Summary: Francisco vs. House of Representatives (GR 160261, 10 November 200! Francisco vs. House of Representatives (GR 160261, 10 November 2003) En Banc, Carpio Morales (J): 1 concrs, 3 !ro"e separa"e concrrin# opinions "o !$ic$ % concr, 2 !ro"e concrrin# an& &issen"in# separa"e opinions "o !$ic$ 2 concr'
Facts: n 2 November 2001, "$e 12"$ Con#ress o* "$e +ose o* Represen" Represen"a"ive a"ivess a&op"e& a&op"e& an& approve& approve& "$e Rles Rles o* roce roce&r &re e in -mpeac -mpeac$me $men" n" orce orcee&i e&in#s n#s,, sperce&in sperce&in# # "$e previos previos +ose +ose -mpeac$men -mpeac$men"" Rles Rles approve& b. "$e 11"$ Con#ress' n 22 Jl. 2002, "$e +ose o* Represen"a"ives a&op"e& a Resol"ion, !$ic$ &irec"e& &irec"e& "$e Commi""e Commi""ee e on Js"ice Js"ice /"o con&c" con&c" an inves"i#a"ion, in ai& o* le#isla"ion, on "$e manner o* &isbrsemen"s an& epen&i"res b. "$e C$ie* Js"ice o* "$e preme Cor" o* "$e J&iciar. evelopmen" n& (J)' (J)' n 2 Jne 2003, *ormer resi&en" resi&en" Josep$ Josep$ E' Es"r Es"ra& a&a a *ile& *ile& an impe impeac ac$m $men en"" comp compla lain in"" (*ir (*irs" s" impeac$men" complain") a#ains" C$ie* Js"ice +ilario G' avi&e avi&e Jr' Jr' an& seven 4ssocia" 4ssocia"e e Js"ices Js"ices o* "$e pr prem eme e Cor Cor"" *or *or /cl /clpa pabl ble e viol viola" a"io ion n o* "$e "$e Cons"i""i Cons"i""ion, on, be"ra.al o* "$e pblic "rs" an& o"$er $i#$ crimes'/ 5$e complain" complain" !as en&orse& en&orse& b. +ose +ose Repre Represen sen"a" "a"ive ives, s, an& !as re*err re*erre& e& "o "$e +ose +ose Commi""ee on Js"ice on 4#s" 2003 in accor&ance !i"$ ec"ion 3(2) o* 4r"icle 7- o* "$e Cons"i""ion' 5$e +ose Commi""ee on Js"ice rle& on 13 c"ober 2003 "$a" "$e *irs" impeac$men" complain" !as /s**icien" in *orm,/ b" vo"e& "o &ismiss "$e same on 22 c"ober 2003 *or bein# ins**icien" in sbs"ance' or mon"$s an& "$ree !ee8s since "$e *ilin# o* "$e *irs" complain" or on 23 c"o c"obe berr 2003 2003,, a &a. &a. a*"e a*"err "$e "$e +os +ose e Commi""ee on Js"ice vo"e& "o &ismiss i", "$e secon& impeac$men" complain" !as *ile& !i"$ "$e ecre"ar. General o* "$e +ose b. +ose Represen"a"ives a#ains" C$ie* Js"ice Js"ice +ilario +ilario G' avi&e, Jr', *on&e& on "$e alle#e& resl"s o* "$e le#isla"ive in9ir. ini"ia"e& b. above abovemen men"io "ione& ne& +ose +ose Resol Resol"i "ion' on' 5$e secon& secon&
impeac impeac$me $men" n" compla complain" in" !as !as accomp accompani anie& e& b. a /Resol"ion o* En&orsemen";-mpeac$men"/ si#ne& b. a" leas leas"" 1;3 1;3 o* all all "$e "$e Memb Member erss o* "$e "$e +os +ose e o* Represen" Represen"a"ive a"ives' s'
/=n>o o impeac$men" procee&in#s s$all be ini"ia"e& a#ains" "$e same o**icial more "$an once !i"$in a perio& o* one .ear'/
Issue: ?$e"$er "$e po!er o* @&icial revie! e"en&s "o "$ose arisin# *rom impeac$men" procee&in#s' Held: 5$e Cor"As po!er o* @&icial revie! is con*erre& on "$e @&icial branc$ o* "$e #overnmen" in ec"ion 1, 4r"icl 4r"icle e <--- o* or presen presen"" 1 1 Cons"i Cons"i"" ""ion ion'' 5$e /mo& /mo&er era" a"in in# # po!e po!er/ r/ "o /&e" /&e"er ermi mine ne "$e "$e prop proper er alloca"io alloca"ion n o* po!ers/ o* "$e &i**eren" branc$es branc$es o* #overnmen" an& /"o &irec" "$e corse o* #overnmen" alon# cons"i""ional c$annels/ is in$eren" in all cor"s as a necess necessar. ar. conse9 conse9en ence ce o* "$e @&ici @&icial al po!er po!er i"sel*, !$ic$ is /"$e po!er o* "$e cor" "o se""le ac"al con"ro con"rover versie siess involv involvin# in# ri#$"s ri#$"s !$ic$ !$ic$ are le#all le#all. . &eman&able an& en*orceable'/ 4s in&ica"e& in 4n#ara v' Elec"oral Elec"oral Commission, Commission, @&icial revie! is in&ee& in&ee& an in"e#ral componen" o* "$e &elica"e s.s"em o* c$ec8s an& balanc balances es !$ic$ !$ic$,, "o#e"$ "o#e"$er er !i"$ !i"$ "$e coroll corollar. ar. principle o* separa"ion o* po!ers, *orms "$e be&roc8 o* or repblican *orm o* #overnmen" an& insres "$a" i"s vas" po!ers are "iliDe& onl. *or "$e bene*i" o* "$e people *or !$ic$ i" serves' 5$e separa"ion o* po!ers is a *n&amen"al principle in or s.s"em o* #overnmen"' -" ob"ains no" "$ro#$ epress provision b" b. ac"al &ivision in or Cons"i""ion' Eac$ &epar"men" o* "$e #overnmen" $as eclsive co#niDance o* ma""ers !i"$in i"s @ris&ic"ion, an& is spreme !i"$in i"s o!n sp$ere' B" i" &oes no" *ollo! *rom "$e *ac" "$a" "$e "$ree po!ers are "o be 8ep" separa"e an& &is"inc" "$a" "$e Cons Cons"i "i" ""i "ion on in"e in"en& n&e& e& "$em "$em "o be abso absol l"e "el. l.
nres" nres"rai raine& ne& an& in&epe in&epen&e n&en" n" o* eac$ eac$ o"$er o"$er'' 5$e Cons"i""i Cons"i""ion on $as provi&e& provi&e& *or an elabora"e elabora"e s.s"em o* c$ec8s c$ec8s an& balances "o secre secre coor&ina" coor&ina"ion ion in "$e !or8 !or8in in#s #s o* "$e "$e vari vario oss &epa &epar" r"me men" n"ss o* "$e "$e #overnm #overnmen" en"'' 4n& 4n& "$e @&ici @&iciar. ar. in "rn, "rn, !i"$ !i"$ "$e preme Cor" as "$e *inal arbi"er, e**ec"ivel. c$ec8s "$e o"$er &epar"men"s in "$e eercise o* i"s po!er "o &e"ermine "$e la!, an& $ence "o &eclare eec"ive an& le#isla"ive ac"s voi& i* viola"ive o* "$e Cons"i""ion' 5$e ma@or &i**erence &i**erence be"!een be"!een "$e @&icial po!er o* "$e $ilippine $ilippine preme Cor" an& "$a" o* "$e '' preme preme Cor" is "$a" !$ile "$e po!er o* @&icial @&icial revie! is onl. implie&l. #ran"e& "o "$e '' preme Cor" an& is &iscre"ionar. in na"re, "$a" #ran"e& "o "$e $ilippine $ilippine preme Cor" an& lo!er cor"s, cor"s, as epressl. provi&e& *or in "$e Cons"i""ion, is no" @s" a po!er b" also a &"., an& i" !as #iven an epan&e& &e*ini"ion "o incl&e "$e po!er "o correc" an. #rave abse o* &iscre"ion &iscre"ion on "$e par" o* an. #overnmen" #overnmen" branc$ branc$ or ins"r ins"rmen men"al "ali". i".'' 5$ere 5$ere are also also #larin #larin# # &is"inc"io &is"inc"ions ns be"!een be"!een "$e '' Cons"i""io Cons"i""ion n an& "$e $ilippi $ilippine ne Cons"i"" Cons"i""ion ion !i"$ respec" "o "$e po!er po!er o* "$e +ose +ose o* Repre Represen sen"a" "a"ive ivess over over impeac impeac$me $men" n" procee&in#s' ?$ile "$e '' Cons"i""ion bes"o!s sole po!er o* impeac$men" "o "$e +ose o* Represen"a"ives !i"$o" limi"a"ion, or Cons"i""ion, "$o#$ ves"in# in "$e +ose o* Represen"a"ives "$e eclsive po!er "o ini"ia ini"ia"e "e impeac impeac$me $men" n" cases, cases, provi& provi&es es *or severa severall limi"a"ions "o "$e eercise o* sc$ po!er as embo&ie& in ec"ion 3(2), (3), (%) an& (), 4r"icle 7- "$ereo*' 5$ese limi"a"ions incl&e "$e manner o* *ilin#, re9ire& vo"e vo"e "o impe impeac ac$, $, an& an& "$e "$e one one .ear .ear bar bar on "$e "$e impeac$men" o* one an& "$e same o**icial' 5$e people epresse& "$eir !ill !$en "$e. ins"i""e& "$e above men"ione& sa*e#ar&s in "$e Cons"i""ion' 5$is s$o!s "$a" "$a" "$e Cons"i" Cons"i""io "ion n &i& no" in"en& in"en& "o leave leave "$e ma""er ma""er o* impeac impeac$me $men" n" "o "$e sole sole &iscre &iscre"io "ion n o* Con#ress' -ns"ea&, i" provi&e& *or cer"ain !ell&e*ine& limi"s limi"s,, or /@&i /@&icia ciall. ll. &iscov &iscovera erable ble s"an&a s"an&ar&s r&s// *or &e"erm &e"ermini inin# n# "$e vali&i vali&i". ". o* "$e eerci eercise se o* sc$ sc$ &iscre"ion, "$ro#$ "$e po!er o* @&icial revie!' 5$ere
is in&ee& a ple"$ora o* cases in !$ic$ "$is Cor" eercise& "$e po!er o* @&icial revie! over con#ressional ac"ion' inall., "$ere eis"s no cons"i""ional basis *or "$e con"en"ion "$a" "$e eercise o* @&icial revie! over impeac$men" procee&in#s !ol& pse" "$e s.s"em o* c$ec8s an& balances'
Francisco vs. House of Representatives G.R. No. 160261 4C5: ?i"$in a perio& o* 1 .ear, 2 impeac$men" procee&in#s !ere *ile& a#ains" preme Cor" C$ie* Js"ice +ilario avi&e' 5$e @s"iciable con"rovers. in "$is case !as "$e cons"i""ionali". o* "$e sbse9en" *ilin# o* a secon& complain" "o con"rover" "$e rles o* impeac$men" provi&e& *or b. la!' -E: ?$e"$er or no" "$e *ilin# o* "$e secon& impeac$men" complain" a#ains" C$ie* Js"ice +ilario G' avi&e, Jr' !i"$ "$e +ose o* Represen"a"ives is cons"i""ional, an& !$e"$er "$e resol"ion "$ereo* is a poli"ical 9es"ion F $ as resl"e& in a poli"ical crisis' +EH: ec"ions 16 an& 1 o* Rle < o* "$e Rles o* roce&re in -mpeac$men" rocee&in#s !$ic$ !ere approve& b. "$e +ose o* Represen"a"ives are ncons"i""ional' Conse9en"l., "$e secon& impeac$men" complain" a#ains" C$ie* Js"ice +ilario G' avi&e, is barre& n&er para#rap$ , sec"ion 3 o* 4r"icle 7- o* "$e Cons"i""ion' RE4N-NG: -n passin# over "$e comple isses arisin# *rom "$e con"rovers., "$is Cor" is ever min&*l o* "$e essen"ial "r"$ "$a" "$e inviola"e &oc"rine o* separa"ion o* po!ers amon# "$e le#isla"ive, eec"ive or @&icial branc$es o* #overnmen" b. no means prescribes *or absol"e a"onom. in "$e &isc$ar#e b. eac$ o* "$a" par" o* "$e #overnmen"al po!er assi#ne& "o i" b. "$e soverei#n people' 4" "$e same "ime, "$e corollar. &oc"rine o* c$ec8s an& balances !$ic$ $as been care*ll. calibra"e& b. "$e Cons"i""ion "o "emper "$e o**icial ac"s o* eac$ o* "$ese "$ree branc$es ms" be #iven e**ec" !i"$o"
&es"ro.in# "$eir in&ispensable coe9ali".' 5$ere eis"s no cons"i""ional basis *or "$e con"en"ion "$a" "$e eercise o* @&icial revie! over impeac$men" procee&in#s !ol& pse" "$e s.s"em o* c$ec8s an& balances'
F&%/S: Consoli&a"e& pe"i"ions are bein# resolve& @oin"l. as bo"$ see8 *or "$e &eclara"ion o* "$e ncons"i""ionali". o* Eec"ive r&er No' 2% (E No' 2%) isse& b. *ormer resi&en" CoraDon C' 49ino on Jl. 2, 1' E No' 2% allo!s members o* "$e Cabine", "$eir n&ersecre"aries an& 4ssis"an" ecre"aries "o $ol& o"$er "$an "$eir #overnmen" posi"ions in a&&i"ion "o "$eir primar. posi"ions' •
•
+avin# concl&e& "$a" "$e ini"ia"ion "a8es place b. "$e ac" o* *ilin# an& re*erral or en&orsemen" o* "$e impeac$men" complain" "o "$e +ose Commi""ee on Js"ice or, b. "$e *ilin# b. a" leas" one"$ir& o* "$e members o* "$e +ose o* Represen"a"ives !i"$ "$e ecre"ar. General o* "$e +ose, "$e meanin# o* ec"ion 3 () o* 4r"icle 7- becomes clear' nce an impeac$men" complain" $as been ini"ia"e&, ano"$er impeac$men" complain" ma. no" be *ile& a#ains" "$e same o**icial !i"$in a one .ear perio&'
•
Section 1: 4 Cabine" member, n&ersecre"ar. or 4ssis"an" ecre"ar. or o"$er appoin"ive o**icials o* "$e Eec"ive epar"men" ma., in a&&i"ion "o $is primar. posi"ion, $ol& no" more "$an "!o (2) posi"ions in "$e #overnmen" an& #overnmen" corpora"ions an& receive correspon&in# compensa"ion "$ereo*' Section 2: -* "$e. $ol& more "$an "$e re9isi"es o* ec"ion 1, "$e. ms" relin9is$ "$e ecess posi"ion in *avor o* "$e sbor&ina"e o**icial !$o is ne" in ran8 b" in no case s$all an. o**icer $ol& no" more "$an "!o (2) posi"ions o"$er "$an $is primar. posi"ion' Section 3: 4" leas" 1;3 o* "$e members o* "$e boar&s o* sc$ corpora"ion s$ol& ei"$er be a ecre"ar., n&ersecre"ar. or 4ssis"an" ecre"ar.'
5$e Cor" in "$e presen" pe"i"ions sb@ec"e& "o @&icial scr"in. an& resolve& on "$e meri"s onl. "$e main isse o* !$e"$er "$e impeac$men" procee&in#s ini"ia"e& a#ains" "$e C$ie* Js"ice "rans#resse& "$e cons"i""ionall. impose& one.ear "ime bar rle' Be.on& "$is, i" &i& no" #o abo" assmin# @ris&ic"ion !$ere i" $a& none, nor in&iscrimina"el. "rn @s"iciable isses o" o* &eci&e&l. poli"ical 9es"ions' Becase i" is no" a" all "$e bsiness o* "$is Cor" "o asser" @&icial &ominance over "$e o"$er "!o #rea" branc$es o* "$e #overnmen"'
e" i" io ner s a re c$ al len #i n# E No ' 2 % As ncons"i""ionali". as i"s provisions are in &irec" con"ras" !i"$ ec"ion 13, 4r"icle <-- o* "$e Cons"i""ion' 4ccor&in# "o "$e pe"i"ioners, "$e onl. ecep"ions a#ains" $ol&in# an. o"$er o**ice or emplo.men" in #overnmen" are "$ose provi&e& in "$e Cons"i""ion namel.: 1) "$e
G.R. No. ""#6 1#$ S%R& 1' February 22, 1991
%onstitutiona) provisions: •
etitioner: %ivi) *iberties +nion Responent: -ecutive Secretary
Section 13, Article VII : 5$e resi&en",
otherwise provided by the Constitution, $ol& an. o"$er o**ice or emplo.men" &rin# "$eir "enre' 5$e. s$all no", &irec"l. or in&irec"l., &rin# "$eir "enre, prac"ice an. o"$er pro*ession, par"icipa"e in an. bsiness, or be *inanciall. in"eres"e& in an. con"rac" !i"$, or in an. *ranc$ise, or special privile#e #ran"e& b. "$e Governmen" or an. sb&ivision, a#enc. or ins"rmen"ali". "$ereo*, incl&in# #overnmen"o!ne& or con"rolle& corpora"ions or "$eir sbsi&iaries' 5$e. s$all s"ric"l. avoi& con*lic" o* in"eres" in "$e con&c" o* "$eir o**ice' •
Section 8, Article VIII: nless o"$er!ise allo!e& b. la! or b. "$e primar. *nc"ions o* $is posi"ion, no appoin"ive o**icial s$all $ol& an. o"$er o**ice or emplo.men" in "$e #overnmen" or an. sb&ivision, a#enc. or i ns" rm en "a li ". " $er eo* , i ncl & in # #overnmen"o!ne& or con"rolle& corpora"ions or "$eir sbsi&iaries'
SS+-: ?$e"$er or no" E No' 2% is cons"i""ional' H-*: 5$e Cor" rle& in "$e ne#a"ive' -" $as been $el& "$a" in cons"rin# a Cons"i""ion s$ol& bear in min& "$e ob@ec" so#$" "o be accomplis$e& b. i"s a&op"ion, an& "$e evils, i* an., so#$" "o be preven"e& or reme&ie&' 4 &ob"*l provision !ill be eamine& in "$e li#$" o* "$e $is"or. o* "$e "imes an& "$e con&i"ion an& circms"ances n&er !$ic$ "$e Cons"i""ion !as *rame&' 5$e le#isla"ive in"en" o* bo"$ Cons"i""ional provisions is "o preven" #overnmen" o**icials *rom $ol&in# ml"iple posi"ions in "$e #overnmen" *or sel* enric$men" !$ic$ is a be"ra.al o* pblic "rs"' 5$e provisions o* E No' 2% abovemen"ione& are in &irec" con"ra&ic"ion "o "$e epress man&a"e provi&e& b. "$e Cons"i""ional provisions (ec 13, 4r" <-- an& ec , 4r" <---)' 5$e Cons"i""ion, "$e *n&amen"al la! o* "$e lan&, s$all rei#n spreme over an. o"$er s"a""e' ?$en "$ere is con*lic", i" s$all be resolve& in *avor o* "$e $i#$es" la! o* "$e lan&' 5$s, "$e Cor" $el& "$a" E No' 2% is NCN5-55-N4H' 4s a resl", ENR ecre"ar. l#enio ac"oran, Jr', -H ecre"ar. His an"os, + ecre"ar. 4l*re&o Ben#Don an& BM
ecre"ar. Gillermo Cara#e are or&ere& "o imme&ia"el. relin9is$ "$eir o**ices an& emplo.men"' ?+ERERE, sb@ec" "o "$e 9ali*ica"ions s"a"e&, "$e pe"i"ions are GR&N/-' Eec"ive r&er No' 2% is $ereb. &eclare& nll an& voi& an& is accor&in#l. se" asi&e'
%' 4ssmin# G- is par" o* "$e "a"e, !$e"$er i" s$ol& #ive pre*erence "o "$e pe"i"ioner, a ilipino corpora"ion, over Renon# Ber$a&, a *orei#n corpora"ion, in "$e sale o* "$e con"rollin# s$ares o* "$e Manila +o"el Corpora"ion'
. /H- R+*NG %&he 'ourt, voting 11(), DISMISSED the petition#*
ani)a rince Hote) v. GSS, G.R. No. 122136, February , 1##' -%S4N (-n 5anc! 5-**4S**4, J.: .
/H- F&%/S
rsan" "o "$e priva"iDa"ion pro#ram o* "$e $ilippine Governmen", "$e G- sol& in pblic ac"ion i"s s"a8e in Manila +o"el Corpora"ion (M+C)' nl. 2 bi&&ers par"icipa"e&: pe"i"ioner Manila rince +o"el Corpora"ion, a ilipino corpora"ion, !$ic$ o**ere& "o b. 1 o* "$e M+C or 1,300,000 s$ares a" %1' per s$are, an& Renon# Ber$a&, a Mala.sian *irm, !i"$ -55 $era"on as i"s $o"el opera"or, !$ic$ bi& *or "$e same nmber o* s$ares a" %%'00 per s$are, or 2'%2 more "$an "$e bi& o* pe"i"ioner' e"i"ioner *ile& a pe"i"ion be*ore "$e preme Cor" "o compel "$e G- "o allo! i" "o ma"c$ "$e bi& o* Renon# Ber$a&' -" invo8e& "$e Filipino First Policy ens$rine& in K 10 , p ar a# ra p$ 2 , 4r "i cl e 7- - o * " $e 1 Cons"i""ion, !$ic$ provi&es "$a" Lin the grant of rights, privileges, an concessions covering the national econo!y an patri!ony, the State shall give preference to "ualifie Filipinos#$
.
/H- SS+-S
1' ?$e"$er K10, para#rap$ 2, 4r"icle 7-- o* "$e 1 Cons"i""ion is a sel*eec"in# provision an& &oes no" nee& implemen"in# le#isla"ion "o carr. i" in"o e**ec" 2' 4ssmin# K10, para#rap$ 2, 4r"icle 7-- is sel* eec"in#, !$e"$er "$e con"rollin# s$ares o* "$e Manila +o"el Corpora"ion *orm par" o* or pa"rimon. as a na"ion 3' ?$e"$er G- is incl&e& in "$e "erm L"a"e, $ence, man&a"e& "o implemen" K10, para#rap$ 2, 4r"icle 7-- o* "$e Cons"i""ion an&
1. ES! "1#! para$raph %! &rticle 'II o( the 1)*+ Constitution is a sel(,e-ecutin$ provision and does not need ipleentin$ le$islation to carry it into e((ect. ec' 10, secon& par', o* 4r" 7-- is coc$e& in sc$ a !a. as no" "o ma8e i" appear "$a" i" is nonsel*eec"in# b" simpl. *or prposes o* s".le' B", cer"ainl., "$e le#isla"re is no" precl&e& *rom enac"in# *r"$er la!s "o en*orce "$e cons"i""ional provision so lon# as "$e con"empla"e& s"a""e s9ares !i"$ "$e Cons"i""ion' Minor &e"ails ma. be le*" "o "$e le#isla"re !i"$o" impairin# "$e sel*eec"in# na"re o* cons"i""ional provisions'
Respon&en"s ' ' ' ar#e "$a" "$e nonsel*eec"in# na"re o* ec' 10, secon& par', o* 4r"' 7-- is implie& *rom "$e "enor o* "$e *irs" an& "$ir& para#rap$s o* "$e same sec"ion !$ic$ n&ob"e&l. are no" sel* eec"in#' 5$e ar#men" is *la!e&' -* "$e *irs" an& "$ir& para#rap$s are no" sel*eec"in# becase Con#ress is s"ill "o enac" measres "o encora#e "$e *orma"ion an& opera"ion o* en"erprises *ll. o!ne& b. ilipinos, as in "$e *irs" para#rap$, an& "$e "a"e s"ill nee&s le#isla"ion "o re#la"e an& eercise a"$ori". over *orei#n inves"men"s !i"$in i"s na"ional @ris&ic"ion, as in "$e "$ir& para#rap$, "$en a fortiori, b. "$e same lo#ic, "$e secon& para#rap$ can onl. be sel*eec"in# as i" &oes no" b. i"s lan#a#e re9ire an. le#isla"ion in or&er "o #ive pre*erence "o 9ali*ie& ilipinos in "$e #ran" o* ri#$"s, privile#es an& concessions coverin# "$e na"ional econom. an& pa"rimon.' 4 cons"i""ional provision ma. be sel* eec"in# in one par" an& nonsel*eec"in# in ano"$er' ' ec' 10, secon& par', 4r"' 7-- o* "$e 1 Cons"i""ion is a man&a"or., posi"ive comman& !$ic$ is comple"e in i"sel* an& !$ic$ nee&s no *r"$er
#i&elines or implemen"in# la!s or rles *or i"s en*orcemen"' rom i"s ver. !or&s "$e provision &oes no" re9ire an. le#isla"ion "o p" i" in opera"ion' -" is per se @&iciall. en*orceable' ?$en or Cons"i""ion man&a"es "$a" %i*n the grant of rights, privileges, an concessions covering national econo!y an patri!ony, the State shall give preference to "ualifie Filipinos, i" means @s" "$a" 9ali*ie& ilipinos s$all be pre*erre&' 4n& !$en or Cons"i""ion &eclares "$a" a ri#$" eis"s in cer"ain speci*ie& circms"ances an ac"ion ma. be main"aine& "o en*orce sc$ ri#$" no"!i"$s"an&in# "$e absence o* an. le#isla"ion on "$e sb@ec" conse9en"l., i* "$ere is no s"a""e especiall. enac"e& "o en*orce sc$ cons"i""ional ri#$", sc$ ri#$" en*orces i"sel* b. i"s o!n in$eren" po"enc. an& pissance, an& *rom !$ic$ all le#isla"ions ms" "a8e "$eir bearin#s' ?$ere "$ere is a ri#$" "$ere is a reme&.' +bi us ibi re!eiu!#
%. ES! the controllin$ shares o( the Manila Hotel Corporation (or part o( our patriony as a nation. -n i"s plain an& or&inar. meanin#, "$e "erm patri!ony per"ains "o $eri"a#e' ?$en "$e Cons"i""ion spea8s o* national patri!ony, i" re*ers no" onl. "o "$e na"ral resorces o* "$e $ilippines, as "$e Cons"i""ion col& $ave ver. !ell se& "$e "erm natural resources, b " al so "o "$ e cultural heritage o* "$e ilipinos'
or more "$an ei#$" () &eca&es Manila +o"el $as bore m"e !i"ness "o "$e "rimp$s an& *ailres, loves an& *rs"ra"ions o* "$e ilipinos i"s eis"ence is impresse& !i"$ pblic in"eres" i"s o!n $is"orici". associa"e& !i"$ or s"r##le *or soverei#n"., in&epen&ence an& na"ion$oo&'
Policy provision is no" applicable since -hat is being sol is only .1/ of the outstaning shares of the corporation, not the 0otel builing nor the lan upon -hich the builing stans#
/. ES! 0SIS is included in the ter State!2 hence! it is andated to ipleent "1#! para$raph %! &rticle 'II o( the Constitution. -" is n&isp"e& "$a" "$e sale o* 1 o* "$e M+C col& onl. be carrie& o" !i"$ "$e prior approval o* "$e "a"e ac "i n# " $r o #$ r es pon &e n" C omm i""e e on riva"iDa"ion' =5>$is *ac" alone ma8es "$e sale o* "$e asse"s o* respon&en"s G- an& M+C a Lstate action# -n cons"i""ional @rispr&ence, "$e ac"s o* persons &is"inc" *rom "$e #overnmen" are consi&ere& Lstate action covere& b. "$e Cons"i""ion (1) !$en "$e ac"ivi". i" en#a#es in is a L public function (2) !$en "$e #overnmen" is so si#ni*ican"l. involve& !i"$ "$e priva"e ac"or as "o ma8e "$e #overnmen" responsible *or $is ac"ion an&, (3) !$en "$e #overnmen" $as approve& or a"$oriDe& "$e ac"ion' -" is evi&en" "$a" "$e ac" o* respon&en" G- in sellin# 1 o* i"s s$are in respon&en" M+C comes n&er "$e secon& an& "$ir& ca"e#ories o* L state action# ?i"$o" &ob" "$ere*ore "$e "ransac"ion, al"$o#$ en"ere& in"o b. respon&en" G-, is in *ac" a "ransac"ion o* "$e "a"e an& "$ere*ore sb@ec" "o "$e cons"i""ional comman&' ?$en "$e Cons"i""ion a&&resses "$e "a"e i" re*ers no" onl. "o "$e people b" also "o "$e #overnmen" as elemen"s o* "$e "a"e' 4*"er all, #overnmen" is compose& o* "$ree (3) &ivisions o* po!er le#isla"ive, eec"ive an& @&icial' 4ccor&in#l., a cons"i""ional man&a"e &irec"e& "o "$e "a"e is correspon&in#l. &irec"e& "o "$e "$ree (3) branc$es o* #overnmen"' -" is n&eniable "$a" in "$is case "$e sb@ec" cons"i""ional in@nc"ion is a&&resse& amon# o"$ers "o "$e Eec"ive epar"men" an& respon&en" G-, a #overnmen" ins"rmen"ali". &erivin# i"s a"$ori". *rom "$e "a"e'
3. ES! 0SIS should $ive pre(erence to the petitioner in the sale o( the controllin$ shares o( the Manila Hotel Corporation. -" s$ol& be s"resse& "$a" !$ile "$e Mala.sian *irm o**ere& "$e $i#$er bi& i" is no" .e" "$e !innin# bi&&er' 5$e bi&&in# rles epressl. provi&e "$a" "$e
$i#$es" bi&&er s$all onl. be &eclare& "$e !innin# bi&&er a*"er i" $as ne#o"ia"e& an& eec"e& "$e necessar. con"rac"s, an& secre& "$e re9isi"e approvals' ince "$e Filipino First Policy provision o* "$e Cons"i""ion bes"o!s pre*erence on "ualifie Filipinos "$e mere "en&in# o* "$e $i#$es" bi& is no" an assrance "$a" "$e $i#$es" bi&&er !ill be &eclare& "$e !innin# bi&&er' Resl"an"l., respon&en"s are no" bon& "o ma8e "$e a!ar& .e", nor are "$e. n&er obli#a"ion "o en"er in"o one !i"$ "$e $i#$es" bi&&er' or in c$oosin# "$e a!ar&ee respon&en"s are man&a"e& "o abi&e b. "$e &ic"a"es o* "$e 1 Cons"i""ion "$e provisions o* !$ic$ are presme& "o be 8no!n "o all "$e bi&&ers an& o"$er in"eres"e& par"ies'
ara#rap$ <' J' 1 o* "$e bi&&in# rles provi&es "$a" %i*f for any reason the 0ighest ier cannot be a-are the loc of Shares, 4SIS !ay offer this to other 5ualifie iers that have valily sub!itte bis provie that these 5ualifie iers are -illing to !atch the highest bi in ter!s of price per share# Cer"ainl., "$e cons"i""ional man&a"e i"sel* is reason enough no" "o a!ar& "$e bloc8 o* s$ares imme&ia"el. "o "$e *orei#n bi&&er no"!i"$s"an&in# i"s sbmission o* a $i#$er, or even "$e $i#$es", bi&' -n *ac", !e canno" conceive o* a stronger reason "$an "$e cons"i""ional in@nc"ion i"sel*' -n "$e ins"an" case, !$ere a *orei#n *irm sbmi"s "$e $i#$es" bi& in a pblic bi&&in# concernin# "$e #ran" o* ri#$"s, privile#es an& concessions coverin# "$e na"ional econom. an& pa"rimon., "$ereb. ecee&in# "$e bi& o* a ilipino, "$ere is no 9es"ion "$a" "$e ilipino !ill $ave "o be allo!e& "o ma"c$ "$e bi& o* "$e *orei#n en"i".' 4n& i* "$e ilipino ma"c$es "$e bi& o* a *orei#n *irm "$e a!ar& s$ol& #o "o "$e ilipino' -" ms" be so i* !e are "o #ive li*e an& meanin# "o "$e Filipino First Policy provision o* "$e 1 Cons"i""ion' or, !$ile "$is ma. nei"$er be epressl. s"a"e& nor con"empla"e& in "$e bi&&in# rles, "$e cons"i""ional *ia" is omnipresen" "o be simpl. &isre#ar&e&' 5o i#nore i" !ol& be "o sanc"ion a perilos s8ir"in# o* "$e basic la!'
