Cayetano v. Monsod.doc

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Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURT

Manila

SECOND DIVISION

G.R. No. 100113 September 3, 1991

RENATO CAYETANO, petitioner,vs.CHRISTIAN MONSOD, HON. JOITO R. SA!ONGA, COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENT, "#$ HON.GUI!!ERMO CARAGUE, %# &%' ("p"(%t) "' Se(ret"r) o* +$-et "#$ M"#"-eme#t, responents.

Renato L. Cayetano for and in his own behalf.

Sabina E. Acut, Jr. and Mylene Garcia-Albano co-counsel for petitioner.

PARAS, J.:p

!e are face here "ith a controvers# of far$reachin% proportions. !hile ostensibl# onl# le%al issues areinvolve, the Court&s ecision in this case "oul inubitabl# have a profoun effect on the politicalaspect of our national e'istence.

(he 1)*+ Constitution provies in Section 1 1-, rticle I/$C0

(here shall be a Coission on Elections copose of a Chairan an si'Coissioners "ho shall be natural$born citi2ens of the Philippines an, at the tie oftheir appointent, at least thirt#$five #ears of a%e, holers of a colle%e e%ree, an ustnot have been caniates for an# elective position in the ieiatel# precein%$elections. 3o"ever, a a4orit# thereof, incluin% the Chairan, shall be ebers of thePhilippine 5ar "ho have been en%a%e in the practice of la" for at least ten #ears.Ephasis supplie-

(he afore6uote provision is patterne after Section ll-, rticle /II$C of the 1)+7 Constitution "hichsiilarl# provies0

(here shall be an inepenent Coission on Elections copose of a Chairan an ei%htCoissioners "ho shall be natural$born citi2ens of the Philippines an, at the tie of theirappointent, at least thirt#$five #ears of a%e an holers of a colle%e e%ree. 3o"ever, a a4orit#thereof, incluin% the Chairan, shall be ebers of the Philippine 5ar who hae been en!a!ed in the

practice of law for at least ten years.& Ephasis supplie-

Re%rettabl#, ho"ever, there sees to be no 4urispruence as to "hat constitutes practice of la" as ale%al 6ualification to an appointive office.

5lac8 efines 9practice of la"9 as0

(he renition of services re6uirin% the 8no"le%e an the application of le%al principlesan techni6ue to serve the interest of another "ith his consent. It is not liite toappearin% in court, or avisin% an assistin% in the conuct of liti%ation, but ebracesthe preparation of pleain%s, an other papers incient to actions an specialproceein%s, conve#ancin%, the preparation of le%al instruents of all 8ins, an the%ivin% of all le%al avice to clients. It ebraces all avice to clients an all actions ta8enfor the in atters connecte "ith the la". n attorne# en%a%es in the practice of la"


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b# aintainin% an office "here he is hel out to be$an attorne#, usin% a letterheaescribin% hiself as an attorne#, counselin% clients in le%al atters, ne%otiatin% "ithopposin% counsel about penin% liti%ation, an fi'in% an collectin% fees for servicesrenere b# his associate. "lac#$s Law %ictionary, 7r e.-

(he practice of la" is not liite to the conuct of cases in court. Land &itle Abstract and &rust Co. .%wor#en,1:) Ohio St. :7, 1)7 N.E. ;


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(he niversit# of the Philippines a" Center in conuctin% orientation briefin% for ne" la"#ers 1)+>$1)+


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MR. FOG. 0e )ust consider the fact that the wor# of CA, althou!h it isauditin!, will necessarily inole le!al wor#2 it will inole le!al wor#. And,therefore, lawyers who are e)ployed in CA now would hae thenecessary ualifications in accordance with the (roision on ualificationsunder our proisions on the Co))ission on Audit. And, therefore, theanswer is yes.

MR. OPE. es. So that the construction %iven to this is that this ise6uivalent to the practice of la".

MR. FOG. 3es, Mr. (residin! fficer.

MR. OPE.&han# you.

... Ephasis supplie-

Section 11-, rticle I/$D of the 1)*+ Constitution, provies, aon% others, that the Chairan an t"oCoissioners of the Coission on uit CO- shoul either be certifie public accountants "ith noless than ten #ears of auitin% practice, or ebers of the Philippine 5ar "ho have been en%a%e in

thepractice of lawfor at least ten #ears. ephasis supplie-

Corollar# to this is the ter 9private practitioner9 an "hich is in an# "a#s s#non#ous "ith the"or 9la"#er.9 (oa#, althou%h an# la"#ers o not en%a%e in private practice, it is still a fact that thea4orit# of la"#ers are private practitioners. ar# Munne8e, pportunities in Law CareersAVMCareer 3ori2ons0 IllinoisB, A1)*;B, p. 1= .: *;7, *+= A1)


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In the course of a "or8in% a# the avera%e %eneral practitioner "i% en%a%e in a nuber of le%al tas8s,each involvin% ifferent le%al octrines, le%al s8ills, le%al processes, le%al institutions, clients, an other

intereste parties. Even the increasin% nubers of la"#ers in speciali2e practice "i% usuall# perforat least soe le%al services outsie their specialt#. n even "ithin a narro" specialt# such as ta'practice, a la"#er "ill shift fro one le%al tas8 or role such as avice$%ivin% to an iportantl# ifferentone such as representin% a client before an ainistrative a%enc#. !olfra, supra, p. ;*+-.

5# no eans "ill ost of this "or8 involve liti%ation, unless the la"#er is one of the relativel# raret#pes J a liti%ator "ho speciali2es in this "or8 to the e'clusion of uch else. Instea, the "or8 "illre6uire the la"#er to have astere the full ran%e of traitional la"#er s8ills of client counsellin%,avice$%ivin%, ocuent raftin%, an ne%otiation. n increasin%l# la"#ers fin that the ne" s8ills ofevaluation an eiation are both effective for an# clients an a source of eplo#ent. +bid.-.

Most la"#ers "ill en%a%e in non$liti%ation le%al "or8 or in liti%ation "or8 that is constraine in ver#iportant "a#s, at least theoreticall#, so as to reove fro it soe of the salient features of

aversarial liti%ation. Of these special roles, the ost proinent is that of prosecutor. In soe la"#ers&"or8 the constraints are ipose both b# the nature of the client an b# the "a# in "hich the la"#er isor%ani2e into a social unit to perfor that "or8. (he ost coon of these roles are those ofcorporate practice an %overnent le%al service. +bid.-.

In several issues of the "usiness Star, a business ail#, herein belo" 6uote are eer%in% trens incorporate la" practice, a eparture fro the traitional concept of practice of la".

!e are e'periencin% toa# "hat trul# a# be calle a revolutionar# transforation incorporate la" practice. a"#ers an other professional %roups, in particular thoseebers participatin% in various le%al$polic# ecisional conte'ts, are finin% thatunerstanin% the a4or eer%in% trens in corporation la" is inispensable tointelli%ent ecision$a8in%.

Constructive a4ustent to a4or corporate probles of toa# re6uires an accurateunerstanin% of the nature an iplications of the corporate la" research functionaccopanie b# an acceleratin% rate of inforation accuulation. (he reco%nition of thenee for such iprove corporate le%al polic# forulation, particularl# 9oel$a8in%9an 9contin%enc# plannin%,9 has ipresse upon us the inae6uac# of traitionalproceures in an# ecisional conte'ts.

In a cople' le%al proble the ass of inforation to be processe, the sortin% an"ei%hin% of si%nificant conitional factors, the appraisal of a4or trens, the necessit# ofestiatin% the conse6uences of %iven courses of action, an the nee for fast ecisionan response in situations of acute an%er have propte the use of sophisticate

concepts of inforation flo" theor#, operational anal#sis, autoatic ata processin%,an electronic coputin% e6uipent. nerstanabl#, an iprove ecisional structureust stress the preictive coponent of the polic#$a8in% process, "herein a 9oel9,of the ecisional conte't or a se%ent thereof is evelope to test pro4ecte alternativecourses of action in ters of futuristic effects flo"in% therefro.

lthou%h ebers of the le%al profession are re%ularl# en%a%e in preictin% anpro4ectin% the trens of the la", the sub4ect of corporate finance la" has receiverelativel# little or%ani2e an forali2e attention in the philosoph# of avancin%corporate le%al eucation. Nonetheless, a cross$isciplinar# approach to le%al researchhas becoe a vital necessit#.


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Certainl#, the %eneral orientation for prouctive contributions b# those traine priaril#in the la" can be iprove throu%h an earl# introuction to ulti$variable ecisionalconte't an the various approaches for hanlin% such probles. a"#ers, particularl#"ith either a aster&s or octorate e%ree in business ainistration or ana%eent,functionin% at the le%al polic# level of ecision$a8in% no" have soe appreciation forthe concepts an anal#tical techni6ues of other professions "hich are currentl# en%a%ein siilar t#pes of cople' ecision$a8in%.

(ruth to tell, an# situations involvin% corporate finance probles "oul re6uire theservices of an astute attorne# because of the cople' le%al iplications that arise froeach an ever# necessar# step in securin% an aintainin% the business issue raise."usiness Star, 9Corporate Finance a",9 @an. 11, 1)*), p. >-.

In our liti%ation$prone countr#, a corporate la"#er is assiuousl# referre to as the9abo%ao e capanilla.9 3e is the 9bi%$tie9 la"#er, earnin% bi% one# an "ith aclientele copose of the t#coons an a%nates of business an inustr#.

Despite the %ro"in% nuber of corporate la"#ers, an# people coul not e'plain "hat itis that a corporate la"#er oes. For one, the nuber of attorne#s eplo#e b# a sin%lecorporation "ill var# "ith the si2e an t#pe of the corporation. Man# saller an soe

lar%e corporations far out all their le%al probles to private la" firs. Man# othershave in$house counsel onl# for certain atters. Other corporation have a staff lar%eenou%h to hanle ost le%al probles in$house.

corporate la"#er, for all intents an purposes, is a la"#er "ho hanles the le%al affairsof a corporation. 3is areas of concern or 4urisiction a# inclue, inter alia0 corporatele%al research, ta' la"s research, actin% out as corporate secretar# in boar eetin%s-,appearances in both courts an other a4uicator# a%encies incluin% the Securities anE'chan%e Coission-, an in other capacities "hich re6uire an abilit# to eal "ith thela".

t an# rate, a corporate la"#er a# assue responsibilities other than the le%al affairsof the business of the corporation he is representin%. &hese include such )atters asdeter)inin! policy and beco)in! inoled in )ana!e)ent. Ephasis supplie.-

In a bi% copan#, for e'aple, one a# have a feelin% of bein% isolate fro the action,or not unerstanin% ho" one&s "or8 actuall# fits into the "or8 of the or%arni2ation. (hiscan be frustratin% to soeone "ho nees to see the results of his "or8 first han. Inshort, a corporate la"#er is soeties offere this fortune to be ore closel# involve inthe runnin% of the business.

Moreover, a corporate la"#er&s services a# soeties be en%a%e b# a ultinationalcorporation MNC-. Soe lar%e MNCs provie one of the fe" opportunities available tocorporate la"#ers to enter the international la" fiel. fter all, international la" ispractice in a relativel# sall nuber of copanies an la" firs. 5ecause "or8in% in a

forei%n countr# is perceive b# an# as %laorous, tills is an area covete b# corporatela"#ers. In ost cases, ho"ever, the overseas 4obs %o to e'perience attorne#s "hilethe #oun%er attorne#s o their 9international practice9 in la" libraries. "usiness Star,9Corporate a" Practice,9 Ma# :-.

(his brin%s us to the inevitable, i.e., the role of the la"#er in the real of finance. (oborro" the lines of 3arvar$eucate la"#er 5ruce !assertein, to "it0 9 ba la"#er isone "ho fails to spot probles, a %oo la"#er is one "ho perceives the ifficulties, anthe e'cellent la"#er is one "ho surounts the.9 "usiness Star, 9Corporate Financea",9 @an. 11, 1)*), p. >-.


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(oa#, the stu# of corporate la" practice irel# nees a 9shot in the ar,9 so to spea8.No lon%er are "e tal8in% of the traitional la" teachin% etho of confinin% the sub4ectstu# to the Corporation Coe an the Securities Coe but an incursion as "ell into theintert"inin% oern ana%eent issues.

Such corporate le%al ana%eent issues eal priaril# "ith three 7- t#pes of learnin%01- ac6uisition of insi%hts into current avances "hich are of particular si%nificance to

the corporate counsel? :- an introuction to usable isciplinar# s8ins applicable to acorporate counsel&s ana%eent responsibilities? an 7- a evotion to the or%ani2ationan ana%eent of the le%al function itself.

(hese three sub4ect areas a# be thou%ht of as intersectin% circles, "ith a share arealin8in% the. Other"ise 8no"n as 9intersectin% ana%erial 4urispruence,9 it fors aunif#in% thee for the corporate counsel&s total learnin%.

Soe current avances in behavior an polic# sciences affect the counsel&s role. For thatatter, the corporate la"#er revie"s the %lobali2ation process, incluin% the resultin%strate%ic repositionin% that the firs he provies counsel for are re6uire to a8e, anthe nee to thin8 about a corporation&s? strate%# at ultiple levels. (he salience of thenation$state is bein% reuce as firs eal both "ith %lobal ultinational entities an

siultaneousl# "ith sub$national %overnental units. Firs increasin%l# collaborate notonl# "ith public entities but "ith each other J often "ith those "ho are copetitors inother arenas.

Also, the nature of the lawyer$s participation in decision-)a#in! within the corporation israpidly chan!in!. &he )ode) corporate lawyer has !ained a new role as a sta#eholder/ in so)e cases participatin! in the or!ani5ation and operations of !oernance throu!h

participation on boards and other decision-)a#in! roles. Often these ne" patternsevelop alon%sie e'istin% le%al institutions an la"s are perceive as barriers. (hesetrens are coplicate as corporations or%ani2e for %lobal operations. Ephasissupplie-

&he practisin! lawyer of today is fa)iliar as well with !oern)ental policies toward thepro)otion and )ana!e)ent of technolo!y. 6ew collaboratie arran!e)ents forpro)otin! specific technolo!ies or co)petitieness )ore !enerally reuire approachesfro) industry that differ fro) older, )ore adersarial relationships and traditional for)sof see#in! to influence !oern)ental policies. n there are lessons to be learne froother countries. In Europe, Esprit, Eure#aan Raceare e'aples of collaborative effortsbet"een %overnental an business @apan&s M+&+is "orl faous. Ephasis supplie-

Follo"in% the concept of bounar# spannin%, the office of the Corporate Counselcoprises a istinct %roup "ithin the ana%erial structure of all 8ins of or%ani2ations.Effectiveness of both lon%$ter an teporar# %roups "ithin or%ani2ations has beenfoun to be relate to inentifiable factors in the %roup$conte't interaction such as the%roups activel# revisin% their 8no"le%e of the environent coorinatin% "or8 "ith

outsiers, prootin% tea achieveents "ithin the or%ani2ation. In %eneral, suche'ternal activities are better preictors of tea perforance than internal %roupprocesses.

+n a crisis situation, the le!al )ana!erial capabilities of the corporate lawyer is-a-is the)ana!erial )ettle of corporations are challen!ed. Current research is see8in% "a#s bothto anticipate effective ana%erial proceures an to unerstan relationships offinancial liabilit# an insurance consierations. Ephasis supplie-

Re%arin% the s8ills to appl# b# the corporate counsel, three factors are apropos0


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7irst Syste) %yna)ics. (he fiel of s#stes #naics has been foun an effective toolfor ne" ana%erial thin8in% re%arin% both plannin% an pressin% ieiate probles.n unerstanin% of the role of feebac8 loops, inventor# levels, an rates of flo",enable users to siulate all sorts of s#steatic probles J ph#sical, econoic,ana%erial, social, an ps#cholo%ical. 6ew pro!ra))in! techniues now )a#e thesyste) dyna)ics principles )ore accessible to )ana!ers / includin! corporatecounsels. Ephasis supplie-

Second %ecision Analysis. &his enables users to )a#e better decisions inolin!co)ple'ity and uncertainty. +n the conte't of a law depart)ent, it can be used toappraise the settle)ent alue of liti!ation, aid in ne!otiation settle)ent, and )ini)i5ethe cost and ris# inoled in )ana!in! a portfolio of cases. Ephasis supplie-

&hird Modelin! for 6e!otiation Mana!e)ent. Coputer$base oels can be useirectl# b# parties an eiators in all lans of ne%otiations. ll inte%rate set of suchtools provie coherent an effective ne%otiation support, incluin% hans$on oninstruction in these techni6ues. siulation case of an international 4oint venture a#be use to illustrate the point.

A5e this as it a#,B the or%ani2ation an ana%eent of the le%al function, concern

three pointe areas of consieration, thus0

(reentie Lawyerin!. Plannin% b# la"#ers re6uires special s8ills that coprise a a4orpart of the %eneral counsel&s responsibilities. (he# iffer fro those of reeial la".Preventive la"#erin% is concerne "ith inii2in% the ris8s of le%al trouble ana'ii2in% le%al ri%hts for such le%al entities at that tie "hen transactional or siilarfacts are bein% consiere an ae.

Mana!erial Jurisprudence. (his is the frae"or8 "ithin "hich are unerta8en thoseactivities of the fir to "hich le%al conse6uences attach. It nees to be irectl#supportive of this nation&s evolvin% econoic an or%ani2ational fabric as firs chan%eto sta# copetitive in a %lobal, interepenent environent. (he practice an theor# of9la"9 is not ae6uate toa# to facilitate the relationships neee in tr#in% to a8e a%lobal econo# "or8.

r!ani5ation and 7unctionin! of the Corporate Counsel$s ffice. (he %eneral counsel haseer%e in the last ecae as one of the ost vibrant subsets of the le%al profession.

(he corporate counsel hear responsibilit# for 8e# aspects of the fir&s strate%ic issues,incluin% structurin% its %lobal operations, ana%in% iprove relationships "ith anincreasin%l# iversifie bo# of eplo#ees, ana%in% e'pane liabilit# e'posure,creatin% ne" an varie interactions "ith public ecision$a8ers, copin% internall# "ithore cople' a8e or b# ecisions.

(his "hole e'ercise rives hoe the thesis that 8no"in% corporate la" is not enou%h toa8e one a %oo %eneral corporate counsel nor to %ive hi a full sense of ho" the le%al

s#ste shapes corporate activities. n even if the corporate la"#er&s ai is not theunerstan all of the la"&s effects on corporate activities, he ust, at the ver# least, also%ain a "or8in% 8no"le%e of the ana%eent issues if onl# to be able to %rasp not onl#the basic le%al 9constitution& or a8eup of the oe corporation. 9"usiness Star9, 9(heCorporate Counsel,9 pril 1=, 1))1, p. >-.

(he challen%e for la"#ers both of the bar an the bench- is to have ore than a passin%8no"le%e of financial la" affectin% each aspect of their "or8. et, an# "oul ait toi%norance of vast tracts of the financial la" territor#. !hat transpires ne't is a ileaof professional securit#0 !ill the la"#er ait i%norance an ris8 opprobriuH? or "ill hefei%n unerstanin% an ris8 e'posureH "usiness Star, 9Corporate Finance la",9 @an. 11,1)*), p. >-.


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Responent Christian Monso "as noinate b# Presient Cora2on C. 6uino to the position ofChairan of the COMEEC in a letter receive b# the Secretariat of the Coission on ppointentson pril :- covenants? an


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In the sae vein, lawyers play an i)portant role in any debt restructurin! pro!ra). Forasie fro perforin% the tas8s of le%islative raftin% an le%al avisin%, the# scorenational evelopent policies as 8e# factors in aintainin% their countries& soverei%nt#.Conense fro the "or8 paper, entitle 9!ante0 Developent a"#ers forDevelopin% Nations,9 subitte b# . Michael 3a%er, re%ional le%al aviser of the niteStates %enc# for International Developent, urin% the Session on a" for theDevelopent of Nations at the bi4an !orl Conference in Ivor# Coast, sponsore b#

the !orl Peace (hrou%h a" Center on u%ust :;$71, 1)+7-. Ephasis supplie-

Loan concessions and co)pro)ises, perhaps een )ore so than purely rene!otiationpolicies, de)and e'pertise in the law of contracts, in le!islation and a!ree)ent draftin!and in rene!otiation. Necessaril#, a soverei%n la"#er a# "or8 "ith an internationalbusiness specialist or an econoist in the forulation of a oel loan a%reeent. Debtrestructurin% contract a%reeents contain such a i'ture of technical lan%ua%e thatthe# shoul be carefull# rafte an si%ne onl# "ith the avise of copetent counsel incon4unction "ith the %uiance of ae6uate technical support personnel. See+nternational Law Aspects of the (hilippine E'ternal %ebts, an unpublishe issertation,.S.(. rauate School of a", 1)*+, p. 7:1-. Ephasis supplie-

critical aspect of soverei%n ebt restructurin%Lcontract construction is the set of ters

an conitions "hich eterines the contractual reeies for a failure to perfor one orore eleents of the contract. %oo a%reeent ust not onl# efine theresponsibilities of both parties, but ust also state the recourse open to either part#"hen the other fails to ischar%e an obli%ation. For a copleat ebt restructurin%represents a evotion to that principle "hich in the ultiate anal#sis is sine ua nonforforei%n loan a%reeents$an aherence to the rule of la" in oestic an internationalaffairs of "hose 8in .S. Supree Court @ustice Oliver !enell 3oles, @r. once sai09(he# carr# no banners, the# beat no rus? but "here the# are, en learn that bustlean bush are not the e6ual of 6uiet %enius an serene aster#.9 See Ricaro @. Roulo,9(he Role of a"#ers in Forei%n Investents,9 Inte%rate 5ar of the Philippine @ournal,Vol. 1, (hir an Fourth uarters, 1)++, p. :;


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who)soeer it is ested, sub*ect to the only condition that the appointee should possessthe ualifications reuired by law. Ephasis supplie-

(he appointin% process in a re%ular appointent as in the case at bar, consists of four >- sta%es0 1-noination? :- confiration b# the Coission on ppointents? 7- issuance of a coission in thePhilippines, upon subission b# the Coission on ppointents of its certificate of confiration, thePresient issues the peranent appointent? an >- acceptance e.%., oath$ta8in%, postin% of bon,

etc. . . . Lacson . Ro)ero, No. $7=*1, October 1>, 1)>)? on2ales, a" on Public Officers, p. :==-

(he po"er of the Coission on ppointents to %ive its consent to the noination of Monso asChairan of the Coission on Elections is anate b# Section 1:- Sub$rticle C, rticle I/ of theConstitution "hich provies0

(he Chairan an the Coisioners shall be appointe b# the Presient "ith theconsent of the Coission on ppointents for a ter of seven #ears "ithoutreappointent. Of those first appointe, three Mebers shall hol office for seven #ears,t"o Mebers for five #ears, an the last Mebers for three #ears, "ithoutreappointent. ppointent to an# vacanc# shall be onl# for the une'pire ter of thepreecessor. In no case shall an# Meber be appointe or esi%nate in a teporar# oractin% capacit#.

nent @ustice (eooro Pailla&s separate opinion, suffice it to sa# that his efinition of thepractice of la" is the traitional or stereot#pe notion of la" practice, as istin%uishefro the )odern concept of the practice of law, "hich oern connotation is e'actlywhat was intended by the e)inent fra)ers of the 9:=; Constitution.Moreover, @usticePailla&s efinition "oul re6uire %enerall# a habitual la" practice, perhaps practise t"oor three ties a "ee8 an would outlawsa#, la" practice once or t"ice a #ear for tenconsecutive #ears. Clearl#, this is far fro the constitutional intent.

pon the other han, the separate opinion of @ustice Isa%ani Cru2 states that in # "ritten opinion, Iae use of a efinition of la" practice "hich reall# eans nothin% because the efinition sa#s thatla" practice 9 . . . is "hat people orinaril# ean b# the practice of la".9 (rue I cite the efinition butonl# b# "a# of sarcas as evient fro # stateent that the efinition of la" practice b# 9traitionalareas of la" practice is essentiall# tautolo!ous9 or efinin% a phrase b# eans of the phrase itself thatis bein% efine.

@ustice Cru2 %oes on to sa# in substance that since the la" covers alost all situations, ostiniviuals, in a8in% use of the la", or in avisin% others on "hat the la" eans, are actuall#practicin% la". In that sense, perhaps, but "e shoul not lose si%ht of the fact that Mr. Monso is alawyer, a )e)ber of the (hilippine "ar, "ho has been practisin% la" for over ten #ears. (his is ifferentfro the acts of persons practisin% la", without first beco)in! lawyers.

@ustice Cru2 also sa#s that the Supree Court can even is6ualif# an electe Presient of thePhilippines, sa#, on the %roun that he lac8s one or ore 6ualifications. (his atter, I %reatl# oubt.For one thin%, ho" can an action or petition be brou%ht a%ainst the PresientH n even assuin% that

he is inee is6ualifie, ho" can the action be entertaine since he is the incubent PresientH

!e no" procee0

(he Coission on the basis of evience subitte olin% the public hearin%s on Monso&sconfiration, iplicitl# eterine that he possesse the necessar# 6ualifications as re6uire b# la".

(he 4u%ent renere b# the Coission in the e'ercise of such an ac8no"le%e po"er is be#on4uicial interference e'cept onl# upon a clear sho"in% of a %rave abuse of iscretion aountin% to lac8or e'cess of 4urisiction. rt. VIII, Sec. 1 Constitution-. (hus, onl# "here such %rave abuse of iscretionis clearl# sho"n shall the Court interfere "ith the Coission&s 4u%ent. In the instant case, there isno occasion for the e'ercise of the Court&s corrective po"er, since no abuse, uch less a %rave abuse


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of iscretion, that "oul aount to lac8 or e'cess of 4urisiction an "oul "arrant the issuance of the"rits pra#e, for has been clearl# sho"n.

itionall#, consier the follo"in%0

1- If the Coission on ppointents re*ectsa noinee b# the Presient, a# theSupree Court reverse the Coission, an thus in effect confir)the appointentH

Clearl#, the ans"er is in the ne%ative.

:- In the sae vein, a# the Court re*ectthe noinee, "ho the Coissionhas confir)edH (he ans"er is li8e"ise clear.

7- If the nite States Senate "hich is the confirin% bo# in the .S. Con%ress-ecies to confir)a Presiential noinee, it "oul be increible that the .S. SupreeCourt "oul still reersethe .S. Senate.

Finall#, one si%nificant le%al a'i is0

!e ust interpret not b# the letter that 8illeth, but b# the spirit that %iveth life.

(a8e this h#pothetical case of Sason an Delilah. Once, the procurator of @uea as8e Delilah "ho"as Sason&s belove- for help in capturin% Sason. Delilah a%ree on conition that J

No blae shall touch his s8in?

No bloo shall flo" fro his veins.

!hen Sason his lon% hair cut b# Delilah- "as capture, the procurator place an iron ro burnin%"hite$hot t"o or three inches a"a# fro in front of Sason&s e#es. (his bline the an. pon hearin%of "hat ha happene to her belove, Delilah "as besie herself "ith an%er, an fuin% "ith ri%hteousfur#, accuse the procurator of rene%in% on his "or. (he procurator call# replie0 9Di an# blaetouch his s8inH Di an# bloo flo" fro his veinsH9 (he procurator "as clearl# rel#in% on the letter, notthe spirit of the a%reeent.

In vie" of the fore%oin%, this petition is hereb# DISMISSED.

SO ORDERED.

Fernan, C.J., Grio-Aquino and Medialdea, JJ., concur.

Feliciano, J., I certify that he voted to dismiss the petition. Fernan, C.J.!

"armiento, J., is on leave.

#e$alado, and %avide, Jr., J., too& no part.

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