Disorder in the Court Book Excerpts (Legal Jokes)
These are from a book called Disorder in the Courts.
It's an interesting book on things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and published by court reporters.
ATTORNEY: What was the first thing your husband said to you that morning?
WITNESS: He said, ‘Where am I, Cathy?’
ATTORNEY: And why did that upset you?
WITNESS: My name is Susan!
_______________________________
ATTORNEY: What gear were you in at the moment of the impact?
WITNESS: Gucci sweats and Reeboks.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: What is your date of birth?
WITNESS: July 18th.
ATTORNEY: What year?
WITNESS: Every year.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: How old is your son, the one living with you?
WITNESS: Thirty-eight or thirty-five, I can’t remember which.
ATTORNEY: How long has he lived with you?
WITNESS: Forty-five years.
_________________________________
ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
WITNESS: I forget..
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn’t it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn’t know about it until the next morning?
WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
____________________________________
ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the 20-year-old, how old is he?
WITNESS: He’s 20, much like your IQ.
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: She had three children , right?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
WITNESS: None.
ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
WITNESS: By death..
ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
WITNESS: Take a guess.
___________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard
ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I’m going with male.
_____________________________________
ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor , how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
WITNESS: Oral…
_________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 PM
ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________
ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No..
ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law.
Jurisprudence: G.R. Nos. 105965-70 March 20, 2001
EN BANC
G.R. Nos. 105965-70. March 20, 2001
GEORGE UY, petitioner, vs. THE HON. SANDIGANBAYAN, THE HON. OMBUDSMAN AND THE HON. ROGER C. BERBANO, SR., SPECIAL PROSECUTION OFFICER III, OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, respondents.
R E S O L U T I O N
PUNO, J.:
Before the Court is the Motion for Further Clarification filed by Ombudsman Aniano A. Desierto of the Court's ruling in its decision dated August 9, 1999 and resolution dated February 22, 2000 that the prosecutory power of the Ombudsman extends only to cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and that the Ombudsman has no authority to prosecute cases falling within the jurisdiction of regular courts.
The Court stated in its decision dated August 9, 1999:
“In this connection, it is the prosecutor, not the Ombudsman, who has the authority to file the corresponding information/s against petitioner in the regional trial court. The Ombudsman exercises prosecutorial powers only in cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan.”
It explained in the resolution of February 22, 2000 that:
“(t)he clear import of such pronouncement is to recognize the authority of the State and regular provincial and city prosecutors under the Department of Justice to have control over prosecution of cases falling within the jurisdiction of the regular courts. The investigation and prosecutorial powers of the Ombudsman relate to cases rightfully falling within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan under Section 15 (1) of R.A. 6770 ("An Act Providing for the Functional and Structural Organization of the Office of the Ombudsman, and for other purposes") which vests upon the Ombudsman "primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan…" And this is further buttressed by Section 11 (4a) of R.A. 6770 which emphasizes that the Office of the Special Prosecutor shall have the power to "conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan." Thus, repeated references to the Sandiganbayan's jurisdiction clearly serve to limit the Ombudsman's and Special Prosecutor's authority to cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan.”
Seeking clarification of the foregoing ruling, respondent Ombudsman raises the following points:
“(1) The jurisdiction of the Honorable Sandiganbayan is not parallel to or equated with the broader jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman;
(2) The phrase "primary jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan" is not a delimitation of its jurisdiction solely to Sandiganbayan cases; and
(3) The authority of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to prosecute cases before the Sandiganbayan cannot be confused with the broader investigatory and prosecutorial powers of the Office of the Ombudsman.”
Thus, the matter that needs to be discussed herein is the scope of the power of the Ombudsman to conduct preliminary investigation and the subsequent prosecution of criminal offenses in the light of the provisions of the Ombudsman Act of 1989 (Republic Act [RA] 6770).
We held that the Ombudsman is clothed with authority to conduct preliminary investigation and to prosecute all criminal cases involving public officers and employees, not only those within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, but those within the jurisdiction of the regular courts as well.
The authority of the Ombudsman to investigate and prosecute offenses committed by public officers and employees is founded in Section 15 and Section 11 of RA 6770. Section 15 vests the Ombudsman with the power to investigate and prosecute any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient, thus:
“Sec. 15. Powers, Functions and Duties.--The Office of the Ombudsman shall have the following powers, functions and duties:
(1) Investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient. It has primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and, in the exercise of this primary jurisdiction, it may take over, at any stage, from any investigatory agency of Government, the investigation of such cases;
x x x”
Section 11 grants the Office of the Special Prosecutor, an organic component of the Office of the Ombudsman under the latter’s supervision and control, the power to conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. It states:
“Sec. 11. Structural Organization.— x x x
x x x
(3) The Office of the Special Prosecutor shall be composed of the Special Prosecutor and his prosecution staff. The Office of the Special Prosecutor shall be an organic component of the Office of the Ombudsman and shall be under the supervision and control of the Ombudsman.
(4) The Office of the Special Prosecutor shall, under the supervision and control and upon authority of the Ombudsman, have the following powers:
(a) To conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan;
(b) To enter into plea bargaining agreements; and
(c) To perform such other duties assigned to it by the Ombudsman.”
The power to investigate and to prosecute granted by law to the Ombudsman is plenary and unqualified. It pertains to any act or omission of any public officer or employee when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient. The law does not make a distinction between cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and those cognizable by regular courts. It has been held that the clause “any illegal act or omission of any public official” is broad enough to embrace any crime committed by a public officer or employee.[1]
The reference made by RA 6770 to cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan, particularly in Section 15 (1) giving the Ombudsman primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan, and Section 11 (4) granting the Special Prosecutor the power to conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, should not be construed as confining the scope of the investigatory and prosecutory power of the Ombudsman to such cases.
Section 15 of RA 6770 gives the Ombudsman primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan. The law defines such primary jurisdiction as authorizing the Ombudsman "to take over, at any stage, from any investigatory agency of the government, the investigation of such cases." The grant of this authority does not necessarily imply the exclusion from its jurisdiction of cases involving public officers and employees cognizable by other courts. The exercise by the Ombudsman of his primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan is not incompatible with the discharge of his duty to investigate and prosecute other offenses committed by public officers and employees. Indeed, it must be stressed that the powers granted by the legislature to the Ombudsman are very broad and encompass all kinds of malfeasance, misfeasance and non-feasance committed by public officers and employees during their tenure of office.[2]
Moreover, the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman should not be equated with the limited authority of the Special Prosecutor under Section 11 of RA 6770. The Office of the Special Prosecutor is merely a component of the Office of the Ombudsman and may only act under the supervision and control and upon authority of the Ombudsman.[3] Its power to conduct preliminary investigation and to prosecute is limited to criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. Certainly, the lawmakers did not intend to confine the investigatory and prosecutory power of the Ombudsman to these types of cases. The Ombudsman is mandated by law to act on all complaints against officers and employees of the government and to enforce their administrative, civil and criminal liability in every case where the evidence warrants.[4] To carry out this duty, the law allows him to utilize the personnel of his office and/or designate any fiscal, state prosecutor or lawyer in the government service to act as special investigator or prosecutor to assist in the investigation and prosecution of certain cases. Those designated or deputized to assist him work under his supervision and control.[5] The law likewise allows him to direct the Special Prosecutor to prosecute cases outside the Sandiganbayan's jurisdiction in accordance with Section 11 (4c) of RA 6770.
The prosecution of offenses committed by public officers and employees is one of the most important functions of the Ombudsman. In passing RA 6770, the Congress deliberately endowed the Ombudsman with such power to make him a more active and effective agent of the people in ensuring accountability in public office.[6] A review of the development of our Ombudsman laws reveals this intent.
The concept of Ombudsman originated in Sweden in the early 19th century, referring to an officer appointed by the legislature to handle the people’s grievances against administrative and judicial actions. He was primarily tasked with receiving complaints from persons aggrieved by administrative action or inaction, conducting investigation thereon, and making recommendations to the appropriate administrative agency based on his findings. He relied mainly on the power of persuasion and the high prestige of the office to effect his recommendations.[7]
In this jurisdiction, several Ombudsman-like agencies were established by past Presidents to serve as the people’s medium for airing grievances and seeking redress against abuses and misconduct in the government. These offices were conceived with the view of raising the standard in public service and ensuring integrity and efficiency in the government. In May 1950, President Elpidio Quirino created the Integrity Board charged with receiving complaints against public officials for acts of corruption, dereliction of duty and irregularity in office, and conducting a thorough investigation of these complaints. The Integrity Board was succeeded by several other agencies which performed basically the same functions of complaints-handling and investigation. These were the Presidential Complaints and Action Commission under President Ramon Magsaysay, the Presidential Committee on Administration Performance Efficiency under President Carlos Garcia, the Presidential Anti-Graft Committee under President Diosdado Macapagal, and the Presidential Agency on Reform and Government Operations and the Office of the Citizens Counselor, both under President Ferdinand Marcos. It was observed, however, that these agencies failed to realize their objective for they did not enjoy the political independence necessary for the effective performance of their function as government critic. Furthermore, their powers extended to no more than fact-finding and recommending.[8]
Thus, in the advent of the 1973 Constitution, the members of the Constitutional Convention saw the need to constitutionalize the office of an Ombudsman, to give it political independence and adequate powers to enforce its recommendations.[9] The 1973 Constitution mandated the legislature to create an office of the Ombudsman to be known as Tanodbayan. Its powers shall not be limited to receiving complaints and making recommendations, but shall also include the filing and prosecution of criminal, civil or administrative case before the appropriate body in case of failure of justice. Section 6, Article XIII of the 1973 Constitution read:
“Sec. 6. The Batasang Pambansa shall create an office of the Ombudsman, to be known as Tanodbayan, which shall receive and investigate complaints relative to public office, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations, make appropriate recommendations, and in case of failure of justice as defined by law, file and prosecute the corresponding criminal, civil or administrative case before the proper court or body.”
Implementing this constitutional provision, President Marcos, on June 11, 1978, exercising his power under Proclamation 1081, enacted Presidential Decree (PD) 1487 creating the Office of the Ombudsman to be known as Tanodbayan. Its principal task was to “investigate, on complaint, any administrative act[10] of any administrative agency[11] including any government-owned or controlled corporation.”[12] The Tanodbayan also had the duty to file and prosecute the corresponding criminal, civil, or administrative case before the Sandiganbayan or the proper court or body if he has reason to believe that any public official, employee, or other person has acted in a manner resulting in a failure of justice.[13] It should be noted, however, that the prosecution of cases falling within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan was to be done by the Tanodbayan through the Special Prosecutor who, according to PD 1486,[14] had the exclusive authority to conduct preliminary investigation, file information for and prosecute cases within the jurisdiction of said court. The Special Prosecutor was then under the control and supervision of the Secretary of Justice.[15]
Shortly after its enactment, PD 1487 was amended by PD 1607 which took effect on December 10, 1978. The amendatory law broadened the authority of the Tanodbayan to investigate administrative acts of administrative agencies by authorizing it to conduct an investigation on its own motion or initiative, even without a complaint from any person.[16] The new law also expanded the prosecutory function of the Tanodbayan by creating the Office of the Chief Special Prosecutor in the Office of the Tanodbayan and placing under his direction and control the Special Prosecutor who had the “exclusive authority to conduct preliminary investigation of all cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan; to file informations therefor and to direct and control the prosecution of said cases therein.”[17] Thus, the law provided that if the Tanodbayan has reason to believe that any public official, employee, or other person has acted in a manner warranting criminal or disciplinary action or proceedings, he shall cause him to be investigated by the Office of the Chief Special Prosecutor who shall file and prosecute the corresponding criminal or administrative case before the Sandiganbayan or the proper court or before the proper administrative agency.[18]
On July 18, 1979, PD 1630 was enacted further amending PD 1487 and PD 1607. PD 1630 reorganized the Office of the Tanodbayan and transferred the powers previously vested in the Special Prosecutor to the Tanodbayan himself. Thus, the Tanodbayan was empowered to directly conduct preliminary investigation, file information and prosecute cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan and other courts. The amendment gave the Tanodbayan the exclusive authority to conduct preliminary investigation of all cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan; to file information therefor and to direct and control the prosecution of said cases.[19] Section 10 of PD 1630 provided:
“Sec. 10. Powers.--The Tanodbayan shall have the following powers:
(a) He may investigate, on complaint by any person or on his own motion or initiative, any administrative act whether amounting to any criminal offense or not of any administrative agency including any government-owned or controlled corporation;
x x x
(e) If after preliminary investigation he finds a prima facie case, he may file the necessary information or complaint with the Sandiganbayan or any proper court or administrative agency and prosecute the same.”
Section 18 further stated:
“Sec. 18. Prosecution of Public Personnel or Other Person.--If the Tanodbayan has reason to believe that any public official, employee or other person has acted in a manner warranting criminal or disciplinary action or proceedings, he shall conduct the necessary investigation and shall file and prosecute the corresponding criminal or administrative case before the Sandiganbayan or the proper court or before the proper administrative agency.”
With the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, a new Office of the Ombudsman was created. The present Ombudsman, as protector of the people, is mandated to act promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against public officials or employees of the government or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and to notify the complainants of the action taken and the result thereof.[20] He possesses the following powers, functions and duties:
“1. Investigate on its own, or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public official, employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper, or inefficient;
2. Direct, upon complaint or at its own instance, any public official or employee of the Government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, as well as of any government-owned or controlled corporation with original charter, to perform and expedite any act or duty required by law, or to stop, prevent and correct any abuse or impropriety in the performance of duties.
3. Direct the officer concerned to take appropriate action against a public official or employee at fault, and recommend his removal, suspension, demotion, fine, censure, or prosecution, and ensure compliance therewith.
4. Direct the officer concerned, in any appropriate case, and subject to such limitations as may be provided by law, to furnish it with copies of documents relating to contracts or transactions entered into by his office involving the disbursement or use of public funds or properties, and report any irregularity to the Commission on Audit for appropriate action.
5. Request any government agency for assistance and information necessary in the discharge of its responsibilities, and to examine, if necessary, pertinent records and documents.
6. Publicize matters covered by its investigation when circumstances so warrant and with due prudence.
7. Determine the causes of inefficiency, red tape, mismanagement, fraud, and corruption in the Government and make recommendations for their elimination and the observance of high standards of ethics and efficiency.
8. Promulgate its rules of procedure and exercise such other powers or perform such functions or duties as may be provided by law.”[21]
As a new Office of the Ombudsman was established, the then existing Tanodbayan became the Office of the Special Prosecutor which continued to function and exercise its powers as provided by law, except those conferred on the Office of the Ombudsman created under the 1987 Constitution.[22]
The frameworks for the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Special Prosecutor were laid down by President Corazon Aquino in Executive Order (EO) 243 and EO 244, both passed on July 24, 1987.
In September 1989, Congress passed RA 6770 providing for the functional and structural organization of the Office of the Ombudsman. As in the previous laws on the Ombudsman, RA 6770 gave the present Ombudsman not only the duty to receive and relay the people's grievances, but also the duty to investigate and prosecute for and in their behalf, civil, criminal and administrative offenses committed by government officers and employees as embodied in Sections 15 and 11 of the law.
Clearly, the Philippine Ombudsman departs from the classical Ombudsman model whose function is merely to receive and process the people's complaints against corrupt and abusive government personnel. The Philippine Ombudsman, as protector of the people, is armed with the power to prosecute erring public officers and employees, giving him an active role in the enforcement of laws on anti-graft and corrupt practices and such other offenses that may be committed by such officers and employees. The legislature has vested him with broad powers to enable him to implement his own actions. Recognizing the importance of this power, the Court cannot derogate the same by limiting it only to cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan. It is apparent from the history and the language of the present law that the legislature intended such power to apply not only to cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan but also those within the jurisdiction of regular courts. The Court observed in the case of Republic vs. Sandiganbayan:[23]
“A perusal of the law originally creating the Office of the Ombudsman then (to be known as the Tanodbayan), and the amendatory laws issued subsequent thereto will show that, at its inception, the Office of the Ombudsman was already vested with the power to investigate and prosecute civil and criminal cases before the Sandiganbayan and even the regular courts.
x x x
Presidential Decree No. 1630 was the existing law governing the then Tanodbayan when Republic Act No. 6770 was enacted providing for the functional and structural organization of the present Office of the Ombudsman. This later law retained in the Ombudsman the power of the former Tanodbayan to investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient. x x x.”
Finally, it must be clarified that the authority of the Ombudsman to prosecute cases involving public officers and employees before the regular courts does not conflict with the power of the regular prosecutors under the Department of Justice to control and direct the prosecution of all criminal actions under Rule 110 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure. The Rules of Court must be read in conjunction with RA 6770 which charged the Ombudsman with the duty to investigate and prosecute all illegal acts and omissions of public officers and employees. The Court held in the case of Sanchez vs. Demetriou[24] that the power of the Ombudsman under Section 15 (1) of RA 6770 is not an exclusive authority but rather a shared or concurrent authority in respect of the offense charged. Thus, Administrative Order No. 8 issued by the Office of the Ombudsman provides:
“The prosecution of case cognizable by the Sandiganbayan shall be under the direct exclusive control and supervision of the Office of the Ombudsman. In cases cognizable by regular Courts, the control and supervision by the Office of the Ombudsman is only in Ombudsman cases in the sense defined (therein).[25] The law recognizes a concurrence of jurisdiction between the Office of the Ombudsman and other investigative agencies of government in the prosecution of cases cognizable by regular courts.”
IN VIEW WHEREOF, the Court's ruling in its decision dated August 9, 1999 and its resolution dated February 20, 2000 that the Ombudsman exercises prosecutorial powers only in cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan is SET ASIDE.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., C.J., Bellosillo, Melo, Vitug, Mendoza, Panganiban, Buena, Gonzaga-Reyes, Ynares-Santiago, and Sandoval-Gutierrez, JJ., concur.
Kapunan, J., I concur in the result.
Quisumbing, J., on leave.
Pardo, J., I dissent. See attached.
De Leon, Jr., J., I join the dissenting opinion of Justice B. P. Pardo.
G.R. Nos. 105965-70. March 20, 2001
GEORGE UY, petitioner, vs. THE HON. SANDIGANBAYAN, THE HON. OMBUDSMAN AND THE HON. ROGER C. BERBANO, SR., SPECIAL PROSECUTION OFFICER III, OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, respondents.
R E S O L U T I O N
PUNO, J.:
Before the Court is the Motion for Further Clarification filed by Ombudsman Aniano A. Desierto of the Court's ruling in its decision dated August 9, 1999 and resolution dated February 22, 2000 that the prosecutory power of the Ombudsman extends only to cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and that the Ombudsman has no authority to prosecute cases falling within the jurisdiction of regular courts.
The Court stated in its decision dated August 9, 1999:
“In this connection, it is the prosecutor, not the Ombudsman, who has the authority to file the corresponding information/s against petitioner in the regional trial court. The Ombudsman exercises prosecutorial powers only in cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan.”
It explained in the resolution of February 22, 2000 that:
“(t)he clear import of such pronouncement is to recognize the authority of the State and regular provincial and city prosecutors under the Department of Justice to have control over prosecution of cases falling within the jurisdiction of the regular courts. The investigation and prosecutorial powers of the Ombudsman relate to cases rightfully falling within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan under Section 15 (1) of R.A. 6770 ("An Act Providing for the Functional and Structural Organization of the Office of the Ombudsman, and for other purposes") which vests upon the Ombudsman "primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan…" And this is further buttressed by Section 11 (4a) of R.A. 6770 which emphasizes that the Office of the Special Prosecutor shall have the power to "conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan." Thus, repeated references to the Sandiganbayan's jurisdiction clearly serve to limit the Ombudsman's and Special Prosecutor's authority to cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan.”
Seeking clarification of the foregoing ruling, respondent Ombudsman raises the following points:
“(1) The jurisdiction of the Honorable Sandiganbayan is not parallel to or equated with the broader jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman;
(2) The phrase "primary jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan" is not a delimitation of its jurisdiction solely to Sandiganbayan cases; and
(3) The authority of the Office of the Special Prosecutor to prosecute cases before the Sandiganbayan cannot be confused with the broader investigatory and prosecutorial powers of the Office of the Ombudsman.”
Thus, the matter that needs to be discussed herein is the scope of the power of the Ombudsman to conduct preliminary investigation and the subsequent prosecution of criminal offenses in the light of the provisions of the Ombudsman Act of 1989 (Republic Act [RA] 6770).
We held that the Ombudsman is clothed with authority to conduct preliminary investigation and to prosecute all criminal cases involving public officers and employees, not only those within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, but those within the jurisdiction of the regular courts as well.
The authority of the Ombudsman to investigate and prosecute offenses committed by public officers and employees is founded in Section 15 and Section 11 of RA 6770. Section 15 vests the Ombudsman with the power to investigate and prosecute any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient, thus:
“Sec. 15. Powers, Functions and Duties.--The Office of the Ombudsman shall have the following powers, functions and duties:
(1) Investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient. It has primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and, in the exercise of this primary jurisdiction, it may take over, at any stage, from any investigatory agency of Government, the investigation of such cases;
x x x”
Section 11 grants the Office of the Special Prosecutor, an organic component of the Office of the Ombudsman under the latter’s supervision and control, the power to conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. It states:
“Sec. 11. Structural Organization.— x x x
x x x
(3) The Office of the Special Prosecutor shall be composed of the Special Prosecutor and his prosecution staff. The Office of the Special Prosecutor shall be an organic component of the Office of the Ombudsman and shall be under the supervision and control of the Ombudsman.
(4) The Office of the Special Prosecutor shall, under the supervision and control and upon authority of the Ombudsman, have the following powers:
(a) To conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan;
(b) To enter into plea bargaining agreements; and
(c) To perform such other duties assigned to it by the Ombudsman.”
The power to investigate and to prosecute granted by law to the Ombudsman is plenary and unqualified. It pertains to any act or omission of any public officer or employee when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient. The law does not make a distinction between cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and those cognizable by regular courts. It has been held that the clause “any illegal act or omission of any public official” is broad enough to embrace any crime committed by a public officer or employee.[1]
The reference made by RA 6770 to cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan, particularly in Section 15 (1) giving the Ombudsman primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan, and Section 11 (4) granting the Special Prosecutor the power to conduct preliminary investigation and prosecute criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan, should not be construed as confining the scope of the investigatory and prosecutory power of the Ombudsman to such cases.
Section 15 of RA 6770 gives the Ombudsman primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan. The law defines such primary jurisdiction as authorizing the Ombudsman "to take over, at any stage, from any investigatory agency of the government, the investigation of such cases." The grant of this authority does not necessarily imply the exclusion from its jurisdiction of cases involving public officers and employees cognizable by other courts. The exercise by the Ombudsman of his primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan is not incompatible with the discharge of his duty to investigate and prosecute other offenses committed by public officers and employees. Indeed, it must be stressed that the powers granted by the legislature to the Ombudsman are very broad and encompass all kinds of malfeasance, misfeasance and non-feasance committed by public officers and employees during their tenure of office.[2]
Moreover, the jurisdiction of the Office of the Ombudsman should not be equated with the limited authority of the Special Prosecutor under Section 11 of RA 6770. The Office of the Special Prosecutor is merely a component of the Office of the Ombudsman and may only act under the supervision and control and upon authority of the Ombudsman.[3] Its power to conduct preliminary investigation and to prosecute is limited to criminal cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. Certainly, the lawmakers did not intend to confine the investigatory and prosecutory power of the Ombudsman to these types of cases. The Ombudsman is mandated by law to act on all complaints against officers and employees of the government and to enforce their administrative, civil and criminal liability in every case where the evidence warrants.[4] To carry out this duty, the law allows him to utilize the personnel of his office and/or designate any fiscal, state prosecutor or lawyer in the government service to act as special investigator or prosecutor to assist in the investigation and prosecution of certain cases. Those designated or deputized to assist him work under his supervision and control.[5] The law likewise allows him to direct the Special Prosecutor to prosecute cases outside the Sandiganbayan's jurisdiction in accordance with Section 11 (4c) of RA 6770.
The prosecution of offenses committed by public officers and employees is one of the most important functions of the Ombudsman. In passing RA 6770, the Congress deliberately endowed the Ombudsman with such power to make him a more active and effective agent of the people in ensuring accountability in public office.[6] A review of the development of our Ombudsman laws reveals this intent.
The concept of Ombudsman originated in Sweden in the early 19th century, referring to an officer appointed by the legislature to handle the people’s grievances against administrative and judicial actions. He was primarily tasked with receiving complaints from persons aggrieved by administrative action or inaction, conducting investigation thereon, and making recommendations to the appropriate administrative agency based on his findings. He relied mainly on the power of persuasion and the high prestige of the office to effect his recommendations.[7]
In this jurisdiction, several Ombudsman-like agencies were established by past Presidents to serve as the people’s medium for airing grievances and seeking redress against abuses and misconduct in the government. These offices were conceived with the view of raising the standard in public service and ensuring integrity and efficiency in the government. In May 1950, President Elpidio Quirino created the Integrity Board charged with receiving complaints against public officials for acts of corruption, dereliction of duty and irregularity in office, and conducting a thorough investigation of these complaints. The Integrity Board was succeeded by several other agencies which performed basically the same functions of complaints-handling and investigation. These were the Presidential Complaints and Action Commission under President Ramon Magsaysay, the Presidential Committee on Administration Performance Efficiency under President Carlos Garcia, the Presidential Anti-Graft Committee under President Diosdado Macapagal, and the Presidential Agency on Reform and Government Operations and the Office of the Citizens Counselor, both under President Ferdinand Marcos. It was observed, however, that these agencies failed to realize their objective for they did not enjoy the political independence necessary for the effective performance of their function as government critic. Furthermore, their powers extended to no more than fact-finding and recommending.[8]
Thus, in the advent of the 1973 Constitution, the members of the Constitutional Convention saw the need to constitutionalize the office of an Ombudsman, to give it political independence and adequate powers to enforce its recommendations.[9] The 1973 Constitution mandated the legislature to create an office of the Ombudsman to be known as Tanodbayan. Its powers shall not be limited to receiving complaints and making recommendations, but shall also include the filing and prosecution of criminal, civil or administrative case before the appropriate body in case of failure of justice. Section 6, Article XIII of the 1973 Constitution read:
“Sec. 6. The Batasang Pambansa shall create an office of the Ombudsman, to be known as Tanodbayan, which shall receive and investigate complaints relative to public office, including those in government-owned or controlled corporations, make appropriate recommendations, and in case of failure of justice as defined by law, file and prosecute the corresponding criminal, civil or administrative case before the proper court or body.”
Implementing this constitutional provision, President Marcos, on June 11, 1978, exercising his power under Proclamation 1081, enacted Presidential Decree (PD) 1487 creating the Office of the Ombudsman to be known as Tanodbayan. Its principal task was to “investigate, on complaint, any administrative act[10] of any administrative agency[11] including any government-owned or controlled corporation.”[12] The Tanodbayan also had the duty to file and prosecute the corresponding criminal, civil, or administrative case before the Sandiganbayan or the proper court or body if he has reason to believe that any public official, employee, or other person has acted in a manner resulting in a failure of justice.[13] It should be noted, however, that the prosecution of cases falling within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan was to be done by the Tanodbayan through the Special Prosecutor who, according to PD 1486,[14] had the exclusive authority to conduct preliminary investigation, file information for and prosecute cases within the jurisdiction of said court. The Special Prosecutor was then under the control and supervision of the Secretary of Justice.[15]
Shortly after its enactment, PD 1487 was amended by PD 1607 which took effect on December 10, 1978. The amendatory law broadened the authority of the Tanodbayan to investigate administrative acts of administrative agencies by authorizing it to conduct an investigation on its own motion or initiative, even without a complaint from any person.[16] The new law also expanded the prosecutory function of the Tanodbayan by creating the Office of the Chief Special Prosecutor in the Office of the Tanodbayan and placing under his direction and control the Special Prosecutor who had the “exclusive authority to conduct preliminary investigation of all cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan; to file informations therefor and to direct and control the prosecution of said cases therein.”[17] Thus, the law provided that if the Tanodbayan has reason to believe that any public official, employee, or other person has acted in a manner warranting criminal or disciplinary action or proceedings, he shall cause him to be investigated by the Office of the Chief Special Prosecutor who shall file and prosecute the corresponding criminal or administrative case before the Sandiganbayan or the proper court or before the proper administrative agency.[18]
On July 18, 1979, PD 1630 was enacted further amending PD 1487 and PD 1607. PD 1630 reorganized the Office of the Tanodbayan and transferred the powers previously vested in the Special Prosecutor to the Tanodbayan himself. Thus, the Tanodbayan was empowered to directly conduct preliminary investigation, file information and prosecute cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan and other courts. The amendment gave the Tanodbayan the exclusive authority to conduct preliminary investigation of all cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan; to file information therefor and to direct and control the prosecution of said cases.[19] Section 10 of PD 1630 provided:
“Sec. 10. Powers.--The Tanodbayan shall have the following powers:
(a) He may investigate, on complaint by any person or on his own motion or initiative, any administrative act whether amounting to any criminal offense or not of any administrative agency including any government-owned or controlled corporation;
x x x
(e) If after preliminary investigation he finds a prima facie case, he may file the necessary information or complaint with the Sandiganbayan or any proper court or administrative agency and prosecute the same.”
Section 18 further stated:
“Sec. 18. Prosecution of Public Personnel or Other Person.--If the Tanodbayan has reason to believe that any public official, employee or other person has acted in a manner warranting criminal or disciplinary action or proceedings, he shall conduct the necessary investigation and shall file and prosecute the corresponding criminal or administrative case before the Sandiganbayan or the proper court or before the proper administrative agency.”
With the ratification of the 1987 Constitution, a new Office of the Ombudsman was created. The present Ombudsman, as protector of the people, is mandated to act promptly on complaints filed in any form or manner against public officials or employees of the government or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations, and to notify the complainants of the action taken and the result thereof.[20] He possesses the following powers, functions and duties:
“1. Investigate on its own, or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public official, employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper, or inefficient;
2. Direct, upon complaint or at its own instance, any public official or employee of the Government, or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, as well as of any government-owned or controlled corporation with original charter, to perform and expedite any act or duty required by law, or to stop, prevent and correct any abuse or impropriety in the performance of duties.
3. Direct the officer concerned to take appropriate action against a public official or employee at fault, and recommend his removal, suspension, demotion, fine, censure, or prosecution, and ensure compliance therewith.
4. Direct the officer concerned, in any appropriate case, and subject to such limitations as may be provided by law, to furnish it with copies of documents relating to contracts or transactions entered into by his office involving the disbursement or use of public funds or properties, and report any irregularity to the Commission on Audit for appropriate action.
5. Request any government agency for assistance and information necessary in the discharge of its responsibilities, and to examine, if necessary, pertinent records and documents.
6. Publicize matters covered by its investigation when circumstances so warrant and with due prudence.
7. Determine the causes of inefficiency, red tape, mismanagement, fraud, and corruption in the Government and make recommendations for their elimination and the observance of high standards of ethics and efficiency.
8. Promulgate its rules of procedure and exercise such other powers or perform such functions or duties as may be provided by law.”[21]
As a new Office of the Ombudsman was established, the then existing Tanodbayan became the Office of the Special Prosecutor which continued to function and exercise its powers as provided by law, except those conferred on the Office of the Ombudsman created under the 1987 Constitution.[22]
The frameworks for the Office of the Ombudsman and the Office of the Special Prosecutor were laid down by President Corazon Aquino in Executive Order (EO) 243 and EO 244, both passed on July 24, 1987.
In September 1989, Congress passed RA 6770 providing for the functional and structural organization of the Office of the Ombudsman. As in the previous laws on the Ombudsman, RA 6770 gave the present Ombudsman not only the duty to receive and relay the people's grievances, but also the duty to investigate and prosecute for and in their behalf, civil, criminal and administrative offenses committed by government officers and employees as embodied in Sections 15 and 11 of the law.
Clearly, the Philippine Ombudsman departs from the classical Ombudsman model whose function is merely to receive and process the people's complaints against corrupt and abusive government personnel. The Philippine Ombudsman, as protector of the people, is armed with the power to prosecute erring public officers and employees, giving him an active role in the enforcement of laws on anti-graft and corrupt practices and such other offenses that may be committed by such officers and employees. The legislature has vested him with broad powers to enable him to implement his own actions. Recognizing the importance of this power, the Court cannot derogate the same by limiting it only to cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan. It is apparent from the history and the language of the present law that the legislature intended such power to apply not only to cases within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan but also those within the jurisdiction of regular courts. The Court observed in the case of Republic vs. Sandiganbayan:[23]
“A perusal of the law originally creating the Office of the Ombudsman then (to be known as the Tanodbayan), and the amendatory laws issued subsequent thereto will show that, at its inception, the Office of the Ombudsman was already vested with the power to investigate and prosecute civil and criminal cases before the Sandiganbayan and even the regular courts.
x x x
Presidential Decree No. 1630 was the existing law governing the then Tanodbayan when Republic Act No. 6770 was enacted providing for the functional and structural organization of the present Office of the Ombudsman. This later law retained in the Ombudsman the power of the former Tanodbayan to investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper or inefficient. x x x.”
Finally, it must be clarified that the authority of the Ombudsman to prosecute cases involving public officers and employees before the regular courts does not conflict with the power of the regular prosecutors under the Department of Justice to control and direct the prosecution of all criminal actions under Rule 110 of the Revised Rules of Criminal Procedure. The Rules of Court must be read in conjunction with RA 6770 which charged the Ombudsman with the duty to investigate and prosecute all illegal acts and omissions of public officers and employees. The Court held in the case of Sanchez vs. Demetriou[24] that the power of the Ombudsman under Section 15 (1) of RA 6770 is not an exclusive authority but rather a shared or concurrent authority in respect of the offense charged. Thus, Administrative Order No. 8 issued by the Office of the Ombudsman provides:
“The prosecution of case cognizable by the Sandiganbayan shall be under the direct exclusive control and supervision of the Office of the Ombudsman. In cases cognizable by regular Courts, the control and supervision by the Office of the Ombudsman is only in Ombudsman cases in the sense defined (therein).[25] The law recognizes a concurrence of jurisdiction between the Office of the Ombudsman and other investigative agencies of government in the prosecution of cases cognizable by regular courts.”
IN VIEW WHEREOF, the Court's ruling in its decision dated August 9, 1999 and its resolution dated February 20, 2000 that the Ombudsman exercises prosecutorial powers only in cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan is SET ASIDE.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., C.J., Bellosillo, Melo, Vitug, Mendoza, Panganiban, Buena, Gonzaga-Reyes, Ynares-Santiago, and Sandoval-Gutierrez, JJ., concur.
Kapunan, J., I concur in the result.
Quisumbing, J., on leave.
Pardo, J., I dissent. See attached.
De Leon, Jr., J., I join the dissenting opinion of Justice B. P. Pardo.
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1. ABAD, Joshua B
2. ABALA, Angela Ray T
3. ABALOS, Charinne Hanako M
4. ABANTAS, Shidik T
5. ABAQUITA, JR., Gideon Florante A
6. ABBU, Rufeliz Ann S
7. ABDULLAH, Shayma A
8. ABEJO, Klein Charisse B
9. ABELINDE, Rachel Jane A
10. ABELLA, Angelo R
11. ABELLAR, Mae Ann B
12. ABO, Marvi R
13. ABSIN, Roh Dundee E
14. ABUBAKAR, Gibran B
15. ACASILI, Carl Jillson B
16. ACOSTA, Kristian Nico C
17. ADDAUAN, Francis John A
18. ADLAWAN, Catherine R
19. ADRIANO, Amos Mikhail S
20. ADRIAS, Alma M
21. AGA, Maria Angelica I
22. AGOT, Virnee Joy T
23. AGUANTA, JR., Alejandro E
24. AGUILA, Katrina Elaine C
25. AGUILAR, Christianne P
26. AGUILAR, Francis Ma. G
27. AGUILAR, Jeffrey G
28. AGUTO, Jorneil M
29. ALAMPAY, Maria Patricia N
30. ALAVA, Sylvester A
31. ALBA, Andres Jose M
32. ALBA, Carlo Edison F
33. ALBERTO, Althea Rosanna V
34. ALCANTARA, Francis D
35. ALCANTARA, Regine Andrei P
36. ALCARAZ, Pauline Breissee Gayle D
37. ALCOBILLA, Irene Mae B
38. ALCONERA, Dinnah Mae A
39. ALEGATO, Sul Jolly Angelo V
40. ALEGRE, Remy Rose A
41. ALEJANDRO, Ezerh M
42. ALERTA, Jommel Jann Kris A
43. ALFONSO, Aza M
44. ALFONSO, Erika M
45. ALFORQUE, Dani Q
46. ALHAMBRA, Phoebe Marie V
47. ALIGA, Gwyneth G
48. ALLAREY, Princess Carra C
49. ALMONTE, Mae Lyn T
50. ALONZO, Katherine D
51. ALVAREZ, Jeffrey R
52. ALVAREZ, Paola Sherina A
53. ALVIAR, Joyce B
54. AMAHIT, Floyd Barry C
55. AMARAJA, Yildrim T
56. AMCAY, Jonjon B
57. AMEN, Catherine S
58. AMIL, Jayric L
59. AMILING, Evelyn S
60. AMINAO, Charmine May C
61. AMOR, III, Jaime J
62. ANDAYA-TAY, Melissa Antonette D
63. ANDO, Mayus Ryan D
64. ANDRES, Jennylyn N
65. ANG, Rollie C
66. ANG, Victor Reynaldo C
67. ANGELES, Bernard Allan V
68. ANGELES, Cyrine Anne G
69. ANGUE, Aileen Rose J
70. ANOD, Myra A
71. ANTALAN, Sheena Lynne L
72. ANTONIO, Alexis Francis B
73. ANTONIO, Cristina I
74. APAYA, Edrian M
75. APELLIDO, Kristine Grace O
76. AQUINO, Kathlene G
77. AQUINO, Mark David I
78. ARAGON, Yya E
79. ARBAS, Andrei Christopher G
80. ARCE, Jerome B
81. ARELLANO, Alvin Anthony V
82. ARGEL, Golda Margareth D
83. ARIATE, Eunice Carmela M
84. ARIÑO, Jacob T
85. ARNADO, III, Teofilo C
86. ARONGAT, Arthur John E
87. ARRAIZA, Cheska Maude L
88. ARZAGA, Jeffrey D
89. ARZAGA, Odessa Buena C
90. ATIENZA, Gian Joseph P
91. ATITIW, Victor Corpus J
92. ATON, Carla Zoila Y
93. AUMENTADO, Adrian F
94. AUREUS, Vincent Noel A
95. AUSTRIA, Erastus Sandino B
96. AVILA, Alyssa Daphne M
97. AVISO, Ma. Louise C
98. AYUYAO, Maris Angelica C
99. BABATUAN, Leslie Joie E
100. BACANI, Marlyn R
101. BACATAN, Angeline J
102. BACCAY, Yolanda A
103. BACHOCO, Ed Charles P
104. BACLAY, Francis Paul U
105. BADUA, Kristofferson E
106. BAETIONG, Ma. Adoracion J
107. BAGAGNAN, Ruther Adrian F
108. BAGANG, Darrell L
109. BAGAY, Rose Ann R
110. BAGUIO, Jan Mark P
111. BAGULAYA, Jose Joannes S
112. BALBAS, Julius Harvey P
113. BALDIA, Edwin Marc T
114. BALINANG, JR., Luvimindo R
115. BALITON, Malucar P
116. BALMES, Kriselle S
117. BALT, Al-rashid L
118. BALT, Aminah C
119. BALTAZAR, John Philip A
120. BALUCAN, Chembeelyn A
121. BALVERDE, Roan U
122. BANAAG, Steffi Reizza E
123. BANDOMA, Jon Andre C
124. BANZON, Melvin Joseph L
125. BARBARA, Ailene B
126. BARDOQUILLO, Leah Lara M
127. BARENG, Shiel Joy G
128. BARRAMEDA, Eljay Jose M
129. BARREDO, Grethel G
130. BARTOLOME, Ana Karina P
131. BARTOLOME, Karol Chaim P
132. BASMAYOR, Michelle V
133. BATACAN-CAMACHO, Renizza Belle E
134. BATERNA, Jared Marc E
135. BATNAG, Odina E
136. BATU, Karen S
137. BATUNGBACAL, Mina Franchesca D
138. BAUNTO, Hapsah S
139. BAUTISTA, Diana Roselle V
140. BAUTISTA, Nino Carlo C
141. BAUTISTA, Pearl Charisse D
142. BAUTISTA, Veronicaliza H
143. BAUZON, Lanie V
144. BAYAD, Bernadette M
145. BAYAD, JR., Fernando T
146. BAYANG, Maria Victoria A
147. BAYOT, Miguel R
148. BAÑAGA, Robbie M
149. BEJEMINO, Mark Leo P
150. BELEY-ARNESTO, Mary Rose T
151. BELLO, Cristina Marie T
152. BELTRAN, Mikhail Julwyn B
153. BENAID, Wynchill B
154. BENEDIAN, JR., Pablito C
155. BENITEZ, Cecille T
156. BENTULAN, JR., Alfredo L
157. BERCASIO, Jela Myka LL
158. BERNAL, Samantha Lei R
159. BERNALES, Rolando A
160. BERNARDINO, Abigail F
161. BERNARDO, Jansen F
162. BERNARDO-SAGABAEN, Mary Ann N
163. BERNASOR, Lou Wella Mae S
164. BESAÑES, Niño G
165. BILOCURA, Jennelyn D
166. BINAY, Sharmagne Joy A
167. BINULUAN, Junerick N
168. BIRAO, Emmanuel G
169. BLANCO, Chiara Angela L
170. BOHOL, Illac G
171. BOJADOR, Francis Lauro R
172. BONAOBRA, Kevin A
173. BONIFACIO, Ma. Angela B
174. BONTUYAN, Diwa Rafael B
175. BORJA, Diane Camilla R
176. BORRICANO, Doreen F
177. BOSANTOG, Jonathan P
178. BRAGAT, Ophie Easter M
179. BRAMPIO, Aubrey Joy D
180. BRILLANTES, Constanza B
181. BRIONES, Niña Arlyn L
182. BRIONES, Reuben T
183. BRUTAS, Jolas E
184. BUBAN, III, Mamerto N
185. BUENA, Kriska Marna A
186. BUENA, Mark Orline S
187. BUENAOBRA, Jomyr B
188. BUENO, Flordeliz Marina U
189. BUENO, Ma. Anna Margarita V
190. BUENO, Mikhail Lenin B
191. BUGARIN, Matisa C
192. BUGAYONG, Vanessa S
193. BULANGA-CASINILLO, Diana Michelle T
194. BUOT, Krisben Zilner P
195. BUSALPA, Genny Pearl B
196. BUYSER, Jed Lance C
197. CABADING, James Michael D
198. CABANILLA, Jonna C
199. CABANTING, Arwin V
200. CABATINGAN, Alpi Andro B
201. CABAYSA, Elvis Bennet C
202. CABRERA, Daniel Rafael G
203. CABRIGA, Catalino R
204. CABUGSA, Josephus G
205. CACERES, Ira I
206. CACHO, Aireen M
207. CADIGAL, Jose Almarius P
208. CADIZ, Leonel P
209. CAFE, Ryan P
210. CAGA-ANAN, Cathleen Terry E
211. CALALANG, Joseph Ivan V
212. CALDERON, Geoffry A
213. CALDERON, Leah Zilpah A
214. CALLETONG, Jasmin G
215. CALUAG, Bon Jeffrey M
216. CALUGAY, Dongil T
217. CALULOT, Marinelle M
218. CALURA, JR., Quirino E
219. CAMBRI, Marydine L
220. CANIBAN, Mark Darryl A
221. CAPILI, Remar S
222. CARABBACAN, John John B
223. CARDENAS, Antonio Miguel M
224. CARDIÑO, Kent C
225. CARILLO, Janilet Mishelle R
226. CARLOS, Archie G
227. CARLOS, VI, Richard Lee B
228. CARPENA, Blessie Rose L
229. CASIGURAN, Roselle U
230. CASIL, Mariane S
231. CASTAÑEDA, Jose Francisco E
232. CASTILLO, Alyssa Carmelli P
233. CASTILLO, Gerard M
234. CASTRO, Bethel Edgar B
235. CASTRO-ZAPATA, Abigail P
236. CATACUTAN, Ace Joseph B
237. CATALAN, Mia Laine C
238. CAUAN, IV, Cayetano B
239. CAYCO, Patricia Gail V
240. CAÑETE, Edan Marri R
241. CAÑETE, Sarah Jean G
242. CELERA, Emme Cheayanne S
243. CELERIDAD, Paolo O
244. CELSO, Ellen Faye L
245. CENIZA, Michael G
246. CERILLES, JR., Mario C
247. CERVANTES, Dindo R
248. CHAGUILE, Michelle A
249. CHAN, Clariesse Jami Mari A
250. CHAN, Howard Y
251. CHAN, Joyce Aiza Z
252. CHAN, Wharton R
253. CHAVEZ, Sarah Lynn G
254. CHEN, Mara Kriska L
255. CHEW, James Earl R
256. CHI, Julius Czar G
257. CHOI, Jacqueline Mae S
258. CHUA, Chantal C
259. CHUA, Edric Christian E
260. CHUA, Jennica C
261. CHUA, Rachel Bernadette B
262. CHUA, Ronald O
263. CIPRES, Bryan Orville R
264. CISNEROS, JR., Luis Q
265. CLAREZA, JR., Eleuterio E
266. CLAVERIA-BADONG, Veronica DL
267. CLEMENTE, Christine C
268. CLIMACO, Evangelenne V
269. CO, Gerald S
270. CO, Joahn T
271. CO, Jocelyn C
272. CO, Pia Isabel O
273. CO, Ray Ann M
274. COLINARES, Ma. Lourdes N
275. COLLADO, Chelmarie V
276. COLLADO, Reena Mae L
277. COLUMNA, Christopher P
278. COLUMNA, Lorelei R
279. COMAFAY, Melisa Jane B
280. CONCEPCION, Denise G
281. CONDE, Eduard C
282. CONDE-NGOLAB, Jenny D
283. CONSUNJI, Mary Gladys Stephanie G
284. CORNEL, Charles B
285. CORPUS, Mario Lorenzo V
286. CORPUZ, Sheila I
287. CORRALES, Joan Rouella P
288. COSCOLLUELA, Shawn Dustin B
289. CRISOSTOMO, Danielle Alessandra D
290. CRISPINO, Ma. Kristine Rhem T
291. CRUZ, Alejandro Arlan P
292. CRUZ, Faith Roslyndale T
293. CRUZ, Jinky Ann H
294. CRUZ, Katrina P
295. CRUZ, Kristine Clarisse L
296. CU, Krystle Ritz T
297. CULA, Darwin H
298. CULVERA, Don H
299. CUNANAN, Paul Vincent T
300. CUNTAPAY, Girlie Mei D
301. CURAMMENG, JR., Reynold B
302. CUSTODIO, Alexandria Demi A
303. CUYO, Emerson G
304. DAAN, Evita A
305. DABBAY, Vincent Ray F
306. DADAYAN, Farouk M
307. DAGANTA, Fely Rose R
308. DAHAP, Maria Laurice G
309. DAMAOLAO, Rodelo Martin M
310. DAMASCO, Alex B
311. DAMASCO, Israel A
312. DATOC, Charmaine P
313. DAUZ, Timothy Clark B
314. DAVID, Jose Angelo A
315. DAVIDE, Patricia Janelli A
316. DAWAY, Rhey David S
317. DAYAG, Florian Kim P
318. DAYAG, Steven M
319. DAYPUYAT, Shylla Fe C
320. DE ALBAN, Dominic Victor C
321. DE ASIS, Aveneer K
322. DE CASTRO, Mardane Gizelle A
323. DE GRACIA, Angela Marie M
324. DE GUIA, Anne Rose R
325. DE GUZMAN, Aljon D
326. DE GUZMAN, Catleya L
327. DE GUZMAN, Pristine B
328. DE JESUS, Nerissa N
329. DE JESUS, Philip Edward A
330. DE JESUS, Tracy Ann DJ
331. DE LA CRUZ, Alma Isabel T
332. DE LA CRUZ, Gizle M
333. DE LA CRUZ, John Rafael T
334. DE LA FUENTE, Larry V
335. DE LA ROSA, Barbara Irene Y
336. DE LEON, Dino S
337. DE LEON, Girlie Venus E
338. DE LEON, Isaac D
339. DE LEON, Kaycee Ann B
340. DE MESA, Jennifer D
341. DEE, Celine Melanie A
342. DEE, Czarina Angelie B
343. DEINLA, Josalee S
344. DEL FONSO, Westly Rey V
345. DEL ROSARIO, Delañarose A
346. DEL ROSARIO, Mary Grace O
347. DELA CRUZ, Carissa Leonor Xyza I
348. DELA CRUZ, Dana Genevieve C
349. DELA CRUZ, Dennis L
350. DELA CRUZ, Jan Michael S
351. DELA CRUZ, Jastine Marie B
352. DELA CRUZ, Jemuel B
353. DELA CRUZ, Julian Rodrigo A
354. DELA CRUZ, Kenneth Lloyd G
355. DELA CRUZ, Rozanne B
356. DELA CUESTA, Jay Marie C
357. DELA ROSA, Bryan Lloyd L
358. DELA ROSA, Maridel P
359. DELFIN, Cherry Marie E
360. DELFIN, Estelle Marielle F
361. DELGADO, Honey Rose E
362. DELGADO, Romella M
363. DELGADO, Tristan Matthew T
364. DELOS ANGELES, JR., Domingo P
365. DELOS REYES, Angelico Zenon M
366. DELOS REYES, Mark Erwin W
367. DELOS SANTOS, Glenn D
368. DELOS SANTOS, Madelyn C
369. DELOSO, Omar P
370. DEMAIN, Nathaniel P
371. DEMAISIP, Ma. Josephine Gerardine N
372. DESUYO, Jo-ana Marie P
373. DIAL-QUIGAO, Ma. Ramelisa D
374. DIALOGO, Karlo M
375. DIAMANTE, Mary Joy Anne A
376. DIANA, John Ronnel D
377. DIAZ, Fideliz Cardellie B
378. DIAZ, Jan Jason Jendrik C
379. DIAZ, Maria Lovella M
380. DIEGO, Marshall Ellis M
381. DINSAY, V, Frank Eduard C
382. DISCIPULO, Gierne Gail Q
383. DIZON, Erika C
384. DIZON, Rose Angelique P
385. DIZON, JR., Arthur B
386. DOCTOLERO, Julie L
387. DOMEYEG, Carla O
388. DOMINGO, Riyah Lalaine L
389. DOMINO, Jenny Jean B
390. DORIA, Loreto B
391. DORINGO, Seychelles June M
392. DRILON, Christian A
393. DRILON, Patrick C
394. DULAY, Jericson D
395. DUMALASA, Sean Paulo M
396. DUMALOS, Cirille Anne L
397. DUMANAT, Janellee A
398. DUMAYAS, Daryl Ray F
399. DYCHITAN, Pamela Marie F
400. EBDANE, Bayani S
401. ECALNIR, Erol Roudel C
402. ECHAVEZ, Ronna Lissa E
403. ECHIVERRI, Kingjohn Ericson M
404. ELMIDO, Jan Christopher P
405. ENDALUZ, Marie Jourgen B
406. ENRIQUEZ, Claire Joy G
407. ENRIQUEZ, Gabriel Alfonso C
408. ERANDIO, Athena Louise F
409. ESCALADA, Ryan Carlo P
410. ESCOLANO, Paul Medard L
411. ESCOSURA-BUSTAMANTE, Leslie C
412. ESCOTO, Jamie P
413. ESCOVILLA, Joseph Patrick O
414. ESGUERRA, Rafael Rodrigo S
415. ESPARAGUERA, Miguel A
416. ESPELETA, Camille Angela M
417. ESPERANZA, Annaliza G
418. ESPINA, Carlo Eduardo M
419. ESPINOSA, Carol-v S
420. ESPINOSA, Jose Joven Paulo M
421. ESPINOSA, Ma. Monica Leticia T
422. ESPIRITU, Aizelle Marie D
423. ESPIRITU, Elaine Rose Z
424. ESQUIVEL, Ron-erwin D
425. ESQUIVIAS, Ma. Carmela Florentyna A
426. ESTEBAN, Gelie Erika P
427. ESTELLA, Jessrey G
428. ESTOLAS, Benjamin Jose S
429. EVANGELISTA, Abigail F
430. EVANGELISTA, Carlo F
431. EXMUNDO, Reisa Marie J
432. FABICO, Krizia Yvette O
433. FABILE, Abigail M
434. FACUNLA, Jeffrey M
435. FALCIS, III, Jesus Nicardo M
436. FARCON, Jose Florinio Y
437. FELIX, Christine Angelica D
438. FELIX, Razel Ann P
439. FELIZMENIO, Marinella P
440. FERNAN, Harry Gwynn Omar M
441. FERNANDEZ, James Abalos
442. FERNANDEZ, Kae Dee C
443. FERNANDEZ, Meriam Consuelo B
444. FERNANDEZ, II, Antonio Timothy A
445. FERNIN, Michael Jayson S
446. FERRER, Jefferson Wilfredo P
447. FERRER, Julius Abraham C
448. FERRER-LEGASPI, Jan Adrienne B
449. FLORDELIZA, Henry C
450. FLORES, Danilo S
451. FORTALEZA, Karen F
452. FRAGANTE, Criela DF
453. FRANCISCO, Oliver G
454. FRIAS, Jerome Bart M
455. FUCOY, Alyssa Agustina A
456. FUECONCILLO-EVANGELISTA, Aleander P
457. FURUYAMA, Ken D
458. GA, Marianne Aiza T
459. GADOR, Ken R
460. GAHOL, Ralph Laurence M
461. GALAGAR, Philip S
462. GALAN, Cherie Amor C
463. GALANG, Roi Andrei S
464. GALAROSA, Michael Vincent C
465. GALENDEZ, Ellen P
466. GALIT, Emmanuel P
467. GALIT, Neil Brian P
468. GALLEGO, Erika Marie V
469. GALLITO, Patrick M
470. GALON, Harold A
471. GALOS, III, Reparado B
472. GALVEZ, Micaela Kristina V
473. GAMBOA, Josine Alexandra S
474. GAMILLA, Kristia Anne S
475. GANDIA, Tephanie M
476. GANZON, Pearl Margaret C
477. GARCIA, Cesar Domini C
478. GARCIA, Gil, Ii E
479. GARCIA, Lordie Grace D
480. GARCIA, Vianne Marie O
481. GARGAR, Ma. Edaliza J
482. GARINGAN, Francesse C
483. GARMA, Angelica C
484. GAUDIEL, Kristine T
485. GAUNA, Maria Rufa Theresa S
486. GAVIOLA, Gian Franco G
487. GAYOS, Edgardo Alexander O
488. GELVEZON-TABITA, Salvacion
489. GEVERO, Sergie V
490. GIBA, Analyn M
491. GIDUCOS, Mohammad Jamalul J
492. GIRONELLA, Genesis John R
493. GLEYO, Marco Ray S
494. GLIPONEO, Lizglen L
495. GO, Eden Jerby C
496. GO, Rom- Raison E
497. GODINEZ, John Henley C
498. GONZALES, Claudine Joy C
499. GONZALES, Edwin Prince I
500. GONZALES, Jeffrey Jay C
501. GONZALES, Sharwina W
502. GRAGEDA-FLORES, Joanna Mayelle T
503. GRAIDO, Helen Maureen V
504. GRANTOZA, Camille Jennifer L
505. GRATELA, Merl Margaret O
506. GREGORY, Ma. Nenita Yumi N
507. GREPO, Carla Regina P
508. GREPO, Jesse Raphael R
509. GRUBA, Katherine Therese
510. GRUESO, Niña A
511. GUBAT, Bennet A
512. GUCO, Jammelle Marie A
513. GUERRERO, Ellis Emmanuel M
514. GUIANG, Francis Gil D
515. GUIANG, Mary Algen E
516. GUINIGUNDO, Dan Abraham G
517. GURO, Mojahid S
518. GUTIERREZ, Ricardo Jesus E
519. GUTIERREZ, JR., Eduardo R
520. GUZMAN, Roger Joseph S
521. HAMDAG, Princess D
522. HAO, Louie Lynne T
523. HARDER, Irene Estela T
524. HATOL, Michelle Marie U
525. HAULO, Oilie S
526. HERNANDEZ, Ana Victoria S
527. HERNANDEZ, Charmaine M
528. HERNANDEZ, Jason A
529. HERNANDEZ, Michael Vincent T
530. HERRERA, Grethel L
531. HERRERA, Mara Kristina G
532. HERRERA, Michael Kris Ben T
533. HERRERO, Vanessa T
534. HIRANG-OLAVE, Katrina Isabel P
535. HIZON, Jaybee S
536. HIZON, Kenneth James Carlo C
537. HIZON, King James Carlo C
538. HUFANO, Jack Bryan D
539. IBARRA, Joahnes Crizelle T
540. IBARRA, Lucille Mae L
541. IBAÑEZ, Charmaine C
542. IGNACIO, Azyleah V
543. ILAGAN, Ma. Karla Josee C
544. ILORETA, Debbie Joy I
545. INFANTE, Seth M
546. INTAL, Pauline Grace R
547. INTIG, Estela Joy M
548. ISIDRO, Evangeline M
549. ISIDRO, III, Maximo S
550. ISLES, Maychelle A
551. IWAY, Lourdes Mary L
552. JAMILLA, Nicole Rose Margaret D
553. JATAYNA, Emmanuel A
554. JAVIER, Karen O
555. JAVIER, Paolo Miguel V
556. JAVILLONAR, J-ann Violeta J
557. JAVIÑA-RODRIGUEZ, Jean Violette A
558. JONGKO, Jan Michael R
559. JUANENGO, Ma. Katrina Nadine G
560. JUMAWAN, Ruel O
561. JUNI, Noel S
562. JUSI, Czarina Vijulet N
563. KADATAR-MALDIS, Feliza C
564. KALANG-AD, Manuel, Jr. C
565. KIAT-ONG, Aaron A
566. KO, Marianne Karyl C
567. KO, Richard V
568. KOGA, Ken B
569. KUA, Kesterson T
570. LABASTIDA, Mae N
571. LABAYO, Hale Oliver M
572. LABRADOR, Ernielineo B
573. LACAP, Danielle Angela R
574. LACO, Reginald L
575. LACSINA, Clarabel Anne R
576. LADLAD, Joseph C
577. LAGASCA, Kamille Deanne M
578. LAGUING, Robert Paul G
579. LAGURA, Valerius Rufino B
580. LAQUI, Dahlia D
581. LARES, Yaye D
582. LARINO, Emily Joy A
583. LASQUITE, Jesus Franco B
584. LAURITO, Karen F
585. LAURITO, Roderick C
586. LAWYER, Christian Apollo U
587. LAYLO, John Albert B
588. LAYOG, Francis Mark H
589. LAZARO, Phoebe Ann F
590. LEAÑO, Czarina Janis Rhaetia
591. LEAÑO, I, Conrad Ezra M
592. LEDDA, Joanna Katrina L
593. LEE, Marvin Andrew C
594. LEGARDE, Ludanielle N
595. LEGASPI, Jenelyn B
596. LEONARDO, Micaella N
597. LEONES, Christine S
598. LEYSON, Brian B
599. LIAO, Michelle D
600. LIBATIQUE, Jewel F
601. LIGGAYU, Ryan M
602. LIM, Christian Louie U
603. LIM, Cristine C
604. LIM, Gretchel N
605. LIM, Innah Samantha S
606. LIM, Ma. Margarita S
607. LIM, Ryan Jade D
608. LIM, Shery Paige A
609. LIMBO-CABUHAT, Verna S
610. LIMQUIACO, Jared G
611. LINGAO, Cherylette P
612. LIRIA, Carmel G
613. LIWAG, Vernice C
614. LLANERA, Mary Ann B
615. LLANILLO, Jasper June G
616. LLAVE, Miguel Leander L
617. LLESIS, Arbie S
618. LO, Rhodora P
619. LOBO, Jemuel Paolo M
620. LOMOTAN, Jonathan Joseph R
621. LOPEZ, Jayson Pangilinan
622. LOPEZ, Joseph S
623. LOPEZ, Marco Angelo Felix L
624. LORENZO, Ann Margaret K
625. LORENZO, Jan Michael D
626. LORESCA, Lovelyn C
627. LORETO, Emmallaine Leonille V
628. LOVERIA, Roman Carlo R
629. LUCIDO, Le Iris T
630. LUCMAN, Hijara-stephanie B
631. LUCMAYON, Juris Anne G
632. LUMAAD, Roseanne E
633. LUMANLAN, Ralfh Aldrin M
634. LUMANOG, Erlaine Vanessa D
635. LUMBRE, Charmaine Joy V
636. LUMINARIAS, Coleen Claudette R
637. LUNA, Alden Reuben B
638. MABA, Samaira C
639. MABULAC, II, Bienvenido L
640. MACALANDA, April Fleurenz Rose C
641. MACARAEG, Mc Guelvin S
642. MACARAMBON, Sa'aduddin L
643. MACASPAC, Teresa Micaela M
644. MADARANG, Patricia A
645. MADARIETA, Ma Cristina M
646. MADKI, Normalah S
647. MADLANGBAYAN, Mariel C
648. MADRIAGA, Marie Kris C
649. MADRID, Kristoffer Gabriel L
650. MADRID, Riceli G
651. MAGABO, Regine Joy L
652. MAGALANG, Sandra Mae T
653. MAGALLANES, Cliff-cyril A
654. MAGALLANES, Clyde L
655. MAGALLANES, Katrina Mae P
656. MAGAT, Kristianne S
657. MAGBANUA, Mary Angela R
658. MAGBANUA-ANJALIN, Mae Joyce S
659. MAGDAMIT, Moiselle G
660. MAGDAONG, JR., Jorge B
661. MAGHIRANG, Ariel P
662. MAGPANTAY, Regine Empress P
663. MAGPILI, Joe F
664. MAHINAY, Richelle Lou B
665. MAIGUE, Rameses M
666. MAIRINA, Renie R
667. MALALUAN, Krisandra Ann D
668. MALAMUG, Jena Lemienne Mae A
669. MALATE, August Lizer M
670. MALAYLAY, Levi Anthony B
671. MALICAD, Yentl D
672. MANALO, Kriselle Joy B
673. MANALO, Samantha Grace N
674. MANAYON, Diana P
675. MANCELITA, Marga May L
676. MANDIGMA-AGUILA, Jenny M
677. MANDOCDOC, Lisette A
678. MANGAWANG, Ma. Felora A
679. MANGELEN, Aljuhari U
680. MANGUBAT, Loida C
681. MANIEGO, Kristine Rossellini P
682. MANILA, Antonio Ceasar R
683. MANTOS, Beryl B
684. MANUEL, Karen Kaye C
685. MANZANA, Phillip Miguel C
686. MANZANERO, Doren May F
687. MANZANERO, Jeronimo U
688. MAPALO, Ma. Carla P
689. MAQUIRANG, Maria Cecilia S
690. MARCELLA, Ma. Rosann M
691. MARQUEZ, Maria Gwendolyn B
692. MARQUINA, Marlon R
693. MARTIN, Nico Robert R
694. MASACOTE, Ma. Angela D
695. MASANGKAY, Kristel Joy A
696. MATALANG, Mylalyn A
697. MATEO, Oliver P
698. MATIAS, Jamie Angeli T
699. MATIAS, Marvin A
700. MATIBAG, Marc Justin Basil D
701. MATILING, Lorraine Kier J
702. MATIONG, Hennessy Keshia T
703. MEDIJA, Joy Ann V
704. MEDINA, Eilyn E
705. MEJIA, Janine Angela T
706. MENDIOLA, Raiza Nicole G
707. MENDOZA, Jose Maria G
708. MENDOZA, Mark Evan V
709. MENDOZA, Mary Catherine L
710. MENDOZA, Niña Suzette M
711. MENDOZA, Othello, Ii M
712. MENDOZA, Roxanne Marie A
713. MERCADO, Edwina A
714. MERCADO, Kenneth N
715. MESINA, Mari Janine Evan D
716. MIGUEL, Ellis L
717. MILANES, Rainier Anthony M
718. MILLENA, Rebeca G
719. MINA, James Anthony R
720. MINDARO, Cesar Augustine N
721. MIRANDA, Gian Carlo E
722. MISCREOLA, Herbert B
723. MONSANTO-NEDAMO, Kristine Athena H
724. MORADA, Neil John M
725. MORAÑA, Aimee C
726. MORAÑA, Chleriza Vinky C
727. MORO, Karl Kristjan B
728. MOSCOSO, Chad Martin D
729. MUSNI, Czarina Golda S
730. MUTIANGPILI, Jhoana Marie P
731. NADAL, Jordan V
732. NADONGA, Jeremae R
733. NAGPALA, Carlo Benedict L
734. NARAG, Christopher B
735. NARTATEZ, Carell Ryza E
736. NATIVIDAD, Angelique Margret T
737. NAVARRO, Danielle Mae D
738. NAVARRO, Elvira Denise DM
739. NAVARRO, Kristina R
740. NAVARRO, Peter John T
741. NAVIDA, Veromic E
742. NAYRE, Maria Liza L
743. NEPOMUCENO, Tarcila B
744. NG, Kenneth S
745. NGO, Angelo Bernard O
746. NIEVA, Aubin Arn R
747. NISPEROS, Benedict G
748. NIÑOLAS, Hazel B
749. NOBLE, Alexis Joseph R
750. NOCOM, Roger T
751. NOR, Mark Esmael R
752. NUEGA, Gregory A
753. NUESTRO, Noel G
754. OBEJAS, Kim David M
755. OCABA, Barbara Anne B
756. OCAMPO, Jo Marianni P
757. OCFEMIA, Rea Niña O
758. OCHOA, Ma. Claribel M
759. OCHOCO, Neil Eric E
760. OCLARIT, Janet K
761. OCTAVIANO, Clarence T
762. OCTAVIANO, Leslie Anne O
763. OCUPE, Raymund L
764. ODIVILAS, Thea Amor O
765. ODTOJAN, Leodeeanne Cl T
766. OJA, Redemtor A
767. OLBES, Maricel N
768. OMBAWA, Nassiym A
769. OMNES, Reynaldo R
770. ONG, Evangeline C
771. ONG, Kimverly A
772. ONG ABRANTES, Raymund Christian S
773. ONGSON, Cherry Amor V
774. ONOFRE, Charlon Jay M
775. ONTAL, Benedict D
776. OPORTO, Rule Amethyst L
777. ORCULLO, Hazel Beth D
778. ORIOSTE, JR., Alfonso L
779. ORTAL, Philip Marion A
780. ORTIZ, Jet Mark O
781. OSDON, Charity Anne
782. OSORIO, JR., Ramero S
783. OSOTEO, Maureen Kascha L
784. OZAKI, Kazuma B
785. PAA, Juman B
786. PABLITO, Joshua P
787. PABLO, Niña Gracia L
788. PACETE, May Flor E
789. PACHECO, Leslie Ann M
790. PADLAN, Glaiza May M
791. PAGANAJE, Gladys U
792. PAGDILAO, Kimberly Rose L
793. PAGUIO, Angela Michelle A
794. PAKIL, Ben Taib M
795. PALAD, Daneia Isabelle F
796. PALATTAO, Claudine M
797. PALLONES, Jhoy DR
798. PALMIERY, Fritzielyn Q
799. PALOLA-DE VERA, Elizabeth C
800. PAMATMAT, John Red C
801. PANCIPANCI, Maria Socorro T
802. PANELO, Daniel Von Evan O
803. PANGAN, Ma. Angela B
804. PANGILINAN, Edmund Christian S
805. PANGILINAN, Rafael D
806. PANOPIO, Ashleigh P
807. PAQUIT, Sherlyn P
808. PARADO, II, Medardo T
809. PARAGAS, Mary Niña S
810. PARINGIT, II, Eduardo G
811. PARO, Annie Rose D
812. PARONE, JR., Briccio G
813. PARREÑAS, Ma. Princess F
814. PASCUA, Faye Angela M
815. PASCUAL, Carlo John R
816. PASCUAL, Karen Kate C
817. PASICOLAN, Sheila P
818. PATAC, Valerie Gayle J
819. PATAG, Neil-san G
820. PATAY, Dixie Jane N
821. PATINDOL, Jan Danelle A
822. PATIÑO, Juril B
823. PAUIG, Ferdinand T
824. PAUIG, Jose Bernabe T
825. PAYAWAL-ANGELES, Marianne T
826. PAZ, Ivyrose B
827. PEDRAJAS, Christine T
828. PELAYO, Jasper C
829. PEN, Kenilma E
830. PENACHOS, Patrick I
831. PEORO, Rolly Francis C
832. PEREZ, Bernalyn A
833. PEREZ, Mikko Paolo A
834. PEREZ-ONESA, Sofronia
835. PEÑA, Gideon V
836. PEÑA, Irene V
837. PEÑA, Patricia Ruth E
838. PIERAZ, Iñigo Gabriel C
839. PIJO-SERATE, Annabelle S
840. PILAPIL, JR., Rene G
841. PILARES, Ma. Kristina E
842. PILLOS, Christian F
843. PIMENTEL, Charity E
844. PIMENTEL, Korina Mae V
845. PINEDA, Glaiza V
846. PINGOL, Evan Carlos D
847. PIZARRO, Raymund Erwin M
848. PLATON, III, Vicente Jan O
849. PLECERDA, Kurt Francis O
850. POBLADOR, Maria Celia H
851. POCOT, Laarnie B
852. POLOYAPOY, Randy T
853. PONCE, Kathrina May R
854. POSADAS, Allen Joel G
855. PRESBITERO, Julian Santos B
856. PRIMICIAS, James Joash B
857. PRINCESA, Belen Cristina R
858. PUA, Elisa N
859. PUECA, Jenette O
860. PULLANTE, Irish Rosanne M
861. PUNO, Railla Veronica D
862. PUNZALAN, Jan Dexter B
863. PURA, Sheryl N
864. QUERIDO, Leo Joseph G
865. QUILANETA, Mark Peter M
866. QUIMPO, George Philip W
867. QUINTANA, Aldrin Mark M
868. QUINTO, Ramiila L
869. QUITAIN, Xel Alessandra R
870. QUODALA-FORMOSO, Joanne Janice Q
871. RAMIREZ, Almyrrh Krista F
872. RAMIREZ, Princess L
873. RAMIREZ, Susana Grace Q
874. RAMIREZ, Virlynn Rose R
875. RAMIZO, Jalou C
876. RAMON, Arnel G
877. RAMOS, Jan Aldrin C
878. RAYMUNDO, Katrina Veronica G
879. RAZON, Arvin Kristopher A
880. REAL, III, Jun Edward L
881. RECTO, Michelle Anne B
882. RED-LOCK, Karen Christine S
883. REDOÑA, Dem Thomas T
884. REGIS, Redem Tor F
885. REGONDOLA, Maria Cristina L
886. RELAMPAGOS, Neil Melton V
887. RELENTE, Ernest John G
888. RELLOSA, Rasiele Rebekah DL
889. REMULLA, Jammy Kate S
890. REMULLA, Nikka Bianca A
891. RENEGADO, Jonathan G
892. RESTAURO, Ruth N
893. RETUYA, Kenneth P
894. REY, Floyd Ericson M
895. REYES, Celerino S
896. REYES, Elmer C
897. REYES, Graciello Timothy D
898. REYES, Lee Realino F
899. REYES, Neil Noe C
900. REYES, Rose Ann P
901. REYES, Roy L
902. REYES, Stephanie Faye B
903. REYES, IV, Clemente L
904. RICARDO, Ruth V
905. RICO, II, Danilo R
906. RIGOR, Miguel Justin R
907. RIGOR-CONCEPCION, Aileen C
908. RIMANDO, Czar Alexis D
909. RIMBAN, Kris Francisco D
910. RIOS, Odenna M
911. RIVAS, Reina Carmel S
912. RIVAS, Vaia G
913. RIVERA, Jan Michael A
914. RIVERA, IV, Gelacio C
915. RIZADA, Julius Frencie M
916. RIZADA, Resci Angelli R
917. ROBLES, Anthony M
918. RODRIGO, Renante C
919. RODRIGUEZ, Ana Margarita A
920. RODRIGUEZ, Francia Romlina S
921. RODRIGUEZ, Paola Krista C
922. ROLEDA, Dimitri Luis T
923. ROLUSTA, Stephanie Joy A
924. ROMA, Shiree Amor P
925. ROMATAN, Rolynda Ezra B
926. ROSALES, Anna Jenny Marie A
927. ROSAS, Franz N
928. ROSETE, Jennifer M
929. ROTAP, John Paul R
930. ROXAS, Erwin E
931. ROÑO, Albert Michelson D
932. RUBIO, Jairus B
933. RUEDA, Rodave B
934. RUIZ, Caroline Socorre L
935. SABA, Cristian P
936. SABUGO, Karen Joy G
937. SACAR-GUILING, Minerva M
938. SADIARIN, Elizabeth Joy M
939. SAILE, Barbara Mae J
940. SALANG, Patricia Concepcion A
941. SALAS, Maria Patricia S
942. SALAZAR, Hanne N
943. SALGADO, Joliza Janelle D
944. SALI, Mohamad Jumer C
945. SALIDAGA, JR., Porferio A
946. SALIMO, Karen M
947. SALIVIO, Yani N
948. SALOMON, Johnittee Z
949. SALUD, Jan Raphael R
950. SALUDES, Ma. Elena R
951. SALUDO, Aaron Marc T
952. SALVA, Pierre Albert L
953. SALVADOR, Henesty Z
954. SALVADOR, II, Lincoln Raymond B
955. SAMAMA, Mohammad Omar A
956. SAMANIEGO, Diana B
957. SAMONTE, Debbie N
958. SAN MIGUEL, Isaiah G
959. SAN PEDRO, Danielle Francesca TC
960. SANCHEZ, Alma Sonia Q
961. SANCHEZ, Ehrnest John C
962. SANCHEZ, Jette Roy G
963. SANCHEZ, Jeza Mae Sarah C
964. SANCHEZ, JR., Raymond C
965. SANDOVAL, JR., Danilo R
966. SANLAO, Art Miguel B
967. SANTIAGO, January Faith B
968. SANTIAGO, Joyce C
969. SANTOS, Jose Justin T
970. SANTOS, Leo-aries Wynner O
971. SANTOS, Raphael D
972. SANTOS, JR., Manolo Aris M
973. SAQUILABON, Christian Lel M
974. SAQUING, Dennis C
975. SARSAGAT, Warren Wyndell D
976. SATO, Paul Tristan B
977. SAWIT, Ramon Jeriel S
978. SERAPIO, Angeli I
979. SERRANO, JR., Ismael T
980. SESO, Alexander D
981. SEVERINO, Emilia Concepcion D
982. SEÑAGAN, Richard Horace D
983. SHARIEF-TABAO, Sorayah M
984. SIAPNO, Liwawa D
985. SIBULO, Marianne C
986. SIENES, Anna-marie S
987. SIGUA, Sheryl E
988. SILVA, Juan Karlo B
989. SILVERIO-ACLAN, Irish L
990. SINCO-GASPAR, Imee Rose S
991. SINGCO, Jon S
992. SINSON, Marcus A
993. SISON, Jasmin M
994. SIY, JR., Wilson E
995. SIÑEL, Rachel Ann A
996. SOBERANO, Junalyn P
997. SOLA, Camille A
998. SOLARTE, Rex L
999. SOLIMAN, Nellaine Annabelle L
1000. SOLLER, April Gayle U
1001. SOLMIRANO, F. Alfontino A
1002. SORIA, Felice Suzanne D
1003. SOTTO, Priscilla Angela O
1004. STA. MARIA, Rafael Gregorio V
1005. SUAREZ, Zarah Patricia T
1006. SUAREZ, JR., Delfin M
1007. SUAREZ-ROTUGAL, Arra Jolly A
1008. SUCGANG, Justin DJ
1009. SUDIO, JR., Wilfredo P
1010. SUPNAD, Karen Feliz G
1011. SUPNET, Rani Angeli C
1012. SUPREMO, Ed Michael E
1013. SUPSUP, Beverly Joyce M
1014. SUYU, Richard L
1015. SY, Diana Willen T
1016. SY, Jerick Anthony J
1017. SY, Rizza Anne O
1018. TABALOC, Carlo C
1019. TABAYAG, Ernalyn J
1020. TABUGON, Jonathan O
1021. TADEO, Anna Camille M
1022. TADILI, Ernani T
1023. TAGLE, Ma. Rizza Blesilda V
1024. TAGUIBAO, Angieli Kim M
1025. TALA, Darlene Alvina P
1026. TALBIN, Noraiza Mae Keith M
1027. TAMESIS, Chris C
1028. TAN, Alfred Edison C
1029. TAN, Andrea G
1030. TAN, Diana Fe B
1031. TAN, Jayvee R
1032. TAN, Joseph E
1033. TAN, Reyena Luz M
1034. TAN, JR., Melvin S
1035. TANGKIA, Louie Marz A
1036. TANQUERIDO, Lyle Rose M
1037. TANSECO, Oliver S
1038. TANTOCO-BRIONES, Jecylene T
1039. TAY, Jonathan John V
1040. TAYCO, Clifford L
1041. TEJADA, Jedyne Venita O
1042. TEJADA, Trina Bianca O
1043. TELOW, Tania Stephanie T
1044. TENORIO, Al Brain C
1045. TEODORICO, Ron Fruto G
1046. TIBON, Rex Elmer G
1047. TIMBANG, Clarisa A
1048. TINAGAN, Dann Peter Douglas E
1049. TINAGAN, Jennifer Simone J
1050. TIONGSON, Frank Lloyd B
1051. TIONGSON, JR., Virgilio A
1052. TOLEDO, Lauren Angelic J
1053. TOLENTINO, Rio Therese E
1054. TONGOHAN, Gifany Ten-ten L
1055. TORION, Alvin A
1056. TORRES, Genevieve L
1057. TORRES, Maria Jerzy Aprille D
1058. TORRES, Raul Marie Ii C
1059. TUAZON, Lea Anne S
1060. TULIAO, Paolo C
1061. TUNG, Bryan Kevin O
1062. TUPAZ, Mikhail Valodya M
1063. TY, Catherine Anne T
1064. ULTRA, Ferminlino C
1065. UY, Michael Marlowe G
1066. VALDEPEÑAS, Via Monina C
1067. VALDEZ, Albert M
1068. VALDEZ, Francis Earl Anthony B
1069. VALENCIANO-ADALLA, Julie Ann A
1070. VALERIO, Jay-r M
1071. VALERO, Michael Ferdenand E
1072. VALLADA, Ariane Mae V
1073. VALLE, Andrew P
1074. VALLECERA, Virgil B
1075. VALLEJO, Raymond V
1076. VALLES, Daryl Ritchie A
1077. VALMORIA, Michael M
1078. VALPARAISO, Janice Ivy G
1079. VARGAS, Akira G
1080. VARGAS, Crisanne Del B
1081. VASQUEZ, Albert T
1082. VEDAN, Veda Marie D
1083. VEGA, Daniel C
1084. VELASQUEZ, Jenin Rosanne H
1085. VELAZCO, Joseph Brian Anthony A
1086. VELOSO, Maria Erika E
1087. VICTORIA, Chaucer A
1088. VICTORIANO, Michael Gerard T
1089. VIDAL, Mirabel R
1090. VIEJO, Michelle Anne P
1091. VIERNES, Rhodalice Michelle S
1092. VILCHES, Alessandra C
1093. VILLA, Ralph N
1094. VILLACORTA, Jose V
1095. VILLALOBOS, An-ja B
1096. VILLAMOR, Niva C
1097. VILLANUEVA, Carla Carmela F
1098. VILLANUEVA, Christian Daniel P
1099. VILLANUEVA, Diega D
1100. VILLANUEVA, Drina A
1101. VILLANUEVA, Michelle A
1102. VILLAR, Loris Marriel B
1103. VILLARICO, Niel John A
1104. VILLARINO, Frances Jan C
1105. VILLENA, Katrina Jorelle P
1106. VILORIA, II, Jessie Villamor J
1107. VINZON, Albert Lawrence A
1108. VIVAS, Angelica F
1109. WAGAS, Darling Chyrmyth
1110. WAKAY, Aileen Joyce L
1111. WEE SIT, Joseph M
1112. WILLIAM, Mhelanie C
1113. YANGSON, Jerson T
1114. YAP, Bojhee Bobby A
1115. YAP, III, Enrique A
1116. YSON, Pamela Marie R
1117. YU, Anne Janelle O
1118. YU, Jamie Liz F
1119. YUMUL, Jena Mae M
1120. ZABALA, JR., Genie R
1121. ZACATE, Zandy A
1122. ZAMORA, Harvey Ecker A
1123. ZANTUA, JR., Emilio V
1124. ZORETA, Jeanina Melle A
1125. ZUBIRI, Jennie Lyn T
1126. ZULUETA, Marian Lucille D
2. ABALA, Angela Ray T
3. ABALOS, Charinne Hanako M
4. ABANTAS, Shidik T
5. ABAQUITA, JR., Gideon Florante A
6. ABBU, Rufeliz Ann S
7. ABDULLAH, Shayma A
8. ABEJO, Klein Charisse B
9. ABELINDE, Rachel Jane A
10. ABELLA, Angelo R
11. ABELLAR, Mae Ann B
12. ABO, Marvi R
13. ABSIN, Roh Dundee E
14. ABUBAKAR, Gibran B
15. ACASILI, Carl Jillson B
16. ACOSTA, Kristian Nico C
17. ADDAUAN, Francis John A
18. ADLAWAN, Catherine R
19. ADRIANO, Amos Mikhail S
20. ADRIAS, Alma M
21. AGA, Maria Angelica I
22. AGOT, Virnee Joy T
23. AGUANTA, JR., Alejandro E
24. AGUILA, Katrina Elaine C
25. AGUILAR, Christianne P
26. AGUILAR, Francis Ma. G
27. AGUILAR, Jeffrey G
28. AGUTO, Jorneil M
29. ALAMPAY, Maria Patricia N
30. ALAVA, Sylvester A
31. ALBA, Andres Jose M
32. ALBA, Carlo Edison F
33. ALBERTO, Althea Rosanna V
34. ALCANTARA, Francis D
35. ALCANTARA, Regine Andrei P
36. ALCARAZ, Pauline Breissee Gayle D
37. ALCOBILLA, Irene Mae B
38. ALCONERA, Dinnah Mae A
39. ALEGATO, Sul Jolly Angelo V
40. ALEGRE, Remy Rose A
41. ALEJANDRO, Ezerh M
42. ALERTA, Jommel Jann Kris A
43. ALFONSO, Aza M
44. ALFONSO, Erika M
45. ALFORQUE, Dani Q
46. ALHAMBRA, Phoebe Marie V
47. ALIGA, Gwyneth G
48. ALLAREY, Princess Carra C
49. ALMONTE, Mae Lyn T
50. ALONZO, Katherine D
51. ALVAREZ, Jeffrey R
52. ALVAREZ, Paola Sherina A
53. ALVIAR, Joyce B
54. AMAHIT, Floyd Barry C
55. AMARAJA, Yildrim T
56. AMCAY, Jonjon B
57. AMEN, Catherine S
58. AMIL, Jayric L
59. AMILING, Evelyn S
60. AMINAO, Charmine May C
61. AMOR, III, Jaime J
62. ANDAYA-TAY, Melissa Antonette D
63. ANDO, Mayus Ryan D
64. ANDRES, Jennylyn N
65. ANG, Rollie C
66. ANG, Victor Reynaldo C
67. ANGELES, Bernard Allan V
68. ANGELES, Cyrine Anne G
69. ANGUE, Aileen Rose J
70. ANOD, Myra A
71. ANTALAN, Sheena Lynne L
72. ANTONIO, Alexis Francis B
73. ANTONIO, Cristina I
74. APAYA, Edrian M
75. APELLIDO, Kristine Grace O
76. AQUINO, Kathlene G
77. AQUINO, Mark David I
78. ARAGON, Yya E
79. ARBAS, Andrei Christopher G
80. ARCE, Jerome B
81. ARELLANO, Alvin Anthony V
82. ARGEL, Golda Margareth D
83. ARIATE, Eunice Carmela M
84. ARIÑO, Jacob T
85. ARNADO, III, Teofilo C
86. ARONGAT, Arthur John E
87. ARRAIZA, Cheska Maude L
88. ARZAGA, Jeffrey D
89. ARZAGA, Odessa Buena C
90. ATIENZA, Gian Joseph P
91. ATITIW, Victor Corpus J
92. ATON, Carla Zoila Y
93. AUMENTADO, Adrian F
94. AUREUS, Vincent Noel A
95. AUSTRIA, Erastus Sandino B
96. AVILA, Alyssa Daphne M
97. AVISO, Ma. Louise C
98. AYUYAO, Maris Angelica C
99. BABATUAN, Leslie Joie E
100. BACANI, Marlyn R
101. BACATAN, Angeline J
102. BACCAY, Yolanda A
103. BACHOCO, Ed Charles P
104. BACLAY, Francis Paul U
105. BADUA, Kristofferson E
106. BAETIONG, Ma. Adoracion J
107. BAGAGNAN, Ruther Adrian F
108. BAGANG, Darrell L
109. BAGAY, Rose Ann R
110. BAGUIO, Jan Mark P
111. BAGULAYA, Jose Joannes S
112. BALBAS, Julius Harvey P
113. BALDIA, Edwin Marc T
114. BALINANG, JR., Luvimindo R
115. BALITON, Malucar P
116. BALMES, Kriselle S
117. BALT, Al-rashid L
118. BALT, Aminah C
119. BALTAZAR, John Philip A
120. BALUCAN, Chembeelyn A
121. BALVERDE, Roan U
122. BANAAG, Steffi Reizza E
123. BANDOMA, Jon Andre C
124. BANZON, Melvin Joseph L
125. BARBARA, Ailene B
126. BARDOQUILLO, Leah Lara M
127. BARENG, Shiel Joy G
128. BARRAMEDA, Eljay Jose M
129. BARREDO, Grethel G
130. BARTOLOME, Ana Karina P
131. BARTOLOME, Karol Chaim P
132. BASMAYOR, Michelle V
133. BATACAN-CAMACHO, Renizza Belle E
134. BATERNA, Jared Marc E
135. BATNAG, Odina E
136. BATU, Karen S
137. BATUNGBACAL, Mina Franchesca D
138. BAUNTO, Hapsah S
139. BAUTISTA, Diana Roselle V
140. BAUTISTA, Nino Carlo C
141. BAUTISTA, Pearl Charisse D
142. BAUTISTA, Veronicaliza H
143. BAUZON, Lanie V
144. BAYAD, Bernadette M
145. BAYAD, JR., Fernando T
146. BAYANG, Maria Victoria A
147. BAYOT, Miguel R
148. BAÑAGA, Robbie M
149. BEJEMINO, Mark Leo P
150. BELEY-ARNESTO, Mary Rose T
151. BELLO, Cristina Marie T
152. BELTRAN, Mikhail Julwyn B
153. BENAID, Wynchill B
154. BENEDIAN, JR., Pablito C
155. BENITEZ, Cecille T
156. BENTULAN, JR., Alfredo L
157. BERCASIO, Jela Myka LL
158. BERNAL, Samantha Lei R
159. BERNALES, Rolando A
160. BERNARDINO, Abigail F
161. BERNARDO, Jansen F
162. BERNARDO-SAGABAEN, Mary Ann N
163. BERNASOR, Lou Wella Mae S
164. BESAÑES, Niño G
165. BILOCURA, Jennelyn D
166. BINAY, Sharmagne Joy A
167. BINULUAN, Junerick N
168. BIRAO, Emmanuel G
169. BLANCO, Chiara Angela L
170. BOHOL, Illac G
171. BOJADOR, Francis Lauro R
172. BONAOBRA, Kevin A
173. BONIFACIO, Ma. Angela B
174. BONTUYAN, Diwa Rafael B
175. BORJA, Diane Camilla R
176. BORRICANO, Doreen F
177. BOSANTOG, Jonathan P
178. BRAGAT, Ophie Easter M
179. BRAMPIO, Aubrey Joy D
180. BRILLANTES, Constanza B
181. BRIONES, Niña Arlyn L
182. BRIONES, Reuben T
183. BRUTAS, Jolas E
184. BUBAN, III, Mamerto N
185. BUENA, Kriska Marna A
186. BUENA, Mark Orline S
187. BUENAOBRA, Jomyr B
188. BUENO, Flordeliz Marina U
189. BUENO, Ma. Anna Margarita V
190. BUENO, Mikhail Lenin B
191. BUGARIN, Matisa C
192. BUGAYONG, Vanessa S
193. BULANGA-CASINILLO, Diana Michelle T
194. BUOT, Krisben Zilner P
195. BUSALPA, Genny Pearl B
196. BUYSER, Jed Lance C
197. CABADING, James Michael D
198. CABANILLA, Jonna C
199. CABANTING, Arwin V
200. CABATINGAN, Alpi Andro B
201. CABAYSA, Elvis Bennet C
202. CABRERA, Daniel Rafael G
203. CABRIGA, Catalino R
204. CABUGSA, Josephus G
205. CACERES, Ira I
206. CACHO, Aireen M
207. CADIGAL, Jose Almarius P
208. CADIZ, Leonel P
209. CAFE, Ryan P
210. CAGA-ANAN, Cathleen Terry E
211. CALALANG, Joseph Ivan V
212. CALDERON, Geoffry A
213. CALDERON, Leah Zilpah A
214. CALLETONG, Jasmin G
215. CALUAG, Bon Jeffrey M
216. CALUGAY, Dongil T
217. CALULOT, Marinelle M
218. CALURA, JR., Quirino E
219. CAMBRI, Marydine L
220. CANIBAN, Mark Darryl A
221. CAPILI, Remar S
222. CARABBACAN, John John B
223. CARDENAS, Antonio Miguel M
224. CARDIÑO, Kent C
225. CARILLO, Janilet Mishelle R
226. CARLOS, Archie G
227. CARLOS, VI, Richard Lee B
228. CARPENA, Blessie Rose L
229. CASIGURAN, Roselle U
230. CASIL, Mariane S
231. CASTAÑEDA, Jose Francisco E
232. CASTILLO, Alyssa Carmelli P
233. CASTILLO, Gerard M
234. CASTRO, Bethel Edgar B
235. CASTRO-ZAPATA, Abigail P
236. CATACUTAN, Ace Joseph B
237. CATALAN, Mia Laine C
238. CAUAN, IV, Cayetano B
239. CAYCO, Patricia Gail V
240. CAÑETE, Edan Marri R
241. CAÑETE, Sarah Jean G
242. CELERA, Emme Cheayanne S
243. CELERIDAD, Paolo O
244. CELSO, Ellen Faye L
245. CENIZA, Michael G
246. CERILLES, JR., Mario C
247. CERVANTES, Dindo R
248. CHAGUILE, Michelle A
249. CHAN, Clariesse Jami Mari A
250. CHAN, Howard Y
251. CHAN, Joyce Aiza Z
252. CHAN, Wharton R
253. CHAVEZ, Sarah Lynn G
254. CHEN, Mara Kriska L
255. CHEW, James Earl R
256. CHI, Julius Czar G
257. CHOI, Jacqueline Mae S
258. CHUA, Chantal C
259. CHUA, Edric Christian E
260. CHUA, Jennica C
261. CHUA, Rachel Bernadette B
262. CHUA, Ronald O
263. CIPRES, Bryan Orville R
264. CISNEROS, JR., Luis Q
265. CLAREZA, JR., Eleuterio E
266. CLAVERIA-BADONG, Veronica DL
267. CLEMENTE, Christine C
268. CLIMACO, Evangelenne V
269. CO, Gerald S
270. CO, Joahn T
271. CO, Jocelyn C
272. CO, Pia Isabel O
273. CO, Ray Ann M
274. COLINARES, Ma. Lourdes N
275. COLLADO, Chelmarie V
276. COLLADO, Reena Mae L
277. COLUMNA, Christopher P
278. COLUMNA, Lorelei R
279. COMAFAY, Melisa Jane B
280. CONCEPCION, Denise G
281. CONDE, Eduard C
282. CONDE-NGOLAB, Jenny D
283. CONSUNJI, Mary Gladys Stephanie G
284. CORNEL, Charles B
285. CORPUS, Mario Lorenzo V
286. CORPUZ, Sheila I
287. CORRALES, Joan Rouella P
288. COSCOLLUELA, Shawn Dustin B
289. CRISOSTOMO, Danielle Alessandra D
290. CRISPINO, Ma. Kristine Rhem T
291. CRUZ, Alejandro Arlan P
292. CRUZ, Faith Roslyndale T
293. CRUZ, Jinky Ann H
294. CRUZ, Katrina P
295. CRUZ, Kristine Clarisse L
296. CU, Krystle Ritz T
297. CULA, Darwin H
298. CULVERA, Don H
299. CUNANAN, Paul Vincent T
300. CUNTAPAY, Girlie Mei D
301. CURAMMENG, JR., Reynold B
302. CUSTODIO, Alexandria Demi A
303. CUYO, Emerson G
304. DAAN, Evita A
305. DABBAY, Vincent Ray F
306. DADAYAN, Farouk M
307. DAGANTA, Fely Rose R
308. DAHAP, Maria Laurice G
309. DAMAOLAO, Rodelo Martin M
310. DAMASCO, Alex B
311. DAMASCO, Israel A
312. DATOC, Charmaine P
313. DAUZ, Timothy Clark B
314. DAVID, Jose Angelo A
315. DAVIDE, Patricia Janelli A
316. DAWAY, Rhey David S
317. DAYAG, Florian Kim P
318. DAYAG, Steven M
319. DAYPUYAT, Shylla Fe C
320. DE ALBAN, Dominic Victor C
321. DE ASIS, Aveneer K
322. DE CASTRO, Mardane Gizelle A
323. DE GRACIA, Angela Marie M
324. DE GUIA, Anne Rose R
325. DE GUZMAN, Aljon D
326. DE GUZMAN, Catleya L
327. DE GUZMAN, Pristine B
328. DE JESUS, Nerissa N
329. DE JESUS, Philip Edward A
330. DE JESUS, Tracy Ann DJ
331. DE LA CRUZ, Alma Isabel T
332. DE LA CRUZ, Gizle M
333. DE LA CRUZ, John Rafael T
334. DE LA FUENTE, Larry V
335. DE LA ROSA, Barbara Irene Y
336. DE LEON, Dino S
337. DE LEON, Girlie Venus E
338. DE LEON, Isaac D
339. DE LEON, Kaycee Ann B
340. DE MESA, Jennifer D
341. DEE, Celine Melanie A
342. DEE, Czarina Angelie B
343. DEINLA, Josalee S
344. DEL FONSO, Westly Rey V
345. DEL ROSARIO, Delañarose A
346. DEL ROSARIO, Mary Grace O
347. DELA CRUZ, Carissa Leonor Xyza I
348. DELA CRUZ, Dana Genevieve C
349. DELA CRUZ, Dennis L
350. DELA CRUZ, Jan Michael S
351. DELA CRUZ, Jastine Marie B
352. DELA CRUZ, Jemuel B
353. DELA CRUZ, Julian Rodrigo A
354. DELA CRUZ, Kenneth Lloyd G
355. DELA CRUZ, Rozanne B
356. DELA CUESTA, Jay Marie C
357. DELA ROSA, Bryan Lloyd L
358. DELA ROSA, Maridel P
359. DELFIN, Cherry Marie E
360. DELFIN, Estelle Marielle F
361. DELGADO, Honey Rose E
362. DELGADO, Romella M
363. DELGADO, Tristan Matthew T
364. DELOS ANGELES, JR., Domingo P
365. DELOS REYES, Angelico Zenon M
366. DELOS REYES, Mark Erwin W
367. DELOS SANTOS, Glenn D
368. DELOS SANTOS, Madelyn C
369. DELOSO, Omar P
370. DEMAIN, Nathaniel P
371. DEMAISIP, Ma. Josephine Gerardine N
372. DESUYO, Jo-ana Marie P
373. DIAL-QUIGAO, Ma. Ramelisa D
374. DIALOGO, Karlo M
375. DIAMANTE, Mary Joy Anne A
376. DIANA, John Ronnel D
377. DIAZ, Fideliz Cardellie B
378. DIAZ, Jan Jason Jendrik C
379. DIAZ, Maria Lovella M
380. DIEGO, Marshall Ellis M
381. DINSAY, V, Frank Eduard C
382. DISCIPULO, Gierne Gail Q
383. DIZON, Erika C
384. DIZON, Rose Angelique P
385. DIZON, JR., Arthur B
386. DOCTOLERO, Julie L
387. DOMEYEG, Carla O
388. DOMINGO, Riyah Lalaine L
389. DOMINO, Jenny Jean B
390. DORIA, Loreto B
391. DORINGO, Seychelles June M
392. DRILON, Christian A
393. DRILON, Patrick C
394. DULAY, Jericson D
395. DUMALASA, Sean Paulo M
396. DUMALOS, Cirille Anne L
397. DUMANAT, Janellee A
398. DUMAYAS, Daryl Ray F
399. DYCHITAN, Pamela Marie F
400. EBDANE, Bayani S
401. ECALNIR, Erol Roudel C
402. ECHAVEZ, Ronna Lissa E
403. ECHIVERRI, Kingjohn Ericson M
404. ELMIDO, Jan Christopher P
405. ENDALUZ, Marie Jourgen B
406. ENRIQUEZ, Claire Joy G
407. ENRIQUEZ, Gabriel Alfonso C
408. ERANDIO, Athena Louise F
409. ESCALADA, Ryan Carlo P
410. ESCOLANO, Paul Medard L
411. ESCOSURA-BUSTAMANTE, Leslie C
412. ESCOTO, Jamie P
413. ESCOVILLA, Joseph Patrick O
414. ESGUERRA, Rafael Rodrigo S
415. ESPARAGUERA, Miguel A
416. ESPELETA, Camille Angela M
417. ESPERANZA, Annaliza G
418. ESPINA, Carlo Eduardo M
419. ESPINOSA, Carol-v S
420. ESPINOSA, Jose Joven Paulo M
421. ESPINOSA, Ma. Monica Leticia T
422. ESPIRITU, Aizelle Marie D
423. ESPIRITU, Elaine Rose Z
424. ESQUIVEL, Ron-erwin D
425. ESQUIVIAS, Ma. Carmela Florentyna A
426. ESTEBAN, Gelie Erika P
427. ESTELLA, Jessrey G
428. ESTOLAS, Benjamin Jose S
429. EVANGELISTA, Abigail F
430. EVANGELISTA, Carlo F
431. EXMUNDO, Reisa Marie J
432. FABICO, Krizia Yvette O
433. FABILE, Abigail M
434. FACUNLA, Jeffrey M
435. FALCIS, III, Jesus Nicardo M
436. FARCON, Jose Florinio Y
437. FELIX, Christine Angelica D
438. FELIX, Razel Ann P
439. FELIZMENIO, Marinella P
440. FERNAN, Harry Gwynn Omar M
441. FERNANDEZ, James Abalos
442. FERNANDEZ, Kae Dee C
443. FERNANDEZ, Meriam Consuelo B
444. FERNANDEZ, II, Antonio Timothy A
445. FERNIN, Michael Jayson S
446. FERRER, Jefferson Wilfredo P
447. FERRER, Julius Abraham C
448. FERRER-LEGASPI, Jan Adrienne B
449. FLORDELIZA, Henry C
450. FLORES, Danilo S
451. FORTALEZA, Karen F
452. FRAGANTE, Criela DF
453. FRANCISCO, Oliver G
454. FRIAS, Jerome Bart M
455. FUCOY, Alyssa Agustina A
456. FUECONCILLO-EVANGELISTA, Aleander P
457. FURUYAMA, Ken D
458. GA, Marianne Aiza T
459. GADOR, Ken R
460. GAHOL, Ralph Laurence M
461. GALAGAR, Philip S
462. GALAN, Cherie Amor C
463. GALANG, Roi Andrei S
464. GALAROSA, Michael Vincent C
465. GALENDEZ, Ellen P
466. GALIT, Emmanuel P
467. GALIT, Neil Brian P
468. GALLEGO, Erika Marie V
469. GALLITO, Patrick M
470. GALON, Harold A
471. GALOS, III, Reparado B
472. GALVEZ, Micaela Kristina V
473. GAMBOA, Josine Alexandra S
474. GAMILLA, Kristia Anne S
475. GANDIA, Tephanie M
476. GANZON, Pearl Margaret C
477. GARCIA, Cesar Domini C
478. GARCIA, Gil, Ii E
479. GARCIA, Lordie Grace D
480. GARCIA, Vianne Marie O
481. GARGAR, Ma. Edaliza J
482. GARINGAN, Francesse C
483. GARMA, Angelica C
484. GAUDIEL, Kristine T
485. GAUNA, Maria Rufa Theresa S
486. GAVIOLA, Gian Franco G
487. GAYOS, Edgardo Alexander O
488. GELVEZON-TABITA, Salvacion
489. GEVERO, Sergie V
490. GIBA, Analyn M
491. GIDUCOS, Mohammad Jamalul J
492. GIRONELLA, Genesis John R
493. GLEYO, Marco Ray S
494. GLIPONEO, Lizglen L
495. GO, Eden Jerby C
496. GO, Rom- Raison E
497. GODINEZ, John Henley C
498. GONZALES, Claudine Joy C
499. GONZALES, Edwin Prince I
500. GONZALES, Jeffrey Jay C
501. GONZALES, Sharwina W
502. GRAGEDA-FLORES, Joanna Mayelle T
503. GRAIDO, Helen Maureen V
504. GRANTOZA, Camille Jennifer L
505. GRATELA, Merl Margaret O
506. GREGORY, Ma. Nenita Yumi N
507. GREPO, Carla Regina P
508. GREPO, Jesse Raphael R
509. GRUBA, Katherine Therese
510. GRUESO, Niña A
511. GUBAT, Bennet A
512. GUCO, Jammelle Marie A
513. GUERRERO, Ellis Emmanuel M
514. GUIANG, Francis Gil D
515. GUIANG, Mary Algen E
516. GUINIGUNDO, Dan Abraham G
517. GURO, Mojahid S
518. GUTIERREZ, Ricardo Jesus E
519. GUTIERREZ, JR., Eduardo R
520. GUZMAN, Roger Joseph S
521. HAMDAG, Princess D
522. HAO, Louie Lynne T
523. HARDER, Irene Estela T
524. HATOL, Michelle Marie U
525. HAULO, Oilie S
526. HERNANDEZ, Ana Victoria S
527. HERNANDEZ, Charmaine M
528. HERNANDEZ, Jason A
529. HERNANDEZ, Michael Vincent T
530. HERRERA, Grethel L
531. HERRERA, Mara Kristina G
532. HERRERA, Michael Kris Ben T
533. HERRERO, Vanessa T
534. HIRANG-OLAVE, Katrina Isabel P
535. HIZON, Jaybee S
536. HIZON, Kenneth James Carlo C
537. HIZON, King James Carlo C
538. HUFANO, Jack Bryan D
539. IBARRA, Joahnes Crizelle T
540. IBARRA, Lucille Mae L
541. IBAÑEZ, Charmaine C
542. IGNACIO, Azyleah V
543. ILAGAN, Ma. Karla Josee C
544. ILORETA, Debbie Joy I
545. INFANTE, Seth M
546. INTAL, Pauline Grace R
547. INTIG, Estela Joy M
548. ISIDRO, Evangeline M
549. ISIDRO, III, Maximo S
550. ISLES, Maychelle A
551. IWAY, Lourdes Mary L
552. JAMILLA, Nicole Rose Margaret D
553. JATAYNA, Emmanuel A
554. JAVIER, Karen O
555. JAVIER, Paolo Miguel V
556. JAVILLONAR, J-ann Violeta J
557. JAVIÑA-RODRIGUEZ, Jean Violette A
558. JONGKO, Jan Michael R
559. JUANENGO, Ma. Katrina Nadine G
560. JUMAWAN, Ruel O
561. JUNI, Noel S
562. JUSI, Czarina Vijulet N
563. KADATAR-MALDIS, Feliza C
564. KALANG-AD, Manuel, Jr. C
565. KIAT-ONG, Aaron A
566. KO, Marianne Karyl C
567. KO, Richard V
568. KOGA, Ken B
569. KUA, Kesterson T
570. LABASTIDA, Mae N
571. LABAYO, Hale Oliver M
572. LABRADOR, Ernielineo B
573. LACAP, Danielle Angela R
574. LACO, Reginald L
575. LACSINA, Clarabel Anne R
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578. LAGUING, Robert Paul G
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581. LARES, Yaye D
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584. LAURITO, Karen F
585. LAURITO, Roderick C
586. LAWYER, Christian Apollo U
587. LAYLO, John Albert B
588. LAYOG, Francis Mark H
589. LAZARO, Phoebe Ann F
590. LEAÑO, Czarina Janis Rhaetia
591. LEAÑO, I, Conrad Ezra M
592. LEDDA, Joanna Katrina L
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594. LEGARDE, Ludanielle N
595. LEGASPI, Jenelyn B
596. LEONARDO, Micaella N
597. LEONES, Christine S
598. LEYSON, Brian B
599. LIAO, Michelle D
600. LIBATIQUE, Jewel F
601. LIGGAYU, Ryan M
602. LIM, Christian Louie U
603. LIM, Cristine C
604. LIM, Gretchel N
605. LIM, Innah Samantha S
606. LIM, Ma. Margarita S
607. LIM, Ryan Jade D
608. LIM, Shery Paige A
609. LIMBO-CABUHAT, Verna S
610. LIMQUIACO, Jared G
611. LINGAO, Cherylette P
612. LIRIA, Carmel G
613. LIWAG, Vernice C
614. LLANERA, Mary Ann B
615. LLANILLO, Jasper June G
616. LLAVE, Miguel Leander L
617. LLESIS, Arbie S
618. LO, Rhodora P
619. LOBO, Jemuel Paolo M
620. LOMOTAN, Jonathan Joseph R
621. LOPEZ, Jayson Pangilinan
622. LOPEZ, Joseph S
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624. LORENZO, Ann Margaret K
625. LORENZO, Jan Michael D
626. LORESCA, Lovelyn C
627. LORETO, Emmallaine Leonille V
628. LOVERIA, Roman Carlo R
629. LUCIDO, Le Iris T
630. LUCMAN, Hijara-stephanie B
631. LUCMAYON, Juris Anne G
632. LUMAAD, Roseanne E
633. LUMANLAN, Ralfh Aldrin M
634. LUMANOG, Erlaine Vanessa D
635. LUMBRE, Charmaine Joy V
636. LUMINARIAS, Coleen Claudette R
637. LUNA, Alden Reuben B
638. MABA, Samaira C
639. MABULAC, II, Bienvenido L
640. MACALANDA, April Fleurenz Rose C
641. MACARAEG, Mc Guelvin S
642. MACARAMBON, Sa'aduddin L
643. MACASPAC, Teresa Micaela M
644. MADARANG, Patricia A
645. MADARIETA, Ma Cristina M
646. MADKI, Normalah S
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648. MADRIAGA, Marie Kris C
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652. MAGALANG, Sandra Mae T
653. MAGALLANES, Cliff-cyril A
654. MAGALLANES, Clyde L
655. MAGALLANES, Katrina Mae P
656. MAGAT, Kristianne S
657. MAGBANUA, Mary Angela R
658. MAGBANUA-ANJALIN, Mae Joyce S
659. MAGDAMIT, Moiselle G
660. MAGDAONG, JR., Jorge B
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Human Rights Law Case Digest: Kurodo v. Jandaloni (1949)
G.R. No. L-2662 March 26, 1949
Lessons Applicable: Generally accepted principles of international law
Laws Applicable:
FACTS:
Lessons Applicable: Generally accepted principles of international law
Laws Applicable:
FACTS:
- Shigenori Kuroda, formerly a Lieutenant-General of the Japanese Imperial Army and Commanding General of the Japanese Imperial Forces in The Philippines during a period covering 1943 and 1944 who is now charged before a military Commission convened by the Chief of Staff of the Armed forces of the Philippines with having unlawfully disregarded and failed "to discharge his duties as such command, permitting them to commit brutal atrocities and other high crimes against noncombatant civilians and prisoners of the Imperial Japanese Forces in violation of the laws and customs of war"
- File a petition seeking to establish the illegality of Executive Order No. 68 of the President of the Philippines:
- to enjoin and prohibit Melville S. Hussey and Robert Port from participating in the prosecution of his case; and - not attorneys authorized by the Supreme Court to practice law in the Philippines is a diminution of our personality as an independent state and their appointment as prosecutor are a violation of our Constitution for the reason that they are not qualified to practice law in the Philippines and not interested party in the case
- to permanently prohibit respondents from proceeding with the case - Executive Order No. 68 is illegal on the ground that it violates not only the provision of our constitutional law but also our local laws to say nothing of the fact (that) the Philippines is not a signatory nor an adherent to the Hague Convention on Rules and Regulations covering Land Warfare and therefore petitioners is charged of 'crimes' not based on law, national and international
- President as Commander in Chief is fully empowered to consummate this unfinished aspect of war namely the trial and punishment of war criminal through the issuance and enforcement of Executive Order No. 68
- Such rule and principles therefore form part of the law of our nation even if the Philippines was not a signatory to the conventions embodying them for our Constitution has been deliberately general and extensive in its scope and is not confined to the recognition of rule and principle of international law as continued inn treaties to which our government may have been or shall be a signatory.
- It cannot be denied that the rules and regulation of the Hague and Geneva conventions form, part of and are wholly based on the generally accepted principals of international law.
- when the crimes charged against petitioner were allegedly committed the Philippines was under the sovereignty of United States and thus we were equally bound together with the United States and with Japan to the right and obligation contained in the treaties between the belligerent countries
- the appointment of the 2 American attorneys is not violative of our nation sovereignty. It is only fair and proper that United States, which has submitted the vindication of crimes against her government and her people to a tribunal of our nation should be allowed representation in the trial of those very crimes
Jurisprudence: G.R. No. L-2662 March 26, 1949
EN BANC
G.R. No. L-2662 March 26, 1949
SHIGENORI KURODA, petitioner,
vs.
Major General RAFAEL JALANDONI, Brigadier General CALIXTO DUQUE, Colonel MARGARITO TORALBA, Colonel IRENEO BUENCONSEJO, Colonel PEDRO TABUENA, Major FEDERICO ARANAS, MELVILLE S. HUSSEY and ROBERT PORT, respondents.
Pedro Serran, Jose G. Lukban, and Liberato B. Cinco for petitioner.
Fred Ruiz Castro Federico Arenas Mariano Yengco, Jr., Ricardo A. Arcilla and S. Melville Hussey for respondents.
MORAN, C.J.:
Shigenori Kuroda, formerly a Lieutenant-General of the Japanese Imperial Army and Commanding General of the Japanese Imperial Forces in The Philippines during a period covering 1943 and 1944 who is now charged before a military Commission convened by the Chief of Staff of the Armed forces of the Philippines with having unlawfully disregarded and failed "to discharge his duties as such command, permitting them to commit brutal atrocities and other high crimes against noncombatant civilians and prisoners of the Imperial Japanese Forces in violation of the laws and customs of war" — comes before this Court seeking to establish the illegality of Executive Order No. 68 of the President of the Philippines: to enjoin and prohibit respondents Melville S. Hussey and Robert Port from participating in the prosecution of petitioner's case before the Military Commission and to permanently prohibit respondents from proceeding with the case of petitioners.
In support of his case petitioner tenders the following principal arguments.
First. — "That Executive Order No. 68 is illegal on the ground that it violates not only the provision of our constitutional law but also our local laws to say nothing of the fact (that) the Philippines is not a signatory nor an adherent to the Hague Convention on Rules and Regulations covering Land Warfare and therefore petitioners is charged of 'crimes' not based on law, national and international." Hence petitioner argues — "That in view off the fact that this commission has been empanelled by virtue of an unconstitutional law an illegal order this commission is without jurisdiction to try herein petitioner."
Second. — That the participation in the prosecution of the case against petitioner before the Commission in behalf of the United State of America of attorneys Melville Hussey and Robert Port who are not attorneys authorized by the Supreme Court to practice law in the Philippines is a diminution of our personality as an independent state and their appointment as prosecutor are a violation of our Constitution for the reason that they are not qualified to practice law in the Philippines.
Third. — That Attorneys Hussey and Port have no personality as prosecution the United State not being a party in interest in the case.
Executive Order No. 68, establishing a National War Crimes Office prescribing rule and regulation governing the trial of accused war criminals, was issued by the President of the Philippines on the 29th days of July, 1947 This Court holds that this order is valid and constitutional. Article 2 of our Constitution provides in its section 3, that —
The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy and adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the of the nation.
In accordance with the generally accepted principle of international law of the present day including the Hague Convention the Geneva Convention and significant precedents of international jurisprudence established by the United Nation all those person military or civilian who have been guilty of planning preparing or waging a war of aggression and of the commission of crimes and offenses consequential and incidental thereto in violation of the laws and customs of war, of humanity and civilization are held accountable therefor. Consequently in the promulgation and enforcement of Execution Order No. 68 the President of the Philippines has acted in conformity with the generally accepted and policies of international law which are part of the our Constitution.
The promulgation of said executive order is an exercise by the President of his power as Commander in chief of all our armed forces as upheld by this Court in the case of Yamashita vs. Styer (L-129, 42 Off. Gaz., 664) 1 when we said —
War is not ended simply because hostilities have ceased. After cessation of armed hostilities incident of war may remain pending which should be disposed of as in time of war. An importance incident to a conduct of war is the adoption of measure by the military command not only to repel and defeat the enemies but to seize and subject to disciplinary measure those enemies who in their attempt to thwart or impede our military effort have violated the law of war. (Ex parte Quirin 317 U.S., 1; 63 Sup. Ct., 2.) Indeed the power to create a military commission for the trial and punishment of war criminals is an aspect of waging war. And in the language of a writer a military commission has jurisdiction so long as a technical state of war continues. This includes the period of an armistice or military occupation up to the effective of a treaty of peace and may extend beyond by treaty agreement. (Cowles Trial of War Criminals by Military Tribunals, America Bar Association Journal June, 1944.)
Consequently, the President as Commander in Chief is fully empowered to consummate this unfinished aspect of war namely the trial and punishment of war criminal through the issuance and enforcement of Executive Order No. 68.
Petitioner argues that respondent Military Commission has no Jurisdiction to try petitioner for acts committed in violation of the Hague Convention and the Geneva Convention because the Philippines is not a signatory to the first and signed the second only in 1947. It cannot be denied that the rules and regulation of the Hague and Geneva conventions form, part of and are wholly based on the generally accepted principals of international law. In facts these rules and principles were accepted by the two belligerent nation the United State and Japan who were signatories to the two Convention, Such rule and principles therefore form part of the law of our nation even if the Philippines was not a signatory to the conventions embodying them for our Constitution has been deliberately general and extensive in its scope and is not confined to the recognition of rule and principle of international law as continued inn treaties to which our government may have been or shall be a signatory.
Furthermore when the crimes charged against petitioner were allegedly committed the Philippines was under the sovereignty of United States and thus we were equally bound together with the United States and with Japan to the right and obligation contained in the treaties between the belligerent countries. These rights and obligation were not erased by our assumption of full sovereignty. If at all our emergency as a free state entitles us to enforce the right on our own of trying and punishing those who committed crimes against crimes against our people. In this connection it is well to remember what we have said in the case of Laurel vs. Misa (76 Phil., 372):
. . . The change of our form government from Commonwealth to Republic does not affect the prosecution of those charged with the crime of treason committed during then Commonwealth because it is an offense against the same sovereign people. . . .
By the same token war crimes committed against our people and our government while we were a Commonwealth are triable and punishable by our present Republic.
Petitioner challenges the participation of two American attorneys namely Melville S. Hussey and Robert Port in the prosecution of his case on the ground that said attorney's are not qualified to practice law in Philippines in accordance with our Rules of court and the appointment of said attorneys as prosecutors is violative of our national sovereignty.
In the first place respondent Military Commission is a special military tribunal governed by a special law and not by the Rules of court which govern ordinary civil court. It has already been shown that Executive Order No. 68 which provides for the organization of such military commission is a valid and constitutional law. There is nothing in said executive order which requires that counsel appearing before said commission must be attorneys qualified to practice law in the Philippines in accordance with the Rules of Court. In facts it is common in military tribunals that counsel for the parties are usually military personnel who are neither attorneys nor even possessed of legal training.
Secondly the appointment of the two American attorneys is not violative of our nation sovereignty. It is only fair and proper that United States, which has submitted the vindication of crimes against her government and her people to a tribunal of our nation should be allowed representation in the trial of those very crimes. If there has been any relinquishment of sovereignty it has not been by our government but by the United State Government which has yielded to us the trial and punishment of her enemies. The least that we could do in the spirit of comity is to allow them representation in said trials.
Alleging that the United State is not a party in interest in the case petitioner challenges the personality of attorneys Hussey and Port as prosecutors. It is of common knowledge that the United State and its people have been equally if not more greatly aggrieved by the crimes with which petitioner stands charged before the Military Commission. It can be considered a privilege for our Republic that a leader nation should submit the vindication of the honor of its citizens and its government to a military tribunal of our country.
The Military Commission having been convened by virtue of a valid law with jurisdiction over the crimes charged which fall under the provisions of Executive Order No. 68, and having said petitioner in its custody, this Court will not interfere with the due process of such Military commission.
For all the foregoing the petition is denied with costs de oficio.
Paras, Feria, Pablo, Bengzon, Tuason, Montemayor and Reyes, JJ., concur.
Separate Opinions
PERFECTO, J., dissenting:
A military commission was empanelled on December 1, 1948 to try Lt. Gen. Shigenori Kuroda for Violation of the laws and customs of land warfare.
Melville S. Hussey and Robert Port, American citizens and not authorized by the Supreme Court to practice law were appointed prosecutor representing the American CIC in the trial of the case.
The commission was empanelled under the authority of Executive Order No. 68 of the President of the Philippines the validity of which is challenged by petitioner on constitutional grounds. Petitioner has also challenged the personality of Attorneys Hussey and Port to appear as prosecutors before the commission.
The charges against petitioner has been filed since June 26, 1948 in the name of the people of the Philippines as accusers.
We will consideration briefly the challenge against the appearance of Attorneys Hussey and Port. It appearing that they are aliens and have not been authorized by the Supreme Court to practice law there could not be any question that said person cannot appear as prosecutors in petitioner case as with such appearance they would be practicing law against the law.
Said violation vanishes however into insignificance at the side of the momentous question involved in the challenge against the validity of Executive Order No. 68. Said order is challenged on several constitutional ground. To get a clear idea of the question raised it is necessary to read the whole context of said order which is reproduced as follows:
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 68.
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL WAR CRIMES OFFICE AND PRESCRIBING RULES AND REGULATION GOVERNING THE TRIAL OF ACCUSED WAR CRIMINAL.
I, Manuel Roxas president of the Philippines by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the Philippines do hereby establish a National War Crimes Office charged with the responsibility of accomplishing the speedy trial of all Japanese accused of war crimes committed in the Philippines and prescribe the rules and regulation such trial.
The National War crimes office is established within the office of the Judge Advocate General of the Army of the Philippines and shall function under the direction supervision and control of the Judge Advocate General. It shall proceed to collect from all available sources evidence of war crimes committed in the Philippines from the commencement of hostilities by Japan in December 1941, maintain a record thereof and bring about the prompt trial maintain a record thereof and bring about the prompt trial of the accused.
The National War Crimes Office shall maintain direct liaison with the Legal Section General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied power and shall exchange with the said Office information and evidence of war crimes.
The following rules and regulation shall govern the trial off person accused as war criminals:
ESTABLISHMENT OF MILITARY COMMISSIONS
(a) General. — person accused as war criminal shall be tried by military commission to be convened by or under the authority of the Philippines.
II. JURISDICTION
(a) Over Person. — Thee military commission appointed hereunder shall have jurisdiction over all persons charged with war crimes who are in the custody of the convening authority at the time of the trial.
(b) Over Offenses. — The military commission established hereunder shall have jurisdiction over all offenses including but not limited to the following:
(1) The planning preparation initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties agreement or assurance or participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing.
(2) Violation of the laws or customs of war. Such violation shall include but not be limited to murder ill-treatment or deportation to slave labor or for other purpose of civilian population of or in occupied territory; murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or internees or person on the seas or elsewhere; improper treatment of hostage; plunder of public or private property wanton destruction of cities towns or village; or devastation not justified by military necessity.
(3) Murder extermination enslavement deportation and other inhuman acts committed against civilian population before or during the war or persecution on political racial or religion ground in executive of or in connection with any crime defined herein whether or not in violation of the local laws.
III. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSIONS
(a) Appointment. — The members of each military commission shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines or under authority delegated by him. Alternates may be appointed by the convening authority. Such shall attend all session of the commission, and in case of illness or other incapacity of any principal member, an alternate shall take the place of that member. Any vacancy among the members or alternates, occurring after a trial has begun, may be filled by the convening authority but the substance of all proceeding had evidence taken in that case shall be made known to the said new member or alternate. This facts shall be announced by the president of the commission in open court.
(b) Number of Members. — Each commission shall consist of not less than three (3) members.
(c) Qualifications. — The convening authority shall appoint to the commission persons whom he determines to be competent to perform the duties involved and not disqualified by personal interest or prejudice, provided that no person shall be appointed to hear a case in which he personally investigated or wherein his presence as a witness is required. One specially qualified member whose ruling is final in so far as concerns the commission on an objection to the admissibility of evidence offered during the trial.
(d) Voting. — Except as to the admissibility of evidence all rulings and finding of the Commission shall be by majority vote except that conviction and sentence shall be by the affirmative vote of not less than conviction and sentence shall be by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2\3) of the member present.
(e) Presiding Member. — In the event that the convening authority does not name one of the member as the presiding member, the senior officer among the member of the Commission present shall preside.
IV. PROSECUTORS
(a) Appointment. — The convening authority shall designate one or more person to conduct the prosecution before each commission.
(b) Duties. — The duties of the prosecutor are:
(1) To prepare and present charges and specifications for reference to a commission.
(2) To prepare cases for trial and to conduct the prosecution before the commission of all cases referred for trial.
V. POWER AND PROCEDURE OF COMMISSION
(a) Conduct of the Trial. — A Commission shall:
(1) Confine each trial strictly to fair and expeditious hearing on the issues raised by the charges, excluding irrelevant issues or evidence and preventing any unnecessary delay or interference.
(2) Deal summarily with any contumacy or contempt, imposing any appropriate punishment therefor.
(3) Hold public session when otherwise decided by the commission.
(4) Hold each session at such time and place as it shall determine, or as may be directed by the convening authority.
(b) Rights of the Accused. — The accused shall be entitled:
(1) To have in advance of the trial a copy of the charges and specifications clearly worded so as to apprise the accused of each offense charged.
(2) To be represented, prior to and during trial, by counsel appointed by the convening authority or counsel of his own choice, or to conduct his own defense.
(3) To testify in his own behalf and have his counsel present relevant evidence at the trial in support of his defense, and cross-examine each adverse witness who personally appears before the commission.
(4) To have the substance of the charges and specifications, the proceedings and any documentary evidence translated, when he is unable otherwise to understand them.
(c) Witnesses. — The Commission shall have power:
(1) To summon witnesses and require their attendance and testimony; to administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses and other persons and to question witnesses.
(2) To require the production of documents and other evidentiary material.
(3) To delegate the Prosecutors appointed by the convening authority the powers and duties set forth in (1) and (2) above.
(4) To have evidence taken by a special commissioner appointed by the commission.
(d) Evidence.
(1) The commission shall admit such evidence as in its opinion shall be of assistance in proving or disproving the charge, or such as in the commission's opinion would have probative value in the mind of a reasonable man. The commission shall apply the rules of evidence and pleading set forth herein with the greatest liberality to achieve expeditious procedure. In particular, and without limiting in any way the scope of the foregoing general rules, the following evidence may be admitted:
(a) Any document, irrespective of its classification, which appears to the commission to have been signed or issued by any officer, department, agency or member of the armed forces of any Government without proof of the signature or of the issuance of the document.
(b) Any report which appears to the commission to have been signed or issued by the International Red Cross or a member of any medical service personnel, or by any investigator or intelligence officer, or by any other person whom commission considers as possessing knowledge of the matters contained in the report.
(c) Affidavits, depositions or other signed statements.
(d) Any diary, letter to other document, including sworn statements, appearing to the commission to contain information relating to the charge.
(e) A copy of any document or other secondary evidence of the contents, if the original is not immediately available.
(2) The commission shall take judicial notice of facts of common knowledge, official government documents of any nation, and the proceedings, records and findings of military or other agencies of any of the United Nation.
(3) A commission may require the prosecution and the defense to make a preliminary offer of proof whereupon the commission may rule in advance on the admissibility of such evidence.
(4) The official position of the accused shall not absolve him from responsibility nor be considered in mitigation of punishment. Further action pursuant to an order of the accused's superior, or of his Government, shall not constitute a defense, but may be considered in mitigation of punishment if the commission determines that justice so requires.
(5) All purposed confessions or statements of the accused shall bee admissible in evidence without any showing that they were voluntarily made. If it is shown that such confession or statement was procured by mean which the commission believe to have been of such a character that may have caused the accused to make a false statement the commission may strike out or disregard any such portion thereof as was so procured.
(e) Trial Procedure. — The proceedings of each trial shall be conducted substantially as follows unless modified by the commission to suit the particular circumstances:
(1) Each charge and specification shall be read or its substance stated in open court.
(2) The presiding member shall ask each accused whether he pleads "Guilty" or "Not guilty."
(3) The prosecution shall make its opening statement."(4) The presiding member may at this or any other time require the prosecutor to state what evidence he proposes to submit to the commission and the commission thereupon may rule upon the admissibility of such evidence.
(4) The witnesses and other evidence for the prosecution shall be heard or presented. At the close of the case for the prosecution, the commission may, on motion of the defense for a finding of not guilty, consider and rule whether he evidence before the commission may defer action on any such motion and permit or require the prosecution to reopen its case and produce any further available evidence.
(5) The defense may make an opening statement prior to presenting its case. The presiding member may, at this any other time require the defense to state what evidence it proposes to submit to the commission where upon the commission may rule upon the admissibility of such evidence.
(6) The witnesses and other evidence for the defense shall be heard or presented. Thereafter, the prosecution and defense may introduce such evidence in rebuttal as the commission may rule as being admissible.
(7) The defense and thereafter the prosecution shall address the commission.
(8) The commission thereafter shall consider the case in closed session and unless otherwise directed by the convening authority, announce in open court its judgment and sentence if any. The commission may state the reason on which judgment is based.
( f ) Record of Proceedings. — Each commission shall make a separate record of its proceeding in the trial of each case brought before it. The record shall be prepared by the prosecutor under the direction of the commission and submitted to the defense counsel. The commission shall be responsible for its accuracy. Such record, certified by the presiding member of the commission or his successor, shall be delivered to the convening authority as soon as possible after the trial.
(g) Sentence. — The commission may sentence an accused, upon conviction to death by hanging or shooting, imprisonment for life or for any less term, fine or such other punishment as the commission shall determine to be proper.
(h) Approval of Sentence. — No. sentence of a military commission shall be carried into effect until approved by the chief off Staff: Provided, That no sentence of death or life imprisonment shall be carried into execution until confirmed by the President of the Philippines. For the purpose of his review the Chief of Staff shall create a Board of Review to be composed of not more than three officers none of whom shall be on duty with or assigned to the Judge Advocate General's Office. The Chief of Staff shall have authority to approve, mitigate remit in whole or in part, commute, suspend, reduce or otherwise alter the sentence imposed, or (without prejudice to the accused) remand the case for rehearing before a new military commission; but he shall not have authority to increase the severity of the sentence. Except as herein otherwise provided the judgment and sentence of a commission shall final and not subject to review by any other tribunal.
VI. RULE-MAKING POWER
Supplementary Rule and Forms. — Each commission shall adopt rules and forms to govern its procedure, not inconsistent with the provision of this Order, or such rules and forms as may be prescribed by the convening authority]or by the President of the Philippines.
VII. The amount of amount of seven hundred thousand pesos is hereby set aside out of the appropriations for the Army of the Philippines for use by the National War Crimes Office in the accomplishment of its mission as hereinabove set forth, and shall be expended in accordance with the recommendation of the Judge Advocate General as approved by the President. The buildings, fixtures, installations, messing, and billeting equipment and other property herefore used by then Legal Section, Manila Branch, of the General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Power, which will be turned over by the United States Army to the Philippines Government through the Foreign Liquidation Commission and the Surplus Property Commission are hereby specification reserved for use off the National War Crimes Office.
Executive Order No. 64, dated August 16, 1945, is hereby repealed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 29th day of July in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the second.
MANUEL ROXAS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
EMILIO ABELLO
Chief of the Executive Office
EXECUTIVE LEGISLATION
Executive Order No. 68 is a veritable piece of Legislative measure, without the benefit of congressional enactment.
The first question that is trust at our face spearheading a group of other no less important question, is whether or not the President of the Philippines may exercise the legislative power expressly vested in Congress by the Constitution. .
The Constitution provides:
The Legislative powers shall be vested in a Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. (Section 1, Article VI.)
While there is no express provision in the fundamental law prohibiting the exercise of legislative power by agencies other than Congress, a reading of the whole context of the Constitution would dispel any doubt as to the constitutional intent that the legislative power is to be exercised exclusively by Congress, subject only to the veto power of the President of the President of the Philippines, to the specific provision which allow the president of the Philippines to suspend the privileges of the writ of habeas corpus and to place any part of the Philippines under martial law, and to the rule-making power expressly vested by the Constitution in the Supreme Court.
There cannot be any question that the member of the Constitutional Convention were believers in the tripartite system of government as originally enunciated by Aristotle, further elaborated by Montequieu and accepted and practiced by modern democracies, especially the United State of America, whose Constitution, after which ours has been patterned, has allocated the three power of government — legislative, executive, judicial — to distinct and separate department of government.
Because the power vested by our Constitution to the several department of the government are in the nature of grants, not recognition of pre-existing power, no department of government may exercise any power or authority not expressly granted by the Constitution or by law by virtue express authority of the Constitution.
Executive Order No. 68 establishes a National War Crimes Office and the power to establish government office is essentially legislative.
The order provides that person accused as war criminals shall be tried by military commissions. Whether such a provision is substantive or adjective, it is clearly legislative in nature. It confers upon military commissions jurisdiction to try all persons charge with war crimes. The power to define and allocate jurisdiction for the prosecution of person accused of any crime is exclusively vested by the Constitution in Congress. .
It provides rules of procedure for the conduct of trial of trial. This provision on procedural subject constitutes a usurpation of the rule-making power vested by Constitution in the Supreme Court.
It authorized military commission to adopt additional rule of procedure. If the President of the Philippines cannot exercise the rule -making power vested by the Constitution in the Supreme Court, he cannot, with more reason, delegate that power to military commission.
It appropriates the sum of P7000,000 for the expenses of the National War Crimes office established by the said Executive Order No. 68. This constitutes another usurpation of legislative power as the power to vote appropriations belongs to Congress.
Executive Order No. 68., is, therefore, null and void, because, though it the President of the Philippines usurped power expressly vested by the Constitution in Congress and in the Supreme Court.
Challenged to show the constitutional or legal authority under which the President issued Executive Order No. 68, respondent could not give any definite answer. They attempted, however, to suggest that the President of the Philippines issued Executive Order No. 68 under the emergency power granted to him by Commonwealth Act No. 600, as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 620, and Commonwealth Act No. 671, both of which are transcribed below:
COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 600.
AN ACT DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATION TO SAFEGUARD THE INTEGRITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AND TO INSURE THE TRANQUILITY OF ITS INHABITANTS.
Be it enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippines:
SECTION 1. The existence of war in many parts of the world has created a national emergency which makes it necessary to invest the President of the Philippines with extraordinary power in order to safeguard the integrity of the Philippines and to insure the tranquility of its inhabitants, by suppressing espionage, lawlessness, and all subversive to the people adequate shelter and clothing and sufficient food supply, and by providing means for the speedy evacuation of the civilian population the establishment of an air protective service and the organization of volunteer guard units, and to adopt such other measures as he may deem necessary for the interest of the public. To carry out this policy the President is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations which shall have the force and effect off law until the date of adjournment of the next regulation which shall have the force and effect of law until the date of adjournment of the next regular session of the First Congress of the Philippines, unless sooner amended or repealed by the Congress of Philippines. Such rules and regulation may embrace the following objects: (1) to suppress espionage and other subversive activities; (2) to require all able-bodied citizens (a) when not engaged in any lawful occupation, to engage in farming or other productive activities or (b) to perform such services as may bee necessary in the public interest; (3) to take over farm lands in order to prevent or shortage of crops and hunger and destitution; (4) to take over industrial establishment in order to insure adequate production, controlling wages and profits therein; (5) to prohibit lockouts and strikes whenever necessary to prevent the unwarranted suspension of work in productive enterprises or in the interest of national security; (6) to regulate the normal hours of work for wage-earning and salaried employees in industrial or business undertakings of all kinds; (7) to insure an even distribution of labor among the productive enterprises; (8) to commandership and other means of transportation in order to maintain, as much as possible, adequate and continued transportation facilities; (9) to requisition and take over any public service or enterprise for use or operation by the Government;(10) to regulate rents and the prices of articles or commodities of prime necessity, both imported and locally produced or manufactured; and (11) to prevent, locally or generally, scarcity, monopolization, hoarding injurious speculations, and private control affecting the supply, distribution and movement of foods, clothing, fuel, fertilizer, chemical, building, material, implements, machinery, and equipment required in agriculture and industry, with power to requisition these commodities subject to the payment of just compensation. (As amended by Com. Act No. 620.)
SEC. 2. For the purpose of administering this Act and carrying out its objective, the President may designate any officer, without additional compensation, or any department, bureau, office, or instrumentality of the National Government.
SEC. 3. Any person, firm, or corporation found guilty of the violation of any provision of this Act or of this Act or any of the rules or regulations promulgated by the President under the authority of section one of this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than ten thousand pesos, or by both. If such violation is committed by a firm or corporation, the manager, managing director, or person charge with the management of the business of such firm, or corporation shall be criminally responsible therefor.
SEC. 4. The President shall report to the national Assembly within the first ten days from the date of the opening of its next regular session whatever action has been taken by him under the authority herein granted.
SEC. 5. To carry out the purposed of this Act, the President is authorized to spend such amounts as may be necessary from the sum appropriated under section five Commonwealth Act Numbered four hundred and ninety-eight.
SEC. 6. If any province of this Act shall be declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional and void, such declaration shall not invalidate the remainder of this Act.
SEC. 7. This Act shall take upon its approval.
Approved, August 19, 1940.
COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 671
AN ACT DECLARING A STATE OF TOTAL EMERGENCY AS A RESULT OF WAR INVOLVING THE PHILIPPINES AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO PROMULGATE RULE AND REGULATIONS TO MEET SUCH EMERGENCY.
Be it enacted the National Assembly of the Philippines;
SECTION 1. The existed of war between the United State and other countries of Europe and Asia, which involves the Philippines, makes it necessary to invest the President with extraordinary powers in order to meet the resulting emergency.
SEC. 2. Pursuant to the provision of Article VI, section 16, of the Constitution, the President is hereby authorized, during the existence of the emergency, to promulgate such rules and regulation as he may deem necessary to carry out the national policy declared in section 1 hereof. Accordingly, he is, among other things, empowered (a) to transfer the seat of the Government or any of its subdivisions, branches, department, offices, agencies or instrumentalities; (b) to reorganize the Government of the Commonwealth including the determination of the order of precedence of the heads of the Executive Department; (c) to create new subdivision, branches, departments, offices, agency or instrumentalities of government and to abolish any of those already existing; (d) to continue in force laws and appropriation which would lapse or otherwise became inoperative, and to modify or suspend the operation or application of those of an administrative character; (e) to imposed new taxes or to increase, reduce, suspend, or abolish those in existence; (f) to raise funds through the issuance of bonds or otherwise, and to authorize the expensive of the proceeds thereof; (g) to authorize the National, provincial, city or municipal governments to incur in overdrafts for purposes that he may approve; (h) to declare the suspension of the collection of credits or the payment of debts; and (i) to exercise such other power as he may deem necessary to enable the Government to fulfill its responsibilities and to maintain and enforce its authority.
SEC. 3. The President of the Philippines report thereto all the rules and regulation promulgated by him under the power herein granted.
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval and the rules and regulations. promulgated hereunder shall be in force and effect until the Congress of the Philippines shall otherwise provide.
Approved December 16, 1941.
The above Acts cannot validly be invoked, Executive Order No. 68 was issued on July 29, 1947. Said Acts had elapsed upon the liberation of the Philippines form the Japanese forces or, at the latest, when the surrender of Japan was signed in Tokyo on September 2, 1945.
When both Acts were enacted by the Second National Assembly, we happened to have taken direct part in their consideration and passage, not only as one of the members of said legislative body as chairman of the Committee on Third Reading population Known as the "Little Senate." We are, therefore in a position to state that said measures were enacted by the second national Assembly for the purpose of facing the emergency of impending war and of the Pacific War that finally broke out with the attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. We approved said extraordinary measures, by which under the exceptional circumstances then prevailing legislative power were delegated to the President of the Philippines, by virtue of the following provisions of the Constitution:
In time of war or other national emergency, the Congress may by law authorize the President, for a limited period and subject to such restrictions as it may prescribe to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out declared national policy. (Article VI, section 26.)
It has never been the purpose of the National Assembly to extend the delegation beyond the emergency created by the war as to extend it farther would be violative of the express provision of the Constitution. We are of the opinion that there is no doubt on this question.; but if there could still be any the same should be resolved in favor of the presumption that the National Assembly did not intend to violate the fundamental law.
The absurdity of the contention that the emergency Acts continued in effect even after the surrender of Japan can not be gainsaid. Only a few months after liberation and even before the surrender of Japan, or since the middle of 1945, the Congress started to function normally. In the hypothesis that the contention can prevail, then, since 1945, that is, four years ago, even after the Commonwealth was already replaced by the Republic of the Philippines with the proclamation of our Independence, two district, separate and independence legislative organs, — Congress and the President of the Philippines — would have been and would continue enacting laws, the former to enact laws of every nature including those of emergency character, and the latter to enact laws, in the form of executive orders, under the so-called emergency powers. The situation would be pregnant with dangers to peace and order to the rights and liberties of the people and to Philippines democracy.
Should there be any disagreement between Congress and the President of the Philippines, a possibility that no one can dispute the President of the Philippines may take advantage of he long recess of Congress (two-thirds of every year ) to repeal and overrule legislative enactments of Congress, and may set up a veritable system of dictatorship, absolutely repugnant to the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
Executive Order No. 68 is equally offensive to the Constitution because it violates the fundamental guarantees of the due process and equal protection of the law. It is especially so, because it permit the admission of many kinds evidence by which no innocent person can afford to get acquittal and by which it is impossible to determine whether an accused is guilty or not beyond all reasonable doubt.
The rules of evidence adopted in Executive Order No. 68 are a reproduction of the regulation governing the trial of twelve criminal, issued by General Douglas Mac Arthur, Commander in Chief of the United State Armed Forces in Western Pacific, for the purpose of trying among other, General Yamashita and Homma. What we said in our concurring and dissenting opinion to the decision promulgated on December 19, 1945, in the Yamashita case, L-129, and in our concurring and dissenting opinion to the resolution of January 23, 1946 in disposing the Homma case, L-244, are perfectly applicable to the offensive rules of evidence in Executive Order No. 68. Said rules of evidence are repugnant to conscience as under them no justice can expected.
For all the foregoing, conformably with our position in the Yamashita and Homma cases, we vote to declare Executive Order No. 68 null and void and to grant petition.
G.R. No. L-2662 March 26, 1949
SHIGENORI KURODA, petitioner,
vs.
Major General RAFAEL JALANDONI, Brigadier General CALIXTO DUQUE, Colonel MARGARITO TORALBA, Colonel IRENEO BUENCONSEJO, Colonel PEDRO TABUENA, Major FEDERICO ARANAS, MELVILLE S. HUSSEY and ROBERT PORT, respondents.
Pedro Serran, Jose G. Lukban, and Liberato B. Cinco for petitioner.
Fred Ruiz Castro Federico Arenas Mariano Yengco, Jr., Ricardo A. Arcilla and S. Melville Hussey for respondents.
MORAN, C.J.:
Shigenori Kuroda, formerly a Lieutenant-General of the Japanese Imperial Army and Commanding General of the Japanese Imperial Forces in The Philippines during a period covering 1943 and 1944 who is now charged before a military Commission convened by the Chief of Staff of the Armed forces of the Philippines with having unlawfully disregarded and failed "to discharge his duties as such command, permitting them to commit brutal atrocities and other high crimes against noncombatant civilians and prisoners of the Imperial Japanese Forces in violation of the laws and customs of war" — comes before this Court seeking to establish the illegality of Executive Order No. 68 of the President of the Philippines: to enjoin and prohibit respondents Melville S. Hussey and Robert Port from participating in the prosecution of petitioner's case before the Military Commission and to permanently prohibit respondents from proceeding with the case of petitioners.
In support of his case petitioner tenders the following principal arguments.
First. — "That Executive Order No. 68 is illegal on the ground that it violates not only the provision of our constitutional law but also our local laws to say nothing of the fact (that) the Philippines is not a signatory nor an adherent to the Hague Convention on Rules and Regulations covering Land Warfare and therefore petitioners is charged of 'crimes' not based on law, national and international." Hence petitioner argues — "That in view off the fact that this commission has been empanelled by virtue of an unconstitutional law an illegal order this commission is without jurisdiction to try herein petitioner."
Second. — That the participation in the prosecution of the case against petitioner before the Commission in behalf of the United State of America of attorneys Melville Hussey and Robert Port who are not attorneys authorized by the Supreme Court to practice law in the Philippines is a diminution of our personality as an independent state and their appointment as prosecutor are a violation of our Constitution for the reason that they are not qualified to practice law in the Philippines.
Third. — That Attorneys Hussey and Port have no personality as prosecution the United State not being a party in interest in the case.
Executive Order No. 68, establishing a National War Crimes Office prescribing rule and regulation governing the trial of accused war criminals, was issued by the President of the Philippines on the 29th days of July, 1947 This Court holds that this order is valid and constitutional. Article 2 of our Constitution provides in its section 3, that —
The Philippines renounces war as an instrument of national policy and adopts the generally accepted principles of international law as part of the of the nation.
In accordance with the generally accepted principle of international law of the present day including the Hague Convention the Geneva Convention and significant precedents of international jurisprudence established by the United Nation all those person military or civilian who have been guilty of planning preparing or waging a war of aggression and of the commission of crimes and offenses consequential and incidental thereto in violation of the laws and customs of war, of humanity and civilization are held accountable therefor. Consequently in the promulgation and enforcement of Execution Order No. 68 the President of the Philippines has acted in conformity with the generally accepted and policies of international law which are part of the our Constitution.
The promulgation of said executive order is an exercise by the President of his power as Commander in chief of all our armed forces as upheld by this Court in the case of Yamashita vs. Styer (L-129, 42 Off. Gaz., 664) 1 when we said —
War is not ended simply because hostilities have ceased. After cessation of armed hostilities incident of war may remain pending which should be disposed of as in time of war. An importance incident to a conduct of war is the adoption of measure by the military command not only to repel and defeat the enemies but to seize and subject to disciplinary measure those enemies who in their attempt to thwart or impede our military effort have violated the law of war. (Ex parte Quirin 317 U.S., 1; 63 Sup. Ct., 2.) Indeed the power to create a military commission for the trial and punishment of war criminals is an aspect of waging war. And in the language of a writer a military commission has jurisdiction so long as a technical state of war continues. This includes the period of an armistice or military occupation up to the effective of a treaty of peace and may extend beyond by treaty agreement. (Cowles Trial of War Criminals by Military Tribunals, America Bar Association Journal June, 1944.)
Consequently, the President as Commander in Chief is fully empowered to consummate this unfinished aspect of war namely the trial and punishment of war criminal through the issuance and enforcement of Executive Order No. 68.
Petitioner argues that respondent Military Commission has no Jurisdiction to try petitioner for acts committed in violation of the Hague Convention and the Geneva Convention because the Philippines is not a signatory to the first and signed the second only in 1947. It cannot be denied that the rules and regulation of the Hague and Geneva conventions form, part of and are wholly based on the generally accepted principals of international law. In facts these rules and principles were accepted by the two belligerent nation the United State and Japan who were signatories to the two Convention, Such rule and principles therefore form part of the law of our nation even if the Philippines was not a signatory to the conventions embodying them for our Constitution has been deliberately general and extensive in its scope and is not confined to the recognition of rule and principle of international law as continued inn treaties to which our government may have been or shall be a signatory.
Furthermore when the crimes charged against petitioner were allegedly committed the Philippines was under the sovereignty of United States and thus we were equally bound together with the United States and with Japan to the right and obligation contained in the treaties between the belligerent countries. These rights and obligation were not erased by our assumption of full sovereignty. If at all our emergency as a free state entitles us to enforce the right on our own of trying and punishing those who committed crimes against crimes against our people. In this connection it is well to remember what we have said in the case of Laurel vs. Misa (76 Phil., 372):
. . . The change of our form government from Commonwealth to Republic does not affect the prosecution of those charged with the crime of treason committed during then Commonwealth because it is an offense against the same sovereign people. . . .
By the same token war crimes committed against our people and our government while we were a Commonwealth are triable and punishable by our present Republic.
Petitioner challenges the participation of two American attorneys namely Melville S. Hussey and Robert Port in the prosecution of his case on the ground that said attorney's are not qualified to practice law in Philippines in accordance with our Rules of court and the appointment of said attorneys as prosecutors is violative of our national sovereignty.
In the first place respondent Military Commission is a special military tribunal governed by a special law and not by the Rules of court which govern ordinary civil court. It has already been shown that Executive Order No. 68 which provides for the organization of such military commission is a valid and constitutional law. There is nothing in said executive order which requires that counsel appearing before said commission must be attorneys qualified to practice law in the Philippines in accordance with the Rules of Court. In facts it is common in military tribunals that counsel for the parties are usually military personnel who are neither attorneys nor even possessed of legal training.
Secondly the appointment of the two American attorneys is not violative of our nation sovereignty. It is only fair and proper that United States, which has submitted the vindication of crimes against her government and her people to a tribunal of our nation should be allowed representation in the trial of those very crimes. If there has been any relinquishment of sovereignty it has not been by our government but by the United State Government which has yielded to us the trial and punishment of her enemies. The least that we could do in the spirit of comity is to allow them representation in said trials.
Alleging that the United State is not a party in interest in the case petitioner challenges the personality of attorneys Hussey and Port as prosecutors. It is of common knowledge that the United State and its people have been equally if not more greatly aggrieved by the crimes with which petitioner stands charged before the Military Commission. It can be considered a privilege for our Republic that a leader nation should submit the vindication of the honor of its citizens and its government to a military tribunal of our country.
The Military Commission having been convened by virtue of a valid law with jurisdiction over the crimes charged which fall under the provisions of Executive Order No. 68, and having said petitioner in its custody, this Court will not interfere with the due process of such Military commission.
For all the foregoing the petition is denied with costs de oficio.
Paras, Feria, Pablo, Bengzon, Tuason, Montemayor and Reyes, JJ., concur.
Separate Opinions
PERFECTO, J., dissenting:
A military commission was empanelled on December 1, 1948 to try Lt. Gen. Shigenori Kuroda for Violation of the laws and customs of land warfare.
Melville S. Hussey and Robert Port, American citizens and not authorized by the Supreme Court to practice law were appointed prosecutor representing the American CIC in the trial of the case.
The commission was empanelled under the authority of Executive Order No. 68 of the President of the Philippines the validity of which is challenged by petitioner on constitutional grounds. Petitioner has also challenged the personality of Attorneys Hussey and Port to appear as prosecutors before the commission.
The charges against petitioner has been filed since June 26, 1948 in the name of the people of the Philippines as accusers.
We will consideration briefly the challenge against the appearance of Attorneys Hussey and Port. It appearing that they are aliens and have not been authorized by the Supreme Court to practice law there could not be any question that said person cannot appear as prosecutors in petitioner case as with such appearance they would be practicing law against the law.
Said violation vanishes however into insignificance at the side of the momentous question involved in the challenge against the validity of Executive Order No. 68. Said order is challenged on several constitutional ground. To get a clear idea of the question raised it is necessary to read the whole context of said order which is reproduced as follows:
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 68.
ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL WAR CRIMES OFFICE AND PRESCRIBING RULES AND REGULATION GOVERNING THE TRIAL OF ACCUSED WAR CRIMINAL.
I, Manuel Roxas president of the Philippines by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the Philippines do hereby establish a National War Crimes Office charged with the responsibility of accomplishing the speedy trial of all Japanese accused of war crimes committed in the Philippines and prescribe the rules and regulation such trial.
The National War crimes office is established within the office of the Judge Advocate General of the Army of the Philippines and shall function under the direction supervision and control of the Judge Advocate General. It shall proceed to collect from all available sources evidence of war crimes committed in the Philippines from the commencement of hostilities by Japan in December 1941, maintain a record thereof and bring about the prompt trial maintain a record thereof and bring about the prompt trial of the accused.
The National War Crimes Office shall maintain direct liaison with the Legal Section General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied power and shall exchange with the said Office information and evidence of war crimes.
The following rules and regulation shall govern the trial off person accused as war criminals:
ESTABLISHMENT OF MILITARY COMMISSIONS
(a) General. — person accused as war criminal shall be tried by military commission to be convened by or under the authority of the Philippines.
II. JURISDICTION
(a) Over Person. — Thee military commission appointed hereunder shall have jurisdiction over all persons charged with war crimes who are in the custody of the convening authority at the time of the trial.
(b) Over Offenses. — The military commission established hereunder shall have jurisdiction over all offenses including but not limited to the following:
(1) The planning preparation initiation or waging of a war of aggression or a war in violation of international treaties agreement or assurance or participation in a common plan or conspiracy for the accomplishment of any of the foregoing.
(2) Violation of the laws or customs of war. Such violation shall include but not be limited to murder ill-treatment or deportation to slave labor or for other purpose of civilian population of or in occupied territory; murder or ill-treatment of prisoners of war or internees or person on the seas or elsewhere; improper treatment of hostage; plunder of public or private property wanton destruction of cities towns or village; or devastation not justified by military necessity.
(3) Murder extermination enslavement deportation and other inhuman acts committed against civilian population before or during the war or persecution on political racial or religion ground in executive of or in connection with any crime defined herein whether or not in violation of the local laws.
III. MEMBERSHIP OF COMMISSIONS
(a) Appointment. — The members of each military commission shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines or under authority delegated by him. Alternates may be appointed by the convening authority. Such shall attend all session of the commission, and in case of illness or other incapacity of any principal member, an alternate shall take the place of that member. Any vacancy among the members or alternates, occurring after a trial has begun, may be filled by the convening authority but the substance of all proceeding had evidence taken in that case shall be made known to the said new member or alternate. This facts shall be announced by the president of the commission in open court.
(b) Number of Members. — Each commission shall consist of not less than three (3) members.
(c) Qualifications. — The convening authority shall appoint to the commission persons whom he determines to be competent to perform the duties involved and not disqualified by personal interest or prejudice, provided that no person shall be appointed to hear a case in which he personally investigated or wherein his presence as a witness is required. One specially qualified member whose ruling is final in so far as concerns the commission on an objection to the admissibility of evidence offered during the trial.
(d) Voting. — Except as to the admissibility of evidence all rulings and finding of the Commission shall be by majority vote except that conviction and sentence shall be by the affirmative vote of not less than conviction and sentence shall be by the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2\3) of the member present.
(e) Presiding Member. — In the event that the convening authority does not name one of the member as the presiding member, the senior officer among the member of the Commission present shall preside.
IV. PROSECUTORS
(a) Appointment. — The convening authority shall designate one or more person to conduct the prosecution before each commission.
(b) Duties. — The duties of the prosecutor are:
(1) To prepare and present charges and specifications for reference to a commission.
(2) To prepare cases for trial and to conduct the prosecution before the commission of all cases referred for trial.
V. POWER AND PROCEDURE OF COMMISSION
(a) Conduct of the Trial. — A Commission shall:
(1) Confine each trial strictly to fair and expeditious hearing on the issues raised by the charges, excluding irrelevant issues or evidence and preventing any unnecessary delay or interference.
(2) Deal summarily with any contumacy or contempt, imposing any appropriate punishment therefor.
(3) Hold public session when otherwise decided by the commission.
(4) Hold each session at such time and place as it shall determine, or as may be directed by the convening authority.
(b) Rights of the Accused. — The accused shall be entitled:
(1) To have in advance of the trial a copy of the charges and specifications clearly worded so as to apprise the accused of each offense charged.
(2) To be represented, prior to and during trial, by counsel appointed by the convening authority or counsel of his own choice, or to conduct his own defense.
(3) To testify in his own behalf and have his counsel present relevant evidence at the trial in support of his defense, and cross-examine each adverse witness who personally appears before the commission.
(4) To have the substance of the charges and specifications, the proceedings and any documentary evidence translated, when he is unable otherwise to understand them.
(c) Witnesses. — The Commission shall have power:
(1) To summon witnesses and require their attendance and testimony; to administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses and other persons and to question witnesses.
(2) To require the production of documents and other evidentiary material.
(3) To delegate the Prosecutors appointed by the convening authority the powers and duties set forth in (1) and (2) above.
(4) To have evidence taken by a special commissioner appointed by the commission.
(d) Evidence.
(1) The commission shall admit such evidence as in its opinion shall be of assistance in proving or disproving the charge, or such as in the commission's opinion would have probative value in the mind of a reasonable man. The commission shall apply the rules of evidence and pleading set forth herein with the greatest liberality to achieve expeditious procedure. In particular, and without limiting in any way the scope of the foregoing general rules, the following evidence may be admitted:
(a) Any document, irrespective of its classification, which appears to the commission to have been signed or issued by any officer, department, agency or member of the armed forces of any Government without proof of the signature or of the issuance of the document.
(b) Any report which appears to the commission to have been signed or issued by the International Red Cross or a member of any medical service personnel, or by any investigator or intelligence officer, or by any other person whom commission considers as possessing knowledge of the matters contained in the report.
(c) Affidavits, depositions or other signed statements.
(d) Any diary, letter to other document, including sworn statements, appearing to the commission to contain information relating to the charge.
(e) A copy of any document or other secondary evidence of the contents, if the original is not immediately available.
(2) The commission shall take judicial notice of facts of common knowledge, official government documents of any nation, and the proceedings, records and findings of military or other agencies of any of the United Nation.
(3) A commission may require the prosecution and the defense to make a preliminary offer of proof whereupon the commission may rule in advance on the admissibility of such evidence.
(4) The official position of the accused shall not absolve him from responsibility nor be considered in mitigation of punishment. Further action pursuant to an order of the accused's superior, or of his Government, shall not constitute a defense, but may be considered in mitigation of punishment if the commission determines that justice so requires.
(5) All purposed confessions or statements of the accused shall bee admissible in evidence without any showing that they were voluntarily made. If it is shown that such confession or statement was procured by mean which the commission believe to have been of such a character that may have caused the accused to make a false statement the commission may strike out or disregard any such portion thereof as was so procured.
(e) Trial Procedure. — The proceedings of each trial shall be conducted substantially as follows unless modified by the commission to suit the particular circumstances:
(1) Each charge and specification shall be read or its substance stated in open court.
(2) The presiding member shall ask each accused whether he pleads "Guilty" or "Not guilty."
(3) The prosecution shall make its opening statement."(4) The presiding member may at this or any other time require the prosecutor to state what evidence he proposes to submit to the commission and the commission thereupon may rule upon the admissibility of such evidence.
(4) The witnesses and other evidence for the prosecution shall be heard or presented. At the close of the case for the prosecution, the commission may, on motion of the defense for a finding of not guilty, consider and rule whether he evidence before the commission may defer action on any such motion and permit or require the prosecution to reopen its case and produce any further available evidence.
(5) The defense may make an opening statement prior to presenting its case. The presiding member may, at this any other time require the defense to state what evidence it proposes to submit to the commission where upon the commission may rule upon the admissibility of such evidence.
(6) The witnesses and other evidence for the defense shall be heard or presented. Thereafter, the prosecution and defense may introduce such evidence in rebuttal as the commission may rule as being admissible.
(7) The defense and thereafter the prosecution shall address the commission.
(8) The commission thereafter shall consider the case in closed session and unless otherwise directed by the convening authority, announce in open court its judgment and sentence if any. The commission may state the reason on which judgment is based.
( f ) Record of Proceedings. — Each commission shall make a separate record of its proceeding in the trial of each case brought before it. The record shall be prepared by the prosecutor under the direction of the commission and submitted to the defense counsel. The commission shall be responsible for its accuracy. Such record, certified by the presiding member of the commission or his successor, shall be delivered to the convening authority as soon as possible after the trial.
(g) Sentence. — The commission may sentence an accused, upon conviction to death by hanging or shooting, imprisonment for life or for any less term, fine or such other punishment as the commission shall determine to be proper.
(h) Approval of Sentence. — No. sentence of a military commission shall be carried into effect until approved by the chief off Staff: Provided, That no sentence of death or life imprisonment shall be carried into execution until confirmed by the President of the Philippines. For the purpose of his review the Chief of Staff shall create a Board of Review to be composed of not more than three officers none of whom shall be on duty with or assigned to the Judge Advocate General's Office. The Chief of Staff shall have authority to approve, mitigate remit in whole or in part, commute, suspend, reduce or otherwise alter the sentence imposed, or (without prejudice to the accused) remand the case for rehearing before a new military commission; but he shall not have authority to increase the severity of the sentence. Except as herein otherwise provided the judgment and sentence of a commission shall final and not subject to review by any other tribunal.
VI. RULE-MAKING POWER
Supplementary Rule and Forms. — Each commission shall adopt rules and forms to govern its procedure, not inconsistent with the provision of this Order, or such rules and forms as may be prescribed by the convening authority]or by the President of the Philippines.
VII. The amount of amount of seven hundred thousand pesos is hereby set aside out of the appropriations for the Army of the Philippines for use by the National War Crimes Office in the accomplishment of its mission as hereinabove set forth, and shall be expended in accordance with the recommendation of the Judge Advocate General as approved by the President. The buildings, fixtures, installations, messing, and billeting equipment and other property herefore used by then Legal Section, Manila Branch, of the General Headquarters, Supreme Commander for the Allied Power, which will be turned over by the United States Army to the Philippines Government through the Foreign Liquidation Commission and the Surplus Property Commission are hereby specification reserved for use off the National War Crimes Office.
Executive Order No. 64, dated August 16, 1945, is hereby repealed.
Done in the City of Manila, this 29th day of July in the year of Our Lord, nineteen hundred and forty-seven, and of the Independence of the Philippines, the second.
MANUEL ROXAS
President of the Philippines
By the President:
EMILIO ABELLO
Chief of the Executive Office
EXECUTIVE LEGISLATION
Executive Order No. 68 is a veritable piece of Legislative measure, without the benefit of congressional enactment.
The first question that is trust at our face spearheading a group of other no less important question, is whether or not the President of the Philippines may exercise the legislative power expressly vested in Congress by the Constitution. .
The Constitution provides:
The Legislative powers shall be vested in a Congress of the Philippines which shall consist of a Senate and House of Representatives. (Section 1, Article VI.)
While there is no express provision in the fundamental law prohibiting the exercise of legislative power by agencies other than Congress, a reading of the whole context of the Constitution would dispel any doubt as to the constitutional intent that the legislative power is to be exercised exclusively by Congress, subject only to the veto power of the President of the President of the Philippines, to the specific provision which allow the president of the Philippines to suspend the privileges of the writ of habeas corpus and to place any part of the Philippines under martial law, and to the rule-making power expressly vested by the Constitution in the Supreme Court.
There cannot be any question that the member of the Constitutional Convention were believers in the tripartite system of government as originally enunciated by Aristotle, further elaborated by Montequieu and accepted and practiced by modern democracies, especially the United State of America, whose Constitution, after which ours has been patterned, has allocated the three power of government — legislative, executive, judicial — to distinct and separate department of government.
Because the power vested by our Constitution to the several department of the government are in the nature of grants, not recognition of pre-existing power, no department of government may exercise any power or authority not expressly granted by the Constitution or by law by virtue express authority of the Constitution.
Executive Order No. 68 establishes a National War Crimes Office and the power to establish government office is essentially legislative.
The order provides that person accused as war criminals shall be tried by military commissions. Whether such a provision is substantive or adjective, it is clearly legislative in nature. It confers upon military commissions jurisdiction to try all persons charge with war crimes. The power to define and allocate jurisdiction for the prosecution of person accused of any crime is exclusively vested by the Constitution in Congress. .
It provides rules of procedure for the conduct of trial of trial. This provision on procedural subject constitutes a usurpation of the rule-making power vested by Constitution in the Supreme Court.
It authorized military commission to adopt additional rule of procedure. If the President of the Philippines cannot exercise the rule -making power vested by the Constitution in the Supreme Court, he cannot, with more reason, delegate that power to military commission.
It appropriates the sum of P7000,000 for the expenses of the National War Crimes office established by the said Executive Order No. 68. This constitutes another usurpation of legislative power as the power to vote appropriations belongs to Congress.
Executive Order No. 68., is, therefore, null and void, because, though it the President of the Philippines usurped power expressly vested by the Constitution in Congress and in the Supreme Court.
Challenged to show the constitutional or legal authority under which the President issued Executive Order No. 68, respondent could not give any definite answer. They attempted, however, to suggest that the President of the Philippines issued Executive Order No. 68 under the emergency power granted to him by Commonwealth Act No. 600, as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 620, and Commonwealth Act No. 671, both of which are transcribed below:
COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 600.
AN ACT DECLARING A STATE OF EMERGENCY AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATION TO SAFEGUARD THE INTEGRITY OF THE PHILIPPINES AND TO INSURE THE TRANQUILITY OF ITS INHABITANTS.
Be it enacted by the National Assembly of the Philippines:
SECTION 1. The existence of war in many parts of the world has created a national emergency which makes it necessary to invest the President of the Philippines with extraordinary power in order to safeguard the integrity of the Philippines and to insure the tranquility of its inhabitants, by suppressing espionage, lawlessness, and all subversive to the people adequate shelter and clothing and sufficient food supply, and by providing means for the speedy evacuation of the civilian population the establishment of an air protective service and the organization of volunteer guard units, and to adopt such other measures as he may deem necessary for the interest of the public. To carry out this policy the President is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations which shall have the force and effect off law until the date of adjournment of the next regulation which shall have the force and effect of law until the date of adjournment of the next regular session of the First Congress of the Philippines, unless sooner amended or repealed by the Congress of Philippines. Such rules and regulation may embrace the following objects: (1) to suppress espionage and other subversive activities; (2) to require all able-bodied citizens (a) when not engaged in any lawful occupation, to engage in farming or other productive activities or (b) to perform such services as may bee necessary in the public interest; (3) to take over farm lands in order to prevent or shortage of crops and hunger and destitution; (4) to take over industrial establishment in order to insure adequate production, controlling wages and profits therein; (5) to prohibit lockouts and strikes whenever necessary to prevent the unwarranted suspension of work in productive enterprises or in the interest of national security; (6) to regulate the normal hours of work for wage-earning and salaried employees in industrial or business undertakings of all kinds; (7) to insure an even distribution of labor among the productive enterprises; (8) to commandership and other means of transportation in order to maintain, as much as possible, adequate and continued transportation facilities; (9) to requisition and take over any public service or enterprise for use or operation by the Government;(10) to regulate rents and the prices of articles or commodities of prime necessity, both imported and locally produced or manufactured; and (11) to prevent, locally or generally, scarcity, monopolization, hoarding injurious speculations, and private control affecting the supply, distribution and movement of foods, clothing, fuel, fertilizer, chemical, building, material, implements, machinery, and equipment required in agriculture and industry, with power to requisition these commodities subject to the payment of just compensation. (As amended by Com. Act No. 620.)
SEC. 2. For the purpose of administering this Act and carrying out its objective, the President may designate any officer, without additional compensation, or any department, bureau, office, or instrumentality of the National Government.
SEC. 3. Any person, firm, or corporation found guilty of the violation of any provision of this Act or of this Act or any of the rules or regulations promulgated by the President under the authority of section one of this Act shall be punished by imprisonment of not more than ten years or by a fine of not more than ten thousand pesos, or by both. If such violation is committed by a firm or corporation, the manager, managing director, or person charge with the management of the business of such firm, or corporation shall be criminally responsible therefor.
SEC. 4. The President shall report to the national Assembly within the first ten days from the date of the opening of its next regular session whatever action has been taken by him under the authority herein granted.
SEC. 5. To carry out the purposed of this Act, the President is authorized to spend such amounts as may be necessary from the sum appropriated under section five Commonwealth Act Numbered four hundred and ninety-eight.
SEC. 6. If any province of this Act shall be declared by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unconstitutional and void, such declaration shall not invalidate the remainder of this Act.
SEC. 7. This Act shall take upon its approval.
Approved, August 19, 1940.
COMMONWEALTH ACT NO. 671
AN ACT DECLARING A STATE OF TOTAL EMERGENCY AS A RESULT OF WAR INVOLVING THE PHILIPPINES AND AUTHORIZING THE PRESIDENT TO PROMULGATE RULE AND REGULATIONS TO MEET SUCH EMERGENCY.
Be it enacted the National Assembly of the Philippines;
SECTION 1. The existed of war between the United State and other countries of Europe and Asia, which involves the Philippines, makes it necessary to invest the President with extraordinary powers in order to meet the resulting emergency.
SEC. 2. Pursuant to the provision of Article VI, section 16, of the Constitution, the President is hereby authorized, during the existence of the emergency, to promulgate such rules and regulation as he may deem necessary to carry out the national policy declared in section 1 hereof. Accordingly, he is, among other things, empowered (a) to transfer the seat of the Government or any of its subdivisions, branches, department, offices, agencies or instrumentalities; (b) to reorganize the Government of the Commonwealth including the determination of the order of precedence of the heads of the Executive Department; (c) to create new subdivision, branches, departments, offices, agency or instrumentalities of government and to abolish any of those already existing; (d) to continue in force laws and appropriation which would lapse or otherwise became inoperative, and to modify or suspend the operation or application of those of an administrative character; (e) to imposed new taxes or to increase, reduce, suspend, or abolish those in existence; (f) to raise funds through the issuance of bonds or otherwise, and to authorize the expensive of the proceeds thereof; (g) to authorize the National, provincial, city or municipal governments to incur in overdrafts for purposes that he may approve; (h) to declare the suspension of the collection of credits or the payment of debts; and (i) to exercise such other power as he may deem necessary to enable the Government to fulfill its responsibilities and to maintain and enforce its authority.
SEC. 3. The President of the Philippines report thereto all the rules and regulation promulgated by him under the power herein granted.
SEC. 4. This Act shall take effect upon its approval and the rules and regulations. promulgated hereunder shall be in force and effect until the Congress of the Philippines shall otherwise provide.
Approved December 16, 1941.
The above Acts cannot validly be invoked, Executive Order No. 68 was issued on July 29, 1947. Said Acts had elapsed upon the liberation of the Philippines form the Japanese forces or, at the latest, when the surrender of Japan was signed in Tokyo on September 2, 1945.
When both Acts were enacted by the Second National Assembly, we happened to have taken direct part in their consideration and passage, not only as one of the members of said legislative body as chairman of the Committee on Third Reading population Known as the "Little Senate." We are, therefore in a position to state that said measures were enacted by the second national Assembly for the purpose of facing the emergency of impending war and of the Pacific War that finally broke out with the attack of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. We approved said extraordinary measures, by which under the exceptional circumstances then prevailing legislative power were delegated to the President of the Philippines, by virtue of the following provisions of the Constitution:
In time of war or other national emergency, the Congress may by law authorize the President, for a limited period and subject to such restrictions as it may prescribe to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out declared national policy. (Article VI, section 26.)
It has never been the purpose of the National Assembly to extend the delegation beyond the emergency created by the war as to extend it farther would be violative of the express provision of the Constitution. We are of the opinion that there is no doubt on this question.; but if there could still be any the same should be resolved in favor of the presumption that the National Assembly did not intend to violate the fundamental law.
The absurdity of the contention that the emergency Acts continued in effect even after the surrender of Japan can not be gainsaid. Only a few months after liberation and even before the surrender of Japan, or since the middle of 1945, the Congress started to function normally. In the hypothesis that the contention can prevail, then, since 1945, that is, four years ago, even after the Commonwealth was already replaced by the Republic of the Philippines with the proclamation of our Independence, two district, separate and independence legislative organs, — Congress and the President of the Philippines — would have been and would continue enacting laws, the former to enact laws of every nature including those of emergency character, and the latter to enact laws, in the form of executive orders, under the so-called emergency powers. The situation would be pregnant with dangers to peace and order to the rights and liberties of the people and to Philippines democracy.
Should there be any disagreement between Congress and the President of the Philippines, a possibility that no one can dispute the President of the Philippines may take advantage of he long recess of Congress (two-thirds of every year ) to repeal and overrule legislative enactments of Congress, and may set up a veritable system of dictatorship, absolutely repugnant to the letter and spirit of the Constitution.
Executive Order No. 68 is equally offensive to the Constitution because it violates the fundamental guarantees of the due process and equal protection of the law. It is especially so, because it permit the admission of many kinds evidence by which no innocent person can afford to get acquittal and by which it is impossible to determine whether an accused is guilty or not beyond all reasonable doubt.
The rules of evidence adopted in Executive Order No. 68 are a reproduction of the regulation governing the trial of twelve criminal, issued by General Douglas Mac Arthur, Commander in Chief of the United State Armed Forces in Western Pacific, for the purpose of trying among other, General Yamashita and Homma. What we said in our concurring and dissenting opinion to the decision promulgated on December 19, 1945, in the Yamashita case, L-129, and in our concurring and dissenting opinion to the resolution of January 23, 1946 in disposing the Homma case, L-244, are perfectly applicable to the offensive rules of evidence in Executive Order No. 68. Said rules of evidence are repugnant to conscience as under them no justice can expected.
For all the foregoing, conformably with our position in the Yamashita and Homma cases, we vote to declare Executive Order No. 68 null and void and to grant petition.