Davxsaxid v Macapagal-Arroyo

7/25/2019 Davxsaxid v Macapagal-Arroyo

1/67

DECISION

SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ,J.:

All powers need some restrant! pra"t"al ad#$stments rat%er t%an r&d

'orm$la are ne"essar()*+ S$peror stren&t% t%e $se o' 'or"e "annot ma.e

wron&s nto r&%ts) In t%s re&ard, t%e "o$rts s%o$ld /e 0&lant n sa'e&$ardn& t%e

"onstt$tonal r&%ts o' t%e "t1ens, spe"'"all( t%er l/ert()

C%e' 2$st"e Artemo V) 3an&an/an4s p%losop%( o' l/ert( s t%$s most

rele0ant) 5e sad: 6In cases involving liberty, the scales of justice should weigh

heavily against government and in favor of the poor, the oppressed, the

marginalized, the dispossessed and the weak)7 Laws and a"tons t%at restr"t

'$ndamental r&%ts "ome to t%e "o$rts 6wt% a %ea0( pres$mpton a&anst t%er

"onstt$tonal 0aldt()7*8

T%ese se0en 9; "onsoldated pettons 'or certiorariand pro%/ton alle&e

t%at n ss$n& 3resdental 3ro"lamaton No) +


2/67

NOW, T!"!#O"!, I, Glora >a"apa&al-Arro(o, 3resdent o'

t%e Rep$/l" o' t%e 3%lppnes and Commander-n-C%e' o' t%e Armed

or"es o' t%e 3%lppnes, /( 0rt$e o' t%e powers 0ested $pon me /(

Se"ton +, Art"le o' t%e 3%lppne Constt$ton w%"% states t%at:

6T%e 3resdent) ) ) w%ene0er t /e"omes ne"essar(, ) ) ) ma( "all o$t 9t%e;

armed 'or"es to pre0ent or s$ppress) ) )re/ellon) ) ),7 and n m( "apa"t(as t%er Commander-n-C%e', do hereby command the $rmed #orces

of the %hilippines, to maintain law and order throughout the

%hilippines, prevent or suppress all forms of lawless violence as well

as any act of insurrection or rebellion and to enforce obedience to all

the laws and to all decrees, orders and regulations promulgated by

me personally or upon my direction! and as provided in &ection '(,

$rticle ') of the *onstitution do hereby declare a &tate of National

!mergency+

S%e "ted t%e 'ollown& 'a"ts as /ases:

W!"!$&, o0er t%ese past mont%s, elements n t%e political

opposition have conspired with authoritarians of the etreme -eft

represented by the N.#/*%%/N%$ and the etreme "ight,

represented by military adventurists 0 the historical enemies of the

democratic %hilippine &tate w%o are now n a ta"t"al allan"e and

en&a&ed n a "on"erted and s(stemat" "onspra"(, o0er a /road 'ront, to

/rn& down t%e d$l( "onstt$ted Go0ernment ele"ted n >a( 8


3/67

W!"!$&, these activities give totalitarian forces of both the

etreme -eft and etreme "ight the opening to intensify their

avowed aims to bring down the democratic %hilippine &tate!

W!"!$&, Art"le 8, Se"ton B o' t%e o$r Constt$ton ma.es

t%e de'ense and preser0aton o' t%e demo"rat" nstt$tons and t%e Statet%e prmar( d$t( o' Go0ernment!

W!"!$&, t%e a"t0tes a/o0e-des"r/ed, t%er "onse$en"es,

ram'"atons and "ollateral e''e"ts "onstt$te a clear and present

dangerto t%e sa'et( and t%e nte&rt( o' t%e 3%lppne State and o' t%e

lpno people!

On t%e same da(, t%e 3resdent ss$ed G) O) No) = mplementn& 33 +a( 8


4/67

W!"!$&, Art"le 8, Se"ton B o' o$r Constt$ton ma.es t%e

de'ense and preser0aton o' t%e demo"rat" nstt$tons and t%e State t%e

prmar( d$t( o' Go0ernment!

W!"!$&, t%e a"t0tes a/o0e-des"r/ed, t%er "onse$en"es,

ram'"atons and "ollateral e''e"ts "onstt$te a "lear and present dan&erto t%e sa'et( and t%e nte&rt( o' t%e 3%lppne State and o' t%e lpno

people!

W!"!$&, 3ro"lamaton +ar"% @, 8


5/67

0olen"e as well as an( a"t o' re/ellon and to $nderta.e s$"% a"ton as

ma( /e ne"essar(!

W!"!$&, t%e A3 and 3N3 %a0e e''e"t0el( pre0ented,

s$ppressed and $elled t%e a"ts lawless 0olen"e and re/ellon!

NOW, T!"!#O"!, I, 3-O"I$ 4$*$%$3$-/

$""O5O,3resdent o' t%e Rep$/l" o' t%e 3%lppnes, /( 0rt$e o'

t%e powers 0ested n me /( law, %ere/( declare that the state of

national emergency has ceased to eist+

In t%er presentaton o' t%e 'a"t$al /ases o' 33 +a&dalo Gro$p nd"ted n t%e Oa.wood m$tn(, es"aped t%er

detenton "ell n ort on'a"o, Ta&$& Ct() In a p$/l" statement, t%e( 0owed to

reman de'ant and to el$de arrest at all "osts) T%e( "alled $pon t%e people to

6show and proclaim our displeasure at the sham regime. Let us demonstrate our

disgust, not only by going to the streets in protest, but also by wearing red bands

on our left arms.7*=
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6/67

On e/r$ar( +, 8a&dalo Gro$p and

t%e Natonal 3eople4s Arm( 9N3A;, a tape re"order, a$do "assette "artrd&es,

ds.ettes, and "opes o' s$/0ers0e do"$ments)* 3ror to %s arrest, Lt) San 2$an

anno$n"ed t%ro$&% DZR5 t%at t%e 6!agdalo"s #$#ay would be on %ebruary &',

&((), the &(th*nni+ersary of Edsa I.

On e/r$ar( 8@, 8


7/67

mass and armed "omponent to t%e Ant-Arro(o protests to /e %eld on e/r$ar( 8B,

8


8/67

men and ens$re t%at t%e "%an o' "ommand remans sold and $nd0ded) To

prote"t t%e (o$n& st$dents 'rom an( poss/le tro$/le t%at m&%t /rea. loose on t%e

streets, t%e 3resdent s$spended "lasses n all le0els n t%e entre Natonal Captal

Re&on)

#or their part, petitioners cited the events that followed after the

issuance of %% '6'( and 3+O+ No+ 7)

Immedatel(, t%e O''"e o' t%e 3resdent anno$n"ed t%e "an"ellaton o' all

pro&rams and a"t0tes related to t%e 8"%ael De'ensor anno$n"ed t%at

6warrantless arrests and tae$o+er of facilities, including media, can already be

implemented)7*++

Undeterred /( t%e anno$n"ements t%at ralles and p$/l" assem/les wo$ld

not /e allowed, &ro$ps o' protesters 9mem/ers o'2ilusang !ayo 3no*>U and

Natonal ederaton o' La/or Unons-2ilusang !ayo 3no *NALU->U;,

mar"%ed 'rom 0aro$s parts o' >etro >anla wt% t%e ntenton o' "on0er&n& at

t%e EDSA s%rne) T%ose w%o were alread( near t%e EDSA ste were 0olentl(dspersed /( %$&e "l$sters o' ant-rot pol"e) T%e well-traned pol"emen $sed

tr$n"%eons, /& '/er &lass s%elds, water "annons, and tear &as to stop and /rea.

$p t%e mar"%n& &ro$ps, and s"atter t%e massed part"pants) T%e same pol"e

a"ton was $sed a&anst t%e protesters mar"%n& 'orward to C$/ao, K$e1on Ct(

and to t%e "orner o' Santolan Street and EDSA) T%at same e0enn&, %$ndreds o'

rot pol"emen /ro.e $p an EDSA "ele/raton rall( %eld alon& A(ala A0en$e and

3aseo de RoFas Street n >a.at Ct()*+8

A""ordn& to pettoner2ilusang !ayo 3no, t%e pol"e "ted 33 +


9/67

3%lppnes and newspaper "ol$mnst) Also arrested was %s "ompanon, Ronald

Llamas, presdent o' part(-lst*bayan)

At aro$nd +8:8< n t%e earl( mornn& o' e/r$ar( 8=, 8ala(a, and tssster p$/l"aton, t%e ta/lod A/ante)

T%e rad, a""ordn& to 3resdental C%e' o' Sta'' >"%ael

De'ensor, s -meant to show a 4strong presence," to tell media outlets not to

conni+e or do anything that would help the rebels in bringing down this

go+ernment. T%e 3N3 warned t%at t wo$ld ta.e o0er an( meda or&an1aton

t%at wo$ld not 'ollow -standards set by the go+ernment during the state of

national emergency. Dre"tor General Lom/ao stated t%at -if they do not follow

the standards 5 and the standards are $ if they would contribute to instability in thego+ernment, or if they do not subscribe to what is in 6eneral Order 7o. 8 and

Proc. 7o. 9(9: 5 we will recommend a 4taeo+er." Natonal Tele"omm$n"atons4

Commssoner Ronald Sols $r&ed tele0son and rado networ.s

to -cooperatewt% t%e &o0ernment 'or t%e d$raton o' t%e state o' natonal

emer&en"() 5e as.ed 'or -balanced reporting'rom /road"asters w%en "o0ern&

t%e e0ents s$rro$ndn& t%e "o$p attempt 'oled /( t%e &o0ernment) 5e warned

t%at %s a&en"( wll not %estate to re"ommend t%e "los$re o' an( /road"ast o$t't

t%at 0olates r$les set o$t 'or meda "o0era&e w%en t%e natonal se"$rt( st%reatened)*+B

Also, on e/r$ar( 8=, 8


10/67

w%"% stemmed 'rom a "ase o' n"tn& to re/ellon 'led d$rn& t%e >ar"os re&me,

%ad lon& /een $as%ed) eltran, %owe0er, s not a part( n an( o' t%ese pettons)

H%en mem/ers o' pettoner >U went to Camp Crame to 0st eltran,

t%e( were told t%e( "o$ld not /e admtted /e"a$se o' 33 +arano,;ayan !unaRepresentat0e Teodoro Caso and

Ga/rela Representat0e L1a >a1a) ;ayan !una Representat0e 2osel Vrador

was arrested at t%e 3AL T".et O''"e n Da0ao Ct() Later, %e was t$rned o0er to

t%e "$stod( o' t%e 5o$se o' Representat0es w%ere t%e 6atasan =7 de"ded to sta(

nde'ntel()

Let t /e stressed at t%s pont t%at t%e alle&ed 0olatons o' t%e r&%ts o'

Representat0es eltran, Sat$r O"ampo, et al), are not /en& rased n t%ese

pettons)

On >ar"% @, 8


11/67

In3+"+ No+ '('89:, pettoners Randol' S) Da0d,et al) assaled 33 +arano, Teodoro Caso, L1a

>a1a, and 2osel Vrador. T%e( asserted t%at 33 +8,pettoners >U, NALU->U, and t%er mem/ers

a0erred t%at 33 +9, pettoners 2ose Anselmo I) Cad1et al.,alle&ed t%at 33

+


12/67

powers)7 And ass$mn& t%at 33 +


13/67

a+a"al C%allen&e

b+ Constt$tonal ass

c+ As Appled C%allen&e

$+ %"O*!.?"$-

rst, we m$st resol0e t%e pro"ed$ral road/lo".s)

I- Moot and Academic Principle

One o' t%e &reatest "ontr/$tons o' t%e Amer"an s(stem to t%s "o$ntr( s

t%e "on"ept o' #$d"al re0ew en$n"ated n!arbury +. !adison.*8+T%s "on"ept

rests on t%e eFtraordnar( smple 'o$ndaton --

T%e Constt$ton s t%e s$preme law) It was ordaned /( t%e people,t%e $ltmate so$r"e o' all polt"al a$t%ort() It "on'ers lmted powers on

t%e natonal &o0ernment) F F F If the government consciously or

unconsciously oversteps these limitations there must be some

authority competent to hold it in control, to thwart its

unconstitutional attempt, and thus to vindicate and preserve

inviolate the will of the people as epressed in the *onstitution+ This

power the courts eercise+ This is the beginning and the end of the

theory of judicial review)*88

$t t%e power o' #$d"al re0ew does not repose $pon t%e "o$rts a 6sel'-

startn& "apa"t()7*8@ Co$rts ma( eFer"se s$"% power onl( w%en t%e 'ollown&

re$stes are present:first, t%ere m$st /e an a"t$al "ase or

"ontro0ers(!second,pettoners %a0e to rase a $eston o'

"onstt$tonalt(! third, t%e "onstt$tonal $eston m$st /e rased at t%e earlest

opport$nt(! andfourth, t%e de"son o' t%e "onstt$tonal $eston m$st /e

ne"essar( to t%e determnaton o' t%e "ase tsel')*8B

Respondents mantan t%at t%e 'rst and se"ond re$stes are a/sent, %en"e,

we s%all lmt o$r ds"$sson t%ereon)

An a"t$al "ase or "ontro0ers( n0ol0es a "on'l"t o' le&al r&%t, an opposte

le&al "lams s$s"ept/le o' #$d"al resol$ton) It s 6de'nte and "on"rete,
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14/67

to$"%n& t%e le&al relatons o' partes %a0n& ad0erse le&al nterest!7 a real and

s$/stantal "ontro0ers( admttn& o' spe"'" rele')*8= T%e Sol"tor General

re'$tes t%e eFsten"e o' s$"% a"t$al "ase or "ontro0ers(, "ontendn& t%at t%e present

pettons were rendered 6moot and a"adem"7 /( 3resdent Arro(o4s ss$an"e o' 33

+


15/67

"onstt$tonal pre"epts, do"trnes or r$les) It %as t%e s(m/ol" '$n"ton o'

ed$"atn& t%e /en"% and t%e /ar, and n t%e present pettons, the military and the

police, on t%e eFtent o' t%e prote"ton &0en /( "onstt$tonal &$arantees) *@= And

lastl(, respondents4 "ontested a"tons are "apa/le o' repetton) Certanl(, t%e

pettons are s$/#e"t to #$d"al re0ew)

In t%er attempt to pro0e t%e alle&ed mootness o' t%s "ase, respondents "ted

C%e' 2$st"e Artemo V) 3an&an/an4s Separate Opnon n anlaas +. E


16/67

o$t a s$''"ent nterest n t%e 0nd"aton o' t%e p$/l" order and t%e se"$rn& o'

rele' as a 6"t1en7 or 6taFpa(er)

Case law n most #$rsd"tons now allows /ot% 6"t1en7 and 6taFpa(er7

standn& n p$/l" a"tons) T%e dstn"ton was 'rst lad down n;eauchamp +.il,*@M w%ere t was %eld t%at t%e plant'' n a taFpa(er4s s$t s n a d''erent

"ate&or( 'rom t%e plant'' n a "t1en4s s$t) In the former, the plaintiff is

affected by the ependiture of public funds, while in the latter, he is but the

mere instrument of the public concern+ As %eld /( t%e New Por. S$preme

Co$rt nPeople e< rel Case +. Collins:*B


17/67

5owe0er, /en& a mere pro"ed$ral te"%n"alt(, t%e re$rement o' locus

standima( /e wa0ed /( t%e Co$rt n t%e eFer"se o' ts ds"reton) T%s was done

n t%e '9=9 !mergency %owers *ases,*raneta +. #inglasan,*BMw%ere t%e

6transcendental importance7 o' t%e "ases prompted t%e Co$rt to a"t

l/erall() S$"% l/eralt( was net%er a rart( nor a""dental) In*/uino +.Comelec,*=


18/67

( wa( o' s$mmar(, t%e 'ollown& r$les ma( /e "$lled 'rom t%e "ases

de"ded /( t%s Co$rt) TaFpa(ers, 0oters, "on"erned "t1ens, and le&slators ma(

/e a""orded standn& to s$e, pro0ded t%at t%e 'ollown& re$rements are met:

;'oreo0er, t "annot s$e as a taFpa(er a/sent

an( alle&aton t%at p$/l" '$nds are /en& ms$sed) Nor "an t s$e as a "on"erned

"t1en as t does not alle&e an( spe"'" n#$r( t %as s$''ered)

In 0elecommunications and ;roadcast *ttorneys of the Philippines, Inc. +.

Comelec,*= t%e Co$rt reterated t%e 6dre"t n#$r(7 test wt% respe"t to "on"erned

"t1ens4 "ases n0ol0n& "onstt$tonal ss$es) It %eld t%at 6t%ere m$st /e a

s%own& t%at t%e "t1en personall( s$''ered some a"t$al or t%reatened n#$r(

arsn& 'rom t%e alle&ed lle&al o''"al a"t)7

InLacson +. PereD,*=t%e Co$rt r$led t%at one o' t%e pettoners,Laban ng

#emorationg Pilipino9LD3;, s not a real part(-n-nterest as t %ad not

demonstrated an( n#$r( to tsel' or to ts leaders, mem/ers or s$pporters)
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19/67

In anlaas +. Eartal Law are $sed) >oreo0er, t s n t%e nterest o' #$st"e t%at t%ose a''e"ted

/( 33 +8, >U4s asserton t%at 33 +


20/67

3resdent /annn& all ralles and "an"eln& all permts 'or p$/l" assem/les

'ollown& t%e ss$an"e o' 33 +


21/67

T%s Co$rt %olds t%at all t%e pettoners %eren %a0e locus standi)

In"dentall(, t s not proper to mplead 3resdent Arro(o as

respondent) Settled s t%e do"trne t%at t%e 3resdent, d$rn& %s ten$re o' o''"e ora"t$al n"$m/en"(,*ma( not /e s$ed n any "0l or "rmnal "ase, and t%ere s no

need to pro0de 'or t n t%e Constt$ton or law) It wll de&rade t%e d&nt( o' t%e

%&% o''"e o' t%e 3resdent, t%e 5ead o' State, ' %e "an /e dra&&ed nto "o$rt

lt&atons w%le ser0n& as s$"%) $rt%ermore, t s mportant t%at %e /e 'reed

'rom an( 'orm o' %arassment, %ndran"e or dstra"ton to ena/le %m to '$ll( attend

to t%e per'orman"e o' %s o''"al d$tes and '$n"tons) Unl.e t%e le&slat0e and

#$d"al /ran"%, onl( one "onstt$tes t%e eFe"$t0e /ran"% and an(t%n& w%"%

mpars %s $se'$lness n t%e ds"%ar&e o' t%e man( &reat and mportant d$tesmposed $pon %m /( t%e Constt$ton ne"essarl( mpars t%e operaton o' t%e

Go0ernment) 5owe0er, t%s does not mean t%at t%e 3resdent s not a""o$nta/le to

an(one) L.e an( ot%er o''"al, %e remans a""o$nta/le to t%e people*/$t %e

ma( /e remo0ed 'rom o''"e onl( n t%e mode pro0ded /( law and t%at s /(

mpea"%ment)*M

A+ &?A&T$NTIB!

I. Review o !actual "ases

3ettoners mantan t%at 33 +


22/67

t%e authority to decide whether an eigency has arisen belongs to the

%residentand his decision is final and conclusive on the courts ) Lansang too.

t%e opposte 0ew) T%ere, t%e mem/ers o' t%e Co$rt were $nanmo$s n t%e

"on0"ton t%at t%e Co$rt %as t%e a$t%ort( to n$re nto t%e eFsten"e o' 'a"t$al

/ases n order to determne t%er "onstt$tonal s$''"en"() #rom the principle ofseparation of powers, it shifted the focus to the system of checks and balances,

Eunder which the %resident is supreme, only i and w#enhe acts within

the sphere allotted to him by the Aasic -aw, and the authority to

determine whether or not he has so acted is vested in the Hudicial

.epartment,w#ic# in t#is respect , is, in turn,

constitutionally supreme.7* In +M@, t%e $nanmo$s Co$rt o'Lansangwas

d0ded n*/uino +. Enrile.* T%ere, t%e Co$rt was almost e0enl(

d0ded on t%e ss$e o' w%et%er t%e 0aldt( o' t%e mposton o'>artal Law s a polt"al or #$st"a/le $eston)* T%en "ame 6arcia$Padilla +.

Enrilew%"% &reatl( dl$tedLansang) It de"lared t%at t%ere s a need to re-

eFamne t%e latter "ase, rato"natn& t%at 6in times of war or national

emergency, the %resident must be given absolute control for the very life of the

nation and the government is in great peril+ The %resident, it intoned, is

answerable only to his conscience, the %eople, and 3od)7*M

T%eIntegrated ;ar of the Philippines +. amora*


23/67

t%e polt"al departments o' t%e &o0ernment)*+ It spea.s o' #$d"al prero&at0e

not onl( n terms o' power/$t also o' duty)*8

As to %ow t%e Co$rt ma( n$re nto t%e 3resdent4s eFer"se o'

power,Lansang adopted t%e test t%at 6#$d"al n$r( "ango no furthert%an to

sats'( t%e Co$rt not t%at t%e 3resdent4s de"son s correct,7 /$t t%at 6t%e

3resdent dd not a"t arbitrarily)7 T%$s, t%e standard lad down s not "orre"tness,

/$t ar/trarness)*@ InIntegrated ;ar of the Philippines, t%s Co$rt '$rt%er r$led

t%at 6it is incumbent upon the petitioner to show that the %resident2s decision

is totally bereft of factual basis7 and t%at ' %e 'als, /( wa( o' proo', to s$pport

%s asserton, t%en 6this *ourt cannot undertake an independent investigation

beyond the pleadings)7

3ettoners 'aled to s%ow t%at 3resdent Arro(o4s eFer"se o' t%e "alln&-o$t

power, /( ss$n& 33 +a&dalo Gro$p, t%er

a$da"o$s t%reat o' t%e!agdalo #$#ay, t%e de'e"tons n t%e mltar(, part"$larl(

n t%e 3%lppne >arnes, and t%e repro0n& statements 'rom t%e "omm$nst

leaders) T%ere was also t%e >n$tes o' t%e Intell&en"e Report and Se"$rt( Gro$p

o' t%e 3%lppne Arm( s%own& t%e &rown& allan"e /etween t%e N3A and t%e

mltar() 3ettoners presented not%n& to re'$te s$"% e0ents) T%$s, a/sent an(

"ontrar( alle&atons, t%e Co$rt s "on0n"ed t%at t%e 3resdent was #$st'ed n

ss$n& 33 +


24/67

.octrines of &everal %olitical Theorists

on the %ower of the %resident

in Times of !mergency

T%s "ase /rn&s to 'ore a "ontento$s s$/#e"t -- t%e power o' t%e 3resdent n

tmes o' emer&en"(. A &lmpse at t%e 0aro$s polt"al t%eores relatn& to t%s

s$/#e"t pro0des an ade$ate /a".drop 'or o$r ens$n& ds"$sson)

2o%n Lo".e, des"r/n& t%e ar"%te"t$re o' "0l &o0ernment, "alled $pon t%e

En&ls% do"trne o' prero&at0e to "ope wt% t%e pro/lem o' emer&en"() In tmes

o' dan&er to t%e naton, post0e law ena"ted /( t%e le&slat$re m&%t /e nade$ate

or e0en a 'atal o/sta"le to t%e promptness o' a"ton ne"essar( to a0ert

"atastrop%e) In t%ese st$atons, t%e Crown retaned a prero&at0e 6power to act

according to discretion for the public good, without the proscription of the law

and sometimes even against it)7*B $t Lo".e re"o&n1ed t%at t%s moral restrant

m&%t not s$''"e to a0od a/$se o' prero&at0e powers) Who shall judge the

need for resorting to the prerogative and how may its abuse be avoidedC 5ere,

Lo".e readl( admtted de'eat, s$&&estn& t%atEthe people have no other remedy

in this, as in all other cases where they have no judge on earth, but to appeal

to eaven)7*=

2ean-2a"$es Ro$ssea$ also ass$med t%e need 'or temporar( s$spenson o'

demo"rat" pro"esses o' &o0ernment n tme o' emer&en"() A""ordn& to %m:

T%e n'leF/lt( o' t%e laws, w%"% pre0ents t%em 'rom adoptn&

t%emsel0es to "r"$mstan"es, ma(, n "ertan "ases, render t%em dsastro$s and

ma.e t%em /rn& a/o$t, at a tme o' "rss, t%e r$n o' t%e StateQ

It s wron& t%ere'ore to ws% to ma.e polt"al nstt$tons as stron& as torender t mposs/le to s$spend t%er operaton) E0en Sparta allowed ts law to

lapse)))

I' t%e perl s o' s$"% a .nd t%at t%e parap%ernala o' t%e laws are an

o/sta"le to t%er preser0aton, t%e met%od s to nomnate a s$preme law(er, w%o
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25/67

s%all slen"e all t%e laws and s$spend 'or a moment t%e so0ere&n a$t%ort() In

s$"% a "ase, t%ere s no do$/t a/o$t t%e &eneral wll, and t "lear t%at t%e people4s

'rst ntenton s t%at t%e State s%all not pers%)*

Rossea$ dd not 'ear t%e a/$se o' t%e emer&en"( d"tators%p or 6 supreme

magistracy7 as %e termed t) or %m, t wo$ld more l.el( /e "%eapened /(

6nds"reet $se)7 5e was $nwlln& to rel( $pon an 6appeal to heaven)7 Instead,

%e reled $pon a ten$re o' o''"e o' pres"r/ed d$raton to a0od perpet$aton o' t%e

d"tators%p)*

2o%n St$art >ll "on"l$ded %s ardent de'ense o' representat0e &o0ernment:

6I am far from condemning, in cases of etreme necessity, the assumption of

absolute power in the form of a temporary dictatorship)7*

N"ollo >a"%a0ell4s 0ew o' emer&en"( powers, as one element n t%e

w%ole s"%eme o' lmted &o0ernment, '$rns%ed an ron" "ontrast to t%e Lo".ean

t%eor( o' prero&at0e) 5e re"o&n1ed and attempted to /rd&e t%s "%asm n

demo"rat" polt"al t%eor(, t%$s:

Now, n a well-ordered so"et(, t s%o$ld ne0er /e ne"essar( toresort to eFtra "onstt$tonal meas$res! 'or alt%o$&% t%e( ma( 'or a tme

/e /ene'"al, (et t%e pre"edent s pern"o$s, 'or ' t%e pra"t"e s on"e

esta/ls%ed 'or &ood o/#e"ts, t%e( wll n a lttle w%le /e dsre&arded

$nder t%at preteFt /$t 'or e0l p$rposes) T%$s, no rep$/l" wll e0er /e

per'e"t ' s%e %as not /( law pro0ded 'or e0er(t%n&, %a0n& a remed(

'or e0er( emer&en"( and 'Fed r$les 'or appl(n& t)*M

>a"%a0ell n "ontrast to Lo".e, Rossea$ and >ll so$&%t to n"orporate

nto t%e "onstt$ton a re&$lar1ed s(stem o' stand/( emer&en"( powers to /e

n0o.ed wt% s$ta/le "%e".s and "ontrols n tme o' natonal dan&er) 5e attempted

'ort%r&%tl( to meet t%e pro/lem o' "om/nn& a "apa"o$s reser0e o' power and

speed and 0&or n ts appl"aton n tme o' emer&en"(, wt% e''e"t0e

"onstt$tonal restrants)*M


26/67

Contemporar( polt"al t%eorsts, addressn& t%emsel0es to t%e pro/lem o'

response to emer&en"( /( "onstt$tonal demo"ra"es, %a0e emplo(ed t%e do"trne

o' "onstt$tonal d"tators%p)*M+reder". >) Hat.ns saw 6no reason why

absolutism should not be used as a means for the defense of liberalinstitutions,7 pro0ded t 6serves to protect established institutions from the

danger of permanent injury in a period of temporary emergency and is

followed by a prompt return to the previous forms of political life )7*M8 5e

re"o&n1ed t%e two 98; .e( elements o' t%e pro/lem o' emer&en"( &o0ernan"e, as

well as all "onstt$tonal &o0ernan"e:increasing administrative powers of the

eecutive, while at the same timeEimposing limitation upon that

power)7*M@ Hat.ns pla"ed %s real 'at% n a s"%eme o' "onstt$tonal

d"tators%p) T%ese are t%e "ondtons o' s$""ess o' s$"% a d"tators%p: EThe

period of dictatorship must be relatively shortD.ictatorship should always be

strictly legitimate in characterD#inal authority to determine the need for

dictatorship in any given case must never rest with the dictator

himselfQ7*MBand t%e o/#e"t0e o' s$"% an emer&en"( d"tators%p s%o$ld /e

6strict political conservatism)7

Carl 2) redr"% "ast %s anal(ss n terms smlar to t%ose o' Hat.ns)*M= 6It

s a pro/lem o' "on"entratn& power n a &o0ernment w%ere power %as"ons"o$sl( /een d0ded to "ope wt%Q st$atons o' $npre"edented ma&nt$de

and &ra0t() T%ere m$st /e a /road &rant o' powers, s$/#e"t to e$all( stron&

lmtatons as to w%o s%all eFer"se s$"% powers, w%en, 'or %ow lon&, and to w%at

end)7*M redr"%, too, o''ered "rtera 'or #$d&n& t%e ade$a"( o' an( o' s"%eme

o' emer&en"( powers, to wt: EThe emergency eecutive must be appointed by

constitutional means 0 i+e+, he must be legitimate1 he should not enjoy power

to determine the eistence of an emergency1 emergency powers should be

eercised under a strict time limitation1 and last, the objective of emergency

action must be the defense of the constitutional order)7*M

Clnton L) Rosster, a'ter s$r0e(n& t%e %stor( o' t%e emplo(ment o'

emer&en"( powers n Great rtan, ran"e, Hemar, German( and t%e Unted

States, re0erted to a des"rpton o' a s"%eme o' 6"onstt$tonal d"tators%p7 as
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27/67

sol$ton to t%e 0eFn& pro/lems presented /( emer&en"()*M L.e Hat.ns and

redr"%, %e stateda priorit%e "ondtons o' s$""ess o' t%e 6"onstt$tonal

d"tators%p,7 t%$s:

'


28/67

'6


29/67

reall( e''e"t0e "%e".s on despotsm %a0e "onssted not n t%e wea.enn&

o' &o0ernment /$t, /$t rat%er n t%e limiting of it! /etween w%"% t%ere

s a &reat and 0er( s&n'"ant d''eren"e)In associating

constitutionalism with ElimitedF as distinguished from EweakF

government, 4cIlwain meant government limited to the orderly

procedure of law as opposed to the processes of force+ The two

fundamental correlative elements of constitutionalism for which all

lovers of liberty must yet fight are the legal limits to arbitrary power

and a complete political responsibility of government to the

governed)*+"Ilwan4s 6prn"ple o'"onstt$tonalsm7 --- $ltmatel( am to sol0e one real pro/lem n emer&en"(

&o0ernan"e, )e), that of allotting increasing areas of discretionary power to the

*hief !ecutive, while insuring that such powers will be eercised with a sense

of political responsibility and under effective limitations and checks+

O$r Constt$ton %as 'arl( "oped wt% t%s pro/lem) res% 'rom t%e 'etters

o' a repress0e re&me, t%e +M Constt$tonal Commsson, n dra'tn& t%e +M

Constt$ton, endea0ored to "reate a &o0ernment n t%e "on"ept o' 2$st"e2a".son4s 6/alan"ed power str$"t$re)7*+


30/67

3ettoners "ontend t%at 33 +


31/67

T%$s, "lams o' 'a"al o0er/readt% are entertaned n "ases n0ol0n& stat$tes

w%"%, by their terms, see. to re&$late onl( 6spoken words7 and a&an, t%at

6overbreadth claims, if entertained at all, have been curtailed when invoked

against ordinary criminal laws that are sought to be applied to protectedconduct)7*+


32/67

In ot%er words, a 'a"al "%allen&e $sn& t%e o0er/readt% do"trne wll re$re

t%e Co$rt to eFamne 33 +


33/67

b+ *onstitutional Aasis of %% '6'(

Now on t%e "onstt$tonal 'o$ndaton o' 33 +


34/67


35/67

T%e 'rst pro0son pertans to t%e 3resdent4s "alln&-o$t power) In anlaas

+. Er) 2$st"e Dante O) Tn&a, %eld t%at

Se"ton +, Art"le VII o' t%e Constt$ton reprod$"ed as 'ollows:

&ec+ '>+T%e 3resdent s%all /e t%e Commander-n-C%e' o' allarmed 'or"es o' t%e 3%lppnes and whenever it becomes necessary, he

may call out such armed forces to prevent or suppress lawless

violence, invasion or rebellion) In "ase o' n0ason or re/ellon, w%en

t%e p$/l" sa'et( re$res t, %e ma(, 'or a perod not eF"eedn& sFt(

da(s, s$spend t%e pr0le&e o' t%e wrt o'habeas corpusor pla"e t%e

3%lppnes or an( part t%ereo' $nder martal law) Ht%n 'ort(-e&%t

%o$rs 'rom t%e pro"lamaton o' martal law or t%e s$spenson o' t%e

pr0le&e o' t%e wrt o' habeas corpus, t%e 3resdent s%all s$/mt a report

n person or n wrtn& to t%e Con&ress) T%e Con&ress, 0otn& #ontl(, /(

a 0ote o' at least a ma#ort( o' all ts >em/ers n re&$lar or spe"alsesson, ma( re0o.e s$"% pro"lamaton or s$spenson, w%"% re0o"aton

s%all not /e set asde /( t%e 3resdent) Upon t%e ntat0e o' t%e

3resdent, t%e Con&ress ma(, n t%e same manner, eFtend s$"%

pro"lamaton or s$spenson 'or a perod to /e determned /( t%e

Con&ress, ' t%e n0ason or re/ellon s%all persst and p$/l" sa'et(

re$res t)

T%e Con&ress, ' not n sesson, s%all wt%n twent(-'o$r %o$rs

'ollown& s$"% pro"lamaton or s$spenson, "on0ene n a""ordan"e wt%

ts r$les wt%o$t need o' a "all)

T%e S$preme Co$rt ma( re0ew, n an approprate pro"eedn& 'led /( an("t1en, t%e s$''"en"( o' t%e 'a"t$al /ases o' t%e pro"lamaton o' martal law or

t%e s$spenson o' t%e pr0le&e o' t%e wrt or t%e eFtenson t%ereo', and m$st

prom$l&ate ts de"son t%ereon wt%n t%rt( da(s 'rom ts 'ln&)

A state o' martal law does not s$spend t%e operaton o' t%e

Constt$ton, nor s$pplant t%e '$n"tonn& o' t%e "0l "o$rts or

le&slat0e assem/les, nor a$t%or1e t%e "on'erment o' #$rsd"ton on

mltar( "o$rts and a&en"es o0er "0lans w%ere "0l "o$rts are a/le to'$n"ton, nor a$tomat"all( s$spend t%e pr0le&e o' t%e wrt)

T%e s$spenson o' t%e pr0le&e o' t%e wrt s%all appl( onl( to

persons #$d"all( "%ar&ed 'or re/ellon or o''enses n%erent n or dre"tl(

"onne"ted wt% n0ason)
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36/67

D$rn& t%e s$spenson o' t%e pr0le&e o' t%e wrt, an( person

t%$s arrested or detaned s%all /e #$d"all( "%ar&ed wt%n t%ree da(s,

ot%erwse %e s%all /e released)

&rants t%e 3resdent, as Commander-n-C%e', a 6se$en"e7 o' &rad$atedpowers) rom t%e most to t%e least /en&n, t%ese are: t%e "alln&-o$t power, t%e

power to s$spend t%e pr0le&e o' t%e wrt o' habeas corpus, and t%e power to

de"lare >artal Law) Ctn&Integrated;ar of the Philippines +. amora,*++8 t%e

Co$rt r$led t%at t%e onl( "rteron 'or t%e eFer"se o' t%e "alln&-o$t power s t%at

6whenever it becomes necessary,7 t%e 3resdent ma( "all t%e armed 'or"es 6 to

prevent or suppress lawless violence, invasion or rebellion)7 *re these

conditions present in the instant cases? As stated earler, "onsdern& t%e

"r"$mstan"es t%en pre0aln&, 3resdent Arro(o 'o$nd t ne"essar( to ss$e 33+


37/67

3resdent Arro(o4s de"laraton o' a 6state o' re/ellon7 was merel( an a"t

de"larn& a stat$s or "ondton o' p$/l" moment or nterest, a de"laraton allowed

$nder Se"ton B "ted a/o0e) S$"% de"laraton, n t%e words o' anlaas, s%armless, wt%o$t le&al s&n'"an"e, and deemed not wrtten) In t%ese "ases, 33

+artal Law) It s no so) H%at de'nes t%e "%ara"ter o' 33 +


38/67

A state o' martal law does not s$spend t%e operaton o' t%e

Constt$ton, nor s$pplant t%e '$n"tonn& o' t%e "0l "o$rts or

le&slat0e assem/les, nor a$t%or1e t%e "on'erment o' #$rsd"ton on

mltar( "o$rts and a&en"es o0er "0lans w%ere "0l "o$rts are a/le to

'$n"ton, nor a$tomat"all( s$spend t%e pr0le&e o' t%e wrt)

2$st"e >endo1a also stated t%at 33 +


39/67

As t%e EFe"$t0e n w%om t%e eFe"$t0e power s 0ested, *++=t%e prmar(

'$n"ton o' t%e 3resdent s to en'or"e t%e laws as well as to 'orm$late pol"es to

/e em/oded n eFstn& laws) 5e sees to t t%at all laws are en'or"ed /( t%e

o''"als and emplo(ees o' %s department) e'ore ass$mn& o''"e, %e s re$redto ta.e an oat% or a''rmaton to t%e e''e"t t%at as 3resdent o' t%e 3%lppnes, %e

wll, amon& ot%ers, 6eFe"$te ts laws)7*++ In t%e eFer"se o' s$"% '$n"ton, t%e

3resdent, ' needed, ma( emplo( t%e powers atta"%ed to %s o''"e as t%e

Commander-n-C%e' o' all t%e armed 'or"es o' t%e "o$ntr(,*++n"l$dn& t%e

3%lppne Natonal 3ol"e*++$nder t%e Department o' Interor and Lo"al

Go0ernment)*++M

3ettoners, espe"all( Representat0es ran"s 2osep% G) Es"$dero, Sat$r

O"ampo, Ra'ael >arano, Teodoro Caso, L1a >a1a, and 2osel Vrador ar&$e t%at

33 +ar"os4 3ro"lamaton No)

+


40/67

and regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my

direction+

He all .now t%at t was 33 +


41/67

onl( "on"ern a part"$lar o''"er or o''"e o' t%e Go0ernment s%all /e

em/oded n memorand$m orders)

Se") ) !emorandum Circulars) A"ts o' t%e 3resdent on

matters relatn& to nternal admnstraton, w%"% t%e 3resdent desres to

/rn& to t%e attenton o' all or some o' t%e departments, a&en"es,/$rea$s or o''"es o' t%e Go0ernment, 'or n'ormaton or "omplan"e,

s%all /e em/oded n memorand$m "r"$lars)

Se") ) 6eneral or pecial Orders) A"ts and "ommands o' t%e

3resdent n %s "apa"t( as Commander-n-C%e' o' t%e Armed or"es o'

t%e 3%lppnes s%all /e ss$ed as &eneral or spe"al orders)

3resdent Arro(o4s ordnan"e power s lmted to t%e 'ore&on& ss$an"es)

S%e "annot ss$e decreessmlar to t%ose ss$ed /( ormer 3resdent >ar"os $nder33 +artal Law nor a state o' re/ellon nor a

state o' emer&en"( "an #$st'( 3resdent Arro(o4s eFer"se o' le&slat0e power /(

ss$n& de"rees)

Can President *rroyo enforce obedience to all decrees and laws through the

military?

As t%s Co$rt stated earler, 3resdent Arro(o %as no a$t%ort( to ena"t

de"rees) It 'ollows t%at t%ese de"rees are 0od and, t%ere'ore, "annot /e

en'or"ed) Ht% respe"t to 6laws,7 s%e "annot "all t%e mltar( to en'or"e or

mplement "ertan laws, s$"% as "$stoms laws, laws &o0ernn& 'aml( and propert(

relatons, laws on o/l&atons and "ontra"ts and t%e l.e) S%e "an onl( order t%e


42/67

mltar(, $nder 33 +


43/67

T%s pro0son was 'rst ntrod$"ed n t%e +M@ Constt$ton, as a prod$"t o'

t%e 6martal law7 t%n.n& o' t%e +M+ Constt$tonal Con0enton) *+88 In e''e"t at

t%e tme o' ts appro0al was 3resdent >ar"os4 Letter o' Instr$"ton No) 8 dated

Septem/er 88, +M8 nstr$"tn& t%e Se"retar( o' Natonal De'ense to ta.e o0er

6the management, control and operation of the !anila Electric Company, thePhilippine Long #istance 0elephone Company, the 7ational aterwors

and ewerage *uthority, the Philippine 7ational =ailways, the Philippine *ir

Lines, *ir !anila and %ilipinas Orient *irways . . . for the successful

prosecution by the 6o+ernment of its effort to contain, sol+e and end the present

national emergency.7

3ettoners, part"$larl( t%e mem/ers o' t%e 5o$se o' Representat0es, "lam

t%at 3resdent Arro(o4s n"l$son o' Se"ton +, Art"le II n 33 +


44/67

It ma( /e ponted o$t t%at t%ese"ond para&rap% o' t%e a/o0e pro0son re'ers

not onl( to war /$t also to 6other national emergency)7 I' t%e ntenton o' t%e

ramers o' o$r Constt$ton was to wt%%old 'rom t%e 3resdent t%e a$t%ort( to

de"lare a 6state o' natonal emer&en"(7 p$rs$ant to Se"ton +, Art"le VII 9"alln&-

o$t power; and &rant t to Con&ress 9l.e t%e de"laraton o' t%e eFsten"e o' a stateo' war;, t%en t%e ramers "o$ld %a0e pro0ded so) Clearl(, t%e( dd not ntend t%at

Con&ress s%o$ld 'rst a$t%or1e t%e 3resdent /e'ore %e "an de"lare a 6state o'

natonal emer&en"()7 T%e lo&"al "on"l$son t%en s t%at 3resdent Arro(o "o$ld

0aldl( de"lare t%e eFsten"e o' a state o' natonal emer&en"( e0en n t%e a/sen"e

o' a Con&ressonal ena"tment)


45/67

$t t%e eercise o' emer&en"( powers, s$"% as t%e ta.n& o0er o' pr0atel(

owned p$/l" $tlt( or /$sness a''e"ted wt% p$/l" nterest, s a d''erent

matter) T%s re$res a dele&aton 'rom Con&ress)

Co$rts %a0e o'ten sad t%at "onstt$tonal pro0sons npari materia are to /e"onstr$ed to&et%er) Ot%erwse stated, d''erent "la$ses, se"tons, and pro0sons o'

a "onstt$ton w%"% relate to t%e same s$/#e"t matter wll /e "onstr$ed to&et%er

and "onsdered n t%e l&%t o' ea"% ot%er)*+8@ Consdern& t%atSe"ton + o' Art"le

II and Se"ton 8@ o' Art"le VI, pre0o$sl( $oted, relate to natonal emer&en"es,

t%e( m$st /e read to&et%er to determne t%e lmtaton o' t%e eFer"se o' emer&en"(

powers)

3enerally, *ongress is the repository of emergency powers) T%s se0dent n t%e tenor o' Se"ton 8@ 98;, Art"le VI a$t%or1n& t to dele&ate s$"%

powers to t%e 3resdent) *ertainly, a body cannot delegate a power not reposed

upon it+ 5owe0er, .nown& t%at d$rn& &ra0e emer&en"es, t ma( not /e poss/le

or pra"t"a/le 'or Con&ress to meet and eFer"se ts powers, t%e ramers o' o$r

Constt$ton deemed t wse to allow Con&ress to &rant emer&en"( powers to t%e

3resdent, s$/#e"t to "ertan "ondtons, t%$s:

;'


46/67

affected with public interest,7 t re'ers to Con&ress, not t%e 3resdent) Now,

w%et%er or not t%e 3resdent ma( eFer"se s$"% power s dependent on w%et%er

Con&ress ma( dele&ate t to %m p$rs$ant to a law pres"r/n& t%e reasona/le terms

t%ereo') Goungstown heet K 0ube Co. et al. +. awyer,*+8=%eld:

It s "lear t%at ' t%e 3resdent %ad a$t%ort( to ss$e t%e order %e

dd, t m$st /e 'o$nd n some pro0son o' t%e Constt$ton) And t s not

"lamed t%at eFpress "onstt$tonal lan&$a&e &rants t%s power to t%e

3resdent) T%e "ontenton s t%at presdental power s%o$ld /e mpled

'rom t%e a&&re&ate o' %s powers $nder t%e Constt$ton) 3art"$lar

relan"e s pla"ed on pro0sons n Art"le II w%"% sa( t%at 6T%e

eFe"$t0e 3ower s%all /e 0ested n a 3resdent ) ) ) )!7 t%at 6%e s%all ta.e

Care t%at t%e Laws /e 'at%'$ll( eFe"$ted!7 and t%at %e 6s%all /e

Commander-n-C%e' o' t%e Arm( and Na0( o' t%e Unted States)

T%e order "annot properl( /e s$staned as an eFer"se o' t%e

3resdent4s mltar( power as Commander-n-C%e' o' t%e Armed

or"es) T%e Go0ernment attempts to do so /( "tn& a n$m/er o' "ases

$p%oldn& /road powers n mltar( "ommanders en&a&ed n da(-to-da(

'&%tn& n a t%eater o' war) S$"% "ases need not "on"ern $s %ere) !ven

though Etheater of warF be an epanding concept, we cannot with

faithfulness to our constitutional system hold that the *ommander/

in/*hief of the $rmed #orces has the ultimate power as such to take

possession of private property in order to keep labor disputes from

stopping production+ This is a job for the nation2s lawmakers, not

for its military authorities+

Nor can the seizure order be sustained because of the several

constitutional provisions that grant eecutive power to the

%resident+ In the framework of our *onstitution, the %resident2s

power to see that the laws are faithfully eecuted refutes the idea

that he is to be a lawmaker+ The *onstitution limits his functions in

the lawmaking process to the recommending of laws he thinks wise

and the vetoing of laws he thinks bad+ $nd the *onstitution isneither silent nor eGuivocal about who shall make laws which the

%resident is to eecute+ The first section of the first article says that

E$ll legislative %owers herein granted shall be vested in a *ongress

of the ?nited &tates) ) )7*+8
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn126http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn126http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn127http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn126http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn127


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3ettoner Cacho$Oli+ares, et al."ontends t%at t%e term 6emer&en"(7 $nder

Se"ton +, Art"le II re'ers to 6tsunami,7

6typhoon,7 6hurricane7and6similar occurrences)7 T%s s a lmted 0ew o'

6emer&en"()7

Emer&en"(, as a &ener" term, "onnotes t%e eFsten"e o' "ondtons s$ddenl(

ntens'(n& t%e de&ree o' eFstn& dan&er to l'e or well-/en& /e(ond t%at w%"% s

a""epted as normal) Impl"t n t%s de'ntons are t%e elements o' ntenst(,

0aret(, and per"epton)*+8 Emer&en"es, as per"e0ed /( le&slat$re or eFe"$t0e

n t%e Unted Sates sn"e +M@@, %a0e /een o""asoned /( a wde ran&e o' st$atons,

"lass'a/le $nder t%ree 9@; prn"pal %eads: a


48/67

F F F F F F

>R) TINGSON) >a( I as. t%e "ommttee ' 6natonal emer&en"(7

re'ers to military national emergencyor "o$ld t%s /e economic

emergency?7

>R) VILLEGAS) Pes, t "o$ld re'er toboth military or economic

dislocations+

>R) TINGSON) T%an. (o$ 0er( m$"%)*+@@

It ma( /e ar&$ed t%at w%en t%ere s natonal emer&en"(, Con&ress ma( not /e

a/le to "on0ene and, t%ere'ore, $na/le to dele&ate to t%e 3resdent t%e power to

ta.e o0er pr0atel(-owned p$/l" $tlt( or /$sness a''e"ted wt% p$/l" nterest)

In*raneta +. #inglasan,*+@Bt%s Co$rt emp%as1ed t%at le&slat0e power,

t%ro$&% w%"% eFtraordnar( meas$res are eFer"sed, remans n Con&ress e0en n

tmes o' "rss)

6F F F

A'ter all t%e "rt"sms t%at %a0e /een made a&anst t%e

e''"en"( o' t%e s(stem o' t%e separaton o' powers, t%e 'a"t

remans t%at t%e Constt$ton %as set $p t%s 'orm o' &o0ernment,

wt% all ts de'e"ts and s%ort"omn&s, n pre'eren"e to t%e

"ommn&ln& o' powers n one man or &ro$p o' men) T%e

lpno people /( adoptn& parlamentar( &o0ernment %a0e &0en

not"e t%at t%e( s%are t%e 'at% o' ot%er demo"ra"(-lo0n& peoples

n t%s s(stem, wt% all ts 'a$lts, as t%e deal) T%e pont s, $nder

t%s 'ramewor. o' &o0ernment, le&slaton s preser0ed 'or

Con&ress all t%e tme, not eF"eptn& perods o' "rss no matter

%ow sero$s) Ne0er n t%e %stor( o' t%e Unted States, t%e /as"

'eat$res o' w%ose Constt$ton %a0e /een "oped n o$rs, %a0espe"'" '$n"tons o' t%e le&slat0e /ran"% o' ena"tn& laws /een

s$rrendered to anot%er department $nless we re&ard as

le&slatn& t%e "arr(n& o$t o' a le&slat0e pol"( a""ordn& to

pres"r/ed standards! no, not e0en w%en t%at Rep$/l" was

'&%tn& a total war, or w%en t was en&a&ed n a l'e-and-deat%

str$&&le to preser0e t%e Unon) T%e tr$t% s t%at $nder o$r


49/67

"on"ept o' "onstt$tonal &o0ernment, n tmes o' eFtreme perls

more t%an n normal "r"$mstan"es t%e 0aro$s /ran"%es,

eFe"$t0e, le&slat0e, and #$d"al,4 &0en t%e a/lt( to a"t, are

"alled $pon to per'orm t%e d$tes and ds"%ar&e t%e

respons/ltes "ommtted to t%em respe"t0el()7

ollown& o$r nterpretaton o' Se"ton +, Art"le II, n0o.ed /( 3resdent

Arro(o n ss$n& 33 +


50/67

O' t%e se0en 9; pettons, t%ree 9@; nd"ate 6dre"t n#$r()7

In 3+"+ No+ '('89:, pettoners Da0d and Llamas alle&ed t%at, on e/r$ar(

8B, 8


51/67

Now, ma( t%s Co$rt ad#$d&e a law or ordnan"e $n"onstt$tonal on t%e

&ro$nd t%at ts mplementor "ommtted lle&al a"ts? T%e answer s no) T%e"rteron /( w%"% t%e 0aldt( o' t%e stat$te or ordnan"e s to /e meas$red s t%e

essental /ass 'or t%e eFer"se o' power, andnot a mere incidental result arising

from its eertion)*+@T%s s lo&"al) 2$st ma&ne t%e a/s$rdt( o' st$atons w%en

laws ma(/e de"lared $n"onstt$tonal #$st /e"a$se t%e o''"ers mplementn& t%em

%a0e a"ted ar/trarl() I' t%s were so, #$d&n& 'rom t%e /l$nders "ommtted /(

pol"emen n t%e "ases passed $pon /( t%e Co$rt, ma#ort( o' t%e pro0sons o' t%e

Re0sed 3enal Code wo$ld %a0e /een de"lared $n"onstt$tonal a lon& tme a&o)

3resdent Arro(o ss$ed G)O) No) = to "arr( nto e''e"t t%e pro0sons o' 33

+


52/67


53/67

In 'a"t, t%s 6de'ntonal pred"ament7 or t%e 6a/sen"e o' an a&reed

de'nton o' terrorsm7 "on'ronts not onl( o$r "o$ntr(, /$t t%e

nternatonal "omm$nt( as well) T%e 'ollown& o/ser0atons are $te apropos:

In t%e a"t$al $npolar "onteFt o' nternatonal relatons, t%e 6'&%ta&anst terrorsm7 %as /e"ome one o' t%e /as" slo&ans w%en t "omes to

t%e #$st'"aton o' t%e $se o' 'or"e a&anst "ertan states and a&anst

&ro$ps operatn& nternatonall() Lsts o' states 6sponsorn& terrorsm7

and o' terrorst or&an1atons are set $p and "onstantl( /en& $pdated

a""ordn& to "rtera t%at are not alwa(s .nown to t%e p$/l", /$t are

"learl( determned /( strate&" nterests)

T%e /as" pro/lem $nderl(n& all t%ese mltar( a"tons or

t%reats o' t%e $se o' 'or"e as t%e most re"ent /( t%e Unted States a&anst

Ira "onssts n t%e a/sen"e o' an a&reed de'nton o' terrorsm)

Remar.a/le "on'$son perssts n re&ard to t%e le&al

"ate&or1aton o' a"ts o' 0olen"e et%er /( states, /( armed &ro$ps s$"%

as l/eraton mo0ements, or /( nd0d$als)

T%e dlemma "an /( s$mmar1ed n t%e sa(n& 6One "o$ntr(4s

terrorst s anot%er "o$ntr(4s 'reedom '&%ter)7 T%e apparent

"ontrad"ton or la". o' "onssten"( n t%e $se o' t%e term 6terrorsm7

ma( '$rt%er /e demonstrated /( t%e %stor"al 'a"t t%at leaders o'

natonal l/eraton mo0ements s$"% as Nelson >andela n So$t% A'r"a,5a// o$r&o$/a n T$nsa, or A%med en ella n Al&era, to

menton onl( a 'ew, were or&nall( la/eled as terrorsts /( t%ose w%o

"ontrolled t%e terrtor( at t%e tme, /$t later /e"ame nternatonall(

respe"ted statesmen)

H%at, t%en, s t%e de'nn& "rteron 'or terrorst a"ts

t%e differentia specificadstn&$s%n& t%ose a"ts 'rom e0ent$all(

le&tmate a"ts o' natonal resstan"e or sel'-de'ense?

Sn"e t%e tmes o' t%e Cold Har t%e Unted Natons Or&an1aton

%as /een tr(n& n 0an to rea"% a "onsens$s on t%e /as" ss$e o'

de'nton) T%e or&an1aton %as ntens'ed ts e''orts re"entl(, /$t %as

/een $na/le to /rd&e t%e &ap /etween t%ose w%o asso"ate 6terrorsm7

wt% an( 0olent a"t /( non-state &ro$ps a&anst "0lans, state

'$n"tonares or n'rastr$"t$re or mltar( nstallatons, and t%ose w%o

/ele0e n t%e "on"ept o' t%e le&tmate $se o' 'or"e w%en resstan"e


54/67

a&anst 'ore&n o""$paton or a&anst s(stemat" oppresson o' et%n"

andJor rel&o$s &ro$ps wt%n a state s "on"erned)

T%e dlemma 'a"n& t%e nternatonal "omm$nt( "an /est /e

ll$strated /( re'eren"e to t%e "ontrad"tn& "ate&or1aton o'

or&an1atons and mo0ements s$"% as 3alestne L/eraton Or&an1aton93LO; w%"% s a terrorst &ro$p 'or Israel and a l/eraton mo0ement

'or Ara/s and >$slms t%e as%mr resstan"e &ro$ps w%o are

terrorsts n t%e per"epton o' Inda, l/eraton '&%ters n t%at o' 3a.stan

t%e earler Contras n N"ara&$a 'reedom '&%ters 'or t%e Unted

States, terrorsts 'or t%e So"alst "amp or, most drast"all(, t%e A'&%an

>$#a%edeen 9later to /e"ome t%e Tal/an mo0ement;: d$rn& t%e Cold

Har perod t%e( were a &ro$p o' 'reedom '&%ters 'or t%e Hest, n$rt$red

/( t%e Unted States, and a terrorst &an& 'or t%e So0et Unon) One

"o$ld &o on and on n en$meratn& eFamples o' "on'l"tn&

"ate&or1atons t%at "annot /e re"on"led n an( wa( /e"a$se o'

opposn& polt"al nterests t%at are at t%e roots o' t%ose per"eptons)

5ow, t%en, "an t%ose "ontrad"tn& de'ntons and "on'l"tn&

per"eptons and e0al$atons o' one and t%e same &ro$p and ts a"tons /e

eFplaned? In o$r anal(ss, t%e /as" reason 'or t%ese str.n&

n"onssten"es les n t%e d0er&ent nterest o' states) Dependn& on

w%et%er a state s n t%e poston o' an o""$p(n& power or n t%at o' a

r0al, or ad0ersar(, o' an o""$p(n& power n a &0en terrtor(, t%e

de'nton o' terrorsm wll 6'l$"t$ate7 a""ordn&l() A state ma(e0ent$all( see tsel' as prote"tor o' t%e r&%ts o' a "ertan et%n" &ro$p

o$tsde ts terrtor( and wll t%ere'ore spea. o' a 6l/eraton str$&&le,7

not o' 6terrorsm7 w%en a"ts o' 0olen"e /( t%s &ro$p are "on"erned,

and 0"e-0ersa)

T%e Unted Natons Or&an1aton %as /een $na/le to rea"% a

de"son on t%e de'nton o' terrorsm eFa"tl( /e"a$se o' t%ese

"on'l"tn& nterests o' so0ere&n states t%at determne n ea"% and e0er(

nstan"e %ow a part"$lar armed mo0ement 9)e) a non-state a"tor; s

la/eled n re&ard to t%e terrorsts-'reedom '&%ter d"%otom() A 6pol"(o' do$/le standards7 on t%s 0tal ss$e o' nternatonal a''ars %as /een

t%e $na0oda/le "onse$en"e)

T%s 6de'ntonal pred"ament7 o' an or&an1aton "onsstn& o'

so0ere&n states and not o' peoples, n spte o' t%e emp%ass n t%e

3ream/le to t%e Unted Natons C%arter %as /e"ome e0en more


55/67

sero$s n t%e present &lo/al power "onstellaton: one s$perpower

eFer"ses t%e de"s0e role n t%e Se"$rt( Co$n"l, 'ormer &reat powers

o' t%e Cold Har era as well as med$m powers are n"reasn&l( /en&

mar&nal1ed! and t%e pro/lem %as /e"ome e0en more a"$te sn"e t%e

terrorst atta".s o' ++ Septem/er 8ar"os d$rn& t%e

>artal Law re&me) T%s de"ree s enttled 6Cod'(n& T%e Varo$s Laws on Ant-

S$/0erson and In"reasn& T%e 3enaltes 'or >em/ers%p n S$/0ers0e

Or&an1atons)7 T%e word 6terrorsm7 s mentoned n t%e 'ollown&

pro0son: 6T%at one w%o "onspres wt% an( ot%er person 'or t%e p$rpose o'

o0ert%rown& t%e Go0ernment o' t%e 3%lppnes F F F /( 'or"e,

0olen"e, terrorism, F F F s%all /e p$ns%ed /( reclusion temporal F F F)7

3)D) No) +@= was repealed /( E)O) No) + 9w%"% o$tlaws t%e Comm$nst

3art( o' t%e 3%lppnes; ena"ted /( 3resdent Cora1on A$no on >a( =,

+M=) T%ese two 98; laws, %owe0er, do not de'ne 6a"ts o' terrorsm)7 Sn"e t%ere

s no law de'nn& 6a"ts o' terrorsm,7 t s 3resdent Arro(o alone, $nder G)O) No)

=, w%o %as t%e ds"reton to determne w%at a"ts "onstt$te terrorsm) 5er#$d&ment on t%s aspe"t s a/sol$te, wt%o$t restr"tons) Conse$entl(, t%ere "an

/e nds"rmnate arrest wt%o$t warrants, /rea.n& nto o''"es and resden"es,

ta.n& o0er t%e meda enterprses, pro%/ton and dspersal o' all assem/les and

&at%ern&s $n'rendl( to t%e admnstraton) All t%ese "an /e e''e"ted n t%e name

o' G)O) No) =) T%ese a"ts &o 'ar /e(ond t%e "alln&-o$t power o' t%e


56/67

3resdent) Certanl(, t%e( 0olate t%e d$e pro"ess "la$se o' t%e Constt$ton) T%$s,

t%s Co$rt de"lares t%at t%e 6a"ts o' terrorsm7 porton o' G)O) No) = s

$n"onstt$tonal)

S&n'"antl(, t%ere s not%n& n G)O) No) = a$t%or1n& t%e mltar( or

pol"e to "ommt a"ts /e(ond w%at are necessary and appropriate to suppress

and prevent lawless violence, t%e lmtaton o' t%er a$t%ort( n p$rs$n& t%e

Order) Ot%erwse, s$"% a"ts are "onsdered lle&al)

He 'rst eFamne 3+"+ No+ '('89:9#a+id et al.;

T%e Constt$ton pro0des t%at 6t%e r&%t o' t%e people to /e se"$red n t%er

persons, %o$ses, papers and e''e"ts a&anst $nreasona/le sear"% and se1$re o'

w%ate0er nat$re and 'or an( p$rpose s%all /e inviolable1 and no sear"% warrant

orwarrant of arrests%all ss$e eF"ept $pon pro/a/le "a$se to /e determned

personall( /( t%e #$d&e a'ter eFamnaton $nder oat% or a''rmaton o' t%e"omplanant and t%e wtnesses %e ma( prod$"e, and part"$larl( des"r/n& t%e

pla"e to /e sear"%ed and t%e persons or t%n&s to /e se1ed)7 *+B8 T%e plan mport

o' t%e lan&$a&e o' t%e Constt$ton s t%at sear"%es, se1$res and arrests

are normally$nreasona/le $nless a$t%or1ed /( a 0aldl( ss$ed sear"% warrant or

warrant o' arrest) T%$s, t%e '$ndamental prote"ton &0en /( t%s pro0son s t%at

/etween person and pol"e m$st stand t%e prote"t0e a$t%ort( o' a ma&strate

"lot%ed wt% power to ss$e or re'$se to ss$e sear"% warrants or warrants o' arrest)*+B@

In t%e re' A""o$nt*+BBs$/mtted /( pettoner Da0d, "ertan 'a"ts are

esta/ls%ed:first,%e was arrested wt%o$t warrant!second,t%e 3N3 operat0es

arrested %m on t%e /ass o' 33 +


57/67

"rmnal s$spe"t!fourth,%e was treated /r$s$el( /( pol"emen w%o 6%eld %s

%ead and tred to p$s% %m7 nsde an $nmar.ed "ar!fifth,%e was "%ar&ed wt%

Volaton o' Aatas %ambansa Ailang No+ >>6*+B=and Inciting to

&edition!si>6, all t%at t%e arrestn& o''"ers "o$ld n0o.e

was t%er o/ser0aton t%at some rall(sts were wearn& t-s%rts wt% t%e

n0e"t0e -Oust 6loria 7owand t%er erroneo$s ass$mpton t%at pettoner

Da0d was t%e leader o' t%e rall()*+B Conse$entl(, t%e In$est 3rose"$tor ordered

%s mmedate release on t%e &ro$nd o' ns$''"en"( o' e0den"e) 5e noted t%at

pettoner Da0d was not wearn& t%e s$/#e"t t-s%rt and e0en ' %e was wearn& t,

s$"% 'a"t s ns$''"ent to "%ar&e %m wt% nciting to sedition) $rt%er, %e also

stated t%at t%ere s ns$''"ent e0den"e 'or t%e "%ar&e o' violation of A% >>6 as t

was not e0en .nown w%et%er pettoner Da0d was t%e leader o' t%e rall()*+B
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn146http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn147http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn147http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn148http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn146http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn147http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn148


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$t w%at made t do$/l( worse 'or pettoners Da0d et al.s t%at not onl(

was t%er r&%t a&anst warrantless arrest 0olated, /$t also t%er r&%t to pea"ea/l(

assem/le)

Se"ton B o' Art"le III &$arantees:

No law s%all /e passed a/rd&n& t%e 'reedom o' spee"%, o'

eFpresson, or o' t%e press, or t%e r&%t o' t%e people pea"ea/l( to

assem/le and petton t%e &o0ernment 'or redress o' &re0an"es)

6Assem/l(7 means a r&%t on t%e part o' t%e "t1ens to meet pea"ea/l( 'or

"ons$ltaton n respe"t to p$/l" a''ars) It s a ne"essar( "onse$en"e o' o$r

rep$/l"an nstt$ton and "omplements t%e r&%t o' spee"%) As n t%e "ase o'

'reedom o' eFpresson, t%s r&%t s not to /e lmted, m$"% less dened, eF"ept on a

s%own& o' a clear and present dangero' a s$/stant0e e0l t%at Con&ress %as a

r&%t to pre0ent) In ot%er words, l.e ot%er r&%ts em/ra"ed n t%e 'reedom o'

eFpresson, t%e r&%t to assem/le s not s$/#e"t to pre0o$s restrant or

"ensors%p) It ma( not /e "ondtoned $pon t%e pror ss$an"e o' a permt or

a$t%or1aton 'rom t%e &o0ernment a$t%ortes eF"ept, o' "o$rse, ' t%e assem/l( s

ntended to /e %eld n a p$/l" pla"e, a permt 'or t%e $se o' s$"% pla"e, and not 'or

t%e assem/l( tsel', ma( /e 0aldl( re$red)

T%e rn&n& tr$t% %ere s t%at pettoner Da0d, et al) were arrested w%le t%e(were eFer"sn& t%er r&%t to pea"e'$l assem/l() T%e( were not "ommttn& an(

"rme, net%er was t%ere a s%own& o' a "lear and present dan&er t%at warranted t%e

lmtaton o' t%at r&%t) As "an /e &leaned 'rom "r"$mstan"es, t%e "%ar&es

o' inciting to seditionandviolation of A% >>6were mere a'tert%o$&%t) E0en t%e

Sol"tor General, d$rn& t%e oral ar&$ment, 'aled to #$st'( t%e arrestn& o''"ers4


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"ond$"t) In#e Jonge +. Oregon,*+Bt was %eld t%at pea"ea/le assem/l( "annot /e

made a "rme, t%$s:

3ea"ea/le assem/l( 'or law'$l ds"$sson "annot /e made a "rme)

T%e %oldn& o' meetn&s 'or pea"ea/le polt"al a"ton "annot /epros"r/ed) T%ose w%o assst n t%e "ond$"t o' s$"% meetn&s "annot /e

/randed as "rmnals on t%at s"ore) T%e $eston, ' t%e r&%ts o' 'ree

spee"% and pea"e'$l assem/l( are not to /e preser0ed, s not as to t%e

a$sp"es $nder w%"% t%e meetn& was %eld /$t as to ts p$rpose! not as

to t%e relatons o' t%e spea.ers, /$t w%et%er t%er $tteran"es trans"end

t%e /o$nds o' t%e 'reedom o' spee"% w%"% t%e Constt$ton prote"ts) I'

t%e persons assem/ln& %a0e "ommtted "rmes elsew%ere, ' t%e( %a0e

'ormed or are en&a&ed n a "onspra"( a&anst t%e p$/l" pea"e and

order, t%e( ma( /e prose"$ted 'or t%er "onspra"( or ot%er 0olatons o'

0ald laws) Aut it is a different matter when the &tate, instead ofprosecuting them for such offenses, seizes upon mere participation in

a peaceable assembly and a lawful public discussion as the basis for

a criminal charge+

On t%e /ass o' t%e a/o0e prn"ples, t%e Co$rt l.ewse "onsders t%e

dspersal and arrest o' t%e mem/ers o' >U et al.9G)R) No) ++B@; $nwarranted)

Apparentl(, t%er dspersal was done merel( on t%e /ass o' >ala"aan&4s dre"t0e

"an"eln& all permts pre0o$sl( ss$ed /( lo"al &o0ernment $nts) T%s s

ar/trar() T%e w%olesale "an"ellaton o' all permts to rall( s a /latant dsre&ard o'

t%e prn"ple t%at 6freedom of assembly is not to be limited, much less denied,

ecept on a showing of a clear and present dangerof a substantive evil that the

&tate has a right to prevent)7*+BM Toleran"e s t%e r$le and lmtaton s t%e

eF"epton) Onl( $pon a s%own& t%at an assem/l( presents a "lear and present

dan&er t%at t%e State ma( den( t%e "t1ens4 r&%t to eFer"se t) Indeed,

respondents 'aled to s%ow or "on0n"e t%e Co$rt t%at t%e rall(sts "ommtted a"ts

amo$ntn& to lawless 0olen"e, n0ason or re/ellon) Ht% t%e /lan.et re0o"atono' permts, t%e dstn"ton /etween prote"ted and $nprote"ted assem/les was

elmnated)


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>oreo0er, $nder 3


61/67

T%e sear"% s lle&al) R$le +8 o' T%e Re0sed R$les on Crmnal 3ro"ed$re

la(s down t%e steps n t%e "ond$"t o' sear"% and se1$re) &ection =re$res t%at

a search warrant/e ss$ed $pon pro/a/le "a$se n "onne"ton wt% one spe"'"

o''en"e to /e determned personall( /( t%e #$d&e a'ter eFamnaton $nder oat% or

a''rmaton o' t%e "omplanant and t%e wtnesses %e ma( prod$"e) &ection> mandates t%at t%e sear"% o' a %o$se, room, or an( ot%er premse /e made in the

presence of thelawful occupantt%ereo' or an( mem/er o' %s 'aml( or n t%e

a/sen"e o' t%e latter, n t%e presen"e o' two 98; wtnesses o' s$''"ent a&e and

ds"reton resdn& n t%e same lo"alt() And &ection 9states t%at t%e warrant

m$st dre"t t%at t /e ser0ed n t%e daytime, $nless t%e propert( s on t%e person or

n t%e pla"e ordered to /e sear"%ed, n w%"% "ase a dre"ton ma( /e nserted t%at

t /e ser0ed at an( tme o' t%e da( or n&%t) All t%ese r$les were 0olated /( t%e

CIDG operat0es)

Not onl( t%at, t%e sear"% 0olated pettoners4 'reedom o' t%e press) T%e

/est &a$&e o' a 'ree and demo"rat" so"et( rests n t%e de&ree o' 'reedom en#o(ed

/( ts meda) In t%e;urgos +. Chief of taff*+=8 t%s Co$rt %eld t%at --

As %ereto'ore stated, t%e premses sear"%ed were t%e /$sness and

prntn& o''"es o' t%e !etropolitan !ail and t%e e %orum7

newspapers) As a "onse$en"e o' t%e sear"% and se1$re, these premises

were padlocked and sealed, with the further result that the printingand publication of said newspapers were discontinued)

&uch closure is in the nature of previous restraint or

censorship abhorrent to the freedom of the press guaranteed under

the fundamental law, and constitutes a virtual denial of petitionersM

freedom to epress themselves in print+ This state of being is patently

anathematic to a democratic framework where a free, alert and even

militant press is essential for the political enlightenment and growth

of the citizenry)

H%le admttedl(, t%e#aily 0ribunewas not padlo".ed and sealed l.e t%e

6!etropolitan !ail7 and 6e %orum7 newspapers n t%e a/o0e "ase, (et t "annot

/e dened t%at t%e CIDG operat0es eF"eeded t%er en'or"ement d$tes) T%e sear"%

and se1$re o' materals 'or p$/l"aton, t%e statonn& o' pol"emen n t%e 0"nt(


62/67

o' t%e 0he #aily 0ribune o''"es, and t%e arro&ant warnn& o' &o0ernment o''"als

to meda, are plan "ensors%p) It s t%at o''"o$s '$n"tonar( o' t%e repress0e

&o0ernment w%o tells t%e "t1en t%at %e ma( spea. onl( ' allowed to do so, and no

more and no less t%an w%at %e s permtted to sa( on pan o' p$ns%ment s%o$ld %e

/e so ras% as to dso/e()*+=@ Undo$/tedl(, t%e 0he #aily 0ribunewas s$/#e"ted tot%ese ar/trar( ntr$sons /e"a$se o' ts ant-&o0ernment sentments) T%s Co$rt

"annot tolerate t%e /latant dsre&ard o' a "onstt$tonal r&%t e0en ' t n0ol0es t%e

most de'ant o' o$r "t1ens) reedom to "omment on p$/l" a''ars s essental to

t%e 0talt( o' a representat0e demo"ra"() It s t%e d$t( o' t%e "o$rts to /e

wat"%'$l 'or t%e "onstt$tonal r&%ts o' t%e "t1en, and a&anst an( stealt%(

en"roa"%ments t%ereon) T%e motto s%o$ld alwa(s /e obsta principiis)*+=B

In"dentall(, d$rn& t%e oral ar&$ments, t%e Sol"tor General admtted t%at

t%e sear"% o' t%e 0ribune"so''"es and t%e se1$re o' ts materals 'or p$/l"aton

and ot%er papers are lle&al! and t%at t%e same are nadmss/le 6'or an( p$rpose,7

t%$s:

2USTICE CALLE2O:

Po$ made $te a mo$t%'$l o' admsson w%en (o$

sad t%at t%e pol"emen, w%en nspe"ted t%e Tr/$ne

'or t%e p$rpose o' &at%ern& e0den"e and (o$admtted t%at t%e pol"emen were a/le to &et t%e

"lppn&s) Is t%at not n admsson o' t%e

admss/lt( o' t%ese "lppn&s t%at were ta.en 'rom

t%e Tr/$ne?

SOLICITOR GENERAL ENI3APO:

Under t%e law t%e( wo$ld seem to /e, ' t%e( were

lle&all( se1ed, I t%n. and I .now, Po$r 5onor, and

t%ese are nadmss/le 'or an( p$rpose)*+==

F F F F F F F F F

SR) ASSO) 2USTICE 3UNO:
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn154http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn155http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn156http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn154http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn155http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2006/may2006/G.R.%20No.%20171396.htm#_ftn156


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T%ese %a0e /een p$/ls%ed n t%e past ss$es o' t%e

Dal( Tr/$ne! all (o$ %a0e to do s to &et t%ose past

ss$es) So w%( do (o$ %a0e to &o t%ere at + o4"lo".

n t%e mornn& and wt%o$t an( sear"% warrant? Dd

t%e( /e"ome s$ddenl( part o' t%e e0den"e o'

re/ellon or n"tn& to sedton or w%at?

SOLGEN ENI3APO:

Hell, t was t%e pol"e t%at dd t%at, Po$r

5onor) Not $pon m( nstr$"tons)

SR) ASSO) 2USTICE 3UNO:

Are (o$ sa(n& t%at t%e a"t o' t%e pol"eman s

lle&al, t s not /ased on an( law, and t s not /ased

on 3ro"lamaton +


64/67

SOLGEN ENI3APO:

>a(/e so, Po$r 5onor) >a(/e so, t%at s w%( I

sad, I don4t .now ' t s premat$re to sa( t%s, we

do not condone this) If the people who have been

injured by this would want to sue them, they can

sue and there are remedies for this)*+=

L.ewse, t%e warrantless arrests and se1$res eFe"$ted /( t%e pol"e were,

a""ordn& to t%e Sol"tor General, lle&al and "annot /e "ondoned, t%$s:

C5IE 2USTICE 3ANGANIAN:

T%ere seems to /e some "on'$sons ' not"ontrad"ton n (o$r t%eor()

SOLICITOR GENERAL ENI3APO:

I don4t .now w%et%er t%s wll "lar'() T%e a"ts, t%e

s$pposed lle&al or $nlaw'$l a"ts "ommtted on t%e

o""ason o' +


65/67

In t%s "onne"ton, C%e' 2$st"e Artemo V) 3an&an/an4s "on"$rrn&

opnon, atta"%ed %ereto, s "onsdered an nte&ral part o' t%sponencia)

& ? 4 4 $ T I O N

In s$m, t%e l'tn& o' 33 +


66/67

violence)7 $t t%e words 6acts of terrorism7 'o$nd n G)O) No) = %a0e not /een

le&all( de'ned and made p$ns%a/le /( Con&ress and s%o$ld t%$s /e deemed

deleted 'rom t%e sad G)O) H%le 6terrorsm7 %as /een deno$n"ed &enerall( n

meda, no law %as /een ena"ted to &$de t%e mltar(, and e0ent$all( t%e "o$rts, to

determne t%e lmts o' t%e A34s a$t%ort( n "arr(n& o$t t%s porton o' G)O) No)=)

On t%e /ass o' t%e rele0ant and $n"ontested 'a"ts narrated earler, t s also

prstne "lear t%at 9+; t%e warrantless arrest o' pettoners Randol' S) Da0d and

Ronald Llamas! 98; t%e dspersal o' t%e ralles and warrantless arrest o' t%e >U

and NALU->U mem/ers! 9@; t%e mposton o' standards on meda or an( pror

restrant on t%e press! and 9B; t%e warrantless sear"% o' t%e 0ribune o''"es and t%e

w%ms"al se1$res o' some art"les 'or p$/l"aton and ot%er materals, are nota$t%or1ed /( t%e Constt$ton, t%e law and #$rspr$den"e) Not e0en /( t%e 0ald

pro0sons o' 33 +


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3er%aps, t%e 0tal lesson t%at we m$st learn 'rom t%e t%eorsts w%o st$ded

t%e 0aro$s "ompetn& polt"al p%losop%es s t%at, t s poss/le to &rant

&o0ernment t%e a$t%ort( to "ope wt% "rses wt%o$t s$rrendern& t%e two 0tal

prn"ples o' "onstt$tonalsm: the maintenance of legal limits to arbitrarypower, and political responsibility of the government to the governed)*+=

W!"!#O"!, t%e 3ettons are partl( &ranted) T%e Co$rt r$les t%at 33

+U and NALU->U mem/ers d$rn& t%er

ralles, n t%e a/sen"e o' proo' t%at t%ese pettoners were "ommttn& a"tstt t l l l / ll d l t 3 < t%

Davxsaxid v Macapagal-Arroyo

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Transcript of Davxsaxid v Macapagal-Arroyo