Torts Report Edited(1)
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TORTS AND DAMAGES
(Violation of Right to Privacy)CASES:
RAMIREZ vs. CA
VALMONTE vs. BELMONTE
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TITLE: RAMIREZ vs. CA
G.R. No. 93833 September 28, 1995
FACTS: On February 22, 1988, there as a confrontation beteen!rivate res!on"ent #ster $. %arcia an" Petitioner $ocorro &.
Ra'ire. his confrontation lea" to the filling of a civil case for
"a'ages by Ra'ire against %arcia for allege"ly ve*ing, insulting +hu'iliating her in a 'anner hich is offensive to !etitioners "ignity
an" !ersonality. n su!!ort of her clai', !etitioner !ro"uce" a
verbati' transcri!tion of the event. he transcri!tion on hich the
civil case as base" as culle" fro' a ta!e recor"ing of the
confrontation 'a"e by !etitioner. -s a result of !etitioners
recor"ing of the event !rivate res!on"ent file" a cri'inal case
against !etitioner for violation of Re!ublic -ct /200, entitle" -n
-ct to !rohibit an" !enalie ireta!!ing an" other relate"
violations of !rivate co''unication, an" other !ur!oses.
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Petitioner file" a 3otion to 4uash the nfor'ation. $uch 'otion as
grante" by the trial court agreeing ith !etitioner that 1) the facts
charge" "o not constitute an offense un"er R.-. /2005 an" that 2) the
violation !unishe" by R.-. /200 refers to a the ta!ing of a co''unication
by a !erson otherthan a !artici!ant to the co''unication. $ai" or"er aslater "eclare" by the res!on"ent 6ourt of -!!eals as null an" voi" 7ence,
the instant !etition hereby !etitioner argues that R.-. /200 "oes not
a!!ly to !ersons ho are !rivy to the conversation an" that !hrase
!rivate co''unication in $ec 1 of R.-. /200 "oes not inclu"e !rivate
conversations.
ISSUES: 1) hether or not the !rovision of Re!ublic -ct /200 "oes nota!!ly to the ta!ing of a !rivate conversation by one of the !arties to the
conversation.
2) hether or not R.-. /200 !enalies the ta!ing of a !rivateco''unication, not a !rivate conversation an" that conse:uently, her
act of secretly ta!ing her conversation ith !rivate res!on"ent "oes not
constitute a violation of ones right to !rivacy.
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RULING:
(1) $ection 1 of R.-. /200 clearly an" une:uivocally 'a;es it illegal for any
!erson, not authorie" by all the !arties to any !rivate co''unication to
secretly recor" such co''unication by 'eans of a ta!e recor"er. he la
'a;es no "istinction as to hether the !arty sought to be !enalie" by the
statute ought to be a !arty other than or "ifferent fro' those involve" in
the !rivate co''unication. he statutes intent to !enalie all !ersons
unauthorie" to 'a;e such recor"ing is un"erscore" by the use of the
:ualifier any. 6onse:uently, as res!on"ent 6ourt of -!!eals correctlyconclu"e", even a (!erson) !rivy to a co''unication ho recor"s his
!rivate conversation ith another ithout the ;nole"ge of the latter (ill)
:ualify as a violatorun"er this !rovision of R.-. /200.
he una'biguity of the e*!ress or"s of the !rovision, ta;en together ith
the above:uote" "eliberations fro' the 6ongressional Recor", therefore
!lainly su!!orts the vie hel" by the res!on"ent court that the !rovisionsee;s to !enalie even those !rivy to the !rivate co''unications. here
the la 'a;es no "istinctions, one "oes not "istinguish.
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t has been sai" that innocent !eo!le have nothing to fear fro' their
conversations being overhear". >ut this state'ent ignores the usual
nature of conversationsas ell the un"eniable fact that 'ost, if not all,civilie" !eo!le have so'e as!ects of their lives they "o not ish to
e*!ose. Free conversations are often characterie" by e*aggerations,
obscenity, agreeable falsehoo"s, an" the e*!ression of antisocial "esires
of vies not inten"e" to be ta;en seriously. he right to the privacy of
communication, a'ong others, has e*!ressly been assure" by our
6onstitution. =ee"less to state here, the fra'ers of our 6onstitution'ust have recognie" the nature of conversations beteen in"ivi"uals
an" the significance of 'ans s!iritual nature, of his feelings an" of his
intellect. hey 'ust have ;non that !art of the !leasures an"
satisfactions of life are to be foun" in the unau"ite" an" free e*change
of communication beteen in"ivi"uals ? free fro' every un@ustifiable
intrusion by hatever 'eans.
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TITLE: !ALM"NTE #$. %ELM"NTE
G.R. No. &'93( Febr)*r+ 13, 1989
F*t$:Petitioner Val'onte rote res!on"ent >el'onte a letter re:uestingthat he be furnishe" ith the (a) the list of the na'es of the >atasang
Pa'bansa 'e'bers belonging to the A=&O an" P&PBaban ho ere able to
secure clean loans i''e"iately before the February C election thru the
intercessionD'arginal note of the then First Ba"y 'el"a 3arcos5 an"Dor(b) tofurnish !etitioners ith certifie" true co!ies of the "ocu'ents evi"encing
their res!ective loans5 an"Dor (c) to allo !etitioners access to the !ublic
recor"s for the sub@ect infor'ation. $uch re:uest as !re'ise" on their right
to infor'ation. he &e!uty %eneral 6ounsel of the %$$ re!lie" that a
confi"ential relationshi! e*ists beteen the %$$ an" all those ho borro
fro' it, hoever they 'ay be5 that the %$$ has a "uty to its custo'ers to
!reserve this confi"entiality5 an" that it oul" not be !ro!er for the %$$ to
breach this confi"entiality unless so or"ere" by the courts.
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Bater on, Val'onte, @oine" by the other !etitioners, file" the instant
suit for 'an"a'us ith !reli'inary in@unction for the res!on"ent to
grant their re:uest.
ISSUE: hether or not - #-e/ o0 te r-t to pr-#*+ /- -$e)*44+ protete b+ te Co$t-t)t-o * b+ e6-$t- 4*/$, the
"ocu'ents evi"encing loan transactions of the %$$ 'ust be "ee'e"
outsi"e the a'bit of the right to infor'ation.
RULING:=O, in several cases the court u!hel" that !eo!les constitutional right
to be infor'e" of 'atters of !ublic interest. he !ertinent !rovision
un"er the 198C 6onstitution is -rt. 111, $ec. C hich statesE
he right of the !eo!le to infor'ation on 'atters of !ublic concern
shall be recognie". -ccess to official recor"s, an" to "ocu'ents,an" !a!ers !ertaining to official acts, transactions, or "ecisions, as
ell as to govern'ent research "ata use" as basis for !olicy
"evelo!'ent, shall be affor"e" the citien, sub@ect to such
li'itations as 'ay be !rovi"e" by la.
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he right of access to infor'ation as also recognie" in the 19C 6onstitution, -rt. V
$ec. G of hich !rovi"e"E
he right of the !eo!le to infor'ation on 'atters of !ublic concern shall be
recognie". -ccess to official recor"s, an" to "ocu'ents an" !a!ers !ertaining to
official acts, transactions, or "ecisions, shall be affor"e" the citien sub@ect to suchli'itations as 'ay be !rovi"e" by la.
7et, 4-e *44 te o$t-t)t-o*4 )*r*tee$, te r-t to -0orm*t-o -$ ot *b$o4)te.
A$ $t*te - Legaspi, te peop4e$ r-t to -0orm*t-o -$ 4-m-te to m*tter$ o0p)b4- oer, * -$ 0)rter $)b;et to $) 4-m-t*t-o$ *$ m*+ be pro#-e b+
4*/. S-m-4*r4+, te St*te$ po4-+ o0 0)44 -$4o$)re -$ 4-m-te to tr*$*t-o$
-#o4#- p)b4- -tere$t, * -$ $)b;et to re*$o*b4e o-t-o$ pre$r-be b+4*/.
7ence, before 'an"a'us 'ay issue, it 'ust be clear that the infor'ation sought is of
p)b4- -tere$t or p)b4- oer, an" is ot e6empte b+ 4*/ 0rom te oper*t-o
o0 te o$t-t)t-o*4 )*r*teeHBega!i v. 6ivil $ervice 6o''ission, supra, at !. I/2.J
-s observe" in Legazpi:
n "eter'ining hether or not a !articular infor'ation is of !ublic concern there is no
rigi" test hich can be a!!lie". Public concern li;e !ublic interest is a ter' that
elu"es e*act "efinition. *** n the final analysis, it is for the courts to "eter'ine on a
case by case basis hether the 'atter at issue is of interest or i'!ortance, as it relates
to or affects the !ublic. HIbid. at !. I/1J
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he infor'ation sought by !etitioners in this case is the truth of re!orts
that certain 3e'bers of the >atasang Pa'bansa belonging to the o!!osition
ere able to secure clean loans fro' the %$$ i''e"iately before the
February C, 198G election through the intercession of the for'er First Ba"y,3rs. 'el"a 3arcos.
he %$$ is a trustee of contributions fro' the govern'ent an" its
e'!loyees an" the a"'inistrator of various insurance !rogra's for the
benefit of the latter. An"eniably, its fun"s assu'e a !ublic character. 3ore
!articularly, $ecs. I(b) an" /G of P.&. 11/G, as a'en"e" (the Revise"
%overn'ent $ervice nsurance -ct of 19CC), !rovi"e for annuala!!ro!riations to !ay the contributions, !re'iu's, interest an" other
a'ounts !ayable to %$$ by the govern'ent, as e'!loyer, as ell as the
obligations hich the Re!ublic of the Phili!!ines assu'es or guarantees to
!ay. 6onsi"ering the nature of its fun"s, the %$$ is e*!ecte" to 'anage its
resources ith ut'ost !ru"ence an" in strict co'!liance ith the !ertinent
las or rules an" regulations. hus, one of the reasons that !ro'!te" therevision of the ol" %$$ la (6.-. =o. 18G, as a'en"e") as the necessity
to !reserve at all ti'es the actuarial solvency of the fun"s a"'inistere" by
the $yste' H$econ" hereas 6lause, P.&. =o. 11/G.J 6onse:uently, as
res!on"ent hi'self a"'its, the %$$ is not su!!ose" to grant clean loans.
H6o''ent, !. 8.J
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t is therefore the legiti'ate concern of the !ublic to ensure that these
fun"s are 'anage" !ro!erly ith the en" in vie of 'a*i'iing the
benefits that accrue to the insure" govern'ent e'!loyees. 3oreover, the
su!!ose" borroers ere 3e'bers of the "efunct >atasang Pa'bansa hothe'selves a!!ro!riate" fun"s for the %$$ an" ere therefore e*!ecte"
to be the first to see to it that the %$$ !erfor'e" its tas;s ith the
greatest "egree of fi"elity an" that an its transactions ere above boar".
n su', the !ublic nature of the loanable fun"s of the %$$ an" the !ublic
office hel" by the allege" borroers 'a;e the infor'ation sought clearly a
'atter of !ublic interest an" concern.
- secon" re:uisite 'ust be 'et before the right to infor'ation 'ay be
enforce" through 'an"a'us !rocee"ings, viz., that te -0orm*t-o
$o)t m)$t ot be *mo to$e e64)e b+ 4*/.
Res!on"ent 'aintains that a confi"ential relationshi! e*ists beteen the
%$$ an" its borroers. t is argue" that a !olicy of confi"entiality restrictsthe in"iscri'inate "isse'ination of infor'ation. Re$poet ote$
t*t - #-e/ o0 te r-t to pr-#*+ /- -$ e)*44+ protete b+ te
Co$t-t)t-o * b+ e6-$t- 4*/$, the "ocu'ents evi"encing loan
transactions of the %$$ 'ust be "ee'e" outsi"e the a'bit of the right to
infor'ation.
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here can be no "oubt that right to !rivacy is constitutionally !rotecte".
n the lan"'ar; case of Morfe v. MutucH10 Phil. /1I (19G8), 22 $6R-
/2/J, this 6ourt, s!ea;ing through then 3r. Kustice Fernan"o, state"E
... he right to !rivacy as such is accor"e" recognition in"e!en"ently ofits i"entification ith liberty5 in itself, it is fully "eserving of constitutional
!rotection. he language of Prof. #'erson is !articularly a!tE he conce!t of
li'ite" govern'ent has alays inclu"e" the i"ea that govern'ental !oers
sto! short of certain intrusions into the !ersonal life of the citien. his is
in"ee" one of the basic "istinctions beteen absolute an" li'ite"
govern'ent. Ati'ate an" !ervasive control of the in"ivi"ual, in all as!ectsof his life, is the hall'ar; of the absolute. state, n contrast, a syste' of
li'ite" govern'ent safeguar"s a !rivate sector, hich belongs to the
in"ivi"ual, fir'ly "istinguishing it fro' the !ublic sector, hich the state can
control. Protection of this !rivate sector ? !rotection, in other or"s, of the
"ignity an" integrity of the in"ivi"ual ? has beco'e increasingly i'!ortant as
'o"e' society has "evelo!e". -ll the forces of technological age ?in"ustrialiation, urbaniation, an" organiation ? o!erate to narro the
area of !rivacy an" facilitate intrusion into it. n 'o"ern ter's, the ca!acity
to 'aintain an" su!!ort this enclave of !rivate life 'ar;s the "ifference
beteen a "e'ocratic an" a totalitarian society. Hat !!. /////I.J
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hen the infor'ation re:ueste" fro' the govern'ent intru"es into
the !rivacy of a citien, a !otential conflict beteen the rights to
infor'ation an" to !rivacy 'ay arise. 7oever, the co'!eting
interests of these rights nee" not be resolve" in this case. -!!arent
fro' the above:uote" state'ent of the 6ourt in Morfe is t*t te
r-t to pr-#*+ be4o$ to te --#-)*4 - -$ pr-#*te *p*-t+,
* ot to p)b4- * o#ermet*4 *e-e$ 4-e te GSIS.
Moreo#er, te r-t *ot be -#oe b+ ;)r--*4 et-t-e$ 4-e te
GSIS. -s hel" in the case of Vassar College v. Loose Wills iscuit Co.H19C F. 982 (1912)J, * orpor*t-o *$ o r-t o0 pr-#*+ - -t$ *me
$-e te et-re b*$-$ o0 te r-t to pr-#*+ -$ * -;)r+ to te
0ee4-$ * $e$-b-4-t-e$ o0 te p*rt+ * * orpor*t-o /o)4 *#e
o $) ro) 0or re4-e0.
Ne-ter * te GSIS tro) -t$ Geer*4 M**er, te re$poet,
-#oe te r-t to pr-#*+ o0 -t$ borro/er$. Te r-t -$ p)re4+per$o*4 - *t)re HCf.-t;inson v. Kohn &oherty + 6o., 121 3ich C2,
80 =.. 28I, /G B.R-. 219 (1899)5 $chuyler v. 6urtis, 1/C =.L. //, /2
=.#. 22, 1 B.R.-. 28G (189I)), an" hence 'ay be invo;e" only by the
!erson hose !rivacy is clai'e" to be violate".
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t 'ay be observe", hoever, that in the instant case, the concerne"
borro/er$ tem$e4#e$ m*+ ot $)ee -0 te+ oo$e to -#oe te-r
r-t to pr-#*+, o$-er- te p)b4- o00-e$ te+ /ere o4- *t te
t-me te 4o*$ /ere *44ee to *#e bee r*te. It *ot be e-et*t be*)$e o0 te -tere$t te+ eer*te * te-r e/$/ort-e$$,
p)b4- 0-)re$, mo$t e$pe-*44+ to$e o4- re$po$-b4e po$-t-o$ -
o#ermet, e;o+ * more 4-m-te r-t to pr-#*+ *$ omp*re to
or-*r+ --#-)*4$, te-r *t-o$ be- $)b;et to 4o$er p)b4- $r)t-+
HCf. -yer Pro"uctions Pty. Bt". v. 6a!ulong, %.R. =os. 8280 an" 8298,
-!ril 29, 19885 !ee also6ohen v. 3ar*, 211 P. 2" 21 (19/9).J
Res!on"ent ne*t asserts that the "ocu'ents evi"encing the loan
transactions of the %$$ are private in nature. It is argued that the
records of the "!I!, a government corporation performing proprietary
functions, are outside the coverage of the people#s right of access to
official records.
t is further conten"e" that since the loan function of the %$$ is 'erelyinci"ental to its insurance function, then its loan transactions are not
covere" by the constitutional !olicy of full !ublic "isclosure an" the
right to infor'ation hich is a!!licable only to official transactions.
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First of all, the constituent ? 'inistrant "ichoto'y
characteriing govern'ent function has long beenre!u"iate". n $CC%$ v. Confederation of &nions and
"overnment Corporations and 'ffices (%.R. =os. B21/8/
an" B2G0I, =ove'ber 29, 19G9, 0 $6R- G//1, the 6ourt
sai" that te o#ermet, /eter *rr+- o)t -t$
$o#ere- *ttr-b)te$ or r)- $ome b)$-e$$,-$*re$ te $*me 0)t-o o0 $er#-e to te peop4e.
6onse:uently, that the %$$, in granting the loans, as
e*ercising a !ro!rietary function oul" not @ustify the
e*clusion of the transactions fro' the coverage an" sco!e
of the right to infor'ation.
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Thank You!
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