ENIV DIGESTS NOV 18.docx

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Oposa vs. Factoran Case Digest (G.R. No. 101083, July 30, 13!

F"C#$%

#&e plainti's in t&is case are all inors )uly represente) an) *oine) +y t&eirparents. #&e rst coplaint -as le) as a tapayer/s class suit at t&e ranc&

(2aati, 2etro 2anila!, o4 t&e Regional #rial Court, National capital Ju)icial Region

against )e4en)ant (respon)ent! $ecretary o4 t&e Departent o4 5nvironent an)

Natural Reasources (D5NR!. 6lainti's allege) t&at t&ey are entitle) to t&e 4ull

+enet, use an) en*oyent o4 t&e natural resource treasure t&at is t&e country/s

virgin tropical 4orests. #&ey 4urt&er asseverate t&at t&ey represent t&eir generation

as -ell as generations yet un+orn an) asserte) t&at continue) )e4orestation &ave

cause) a )istortion an) )istur+ance o4 t&e ecological +alance an) &ave resulte) in a

&ost o4 environental trage)ies.

6lainti's praye) t&at *u)geent +e ren)ere) or)ering t&e respon)ent, &is agents,

representatives an) ot&er persons acting in &is +e&al4 to cancel all eisting #i+er

7icense "greeent (#7"! in t&e country an) to cease an) )esist 4ro receiving,

accepting, processing, rene-ing or approving ne- #7"s.

De4en)ant, on t&e ot&er &an), le) a otion to )isiss on t&e groun) t&at t&e

coplaint &a) no cause o4 action against &i an) t&at it raises a political uestion.

#&e R#C Ju)ge sustaine) t&e otion to )isiss, 4urt&er ruling t&at granting o4 t&e

relie4 praye) 4or -oul) result in t&e ipairent o4 contracts -&ic& is pro&i+ite) +y

t&e Constitution.

6lainti's (petitioners! t&us le) t&e instant special civil action 4or certiorari an)

ase) t&e court to rescin) an) set asi)e t&e )isissal or)er on t&e groun) t&at t&e

respon)ent R#C Ju)ge gravely a+use) &is )iscretion in )isissing t&e action.

9$$:5$%

(1! ;&et&er or not t&e plainti's &ave a cause o4 action.



(<! ;&et&er or not t&e coplaint raises a political issue.

(3! ;&et&er or not t&e original prayer o4 t&e plainti's result in t&e ipairent o4

contracts.

R:79NG%

First 9ssue% Cause o4 "ction.

Respon)ents aver t&at t&e petitioners 4aile) to allege in t&eir coplaint a specic

legal rig&t violate) +y t&e respon)ent $ecretary 4or -&ic& any relie4 is provi)e) +y

la-. #&e Court )i) not agree -it& t&is. #&e coplaint 4ocuses on one 4un)aental

legal rig&t == t&e rig&t to a +alance) an) &ealt&4ul ecology -&ic& is incorporate) in

$ection 1 "rticle 99 o4 t&e Constitution. #&e sai) rig&t carries -it& it t&e )uty to

re4rain 4ro ipairing t&e environent an) iplies, aong any ot&er t&ings, t&e

*u)icious anageent an) conservation o4 t&e country/s 4orests. $ection > o4 5.O.

1< epressly an)ates t&e D5NR to +e t&e priary governent agency

responsi+le 4or t&e governing an) supervising t&e eploration, utili?ation,

)evelopent an) conservation o4 t&e country/s natural resources. #&e policy

)eclaration o4 5.O. 1< is also su+stantially re=state) in #itle @9A oo 9A o4 t&e

")inistrative Co)e o4 18B. ot& 5.O. 1< an) ")inistrative Co)e o4 18B &ave

set t&e o+*ectives -&ic& -ill serve as t&e +ases 4or policy 4oration, an) &ave

)ene) t&e po-ers an) 4unctions o4 t&e D5NR. #&us, rig&t o4 t&e petitioners (an) allt&ose t&ey represent! to a +alance) an) &ealt&4ul ecology is as clear as D5NR/s )uty

to protect an) a)vance t&e sai) rig&t.

" )enial or violation o4 t&at rig&t +y t&e ot&er -&o &as t&e correlative )uty or

o+ligation to respect or protect or respect t&e sae gives rise to a cause o4 action.

6etitioners aintain t&at t&e granting o4 t&e #7", -&ic& t&ey clai -as )one -it&

grave a+use o4 )iscretion, violate) t&eir rig&t to a +alance an) &ealt&4ul ecology.

ence, t&e 4ull protection t&ereo4 reuires t&at no 4urt&er #7"s s&oul) +e rene-e)

or grante).

"4ter care4ul eaination o4 t&e petitioners/ coplaint, t&e Court n)s it to +e

a)euate enoug& to s&o-, pria 4acie, t&e claie) violation o4 t&eir rig&ts.



$econ) 9ssue% 6olitical 9ssue.

$econ) paragrap&, $ection 1 o4 "rticle A999 o4 t&e constitution provi)es 4or t&eepan)e) *uris)iction veste) upon t&e $upree Court. 9t allo-s t&e Court to rule

upon even on t&e -is)o o4 t&e )ecision o4 t&e 5ecutive an) 7egislature an) to

)eclare t&eir acts as invali) 4or lac or ecess o4 *uris)iction +ecause it is tainte)

-it& grave a+use o4 )iscretion.

#&ir) 9ssue% Aiolation o4 t&e non=ipairent clause.

#&e Court &el) t&at t&e #i+er 7icense "greeent is an instruent +y -&ic& t&e

state regulates t&e utili?ation an) )isposition o4 4orest resources to t&e en) t&at

pu+lic -el4are is proote). 9t is not a contract -it&in t&e purvie- o4 t&e )ue process

clause t&us, t&e non=ipairent clause cannot +e invoe). 9t can +e vali)ly

-it&)ra- -&enever )ictate) +y pu+lic interest or pu+lic -el4are as in t&is case. #&e

granting o4 license )oes not create irrevoca+le rig&ts, neit&er is it property or

property rig&ts.

2oreover, t&e constitutional guaranty o4 non=ipairent o4 o+ligations o4 contract

is liit +y t&e eercise +y t&e police po-er o4 t&e $tate, in t&e interest o4 pu+lic

&ealt&, sa4ety, oral an) general -el4are. 9n s&ort, t&e non=ipairent clause ust

yiel) to t&e police po-er o4 t&e $tate.

#&e instant petition, +eing ipresse) -it& erit, is &ere+y GR"N#5D an) t&e R#C

)ecision is $5# "$9D5.

======2anila 6rince otel v. G$9$

Facts%



6ursuant to t&e privati?ation progra o4 t&e governent, G$9$ )eci)e) to sell 30=

1E o4 t&e 2anila otel Corporation. #-o +i))ers participate), 26 an) 2alaysian

Fir Renong er&a). 26s +i) -as at 6>1.8per s&are -&ile Rs +i) -as at

6>>.00s&are. R -as t&e &ig&est +i))er &ence it -as logically consi)ere) as t&e

-inning +i))er +ut is yet to +e )eclare) so. 6en)ing )eclaration, 26 atc&es Rs

+i) an) invoe) t&e Filipino First policy ens&rine) un)er par. <, $ec. 10, "rt. 1< o4 t&e 18B ConstitutionKK, +ut G$9$ re4use) to accept. 9n turn 26 le) a #RO to

avoi) t&e per4ectionconsuation o4 t&e sale to R.

R t&en assaile) t&e #RO issue) in 4avor o4 26 arguing aong ot&ers t&at%

6ar. <, $ec. 10, "rt. 1< o4 t&e 18B Constitution nee)s an ipleenting la- +ecause

it is erely a stateent o4 principle an) policy (not sel4=eecuting!L

5ven i4 sai) passage is sel4=eecuting, 2anila otel )oes not 4all un)er national

patriony.

9$$:5% ;&et&er or not R s&oul) +e a)itte) as t&e &ig&est +i))er an) &ence +eproclaie) as t&e legit +uyer o4 s&ares.

57D% No. 26 s&oul) +e a-ar)e) t&e sale pursuant to "rt 1< o4 t&e 18B Const.

#&is is in lig&t o4 t&e Filipino First 6olicy.

6ar. <, $ec. 10, "rt. 1< o4 t&e 18B Constitution is sel4 eecuting. #&e Constitution is

t&e 4un)aental, paraount an) supree la- o4 t&e nation, it is )eee) -ritten in

every statute an) contract.

2anila otel 4alls un)er national patriony. 6atriony in its plain an) or)inary

eaning pertains to &eritage. ;&en t&e Constitution speas o4 national patriony,it re4ers not only to t&e natural resources o4 t&e 6&ilippines, as t&e Constitution

coul) &ave very -ell use) t&e ter natural resources, +ut also to t&e cultural

&eritage o4 t&e Filipinos. 9t also re4ers to our intelligence in arts, sciences an)

letters. #&ere4ore, -e s&oul) )evelop not only our lan)s, 4orests, ines an) ot&er

natural resources +ut also t&e ental a+ility or 4aculty o4 our people. Note t&at, 4or

ore t&an 8 )eca)es ( no-! 2anila otel &as +ore ute -itness to t&e triup&s

an) 4ailures, loves an) 4rustrations o4 t&e FilipinosL its eistence is ipresse) -it&

pu+lic interestL its o-n &istoricity associate) -it& our struggle 4or sovereignty,

in)epen)ence an) nation&oo).

erein resolve) as -ell is t&e ter Mualie) Filipinos -&ic& not only pertains toin)ivi)uals +ut to corporations as -ell an) ot&er *uri)ical entitiespersonalities. #&e

ter Iualie) Filipinos siply eans t&at pre4erence s&all +e given to t&ose

citi?ens -&o can ae a via+le contri+ution to t&e coon goo), +ecause o4

cre)i+le copetence an) eHciency. 9t certainly )oes NO# an)ate t&e papering

an) pre4erential treatent to Filipino citi?ens or organi?ations t&at are incopetent



o4 6resi)ential Decree 11<only pertain to t&e specic cleaning o4 pollution (an) not

general cleaning!.

R"#9O D5C9D5ND9% (1! #&e cleaning an) re&a+ilitation o4 2anila ay can +e

copelle) +y 2an)aus. 6etitioners claie) t&at it is not t&eir inisterial )uty to

clean up t&e +ay +ecause 4ort&e it is a )iscretionary )uty -&ic& cannot +e

copelle) +y an)aus. "ccor)ing to t&e$upree Court, t&e o+ligations to

per4or t&e )uties (as )ene) +y la-! o4 t&e petitioners an) on&o- t&ey carry out

suc& )uties are t-o )istinct concepts. #&e 4orer pertains to t&e )iscretionary

)uties o4 t&e petitioners -&ile t&e latter is t&eir inisterial )uty. "s 4or t&is case, it is

t&e )iscretiono4 t&e petitioners to c&oose not to per4or or to per4or t&eir )uties

as )ene) +y la-. "n) -&ent&ey &ave c&osen to per4or t&eir )uties, t&e -ay t&ey

carry out t&ose )uties are calle) inisterialacts.9t is very clear in t&eir c&arters t&at

asi)e 4ro per4oring t&eir ain 4unction as an agency, t&ey are also an)ate) to

per4or certain 4unctions relating )irectly or in)irectly to t&e cleanup,re&a+ilitation,protection, an) preservation o4 t&e 2anila ay.

(<! 9n t&e secon) issue, t&e $upree Court &el) t&at $ections 1B an) <0 o4 6.D.

11< inclu)ecleaning in general. $ection 1B provi)es t&at in case t&e -ater uality

&as )eteriorate), t&egovernent agencies concerne) s&all act on it to +ring +ac

t&e stan)ar) uality o4 -ater. On t&eot&er &an), $ection <0 also an)ates t&e

governent agencies concerne) to tae action incleaning=up in case t&e polluters

4aile) to )o t&eir part. 9n t&e succee)ing section <(g! an) (&! o4 t&e sae Co)e,

provi)e t&at oil spilling is t&e cause o4 pollution t&at s&oul) +e )one in clean=

upoperations. #&is provision actually, epan)e) t&e coverage o4 $ec. <0 +ecause it

inclu)e) oil=spilling as one o4 t&e causes o4 pollutions t&at nee) to +e cleane)=up +yt&e governent agenciesconcerne). 2oreover, $ec. 1B ep&asi?es t&at

governent agencies s&oul) clean t&at -ater 4ort&e sae o4 eeting an)

aintaining t&e rig&t uality stan)ar). #&is presupposes t&at t&egovernent

agencies concerne) &ave t&e )uties o4 cleaning t&e -ater not only in ties -&en

t&e -ater is pollute).2oreover, even -it&out suc& provisions, it is t&e inescapa+le

)uty o4 everyone to protect t&e -ater an) prevent pollution, +ecause o4 t&e tena+le

nee) o4 present an) 4uture generations asprovi)e) in "rt. < $ec. 1 o4 t&e 18B

Constitution, t&at t&e P$tate s&all protect an) a)vance t&erig&t to a +alance) an)

&ealt&4ul ecology in accor) -it& t&e r&yt& an) &arony o4 nature

2etropolitan 2anila Developent "ut&ority v Concerne) Resi)ents o4 2anila ay

GR No. 1B1>B=>8

Dece+er 18, <008



F"C#$%

#&e coplaint +y t&e resi)ents allege) t&at t&e -ater uality o4 t&e 2anilaay &a) 4allen -ay +elo- t&e allo-a+le stan)ar)s set +y la-, specically

6resi)ential Decree No. (6D! 11< or t&e 6&ilippine 5nvironent Co)e an) t&at

"77 )e4en)ants (pu+lic oHcials! ust +e *ointly an)or soli)arily lia+le an)

collectively or)ere) to clean up 2anila ay an) to restore its -ater uality to class

, -aters t 4or s-iing, )iving, an) ot&er 4ors o4 contact recreation.

9$$:5$%

(1! ;ON $ections 1B an) <0 o4 6D 11< un)er t&e &ea)ings, :pgra)ing o4 ;ater

Muality an) Clean=up Operations, envisage a cleanup in general or are t&ey

liite) only to t&e cleanup o4 specic pollution inci)entsL

(<! ;ON petitioners +e copel le) +y an)aus to clean up an) re&a+ilitate t&e

2anila ay.

"6679C"75 7";$%

6D 11< 6&ilippine 5nvironental Co)e $ection 1B. :pgra)ing o4 ;ater

Muality.QQ ;&ere t&e uality o4 -ater &as )eteriorate) t o a )egree -&ere it s

state -ill a)versely a'ect its +est u sage, t&e governent agencies

concerne) s&all tae suc& easures as ay +e necessary to upgra)e t&e

uality o4 suc& -ater to eet t&e prescri+e) -ater uality stan)ar)s. $ection

<0. Clean=up Operations.QQ9t s&all +e t&e responsi+ility o4 t&e polluter to

contain , reove an) clean = up -ater pollution inci)ents at &is o-n epense.

9n case o4 &is 4ailure to )o so, t&e governent agencies concerne) s&all

un)ertae containent, reoval an) clean=up operations an) epenses incurre) insai) operation s&all +e c&arge) against t&e persons an) or entities responsi+le

4or suc& pollution.

57D%



(1! $ec. 1B )oes not in any -ay state t&at t&e governent agencies

concerne) oug&t to conne t&eselves to t&e containent, reoval, an)

cleaning operations -&en a specic pollution inci)ent occurs. On t&e contrary,

$ec. 1B reuires t&e to act even in t&e a+sence o4 a specic pollution

inci)ent, as long as -ater uality I&as )eteriorate) to a )egree -&ere its state

-ill a)versely a'ect its +est usage. $ection 1B <0 are o4 general applicationan) are not 4or specic pollution inci)ents only. #&e 4act t&at t&e pollution o4 t&e

2anila ay is o4 suc& agnitu)e an) scope t&at it is -ell =nig& ipossi+le to

)ra- t&e line +et-een a specic an) a general pollution inci)ent.

(<! #&e Cleaning or Re&a+ilitation o4 2anila ay Can +e Copelle) +y 2an)aus.

;&ile t&e ipleentation o4 t&e 22D"/s an)ate) tass ay entail a )ecision=

aing process, t&e en4orceent o4 t&e la- or t&e very act o4 )oing -&at t&e

la- eacts to +e )one is inisterial in nature an) ay +e copelle) +y

an)aus. :n)er -&at ot&er *u)icial )iscipline )escri+es as Icontinuingan)aus , t&e Court ay, un)er etraor)inary circustances, issue )irectives

-it& t&e en) in vie- o4 ensuring t&at its )ecision -oul) not +e set to naug&t +y

a)inistrative inaction or in)i'erence.

NO#5% #&is continuing an)aus is no longer applica+le, since t&is is

institutionali?e) in t&e rules o4 proce)ure 4or environental cases.

ENIV DIGESTS NOV 18.docx

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