /ins nstt i-pec5e o;;icers nd tt te respondent@s ssu-ption o; te position s Cie; $ustice under te coor o; n eecutive ppoint-ent is pu5ic >ron/ correcti5e 5 )uo warranto. warranto . &e Repu5ic sees to oust respondent ;ro- er position s Cie; $ustice on te /round tt te tter ;ied to so> tt se is person o; proven inte/rit >ic is n indispens5e it te S#N re
Sec. 11. Limitati 11. Limitations. ons. T T Notin/ contined in tis Rue s s 5e construed to utorie n ction /inst pu5ic o;;icer or e-poee ;or is ouster ;ro- o;;ice uness te s-e 5e co--enced >itin one 19 er ;ter te cuse o; suc ouster, or te ri/t o; te petitioner to od suc o;;ice or position, rose, nor to utorie n ction ;or d-/es in ccordnce >it te provisions o; te net precedin/ section uness te s-e 5e co--enced >itin one 19 er ;ter te entr o; te =ud/-ent est5isin/ te petitioner@s ri/t to te o;;ice in
Decision
17
G.R. No. 237428
reic is re
'ein 'ein/ / circ circuu-sp spec ectt in te te ee-in int tio ion n o; ever ever pe pedi din/ n/ nd nd docu-e docu-ent nt on record record,, tis tis Court Court o5serv o5serves es tt, tt, initi initi ,, te Co--en Co--entt $d Cautelam dted Cautelam dted (rc 1?, 2618 ;ied 5e;ore *s >s neiter si/ned 5 te respondent erse; nor veri;ied to ve 5een red 5 er nd ttested 5 er tt te e/tions terein re true nd correct o; er person no>ed/e or 5sed on utentic records. &is Court is not un>re tt under te Rues o; Court, speci;ic Section 4, Rue 7, not pedin/s need to 5e under ot, ot, veri;ie veri;ied, d, or cco-p cco-pnie nied d 5 n ;;id ;;idvit vit.. !n ;ct, ;ct, te rues on )uo warranto do warranto do not res receive received d 5 tis Court, Court, o>ever, >s n unveri;ied Co--ent repuditin/ te Court@s =urisdiction, -ere si/ned 5 counse, >o ppered to 5e representin/ r epresentin/ te respondent. Mr r o; te te e/ e/ i-p i-pic ict tio ions ns o; suc suc unve unveri ri;i ;ied ed pe pedi din/ n/,, i.e. possi5e re;uttion o; te e/tions stted terein nd repudition o; te si/nin si/nin/ / counse counse@s @s utor utorit it to repres represent ent,, tis tis Court Court in its pri pri 3, 2618 2618 ? Resoution set s condition ;or te conduct o; Or r/u-ents pred ;or 5 respondent, tt te tter ;;ir- nd veri; under ot te trut nd vercit vercit o; te e/tion e/tionss in te Co--ent Co--ent $d Cautelam ;ied Cautelam ;ied 5 counse supposed on er 5e;. !n n $d n $d Cautelam Prti Cautelam Prti Co-pinceI(ni;esttion dted pri L, 2618, respondent ;;ir-ed nd veri;ied under ot te trut nd vercit o; te e/t e/tion ionss in te sid sid Co--en Co--entt $d Cautelam Cautelam trou/ "eri;iction dted pri ?, 2618 ttced terein. !n te sid sid Co--en Co--entt $d Cautelam, Cautelam, respondent r/ues tt, on te ?8
(ollo, (ollo, p. 28. !d. t L61%L6L.
?
Decision
18
G.R. No. 237428
stren/t o; Section 2, 76 rtice ! o; te 187 Constitution nd te cses o; +ayor Lecaro6 +ayor Lecaro6 v. -andiganbayan, -andiganbayan ,71 Cuenco v. 'on. %ernan, %ernan ,72 n (e! %irst ndorsement #rom 'on. on6ales, on6ales ,73 n nd (e! Complaint/$##idavit Complaint/$##idavit #or 5isbarment $gainst -enior $ssociate Justice $ntonio &. Carpio ,74 te Cie; $ust $ustic icee - - 5e oust ousted ed ;ro;ro- o;;i o;;ice ce on on 5 i-pe i-pec c-en ent. t. Resp Respon onde dent nt contends tt te use o; te prse B- 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice in Section 2, rtice ! o; te Constitution does not si/ni; tt (e-5ers o; te Supre-e Court - 5e re-oved trou/ -odes oter tn i-pec-ent. cco ccord rdin in/ / to resp respon onde dent nt,, te te ce cerr inte intent ntio ion n o; te te ;r;r-er erss o; te te Constitution >s to crete n ecusive cte/or o; pu5ic o;;icers >o cn 5e re-oved on 5 i-pec-ent i-pec-ent nd not oter>ise. oter>ise. !t is ie>ise te r/u-ent o; respondent tt since petition ;or )uo warranto - warranto - 5e ;ied 5e;ore te R&C, suc >oud resut to conundru 5ecuse =ud/e o; o>er court >oud ve e;;ective eercised discipinr po>er nd d-inistrtive supervision over n o;;ici o; te $udicir -uc i/er in rn nd is contrr to Sections ? nd 11, rtice "!!! o; te Cons Consti titu tuti tion on >ic >ic vest vestss upon upon te te Supr Supree-ee Cour Courtt disc discip ipi in nr r nd nd d-inistrtive po>er over courts nd te personne tereo;. Se teories tt i; (e-5er o; te Supre-e Court cn 5e ousted trou/ )uo warranto initited 5 te OSG, te Con/ressQ Bcec on te Supre-e Court trou/ i-pec-ent >oud 5e rendered inutie. Respondent r/ues tt te present petition is ti-e%5rred s Section 11, Rue ?? provides tt petition ;or )uo warranto -ust warranto -ust 5e ;ied >itin one 19 er ;ro- te Bcuse o; ouster nd not ;ro- te Bdiscover o; te diss ppointed s Cie; $ustice on u/ust 24, 2612. &ere;ore, s er s er ppoint-ent, te Repu5ic, trou/ te OSG, red d cuse o; ction to see er ouster. Even ssu-in/ tt te one%er prescriptive period - 5e counted ;ro- te Repu5ic@s Bdiscover o; te disoud sti 5e ti-e%5rred since te Repu5ic >oud ve -de suc Bdiscover trou/ *.P., considerin/ tt te *.P. RDO is reo ;ied to ;ie teir S#Ns. Respondent vers tt te Court cnnot presu-e tt se ;ied to ;ie er S#Ns 5ecuse s pu5ic o;;icer, se en=os te presu-ption tt er 76
Se*. #. &e President, te "ice%President, te (e-5ers o; te Supre-e Court, te (e-5ers o; te Constitution Co--issions, nd te O-5uds-n - 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice on i-pec-ent ;or, nd conviction o;, cup5e viotion o; te Constitution, treson, 5ri5er, /r;t nd corruption, oter i/ cri-es, or 5etr o; pu5ic trust. oter pu5ic o;;icers nd e-poees - 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice s provided 5 >, >, 5ut not 5 i-pec-ent. i-pec-ent. 71 213 Pi. 288 1849. 72 241 Pi. 1?2 1889. 73 243 Pi. 1?7 1889. 74 En 'nc Resoution dted u/ust 16, 2612 in .(. No. 12%8%4%SC.
Decision
1
G.R. No. 237428
ppoint-ent to o;;ice >s re/ur. ccordin/ to respondent, te Repu5ic ;ied to overco-e tis presu-ption s te docu-ents reied upon 5 it, i.e., i.e., certi;ictions ;ro- te *.P. *.P. RDO nd te O-5uds-n, do not cte/oric stte tt respondent ;ied to ;ie er S#Ns. On te contrr, respondent points out tt te *.P. *.P. RDO d certi;ied tt se d 5een cered o; d-inistrtive responsi5iities nd cr/es s o; $une 1, 266? nd tt tere >s no pendin/ d-inistrtive cr/e /inst er. !t is ie>ise te contention o; respondent tt pu5ic o;;icers >itout p or tose >o do not receive co-penstion re not res on o;;ici eve >itout p, se >s ctu not rei present te- 5e;ore te Sente sittin/ s te te !-pe !-pec c-en entt &ri5u ri5un n nd nd not not to tis tis Cour Courtt cons consid ider erin in/ / er er o5=ections to te tter@s eercise o; =urisdiction. Respondent so stresses tt te ;iure to ;ie S#Ns or to su5-it te s-e to te $'C s no 5erin/ on one@s inte/rit. &e su5-ission o; S#Ns >s si-p -on/ te ddition docu-ents >ic te $'C d res re red d te su5 su5=ec =ect o; pendi endin n/ cri-i ri-in n or d-inistrtive cse or i; te ppicnt d red 5een ;in convicted ;or cricri-in in o;;e o;;ens nsee invo invov vin in/ / sid sid ;iu ;iure re to ;ie ;ie S#N S#Ns. s. !n tis tis cse cse,, respondent points out tt te $'C >s -de >re s er s $u 26, 2612 tt respondent d not su5-itted to te $'C er S#Ns s *.P. pro;essor nd nd et et none none o; tete- invo invoe ed d Sect Sectio ion n 2, Rue Rue 16 o; $'C% $'C%66 66 or te te Binte/rit rue. Respondent ie>ise contends tt te issue o; >eter n ppicnt ;or te position o; Cie; $ustice is person o; Bproven inte/rit is ic on te $'C coud ns>er, nd it did so in te ;;ir-tive >en it incuded respondent@s n-e in te sortist o; no-inees ;or te position o; Cie; $ustice. $ustice. The Rep+b1*=s Repy
!n re;utin/ respondentQs r/u-ents, te Repu5ic =usti;ies its resort to te unconvention -etod o; )uo warranto. warranto . &e Repu5ic Repu5ic cites te cses o;
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
Estrada v. 5esierto 7L nd Lawyers nd Lawyers League #or a 1etter hilippines andor "liver Lo6ano v. resident Cora6on $)uino et al. 7? >ere tis Court too co/nince o; petition ;or )uo warranto to warranto to oust n i-pec5e o;;ici. !t reitertes its r/u-ent tt it sees respondentQs ouster, not on ccount o; co--is co--issio sion n o; i-pec i-pec5 5e e o;;en o;;enses ses,, 5ut 5ecus 5ecusee o; er inei/ inei/i5i i5iit it to ssu-e te position o; Cie; $ustice. &e Repu5ic -intins tt te prse B- 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice in Section 2, rtice ! o; te Constitution -ens tt (e-5ers o; te Supre-e Court - 5e re-oved trou/ -odes oter tn i-pec-ent nd dis/rees >it respondentQs interprettion tt te >ord B- oud ed to n 5surd situ situt tio ion n in te te even eventt tt tt te te Sen Sente te i-po i-pose sess ess esser er pen pent t , ie ie suspension o; te President, >ic >oud resut in vcnc in te position not intended 5 te Constitution. &is is 5ecuse vcnc in te O;;ice o; te President occurs on in cse o; det, per-nent dis5iit, re-ov ;roo;;ice, or resi/ntion, in >ic event te "ice%President s 5eco-e te President to serve te unepired ter-. !nv !nvoin oin/ / te te verba verba legis legis princi principe pe in sttut sttutor or constr construct uction ion,, te Repu5ic ci-s tt Section 2, rtice ! o; te Constitution does not epress proi5it resort to oter -ens to re-ove i-pec5e o;;icers in position. Contrr to respondentQs ci- tt tis Court s no discipinr utorit over its incu-5ent -e-5ers, te Repu5ic cites Section 13 o; .(. No. 16%4%26%SC >ic creted per-nent Co--ittee on Etics nd Etic Etic Stnd Stndrds rds,, tsed tsed to invest investi/ i/te te co-p co-pint intss invov invovin/ in/ /r;t /r;t nd corruption nd etic viotions /inst -e-5ers o; te Supre-e Court. &e &e Repu Repu5 5ic ic poin points ts out out tt tt suc suc Eti Etics cs Co-Co--it itte teee cond conduc ucte ted d te te 77 78 investi/tion in .(. No. 16%7%17%SC nd .(. No. 6%2%1%SC. (en>ie, in support o; its ci- tt te petition is not ti-e%5rred, te Repu5ic epins tt te Stte s continuous interest in ensurin/ tt tose >o prte o; its soverei/n po>ers re o re ci-in/ ri/ts to pu5ic o;;ice, nd not to te Stte. &o consider te instnt petition s ti-e%5rred, te Repu5ic r/ues, is to ;orce te Stte to spend its resources in ;vor o; n un
46? Pi. 1 26619. En 'nc Resoution dted ( 22, 18? in G.R. No. 73748. 77 ?47 Pi. 122 26169. 78 L Pi. 2L8 2669. 7?
Decision
21
G.R. No. 237428
noti;ied o; respondentQs ;iure to ;ie er S#Ns. !t r/ues tt it s no sttutor o5i/tion to -onitor co-pince o; /overn-ent e-poees oter tn its o>n. !t e/es tt S#Ns re not pu5ised, ence it s no ;esi5e > o; tin/ co/nince o; respondentQs ;iure to ;ie S#N. !n n cse, te Repu5ic ci-s tt te uni
s to te it >it te utor utorit it to deter-i deter-ine ne respon responden dentQ tQss s, $'C rues, nd Cnons o; $udici Etics. Goin/ to te ;und-ent issue o; respondentQs ei/i5iit to od te position o; Cie; $ustice, te Repu5ic reitertes tt respondent ;ied to co-p >it te res 5ecuse se coud no on/er retrieve o; suc S#Ns. ccordin/ to te Repu5ic, respondentQs e/tion see-s to i-p tt se did ;ie er S#Ns >en te Certi;ictions ;ro- te *.P. nd te O-5uds-n stte oter>ise. &e Repu5 Repu5ic ic posits posits tt tt respon responden dentQ tQss c c o; inte/r inte/rit it is ;urte ;urter r 5ostered 5 er ;iure to discose to te $'C tt se ;ied to ;ie er S#N 11 ti-es durin/ er tenure s *.P. #> Pro;essor. !nte/rit, te Repu5ic ci-s, is si-p ;it;u derence to te >, nd te ;iin/ o; S#N is it te Constitution, >s nd pproprite codes o; conduct. &ere is no need to e/e or prove /r;t nd corruption in order to prove n spirin/ -/istrteQs c o; inte/rit. Ain Ain , te Repu5 Repu5ic ic conten contends ds tt tt te presupresu-pti ption on o; re/u re/urit rit cnnot cnnot 5e ppie ppied d in respon responden dent@s t@s ;vor ;vor.. &e Repu5 Repu5ic ic ci-s ci-s tt tt suc suc presu-ption ttces on to o;;ici cts nd not to cts o; o;;icis. &e presu-ption, ccordin/ to te Repu5ic, ppies on to o;;ici cts speci;ied 5 > s n o;;ici dut or to ;unction ttced to pu5ic
Decision
22
G.R. No. 237428
position. !n tis cse, te ;iin/ o; S#N is neiter n o;;ici dut nor ;unction ttced to position o; *.P. Coe/e o; #> Pro;essor. !n n cse, te Repu5ic ci-s tt it s success;u disputed suc presu-ption trou/ te Certi;ictions it presented ;ro; ro- *.P. *.P. nd te O-5uds-n. The Rep+b1*>s "e-or)nd+-
!n ddition to te r/u-ents put ;ort 5 te Repu5ic in te Petition nd te Rep, te Repu5ic ;urter =usti;ied its non%incusion o; te $'C in te instnt petition. !t contends tt since te petition on disputes te respondent@s ei/i5iit to 5eco-e te Cie; $ustice, te Soicitor Gener correct instituted te )uo warranto petition warranto petition on /inst respondent. !nsistin/ on respondent@s c o; inte/rit, te Repu5ic r/ues tt respondent d te e/ o5i/tion to discose to te $'C tt se ;ied to ;ie er S#Ns t est 11 ti-es, citin/ te cse o; "C$ v. Judge Estacion Jr. Jr.7 &e Repu5ic so r/ues tt respondent@s ci- o; /ood ;it is not de;ense. de;ense. Repu5ic Repu5ic ct R..9 R..9 No. 361 361 86 nd R.. No. ?713 81 re speci >s >s nd re tus tus /overn /overned ed 5 te concept concept o; malum prohibitum, prohibitum , >erein -ice or cri-in intent is co-pete i--teri. &us, er ct o; 5-in/ te Revie> nd Co-pince Co--ittee o; *.P. ;or its ;iure to in;or- er tt se d no S#Ns on ;ie does not eonerte er. &e Repu5ic ;urter notes tt respondent resorted to te ;c o; tu )uo)ue )uo)ue diversionr tctic 5 usin/ te ;ut o; oters to =usti; one@s o>n ;ut. 'eievin/ in te stren/t o; its cse, te Repu5ic underscores its contention tt te respondent >s not 5e to dispute te evidence put ;ort 5 te Repu5ic tt se ;ied to rei/ious ;ie er S#Ns trou/out er entire stint in te /overn-ent. &e Repu5ic ci-s tt it is ;utie ;or respondent to -ere e/e durin/ te Or r/u-ents tt se ;ied er S#Ns nd >i produce te- 5e;ore te Sente. Respondent@s d-issions durin/ te Or r/u-ents, to/eter >it te *.P. RDO@s certi;iction, prove tt se did not rei/ious ;ie er S#Ns S#Ns s re. >. s to te ppic5iit o; tis Court@s ruin/ in Concerned &a2payer v. 5oblada, Jr. Jr. ,82 te Repu5ic r/ues tt te cse is not on ;ours >it te instnt petition. &e 5oblada ruin/, 5oblada ruin/, ccordin/ to te OSG, did not invove 7
317 Pi. ?66 1L9. N&!%GRA& ND CORR*P& PRC&!CES C&. pproved on u/ust 17, 1?6. 81 N C& ES&'#!S!NG CODE OA COND*C& ND E&!C# S&NDRDS AOR P*'#!C P*'#!C OAA!C! OAA!C!#S #S ND E(P#O+ E(P#O+EES, EES, &O *PO#D *PO#D &E &!(E%O &!(E%ONORE NORED D PR!NC!P# PR!NC!P#E E OA P*'#!C P*'#!C OAA!CE OAA!CE 'E!NG 'E!NG P*'#!C P*'#!C &R*S& &R*S&,, GRN&!N GRN&!NG G !NCEN&!" !NCEN&!"ES ES ND REMRD REMRDS S AOR EE(P# EE(P#R R+ SER"!CE SER"!CE,, EN*(ER EN*(ER&!NG PRO!'! PRO!'!&ED &ED C&S C&S ND &RNSC &RNSC&!O &!ONS NS ND PRO"!D!NG PEN#&!ES AOR "!O#&!ONS &EREOA ND AOR O&ER P*RPOSES. pproved on Ae5rur 26, 18. 82 48 Pi. 3L 266L9. 86
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
issues on et. Aurter-ore, 5oblada Aurter-ore, 5oblada >s >s decided on in 266L or ;ter respondent vioted te e/ re
The Respondent>s "e-or)nd+-
Respondent insists tt se cn 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice on trou/ i-pec i-pec-e -ent. nt. !n dditi ddition on to te r/u-e r/u-ents nts rised rised in er Co--en Co--entt $d Cautelam, Cautelam, respondent sserts tt i-pec-ent >s cosen s te -etod o; re-ovin re-ovin/ / certi certin n i/%r i/%rn nin/ in/ /overn /overn-en -entt o;;ic o;;icers ers to sied sied tete- ;ro;rorss-ent suits tt >i prevent te- ;ro- per;or-in/ teir ;unctions >ic re vit to te continued opertions o; /overn-ent. Suc purpose, ccordin/ to respondent, >oud 5e de;eted i; Section 2, rtice ! o; te Constitution >oud not 5e construed s providin/ n ecusive -ens ;or te re-ov o; i-pec5e o;;icers. Respondent r/ues r/ues tt it >oud >oud 5e 5surd ;or te ;r-ers o; te Constitution to provide ver cu-5erso-e process ;or re-ovin/ sid o;;icers on to o> ess di;;icut -ens to cieve te s-e purpose. Respondent contends tt te Repu5ic, in citin/ te 2616 PE& Rues nd nd te te cse csess o; Estrada v. 5esierto 83 n nd Lawyers League #or a 1etter hilippines andor "liver Lo6ano v. resident Cora6on $)uino et al. ,84 erroneous u-ps to/eter te Cie; $ustice, te President nd te "ice% President, President, si-p si-p 5ecuse te re i-pec5 i-pec5ee o;;icers. o;;icers. Respondent Respondent r/ues tt tere re su5stnti distinctions 5et>een te President nd "ice% President on te one nd, nd (e-5ers o; te Supre-e Court on te oter: ;irst, unie Section 4, rtice "!! o; te 187 Constitution vestin/ in te Cour Courtt te te po>e po>err to 5e te te Bso Bsoee =ud/ =ud/e e o; cont contes ests ts re reti tin/ n/ to te te it respect to te oter i-pec5e o;;icis, i.e., i.e., te (e-5ers o; tis tis Cour Court, t, te te (e-5 (e-5ers ers o; te te Cons Consti titu tuti tion on Co--i Co--issi ssion on or te te O-5uds O-5uds-n -nKK nd second second,, te Presid President ent nd "ice%Pre ice%Presid sident ent re eecte eected d o;;icis >ie te oter i-pec5e o;;icers re ppointive o;;icis. Respondent so r/ues tt tere is not sin/e pronounce-ent in %una v. Chairman Villar 8L nd 4acionalista nd 4acionalista arty v. 5e Vera 8? 5 > o; 83
Supr note 7L. Supr note 7?. 8L Supr note ?L. 8? Supr note ??. 84
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
rui ruin/ n/ or obiter dictum9 dictum 9 to te e;;ect tt n i-pec5e o;;icer - 5e ousted trou/ >rit o; )uo warranto, nd tt 5ot cses >ere not even ;or )uo warranto. Resp Respon onde dent nt -in -int tin inss tt tt >et >ete err resp respon onde dent nt >s >s pers person on o; Bproven inte/rit >en se ppied ;or te position o; Cie; $ustice is poitic ic on te $'C nd te President s te ppointin/ utorit coud deter-ine. Se Se vers vers tt tt te te pp ppic ict tio ion n o; te te poi poiti tic c ers, suc s te $'C >ic uses its >isdo- nd discretion in deter-inin/ >eter n ppicnt to te $udicir is person o; Bproven inte/rit. Respondent so contends tt 5sent n cen/e to er no-intion nd ppoint-ent on te /round o; /rve 5use o; discretion on te prt o; te $'C nd te President, er ppoint-ent cn no on/er 5e i de;inite de;inite run /inst te Stte i; te rue or sttute cer so provides. Respondent vers tt se co-pied >it te S#N >s s Pro;essor o; te *.P. Coe/e o; #> nd tt te > presu-es re/urit in te ;iin/ o; S#Ns. ccordin/ ccordin/ to responde respondent, nt, tt t est 11 11 o; er S#Ns ve 5een ;ound tends to prove prove pttern o; ;iin/, rter tn non%;iin/. Resp Respo onden ndentt r/ues ues tt t te 5urd 5urden en o; proo roo; in )uo warran warranto to proceedin/s ;s on te prt >o 5rin/s te ction nd tt 5sed on 5oblada, te Repu5ic Repu5ic ;ied to discr/e discr/e tis 5urden. 5urden. Responden Respondentt ci-s tt te records o; te *.P. RDO re inco-pete nd unrei5e nd tere >s no cte/oric stte-ent in its Certi;iction tt se ;ied to ;ie er S#Ns ;or te ers 18?, 187, 188, 18, 12, 1, 2666, 2661, 2663, 2664, 266L, nd 266?. 266?. Aurter, se vers vers tt te records o; te O;;ice O;;ice o; te O-5uds-n re even -ore inco-pete nd unrei5e, tus, n certi;iction ;ro- sid o;;ice >oud ie>ise 5e insu;;icient to prove tt se ;ied to ;ie 11 o; er S#Ns >ie se >s *.P. Pro;essor. Respondent Respondent contends tt se s ctu ctu presented presented prepondernt prepondernt evidence evidence tt se ;ied er er S#Ns. Se vers tt se s recovered recovered 11 11 o; 87
48 Pi. ?7? 129.
Decision
2L
G.R. No. 237428
er *.P. S#Ns nd se s direct proo; tt se eecuted t est 12 S#Ns s *.P. *.P. Pro;essor. Pro;essor. Se stresses tt te *.P. *.P. RDO s trice Bcer Bcered ed er o; d-ini d-inistr strti tive ve respon responsi5 si5ii iitie tiess nd d-ini d-inistr strti tive ve cr/es. Respondent so ci-s tt se >s not even res -ere te-por te-porr r.. ccord ccordin/ in/ to er, er, te ;ct tt tt se served served s counse counse ;or te Repu5ic ;or te P!&CO cses in 2664, 266L nd 266? does not ne/te er de;ense tt under te >, se >s not reen se >s on eve nd >s not receivin/ co-penstion risin/ ;ro- pu5ic o;;ice i.e. i.e.,, 2661, 2664, 266L nd 266?9. Respondent RespondentQQs (e-orndu(e-orndu- so sou/t sou/t to ddress ddress certin certin -tters -tters rised durin/ te Or r/u-ents. r/u-ents. s to >er >eree er er S#N S#Nss re, re, resp respon onde dent nt ver verss tt tt so-e so-e o; er er S#Ns >ere in ;ct ;ound in te records o; te *.P. RDO, nd se >s 5e to retrieve copies o; so-e o; er S#Ns ;ro- te *.P. #> Center. Mitout pre=udice to er =urisdiction o5=ections, se ttced te- to te (e-orndu-. Se r/ues tt te ;ct tt te S#Ns S#Ns ;or certin ers re -issin/ cnnot /ive rise to te te in;erence tt te >ere not ;ied. Se points out tt *.P. >s on reic te S#N - 5e destroed. !n epinin/ er stte-ent 5e;ore te $'C tt er S#Ns >ere irretriev5e, respondent vers tt se onest coud not retrieve copies ;ro- *.P. *.P. over te course o; >eeend /iven to er to co-pete er -issin/ docu-entr res not re. Respondent sserts tt er 266 S#N >s not 5eted 5eted ;ied. Se epins tt er 266 S#N is n entr S#N >ic se ori/in ;ied on Septe-5er 1?, 2616 >itin tirt 369 ds ;ter er ssu-ption o; o;;ice s n ssocit ssocitee $ustice o; te Supre-e Court. ccordin/ ccordin/ to er, er, te revised 266 S#N >ic s te nnottion Brevised s o; 22 $une 2612, is revi revise sed d versi version on eec eecut uted ed in $une $une 2612 2612 to -ore -ore ccu ccurt rte e re; re;ec ectt te te cs not te S#N reic te $'C reit er inco-e t returns. Se epins tt se -ere ppened to to use do>nod5e S#N ;or- >ic se ;ied up nd dted s o; te ti-e o; its >ritin >ritin/, /, i.e., i.e., $u 27, 2616. 2616. Se ci-s ci-s tt se never never -isrepresen -isrepresented ted te s-e to 5e er 266? eit S#N ;ro- *.P. *.P. ccordin/ ccordin/ to er, er, se in ;ct
Decision
2?
G.R. No. 237428
considers er 266? S#N s one o; te -issin/ S#Ns se is sti trin/ to octe. Respondent ci-s tt se coud not rec te circu-stnces > er 18 S#N >s eecuted on in 2663 >ic, ccordin/ to er, >s reson5e reson5e since since it ppened ppened 1L ers /o. Se ci-s tt tt tere is no > proi5itin/ er ;ro- su5-ittin/ te s-e, nd te ;ct tt te S#N >s ;ie ;ied d serv serves es te te purpo purpose se o; te te > > nd nd ne/ ne/te tess n n inte intent ntio ion n to ide ide unepined >et.
!t is so respondentQs position tt te o-ission o; er us5ndQs si/n si/nt tur uree on er er 261 2611 S#N S#N >s >s ind indve verte rtent nt nd nd >s >s not not n o;;e o;;ens nse. e. ccordin/ to er, it coud not dverse i-pct on er inte/rit 5sent n e/tion or ;indin/ tt se cet. Se r/ues tt te Civi Service Co--issionQs Guideines >ic reo is not pu5ic o;;icer, >s pro-u/ted on in $nur 2613. Mit re/rd to te =e>er se cic >ere supposed decred in er 11 S#N 5ut >ere undecred in er 16 S#N, respondent vers tt tese ssets >ere ctu decred in er 18L 18L nd nd 18 18 S#N S#Ns, s, nd nd te te >ere >ere cons consis iste tent nt dec decr red ed in er er su5seit /ood ;it nd cured cured >tev >tever er error tere tere - ve 5een 5een in er 16 16 S#N. Se r/ues tt sid ssets >ere not -ni;est disproportionte to er >;u inco-e nd even s *.P. Pro;essor, se coud ve ;;orded to purcse =e>er >ort Pp1L,666.66 Pp1L,666.66 over spn o; si ?9 ?9 ers. Ain, respondent r/ues tt it is n Bunreson5e nd oppressive interprettion o; te > to recon er entr S#N s ssocite $ustice o; te Court ;ro- te dte o; er ppoint-ent u/ust 1?, 26169 nd not ;roDece-5er Dece-5er 31, 266 >en it >s ctu ctu ;ied. ;ied. Respondent Respondent contend contendss tt R.. No. ?713 on reitin tirt ds ;ter ssu-p ssu-ptio tion n o; o;;ice o;;ice direc directiv tivee se suppose supposed d co-pie co-pied d >it. >it. Se r/ues tt >ie te !-pe-entin/ Rues nd Re/utions o; R.. No. ?713 stte tt te S#N soud 5e reconed ;ro- te ;irst d o; service, te > provides ;or revie> nd co-pince procedure >ic res erroneous, nd se >s not directed to te te necessr corrective ction. The Respondent=s Repy?S+ppe-ent to "e-or)nd+-
Decision
27
G.R. No. 237428
t te cose o; te Or r/u-e r/u-ent, nt, /rnted /rnted upon upon respon responden dent@s t@s $d Cautelam -otion, Cautelam -otion, te Court speci;ic reitin non%etendi5e period o; ten 169 ds, ;ter >ic, te petition s 5e su5-itted ;or decision. Not>itstndin/ suc ce cerr dire direct ctiv ivee ;ro;ro- te te Cour Court, t, nd nd even even >it >itou outt 5ein 5ein/ / reit te dicttes o; due process nd ;ir p, respondent@s Rep RepI ISu Supp ppe e-e -ent nt to er er (e-o (e-or rnd nduu-,, 5e 5eit it ;ie ;ied d $d Cautelam, Cautelam, is d-itted. Respondent rises t>o points in er RepISuppe-ent: #irst , te ne> -tter -tter o; t ;rud e/ed e/ed co--it co--itted ted 5 erK erK nd second , te ;oru-% soppin/ e/ed co--itted 5 te Repu5ic. Respondent sou/t to ddress te incusion o; te cr/e o; t ;rud e/ed co--itted 5 er retive to te ;ees se received in te P!&CO cses >ic respondent respondent r/ues to ve 5een rised 5 te Repu5ic Repu5ic on in its -e-orndu-. Respondent denies vin/ conceed or under decred er inco-e in te P!&CO cses. Se ;urter points out tt te Su--r nd te Po>erpoint presenttion prepred 5 '!R Deput Co--issioner Gu5 nd >ic >ere ttced to te Repu5ic@s -e-orndu- >ere inco-pete, inccurte nd -ere prei-inr. !n n cse, respondent vers tt '!R Depu Deput t Co-Co--is issi sion oner er Gu5 Gu5 i-s i-se e;; ;oun ;ound d tt tt resp respon onde dent nt d d Bsu5stnti decred inco-e e/ ;ees9 ;ro- te P!&CO cse in er !&Rs ;ro- ers 2664 to 266 '*& tere >ere certin discrepncies. 88 Respondent so ccuses te Repu5ic o; vin/ co--itted dei5erte ;oru ;oru-% -%s sop oppi pin/ n/ in ;ii ;iin/ n/ te te cti ction on ;or ;or )uo warran warranto to even even >en >en te te i-pe i-pec c-en entt proc procee eedi din/ n/ >s >s re red d pend pendin in/ / 5e;o 5e;ore re te te ous ousee o; Representtives. Contendin/ tt te ee-ents o; ;oru-%soppin/ re present, respondent points to te 19 identit o; prties 5et>een te )uo warranto cti ction on nd nd te te i-pe i-pec c-en entt cse cse ins ins-u -uc c s te te ous ousee Co--ittee on $ustice is so prt o; te Govern-entK 29 identit o; cuses o; ction considerin considerin/ / tt te )uo warranto cse warranto cse is 5sed on respondent@s e/ed c o; proven inte/rit ;or ;iure to ;ie er S#Ns >en se >s tecin/ t te *.P. Coe/e o; #> nd ;or concein/ er true inco-e nd evsion o; tes >ic >ere te s-e ttcs on er ei/i5iit nd
Respondent@s RepISuppe-ent RepISuppe-ent to (e-orndu- d Cute-.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
The "ot1ons for Inter3ent1on
&rou/ &rou/ $oint (otion ;or #eve #eve to !ntervene !ntervene nd d-it ttced ttced Co--ent%!n%!ntervention, -ovnt%intervenors co-posed o; 19 ;or-er CEO o; PG%!'!G PG%!'!G Aund, )ord ) ord -ei Cpistrno ono, 29 pece u-n ri/ts dvocte Re-edios (p Supido, 39 ur5n poor dvocte ici Gent Gento oi i (urp (urp ,, 49 49 Ci Cirp rper erso son n o; P-5 P-5n ns sn/ n/ Uiu Uius sn n n/ -/ -/ S-n/ (/ss PU!S(9 Nond (erid Pens, L9 Ar. Ro5erto Rees, nd ?9 poet, ;e-inist out dvocte Renne $o P. #i5rdo Cpistrno, et al.,9 al.,9 see to intervene in te present petition s citiens nd tpers. &e co--ent%in%intervention is virtu eco o; te r/u-ents rised in respondent@s co--ent tt )uo warranto is warranto is n i-proper re-ed /inst i-pec5e o;;icis >o - 5e re-oved on 5 i-pec-ent nd tt te ppiction o; te PE& rues re i-ited on to te President nd "ice% President >o re eective, nd not ppointive, o;;icis. (ovnt%intervenors si-ir r/ue tt te petition is red ti-e%5rred s te cuse o; ction rose upon respondent@s ppoint-ent s Cie; $ustice on u/ust 24, 2612 or -ost si ?9 ers /o. Cpist Cpistrn rno o et al. al. r/ue tt it is not incu-5ent upon respondent to prove to te $'C tt se possessed te inte/rit reeter or not se er no>eree in te Constitu Constitutio tion n is te su5-issi su5-ission on o; prior S#Ns S#Ns ret is reic is person@s incusion in te sortist. Cpi Cpist str rno no et al. al. persu persude de tt tt respond respondent ent@s @s epn epnti tion on tt tt er /ove /overn rn-e -ent nt reco record rdss in te te cd cdee-ee ;or ;or 1L er erss re re irre irretr trie iev v5 5ee is reson5e nd tt respondent did not -ised te $'C. On te contrr, te ci- tt te $'C ccepted er epntion >en it dee-ed respondent s ours ;ter te ;iin/ o; te Cpistrno et. al.,7s al.,7s Co--ent%in% !ntervention, noter set o; intervenors co-posed o;: 19 '+N (*N Represent Representtive tive Rep.9 Rep.9 Cros Cros !s/ni !s/ni )rteK )rteK 29 C& &ecers ecers Prtist Prtist Rep. ntonio &inio Arncisc CstroK 39 G'R!E# Mo-en@s Prt Rep. E-erencin De $esus rene 'rossK 39 NUPM!S Prtist Rep. rie CsioK L9 U'&N Prtist Rep. Sr $ne E/oK ?9 Convenors nd -e-5ers o; (ove-ent /inst &rnn (&9, n-e: Arncisco . cu, 'oni;cio P. !/n, Co. Geor/e . R5us Ret.9K
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
79 Aor-er Sentor Rene .". S/uis/K 89 'isop 'roderic S. P5io, D.D.K D.D.K 9 Secret Secretr r Gen. Gen. o; '/on/ '/on/ ns nsn/ n/ (5 (5n n '+ '+N9 Rento (. Rees, $r.K 169 (e-5er o; (DD +out n ;;iite o; son De-ortio9 Ue nn #e/spiK nd 119 Secretr Gener o; Ntion *nion *nion o; Peope@s Peope@s #>ers tt tt. EpriEpri- '. Corte Corte )rte, )rte, et al.,9 al.,9 ;ied (oti (otion on ;or ;or #ev #evee to Aie Aie (oti (otion on to !nte !nterv rven enee nd nd Oppo Opposi siti tion on%i %in% n% !ntervention, pursunt to Rue 1 o; te Rues o; Court. &e ci- tt s cit citie iens nd nd tp per ers, s, te te ve ve e/ e/ inte nteres rest in te -tt -tteer o; respondent@s ouster or re-ov.
)rte et al. rise al. rise te si-ir r/u-ent tt te Cie; $ustice o; te Supre-e Court - on 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice on i-pec-ent ;or, nd conviction o;, cup5e viotion o; te constitution, treson, 5ri5er, /r;t nd corruption, oter i/ cri-es, or 5etr o; pu5ic trust nd tt it is on te Con/ress >o s te po>er to re-ove te Cie; $ustice trou/ te ecusive -ode o; i-pec-ent. &e ;urter r/ue tt te issue o; respondent@s non%su5-ission o; co-pe co-pete te S#Ns, S#Ns, >ito >itout ut -ore, -ore, does does not ve te e;;ect e;;ect o; puttin puttin/ / to o su5-its te ist o; o >i seect -on/ te sortist >o- to ppoint s Cie; $ustice. (ov (ovnt nt%! %!nt nter erve veno norr Rene Rene ." .". S/u S/uis is/ / su5s su5se< eo B- ve pre-ture tro>n teir >ei/ >ei/t t on te te ote oterr side side,, ctu ctu or perce percept ptu u on te te /rou /round nd tt tt respondent is entited to n i-prti r5iter. r5iter. s >e, te !nte/rted 'r o; te Piippines !'P9 ;ied its (otion ;or #eve to Aie nd to d-it ttced Opposition%in%!ntervention s n or/n or/ni itio tion n o; Piip Piippin pinee >er >ers, s, vin/ vin/ te ;und;und-ent ent dut dut to upod upod te Consti Constitut tution ion nd n intere interest st in ensuri ensurin/ n/ te vidi vidit t o; te ppoint-ents to te $udicir. &e !'P@s r/u-ents re;ect te r/u-ents o; te responden respondentt nd te oter oter -ovnt -ovnt%in %inter terven venors ors tt tt te te )uo warranto warranto petition is ti-e%5rred nd is unvi5e unvi5e /inst n i-pec5e i-pec5e o;;icer. o;;icer. &e !'P !'P ;urt ;urte err r/u r/ues es tt tt te te dete deter-i r-in nti tion on o; >et >ete err respo respond nden entt is o; Bproven inte/rit 5eon/s to te $'C nd >ic itout viotin/ te seprtion o; po>ers. !t is ie>ise te contention o; te !'P tt te petition is ;t ;>ed since te $'C never re
Decision
36
G.R. No. 237428
so seein/ to intervene in te instnt petition, Sentors #ei (. De #i- Sentor De #i-9 nd ntonio A. &rines !" Sentor &rines9 s citiens, tpers, nd sentors o; te Repu5ic, ;ied (otion to !ntervene nd d-it ttced Opposition%!n%!ntervention $d $d Cautelam9 Cautelam9 on pri 4, 2618. !n te sid (otion, Sentors De #i- nd &rines ssert tt te possess cer e/ interest, 5ot person nd o;;ici, in te su5=ect -tter o; te Repu5ic@s petition to oust te Cie; =ustice on te /round tt se does not possess te constitution constitution rei 5e pre%e-pted nd ne/te ne/ted d i; te )uo warranto warranto petition petition >i >i 5e /rnted. /rnted. &eir ci-ed ci-ed e/ e/ inte intere rest st in tei teirr inte interv rven enti tion on in nd nd oppo opposi siti tion on to te te peti petiti tion on ;or ;or )uo warranto is warranto is -in ncored upon teir dut nd prero/tives s Sentors% =ud/es in n i-pec-ent tri nd to protect te institution o; i-pec-ent s -ode o; en;orcin/ ccount5iit. ccount5iit. Sentors De #i- nd &rines@ Opposition%!n%!ntervention is -ere reitertion o; te respondent@s r/u-ent tt tis Court s no =urisdiction over petition ;or )uo warranto /inst o;;icer.. &e r/ue warranto /inst n i-pec5e o;;icer tt te Cie; $ustice o; te Supre-e Court is, 5 epress provision o; te Consitution, re-ov5e re-ov5e ;ro- o;;ice ecusive 5 i-pec-ent. &e so ver ver tt tt te /rou /round nd ris rised ed in te peti petiti tion on ;or ;or )uo warranto warranto c o; inte/rit ;or ;iin/ to su5-it one@s S#N is prt o; te e/tions in te i-pec-ent cse 5ein/ 5ein/ erd in te ouse o; Representtives. &us, te r/u r/uee tt tt te use use o; n ident identic ic /round /round in )uo warranto warranto proceedin/ direc direct t unde under-i r-ine ness te te =uri =urisd sdic icti tion on o; te te Sen Sente te to er er nd nd deci decide de i-pec-ent cses nd te prero/tive o; te sentors to tr te s-e. Sentors De #i- nd &rines so dvnce te r/u-ent tt te Cons Consti titu tuti tion on iden identi ti;i ;ies es nd nd enuenu-er ert tes es on on tre treee er court or in te prctice o; > in te Piippines. &e sse ssert rt tt tt te te ;ii ;iin/ n/ o; S#N S#N,, ti tin/ n/ o; psc psco oo o/i /ic c or ps psic ic ee-in intio tion, nd nd si-i si-ir reived, re-oved entire, or d=usted 5 te $'C $'C in te te eer eerci cise se o; its its disc discre reti tion on.. cco ccord rdin in/ / to te sid sid -ovnt -ovnt%% intervenors, Section 739, rtice "!!! o; te 187 Constitution, >ic sttes tt,BF (e-5er o; te $udicir -ust 5e person o; proven co-petence,
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
inte inte/r /rit it , pro5 pro5it it , nd nd inde indepe pend nden ence ce, , does does not not spe spe o; o5=e o5=ect ctiv ivee constitution ie >ie Bcr Bcrcte cteris ristic tics s suc suc s co-pet co-petenc ence, e, inte/rit, inte/rit, pro5it, nd independence re -ere su5=ective considertions. Corori, Sentors De #i- nd &rines r/ue tt te su5=ective considertions re not suscepti5e to nsis >it toos o; e/ doctrine. enc ence, e,
' > o; sepr seprte te ;ied ;ied -otion -otions, s, respon responden dentt sees sees ;;ir ;;ir-t -tive ive reie;, in te ;or- o; te ini5ition o; ;ive L9 $ustices o; te Court, te =urisdiction o; >ic se itdr> o; te privie/e previous en=oed 5 te -e-5ers o; te Court to reco--end no-inees to vcnt positions in te $udicir, s evidence o; ctu 5is. $ustice Pert@s ini5ition, on te oter nd, is 5ein/ sou/t 5ecuse s ten ten cti ctin/ n/ e2 o##i o##ici cio o Cirperson o; te $'C >en respondent >s no-i no-in nte ted d ;or ;or ppo ppoin intt-en entt s Cie Cie;; $ust $ustic ice, e, e >ou >oud d ve ve pers person on no>ed/e o; disputed evidentir ;cts concernin/ te proceedin/s nd ;or vin/ served s -teri >itness in te -tter in controvers. controvers. $ust $ustic icee $rd $rde ee e@ @ss ini ini5i 5iti tion on is sou/ sou/t t on te te /rou /round nd tt tt is is testi-on 5e;ore te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice reves tt e r5ors i ;eein ;eein/s /s to>rd to>rdss respon responden dentt on ccoun ccountt o; te tter tter@s @s ce cen/e n/e to is inte/rit durin/ te no-intion process ;or te ssocite $ustice position vice $ustice vice $ustice Ro5erto . 5d 5d >ic e crcteried s Binu-ne. Respondent sees te ini5ition o; $ustice &i=- 5sed on te tter@s stte-ent s
Decision
32
G.R. No. 237428
Respon Responden dentt ie>i ie>ise se -de -de -entio -ention n tt tt $ustic $usticee &i=i=- nd $ustic $usticee 'ers-in >ore touc o; red durin/ te BRed (ond protest on (rc 12, 12, 2618 2618 >er >erei ein n =ud/ =ud/es es nd nd cour courtt e-p e-po oee eess repo report rted ed c ced ed on respondent to -e te supre-e scri;ice nd resi/n. Respon Responden dentt so so cs cs ;or te ini5i ini5itio tion n o; $ustic $usticee De Cstro Cstro ;or vin/ e/ed pre=ud/ed te issue s re/rds te vidit o; respondent@s no-intion nd ppoint-ent in 2612 >en $ustice De Cstro testi;ied under ot durin/ te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice erin/s tt respondent soud ve 5een disitout te prticiption o; te $ustices $ustices se sees to dis
Aro- te r/u-ents rised 5 te prties nd te issues s deineted in te dvis dviso or /ove /overn rniin/ te te spe speci ci Or Or r/u-en u-ents ts 5 > o; cco--odtion to respondent, te pr-ount issues to 5e resoved 5 te Court re: 1. Met Mete err te te Cour Courtt cn cn ssu ssu-e -e =ur =uris isdi dict ctio ion n nd nd /ive /ive due due cou cours rsee to te te inst instn ntt peti petiti tion on ;or ;or )uo warranto warranto /i /ins nstt resp respon onde dent nt >o >o is n i-pec i-pec5 5e e o;;ic o;;icer er nd /ins /instt >o>o- n i-pec i-pec-e -ent nt co-p co-pint int s red 5een ;ied >it te ouse o; RepresenttivesK 2. Met Mete err te te peti petiti tion on is is outr outri/ i/t t dis dis-i -iss ssi5 i5e e on on te te /rou /round nd o; o; prescriptionK 3.
Met Mete err resp respon onde dent nt is ei/ ei/i5 i5e e ;or ;or te te posi positi tion on o; Cie Cie;; $us $usti tice ce::
. Meter te deter-i r-intion o; cndidte@s ei/i5iit ;or no-intion is te soe nd ecusive ;unction o; te $'C nd >eter suc deter-intion prtes o; te crcter o; poitic po>ersK
8
!d.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
5. Meter respondent ;ied to ;ie er S#Ns s -ndted 5 te Constitution nd re nd its i-pe-entin/ rues nd re/utionsK nd i; so, >eter te ;iure to ;ie S#Ns voids te no-intion nd ppoint-ent o; respondent s Cie; $usticeK c. Met Mete err resp respon onde dent nt ;i ;ied ed to co-p co-p >it >it te te su5su5-is issi sion on o; S#Ns s reeter te ;iure to su5-it S#Ns to te $'C voids te no-intion nd ppoint-ent o; respondent s Cie; $usticeK d. !n cs csee o; ;ind ;indin/ in/ tt tt res respo pond nden entt is ine inei/ i/i5 i5e to o od te te position o; Cie; $ustice, >eter te su5se
Meter re respondent is is de 8ure or 8ure or de #acto o;;icer. #acto o;;icer. The R+1n of the Co+rt Pre1-1n)ry Pre1-1n)ry Iss+es
Intervention is an ancillary remedy restricted in purpose and in time
!nte !nterv rven enti tion on is re-e re-ed d 5 >ic >ic tir tird d prt prt,, not not ori/ ori/in in i-p i-pe ede ded d in te te proc procee eedi din/ n/s, s, 5eco 5eco-e -ess iti iti/ /nt nt ter terei ein n ;or ;or cert certin in purpose: to en5e te tird prt to protect or preserve ri/t or interest tt - 5e ;;ected 5 tose proceedin/s. 6 Neverteess, te re-ed o; intervention is not -tter o; ri/t 5ut rests on te sound discretion o; te court upon co-pince >it te ;irst res: Sec. 1. Who may intervene. intervene. % person >o s e/ interest in te -tter in iti/tion, or in te success o; eiter o; te prties, or n interest /inst 5ot, or is so situted s to 5e dverse ;;ected 5 distri5ution or oter disposition o; propert in te custod o; te court or o; n o;;icer tereo; -, >it eve o; court, 5e o>ed to intervene in te ction. &e court s consider >eter or not te intervention >i undu de or pre=udice te d=udiction o; te ri/ts o; te ori/in prties, nd >eter or not te intervenor@s ri/ts - 5e ;u protected in seprte proceedin/.
Ec Ec o; te te -ov -ovnt nt%i %int nter erve veno nors rs in tis tis cse cse see see to inte interv rven enee s citiens nd tpers, >ose ci-ed interest to =usti; teir intervention is 6
'i/&one +arketing Corp. v. 1aikal (ealty Corp., 486 Pi. L4L, L? 26649.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
teir Bsense o; ptriotis- nd teir co--on desire to protect nd upod te Piippine Piippine Constitut Constitution. ion. &e -ovnt%inte -ovnt%interveno rvenors rs ;urter ssert Bpu5ic Bpu5ic ri/t ri/t to interve intervene ne in te instnt instnt cse 5 virtue virtue o; its Btrns Btrnscen cenden dent t i-port i-portnc ncee ;or te Aiipino Aiipino peope peope s >oe >oe.. prt prt ;ro- suc ned e/tions, -ovnt%intervenors ;ied to est5is to te CourtQs stis;ction te ree%setted >e%setted on te -tter: !ntervention is not -tter o; 5soute ri/t 5ut - 5e per-itted 5 te court /hen /hen the the )pp )pp1* 1*)n )ntt sho/ sho/ss f)*t f)*tss /h1* /h1*h h s)t1 s)t1sf sfy y the the re<+1re-ents re<+1re-ents of the st)t+te )+thor1@1n )+thor1@1n 1nter3ent1on . *nder our Rues o; Court, >t en e is so situted s to 5e dverse ;;ected 5 distri5ution or oter disposition o; propert in te custod o; te court or n o;;icer tereo;. s re/rds te e/ interest s
Cer, erein -ovnt%intervenors@ senti-ents, no -tter o> no5e, do not, in n >, co-e >itin te purvie> o; te concept o; Be/ inte intere rest st cont contee-p pt ted ed unde underr te te Rue Ruess to =ust =usti; i; te te o o> >nc ncee o; interventi intervention. on. (ovnt%int (ovnt%interveno ervenors rs ;ied to so> n e/ interest interest o; suc nture tt te >i Beiter /in or ose 5 te direct e/ opertion o; te =ud/-ent. Even te !'P@s ssertion o; teir B;und-ent dut to upod te te Const onstit itu utio tion, dvo dvoccte te ;or ;or te te rue rue o; > >, nd nd s;e s;e/ /urd urd te te d-inistrtion o; =ustice, 5ein/ te o;;ici or/nition o; Piippine > >ers ers,, >i >i not not su;; su;;ic ice. e. d-i d-itt tted ed ,, tei teirr inte interes restt is -ere -ere out out o; Bsenti-ent desire to upod te rue o; >. (en>ie, Sentors De #i- nd &rines@ ci-ed e/ interest is -in /rounded upon teir >oud%5e prticiption in te i-pec-ent tri s Sentors%=ud/es i; te rtices o; i-pec-ent >i 5e ;ied 5e;ore te Sente s te i-pec-ent court. Neverteess, te ;ct re-ins tt s o; te -o-ent, suc interest interest is sti sti contin contin/en /entt on te ;iin/ ;iin/ o; te rtic rtices es o; i-pec i-pec-e -ent nt 5e;ore 5e;ore te Sente Sente.. !t 5ers stressin stressin/ / tt tt te intere interest st conte-p conte-pte ted d 5 > -ust 5e ctu, su5stnti, -teri, direct nd i--edite, nd not simply contingent or e2pectant .2 !ndeed, i; ever person, not prties to te ction 5ut ssert teir desire to upod te rue o; > nd te Constitution, >ere o>ed to intervene, proceedin/s >oud 5eco-e unnecessri co-picted, epensive, nd 1
"ngco v. 5alisay, 5alisay, ?1 Pi. Pi. 4?2, 4?%476 26129 citin/ citin/ 'on. E2ecutive -ecretary, -ecretary, et al. v. 4ortheast %reight %reight %orwarders, %orwarders, nc., nc., ?66 Pi. 78, 7 2669. 2 +actan/Cebu nternational $irport $uthority v. v. 'eirs o# Estanislao +i9o6a , ?L? Pi. L37, L47 26119.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
inter-in5e.3 E-p E-pt tic ic ,, )uo warran warranto to proce roceed ediin/ is n ct ction ion 5 te /overn-ent /overn-ent /inst /inst individu individus s un>;u un>;u odin/ odin/ n o;;ice. Section Section 1, Rue ?? provides: Section 1. $ction 1. $ction by overnment against individuals. T individuals. T n ction ;or ;or te te usur usurp pti tion on o; pu5 pu5ic ic o;;i o;;ice, ce, posi positi tion on or ;rn ;rnci cise se - - 5e co--enced co--enced 5 veri;ied petition petition 5rou/t in te n-e o; te Repu5ic o; te Piippines /inst: 9 person >o usurps, intrudes into, or un>;u ods or eercises pu5ic o;;ice, position or ;rnciseK 59 pu5ic o;;icer >o does or su;;ers n ct >ic, 5 te provision o; >, constitutes /round ;or te ;or;eiture o; is o;;iceK or c9 n ssocition >ic cts s corportion >itin te Piippines >itout 5ein/ e/ incorported or >itout >;u utorit so to ct.
&e re-ed o; )uo warranto is warranto is vested in te peope, nd not in n privte individu or /roup, 5ecuse disputes over tite to pu5ic o;;ice re vie>ed s pu5ic
4ewman v. :nited -tates e2 (el. %ri66ell , %ri66ell ,L istoric istoric trced trced te nture o; )uo warranto procee eedi din/ n/ss s cricri-ee >ic >ic cou coud d on on 5e warranto proc prosecuted in te n-e o; te Uin/ 5 is du utoried > o;;icers. !n ti-e, te cri-in ;etures o; )uo warranto proceedin/s warranto proceedin/s >ere -odi;ied nd s suc, te >rit c-e to 5e used s -ens to deter-ine >ic o; t>o ci-nts >s entited to n o;;ice nd to order te ouster nd te p-ent o; ;ine ;ine /ins /instt te usurper usurper.. &is &is s dopted in so-e -ericn sttes. Noneteess, 4ewman epins tt te Code o; te District o; Coo-5i, >ic >s te venue o; te cse, continues to tret usurption o; o;;ice s pu5ic >ron/ >ic cn 5e corrected on 5 proceedin/ proceedin/ in te n-e o; te te /overn-ent itse;. &us: !n sense in ver i-portnt sense ever citien nd ever tper is interested in te en;orce-ent o; >, in te d-inistrtion o; >, nd in vin/ on . 'ut tt /ener interest is not privte, 5ut pu5ic interest. 'ein/ suc, it is to 5e represented 5 te ttorne Gener or te District ttorne, ttorne, >o re epected 5 te-seves or tose te utorie to institute rrnto proceedin/s /inst usurpers in te s-e > tt te re epected to 3
!d. t L47%L48. "akland +unicipal mprovement League v. City o# "akland 1729 1729 23 C. pp. pp. 3D 1?L, 176. L 238 *.S. L37 11L9. 4
Decision
3?
G.R. No. 237428
institute institute proceedin/s proceedin/s /inst /inst n oter viotor o; te >. &t /ener pu5ic interest is not su;;icient to utorie privte citien to institute suc proceedin/s, ;or, i; it >s, ten ever citien nd ever tper >oud >oud ve ve te te s-e s-e inte intere rest st nd nd te te s-e s-e ri/t ri/t to inst instit itut utee suc suc proceedin/s, nd pu5ic o;;icer -i/t, ;ro- te 5e/innin/ to te end o; is ter-, 5e rssed >it proceedin/s to tr is tite.
&e on ti-e tt n individu, in is o>n n-e, - 5rin/ n ct ction ion ;or ;or )uo warranto warranto is >en suc individu s ci- over te position in
Section L. When an individual may commence such an action. T action. T person ci-in/ to 5e entited to pu5ic o;;ice or position usurped or un>;u ed or eercised 5 noter n oter - 5rin/ n ction tere;or in is o>n n-e.
!n tis cse, te -ovnts%intervenors re neiter individus ci-in/ to 5e entited to te it te usurption tereo;. Aurter-ore, it soud 5e e-psied tt te -ovnts%intervenors, in teir respective (otions, presented notin/ -ore tn -ere reitertion o; respondent@s e/tions nd r/u-ents in er Co--ent. Aor tese resons, te Court, in its Resoution ? dted pri 3, 2618, reso resov ved ed to den den te te -oti -otion onss ;or ;or inte interv rven enti tion on resp respec ecti tive ve ;ie ;ied d 5 Cpistrno et al., al., nd )rte et al., al. , nd to note te !'P@s intervention. Aor si-ir resons, te Court resoves to den te -otion ;or intervention o; Sentors De #i- nd &rines. No basis for the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court to inhibit in the case
&e instn instntt petiti petition on co-es co-es t te ees ees o; te recent recent% %con concu cuded ded eri erin/ n/ss on te te dete deter-i r-in nti tion on o; pro5 pro55 5e e cus cusee in te te i-pe i-pec c-en entt co-p co-pint int /ins /instt respon responden dentt 5e;ore 5e;ore te ouse ouse Co--it Co--ittee tee on $ustic $ustice. e. Sever (e-5ers o; te Court, 5ot incu-5ent nd retired, >ere invited, under pin o; conte-pt, to serve s resource persons. &ose (e-5ers >o >ere >ere presen presentt t te Co--it Co--ittee tee erin erin/s /s >ere >ere r-ed r-ed >it >it te reitin teir person no>ed/e nd inso;r s -teri nd ree reev vnt nt to te te issu issues es 5ein 5ein/ / er erd. d. Aor Aor c c o; prti prticu cu ri rit t,, te te Cour Courtt supp suppos oses es tt tt te te tte ttend ndn nce ce o; so-e so-e o; its its (e-5 (e-5er erss in te te ous ousee Co--ittee erin/s is te 5sis o; -ovnt%intervenor S/uis/@s -otion to ?
(ollo, (ollo, pp. L61%L6L.
Decision
37
G.R. No. 237428
recuse. On te oter nd, respondent >s -ore e-ptic >en se sou/t ;;ir-tive reie;, in te ;or- o; te ini5ition o; si ?9 $ustices, o; te Court, >ose =urisdiction se ic purported tended to er >eree $ust $ustic icee &i=i=- >s >s purported
Respondent ci-s tt te ;oresid stte-ents o; $ustice &i=- re indictive o; is stnce tt tere - 5e /round to i-pec nd re-ove respon responden dentt ;ro;ro- o;;ic o;;ice, e, >ic >ic is so so te o5=ecti o5=ective ve o; te )uo warranto petition /inst er. er. *ti *ti- -te te ,, te te cus cusee ;or ;or ini ini5i 5iti tion on si-si--er erss to te te eter, in so pperin/ nd testi;in/ 5e;ore te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice, te (e-5ers o; te Court re precuded ;ro- erin/ nd decidin/ te te inst instn ntt peti petiti tion on ;or ;or )uo warranto. warranto. &o tis, te Court ns>ers in te ne/tive. $urisprudence reco/nies te ri/t o; iti/nts to see dis
Decision
38
G.R. No. 237428
=ust decision nd te dut o; doin/ it in -nner co-pete ;ree ;rosuspicion s to its ;irness nd s to is inte/rit. inte/rit. 7 o>ever, te ri/t o; prt to see te ini5ition or diso does not pper to 5e >o ;ree, disinterested, i-prti nd independent in ndin/ te cse -ust 5e 5nced >it te tterQs scred dut to decide cses >itout ;er o; repression. &e -ovnt -ust tere;ore prove te /round o; 5is nd pre=udice 5 cer nd convincin/ evid eviden ence ce to dis< diss on to prod respondent to o5serve nd respect te constitution process o; i-pec-ent, nd to ee-pi; te ides o; pu5ic ccount5iit, ccount5iit, tus: e dded tt e >nted to en*o+r)e Sereno to sho/ +p )t the Conre Conress ss he)r1ns he)r1ns to respe* respe*tt )nd p)rt1*1p p)rt1*1p)te )te 1n the 1-pe)*h 1-pe)*h-en -entt 9pro*ess:, )nd to defend hersef )nd prote*t the 1nst1t+t1on.D oe -ode -ode /hen /hen 1t *o-e *o-ess to Sere Sereno no,, e sid sid,, sou soud d 5e roe respe*t1n the Const1t+t1on.
B!-pec-ent is not n invention o; poiticins. !t >s dr;ted 5 te ;r-ers o; te Constitution. (edi, >ic prop/tes te -t tt i-pec-ent i-pec-ent is nu-5ers nu-5ers /-e, ence, is poitic poitic nd r5itrr r5itrr,, ;is to e-p e-ps si iee te te ;ct ;ct tt tt te te rue rue o; te te -=o -=ori rit t is te te esse essenc ncee o; de-ocrc, te -/istrte stressed. &i=- 5eieves tt te i-pec-ent process /inst Sereno is not n ttc on te i/ court or te $udicir 5ecuse te Supre-e Court does not consist o; te cie; =ustice one. B!-p B!-pec ec-ent ent is nei neit ter erFF n ss ssu utt on te te $udi $udici cir r nor nor n in;rin/e-ent on te independence o; te $udicir, 5ecuse it is ensrined in te Constitution. Prentetic, >en te SC stries do>n cts o; Con/ress nd cts o; te President nd te Eecutive Deprt-ent ;or 5ein/ un>;u nd unconstitution, te SC is not ssutin/ te independence o; Con/ress nd te Eecutive Deprt-ent 5ecuse te epnded po>er o; =udici revie> is ensrined in te Constitution, &i=- pointed out. Sere Sereno no,, e sid, sid, sho+ sho+d d be ) roe oe -ode -ode /hen /hen 1t *o-e *o-ess to respe*t1n the Const1t+t1on. E-psis ours9
Not5, Not5, respondent convenient nd csu invoed on portion 7
;uery o# E2ec. Judge Estrada, (&C, +alolos, 1ulacan, 1ulacan, 23 Pi. 1, ? 1879. eople v. v. 'on. "ng , L23 Pi. 347, 3L8 266?9. Http:II>>>.-niti-es. Http:II>>>.-niti-es.netIpper%c netIpper%con/ress%viote%co on/ress%viote%constitutionI3??L7LIJ nstitutionI3??L7LIJ visited on pri ?, 8
26189.
Decision
3
G.R. No. 237428
o; te rtice >ic suited er o5=ective o; i-putin/ 5is /inst $ustice &i=-. s to te ct o; >erin/ red tie >ic purported est5ises $ust $ustic ices es &i=i=- nd nd 'ers 'ers-in in@s @s pre= pre=ud udic icee /i /ins nstt er er, te te r/u r/u-e -ent nt is 5seess nd un;ir. un;ir. &ere is no 5sis, >eter in o/ic or in >, >, to est5is connection 5et>een piece o; cotin/ nd -/istrte@s per;or-nce o; d=udictor ;unctions. 5sent co-pein/ proo; to te contrr, te red piece o; cotin/ >s -ere coincident nd soud not 5e dee-ed su;;icient /round to dis
&Fe second pr/rp o; Rue 137, Section 1,161 does not /ive =ud/es un;ettered discretion to decide >eter to desist ;ro- erin/ cse. &e ini5ition -ust 5e ;or =ust nd vid cuses, nd in tis re/rd, Me ve noted tt te -ere i-puttion o; 5is or prtiit is not enou/ /round ;or ini5ition, especi >en te cr/e is >itout 5sis. &is Court s to 5e so>n cts or conduct cer indictive o; r5itrriness or pre=udice 5e;ore it cn 5rnd te- >it te sti/- o; 5is or prtiit. prtiit. (oreover, etrinsic evidence is reic - 5e in;erred ;ro- te decision or order itse;. &e on eception to te rue is >en te error is so /ross nd ptent s to produce n ineuct5e in;erence o; 5d ;it or -ice.162 Cittions o-itted9
!n tis cse, it does not pper tt tere re /rounds ;or co-pusor ini ini5i 5iti tion on.. s to vou vount ntr r ini ini5i 5iti tion on,, te te -ere -ere ;ct ;ct tt tt so-e so-e o; te te ssocite $ustices prticipted in te erin/s o; te Co--ittee on $ustice deter-inin/ pro55e cuse ;or te i-pec-ent o; respondent does not -e te- diss in de;erence to te ouse o; Representtives >ose constitution dut to investi/te te i-pec-ent co-pint ;ied /inst respondent coud not 5e dou5ted. &eir ppernce >s >it te prior consent o; te Supre-e Court En Court En 1anc nd 1anc nd te ;it;u o5served te pr-eters tt te Court set ;or te purpose. &eir stte-ents in te erin/, soud 5e cre;u vie>ed >itin tis contet, nd soud not 5e sti interpreted s n dverse ttc /inst respondent. 166
?6? Pi. ?1L 2669. Section Section 1. 5is)uali#ication 5is)uali#ication o# 8udges. 8udges. No =ud/e or =udici o;;icer s sit in n cse in >ic e, or is >i;e or cid, is pecuniri interested interested s eir, e/tee, creditor or oter>ise, or in >ic e is reted to eiter prt >itin te sit de/ree o; consn/uinit or ;;init, ;;init, or to counse >itin te ;ourt de/ree, co-puted ccordin/ to te rues o; te civi >, or in >ic e s 5een eecutor, d-inistrtor, /urdin, trustee or counse, or in >ic e s presided in n in;erior court >en is ruin/ or decision is te su5=ect o; revie>, >itout te >ritten consent o; prties in interest, si/ned 5 te- nd entered upon te record. =ud/e -, in te eercise o; is sound discretion, dis
Decision
46
G.R. No. 237428
!n ;ct, $ustice &i=-, in is S>orn Stte-ent 163 su5-itted to te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice, cer identi;ied te purpose o; is ttendnce teret: 2. !n rep rep ,, ! sent sent et ette terr to Rep Repre rese sent ntt tiv ivee *- *-ii on Nove-5er 24, 2617, in;or-in/ i- tt ins-uc s te issue invoved ctio ctions ns o; te te Supr Supre-e e-e Court Court En 1anc, 1anc, I dee-ed 1t proper to f1rst se*+re se*+re 1ts )ppro3) )ppro3) before before p)rt1*1 p)rt1*1p)t1 p)t1n n 1n the Ho+se Ho+se Co--1t Co--1ttee tee he)r1n .
3. On Nove-5er Nove-5er 28, 2617, te Supre-e Supre-e Court En Court En 1anc /ve 1anc /ve cernce ;or $ustices >o ve 5een invited 5 te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice to testi; in connection >it te i-pec-ent co-pint, to /ive Co+rt>ss test testii-on on on d-i d-ini nist strt rtiv ivee -tt -tter erss i; te te so >is >is.. The Co+rt> Reso+t1on 1n th1s re)rd st)tes th)t the )+thor1ty /)s r)nted ony be*)+se the pro*eed1ns before the Co--1ttee on J+st1*e of the Ho+se of Represent)t13es *onst1t+te p)rt of the 1-pe)*h-ent pro*ess +nder Se*t1on $, Art1*e I of the 68'% Const1t+t1on.D cop o; te CourtQs Resoution is ereto ttced s nne B.
4.
! - su5su5-it itti tin/ n/ tis tis S>or S>orn n Stt Sttee-en entt to te te ous ousee Co--ittee on $ustice s - testi-on in retion to .(. No. 17%6?%62% SC, 5sed on - 5est recoection o; events retin/ to sid -tter nd vi5e vi5e records. records. ! s, o>ever, o>ever, 5e >iin/ >iin/ to /ive ;urter testi-on testi-on soud te ouse Co--ittee ;ind it pproprite to propound nd reevnt rues. I /1 /1 )ppe )ppe)r )r )nd )nd 13 13ee test test11-ony ony befor beforee the the Ho+ Ho+se se L. Co--1ttee on J+st1*e not )s ) /1tness for the *o-p)1n)nt, b+t to honor the Co--1ttee> Co--1ttee>ss 1n31t)t1on 1n31t)t1on to sed i/t on .(. No. 17%6?%62% )**ord d+e respe* respe*tt to the Const1t Const1t+t1o +t1on) n)y y est)b1s est)b1shed hed SC )nd to )**ord pro*ess of 1-pe)*h-ent. E-psis ours9
#ie>ise, te $ustices, incudin/ $ustice &i=-, >o ppered durin/ te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice erin/s, re;used to ;or- n concusion or to ns>er te uni;or- eter respondent@s cts constitute i-pec5e o;;enses, s it >s not teirs to decide 5ut ;unction proper 5eon/in/ to te Sente, sittin/ s n i-pec-ent court. 164 Evident, no 5is nd pre=udice on te te prt o; te $ustices coud coud 5e in;erred terein. =ud/e - decide, in the e2ercise o# his sound discretion, to recuse i-se; ;ro- cse ;or 8ust or valid reasons reasons . &e prse 8ust prse 8ust or valid reasons, reasons , s te second re
Dted Dece-5er ?, 2617. -ee &SN -ee &SN o; te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice dted Dece-5er 11, 2617, p. !%2K"!!%1. !%2K"!!%1.
Decision
41
G.R. No. 237428
cuses >ic, tou/ not strict ;in/ >itin tose enu-erted in te ;irst pr/rp, re in or no/ous tereto. !n deter-inin/ >t cuses re =ust, =ud/es -ust eep in -ind tt net to i-portnce to te dut o; renderin/ ri/teous =ud/-ent is tt o; doin/ it in suc -nner s >i 5e/et no suspicion o; te ;irness nd inte/rit o; te =ud/e. Aor it is n ccepted io- tt ever iti/nt, incudin/ te stte, in cri-in cses, is entited to notin/ ess tn te cod neutrit o; n i-prti =ud/e, nd te > intends tt no =ud/e s preside in n cse cse in >ic >ic e is not not >o >o ;ree ;ree,, disi disint nter eres este ted, d, i-pr i-prti ti ,, nd nd 16L independent.
Respondent@s c ;or ini5ition s 5een 5sed on specutions, or on distortions o; te n/u/e, contet nd -enin/ o; te ns>ers te $ustices - - ve ve /ive /iven n s s>or s>orn n >itn >itness esses es in te te proc procee eedi din/ n/ss o; te te ous ousee Co--ittee on $ustice. $ustice $ustice 'ers-inQ 'ers-inQss stte-ent stte-ent tt <$ng -upreme Court ay hindi po maarin maaring g mag #uncti #unction on kung kung isa ay dikta diktador dor,= ,= is cer cer pot poteti etic c stte-ent, n o5servtion on >t >oud te Court 5e i; n o; its (e-5ers >ere to ct dicttori. #ie>ise, te Court cnnot scri5e 5is in $ustice 'ers-inQs re-r tt e >s o;;ended 5 respondent@s ttitude in i/norin/ te coe/iit o; te te Supr Supree-ee Cour Courtt >en >en se se >it >itdr dre> e> te te $ust $ustic ices esQQ Bpri Bprivi vie e/e /e to reco--end reco--end no-inees no-inees to ;i vcncie vcnciess in te Supre-e Court. Court. !t >oud 5e presu-ptuous to es 5een i/ de/ree ree o; pro;essionis- -on/ te (e-5ers o; te Court in 5ot teir person nd o;;ici dein/s >it >it ec oter. oter. !t cnnot so 5e denied tt te te stte-ent re;ected ntur ntur senti-ent to>rds decision reced nd i-posed i-posed 5 -e-5er o; coe/i 5od >itout consuttion or consensus. (en (en> >i ie, e, resp respon onde dent nt@s @s e e/ /ti tion on o; ctu ctu 5is 5is nd nd prti prti it it /inst $ustice Pert is ne/ted 5 is testi-on durin/ te $nur 1L, 2618 erin/ o; te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice, >ere e stted tt e s 5een ver supportive o; te $udicir re;or-s introduced 5 respondent s te Cie; $ustice, even i; se suspects tt e is one o; tose 5eind er i-pec-ent. $ustice PertQs testi-on 5e;ore te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice so contrdicts respondentQs e/tion tt $ustice PertQs pprent 5is rose ;ro- is 5eie; tt respondent cused te ecusion o; is >i;e, Court o; ppes C9 ssocite $ustice Aernnd #-ps Pert, ;ro- te ist o; ppictio ppictions ns ;or te position position o; C Presidi Presidin/ n/ $ustice. $ustice. $ustice $ustice Pert s -de it cer durin/ te Ae5rur 12, 2618 Con/ression erin/ tt e s red -oved on ;ro- sid issue nd tt te purpose o; is testi-on >s 16L
36 -. $r. 7?7.
Decision
42
G.R. No. 237428
-ere to protect prospective ppicnts to te $udicir. $udicir. $ustice PertQs testi-on durin/ te Con/ression erin/ tt B had >he? been in#ormed o# >the? letter dated July @A, @B@ and a certi#icate o# clearance, >he? could have immediately ob8ected to the selection o# the Chie# Justice #or voting because this is a very clear deviation #rom e2isting rules that i# a member o# the Judiciary would like...or...a candidate would like to apply #or Chie# Justice, then she or he is mandated to submit the -$L4s, is cer potetic stte-ent, >ic >i not necessri resut in te diss so epressed epressed in ine >it is ;unctions s ten ctin/ Cirperson o; te $'C, tsed >it deter-inin/ te constitution nd sttutor ei/i5iit o; ppicnts ;or te position o; Cie; $ustice. !t 5ers stressin/, too, tt t te ti-e sid stte-ent >s -de, te petition ;or )uo warranto s warranto s not 5een ;iedK tus, suc stte-ent cnnot -ount to pre=ud/-ent o; te cse. Aurte Aurter-or r-ore, e, ccord ccordin/ in/ to $ustic $usticee Pert Pert,, >ie >ie e >s ten ten te cti ctin n/ E2 "##icio Ci Cirpe rperso rson n o; te te $'C $'C t te te ti-e ti-e o; resp respon onde dent nt@s @s ppiction ;or te position o; Cie; $ustice, e d no person no>ed/e o; te disputed ;cts concernin/ te proceedin/s, speci;ic te -tters cons consid ider ered ed 5 te te -e-5 -e-5er erss o; te te $'C $'C in prep prepr rin in/ / te te sor sort tis istt o; no-inees. e epined tt tt it >s te ORSN o; te $'C >ic >ic >s tsed to deter-ine deter-ine co-petene co-peteness ss o; te ppicnt ppicnts@ s@ docu-entr docu-entr re te- s indiction o; ctu 5is or pre=udice /inst respondent. Our revie> o; te record reves tt $ustice (rtires@ did not re;er to respondent s te o5=ect o; is stte-ents, s ;oo>s: $*S&!CE (R&!RES : Soicitor Cid, >oud ou /ree >it -e na -e na lahat ng taong may dibdib ay may kaba sa dibdibD $t lahat ng taong may ulo ay may katok sa ulo. SO#!C!&OR GENER# C#!D: +es, +our onor, ! /ree. $*S&!CE (R&!RES: No> >oud ou consider it -ent iness sic9 >en person >s invoes God s te source o; is stren/tV &e source o; is inspirtionV &e source o; ppinessV &e source o; evertin/ in i;eV !s tt -ent iness. SO#!C!&OR GENER# C#!D: Not necessri, necessri, +our +our onor. onor. $*S&!CE (R&!RES: So, !@- =ust -in/ ;oo>%up to te
Decision
43
G.R. No. 237428
erier sed. So, >oud ou /ree >it -e tt te pscitrist -de >ron/ >ron/ evu evutio tion n >it >it respect respect to te psci pscitr tric ic report report o; te Cie; Cie; 16? $usticeV
Neiter re Me prepred to concude tt $ustice (rtires@ stte-ents >ere 5sed on n etrneous source, oter tn >t >t e s erned or encountered encountered over te course o; te instnt proceedin/s. proceedin/s. &ere is notin/ notin/ in te interpetion, nor in $ustice (rtires@ stte-ents tt e s red te pscitric report, nor s red ne>spper ccounts tcin/ te s-e. e -ere sed te OSG i; e s red te s-e, nd is opinion re/rdin/ it. Cont Contr rr r to resp respon onde dent nt@s @s cont conten enti tion ons, s, $ust $ustic icee (rt (rtir ires es s s not not su//ested tt se su;;ers ;ro- so-e -ent or pscoo/ic iness. t -ost, -ost, is ere >ere -ere -ere pot poteti etic c in nture nture,, >ic do not even constitute s n opinion /inst respondent. Certin, to i-pu i-pute te ctu ctu 5is 5is 5se 5sed d on suc suc 5rie 5rie;; disc discou ours rsee >it >it resp respec ectt to potetic -tters is con=ectur nd i/ specutive. Be/tions nd perceptions o; 5is ;ro- te -ere tenor nd n/u/e o; =ud/e is insu;;icient to so> pre=ud/-ent. 167 !n te s-e vein, insinution insinutionss tt te $ustices o; te Supre-e Court re to>in/ te ine o; President Rodri/o Ro Duterte in entertinin/ te )uo warranto petition warranto petition -ust 5e struc ;or 5ein/ un;ounded nd ;or so>in/ seeds o; -istrust nd discordnce 5et>een te Court nd te pu5ic. &e (e-5ers o; te Court re 5eoden to no one, ecept to te soverei/n Aiipino peope >o ordined nd pro-u/ted te Constitution. !t is tus inpproprite to -isrepresent tt te Soicitor Gener >o s supposed -et consistent iti/tion success 5e;ore te Supre-e Court s ie>ise uto-tic nd positive 5e received in te present )uo warranto ction. warranto ction. &t te Court spres te Soicitor Gener te rod is esi dispeed 5 te Court@s ;irorders orders in G.R. G.R. Nos. Nos. 2343L 2343L nd 234484 234484 concer concernin nin/ / e/e e/ed d etr etr e/ e/ i iin in/s /s cse cse direc direct t conc concer erni nin/ n/ te te ctu ctut tio ions ns o; te te eec eecut utiv ivee deprt deprt-en -entt to provid providee te Court >it >it docu-e docu-ents nts retive retive to te Opn Opn &o on/ n/ oper opert tio ions ns nd nd 5 unin unin-ou ouss vote vote,, re5u re5ue ed d te te Soi Soicc io iotor tor Gener@s pe ;or reconsidertion. Su;;ice to s tt te Court decides 5sed on te -erits o; cse nd not on te ctors or te supposed 5ene;ctors invoved. 5sent stron/ nd co-pein/ evidence est5isin/ ctu 5is nd prtiit on te prt o; te $ustices >ose recus >s sou/t, respondentQs respondentQs -otions ;or ini5ition ini5ition -ust per;orce ;i. (ere con=ectures nd nd specutions cnnot =usti; te ini5ition o; $ud/e or $ustice ;ro- =udici -tter. &e presu-ption tt te =ud/e >i underte is no5e roe o; dispensin/ =ustice in ccordnce >it > nd evidence, nd >itout ;er or ;vor, soud soud not 5e 5ndo 5ndoned ned >itou >itoutt cer cer nd convin convincin cin/ / eviden evidence ce to te 16? 167
19.
&rnscript o; Steno/rpic Notes dted pri 16, 2618, pp. 234%23L. ochan v. ochan, ochan, 44? Pi. 433, 43 26639K eople 26639K eople v. Court o# $ppeals, $ppeals , 3? Pi. 1L6, 1L8
Decision
44
G.R. No. 237428
contrr. !n 5imo !n 5imo (ealty 5evelopment, 5evelopment, nc. v. v. 5imaculangan, 168 Me ed: B'Fis nd pre=udice, to 5e considered vid resons ;or te vountr ini5ition o; =ud/es, -ust 5e proved >it cer nd convincin/ evidence. 're 're e/t e/tion ionss o; prti prtiit it nd pre=ud/pre=ud/-ent ent >i >i not su;;ic su;;ice. e. &ese &ese cnnot 5e presu-ed, especi i; >ei/ed /inst te scred o5i/tion o; =ud/es >ose ots o; o;;ice reitout resp respec ectt to pers person on nd nd to do e
&e Court s pointed o5served in imentel v. v. 'on. -alanga! 116 E;;orts to ttin ;ir, =ust nd i-prti tri nd decision, ve ntu ntur r nd u uri rin/ n/ ppe ppe. . 'ut, 'ut, >e re re not ice icens nsed ed to indu indu/ /ee in un=usti;ied ssu-ptions, or -e specutive pproc to tis ide. It 1 beho behoo3 o3ees th1s th1s Co+r Co+rtt to t)r t)r )nd )nd fe)t fe)the herr ) +d +de e )s b1)s b1)sed ed or pre+d1*ed, s1-py be*)+se *o+nse for ) p)rty 1t1)nt h)ppens to *o-p)1n ))1nst h1-. As )pp1ed here, respondent +de h)s not )s yet *rossed the 1ne th)t d131des p)rt1)1ty )nd 1-p)rt1)1ty. He h)s not th+s f)r stepped to one s1de of the f+*r+-. No )*t or *ond+*t of h1s /o+d /o+d sho/ sho/ )rb1tr)r )rb1tr)r1ne 1ness ss or pre+d pre+d1*e. 1*e. Therefor Therefore, e, /e )re not to )ss+-e /h)t respondent +de, not other/1se e)y d1s<+)1f1ed, /1 do 1n ) *)se before h1-. Fe h)3e h)d o**)s1on to r+e 1n ) *r1-1n) *)se th)t ) *h)re -)de before tr1) th)t ) p)rty /1 not be 13en ) f)1r, 1-p)rt1) )nd +st he)r1n 1s pre-)t+re. Pre+d1*e 1s not to be pres+-ed. Espe*1)y 1f /e1hed ))1nst ) +de=s e) ob1)t1on +nder h1s o)th to )d-1n1ster +st1*e /1tho+t respe*t to person )nd do e<+) r1ht to the poor )nd the r1*h. &o dis
&e Court s conseo is not e/ disitout co--ittin/ dereiction o; dut ;or >ic e or se - 5e ed ccount5e. &o>rds tt end, te Court s pt re-inded: &o te or not to te co/nince o; cse, does not depend upon te discretion o; =ud/e not e/ disit te tri nd decision o; te cse. e cnnot sir te responsi5iit >itout te ris o; 5ein/ ced upon to ccount ;or is dereiction.112
168
4? Pi. 373 26649. !d. t 384%38L. 116 128 Pi. 17? 1?79. 111 !d. t 182%183. 112 eople v. v. +oreno, +oreno, 83 Pi. 28?, 24 149K er#ecto 149K er#ecto v. v. Contreras Contreras,, 28 Pi. L38 1149K Joa)uin 1149K Joa)uin v. 1arretto, 1arretto, 2L Pi. 281, 287 1139. 16
Decision
4L
G.R. No. 237428
!t is ti-e to 5e re-inded, too, tt te Supre-e Court is coe/i =udici 5od >ose ever (e-5er s soe-n nd individu s>orn to dispense nd d-inister =ustice to ever iti/nt. s coe/i 5od, te Supre-e Court d=udictes >itout ;er or ;vor. &e on tin/s tt te Supre-e Court coective ;ocuses its ttention to in ever cse re te -erits tereo;, tereo;, nd te r/u-ents r/u-ents o; te prties on te issues su5-itted su5-itted ;or considertion nd dei5ertion. On tere5 - te soe-n individu ot o; te (e-5ers to do =ustice 5e o5eed.
!n ine ine >it >it te te ;ore ;ore/o /oin in/, /, Me deedee- it 5se 5see ess ss,, not not to -ent -entio ion n pro5e-tic, te respondent@s prer tt te -tter o; ini5ition o; te si ssocite ssocite $ustices $ustices 5e decided decided 5 te re-inin/ re-inin/ -e-5ers o; te Court En 1anc. 1anc. &e respondent erse; >s co/nint tt te previin/ rue o>s cen/ed $ustices to prticipte in te dei5ertions on te -tter o; teir dis< diseter to sit in cse ;or oter =ust nd vid resons, >it on teir conscience s /uide. 113 !ndeed, te 5est person to deter-ine te propriet o; sittin/ in cse rests >it te -/istrte sou/t to 5e dis te propriet o; cts o; teir coe/ues, scenrio >ic cn under-ine te independence o; ec o; te -e-5ers o; te i/ Court. !n te En te En 1anc cse 1anc cse o; Jurado o; Jurado Co. v. 'ongkong 1ank ,114 te Court eucidted tt cen/e to te co-petenc o; =ud/e - d-it t>o constructio constructions: ns: #irst , te -/istrte decides ;or i-se; te en e does so, is decision terein is concusive nd te oter (e-5ers o; te Court ve no voice in itK nd second , te cen/ed -/istrte sits >it te Court nd decides te cen/e s coe/i 5od. !t >s in Jurado Jurado tt te Court dopted te second vie> s te proper ppro pproc c >en >en c ce en/ n/ee is pois poised ed on te te co-p co-pet eten enc c o; sitt sittin in/ / -/i -/ist str rte te,, tt tt is, is, te te Cour Court, t, together together with te cen/ed cen/ed -/istrte -/istrte,, decide decides. s. $urdo $urdo ;urte ;urterr epres epress s ecud ecuded ed possi5 possi5e e tird tird constr construct uction ion >erein te Court decides te cen/e 5ut >itout te prticiption o; te cen/ed -e-5er on te /round tt suc construction >oud pce po>er on prt to t te proceedin/s proceedin/s 5 te si-pe epedient epedient o; cen/i cen/in/ n/ -=o -=orit rit o; te te $ust $ustic ices es.. &e &e Cour Courtt sees sees no res reson on to devi devit tee ;ro;ro- its its stndin/ prctice o; resovin/ co-petenc cen/es s coe/i 5od >itout ecudin/ te cen/ed (e-5er ;ro- prticiptin/ terein.
113
5r. 5r. (aul +. -unico -unico v. v. Judge edro edro 5l. utierre6 utierre6 , .(. No. R&$%1?%24L R&$%1?%24L7, 7, Ae5rur 21, 2617. 1 Pi. 3L 1629.
114
Decision
4?
G.R. No. 237428
ccord ccordin/ in/ ,, te Court Court resov resoves es to DEN+ DEN+ respon responden dent@s t@s -otion -otion to ecude ssocite $ustices Pert, #eonrdo%De Cstro, $rdee, &i=-, 'ers 'ers-i -in, n, nd nd (rti (rtires res in te te reso resou uti tion on o; te te sep sepr rte te -oti -otion onss ;or ;or ini5ition /inst /inst te sid ssocite $ustices. #ie>ise, te Court resoves to DEN+ te sid seprte -otions ;or ini5ition.
S+bst)nt13e S+bst)nt13e Iss+es I. The Co+rt Co+rt h)s J+r1sd J+r1sd1*t 1*t1on 1on o3er o3er the the 1nst)n 1nst)ntt Pet1t1on for Quo Warranto
&e petition cen/es respondentQs ri/t nd tite to te position o; Cie; Cie; $ustic $ustice. e. &e Repu5 Repu5ic ic vers vers tt tt respon responden dentt un>; un>;u u ods ods er o;;ice 5ecuse in ;iin/ to re/ur decre er ssets, i5iities nd net >ort s -e-5er o; te creer service prior to er ppoint-ent s n ssocite $ustice, nd ter s Cie; $ustice, o; te Court, se cnnot 5e sid to possess te re
Section L, rtice "!!! o; te Constitution, in prt, provides tt te Supr Supree-ee Cour Courtt s s eer eerci cise se ori/ ori/in in =uri =urisd sdic icti tion on over over peti petiti tion onss ;or ;or certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, )uo warranto, nd habeas nd habeas corpus. &is corpus. &is Court, Court, te Court o; ppes ppes nd te Re/ion Re/ion &ri &ri Courts Courts ve concurrent concurrent =urisdiction to issue te te etrordinr >rits, incudin/ incudin/ )uo warranto. warranto . Reted, Section 7, Rue ?? o; te Rues o; Court provides tt te venu venuee o; n cti ction on ;or )uo warranto, warranto , >en co--enced 5 te Soicitor Gener, is eiter te Re/ion &ri Court in te Cit o; (ni, in te Court o; ppes, or in te Supre-e Court. Mie te ierrc o; courts serves s /ener deter-innt o; te ppro ppropr pri ite te ;oru ;oru- ;or ;or peti petiti tion onss ;or ;or te te etr etro ord rdin inr r >rit >rits, s, dire direct ct invoction o; te Supre-e Court@s ori/in =urisdiction to issue suc >rits is o>ed >en tere re speci nd i-portnt resons tere;or, cer nd
Decision
47
G.R. No. 237428
speci;ic set out in te petition. 11L !n te instnt cse, direct resort to te Court is =usti;ied considerin/ tt te ction ;or )uo warranto eter >eter person usurps, intrudes into, or un>;u ods or eercises pu5ic o;;ice is -tter o; pu5ic concern over >ic te /overn-ent tes speci interest s it o5vious cnnot o> n intruder or i-postor to occup pu5ic position. 11? !he !he inst instan antt peti petiti tion on is a case case of transcendental importance
Mie trdition, trdition, te principe o; trnscendent i-portnce ppies s n ecept eception ion to te rue rue reer o; revie>, te s-e principe neverteess, ;inds ppiction in tis cse s it is >itout dou5t tt te Stte -intins n interest on te issue o; te e/it o; te Cie; $ustice@s ppoint-ent. Aurter, it is pprent tt te instnt petition is one o; ;irst i-pression nd o; pr-ount i-portnce to te pu5ic in te sense tt te ise 5eoove tis Court to rue on te issues put ;ort 5 te prties. &is Court s >s 5een vi/int dvocte in ensurin/ tt its -e-5ers nd e-poees continuous possess te te i/ i/es estt ide ides s o; inte inte/r /rit it , one onest st , nd nd upri/ upri/t tne ness ss.. (ore (ore tn tn pro;ession co-petence, tis Court is co/nint o; te reit tt te stren/t o; Our institution depends on te con;idence reposed on *s 5 te pu5ic. s cn 5e /ened ;ro- Our recent decisions, tis Court s not esitted ;ro- discipinin/ its -e-5ers >eter te 5e =ud/es, $ustices or re/ur court e-poees. &is cse soud not tere;ore 5e treted -ere >it id /oves 5ecuse it invoves te i/est o;;ici o; te =udici 5rnc o; te /overn-ent. On te contrr, tis is n opportune ti-e ;or tis Court to ec ectt cco ccoun unt t5i 5ii it t 5 ee-in inin in/ / >et >ete err ter teree s s 5een 5een stri strict ct co-pince >it te e/ nd procedur re
Chamber o# (eal Estate and 1uilders $ssn., nc. >C(E1$? v. -ec. o# $grarian (e#orm , ?3L Pi. 283, 366 26169. 11? (epublic o# the hilippines v. ablico Corpin, 164 Pi. 4, L3 1L89.
Decision
48
G.R. No. 237428
Respondent, o>ever, pounds on te ;ct tt s -e-5er o; te Supre-e Court, se is n i-pec5e i-pec5e o;;icer. o;;icer. s suc, respondent r/ues r/ues tt )uo warranto proceedin/, warranto proceedin/, >ic - resut in er ouster, cnnot 5e od/ed /inst er, especi >en tere is n i-pendin/ i-pec-ent cse /inst er. &is r/u-ent is -ispced.
!he origin" nature and purpose of impe impeac achm hmen entt and and quo quo arra arrant nto o are materially different different
Mie 5ot i-pec-ent nd )uo warranto - warranto - resut in te ouster o; te pu5ic o;;ici, te t>o proceedin/s -teri di;;er. t its -ost 5sic, i-pec-en i-pec-entt proceedin proceedin/s /s re poitic poitic in nture, >ie n ction ction ;or )uo warranto is warranto is =udici or proceedin/ pr oceedin/ trdition od/ed od/ed in te courts. &o end proper contet, Me 5rie; recount te ori/in nd nture o; i-pec-ent proceedin/s nd )uo warranto petition: warranto petition: Impeachment
istorins trce te ori/in o; i-pec-ent s ;r s te L t centur in ncient Greece in process ced eisangelia.117 &e &e /roun rounds ds ;or ;or i-pec-ent incude treson, conspirc /inst te de-ocrc, 5etr o; strte/ic posts or epeditionr ;orces nd corruption nd deception. 118 !ts -ode -odern rn ;or-, ;or-, o>e o>eve verr, ppe pper rss to 5e insp inspir ired ed 5 te te 'rit 'ritis is pri-entr sste- o; i-pec-ent. &ou/ 5ot pu5ic nd privte o;;i o;;ici cis cn cn 5e te su5 su5=ect =ect o; te te proc proceess, ss, te te 'rit 'ritiis sst sstee- o; i-pe i-pec c-en entt is r r/e /e si-i si-i rr to te te curr curren entt proc proced edur uree in tt tt it is undert underte en n in 5ot 5ot ouses ouses o; te Pri Pri-en -ent. t. &e ouse ouse o; Co--on Co--onss deter-i deter-ines nes >en >en n i-pec i-pec-e -ent nt soud soud 5e instit institute uted. d. !; te /round /rounds, s, nor- ;or treson nd oter i/ cri-es nd -isde-enor, re dee-ed su;;ic su;;icien ient, t, te ouse ouse o; Co--on Co--onss prosec prosecute utess te indivi individu du 5e;ore 5e;ore te te 11 ouse o; #ords. Mie i-pec-ent >s vied ;or Bi/ cri-es nd -isde-enors, it >oud pper tt te prse >s ppied to vriet o; cts >ic cn r/u5 -ount to 5rec o; te pu5ic@s con;idence, suc s dvisin/ te 117
H(tte> H(tte> R. Ro-ne Ro-ne,, &e Ori/ins nd Scope o; Presiden Presidenti ti !-pec-ent !-pec-ent,, !NCU#E !NCU#E+ + $O*RN# OA PO#!&!CSJ visited on (rc 1L, 26189. 118 !d. 11 $c Si-son Cird, Cird, !-pec-e !-pec-ent, nt, 'R!EA!NG 'R!EA!NG PPER, PER, Nu-5er Nu-5er C'P7?12, C'P7?12, ? $une 261?. ccessed ;ro- Http:IIreserc5rie;in/s.pri Http:IIreserc5rie;in/s.pri-ent.uIReser -ent.uIReserc'rie;in/IS c'rie;in/ISu--rIC'P u--rIC'P%7?12W;ureportJ %7?12W;ureportJ visited on (rc 1L, 26189.
Decision
4
G.R. No. 237428
Uin/ to /rnt i5erties nd privie/es to certin persons to te indrnce o; te due eecution o; te >s, procurin/ o;;ices ;or persons >o >ere un;it, nd nd un>o un>ort rt o; tete- nd nd s > te te pu5 pu5ic ic tre resure sure,, 5ro>5etin/ >itnesses nd co--entin/ on teir credi5iit, credi5iit, cursin/ nd drinin/ to ecess, tere5 5rin/in/ te i/est scnd on te pu5ic =ustice o; te in/do-, nd ;iure to conduct i-se; on te -ost distin/uised principes o; /ood ;it, e: &e President, "ice%President, nd civi O;;icers o; te *nited Sttes, s 5e re-oved ;ro- O;;ice on !-pec-ent ;or, nd Conviction o;, treson, 'ri5er, or oter i/ Cri-es n d (isde-enors.121
Oter Oter noted noted di;;er di;;erenc ences es ;ro;ro- te 'ritis 'ritis proces processs o; i-pec i-pec-e -ent nt incude i-itin/ nd speci;in/ te /rounds to Btreson, 'ri5er, or oter i/ Cri-es nd (isde-enors, nd punisin/ te o;;ender >it re-ov nd diss is ;ro- te 13L Constitution. 123 Co-pred to te *S Constitution, it >oud pper tt te dr;ters o; te 13L Constitution ;urter -odi;ied te process 5 -in/ i-pec-ent ppic5e on to te i/est o;;icis o; te countrK providin/ Bcup5e viotion o; te Constitution s n ddition /round, nd reo%tirds vote o; te ouse o; Representtives to i-pec nd tree%;ourts vote o; te Sente to convict. s current >orded, our 187 Constitution, in ddition to tose stted in te 13L 5sic >, provided noter ddition /round to i-pec i/% rnin/ pu5ic o;;icis: B5etr o; pu5ic trust. Co--issioner Rustico De os Rees o; te 18? Constitution Co--ission epined tis /round s Bctc% prse to incude cts >ic re not punis5e 5 sttutes s pen o;;enses 5ut, noneteess, render te o;;icer un;it to continue in o;;ice. !t incudes 5etr o; pu5ic interest, inecus5e ne/i/ence o; dut, dut, trn trnni nic c 5us 5usee o; po>e po>err, 5re 5rec c o; o;;i o;;ici ci dut dut 5 -;e -;es snc ncee or -is;esnce, cronis-, ;voritis-, etc. to te pre=udice o; pu5ic interest nd 126
H(tte> R. Ro-ne, Ro-ne, &e Ori/ins nd Scope o; Presidenti !-pec-ent, !NCU#E+ $O*RN# OA PO#!&!CSJ visited on (rc 1L, 26189. 121 Section 4, rtice !! o; te *S Constitution. 122 -ee $ustice $ustice $ose "itu/@s "itu/@s Seprte Seprte Opinion, %rancisco, Jr. Jr. v. 'ouse o# (epresentatives (epresentatives in G.R. No. 1?62?1, 4?6 Pi. 836 26639K Puno, Rento ". ". &e Process o; !-pec-ent nd its ppic5iit in te Piippine #e/ Sste-, teneo #> $ourn 1829. p. 1?L. 123 -ee $ustice $ustice $ose "itu/@s "itu/@s Seprte Seprte Opinion, %rancisco, Jr. Jr. v. 'ouse o# (epresentatives (epresentatives in G.R. No. 1?62?1, 4?6 Pi. 836 26639.
Decision
L6
G.R. No. 237428
>ic tend to 5rin/ te o;;ice into disrepute. 124 AroAro- te te ;ore ;ore/o /oin in/, /, it is pp ppre rent nt tt tt t tou ou/ / te te conc concep eptt o; i-pe i-pec c-en entt s s unde under/ r/on onee vrio vrious us -odi -odi;i ;ic cti tion onss to suit suit di;; di;;er eren entt =urisdictions nd /overn-ent ;or-s, te consensus see-s to 5e tt it is essenti poitic process -ent to vindicte te viotion o; te pu5ic@s trust. 'ucner (eton, in is 5oo &he &he %irs %irstt mpe mpeac achm hmen ent! t! &he &he ConstitutionFs %ramers and the Case o# -enator William 1lount , 1lount , succint opined : Prctic >o ve >ritten on te su5=ect /ree tt i-pec-ent invov invoves es protec protectio tion n o; pu5ic pu5ic intere interest, st, incorp incorpor ortin tin/ / pu5ic pu5ic > ee-ent, -uc ie cri-in proceedin/....!F-pec-ent is process insti/ted 5 te /overn-ent, or so-e 5rnc tereo;, /inst person >o s so-eo> r-ed te /overn-ent or te co--unit. &e process, -oreover, is dversri in nture nd rese-5es, to tt etent, =udici tri.12L
Quo arranto
&e o;t%cited o;t%cited ori/in o; )uo warranto >s warranto >s te rei/n o; Uin/ Ed>rd ! o; En/nd >o o ed nds or tite under s tt te 5rons, >ose retions >it te Uin/ >ere /overned on pper 5 (/n Crt, ssu-ed to te-seves >tever po>er te Uin/@s o;;icers d ne/ected. &us, Uin/ Ed>rd ! dee-ed it >ise to int ri/t te 5rons eercised n po>er tt devited in te si/test ;ro- nor- tpe o; ;eudis- tt te Uin/ d in -ind. &e teor is tt certin ri/ts re regalia nd cn 5e eercised on upon so>in/ o; ctu /rnts ;ro- te Uin/ or is predecessor. "eri, Uin/ Ed>rdQs purpose >s to cto/ue te ri/ts, properties nd possessions o; te in/do- in is e;;orts to restore te s-e. !n te Piip Piippi pines nes,, te re-edi re-edies es /ins /instt usurpe usurpers rs o; pu5ic pu5ic o;;ic o;;icee 127 ppered in te 166s, trou/ ct No. 16. Section 17 o; te ct provides ;or provision co-pr5e to Section 1, Rue ?? o; te Rues o; Court: Sec. 17. 17. :surpation o# an "##ice or %ranchise/ %ranchise/ civi ction - 5e 5rou/t in te n-e o; te Govern-ent o; te Piippine !snds: 124
Records o; Constitution Co--ission, "o. "o. !!, p. 272. Hs cited in (tte> (tte> R. Ro-ne Ro-ne,, &e Ori/ins nd Scope Scope o; President Presidenti i !-pec-ent, !-pec-ent, !NCU#E+ $O*RN# OA PO#!&!CSJ visited on (rc 1L, 26189. 12? Ntn Ntn !scs, !scs, &e Sttutes Sttutes o; Ed>rd Ed>rd !. &eir Retion to Ainnce Ainnce nd d-inist d-inistrti rtion, on, (ici/n #> Revie>, "o. 1, No. 8 $un., 1219, pp. 864%818. 127 -ee $gcaoili v. -uguitan, -uguitan, supr note 87. 12L
Decision
L1
G.R. No. 237428
1. /inst /inst person person >o usurps, usurps, intrudes intrudes into, or or un>;u un>;u ods or eercises pu5ic civi o;;ice or ;rncise >itin te Piippine Piippine !snds, !snds, or n o;;ice o;;ice in corportion corportion creted 5 te utorit o; te Govern-ent o; te Piippine !sndsK 2. /inst /inst pu5ic pu5ic civi civi o;;icer o;;icer >o does does or su;; su;;ers ers n ct >ic, >ic, 5 te provisions o; >, >, >ors ;or;eiture o; is o;;iceK o;;iceK 3. /i /ins nstt n ssoci ssocit tio ion n o; person personss >o >o ct ct s corp corpor ort tio ion n >it >itin in te Pi Piippi ippine ne !s !snd nds, s, >it >itou outt 5ein 5ein/ / e/ e/ incorported or >itout >;u utorit so to ct.
'se 'sed d ;ro;ro- te te ;ore ;ore/ /oin oin/, it ppe ppers tt tt i-pe i-pec c -ent -ent is proceedin/ eercised 5 te e/istive, s representtives o; te soverei/n, to vindicte te 5rec o; te trust reposed 5 te peope in te nds o; te pu5ic o;;icer 5 deter-inin/ te pu5ic o;;icerQs o;;icerQs ;itness to st in te o;;ice. (en>ie, n ction ;or )uo warranto, warranto , invoves =udici deter-intion o; te ei/i5iit or or vidit o; te eection eection or ppoint-ent o; pu5ic o;;ici o;;ici 5sed on predeter-ined rues. rues. Quo arranto and impeachment can proceed independently and simultaneously
side ;ro- te di;;erence in teir ori/in nd nture, )uo warranto nd warranto nd i-pec-ent - proceed independent o; ec oter s tese re-edies re distinct s to 19 =urisdiction 29 /rounds, 39 ppic5e rues pertinin/ to initition, ;iin/ nd dis-iss, nd 49 i-ittions. &e ter- <)uo <)uo warran warranto= to= is #ti #tin n ;or ;or B5 B5 >t >t ut utor orit it . 128 &ere; &ere;ore ore,, s te n-e su//es su//ests, ts, )uo warranto warranto is >rit o; ineter n individu s te e/ ri/t to od te pu5ic o;;ice e or se occupies. 136 !n revie>, revie>, Section 1, Rue ?? o; te Rues o; Court provides: ction 5 Govern-ent /inst individus. n ction ;or te usurption o; pu5ic o;;ice, position or ;rncise - 5e co--enced 5 veri;ied petition 5rou/t in te n-e o; te Repu5ic o; te Piippines /inst: 9 person >o usurps, intrudes into, or un>;u ods or eercises pu5ic o;;ice, position or ;rnciseK 59 pu5ic o;;icer >o does or su;;ers n ct >ic, 5 te provision o; >, >, constitutes /round ;or te ;or;eiture o; is o;;iceK o;;iceK or 128
#e/ Opinions o; te ttorne Gener uo Mrrnto Ri/t to Pu5ic O;;ice 5 ttorne Gener vier 'ecerr o; te Stte o; Ci;orni. 12 Gerd Uo/n nd Ro5ert Cri/ Mters, &e $urisdiction o; te Aorid Supre-e Court 5, &e Record $ourn o; te ppete Prctice nd dvocc Section9 o; te Aorid 'r, "o. "o. "!, No. 1, u/ust 17. 136 #e/ Opinions o; te ttorne Gener uo Mrrnto Ri/t to Pu5ic O;;ice 5 ttorne Gener vier 'ecerr o; te Stte o; Ci;orni.
Decision
L2
G.R. No. 237428
c9 c9 n sso ssoci cit tio ion n >ic >ic cts cts s corpo corpor rti tion on >it >itin in te te Pii Piippi ppines nes >it >itout out 5ein/ 5ein/ e/ e/ inco incorp rpor ort ted ed or >it >itout out >; >;u u utorit so to ct.
&us, )uo warranto warranto proceedin/ is te proper e/ re-ed to deter-ine te ri/t or tite to te contested pu5ic o;;ice or to oust te oder ;ro- its en=o-ent. !n )uo warranto proceedin/s warranto proceedin/s re;errin/ to o;;ices ;ied 5 eection, >t is to 5e deter-ined is te ei/i5iit o; te cndidtes eec eecte ted, d, >i >iee in )uo warranto warranto proceedin/s re;errin/ to o;;ices ;ied 5 ppoint-ent, >t is deter-ined is te e/it o; te ppoint-ent. &e tite to pu5ic o;;ice - not 5e contested coter 5ut on direct, 5 )uo warranto proceedin/s. warranto proceedin/s. !n te pst, te Court ed ed tt tite tite to pu5ic o;;ice cnnot 5e ssied even trou/ mandamus or mandamus or -otion to 131 nnu or set side order. &t )uo warranto is warranto is te proper e/ veice to direct ttc tite to pu5ic o;;ice ie>ise precudes te ;iin/ o; petition ;or proi5ition ;or purposes o; inrit o; proi5ition, even >en directed /inst persons ctin/ s =ud/es or oter =udici o;;icers, cnnot 5e treted s su5stitute ;or )uo warranto or 5e ri/t;u ced upon to per;or- n o; te ;unctions o; te >rit. !; tere is court, court, =ud/e or o;;icer o;;icer de #acto, #acto, te tite to te o;;ice nd te ri/t to ct cnnot 5e rit o; proi5ition co--ndin/ te e/ed intruder to cese ;ro- per;or-in/ =udici cts, since in its ver nture proi5ition is n i-proper re-ed 5 >ic to deter-ine te tite to n o;;ice.133
s erier discussed, n ction ;or )uo warranto - warranto - 5e co--enced 5 te Soicitor Gener or pu5ic prosecutor, or 5 n person ci-in/ to 5e entited to te pu5ic o;;ice or position usurped or un>;u ed or eercised 5 noter. 134 &t usurption o; pu5ic o;;ice is treted s pu5ic >ron/ nd crries >it it pu5ic interest in our =urisdiction is cer >en Section 1, Rue ?? provides tt >ere te ction is ;or te usurption o; pu5ic o;;ice, position or ;rncise, it s 5e co--enced 5 veri;ied petition 5rou/t in te n-e o; te Repu5ic o; te Piippines trou/ te Soicitor Gener or pu5ic prosecutor. 13L Noneteess, te Soicitor Gener, in te te eercise o; sound discretion, 131
&opacio v. $ssoc. Justice regory -antos "ng et al., LL Pi. 41, L61%L62 26689 citin/ ilar citin/ ilar v. -ec. o# the 5W&C, et al., al. , 12L Pi. 7?? 1?79 nd amboa, et al. v. C$, et al., al. , 14 Pi. ?24 1819. 132 Supr note ??. 133 !d. t 133. 134 Sections 2, 3 nd L, Rue ?? o; te Rues o; Court. 13L Section 2, Rue ?? o; te Rues o; Court.
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G.R. No. 237428
- suspend suspend or turn turn do>n do>n te institu institutio tion n o; n ction ction ;or )uo warranto >ere tere re =ust nd vid resons. *pon receipt o; cse certi;ied to i-, te Soicitor Gener - strt te prosecution o; te cse 5 ;iin/ te pproprite ction in court or e - coose not to ;ie te cse t . &e Soicitor Gener is /iven per-issi5e titude >itin is e/ utorit in ctions ;or )uo warranto, warranto , circu-scri5ed on 5 te ntion interest nd te /overn-ent poic on te -tter t nd. 13? &e instnce >en n individu is o>ed to co--ence n ction ;or )uo warranto in warranto in is o>n n-e is >en suc person is ci-in/ to 5e entited to pu5ic o;;ice or position usurped or un>;u ed or eercised 5 noter.137 %eliciano v. Villasin Villasin 138 reitertes te 5sic principe enuncited in $costa v. v. %lor 13 tt ;or )uo warranto petition warranto petition to 5e success;u, te privte person suin/ -ust so> no ess tn cer ri/t to te te contested o;;ice. o;;ice. !n cse o; usurption o; pu5ic o;;ice, >en te respondent is ;ound /uit o; usurpin/, intrudin/ into, or un>;u odin/ or eercisin/ pu5ic o;;ice, position position or ;rncise, te =ud/-ent =ud/-ent s incude te te ;oo>in/: 9 te respondent s 5e ousted nd ecuded ;ro- te o;;iceK 59 te petitioner or retor, s te cse - 5e, s recover is costsK nd c9 suc ;urter =ud/-ent deter-inin/ te respective ri/ts in nd to te pu5ic o;;ice, position or ;rncise o; te prties to te ction s =ustice re
&e re-edies re-edies vi5 vi5e e in )uo warranto =ud/-ent warranto =ud/-ent do not incude correction or revers o; cts ten under te ostensi5e utorit o; n o;;ice or ;rncise. $ud/-ent is i-ited to ouster or ;or;eiture nd - not 5e i-posed retroctive upon prior eercise o; o;;ici or corporte duties. 141 ;uo warranto warranto nd i-pec-ent re, tus, not -utu ecusive re-edies re-edies nd - even proceed proceed si-utneou si-utneous s.. &e eistence eistence o; oter re-edies /inst te usurper does not prevent te Stte ;ro- co--encin/ )uo warranto proceedin/. warranto proceedin/. 142 Respondent Respondent@s @s RepISupp RepISuppe-en e-entt to te (e-orndu(e-orndu- $d Cautelam speci;ic tced te o5=ection to te petition on te /round o; ;orusoppin/. Essenti, Essenti, respondent points points out tt te incusion incusion o; te -tter -tter on t ;rud, >ic >i ;urter 5e discussed 5eo>, is red covered 5 rtice ! o; te rtices o; !-pec-ent. ence, respondent r/ues, r/ues, -on/ 13?
&opacio v. $ssoc. Justice regory -antos "ng et al. , supr note 131, citin/ on6ales v. Chave6, 282 Pi. 8L8, 88L 129. 137 Section L, Rue ?? o; te Rues o; Court. 138 L78 Pi 88 26689. 13 L Pi. 18 16L9. 146 Section , Rue ?? o; te Rues o; Court. 141 Enser, ender 'rsoo-, !nc. v. Enser 1?L9 238 C. pp. 2d 2L6, 2LL. 142 Citi6ens :tilities Co. v. -uper Ct., L? C. pp. 3d 3, 46L 167?9K 18 Ops.C.tt.Gen. 7 1L19.
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G.R. No. 237428
ote oters rs,, tt tt te te peti petiti tion on sou soud d 5e disdis-is isse sed d on te te /rou /round nd o; ;oru ;orusoppin/. Aoru- soppin/ is te ct o; iti/nt >o repetitive vied o; sever =udici re-edies in di;;erent courts, si-utneous or successive, su5stnti ;ounded on te s-e trnsctions nd te s-e essenti ;cts nd circu-stnces, nd risin/ su5stnti te s-e issues, eiter pendin/ in or red resoved dverse 5 so-e oter court, to increse is cn cnce cess o; o5t o5tin inin in/ / ;vor ;vor5 5e e deci decisi sion on i; not not in one one cour court, t, ten ten in noter.143 Aoru- soppin/ ori/inted s concept in privte interntion >, >, >ere non%resident iti/nts re /iven te option to coose te ;oru- or pce >erein to 5rin/ teir suit ;or vrious resons r esons or ecuses, incudin/ to secure procedur dvnt/es, to nno nd rss te de;endnt, to void overcro>ded docets, or to seect -ore ;riend venue. 144 t present, our =urisdiction s reco/nied sever >s to co--it ;oru; oru- soppin/, to >it: 19 ;iin/ -utipe cses 5sed on te s-e cuse o; ction nd >it te s-e prer, te previous cse not vin/ 5een resoved et >ere te /round ;or disdis-iss iss is litis pendentia9K pendentia 9K 29 ;iin/ -utipe cses 5sed on te s-e cuse o; ction nd te s-e prer, te previous cse vin/ 5een ;in resov resoved ed >ere te /round /round ;or dis-iss dis-iss is res 8udicata9K 8udicata 9K nd 39 ;iin/ -utipe cses 5sed on te s-e cuse o; ction 5ut >it di;;erent prers spittin/ o; cuses o; ction, >ere te /round ;or dis-iss is so eiter litis pendentia or pendentia or res 8udicata9. 8udicata 9.14L Me ve red setted tt te test ;or deter-inin/ eistence o; ;oru- soppin/ is s ;oo>s: &o deter-i deter-ine ne >eter >eter prt prt viot vioted ed te rue rue /inst /inst ;oru;orusoppin/, te -ost i-portnt ;ctor to s is >eter te ee-ents o; litis pendentia re pendentia re present, or >eter ;in =ud/-ent in one cse >i -ount to res 8udicata in 8udicata in noterK oter>ise stted, te test ;or deter-inin/ ;orusop soppi pin/ n/ is /heth /hether er 1n the the t/o 9or -ore: -ore: *)ses *)ses pen pend1n d1n, , the there re 1s 1dent1ty of p)rt1es, r1hts or *)+ses of )*t1on, )nd re1efs so+ht. 14? E-psis ours9
Litis pendentia is pendentia is #tin ter-, >ic iter -ens pendin/ suit nd is vrious re;erred to in so-e decisions s lis pendens nd pendens nd auter action pendant . s /round /round ;or te dis-iss dis-iss o; civi ctio ction, n, it re;ers re;ers to te sitution >ere t>o ctions re pendin/ 5et>een te s-e prties ;or te s-e s-e cus cusee o; cti ction on,, so tt tt one one o; tete- 5eco 5eco-e -ess unne unnece cess ssr r nd nd veti vetious ous.. !t is 5sed 5sed on te poic poic /ins /instt -utip -utipic icit it o; suits. suits. Litis 143
race ark nternational Corporation v. Eastwest 1anking Corporation , G.R. No. 216?6?, $u 27, 261?, 78 SCR ?44, ?L1. 144 %irst hilippine nternational 1ank v. C$ , 322 Pi. 286, 363 1?9. 14L City o# &aguig v. City o# +akati , G.R. No. 26833, $une 1L, 261?, 73 SCR L27, LL6. 14? Gap v. Chua, et al., al. , ?87 Pi. 32, 466 26129.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
pendentia rein/ reit respect to te t>o precedin/ prticurs in te t>o cses, suc tt n =ud/-ent tt - 5e rendered in te pendin/ cse, re/rdess o; >ic prt is success;u, >oud -ount to res 8udicata in 8udicata in te oter cse. 147 On te oter nd, res 8udicata or 8udicata or prior =ud/-ent 5rs su5seen te ;oo>in/ ;oo>in/ reeen te ;irst nd te second ctions T identit o; prties, o; su5=ect -tter, nd o; cuses o; ction. 148 *ti-te, *ti-te, >t is critic is te vetion 5rou/t upon te courts nd te iti/nts 5 prt >o ss di;;erent courts to rue on te s-e or reted cuses nd /rnt te s-e or su5stnti te s-e reie;s nd in te process cretes te possi5iit o; con;ictin/ decisions 5ein/ rendered 5 te di;;erent ;or upon te s-e issues. 14 Guided 5 te ;ore/oin/, tere cn 5e no ;oru- soppin/ in tis cse despite te pendenc o; te i-pec-ent proceedin/s 5e;ore te ouse o; Representtives, contrr to respondent@s position. &e &e cus cuses es o; cti ction on in te te t>o t>o proc procee eedi din/ n/ss re re une< une;u odin/ or eercisin/ o; pu5ic o;;ice, >ie in i-pec-en i-pec-ent, t, it is te co--ission co--ission o; n i-pec5 i-pec5e e o;;ense. o;;ense. Stted Stted in di; di;;ere ;erent nt -n -nner ner, te cru ru o; te te con controv troveers rs in tis is )uo warran warranto to proceedin/s is te deter-intion o; >eter or not respondent r espondent e/ ods te Cie; $ustice position to 5e considered s n i-pec5e o;;icer in te ;irst pce. On te oter nd, i-pec-ent is ;or respondent@s prosecution ;or certin certin i-pec i-pec5e 5e o;;ense o;;enses. s. &o 5e sure, responde respondent nt is not 5ein/ 5ein/ prosecuted erein ;or suc i-pec5e o;;enses enu-erted in te rtices o; !-pec!-pec-ent ent.. !nste !nsted, d, te resouti resoution on o; tis tis cse s 5e 5sed on est5ise est5ised d ;cts nd reted >s. >s. Si-p Si-p put, >ie respondent respondent@s @s tite to od pu5ic o;;ice is te issue in )uo warranto proceedin/s, warranto proceedin/s, i-pec-ent necessri necessri presupposes presupposes tt respondent respondent e/ e/ ods te pu5ic pu5ic o;;ice o;;ice nd tus, is n i-pec5e o;;icer, te on issue 5ein/ >eter or not se co--itted i-pec5e o;;enses to >rrnt er re-ov ;ro- o;;ice. 147
1enavide6 v. -alvador , 723 Pi. 332, 342 26139. City o# &aguig v. City o# +akati , supr t LL1. 14 Gap v. Chua, et al., al. , supr t 3%466. 148
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
#ie>i #ie>ise, se, te reie; reie;ss sou/t sou/t in te t>o procee proceedin din/s /s re di;;ere di;;erent. nt. *nder te Rues on )uo warranto, warranto , when the respondent is #ound guilty o# usurping, intruding into, or unlaw#ully holding or e2ercising a public o##ice, 222, 8udgment shall be rendered rendered that such respondent respondent be ousted and altogether e2cluded there#rom, 2 2 2. 1L6 !n sor sort, t, resp respon onde dent nt in )uo warranto procee proceedin din/ / s s 5e d=ud/ d=ud/ed ed to cese cese ;ro;ro- odin odin/ / pu5ic pu5ic o;;i o;;ice ce,, >ic ic eIs eIse is ine ineii/i5 /i5e to od od. On te te ot oter nd, nd, in i-pec-ent, conviction ;or te cr/es o; i-pec5e o;;enses s resut to te removal o; o; te respondent ;ro- te pu5ic o;;ice tt eIse is e/ odin/. 1L1 !t is not e/ e/ possi5e possi5e to i-pec i-pec or re-ove person person ;ro- n o;;ice tt eIse, in te ;irst pce, does not nd cnnot e/ od or occup. !n te te sid sid Rep RepI ISu Supp ppe e-e -ent nt to te te (e-o (e-or rnd nduu- $d Cautelam, Cautelam, respondent dvnced te r/u-ent tt te i-pec-ent proceedin/ is di;;erent ;ro- te i-pec-ent cse, te ;or-er re;ers to te ;iin/ o; te co-pint 5e;ore te Co--ittee on $ustice >ie te tter re;ers to te proceedin/s 5e;ore te Sente. Citin/ %rancisco v. 'ouse o# respon onde dent nt posi posits ts tt tt te te i-p i-pe ec c-e -ent nt proc procee eedi din/ n/ (epresentatives (epresentatives,, resp /inst er is red pendin/ upon te ;iin/ o; te veri;ied co-pint 5e;ore te ouse Co--ittee on $ustice 5eit te i-pec-ent cse s not et strted s te rtices o; !-pec-ent s not et 5een ;ied >it te Sente. ence, in vie> o; suc proceedin/ 5e;ore te Co--ittee on $ustice, te ;iin/ o; te instnt petition constitutes ;oru- soppin/. &e &e di;; di;;er eren ence ce 5et> 5et>ee een n te te i-p i-pe ec c-e -ent nt proc procee eedi din/ n/ nd nd te te i-p i-pe ec c-e -ent nt cse cse corr correc ect t cite cited d 5 te te resp respon onde dent nt,, 5os 5oste ters rs te te concusion tt tere cn 5e no ;oru- soppin/. !ndeed, te i-pec-ent i-pec-ent proceedin/ 5e;ore te ouse Co--ittee Co--ittee on $ustice is not te i-pec-ent i-pec-ent cse proper. proper. &e i-pec-ent cse is et et to 5e initited 5 te ;iin/ o; te rtices o; !-pec-ent 5e;ore 5e;ore te Sente. &us, t te -o-ent, tere is no pendin/ i-pec-ent cse cse /inst te respondent. respondent. &e ouse Co--ittee on $ustice@s deter-intion o; pro55e cuse on >eter te i-pec-ent /inst te respondent soud /o on tri 5e;ore te Sente is in to te prosecutor@s deter-intion o; pro55e cuse durin/ te te pre preii-in inr r inve invest sti/ i/t tio ion n in cricri-in in cse cse.. !n pre preii-in inr r investi/tion, te prosecutor does not deter-ine te /uit or innocence o; te ccusedK e does not eercise eercise d=udiction d=udiction nor rue%-in/ rue%-in/ ;unctions. &e 1L6
Section , Rue ?? o; te Rues o; Court. 187 CONS&!&*&!ON, rtice !, Section 2: Se*t1on #. &e President, te "ice%President, "ice%President, te (e-5ers o; te Supre-e Court, te (e-5ers o; te Constitution Co--issions, nd te O-5uds-n - 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice on i-pec-ent ;or, nd conviction o;, cup5e viotion o; te Constitution, treson, 5ri5er, /r;t nd corruption, oter i/ cri-es, or 5etr o; pu5ic trust. oter pu5ic o;;icers nd e-poees - 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice s provided 5 >, >, 5ut not 5 i-pec-ent. i-pec-ent. 1L1
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G.R. No. 237428
process is -ere init cri-e. !t is not tri o; te cse on te -erits nd s no purpose ecept tt o; deter-inin/ >eter cri-e s 5een co--itted nd >eter tere is pro55e cuse to 5eieve tt te ccused is /uit tereo;. 1L2 s suc, durin/ durin/ te prei-in prei-inr r investi/ti investi/tion on 5e;ore te prosecutor, prosecutor, tere is no pendin/ cse to spe o; et. !n ;ct, =urisprudence sttes tt te prei-inr investi/tion st/e is not prt o; te tri.1L3 &us, t te ti-e o; te ;iin/ o; tis petition, tere is no pendin/ i-pec-en i-pec-entt cse tt >oud 5r te )uo warrranto petition warrranto petition on te /round o; ;oru- soppin/. !n ;ine, ; oruoru- soppin/ nd litis pendentia re pendentia re not present nd ;in decisi decision on in one >i not strict strict consti constitut tutee s res 8udicata to 8udicata to te oter. =ud/-ent in )uo warranto cse warranto cse deter-ines te respondentQs constitution or e/ utorit to per;or- n ct in, or eercise n ;unction o; te o;;ice to >ic >ic e s s ci ci-K -K 1L4 -en -en> >i iee =ud/ =ud/-e -ent nt in n i-pe i-pec c-en entt proceedin/ pertin to respondentQs respondentQs B;itness ;or pu5ic o;;ice. o;;ice. 1LL Considerin/ te e/ 5sis nd nture o; n ction ;or )uo waranto, waranto , tis Court cnnot sir ;ro- resovin/ te instnt controvers in vie> o; te ;ct ;ct tt tt resp respon onde dent nt is n i-pe i-pec c 5 5ee o;;i o;;ice cerr ndI ndIor or in vie> vie> o; te te possi5iit o; n i-pec-ent i-pec-ent tri /inst respondent. respondent. Impeachment is not an e#clusive remedy by hich an invalidly appointed or invalidly elected impeachable official official may be removed from office office
Respondent ncors er position tt se cn 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice on 5 i-pec-ent on te CourtQs ruin/ in Lecaro6 v. v. -andiganbayan, -andiganbayan ,1L? Cuenco v. %ernan, %ernan ,1L7 n (e on6ales, on6ales,1L8 Jar)ue v. v. 5esierto 1L nd +arcoleta nd +arcoleta v. 1orra. 1orra.1?6 !t sou soud d 5e stres stresse sed, d, o>ev o>ever er,, tt tt none none o; tese tese cses cses concerned te vidit o; n i-pec5e o;;icerQs ppoint-ent. Lecaro6 invoved cri-in cr/e /inst -or 5e;ore te Sndi/n5n, >ie te rest >ere dis5r-ent cses ;ied /inst i-pec5e o;;icers princip ;or cts done durin/ teir teir tenure in pu5ic pu5ic o;;ice. Meter te i-pec5e 1L2
77? Pi. ?23 261?9. -"@ Jamaca v. eople, eople , 7?4 Pi ?83 261L9. 1L4 +endo6a v. $llas, $llas , 3?2 Pi. 238, 24?%247 19. 1LL Seprte Opinion o; $ustice $ose C. "itu/ in %rancisco v. v. '(E& , supr note 3. 1L? 213 Pi. 288 1849. 1L7 241 Pi. 81? 1889. 1L8 243 Pi. 1?7 1889. 1L En 'nc Resoution dted Dece-5er L, 1L in .C. No. 4L6. 1?6 ?61 Pi. 476 2669. 1L3
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
o;;icer un>;u ed is o;;ice or >eter is ppoint-ent >s void >s not n issue rised 5e;ore te Court. Court. &e principe id do>n do>n in sid cses is to te e;;ect tt durin/ teir incu-5enc, i-pec5e o;;icers cnnot 5e cri-in cri-in prosec prosecute uted d ;or n o;;en o;;ense se tt tt crrie crriess >it >it it te pent pent o; re-ov, nd i; te re reit >it dis5r-ent. dis5r-ent. &e proscription does not etend to ctions ssiin/ te pu5ic o;;icerQs tite or ri/t to te o;;ice o;;ice e or se occupies. &e ruin/ ruin/ tere;ore cnnot cnnot serve s utorit to od tt )uo warranto ction warranto ction cn never 5e ;ied /inst n i-pec5e o;;icer o;;icer.. !n issuin/ suc pronounce-ent, te te Court is presu-ed to ve 5een >re o; its po>er to issue >rits o; )uo warranto under warranto under Rue ?? o; te Rues o; Court. Even te PE& Rues epress provide ;or te re-ed o; eiter n eection protest or petition ;or )uo warranto to warranto to o>o- re re i-pe i-pec c 5 5ee o;;icers. Aoo>in/ respondentQs respondentQs teor tt n i-pec5e o;;icer o;;icer cn 5e re-o re-ove ved d on on tro trou/ u/ i-pe i-pec c-en entt -en -enss tt tt Presi Preside dent nt or "ice% ice% President /inst >o- n eection protest s 5een ;ied cn de-nd ;or te dis-iss o; te protest on te /round tt it cn potenti cuse isIer re-ov ;ro- o;;ice trou/ -ode oter oter tn 5 i-pec-ent. &o sustin respondentQs position is to render eection protests under te PE& Rues nu/tor. &e Constitution coud not ve intended suc 5surdit since ;rud nd irre/urities in eections cnnot 5e countennced, nd te >i o; te peope s re;ected in teir votes -ust 5e deter-ined nd respected. &e Court coud not, tere;ore, ve un>ittin/ curtied its o>n =udici po>er 5 proi5itin/ )uo warranto proceedin/s warranto proceedin/s /inst i-pec5e o;;icers. Aurt Aurter er,, te te PE& PE& Rue Ruess prov provid idee tt tt peti petiti tion on ;or ;or )uo warranto warranto,, contestin/ te eection o; te President or "ice%President on te /round o; ineligibility or ineligibility or disloyalty to the (epublic o# the hilippines, - 5e ;ied 5 n re/istered voter >o s voted in te eection concerned >itin ten 169 ds ds ;te ;terr te te proc proc-t tio ion n o; te te >inn >inner er.. 1?1 Despit Despitee diso diso t t to te 1?1
.(. No. 16%4%2%SC or &e 2616 Rues o; te Presidenti Eector &ri5un, pertinent
provide: E#EC&!ON CON&ES&S R*#E 13. $urisdiction. &e &ri5un s 5e te soe =ud/e o; contests retin/ to te eection, returns, nd initited. An ee*t1on *ontest 1s 1n1t1)ted by the f11n of )n ee*t1on protest or ) pet1t1on for <+o /)rr)nto ))1nst the Pres1dent or 1*e!Pres1dent. An ee*t1on protest sh) not 1n*+de ) pet1t1on for <+o /)rr)nto. A pet1t1on for <+o /)rr)nto sh) not 1n*+de )n ee*t1on protest. R*#E 1L. Eection protest. &e re/istered cndidte ;or President or "ice%President "ice%President o; te Piippines >o received te second or tird i/est nu-5er o; votes - contest te eection o; te President or "ice%President, s te cse - 5e, 5 ;iin/ veri;ied eection protest >it te Cer o; te Presidenti Eector Eector &ri5un >itin tirt ds ;ter te proc-tion o; te >inner. >inner. RULE 65. +o /)rr)nto. A 3er1f1ed pet1t1on for <+o /)rr)nto *ontest1n the ee*t1on of the Pres1dent or 1*e! Pres1dent on the ro+nd of 1ne11b11ty or d1soy)ty to the Rep+b1* of the Ph11pp1nes -)y be f1ed by )ny re1stered 3oter /ho h)s 3oted 1n the ee*t1on *on*erned /1th1n ten d)ys )fter the pro*)-)t1on of the /1nner. /1nner. R*#E 17. Contents o; te protest or petition. 9 n eection protest or petition ;or
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
Repu5ic Repu5ic 5ein/ cri-e /inst pu5ic order 1?2 de;ined nd penied under te pen code, nd tus - ie>ise 5e treted s Boter i/ cri-es, 1?3 constituti constitutin/ n/ n i-pec5 i-pec5ee o;;ense, o;;ense, )uo warranto s warranto s re-ed to re-ove te te erri errin/ n/ Pres Presid iden entt or "ice% ice%Pre Presi side dent nt is neve nevert rte ee ess ss -de -de epr epres ess s vi5e. !n ;ct, tis >oud not 5e te ;irst ti-e te Court s te co/nince o; )uo warran petiti tion on /i /ins nstt n i-pe i-pec c 5 5ee o;;ic o;;icer er.. !n te te warranto to peti consoidted cses o; Estrada o; Estrada v. 5esierto, et al. nd Estrada nd Estrada v. +acapagal/ $rroyo, $rroyo,1?4 te Court too co/nince nd ssu-ed =urisdiction over te )uo warranto petition warranto petition ;ied /inst respondent terein >o, t te ti-e o; te ;iin/ o; te petition, d ten n ot nd ssu-ed te O;;ice o; te President. Petitioner terein pred ;or =ud/-ent con;ir-in/ i- to 5e te >;u >;u nd incu-5 incu-5ent ent Preside President nt o; te Repu5 Repu5ic ic te-po te-porri rri un5e un5e to discr/e te duties o; is o;;ice, nd decrin/ respondent to ve ten er ot nd to 5e odin/ te O;;ice o; te President, Pr esident, on in n ctin/ cpcit. cpcit. !n ;ct, in te sid cses, tere >s not even ci- tt respondent terein >s >s disrrnto s co--on stte te ;oo>in/ ;cts: 9 te position invovedK 59 te dte o; proc-tionK nd c9 te nu-5er o; votes credited to te prties per te proc-tion. '9 rrnto petition s so stte: 9 te ;cts /ivin/ te petitioner stndin/ to ;ie te petitionK 59 te e/ reK c9 te protesteeQs /round ;or inei/i5iit or te speci;ic cts o; disot to te Repu5ic o; te Piippines. Piippines. C9 n eection protest s so stte: 9 tt te protestnt >s cndidte >o d du ;ied certi;icte o; cndidc nd d 5een voted ;or te s-e o;;ice. 59 te tot nu-5er o; precincts o; te re/ion, province, or cit concernedK c9 te protested precincts nd votes o; te prties to te protest in suc precincts per te Stte-ent o; "otes "otes ' Precinct or, i; te votes o; te prties re not speci;ied, n epntion > te votes re not speci;iedK nd d9 detied speci;iction o; te cts or o-issions co-pined o; so>in/ te eector ;ruds, no-ies, or irre/urities in te protested precincts. 1?2 rt. 137. Disot o; pu5ic o;;icers or e-poees. T &e pent o; prision correccional correccional in in its -ini-u- period s 5e i-posed upon pu5ic o;;icers or e-poees >o ve ;ied to resist re5eion 5 te -ens in teir po>er, or s continue to discr/e te duties o; teir o;;ices under te contro o; te re5es or s ccept ppoint-ent to o;;ice under te-. 1?3 (ice $. Gerrdt in Hutting the Law o# mpeachment in erspectiveH>III?.%acultyub erspectiveH>III?.%acultyublications.aperI lications.aperIK K.http!scholarship. .http!scholarship.law law.wm.edu#acp .wm.edu#acpubsIK ubsIK made made the #ollowing observations! observations! !n te En/is eperience eperience prior to te dr;tin/ nd rti;ict rti;iction ion o; te Constitutio Constitution, n, i-pec-ent >s pri-ri pri-ri poitic proceedin/, nd i-pec5e i-pec5e o;;enses >ere re/rded s poitic cri-es. Aor instnce, Rou 'er/er o5served in is in;uenti stud o; te i-pec-ent process tt te En/is prctice treted treted Fi/ cri-es nd -isde-enors -isde-enors sF cte/or o; poitic poitic cri-es /inst te stte. 'er/er supported tis o5servtion >it ic te speers use ter-s e o; treson, >ic distin/uised h1h tre)son, /h1*h /)s d1soy)ty ))1nst so-e s+per1or, s+per1or, fro- pet1t tre)son, /h1*h /)s d1soy)ty to )n e<+) or )n 1nfer1or. 1nfer1or. The )te Professor Arth+r Bestor e;p)1ned f+rther th)t Kth1s ee-ent of 1n+ry to the *o--on/e)th!th)t 1s, to the st)te )nd to 1ts *onst1t+t1on!/)s h1stor1*)y h1stor1*)y the *r1ter1on *r1ter1on for d1st1n+1sh1n d1st1n+1sh1n ) =h1h= *r1-e or -1sde-e)nor -1sde-e)nor ;ro- n ordinr one. E-psis ours9 1?4 46? Pi. 1 26619.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
respondent@s sttus s de 8ure 14t President o; te Repu5ic. ' entertinin/ te )uo warran warranto to peti petiti tion on,, te te Cour Courtt in ;ct ;ct dete deterr-in ined ed >et >ete err ten ten President Estrd s put n end to is o;;ici sttus 5 is e/ed ct o; resi/ntion. Aurter-ore, te n/u/e o; Section 2, rtice ! o; te Constitution does not ;orecose ;orecose )uo warranto ction warranto ction /inst i-pec5e i-pec5e o;;icers. o;;icers. &e provision reds: Se*t1on #. &e President, te "ice%President, te (e-5ers o; te Supre-e Court, te (e-5ers o; te Constitution Co--issions, nd te O-5u O-5uds ds- -n n -)y be re-o3ed i-pec-ent -ent ;or, ;or, nd re-o3ed fro- off1*e off1*e on i-pec conviction o;, cup5e viotion o; te Constitution, treson, 5ri5er, /r;t nd corruption, oter i/ cri-es, or 5etr o; pu5ic trust. oter pu5ic o;;icers nd e-poees - 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice s provided 5 >, >, 5ut not 5 i-pec-ent. E-psis ours9
!t is setted rue o; e/ er-eneutics tt i; te n/u/e under considertion is pin, it is neiter necessr nor per-issi5e to resort to etrin etrinsic sic ids, ids, ie ie te record recordss o; te consti constitut tution ion conven conventio tion, n, ;or its 1?L interprettion. &e provision uses te per-issive ter- B- >ic, in sttutor cons constr truc ucti tion on,, deno denote tess disc discre reti tion on nd nd cnn cnnot ot 5e cons constru trued ed s vi vin/ n/ -ndtor -ndtor e;;ect. e;;ect.1?? Me ve consi consiste stent nt ed tt tt te te ter- B may may is indictive o; -ere possi5iit, n opportunit or n option. &e /rntee o; tt opportunit is vested >it ri/t or ;cut >ic e s te option to eercise.1?7 n option option to re-ove 5 i-pec-e i-pec-ent nt d-its d-its o; n terntive terntive -ode o; e;;ectin/ te re-ov. On tis score, 'ure Srte in is >or %ederal Judges! $ppointment, -upervision, and (emoval! -ome ossibilities under the Constitution, Constitution,1?8 -es n interestin/ nd vid o5servtion on pre provision on i-pec-ent under te *.S. Constitution ;ro- >ic ours >s evi ptterned: it is not reson5e to spe out o; te epress provision ;or i-pec-ent, n intention or purpose o; te ;r-ers to crete n ecusive re-ed. &e co--on cnon ;or interpretin/ e/istion, % e2presio unius e2cusio est alterius alterius s no proper ppiction to n epress provision ;or one o; sever co--on%> re-edies. &e epress provision ;or re-ov 5 i-pec-ent ou/t not to 5e ten s tcit proi5ition o; re-ov 5 oter -etods >en tere re oter de
eople v. $migo, $migo, 322 Pi. 46 1?9. 1ayan +una v. (omulo, ?L? (omulo, ?L? Pi. 24? 26119. 1?7 +u9o6 v. Commission on Elections, L27 Elections, L27 Pi. 733 266?9. 1?8 (ici/n #> Revie>, "o. 28, No. 7 (, 1369, pp. 876%6, pu5ised 5 &e (ici/n #> Revie> ssocitionK Http:II>>>.=stor.or/Ist5eI1277?3 H ttp:II>>>.=stor.or/Ist5eI1277?3 Jvisited on pri 26, 26189. 1??
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
providin/ ;or i-pec-ent >s to supp e/istive cec on te oter deprt-ents o; our /overn-ent, nd prticur on te cie; eecutive. Mitout n epress provision, i-pec-ent >oud ve 5een i-pied proi5ited 5 te doctrine o; seprtion o; po>ers. !; tis e/istive cec >s desired, reservtion in epress >ords >s essenti. noter reson ;or te epress provisions on tis su5=ect >s tt te ;r-ers o; te Constitution did not >is to -e te eecutive nd =udici o;;icers o; our /overn /overn-ent -ent co-pete co-pete depende dependent nt on Con/re Con/ress ss.. &e &e >nted >nted to con;er on i-ited po>er o; re-ov, nd te desired i-ittions on te po>er to i-pec d to 5e epicit stted. &ese t>o resons epin te te pres presen ence ce in te Cons Consti titu tuttion ion o; te te epr epres esss prov provis isiions ons ;or ;or i-pec i-pec-en -entK tK it is not necessr necessr to resort resort to n suppos supposed ed intent intent to est5is n ecusive -etod o; re-ov in order to ccount ;or te-. On te contrr, o/ic nd sound poic de-nd tt te Con/ression po>er 5e construed to 5e concurrent, not n ecusive, po>er o; re-ov.
Me od, tere;ore, tt 5 its tenor, Section 2, rtice ! o; te Cons Consti titu tuti tion on o o>s >s te te inst instit itut utio ion n o; )uo warranto warranto ction ction /inst /inst n i-pec i-pec5 5e e o;;ic o;;icer er.. ;ter ;ter , , )uo warranto warranto petition is predicted on /round /roundss distin distinct ct ;ro- tose tose o; i-pec i-pec-e -ent. nt. &e ;or-er ;or-er ie te tter indicts i- ;or te so%ced i-pec5e o;;enses >itout i ie>ise se purport to 5e co-pete stte-ent o; te cuses o; re-ov ;ro- o;;ice. -hartel , 5ove cited, eos: . &ere is no indiction in te de5tes o; te Convention tt te ;r-ers o; te Constitution intended t tis point to -e co-pete stte-ent o; cuses o; re-ov ;ro- o;;ice. &e e-psis >s on te cuses ;or >ic Con/ress -i/t re-ove eecutive nd =udici =udici o;;icers, o;;icers, not on cuses o; re-ov s suc. o> ten cn te cuses o; re-ov 5 i-pec-ent 5e construed s recit o; te cuses ;or >ic =ud/es - 5e re-ovedV !t is especi rd to see > te epress provision ;or i-pec-ent i-ited e/istive -etod o; re-ovin/ civi civi o;;ic o;;icers ers ;or seriou seriouss -iscond -isconduct uct soud soud 5e constr construed ued to ;or5id ;or5id re-ov re-ov o; =ud/es =ud/es 5 =udici =udici ction ction on ccount ccount o; dis5i dis5iit it or n res reson on5 5ee cus cusee not prop proper er /rou /round nd ;or ;or cti ction on 5 te te ous ouses es o; Con/ress.
Neiter cn te Court ccept respondentQs respondentQs r/u-ent tt te terB- in Section 2, rtice !
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
i-pec-en i-pec-entt cses.1? &e &ere is not otin/ in/ in te te sid sid prov proviisio sion tt tt dei5erte vests utorit on te i-pec-ent court to i-pose penties o>er tn tose epress epress -entioned. so, respondent s not not so>n tt suc >s utorit >s intended 5 te ;r-ers o; te 187 Constitution. &e uti-te pent o; re-ov is i-posed o>in/ to te serious nture o; te i-pec5e o;;enses. &is Court d occsion to rue: &e &e ts ts o; te te Cour Courtt is rend render ered ed i/ i/te terr 5 te te eis eiste tence nce o; retive cer provisions in te Constitution. !n cses ie tis, tis, >e ;oo> >t te Court, spein/ trou/ (r. $ustice ter, Cie; $ustice9 $ose 5d Sntos stted in old Creek +ining Corp. v. (odrigue6, tt: (odrigue6, tt: &e ;und-ent principe o; constitution construction is to /ive e;;ect to te intent o; te ;r-ers o; te or/nic > nd o; te peope doptin/ it. The 1ntent1on to /h1*h for for*e 1s to be 13e 13en n 1s th)t th)t /h1* /h1*h h 1s e-bo e-bod1 d1ed ed )nd )nd e;pressed 1n the *onst1t+t1on) pro31s1ons the-se3es. 176 E-psis suppied9
&o su5scri5e to te vie> tt ppoint-ents or eection o; i-pec5e o;;ic o;;icers ers re outsid outsidee =udici =udici revie> revie> is to cens censee teir teir ppoin ppoint-e t-ents nts or eection o; n possi5e de;ect pertinin/ to te Constitution%prescri5ed ic >ic cnn cnnot ot ote oter> r>is isee 5e rise rised d in n i-pe i-pec c-en entt proceedin/. &e courts soud 5e 5e to in oter>ise ise is to o> o> n 5surd 5surd situ situt tio ion n >er >eree te te ppo ppoin intt-en entt o; n i-pe i-pec c 5 5ee o;;i o;;ice cerr cnn cnnot ot 5e en, ;or instnce, e or se s 5een deter-ined to 5e o; ;orei/n ntionit or, in o;;ices >ere 'r -e-5ersip is en e or se ;ruduent represented to 5e -e-5er o; te 'r. *ness suc n o;;icer co--its n o; te /rounds ;or i-pec-ent nd is ctu i-peced, e cn continue discr/in/ te ;unctions o; is o;;ice even >en >en e is ce cer r dis< disou >oud d resu resut t in per-ittin/ uns put in -ind tt pu5ic o;;ice is pu5ic trust. 171 &us, te peope ve te ri/t to ve on
Section 379, rtice ! o; te 187 Constitution sttes: B $ud/-ent in cses o; i-pec-ent s not etend ;urter tn re-ov ;ro- o;;ice nd dis. >. 176 -armiento v. +ison, G.R. No. 774, Dece-5er 17, 187, 1L? SCR L4, LL2. 171 187 CONS&!&*&!ON, rtice !, Section 1.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
correc correctt Bpu5i Bpu5icc >ron/ >ron/ risin risin/ / ;ro;ro- de;ect de;ective ive or void void ppoin ppoint-e t-ents nts.. Ei not su;;er >ron/ to 5e >itout re-ed. :bi 8us ibi remedium. Mere tere is ri/t, tere -ust 5e re-ed. re-ed. 172 s respondent erse; previous opined in one cse: BReson is te ;oun ;ound dti tion on o; e/ e/ inte interp rpre ret tti tion on,, inc incud udin in/ / tt tt o; cons consti titu tuti tion on interpret interprettion tion.. nd te -ost po>er;u po>er;u too o; reson is re;ectin/ re;ectin/ on te essence o; tin/s. 173 &e essence o; )uo warranto is warranto is to protect te 5od poitic ;ro- te usurp usurptio tion n o; pu5ic pu5ic o;;ic o;;icee nd to ensure ensure tt tt /overn /overn-en -entt uto utorit rit is entrusted entrusted on to iedin/ vst po>er nd in;uence on -tters o; > nd poic. poic. t tis =uncture, it >oud 5e pt to dissude nd te ;er tt ruin/ on te vi5iit o; )uo warranto >oud warranto >oud o> te Soicitor Gener to B>ied s>ord over our coective eds, over our individu eds, nd on tt 5sis, i-pir te inte/rit o; te Court s court. 174 Suc vie>, >ie not i-pro55e, 5etrs ;cious nd cnic vie> o; te co-petence nd pro;essionis- o; te Soicitor Gener nd te -e-5ers o; tis Court. !t presupposes tt -e-5ers o; tis Court re > o;;enders. !t so proceeds ;ro- te pre-ise tt te Soicitor Gener is te Eecutive@s p>n in its perceived ort>ie to note tt >ie te Soicitor Gener s prero/tive in te institution o; n ct ction ion ;or ;or )uo warranto warranto,, its eerci eercise se o; suc suc discre discretio tion n is nevert neverte eess ess 17? su5=ect to te CourtQs revie>. !n &opacio v. "ng , tis Court epined: !n te eercis eercisee o; sound sound discre discretio tion, n, te Soici Soicitor tor Gener Gener - suspend or turn do>n te institution o; n ction ;or rrnto >ere tere re =ust nd vid resons. &us, in Gones v. Cve, te Court rued:
172
(e! (e)uest o# 4ational Committee on Legal $id to E2empt Legal $id Clients #rom aying %iling, 5ocket 5ocket and "ther %ees, %ees, .(. .(. No. 68%11%7%SC, u/ust 28, 266. 173 Concurrin/ Opinion o; Cie; $ustice (ri #ourdes P. . Sereno in utierre6 utierre6 v. &he 'ouse o# (epresentatives (epresentatives Committee Committee on Justice Justice, ?L8 Pi. 322 26119. 174 &SN, Or r/u-ents r/u-ents dted pri 16, 2618, p. 266. 17L -ee Section -ee Section 1 o; Eecutive Order No. 366, $u 2?, 187 entited, Constitutin/ &e &e O;;ice O; &e Soicitor Gener s n !ndependent nd utono-ous O;;ice ttced &o &o &e Deprt-ent O; $ustice nd Aor Oter Purposes 17? Supr note 131.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
#ie te ttorne%Gener o; te *nited Sttes >o s 5soute discretion in coosin/ >eter to prosecute or not to prosecute or to 5ndon prosecution red strted, our o>n Soicitor Gener - even dis-iss, 5ndon, discontinue or co-pro-ise suits eiter >it or >it >itout out stip stipu ut tio ion n >it >it te te oter oter prt prt . Ab)n Ab)ndon don-e -ent nt of ) *)se, *)se, ho/e3er, does not -e)n th)t the So1*1tor Gener) -)y +st drop 1t /1tho+t )ny e) )nd 3)1d re)sons, for the d1s*ret1on 13en h1- 1s not +n1-1ted . !ts eercise -ust 5e, not on /1th1n the p)r)-eters set by )/ 5ut >it te 5est interest o; te Stte s te uti-te /o. *pon *pon receipt receipt o; cse cse certi certi;ie ;ied d to i-, i-, te Soicito Soicitorr Gener Gener eercises is discretion in te -n/e-ent o; te cse. e - strt te prosecution o; te cse 5 ;iin/ te pproprite ction in court or e - opt not to ;ie te cse t . e - do evertin/ >itin is e/ utor utorit it 5ut )/)ys *onfor-)by /1th the n)t1on) 1nterest )nd the po1*y of the o3ern-ent on the -)tter )t h)nd. E-psis ours9
Neiter soud it 5e ;or/otten ;or/otten tt te Soicitor Soicitor Gener is n o;;icer o; te Court, tsed to sre in te ts nd responsi5iit o; dispensin/ =ustice nd resovin/ disputesK tere;ore, e - 5e en=oined in te s-e -nner tt speci prosecutor >s sou/t en=oined 5 tis Court ;ro- co--ittin/ n ct >ic - tend to o5struct, pervert or i-pede nd de/rde te d-inistrtion o; =ustice. 177 Eiter >, in te event tt )uo warranto cses warranto cses /inst -e-5ers o; te $udicir inundte te courtsQ docets, it does not ;oo> tt te courts re po>eress to sied its -e-5ers /inst suits >ic re o5vious cin/ in -erit, or tose -ere intended to rss te respondent. !he Supreme Court$s e#ercise of its jurisdiction over a quo arranto petition is not violative of the doctrine of separation of poers
Section 319 nd 3?9, rtice !, o; te Constitution respective provides tt te ouse o; Representtives s ve te ecusive po>er to initite cses o; i-pec-ent >ie te Sente s ve te soe po>er to tr nd decide cses o; i-pec-ent. &us, tere is no r/u-ent tt te constitution%de;ined instru-entit >ic is /iven te po>er to tr i-pec-ent cses is te Sente. Neverteess, te Court@s ssu-ption o; =urisdiction over n ction ;or )uo warranto invovin/ warranto invovin/ person >o >oud oter>ise 5e n i-pec5e o;;ici d it not 5een ;or dis
-ee (amon -ee (amon $. on6ales vs. 'on. %rancisco . Chave, Chave, 282 Pi. 8L8, 881 129.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
pu5ic position. !t is direct proceedin/ ssiin/ te tite to pu5ic o;;ice.178 &e &e issu issuee to 5e reso resov ved ed 5 te te Cour Courtt is >et >ete err or not not te te de;en de;end dnt nt is e/ e/ occu occup pin in/ / pu5 pu5ic ic posi positi tion on >ic >ic /oes /oes into into te te eter de;endnt >s e/ ppointed, >s e/ itout n utorit, te reie; tt te Court /rnts is te ouster nd ecusion o; te de;endnt ;ro- o;;ice. 17 !n oter >ords, >ie i-pe i-pec c-en entt conc concer erns ns cti ction onss tt tt -e -e te te o;;ic o;;icer er un;i un;itt to cont contin inue ue eercisin/ is or er o;;ice, )uo warranto invoves warranto invoves -tters tt render ior er inei/i5e to od te position to 5e/in >it. Give Given n te te ntu nture re nd nd e;;e e;;ect ct o; n cti ction on ;or ;or )uo warranto warranto,, suc re-ed is unviin/ to deter-ine >eter or not n o;;ici s co--itted -isconduct in o;;ice nor is it te proper e/ veice to evute te person@s per;or-nce in te o;;ice. $propos, $propos, n ction ;or )uo warranto does warranto does not tr person@s cup5iit o; n i-pec-ent o;;ense, neiter does >rit o; )uo warranto concusive warranto concusive pronounce suc cup5iit. !n 5ivinagracia v. Consolidated 1roadcasting 1roadcasting -ystem, nc., 186 te Court ;urter epined te courtQs utorit to issue >rit o; )uo warranto, warranto , s co-pe-entr to, nd not viotive o;, te doctrine o; seprtion o; po>ers, s ;oo>s: And the roe of the *o+rts, thro+h thro+h <+o /)rr)nto /)rr)nto pro*eed1ns, pro*eed1ns, ne)ty *o-pe-ents the tr)d1t1on) sep)r)t1on of po/ers th)t *o-e to be)r 1n o+r )n)ys1s. The *o+rts )re entr+sted /1th the )d+d1*)t1on of the e) st)t+s of persons, the f1n) )rb1ter of the1r r1hts )nd ob1)t1ons +nder )/. The <+est1on of /hether ) fr)n*h1see 1s 1n bre)*h of the fr)n*h1se spe*1)y en)*ted for 1t by Conress 1s one 1nherenty s+1ted to ) *o+rt of )/, )nd not for )n )d-1n1str)t13e )en*y, -+*h ess one to /h1*h no s+*h f+n*t1on h)s been dee)ted by Conress. !n te s-e > tt tt vi vi5i 5iit it o; =udici =udici revie> revie> over over >s >s does not precu precude de 178
-ec. 5e#ensor -antiago v. -en. uingona, Jr., 3L Jr., 3L Pi. 27?, 362 189. n +endo6a v. $llas, $llas , 3?2 Pi. 238, 244%24L 19, te possible te possible outcome o# a etition etition #or ;uo Warranto can be any o# the #ollowing! !; te court ;inds ;or te respondent, te =ud/-ent soud si-p stte tt te respondent is entited to te o;;ice. !;, o>ever, te court ;inds ;or te petitioner nd decres te respondent /uit o; usurpin/, intrudin/ into, or un>;u odin/ or eercisin/ te o;;ice, =ud/-ent - 5e rendered s ;oo>s: Sec. Sec. 16. Judgment where usurpation #ound .%% .%% Men te de;endnt is ;ound /uit o; usurpin/, intrudin/ into, or un>;u odin/ or eercisin/ n o;;ice, position, ri/t, privie/e, or ;rncise, =ud/-ent s 5e rendered tt suc de;endnt 5e ousted nd to/eter ecuded tere;ro-, nd tt te pinti;; or retor, retor, s te cse - 5e, recover is costs. Suc ;urter =ud/-ent - 5e rendered deter-inin/ te respective ri/ts in nd to te o;;ice, position, ri/t, privie/e, or ;rncise o; te prties to te ction s =ustice re;u odin/ te s-e, te court - order: 19 &e ouster nd ecusion o; te de;endnt ;ro- o;;iceK 29 &e recover o; costs 5 pinti;; or retorK 39 &e deter deter-in -inti tion on o; te respe respecti ctive ve ri/ts ri/ts in nd to te o;;ic o;;ice, e, posit position ion,, ri/t, ri/t, privie/e or ;rncise ;rncise o; te prties to to te ction s =ustice re
186
?62 Pi. ?2L, ?? 2669.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
Con/ress ;ro- undertin/ its o>n re-edi -esures 5 pproprite -endin/ >s, the 31)b11ty of <+o /)rr)nto 1n the 1nst)nt *)ses does not not pre* pre*+ +de de Con Conrress ess frofro- enfo enforr*1n *1n 1ts 1ts o/n o/n prer prero o)t )t13 13ee by )bro )bro)t1 )t1n n the the e1s e1s) )t13 t13ee fr)n* fr)n*h1 h1ses ses of respo responde ndent ntss sho+ sho+d d 1t be d1str d1stress essed ed eno+ eno+h h by the fr)n*h fr)n*h1se 1sees es>> 31o) 31o)t1o t1on n of the the fr)n* fr)n*h1 h1ses ses e;tended to the-. E-psis ours9
pp ppiin/ te te rti rtio o in 5ivinagracia, 5ivinagracia, te te Cour CourtQ tQss eer eerci cise se o; its its =urisdiction over )uo warranto warranto proceedin proceedin/s /s does not precude precude Con/ress ;ro;ro- en;o en;orc rcin in/ / its its o>n o>n prer prero/ o/t tiv ivee o; dete deter-i r-ini nin/ n/ pro5 pro55 5e e cus cusee ;or ;or i-pec-ent, to cr;t nd trns-it te rtices o; !-pec-ent, nor >i it precude Sente ;ro- eercisin/ its constitution co--itted po>er o; i-pec-ent. !ndeed, respondent@s cse is pecuir in tt er o-ission to ;ie er S#N S#N so so ;or-e ;or-ed d prt prt o; te te e e/ /ti tion onss /i /ins nstt er er in te te "eri; eri;ie ied d Co-p Co-p in intt ;or !-pe !-pec-e c-en nt. "eri eri , te te ;i ;iin/ in/ o; te te S#N S#N is Consti Constitui tuion on reic >ic -, -, in te te >isdo- o; te i-pec-ent court, 5e interpreted s constitutin/ cup5e viotion o; te Constitution. Constitution. 'ut ten, respondent, respondent, unie te President, President, te "ice%Pre ice%Presid sident ent,, (e-5er (e-5erss o; te Consti Constitut tution ion Co--iss Co--ission ions, s, nd te O-5uds-n, prt ;ro- vin/ to co-p >it te Constitution S#N reer ns>erss to te uni ;or ;or te te ote oterr i-pe i-pec c 5 5ee o;;i o;;ice cers. rs. 181 nd s s >i >i 5e 5e ete eten nsive sive 181
187 CONS&!&*&!ON rtice "!!, SEC&!ON SEC&!ON 2. No person - 5e eected President uness e is ntur%5orn citien o; te Piippines, re/istered voter, voter, 5e to red nd >rite, t est ;ort ers o; /e on te d o; te eection, nd resident o; te Piippines ;or t est ten ers i--edite precedin/ suc eection. rtice "!!, SEC&!ON 3. &ere s 5e "ice%President >o s ve te s-e it nd in te s-e -nner s te President. e - 5e re-oved ;ro- o;;ice in te s-e -nner s te President. &e "ice%President "ice%President - 5e ppointed s (e-5er o; te C5inet. Suc ppoint-ent reo Co--issioners >o s 5e ntur%5orn citiens o; te Piippines nd, t te ti-e o; teir ppoint-ent, t est tirt%;ive ers o; /e, >it proven cpcit ;or pu5ic d-inistrtion, d-inistrtion, nd -ust not ve 5een cndidtes ;or n eective position in te eections i--edite precedin/ teir ppoint-ent. rtice !%C, SEC&!ON SEC&!ON 1. 19 &ere s 5e Co--ission on Eections co-posed o; Cir-n nd si Co--issioners >o s 5e ntur%5orn citiens o; te Piippines nd, t te ti-e o; teir ppoint-ent, t est tirt%;ive ers o; /e, oders o; coe/e de/ree, nd -ust not ve 5een cndidtes ;or n eective position in te i--edite precedin/ eections. o>ever, -=orit tereo;, incudin/ te Cir-n, s 5e (e-5ers o; te Piippine 'r >o ve 5een en//ed in te prctice o; > ;or t est ten ers. rtice !%D, SEC&!ON 1. 19 &ere s 5e Co--ission on udit co-posed o; Cir-n nd t>o Co--issioners, >o s 5e ntur%5orn citiens o; te Piippines nd, t te ti-e o; teir ppoint-ent, t est tirt%;ive ers o; /e, certi;ied pu5ic ccountnts >it not ess tn ten ers o; uditin/ eperience, or -e-5ers o; te Piippine 'r >o ve 5een en//ed in te prctice o; > ;or t est ten ers, nd -ust not ve 5een cndidtes ;or n eective position in te eections i--edite precedin/ teir ppoint-ent. t no ti-e s (e-5ers o; te Co--ission 5eon/ to te s-e pro;ession. rtice !, SEC&!ON 8. &e O-5uds-n nd is Deputies s 5e ntur%5orn citiens
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
de-ons de-onstr trted ted ereun ereunder der,, respon responden dent@s t@s ;iur ;iuree to ;ie ;ie er er S#Ns S#Ns nd to su5-it su5-it te s-e to te $'C /o into te ver ords, >en (e-5er o; te Supre-e Court trns/resses te S#N reen -ore strin/ent nd 5urdenso-e re no5e te respondent nd te intervenors portr suc ct to 5e. &e ;ct re-ins tt tt te Repu5ic rised rised n issue s to respondent@s ei/i5iit to occup te position o; Cie; $ustice, n o5viou o5vious s e/ e/ ic >ic cn 5e resov resoved ed trou/ trou/ revie> revie> o; =urisprudence nd pertinent >s. #o/ic, co--on sense, reson, prcticit nd even even princi principe pess o; pin pin ritrit-eti eticc 5er 5er out te concu concusio sion n tt tt n unere not -et or 5reced. &o &o 5dicte ;ro- resovin/ e/ controvers si-p 5ecuse o; perceived vi vi5i 5iit it o; note noterr re-ed re-ed,, in tis tis cse cse i-pec i-pec-e -ent, nt, >oud >oud 5e to snction te initition o; process speci;ic intended to 5e on/ nd rduous nd co-pe te entire -e-5ersip o; te #e/istive 5rnc to -o-ent -o-entri ri 5ndo 5ndon n teir teir e/is e/isti tive ve duties duties to ;ocus ;ocus on i-pec i-pec-e -ent nt proceedin/s ;or te possi5e re-ov r e-ov o; pu5ic o;;ici, >o t te outset, - cer 5e uns nd cse >. Evident, tis scen scenr rio io >ou >oud d invo invov vee >st >stee o; ti-e ti-e,, not not to -ent -entio ion n unne unnece cess ssr r dis5urse-ent o; pu5ic ;unds. Aurter, s n i-pec-ent court, te Sente is tri5un co-posed o; poiticins >o re indu5it5 versed in pr/-tic decision -in/ nd co/n co/ni in ntt o; poi poiti tic c repe reperc rcus ussi sion onss o; cts cts purp purpor orte ted d to ve ve 5een 5een 182 co--itted 5 i-pec5e o;;icis. s representtives o; te Aiipino peope, te deter-ine >eter te purported cts o; i/est rnin/ o;;icis o; te countr countr constitute s n o;;ense o;;ense to te citienr. citienr. Aoo>in/ tis pre-ise, te i-pec-ent tri5un cnnot 5e epected to rue on te vidit or constitutionit o; te Cie; $ustice@s ppoint-ent, nor cn teir rui ruin/ n/ 5e o; =uri =urisp spru rude dent nti i 5ind 5indin in/ / e;;e e;;ect ct to tis tis Cour Court. t. &o ut utor ori iee Con/ress to rue on pu5ic o;;icis@ ei/i5iit >oud distur5 te sste- o; o; te Piippines, nd t te ti-e o; teir ppoint-ent, t est ;ort ers od, o; reco/nied pro5it nd independence, nd -e-5ers o; te Piippine 'r, nd -ust not ve 5een cndidtes ;or n eective o;;ice in te i--edite precedin/ eection. &e O-5uds-n -ust ve ;or ten ers or -ore 5een =ud/e or en//ed in te prctice o; > in te Piippines. Durin/ teir tenure, te s 5e su5=ect to te s-e dis
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
cecs nd 5nces s it >oud diute te =udici po>er o; courts, upon >ic =urisdiction is ecusive vested to rue on ctions ;or )uo warranto. warranto . Neverteess, ;or te /uidnce o; te 5enc nd te 5r, nd to o5ivite o5ivite con;usion con;usion in te ;uture s to >en )uo warranto s warranto s re-ed to oust n inei/i5e pu5ic o;;ici - 5e vied o;, nd in eepin/ >it te CourtQs CourtQs ;unction o; r-oniin/ te >s nd te rues >it te Constitution, te Court erein de-rctes tt n ct or o-ission co--itted prior to or t te ti-e o; ppoint-ent or eection retin/ to n o;;iciQs ise, cts or o-issions, even i; it retes to te ic - eiter 5e i-pec-ent i; te pu5ic o;;ici concerned is i-pec5e nd te ct or o-ission constitutes n i-pec5e o;;ense, or discipinr, d-inistrtive or cri-in ction, i; oter>ise. Judicial poer versus restraint and fear constitutional constitutional crisis
Judicial of a
$udici po>er is vested in one Supre-e Court nd in suc o>er courts s - 5e est5ised 5 >. $udici po>er incudes te dut o; te courts o; =ustice to sette ctu controversies invovin/ ri/ts >ic re e/ de-nd5e nd en;orce5e, nd to deter-ine >eter or not tere s s 5een 5een /rv /rvee 5us 5usee o; disc discre reti tion on -ou -ount ntin in/ / to c c or ece ecess ss o; =urisdiction on te prt o; n 5rnc or instru-entit o; te Govern-ent.183 !n te presence o; te re, revie>, tere cn 5e no dou5t tt te eercise tereo; is not discretionr upon te Court, nor dependent upon te >i-s nd cprices o; n o; its (e-5ers nor n o; te prties. Even in cses rendered -oot nd cde-ic 5 supervenin/ events, te Court neverteess eercised its po>er o; revie> on te 5sis o; certin reco/nied eceptions. 18L Neiter is its 183
187 CONS&!&*&!ON, rtice r tice "!!!, Section 1. #ie -ost po>ers con;erred 5 te Constitution, te po>er o; =udici revie> is su5=ect to i-ittions, to >it: 19 tere -ust 5e n ctu cse or controvers cin/ ;or te eercise o; =udici po>erK 29 te person cen/in/ te ct -ust ve te stndin/ to ise oter>ise stted, e -ust ve person person nd su5stnti su5stnti interest interest in te cse suc tt e s sustined, or >i sustin, direct in=ur s resut o; its en;orce-entK 39 te Lawyers $gainst +onopoly and overty >L$+? v. &he -ecretary o# 1udget and +anagement , +anagement , ?8 Pi. 3L7, 3? 26129. 18L N-e: 19 tere is /rve viotion o; te ConstitutionK 29 te cse invoves sitution o; 184
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
eerci eercise se circucircu-scr scri5e i5ed d 5 ;er ;er o; dispe dispesi sin/ n/ co%eer is dut o; te Court.
s suc suc,, te te eer eerci cise se o; =udi =udici ci po>e po>err cou coud d neve neverr 5e -de -de dependent upon te ction or inction o; noter 5rnc o; te /overn-ent. &e eercise o; =udici restrint on te /round tt te Sente, sittin/ s n i-pe i-pec c-en entt cour court, t, s s te te soe soe po>e po>err to tr tr nd nd deci decide de cse csess o; i-pec-ent, is tus -ispced. Aor one, t te ti-e o; te ;iin/ o;, nd even durin/ te pendenc o; te te reso resout utio ion n o; te te inst instn ntt peti petiti tion on,, no i-pe i-pec c-en entt tri tri s s 5een 5een co-co--en ence ced d 5 te te Sen Sente te.. !n ;c ;ct, it >i i 5e pure re se septi ptic c, nay cdisic, on te prt o; te Court to ssu-e, t te ti-e te petition >s ;ied, tt te ouse o; Representtives >i ;;ir- ;vor5e resoution >it te rtices o; !-pec-ent nd tt tri >i eventu crr on. Aor noter, nd s etensive discussed, te eter or not respondent usurped pu5ic o;;ice is undou5ted =ustici5e. Rec %rancisco, Jr., Jr., v. v. 'ouse o# (epresentatives! (epresentatives! 18? &e eercise o; =udici restrint over =ustici5e issues is not n option 5e;ore tis Court. d=udiction - not 5e decined, 5ecuse tis Court is not e/ disic te controvers controvers - 5e re;erred. re;erred. Oter>ise, Oter>ise, tis Court >oud 5e sirin/ ;ro- its dut vested under rt. "!!!, Sec. 129 o; te Constitution. (ore tn 5ein/ coted >it utorit tus, tis Court is dut%5ound to te co/nince o; te instnt petitions. !n te u/ust >ords o; amicus curiae Ater 'erns, =urisdiction is not =ust po>erK it is soe-n dut >ic - not 5e renounced. &o renounce it, even i; it is vetious, >oud 5e dereiction o; dut.
&us, &us, to eerci eercise se restr restrint int in revie> revie>in/ in/ n i-pec i-pec5 5e e o;;ic o;;icerQ erQss ppoint-ent ppoint- ent is cer renuncition renunci tion o; =udici dut. Me ve ed tt: Mie Mie n ppoint-ent ppoint-ent is n essenti essenti discretion discretionr r eecutive eecutive po>er, it is su5=ect to te i-ittion tt te ppointee soud possess none o; te dis. Fhere the )/ pres*r1bes *ert)1n <+)1f1*)t1ons for ) 13en off1*e or pos1t1on, *o+rts *o+rts -)y -)y deter deter-1 -1ne ne /het /hether her the the )ppo1n )ppo1ntee tee h)s h)s the the re<+1 re<+1s1t s1tee <+)1f1*)t1ons, <+)1f1*)t1ons, )bsent /h1*h, h1s r1ht or t1te thereto -)y be de*)red de*)red 187 3o1d. E-psis ours9
eception crcter nd is o; pr-ount pu5ic interestK 39 te constitution issue rised re. 5avid v. v. +acapagal $rroyo, $rroyo, L22 L22 Pi. 76L 266?9. 18? Supr note 3, t 1. 187 J-r. J-r. -upt. Enga9o v. v. Court o# $ppeals, $ppeals, L2? Pi. 21, 2 266?9.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
Cer, Cer, n outri/t dis-iss o; te petition 5sed on specution tt respondent >i eventu 5e tried on i-pec-ent is cer 5diction o; te Court@s dut to sette ctu controvers s to ose po>er is to 5dicte it. Neiter does te possi5iit o; te occurrence o; constitution crisis reson ;or te Court to 5ndon its positive constitution dut to te co/nince o; cse over >ic it en=os =urisdiction nd is not oter>ise e/ disers. &us, tere cn 5e no constitution crisis >ere te Constitution itse; provides te -ens nd 5ses ;or te resoution o; te Bcon;ict. &o &o reiterte, te Court@s eercise o; =urisdiction over n ction ;or )uo warranto ;s warranto ;s >itin te -5it o; its =udici po>er to sette =ustici5e issues or ctu controversies invovin/ ri/ts >ic re e/ de-nd5e nd en;orce5e. !n so doin/, te Court is not rro/tin/ upon itse; te Con/ress@ po>er to deter-ine >eter n i-pec5e o;;icer - 5e re-oved 5 i-pec-ent or not, >ic is poitic, rter tn =udici, eercise. 188 !n ;ine, it is setted tt =urisdiction is con;erred 5 >. !t cnnot 5e >iv >ived ed 5 stip stipu ut tio ion, n, 5 5di 5dic cti tion on or 5 esto estopp ppe e.. ;uo warran warranto to proceedin/s re essenti =udici in crcter it cs ;or te eercise o; te Supre-e Court@s constitution dut nd po>er to decide cses nd sette ctu ctu cont contro rove versi rsies es.. &is &is cons consti titu tuti tion on dut dut cnn cnnot ot 5e 5di 5dic cte ted d or trn trns; s;er erre red d in ;vo ;vorr o;, o;, or in de;e de;ere renc ncee to, to, n n ote oterr 5rn 5rnc c o; te te /overn-ent incudin/ te Con/ress, even s it cts s n i-pec-ent court trou/ te Sente. s n i-pec-ent court, te Sente@s =urisdiction nd te e;;ect o; its pronounce-ent is s i-ited under te Constitution it cnnot rue on te constitutionit o; n ppoint-ent o; (e-5er o; te 188
n Emilio on6ales v. "##ice o# the resident resident o# the hilippines, et al. , 72L Pi. 386 26149, te Court ed tt: BOn te prctic side, our ntion s >itnessed te co-pictions nd pro5e-s n i-pec-ent proceedin/ entis, tus =usti;in/ its i-ited ppiction on to te o;;icis occupin/ te i/est eceons o; responsi5iit in our /overn-ent. &o n-e ;e>, so-e o; te ne/tive prctic e;;ects o; i-pec-ent re: it sts e/istive >orK it is n epensive process in ter-s o; te cost o; prosecution oneK nd, -ore i-portnt, i-portnt, it is inerent divisive o; te ntion. !n so sin/, te Court re;erred to te >ords o; endor -iton, tus: &us, i-pec-ent i-pec-ent is crcter crcteried ied s essenti essenti risin/ risin/ poitic poitic e%constituted court ;or te tri o; i-pec-ents is n o5=ect not -ore to 5e desired tn di;;icut to 5e o5tined in /overn-ent >o eective. &e su5=ects o; its =urisdiction re tose o;;enses >ic proceed ;ro- te -isconduct o; pu5ic -en, or, in oter >ords, ;ro- te 5use or viotion o; so-e pu5ic trust. &e re o; nture >ic - >it pecuir propriet 5e deno-inted PO#!&!C#, PO#!&!C#, s te rete cie; to in=uries done i--edite to te societ itse;. The prose*+t1on of the-, for th1s re)son, /1 sedo- f)1 to )1t)te the p)ss1ons of the/hoe *o--+n1ty, )nd to d131de 1t 1nto p)rt1es -ore or ess fr1endy or 1n1-1*) to the )**+sed. In -)ny *)ses 1t /1 *onne*t 1tsef /1th the pre!e;1st1n f)*t1ons, )nd /1 en1st ) the1r )n1-os1t1es, p)rt1)1t1es, 1nf+en*e, )nd 1nterest on one s1de or on the other )nd 1n s+*h *)ses there /1 )/)ys be the re)test d)ner th)t the de*1s1on /1 be re+)ted -ore by the *o-p)r)t13e strenth of p)rt1es, th)n by the re) de-onstr)t1ons of 1nno*en*e or +1t. 9The Meder)1st No. 57 K///.*onst1t+t1on.or?fed?feder)57: K///.*onst1t+t1on.or?fed?feder)57:
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
Supre-e Court >it =urisprudenti 5indin/ e;;ect 5ecuse ruin/s o; te i-pec-ent court, 5ein/ poitic rter tn =udici 5od, 5od, do not ;or prt o; te >s o; te nd. n tte-pt to dero/te or usurp =udici po>er in te te det deter-i er-in nti tion o; >et eteer te te res respon pondent dent@s @s ppoi ppoin nt-en t-entt is constitution or not >i, in point o; ;ct, -ount to cup5e viotion o; te Constitution.
!n te s-e 5ret, te Supre-e Court cnnot rene/e on its vo>ed constitution dut nd 5dicte its =udici po>er. &o do so >oud si-ir -ount to cup5e viotion o; te Constitution. !nsted, tis Court sserts its =udici independence nd eitout ;er or ;vorK >itout >itout re/rd s to prt@s po>er po>er or >enessK >enessK >itout >itout re/rd to personitiesK to te uti-te end tt Our scrosnct ots s -/istrtes o; tis Court, >ic Me vountri i-posed upon ourseves >itout n -ent -ent rese reserv rvt tio ion n or purp purpos osee o; evs evsio ion, n, to supp suppor ortt nd nd de;e de;end nd te te Constitution nd to o5e te >s o; te nd, re stron/ nd ;it;u reied. See%ing affirmative relief from the Court is tantamount to voluntary appearance
!n repuditin/ te Court@s =urisdiction over er person nd over te su5=ect -tter, respondent rps on te ;ct tt s Cie; $ustice, se is n i-pec5e o;;icer >o - 5e re-oved on 5 i-pec-ent 5 te Sente constituted s n i-pec-ent court. s etensive discussed, te Court Court -int -intins ins =uris =urisdic dictio tion n over over te present present )uo warranto warranto proceedin/s despite respondent@s occuption o; n i-pec5e o;;ice, s it is te e/it or ie/it o; suc occuption tt is te su5=ect -tter o; te instnt petition. Aurter, respondent cnnot no> 5e erd to den te Court@s =urisdiction over er person even s se ci-s to 5e n i-pec5e o;;ici 5ecuse respondent in ;ct invoed nd sou/t ;;ir-tive reie; ;ro- te Court 5 prin/ ;or te ini5ition o; sever (e-5ers o; tis Court nd 5 -ovin/ tt te cse 5e erd on Or r/u-ents, r/u-ents, 5eit ad cautelam. cautelam . Mie -ind;u o; Our ruin/ in La 4aval 5rug Corporation v. Court o# $ppeals, $ppeals ,18 >ic pronounced tt prt - ;ie (otion to Dis-iss on te /round o; c o; =urisdiction over its person, nd t te s-e ti-e rise ;;ir-tive de;enses nd pr ;or ;;ir-tive reie; >itout >ivin/ its o5=ection to te ce s Section 26,16 Rue 1L, tis Court, in sever cses, rued tt seein/ ;;ir-tive 18
36? Pi. 84 149. SEC. 26. Voluntary appearance. appearance. &e de;endnt@s vountr ppernce in te ction s 5e e
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
reie; in court is tnt-ount to vountr ppernce terein. 11 &us, in hilippine in hilippine Commercial nternational 1ank v. 5y 'ong i ,12 cited in 4+ (otchschild -ons >$ustralia? Limited v. Lepanto Consolidated +ining Company ,13 >erein de;endnts ;ied (otion ;or !ni5ition >itout su5-ittin/ te-seves to te =urisdiction o; tis Court, Me ed: 'esi 'esides des,, n n in/ in/er erin in/ / dou5t dou5tss on te te issu issuee o; vount vountr r ppe pper rnc ncee dissipte >en te respondents@ -otion ;or ini5ition is considered. &is -otion sees soe reie;: ini5ition o; $ud/e Npoeon !noturn ;ro;urter erin/ te cse. E31denty, by see21n )ff1r-)t13e re1ef other th)n d1s-1ss) d1s-1ss) of the *)se, *)se, respon respondent dentss -)n1fes -)n1fested ted the the1r 1r 3o+nt) 3o+nt)ry ry s+b-1ss1on s+b-1ss1on to the *o+rt=s +r1sd1*t1on. +r1sd1*t1on. !t is >e%setted tt te ctive prticiption o; prt in te proceedin/s is tnt-ount to n invoction o; te court@s =urisdiction nd >iin/ness to 5ide 5 te resoution o; te cse, nd >i 5r sid prt ;ro- ter on i-pu/nin/ te court@s =urisdiction. E-psis in te ori/in9
ccordin/, Me rue tt respondent, 5 seein/ ;;ir-tive reie;, is dee-ed dee-ed to ve ve vount vountri ri su5-it su5-itted ted to te =urisd =urisdict iction ion o; te Court. Court. Ao Aoo> o>in in/ / sett sette ed d prin princi cip pes es,, resp respon onde dent nt cnn cnnot ot invo invoe e te te Cour Court@ t@ss =urisdiction on one nd to secure ;;ir-tive reie;, nd ten repudite tt s-e =urisdiction ;ter o5tinin/ or ;iin/ to o5tin suc reie;. II. The Pet1t1on 1s Not 1s-1ss1be on the Gro+nd of Pres*r1pt1on &rescription does not lie against the the State
&e rues on )uo warranto, warranto , speci;ic Section 11, Rue ??, provides: Limitations. Limitations. Notin/ contined in tis Rue s 5e construed to utorie n ction /inst pu5ic o;;icer or e-poee ;or is ouster ;ro- o;;ice +ness the s)-e be *o--en*ed /1th1n one 96: ye)r )fter the *)+se of s+*h o+ster, or the r1ht of the pet1t1oner to hod s+*h off1*e off1*e or pos1t1o pos1t1on, n, )rose )rose nor to utorie n ction ;or d-/es in ccordnce >it te provisions o; te net precedin/ section uness te s-e 5e co--enced >itin one 19 er ;ter te entr o; te =ud/-ent =ud/-ent est5isin/ te petitioner@s ri/t to te o;;ice in
Since te 1?6@s te Court d epined in -pe =urisprudence te E-psis ours.9 11 -ee alma v. 'on. alve6 , et al., al., ?2 Pi. Pi. 8? 26169 26169KK 5ole hilippines, nc. >&ropi#re >&ropi#resh sh 5ivision? v. Judge ;uilala, ;uilala, 7L Pi. 766 26689K 'erre 26689K 'errera/%eli2 ra/%eli2 v. Court o# $ppeals, $ppeals, 47 Pi. 727, 73L 26649. 12 ?6? Pi. 3L1 26119. 13 ?77 Pi. 3L1 26119.
Decision
73
G.R. No. 237428
ppiction o; te one%er prescriptive period ;or ;iin/ n ction ;or )uo warranto. warranto. !n 1umanlag v. %ernande6 and -ec. o# Justice ,14 te Court ed tt te one%er period ;ied in ten Section 1?, Rue ?8 o; te Rues o; Court is cond condit itio ion n prec preced eden entt to te te eis eiste tenc ncee o; te te cus cusee o; cti ction on ;or ;or )uo warranto nd warranto nd tt te inction o; n o;;icer ;or one er coud 5e vid considered >iver o; is ri/t to ;ie te s-e. !n +adrid !n +adrid v. $uditor eneral and (epublic ,1L Me ed tt person ci ci-i -in/ n/ to posi positi tion on in te te civi civi serv servic icee -ust -ust inst instit itut utee te te prop proper er proceedin/s to ssert is ri/t >itin te one%er period, oter>ise, not on >i e 5e considered to ve >ived is ri/t to 5rin/ ction tere;or 5ut >orse, e >i 5e considered to ve cit >it te te predic-ent o; vin/ to p t>o sries, one ;or te person ctu odin odin/ / te o;;ic o;;icee tou tou/ / ie/ ie/ ,, nd note noterr ;or one not ctu ctu 1? renderin/ service tou/ entited to do so. !n &orres v. ;uintos, ;uintos ,17 te Court ;urter epined tt pu5ic interest reei/t resons o; pu5ic poic nd convenience tt de-nd te doption o; suc i-ittion s tere -ust 5e st5iit in te service so tt pu5ic 5usiness - not 5e undu retrded. 1 Dist Distin inct ctiv ive e , te te peti petiti tion oner erss in tes tesee cite cited d cse csess >ere >ere priv privte te individus ssertin/ teir ri/t o; o;;ice, unie te instnt cse >ere no privte individu ci-s tite to te O;;ice o; te Cie; $ustice. !nsted, it is te te /ove /overn rn-e -ent nt itse itse; ; >ic >ic co--e co--enc nced ed te te prese present nt peti petiti tion on ;or ;or )uo warranto nd warranto nd puts in issue te et >ete err te te one% one%e err i-i i-it tti tion on is een te petitioner is not -ere privte individu pursuin/ privte interest, 5ut te /overn-ent itse; seein/ reie; ;or pu5ic >ron/ 14
116 Pi. 167, 111 1?69. 16 Pi. L78 1?69. 1? !d. 17 88 Pi. 43? 1L19. 18 1?8 Pi. 328 1779. 1 !d. t 334, citin/ :nabia v. City +ayor, et al., al. , Pi. 2L3, 2L7 1L?9 1L
Decision
74
G.R. No. 237428
nd suin/ ;or pu5ic interestV &he answer is no. Re;erence -ust necessri 5e d to Section 2, Rue ?? >ic -es it compulsory ;or compulsory ;or te Soicitor Gener to co--ence )uo warranto ction: warranto ction: SEC. 2. Men Soicitor Gener or pu5ic prosecutor -ust co--ence ction. &e Soicitor Gener or pu5ic prosecutor, >en directed 5 te President o; te Piippines, or >en upon co-pint or oter>ise e s /ood reson to 5eieve tt n cse speci;ied in te precedin/ section cn 5e est5ised 5 proo; -+st co--ence suc ction. E-psis suppied9
!n oter >ords, >en te Soicitor Gener i-se; co--ences te )uo warranto warranto ction ction eiter eiter 19 upon upon te President President@s @s direc directiv tive, e, 29 upon upon co-pint or 39 >en te Soicitor Gener s /ood reson to 5eieve tt tere is proo; tt 9 person usurps, intrudes into, or un>;u ods or eercises pu5ic o;;ice, position or ;rnciseK 59 pu5ic o;;icer does or su;;ers n ct >ic is /round ;or te ;or;eiture o; is o;;iceK or c9 n ssoci ssociti tion on cts cts s corpo corport rtion ion >itou >itoutt 5ein/ 5ein/ e/ e/ incorp incorpor orted ted or >itout >;u utorit so to ct, e does so in te discr/e o; is ts nd -ndte to see to it tt te 5est interest o; te pu5ic nd te /overn-ent re uped. !n tese tree instnces, te Soicitor Gener is -ndted under te Rues to co--ence te necessr )uo warranto petition. warranto petition. &t &t te presen presentt Rue Rue ?? on )uo warranto tes warranto tes root ;ro- ct No. 1?6, 1?6, >ic >ic is e/i e/is st tiv ivee ct, ct, does does not not /ive /ive te te one% one%e er r rue rue on 266 prescription 5soute ppiction. ppiction. $gcaoili v. v. -uguitan, -uguitan , ss: in re re prescription or i-ittion o; te ction, it - 5e sid tt ori/in tere >s no i-ittion or prescription o; ction in n ction ;or rrnto, neiter coud tere 5e, ;or te reson tt it >s n ction 5 te Govern-ent nd prescription coud not 5e ped s de;ense to n ction 5 te Govern-ent. &e ncient >rit o; rrnto >s i/ prero/tive >rit in te nture o; >rit o; ri/t 5 te Uin/ /inst n one >o usurped or ci-ed n o;;ice, ;rncise or i5ert o; te cro>n, to int utorit te usurper supported is ci-, in order to deter-ine te ri/t. Even t te present ti-e in -n o; te civiied countries o; te >ord te ction is sti re/rded s prero/tive >rit nd no i-ittion or prescription is per-itted to 5r te ction. As ) ener) pr1n*1pe 1t -)y be st)ted th)t ord1n)ry st)t+tes of 1-1t)t1on, *131 or pen), h)3e no )pp1*)t1on to <+o /)rr)nto pro*eed1n bro+ht to enfor*e ) p+b1* r1ht. !n our opinion, even /rntin/ tt section 21? is ppic5e to te ppent, te period o; prescription d not 5e/un to run t te ti-e o; te co--ence-ent co--ence-ent o; te present ction. He /)s +st1f1ed 1n de)y1n the *o--en*e-ent of h1s )*t1on +nt1 )n )ns/er to h1s protest h)d been 266
$gcaoili v. v. -aguitan, -aguitan, supr note 87.
Decision
7L
G.R. No. 237428
-)de. e d ri/t to >it te ns>er to is protest, in te con;ident 5eie; tt it >oud 5e resoved in is ;vor nd tt ction >oud 5e unnecessr. 261 Cittions o-itted nd e-psis ours9
Continuin/, $gcaoili Continuin/, $gcaoili cites cites eople eople e2 rel. +oloney v. v. ullmanFs ullmanFs alace Car Co.,262 to e-psie tt te Stte is not 5ound 5 sttute o; i-ittions nor 5 te ces, cever, o>ever, tt in rrnto, under te co--on%> rue, te courts, in te eercise o; teir discretion to /rnt te >rit or not, or upon ;in erin/, re;used id >en te conditions co-pined o; d eisted ;or nu-5er o; ers >it no>ed/e on te prt o; te soverei/n, nd tt te provisions o; X 1 o; cpter 112 o; te Revised Sttutes, entited uo Mrrnto, Mrrnto, tt eve to ;ie te in;or-tion s 5e /iven i; te court or =ud/e to >o- te petition is presented s 5e stis;ied tere is pro55e cuse ;or te proceedin/, eve te court sti possessed o; po>er to consider upon te erin/, nd ten pp te s-e doctrine o; >iver nd ce re un5e to see tt te e/tions o; te pe 5rin/ te cse >itin te principes o; n suc eceptions.
$urisp $urisprud rudenc encee cross cross te *nited *nited Sttes Sttes ie>i ie>ise se ric ric re;ec re;ectt tt tt >en >en te Soicit Soicitor or Gener Gener ;ies ;ies )uo warranto petition warranto petition in 5e; o; te peope nd >ere te interests o; te pu5ic is invoved, te pse o; ti-e presents no e;;ective 5r: 5r: n in;or-tion in te nture o; rrnto cnnot 5e ;ied 5 privte individu >itout eve, >ic te court c ourt -, t its discretion, eiter /rnt or re;use. &o re/ute teir discretion s ;;ected 5 te pse o; ti-e, te En/is courts dopted te rue >ic >e ve stted. B+t the Attorney Gener), representin/ te Cro>n in En/nd nd te Stte in tis countr, -)y f1e )n 1nfor-)t1on 1n the n)t+re of ) <+o /)rr)nto, /1tho+t e)3e, e)3e, )**ord1 )**ord1n n to h1s o/n d1s*re d1s*ret1on t1on K nd >e ;ind no En/is > >ic ods tt n in;or-tion, so ;ied, cn 5e 5rred 5 te pse o; si ers independent o; n sttute to tt e;;ect. &e ttorne Gener 5ein/ pu5ic o;;icer, - 5e presu-ed to 5e cp5e o; sutr nd reson5e discretion, s >e s te court, nd >en, ctin/ in 5e; o; te Stte, e dee-s it is dut to prosecute ;or ;or;eiture, it is not ;or te court, in te 5sence o; n sttutor i-ittion, 261
!d. t ?2, ?7. 17L !., 12LK ?4 #. R. . 3??.
262
Decision
7?
G.R. No. 237428
to s e is too te. !ndeed tis court s itse; decided tt, ;ter te in;or-tion s once 5een ;ied, its discretion ceses, nd it s ten notin/ to do 5ut d-inister te > te s-e s in n oter cse.263 Cittions o-itted9
!n eople !n eople v. v. 1ailey: 1ailey:264 ppent ci-s tt te ction is 5rred 5 te provisions o; te sttute o; o ; i-ittions, Me re o; te opinion tt te est5ised rue o; >, s to te sttute o; i-ittions nd its 5erin/ upon cses o; tis crcter, is correc correct t stted stted in te , in tus per-ittin/ te ttorne%/ener, eiter upon is o>n in;or-tion or upon te in;or-tion o; privte prt, to ;ie n in;or-tion t n ti-e /inst one >o s un>;u intruded into nd is odin/ pu5ic o;;ice, does not pce te courts or privte prties in -uc dn/er o; vin/ to de >it ste ci-s. The )*t1on *)n ony be bro+ht /1th the *onsent )nd per-1ss1on of the )ttorney!ener) of the st)te, )nd, 1t 1s to be )ss+-ed, he /1 not per-1t the 1nst1t+t1on of s+*h ) s+1t, 1f by re)son of ) re)t )pse of t1-e the *)1- h)s be*o-e st)e, or for )ny other re)son the st)te h)s *e)sed to h)3e ) present 1nterest 1n 1t. Cittions o-itted9
eople v. 1ailey 1ailey s: Me do not consider tis rrnto proceedin/, prosecuted 5 te stte@s ttorne, ;or te purpose o; oustin/ one cr/ed >it >ron/;u nd >itout utorit o; > eercisin/ te o;;ice, =urisdiction nd po>ers o; poice -/istrte, s si-p civi re-ed, re-ed, ;or te protection o; privte ri/ts on. Poice -/istrtes re pu5ic o;;icers, tt re provided ;or in te constitution o; te stteK nd 5 tt instru-ent te =udici po>ers o; te stte re, in prt, vested in te-. &e o;;ice o; poice -/istrte is one in >ic te stte nd te /ener pu5ic ve deep interest, nd te =urisdiction ttced to it is uni;or- >it tt 5eon/in/ to te o;;ice o; =ustice o; te pece. !t is -tter o; pu5ic concern to te peope o; te stte, nd /inst teir pece nd di/nit, tt n one soud un>;u, nd >itou >itoutt utor utorit it o; ri/t, ri/t, eerci eercise se te =urisd =urisdict iction ion,, po>ers po>ers nd ;unctions o; suc o;;ice, nd so -tter o; interest to te stte nd to te /ener pu5ic tt -ore persons tn te > utories re ctin/ s poice -/istrtes. !n tis countr te rue is tt the )ttorney ener) or st)te=s )ttorney -)y f1e the 1nfor-)t1on 1n beh)f of the peope, /here the 1nterests of the ener) p+b1* )re 1n3o3ed, )t )ny t1-e, )nd th)t, 1n *onfor-1ty /1th the -);1-, =N++- te-p+s o**+rr1t re1,= )pse of t1-e *onst1t+tes no b)r to the pro*eed1n. Cittions o-itted9
263
-tate o# (hode sland v. awtu2et &urnpike Company Supre-e Company Supre-e Court o; Rode !snd9, $n 1, 18?78 R.!. L21 R.!. 18?79. 264 District Court o; ppe o; Ci;orni9, Ci;orni9, 36 C.pp. L81, L84, L8L. 26L 1?6 !., 77K L2 -. St. Rep., 86?.
Decision
77
G.R. No. 237428
pt pt , in -tate e2 rel -tovall v. +eneley ,26? it >s >s ed ed tt tt )uo warranto ction is /overn-ent ;unction nd not propriet ;unction, nd tere;ore te doctrine o; ces does not pp: Govern-ent ;unctions re tose per;or-ed ;or te /ener pu5ic >it respect to te co--on >e;re ;or >ic no co-penstion or prticur 5ene;it is received. +o /)rr)nto pro*eed1ns see21n o+ster of ) p+b1* off1*1) )re ) o3ern-ent) f+n*t1on. Cittions nd nnottions o-itted9 No st)t+te of 1-1t)t1ons 1s, therefore, )pp1*)be. &e district court did not err in denin/ (enee@s -otion to dis-iss 5sed on te sttute o; i-ittions. &e doctrine o; ces, ;urter-ore, does not pp >en cuse o; ction is 5rou/t 5rou/t 5 te Stte seein/ seein/ to protec protectt te pu5ic. pu5ic. Citt Cittion ionss nd nnot nnottio tions ns o-itte o-itted9 d9 vin/ vin/ red red noted noted tt tt te rrn >rrnto to ction is /overn-ent ;unction nd not propriet ;unction, >e od te district court did not err in denin/ (enee@s -otion to dis-iss on te 5sis o; ces.
!n ;ct, i5er interprettion to )uo warranto provisions warranto provisions is snctioned /iven tt its pri-r purpose is to scertin >eter one is constitution utoried to od o;;ice. -tate e2 rel $naya v. +c1ride 267 eucidtes: Since Since te te Cons Consti titu tuti tion on prov provid ides es ;or ;or sepr seprt tee nd e Ne> (ei (eico, co, n e/i e/is st tiv ivee -es -esur uree >ic >ic ;;e ;;ect ctss pedin/, prctice or procedure p rocedure in retion to po>er epress vested 5 te Constitution in te =udicir, suc s rrnto, cnnot 5e dee-ed 5indin/. Me cnnot render inopertive cuse in te Constitution on so sen sende derr reed reed.. One of the pr1-)ry p+rposes of <+o /)rr)nto 1s to )s*ert)1n /hether one 1s *onst1t+t1on)y )+thor1@ed to hod the off1*e he *)1-s, /hether by ee*t1on or )ppo1nt-ent, )nd /e -+st 1ber)y 1nterpret the <+o /)rr)nto st)t+tes to effe*t+)te th)t p+rpose.
!ndee !ndeed, d, >en >en te te /ove /overn rn-e -ent nt is te te re re prt prt in inte intere rest st,, nd nd is proceedin/ -in to ssert its ri/ts, tere cn 5e no de;ense on te /round o; ces or prescription. 268 !ndu5it5, !ndu5it5, te 5sic principe tt prescription does not ie /inst te Stte >ic ;inds tetu 5sis under rtice 1168 4926 o; te Civi Code, ppies in tis cse. Circ Circum umst stan ance cess obta obtain inin ing g in this this case preclude the application of the prescriptive period
&t prescription does not ie in tis cse cn so 5e deduced ;ro26?
Supre-e Court o; Unss9 271 Un. 3LL, 372, 22 P.3d P.3d 124 26619. L3 P.2d 166? 17L9. 268 (epublic o# the hils v. Court o# $ppeals, $ppeals , 2L3 Pi. ?8, 713 189. 26 rt. 1168. Prescription, 5ot c
Decision
78
G.R. No. 237428
te ver purpose o; n ction ;or )uo warranto. warranto . eople v. City Whittier ,216 epins tt te re-ed o; )uo warranto is warranto is intended to prevent continuin/ eercise eercise o; n utorit utorit un>;u un>;u sserted. sserted. !ndeed, !ndeed, on point is eople v. 211 1ailey, 1ailey, >en en it rue rued d t tt 5ec 5ecu use )uo warran warranto to serve rves to end cont contin inuo uous us usur usurp pti tion on,, no stt sttut utee o; i-i i-it tti tion onss pp ppie iess to te te cti ction on.. Needess to s, s, no prudent nd =ust court court >oud o> n unic too te cse out o; te sttute o; i-ittions, to >it: 19 tere >s no cs n ct o; te /overn-ent trou/ its responsi5e o;;icis >ic contri5uted to te de in te ;iin/ ;iin/ o; te ctionK ctionK nd 39 te petition petition >s /rounded upon te ssertion tt petitioner@s re-ov ;ro- te s contrr to >. !n tis tis cse se, te te Rep Repu5i u5icc cnn nnot 5e ;u ;uted ted ;or ;or i 5e de-onstrted ereunder, respondent >s never ;ortri/t s to >et >ete err or not not se se ;ie ;ied d er er S#N S#Nss cove coveri rin/ n/ te te peri period od o; er er e-po-ent in *.P. Rec tt durin/ er ppiction ;or te Cie; $ustice position, te $'C res considered to 5e co-in/ ;ro- privte prcticeK tt it >s not ;esi5e to retrieve -ost o; er records in te cde-e considerin/ tt te s-e re -ore -ore tn tn ;i;t ;i;tee een n er erss odK odK nd nd tt tt *.P *.P. re red d ce cered red er er o; B B cde-icId Id-inistrtive res responsi5iities, -one nd propert rt 212 ccount5iities nd ;ro- d-inistrtive cr/es s o; $une 1, 266? in 213 Cernce dted Septe-5er 1, 2611. 2611. Even up to te present, respondent s not 5een cndid on >eter se se ;ie ;ied d te te reen se >s sti connected >it >it te *.P. *.P. Coe/ Coe/ee o; #>, #>, 214 se /in /in o;;ere o;;ered d s suppor supportt te *.P. *.P. Cernce Cernce 5ove%ci 5ove%citedK tedK tt se se >s considered considered s co-in/ co-in/ ;ro- privte privte prctice >en se >s no-inted s ssocite $ustice o; te Supre-e Court, ence, ence, soud not 5e res not 216
eople v. City o# Whittier 1339 Whittier 1339 133 C.pp. 31?, 324K 2L Ops.C.tt.Gen. 223 1LL9. eople v. 1ailey 11?9 1ailey 11?9 36 C.pp. L81, L84, L8L. 212 (ollo, (ollo, pp. 2147%2148. 213 !d. t 2144. 214 !d. t 228.
211
Decision
7
G.R. No. 237428
;esi5e ;or er to retrieve sid S#Ns ;ro- *.P. s er records terein re -ore -ore tn tn 1L er erss od. od. Not Not5 5 , tes tesee re re -ere -ere reit reiter ert tio ions ns o; er er representtions 5e;ore te $'C. ence, unti recent >en respondent@s s s no indiction tt >oud ve pro-pted te Repu5ic to ssi respondent@s ppoin ppoint-e t-ent, nt, -uc -uc ess ess isdo>isdo- or reson reson 5eind 5eind te sid sid reco reco---en endi din/ n/ nd nd ppo ppoin inti tin/ n/ ut utor orit itie ies@ s@ cti ction ons. s. &e &e de;e de;ect ct on respondent@s ppoint-ent >s tere;ore not discerni5e, 5ut >s, on te contrr, contrr, dei5erte rendered o5scure. Given te ;ore/oin/, tere cn 5e no coud -ount to n 5ndon-ent o; its ri/t to see redress /inst pu5ic >ron/ nd vindicte pu5ic interest. Neiter cn de 5e ttri5uted to te Repu5ic in co--encin/ te ction since respondent dei5erte conceed te ;ct o; er disic provides ;or te prescriptive periods ;or viotions penied 5 speci cts nd -unicip ordinnces. Pin, Pin, ct No. 332? is inppic5e to te instnt petition s respondent is not 5ein/ sou/t to 5e penied ;or viotion o; te >s retin/ to te non%;iin/ or inco-pete, irre/ur or untrut;u ;iin/ o; S#Ns. t n rte, even te teoried ppic5iit o; ct No. 332? >i not >or to respondent@s dvnt/e /iven tt tt Sect Sectio ion n 2 218 tereo tereo;; provid provides es tt tt te prescr prescript iptive ive period period s s 5e reconed eiter ;ro- te d o; te co--ission o; te viotion o; te >, or i; suc suc 5e not not no> no>n n t te ti-e, ti-e, ;ro- te discovery discovery tereo; nd te institution o# the 8udicial proceeding proceeding #or its investigation nd punishment. nd punishment.
21L
N C& &O ES&'#!S PER!ODS OA PRESCR!P&!ON AOR "!O#&!ONS PEN#!)ED '+ SPEC!# C&S ND (*N!C!P# (*N!C!P# ORD!NNCES ND &O PRO"!DE PRO"!DE MEN PRESCR!P&!ON S## 'EG!N &O R*N. pproved on Dece-5er 4, 12?. 21? (ollo, (ollo, p. 118. 217 Section 1. "iotions penied 5 speci cts s, uness oter>ise provided in suc cts, prescri5e in ccordnce >it te ;oo>in/ ;oo>in/ rues: 9 ;ter er ;or o;;enses punised on 5 ;ine or 5 i-pris i-prisonon-ent ent ;or not -ore tn tn one -ont, -ont, or 5otK 5otK 59 ;ter ;ter ;our ;our ers ers ;or tose punised punised 5 i-prison-ent ;or -ore tn one -ont, 5ut ess tn t>o ersK c9 ;ter ei/t ers ;or tose punised 5 i-prison-ent ;or t>o ers or -ore, 5ut ess tn si ersK nd d9 ;ter t>eve ers ;or n oter o;;ense punised 5 i-prison-ent ;or si ers or -ore, ecept te cri-e o; treson, >ic s prescri5e ;ter t>ent ers. "iotions "iotions penied 5 -unicip ordinnces s prescri5e ;ter t>o -onts. 218 Sec. 2. Prescription s 5e/in to run ;ro- te d o; te co--ission o; te viotion o; te >, nd i; te s-e 5e not no>n t te ti-e, ;ro- te discover tereo; nd te institution o; =udici proceedin/ ;or its its investi/tion investi/tion nd punis-ent. .
Decision
86
G.R. No. 237428
Ain, Ain, it 5ers to stress tt t is Court ;inds it -ore i-portnt to rue on te -erits o; te nove issues i-5ued >it pu5ic interest presented 5e;ore *s tn to dis-iss te cse outri/t -ere on tecnicit. tecnicit. &e Court cnn cnnot ot co-p co-pro ro-i -ise se on te te i-po i-port rtn nce ce o; sett setti in/ n/ te te cont contro rove vers rs surro surroun undi din/ n/ te te i/ i/es estt posi positi tion on in te te $udi $udici cir r on on to ie ied d to te te unc uncce cept pt5 5e e pe pe o; tec tecni nic ci it t.. !t is 5ut 5ut -ore -ore prud pruden entt to ;;o ;;ord rd te te Repu5ic, s >e s te respondent, -pe opportunities to present teir cses ;or proper nd =ust disposition o; te cse insted o; dis-issin/ te petition outri/t on te /round o; prescription. !ns-uc s te uti-te considertion in providin/ ;or one%er prescriptive period >s pu5ic interest, so is it te s-e considertion >ic pro-pts tis Court not to ct nonc nonc nt nt nd nd id id >tc >tc tit titee to te te pu5 pu5ic ic o;;ic o;;icee in ned upon especi >ere pu5ic interest is t te oter end o; te spectru-. III. Respondent 1s Ine11be )s ) C)nd1d)te )nd No-1nee for the Pos1t1on of Ch1ef J+st1*e
&o rri rrive ve t =udi =udici ciou ouss ppr pprec eci iti tion on o; te te prt prtie ies@ s@ resp respec ecti tive ve contentions s to respondent@s s te supervisor utorit eercised 5 it over te $'C, nd visits te $'C@s rues nd procedure retin/ to te cceptnce nd no-intion o; respondent s Cie; $ustice. A. The Co+rt Co+rt E;er* E;er*1se 1sess S+ S+per per31s 31sory ory A+thor A+thor1t 1ty y O3er the JBC !he Court's supervisory authority over over the the J(C J(C incl includ udes es en ensu suri ring ng that the J(C complies ith its on rules
Section 819, rtice "!!! o; te Constitution provides: A J+d1*1) )nd B)r Co+n*1 1s hereby *re)ted +nder the s+per31s1on co-pos osed ed o; te te Cie Cie;; $ust $ustic icee s e2 o##icio of the S+pre-e Co+rt , co-p Cir-n, te Secretr o; $ustice, nd representtive o; te Con/ress s e o;;icio (e-5ers, representtive o; te !nte/rted 'r, pro;essor o; >, retired (e-5er o; te Supre-e Court, nd representtive o; te privte sector. E-psis ours9
$mbil, Jr. Jr. v. -andiganbayan, -andiganbayan, et al. ,21 eucidtes on te po>er o; 21
?? Pi. 32 26119.
Decision
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G.R. No. 237428
supervision in /ener: On te oter nd, te po>er o; supervision -ens overseein/ or te utorit o; n o;;icer to see to it tt te su5ordinte o;;icers per;or- teir duties. !; te su5ordinte o;;icers o ;;icers ;i or ne/ect ne /ect to ;u;i teir duties, te o;;ici - te suc ction or step s prescri5ed 5 > > to -e -e tete- per; per;or or- tei teirr duti duties es.. Esse Essent nti i , te te po>er po>er o; supervision -ens no -ore tn te po>er o; ensurin/ tt >s re ;it;u eecuted, or tt su5ordinte o;;icers ct >itin te >. &e supervisor or superintendent -ere sees to it tt te rues re ;oo>ed, 5ut e does not do>n te rues, nor does e ve discretion to -odi; or repce te-.226
Re;ective o; te 5ove nd si-ir pronounce-ents, 221 te se-in cse o; Jardele o; Jardele6a 6a v. v. Chie# Justice +a. Lourdes Lourdes . . $. -ereno -ereno , et al., al.,222 epins tt te po>er o; supervision 5ein/ po>er o; oversi/t does not utorie te oder o; te supervisor po>er to do>n te rues nor to -odi; or rep repc cee te te rue ruess o; its its su5o su5ord rdin int te. e. !; te te rue ruess re, re, o>e o>eve verr, not not or i-proper o5served, ten te supervisin/ utorit - order te >or 5e done or redone, 5ut on ;or te purpose o; con;or-in/ to suc rues. &us, in interpretin/ te po>er o; te Court vis/a/vis te vis/a/vis te po>er o; te $'C, it is consistent ed tt te Court@s supervisor po>er consists o; seein/ to it tt te $'C co-pies >it its o>n rues nd procedures. s >en te poicies o; te $'C re 5ein/ ttced, te Court, trou/ its supervisor utorit over te $'C, s te dut to init its o>n rues. 223 &e $'C occupies uni
!d. t L6. 'on. 5rilon v. +ayor Lim, Lim , 36L Pi. 14? 149. 222 741 Pi. 4?6 26149. 223 Judge Villanueva v. Judicial and 1ar Council, 7L7 Council, 7L7 Pi. L34 261L9. 224 187 CONS&!&*&!ON, rtice "!!!, Section 8: 4.&e re/ur (e-5ers o; te Counci s receive receive suc e-ou-ents e-ou-ents s - 5e deter-ined 5 te Supre-e Court. &e Supre-e Court s provide in its nnu 5ud/et te ppropritions ;or te Counci. 22L 187 CONS&!&*&!ON, rtice "!!!, Section 8: 221
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'rion, 'rion, in is Concurrin/ Concurrin/ nd Dissentin Dissentin/ / Opinion in 5e Castro v. Judicial 22? and 1ar Council, et al. , o;;ers succinct point: *nder tis de;inition, te Court cnnot dictte on te $'C te resuts o; its ssi/ned ts, i.e., >o to reco--end or >t stndrds to use to deter-ine >o to reco--end. It *)nnot e3en d1re*t the JBC on ho/ )nd /hen to do 1ts d+ty, b+t 1t *)n, +nder 1ts po/er of s+per31s1on, d1re*t the JBC to t)2e s+*h )*t1on or step )s pres*r1bed by )/ to -)2e -)2e thethe- perf perfor or- the1 the1rr d+ d+t1 t1es es, , 1f the the d+ d+t1 t1es es )re )re not not be1n be1n perf perfor or-e -ed d be*) be*)+s +see of JBC> JBC>ss f)+ f)+tt or 1n)* 1n)*t1 t1on on,, or be*) be*)+s +see of e;tr)neo+s f)*tors )ffe*t1n perfor-)n*e. Note 1n th1s re)rd th)t, *onst1t+t1on)y, the Co+rt *)n )so )ss1n the JBC other f+n*t1ons )nd d+t1es ) po/er th)t s+ests )+thor1ty beyond /h)t 1s p+rey s+per31sory. 227 E-psis ours9
$'C@s 5soute utono- ;ro- te Court s to pce its non%ction or i-pr i-prop oper er cti ction onss 5eo 5eond nd te te tt tter er@s @s rec rec is ter tere; e;or oree not not >t >t te te Constitution conte-ptes. Mt is -ore, te $'C@s dut to reco--end or no-inte, tou/ cin/ ;or te eercise o; discretion, is neiter 5soute nor uni-ited. !n Villanueva v. v. Judicial and 1ar Council , Council ,228 tis Court epined tt >ie certin ee> -ust 5e /iven to te $'C in screenin/ spirin/ -/istrtes, te s-e does not /ive it n un5rided discretion to i/nore Constitution nd e/ reever, te Constitution did not do>n in precise ter-s te te proc proces esss tt tt te te $'C $'C s s ;o ;oo> o> in dete deterr-in inin in/ / pp ppic icn nts ts@@ *)rry1n y1n o+t o+t 1ts -)1n -)1n f+n f+n*t1 *t1on, on, the the JBC JBC h)s h)s the o is -ost ;it -on/ te ppicnts. Th+s, Th+ s, the JBC h)s h)s s+ff1* s+ff1*1en 1entt b+t not +n +nbr1 br1de ded d 1*en 1*ense se to )*t )*t 1n perfor-1n 1ts d+t1es. $'C@s uti-te /o is to reco--end no-inees nd not si-p to ;i up =udici vcncies in order to pro-ote n e;;ective nd e;;icient d-inistrtion o; =ustice.22 E-psis ours9
So too, te $'C@s eercise o; discretion is not uto-tic e
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to n eercise eercise o; poic poic decision s to pce, pce, in >oese >oese,, te $'C process 5eond te scope o; te Court@s supervisor nd corrective po>ers. &e pri-r i-ittion to te $'C@s eercise o; discretion is tt te no-inee -ust possess te -ini-u- s retive to te position. Mie te resoution o; >o to no-inte s 5et>een t>o cndidtes o; eosoever is no-inted is not oter>ise diseter or not no-inee possesses te reisdo>isdo- s to pce pce te $'C@s $'C@s ction ctionss in te s-e s-e cte/o cte/or r s poiti poitic c isdo- re;er to tose ic, under te Constitution, re to 5e decided 5 te peope in teir soverei/n cpcit, or in re/rd re/rd to >ic >ic #ull discretionr utorit s 5een dee/ted to te legislative or legislative or e2ecutive 5rnc e2ecutive 5rnc o; /overn-ent. 236 1aker v. v. Carr 231 /ives te cssic de;inition o; poitic itout n initi poic deter-intion o; ind cer cer ;or non%=ud non%=udici ici discre discretio tionK nK or te i-poss i-possi5i i5iit it o; courtQ courtQss undertin/ independent resoution >itout epressin/ c o; te respect due due coor coordi din nte te 5rn 5rnc ces es o; /ove /overn rn-e -ent ntKK or n unus unusu u need need ;or ;or un
O5viou O5vious s,, te eerci eercise se o; te $'C@s $'C@s discre discretio tion n in te no-in no-intio tion n process is not ;u s it is i-ited 5 te res ;or ever position. !t does not invove eter cndidte possesses te reisdo- o; co%eic is te ver 5sis o; te poitic en te Court supervises nd revie>s te ction o; te $'C >ic is 236 231
&a9ada v. Cuenco, Cuenco, 163 Pi. 16L1 1L79. 3? *.S. 18?.
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neiter n eecutive nor e/istive 5rnc en=oin/ independent poitic prero/tives. !n ;ine ;ine,, te te Cour Courtt s s ut utor orit it , s n inci incide dent nt o; its its po>e po>err o; supervision over te $'C, to insure tt te $'C ;it;u eecutes its duties s te Constitution ree >ere red d to ins inei/i5e to 5e cndidte to te position to 5e/in >it. Qualifications under the Constitution cann cannot ot be aiv aived ed or barg bargai aine ned d aay by the J(C
s e-psied, te $'C@s eercise o; discretion is i-ited 5 te Constitution itse; >en it prescri5ed te er coe/ite court uness e is ntur%5orn citien o; te Piippines. (e-5er o; te Supre-e Court -ust 5e t est ;ort ers o; /e, nd -ust ve 5een ;or ;i;teen ers or -ore =ud/e o; o>er court or en//ed in te prctice o; > in te Piippines. 29 &e Con/ress s prescri5e te er courts, 5ut no person - 5e ppointed =ud/e tereo; uness e is citien o; te Piippines nd -e-5er o; te Piippine 'r. 39 (e-5er o; te $udicir -ust 5e person o; pro3en co-petence, 1nter1ty , pro5it, nd independence. E-psis ours9 ou rs9
Evident, -ore tn /e, citiensip nd pro;ession is cer tt -e-5er o; te $udicir -ust 5e person o; proven co-petence, inte/rit, inte/rit, pro5it nd independence. &e incusion o; su5section 3 is epined in tis >ise: (R. NO##EDO. &n ou, (r. Presidin/ O;;icer. O;;icer. ( -end-ent is to dd ne> su5section 39 on Section 4 >ic reds: (E(' (E('ER ER OA &E &E $udi $udici cir r (*S& (*S& 'E PERS PERSON ON OA PRO" PRO"EN EN CO(PE&ENCE, !N&EGR!&+, PRO'!&+, ND !NDEPENDENCE. 'e;ore te Co--ittee decides on >eter or not to ccept te -end-ent, ! >oud ie to epin it ;irst.
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(r. Presidin/ O;;icer, tis is -or provision i;ted >it -odi;ictions ;ro- te BCnons o; $udici Etics. &e reputtion o; our =ustices nd =ud/es s 5een unsvor. ! te to s tis, 5ut it see-s tt it s 5eco-e te /ener rue tt te -e-5ers -e-5ers o; te $udicir $udicir re corrupt corrupt nd te ;e> onest ones re te eceptions. Me er o; =ustices nd =ud/es >o >oud issue in=unctive reie; to te i/est 5idder nd >oud decide cses 5sed on undreds o; tousnds, nd even -iions, -ercenr resons. &e -e-5er -e-5erss o; te deposed deposed SupreSupre-ee Court, Court, >it ;e> eception eceptions, s, ctered to te poitic iin/s nd person convenience o; (r. (rcos 5 despic5 surrenderin/ teir =udici independence. M soud >e resist incorp incorpor ortin tin/ / >ort >ort -or -or princi principe pess in our ;und-e ;und-ent nt >V >V M soud >e cnie our conservtive tou/ts >itin te nrro> con;ines o; pure e/is-V ! ped to te -e-5ers o; te Co--ittee nd to - coe/ues in tis Cons Consti titu tuti tion on Co-Co--is issi sion on to suppo support rt - -en -endd-ent ent in order order to stren/ten te -or ;i5er o; our $udicir. #et not our Constitution 5e -ere e/ or poitic docu-ent. #et it 5e -or docu-ent s >e. 232
Re in te course o; resovin/ disputes. &e po>er nd te prero/tive o; court to per;or- tis ;unction rest, in te end, upon te respect ccorded to its =ud/-ents. &e citienQs respect respect ;or =ud/-e =ud/-ents nts depends depends in turn turn upon upon te issuin issuin/ / courtQ courtQss 5sou 5soute te pro5it. pro5it. $udici inte/rit is, in conse
n pproi-tion o; >t de;ines te ter- Binte/rit >s -de 5 te Court in Jardel in Jardele6a e6a,, s ;oo>s: !n te per;or-nce o; tis scred dut, te $'C itse; d-its, s stted in te >eres cuses o; $'C%66, tt n iron%cd rues to deter-ine te ;itness o; tose >o spire to 5eco-e $ustice, $ud/e, O-5uds-n or Deput O-5uds-n. Given tis reistic sitution, tere is need to pro-ote st5iit nd uni;or-it in $'CQs /uidin/ precepts nd principes. set o; uni;or- criteri d to 5e est5ised in te sce scert rti inn-ent ent o; >et >eter er one one -eet -eetss te te -ini -ini-u -u- const constit itut utio ion n ise ;or te se o; trnsprenc o; its proceedin/s, 232 233
RECORDS, CONS&!&*&!ON# CO((!SS!ON, "o. !., pp. 484%48L $u 14, 18?9. 12 S. Ct. 22L2, 22??%?7 2669
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te $'C d put tese criteri in >ritin/, no> in te ;or- o; $'C%66. &rue rue enou enou/ /,, /ui /uidei deine ness ve ve 5een 5een set in te te dete deterr-in -inttion o; co-petence, co-petence, pro5it nd independence, independence, soundness soundness o; psic psic nd -ent condition, nd inte/rit. inte/rit. s discosed 5 te /uideines nd ists o; reco/nied evidence o; n in $'C%66, inte/rit is *osey re)ted to, or 1f not, )ppro;1 )ppro;1-)te -)tey y e<+ e<+)ted )ted to )n )pp1*) )pp1*)nt> nt>ss ood rep+t) rep+t)t1on t1on for honesty honesty,, 1n*orr+ 1n*orr+pt1b pt1b11t 11ty y, 1rrepr 1rrepro)* o)*h)b h)bee *ond+*t, *ond+*t, )nd f1de1ty f1de1ty to so+nd -or) )nd eth1*) st)nd)rds. &t is > proo; o; n ppicntQs reputtion - 5e so>n in certi;ictions or testi-onis ;ro- reput5e /overn-ent o;;icis nd non%/overn-ent or/nitions nd cernces ;ro- te courts, courts, Ntion 'ureu o; !nvesti/ti !nvesti/tion, on, nd te poice, -on/ oters. !n ;ct, te $'C - even conduct discreet 5c/round cec nd receive ;eed5c ;ro- te pu5ic on te inte/rit, reputtion nd crct crcter er o; te ppicnt ppicnt,, te -erits -erits o; >ic >ic s s 5e veri;i veri;ied ed nd ceced ceced.. s s *h)r)*ter. #$& E-psis ours9
&e cse o; Jardele6a, Jardele6a, o>e o>eve verr, is not not te te ;irs ;irstt ti-e ti-e tis tis Cour Courtt 23L interpreted te re (en>ie ie,, in (e! Judge 23? Jaime V. ;uitain, ;uitain , tis Court decred $ud/e uitin to 5e disonest nd cin/ in inte/rit >en e ;ied to discose in is PDS tt e >s i-posed pent o; dis-iss ;ro- service in n d-inistrtive cse ;ied /inst i-. E-pti E-ptic c ,, inte/r inte/rit it is not on on prere< prere
