EN BANC

PHILIP SIGFRID A. FORTUN G.R. No. 190293

and ALBERT LEE G. ANGELES,
Petitioners, Present:

CORONA, C.J.,
CARPIO,
VELASCO, JR.,
LEONARDO-DE CASTRO,
BRION,
- versus - PERALTA,
BERSAMIN,
DEL CASTILLO,
ABAD,
VILLARAMA, JR.,
PEREZ,
MENDOZA,
SERENO,
REES, !n"
PERLAS-BERNABE, JJ.
GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROO, a!
Co""and#$-%n-C&%#' and P$#!%d#n( o' (&# R#)*+,%-
o' (&# P&%,%))%n#!, EDUARDO ERMITA, E.#-*(%/#
S#-$#(a$0, ARMED FORCES OF THE
PHILIPPINES 1AFP2, o$ an0 o' (&#%$ *n%(!,
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE 1PNP2, o$ an0
o' (&#%$ *n%(!, 3OHN DOES and 3ANE DOES
a-(%n4 *nd#$ (&#%$ d%$#-(%on and -on($o,,
Res#on"ents.

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DIDAGEN P. DILANGALEN, G.R. No. 190295
Petitioner,

- versus -

EDUARDO R. ERMITA %n &%! -a)a-%(0 a!
E.#-*(%/# S#-$#(a$0, NORBERTO GON6ALES %n
&%! -a)a-%(0 a! S#-$#(a$0 o' Na(%ona, D#'#n!#,
RONALDO PUNO %n &%! -a)a-%(0 a! S#-$#(a$0 o'
In(#$%o$ and Lo-a, Go/#$n"#n(,
Res#on"ents.

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NATIONAL UNION OF PEOPLES7 G.R. No. 190301
LA8ERS 1NUPL2 SECRETAR GENERAL
NERI 3A9IER COLMENARES, BAAN MUNA
REPRESENTATI9E SATUR C. OCAMPO,
GABRIELA 8OMEN7S PART
REPRESENTATI9E LI6A L. MA6A, ATT.
3ULIUS GARCIA MATIBAG, ATT. EPHRAIM
B. CORTE6, ATT. 3OBERT ILARDE PAHILGA,
ATT. 9OLTAIRE B. AFRICA, BAGONG
ALANSANG MA:ABAAN 1BAAN2
SECRETAR GENERAL RENATO M. REES,
3R. and ANTHON IAN CRU6,
Petitioners,

- versus -

PRESIDENT GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROO,
E;ECUTI9E SECRETAR EDUARDO R.
ERMITA, ARMED FORCES OF THE
PHILIPPINES CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL
9ICTOR S. IBRADO, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL
POLICE DIRECTOR GENERAL 3ESUS A.
9ER6OSA, DEPARTMENT OF 3USTICE
SECRETAR AGNES 9ST DE9ANADERA,
ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES
EASTERN MINDANAO COMMAND CHIEF
LIEUTENANT GENERAL RAMUNDO B.
FERRER,
Res#on"ents.

$ ---------------------------------------------------- $

3OSEPH NELSON <. LOOLA, G.R. No. 190302
Petitioner,

- versus -

HER E;CELLENC PRESIDENT GLORIA
MACAPAGAL-ARROO, ARMED FORCES
CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL 9ICTOR IBRADO,
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE 1PNP2,
DIRECTOR GENERAL 3ESUS 9ER6OSA,
E;ECUTI9E SECRETAR EDUARDO ERMITA,
Res#on"ents.

$ ---------------------------------------------------- $

3O9ITO R. SALONGA, RAUL C. G.R. No. 19030=
PANGALANGAN, H. HARR L. RO<UE, 3R.,
3OEL R. BUTUAN, EMILIO CAPULONG,
FLORIN T. HILBA, ROMEL R. BAGARES,
DE;TER DONNE B. DI6ON, ALLAN 3ONES F.
LARDI6ABAL and GILBERT T. ANDRES, !*%n4
a! (a.)a0#$! and a! CONCERNED F%,%)%no
-%(%>#n!,
Petitioners,

- versus -

GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROO, %n &%! 1sic2
-a)a-%(0 a! P$#!%d#n( o' (&# R#)*+,%- o' (&#
P&%,%))%n#!, HON. EDUARDO ERMITA, 3R., %n
&%! -a)a-%(0 a! E.#-*(%/# S#-$#(a$0, and HON.
ROLANDO ANDAA %n &%! -a)a-%(0 a! S#-$#(a$0
o' (&# D#)a$("#n( o' B*d4#( and Mana4#"#n(,
GENERAL 9ICTOR IBRADO, %n &%! -a)a-%(0 a!
A$"#d Fo$-#! o' (&# P&%,%))%n#! C&%#' o' S(a'',
DIRECTOR 3ESUS 9ER6OSA, %n &%! -a)a-%(0 a!
C&%#' o' (&# P&%,%))%n# Na(%ona, Po,%-#,
Res#on"ents.

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BAILENG S. MANTA8IL, DENGCO G.R. No. 1903?@
SABAN, En4$. OCTOBER CHIO, A:BAAN
PART LIST REPRESENTATI9ES 8ALDEN F.
BELLO and ANA THERESIA HONTI9EROS-
BARA<UEL, LORETTA ANN P. ROSALES,
MAR9IC M.9.F. LEONEN, THEODORE O. TE
and IBARRA M. GUTIERRE6 III,
Petitioners,

- versus -

THE E;ECUTI9E SECRETAR, THE
SECRETAR OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, THE
SECRETAR OF 3USTICE, THE SECRETAR
OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GO9ERNMENT,
THE SECRETAR OF BUDGET AND
MANAGEMENT, and THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF
THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES,
THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE
PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE,
Res#on"ents.

$ ---------------------------------------------------- $

CHRISTIAN MONSOD and G.R. No. 1903A0
CARLOS P. MEDINA, 3R.,
Petitioners,

- versus -

EDUARDO R. ERMITA, %n &%! Pro%u&'!te":
-a)a-%(0 a! E.#-*(%/# S#-$#(a$0,
Res#on"ent. M!r() *+, *+,*

$ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- $

DECISION

ABAD, J.:


T)ese (!ses (on(ern t)e (onstitution!&it- o. ! #resi"enti!& #ro(&!%!tion o.
%!rti!& &!/ !n" sus#ension o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. habeas corpus in *++0 in ! #rovin(e
inMin"!n!o /)i() /ere /it)"r!/n !.ter 1ust ei')t "!-s.

T&# Fa-(! and (&# Ca!#

T)e essenti!& 2!(3'roun" .!(ts !re not in "is#ute. On Nove%2er *4, *++0
)e!vi&- !r%e" %en, 2e&ieve" &e" 2- t)e ru&in' A%#!tu!n .!%i&-, 'unne" "o/n !n"
2urie" un"er s)ove&e" "irt 56 inno(ent (ivi&i!ns on ! )i')/!- in M!'uin"!n!o. In
res#onse to t)is (!rn!'e, on Nove%2er *7 Presi"ent Arro-o issue" Presi"enti!&
Pro(&!%!tion ,078, "e(&!rin' ! st!te o. e%er'en(- in M!'uin"!n!o, Su&t!n
9u"!r!t, !n" Cot!2!to Cit- to #revent !n" su##ress si%i&!r &!/&ess vio&en(e
in Centr!& Min"!n!o.

Be&ievin' t)!t s)e nee"e" 're!ter !ut)orit- to #ut or"er in M!'uin"!n!o !n"
se(ure it .ro% &!r'e 'rou#s o. #ersons t)!t )!ve t!3en u# !r%s !'!inst t)e
(onstitute" !ut)orities in t)e #rovin(e, on De(e%2er 7, *++0 Presi"ent Arro-o
issue" Presi"enti!& Pro(&!%!tion ,050 "e(&!rin' %!rti!& &!/ !n" sus#en"in' t)e
#rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus in t)!t #rovin(e e$(e#t .or i"enti.ie" !re!s o.
t)e Moro Is&!%i( Li2er!tion :ront.

T/o "!-s &!ter or on De(e%2er 8, *++0 Presi"ent Arro-o su2%itte" )er
re#ort to Con'ress in !((or"!n(e /it) Se(tion ,;, Arti(&e VII o. t)e ,0;6
Constitution /)i() re<uire" )er, /it)in 7; )ours .ro% t)e #ro(&!%!tion o. %!rti!&
&!/ or t)e sus#ension o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus, to su2%it to
t)!t 2o"- ! re#ort in #erson or in /ritin' o. )er !(tion.

In )er re#ort, Presi"ent Arro-o s!i" t)!t s)e !(te" 2!se" on )er .in"in' t)!t
&!/&ess %en )!ve t!3en u# !r%s in M!'uin"!n!o !n" risen !'!inst t)e
'overn%ent. T)e Presi"ent "es(ri2e" t)e s(o#e o. t)e u#risin', t)e n!ture, <u!ntit-,
!n" <u!&it- o. t)e re2e&s= /e!#onr-, t)e %ove%ent o. t)eir )e!vi&- !r%e" units in
str!te'i( #ositions, t)e (&osure o. t)e M!'uin"!n!o Provin(i!& C!#ito&, A%#!tu!n
Muni(i#!& >!&&, D!tu ?ns!- Muni(i#!& >!&&, !n" ,7 ot)er %uni(i#!& )!&&s, !n" t)e
use o. !r%ore" ve)i(&es, t!n3s, !n" #!tro& (!rs /it) un!ut)ori@e" APNPBPo&i(eC
%!r3in's.

On De(e%2er 0, *++0 Con'ress, in 1oint session, (onvene" #ursu!nt to
Se(tion ,;, Arti(&e VII o. t)e ,0;6 Constitution to revie/ t)e v!&i"it- o. t)e
Presi"ent=s !(tion. But, t/o "!-s &!ter or on De(e%2er ,* 2e.ore Con'ress (ou&"
!(t, t)e Presi"ent issue" Presi"enti!& Pro(&!%!tion ,084, &i.tin' %!rti!& &!/ !n"
restorin' t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus in M!'uin"!n!o.

Petitioners P)i&i# Si'.ri" A. :ortun !n" t)e ot)er #etitioners in D.R. ,0+*04,
,0+*07, ,0+4+,,,0+4+*, ,0+4+6, ,0+458, !n" ,0+4;+ 2rou')t t)e #resent !(tions
to ()!&&en'e t)e (onstitution!&it- o. Presi"ent Arro-o=s Pro(&!%!tion ,050
!..e(tin' M!'uin"!n!o. But, 'iven t)e #ro%#t &i.tin' o. t)!t #ro(&!%!tion 2e.ore
Con'ress (ou&" revie/ it !n" 2e.ore !n- serious <uestion !..e(tin' t)e ri')ts !n"
&i2erties o. M!'uin"!n!o=s in)!2it!nts (ou&" !rise, t)e Court "ee%s !n- revie/ o.
its (onstitution!&it- t)e e<uiv!&ent o. 2e!tin' ! "e!" )orse.

Pru"en(e !n" res#e(t .or t)e (o-e<u!& "e#!rt%ents o. t)e 'overn%ent "i(t!te
t)!t t)e Court s)ou&" 2e (!utious in entert!inin' !(tions t)!t !ss!i& t)e
(onstitution!&it- o. t)e !(ts o. t)e E$e(utive or t)e Le'is&!tive "e#!rt%ent. T)e
issue o. (onstitution!&it-, s!i" t)e Court in Biraogo v. Philippine Truth
Commission of 2010,
E,F
%ust 2e t)e ver- issue o. t)e (!se, t)!t t)e reso&ution o.
su() issue is un!voi"!2&e.

T)e issue o. t)e (onstitution!&it- o. Pro(&!%!tion ,050 is not un!voi"!2&e
.or t/o re!sons:

On#. Presi"ent Arro-o /it)"re/ )er #ro(&!%!tion o. %!rti!& &!/ !n"
sus#ension o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus 2e.ore t)e 1oint )ouses o.
Con'ress (ou&" .u&.i&& t)eir !uto%!ti( "ut- to revie/ !n" v!&i"!te or inv!&i"!te t)e
s!%e. T)e #ertinent #rovisions o. Se(tion ,;, Arti(&e VII o. t)e ,0;6 Constitution
st!te:

Se(. ,;. T)e Presi"ent s)!&& 2e t)e Co%%!n"er-in-C)ie. o. !&& !r%e"
.or(es o. t)e P)i&i##ines !n" /)enever it 2e(o%es ne(ess!r-, )e %!- (!&& out su()
!r%e" .or(es to #revent or su##ress &!/&ess vio&en(e, inv!sion or re2e&&ion. In
(!se o. inv!sion or re2e&&ion, /)en t)e #u2&i( s!.et- re<uires it, )e %!-, .or !
#erio" not e$(ee"in' si$t- "!-s, sus#en" t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas
corpus or #&!(e t)e P)i&i##ines or !n- #!rt t)ereo. un"er %!rti!& &!/. Git)in
.ort--ei')t )ours .ro% t)e #ro(&!%!tion o. %!rti!& &!/ or t)e sus#ension o. t)e
#rivi&e'e o. /rit o.habeas corpus, t)e Presi"ent s)!&& su2%it ! re#ort in #erson or
in /ritin' to t)e Con'ress. T)e Con'ress, votin' 1oint&-, 2- ! vote o. !t &e!st !
%!1orit- o. !&& its Me%2ers in re'u&!r or s#e(i!& session, %!- revo3e su()
#ro(&!%!tion or sus#ension, /)i() revo(!tion s)!&& not 2e set !si"e 2- t)e
Presi"ent. ?#on t)e initi!tive o. t)e Presi"ent, t)e Con'ress %!-, in t)e s!%e
%!nner, e$ten" su() #ro(&!%!tion or sus#ension .or ! #erio" to 2e "eter%ine" 2-
t)e Con'ress, i. t)e inv!sion or re2e&&ion s)!&& #ersist !n" #u2&i( s!.et- re<uires it.

T)e Con'ress, i. not in session, s)!&&, /it)in t/ent--.our )ours .o&&o/in'
su() #ro(&!%!tion or sus#ension, (onvene in !((or"!n(e /it) its ru&es /it)out
!n- nee" o. ! (!&&.

$ $ $ $

A&t)ou') t)e !2ove vests in t)e Presi"ent t)e #o/er to #ro(&!i% %!rti!& &!/
or sus#en" t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus, )e s)!res su() #o/er /it)
t)e Con'ress. T)us:

,. T)e Presi"ent=s #ro(&!%!tion or sus#ension is te%#or!r-,
'oo" .or on&- 8+ "!-sH

*. >e %ust, /it)in 7; )ours o. t)e #ro(&!%!tion or
sus#ension, re#ort )is !(tion in #erson or in /ritin' to Con'ressH

4. Bot) )ouses o. Con'ress, i. not in session %ust 1oint&-
(onvene /it)in *7 )ours o. t)e #ro(&!%!tion or sus#ension .or t)e
#ur#ose o. revie/in' its v!&i"it-H !n"

7. T)e Con'ress, votin' 1oint&-, %!- revo3e or !..ir% t)e
Presi"ent=s #ro(&!%!tion or sus#ension, !&&o/ t)eir &i%ite" e..e(tivit-
to &!#se, or e$ten" t)e s!%e i. Con'ress "ee%s /!rr!nte".

It is evi"ent t)!t un"er t)e ,0;6 Constitution t)e Presi"ent !n" t)e Con'ress
!(t in t!n"e% in e$er(isin' t)e #o/er to #ro(&!i% %!rti!& &!/ or sus#en" t)e
#rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus. T)e- e$er(ise t)e #o/er, not on&-
se<uenti!&&-, 2ut in ! sense 1oint&- sin(e, !.ter t)e Presi"ent )!s initi!te" t)e
#ro(&!%!tion or t)e sus#ension, on&- t)e Con'ress (!n %!int!in t)e s!%e 2!se" on
its o/n ev!&u!tion o. t)e situ!tion on t)e 'roun", ! #o/er t)!t t)e Presi"ent "oes
not )!ve.

Conse<uent&-, !&t)ou') t)e Constitution reserves to t)e Su#re%e Court t)e
#o/er to revie/ t)e su..i(ien(- o. t)e .!(tu!& 2!sis o. t)e #ro(&!%!tion or
sus#ension in ! #ro#er suit, it is i%#&i(it t)!t t)e Court %ust !&&o/ Con'ress to
e$er(ise its o/n revie/ #o/ers, /)i() is !uto%!ti( r!t)er t)!n initi!te". On&-
/)en Con'ress "e.!u&ts in its e$#ress "ut- to "e.en" t)e Constitution t)rou') su()
revie/ s)ou&" t)e Su#re%e Court ste# in !s its .in!& r!%#!rt. T)e (onstitution!&
v!&i"it- o. t)e Presi"ent=s #ro(&!%!tion o. %!rti!& &!/ or sus#ension o. t)e /rit
o. habeas corpus is .irst ! #o&iti(!& <uestion in t)e )!n"s o. Con'ress 2e.ore it
2e(o%es ! 1usti(i!2&e one in t)e )!n"s o. t)e Court.

>ere, Presi"ent Arro-o /it)"re/ Pro(&!%!tion ,050 2e.ore t)e 1oint )ouses
o. Con'ress, /)i() )!" in .!(t (onvene", (ou&" !(t on t)e s!%e. Conse<uent&-, t)e
#etitions in t)ese (!ses )!ve 2e(o%e %oot !n" t)e Court )!s not)in' to
revie/. T)e &i.tin' o. %!rti!& &!/ !n" restor!tion o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit
o. habeas corpusin M!'uin"!n!o /!s ! su#ervenin' event t)!t o2&iter!te" !n-
1usti(i!2&e (ontrovers-.
E*F

TBo. Sin(e Presi"ent Arro-o /it)"re/ )er #ro(&!%!tion o. %!rti!& &!/ !n"
sus#ension o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus in 1ust ei')t "!-s, t)e-
)!ve not 2een %e!nin'.u&&- i%#&e%ente". T)e %i&it!r- "i" not t!3e over t)e
o#er!tion !n" (ontro& o. &o(!& 'overn%ent units in M!'uin"!n!o. T)e Presi"ent
"i" not issue !n- &!/ or "e(ree !..e(tin' M!'uin"!n!o t)!t s)ou&" or"in!ri&- 2e
en!(te" 2- Con'ress. No in"is(ri%in!te %!ss !rrest )!" 2een re#orte". T)ose
/)o /ere !rreste" "urin' t)e #erio" /ere eit)er re&e!se" or #ro%#t&- ()!r'e" in
(ourt. In"ee", no #etition .or habeas corpus )!" 2een .i&e" /it) t)e Court
res#e(tin' !rrests %!"e in t)ose ei')t "!-s. T)e #oint is t)!t t)e Presi"ent
inten"e" 2- )er !(tion to !""ress !n u#risin' in ! re&!tive&- s%!&& !n" s#!rse&-
#o#u&!te" #rovin(e. In )er 1u"'%ent, t)e re2e&&ion /!s &o(!&i@e" !n" s/i.t&-
"isinte'r!te" in t)e .!(e o. ! "eter%ine" !n" !%#&- !r%e" 'overn%ent #resen(e.

In Lansang v. Garcia,
E4F
t)e Court re(eive" evi"en(e in e$e(utive session to
"eter%ine i. Presi"ent M!r(os= sus#ension o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas
corpus in ,06, )!" su..i(ient .!(tu!& 2!sis. In Auino! Jr. v. "nrile,
E7F
/)i&e t)e
Court too3 1u"i(i!& noti(e o. t)e .!(tu!& 2!ses .or Presi"ent M!r(os= #ro(&!%!tion
o. %!rti!& &!/ in ,06*, it sti&& )e&" )e!rin's on t)e #etitions .or habeas corpus to
"eter%ine t)e (onstitution!&it- o. t)e !rrest !n" "etention o. t)e #etitioners. >ere,
)o/ever, t)e Court )!s not 2ot)ere" to e$!%ine t)e evi"en(e u#on /)i() Presi"ent
Arro-o !(te" in issuin' Pro(&!%!tion ,050, #re(ise&- 2e(!use it .e&t no nee" to, t)e
#ro(&!%!tion )!vin' 2een /it)"r!/n /it)in ! .e/ "!-s o. its issu!n(e.

Justi(e Antonio T. C!r#io #oints out in )is "issentin' o#inion t)e .in"in' o.
t)e Re'ion!& Tri!& Court IRTCJ o. Kue@on Cit- t)!t no #ro2!2&e (!use e$ist t)!t
t)e !((use" 2e.ore it (o%%itte" re2e&&ion in M!'uin"!n!o sin(e t)e #rose(ution
.!i&e" to est!2&is) t)e e&e%ents o. t)e (ri%e. But t)e Court (!nnot use su() .in"in'
!s 2!sis .or stri3in' "o/n t)e Presi"ent=s #ro(&!%!tion !n"
sus#ension. :or, .irst&-, t)e Court "i" not "e&e'!te !n" (ou&" not "e&e'!te to t)e
RTC o. Kue@on Cit- its #o/er to "eter%ine t)e .!(tu!& 2!sis .or t)e #resi"enti!&
#ro(&!%!tion !n" sus#ension. Se(on"&-, t)ere is no s)o/in' t)!t t)e RTC o.
Kue@on Cit- #!sse" u#on t)e s!%e evi"en(e t)!t t)e Presi"ent, !s Co%%!n"er-in-
C)ie. o. t)e Ar%e" :or(es, )!" in )er #ossession /)en s)e issue" t)e
#ro(&!%!tion !n" sus#ension.

T)e Court "oes not reso&ve #ure&- !(!"e%i( <uestions to s!tis.- s()o&!r&-
interest, )o/ever inte&&e(tu!&&- ()!&&en'in' t)ese !re.
E5F
T)is is es#e(i!&&- true, s!i"
t)e Court in Philippine Association of Colleges an# $niversities v. %ecretar& of
"#ucation,
E8F
/)ere t)e issues Are!() (onstitution!& "i%ensions, .or t)en t)ere
(o%es into #&!- re'!r" .or t)e (ourt=s "ut- to !voi" "e(ision o. (onstitution!&
issues un&ess !voi"!n(e 2e(o%es ev!sion.C T)e Court=s "ut- is to steer (&e!r o.
"e(&!rin' un(onstitution!& t)e !(ts o. t)e E$e(utive or t)e Le'is&!tive "e#!rt%ent,
'iven t)e !ssu%#tion t)!t it (!re.u&&- stu"ie" t)ose !(ts !n" .oun" t)e% (onsistent
/it) t)e .un"!%ent!& &!/ 2e.ore t!3in' t)e%. ATo "ou2t is to sust!in.C
E6F

Not!2&-, un"er Se(tion ,;, Arti(&e VII o. t)e ,0;6 Constitution, t)e Court
)!s on&- 4+ "!-s .ro% t)e .i&in' o. !n !##ro#ri!te #ro(ee"in' to revie/ t)e
su..i(ien(- o. t)e .!(tu!& 2!sis o. t)e #ro(&!%!tion o. %!rti!& &!/ or t)e sus#ension
o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus. T)us L

T)e Su#re%e Court %!- revie/, in !n !##ro#ri!te #ro(ee"in' .i&e" 2- !n-
(iti@en, t)e su..i(ien(- o. t)e .!(tu!& 2!sis o. t)e #ro(&!%!tion o. %!rti!& &!/ or
t)e sus#ension o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus or t)e e$tension
t)ereo., !n" "*!( )$o"*,4a(# %(! d#-%!%on (&#$#on B%(&%n (&%$(0 da0! '$o" %(!
'%,%n4. IE%#)!sis su##&ie"J

More t)!n t/o -e!rs )!ve #!sse" sin(e #etitioners .i&e" t)e #resent !(tions
to !nnu& Pro(&!%!tion ,050. G)en t)e Court "i" not "e(i"e it t)en, it !(tu!&&-
o#te" .or ! "e.!u&t !s /!s its "ut-, t)e <uestion )!vin' 2e(o%e %oot !n" !(!"e%i(.

Justi(e C!r#io o. (ourse #oints out t)!t s)ou&" t)e Court re'!r" t)e #o/ers
o. t)e Presi"ent !n" Con'ress res#e(tin' t)e #ro(&!%!tion o. %!rti!& &!/ or t)e
sus#ension o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus !s se<uenti!& or 1oint, it
/ou&" 2e i%#ossi2&e .or t)e Court to e$er(ise its #o/er o. revie/ /it)in t)e 4+
"!-s 'iven it.

But t)ose 4+ "!-s, .i$e" 2- t)e Constitution, s)ou&" 2e enou') .or t)e Court
to .u&.i&& its "ut- /it)out #re-e%#tin' (on'ression!& !(tion. Se(tion ,;, Arti(&e
VII, re<uires t)e Presi"ent to re#ort )is !(tions to Con'ress, in #erson or in /ritin',
/it)in 7; )ours o. su() #ro(&!%!tion or sus#ension. In turn, t)e Con'ress is
re<uire" to (onvene /it)out nee" o. ! (!&& /it)in *7 )ours .o&&o/in' t)e
Presi"ent=s #ro(&!%!tion or sus#ension. C&e!r&-, t)e Constitution (!&&s .or <ui(3
!(tion on t)e #!rt o. t)e Con'ress. G)!tever .or% t)!t !(tion t!3es, t)ere.ore,
s)ou&" 'ive t)e Court su..i(ient ti%e to .u&.i&& its o/n %!n"!te to revie/ t)e
.!(tu!& 2!sis o. t)e #ro(&!%!tion or sus#ension /it)in 4+ "!-s o. its issu!n(e.

I. t)e Con'ress #ro(r!stin!tes or !&to'et)er .!i&s to .u&.i&& its "ut- res#e(tin'
t)e #ro(&!%!tion or sus#ension /it)in t)e s)ort ti%e e$#e(te" o. it, t)en t)e Court
(!n ste# in, )e!r t)e #etitions ()!&&en'in' t)e Presi"ent=s !(tion, !n" !s(ert!in i. it
)!s ! .!(tu!& 2!sis. I. t)e Court .in"s none, t)en it (!n !nnu& t)e #ro(&!%!tion or
t)e sus#ension. But /)!t i. t)e 4+ "!-s 'iven it 2- t)e Constitution #roves
in!"e<u!teM Justi(e C!r#io )i%se&. o..ers t)e !ns/er in )is "issent: t)!t 4+-"!-
#erio" "oes not o#er!te to "ivest t)is Court o. its 1uris"i(tion over t)e (!se. T)e
sett&e" ru&e is t)!t 1uris"i(tion on(e !(<uire" is not &ost unti& t)e (!se )!s 2een
ter%in!te".

T)e #ro2&e% in t)is (!se is t)!t t)e Presi"ent !2orte" t)e #ro(&!%!tion o.
%!rti!& &!/ !n" t)e sus#ension o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus in
M!'uin"!n!o in 1ust ei')t "!-s. In ! re!& sense, t)e #ro(&!%!tion !n" t)e
sus#ension never too3 o... T)e Con'ress itse&. !"1ourne" /it)out tou()in' t)e
%!tter, it )!vin' 2e(o%e %oot !n" !(!"e%i(.

O. (ourse, t)e Court )!s in e$(e#tion!& (!ses #!sse" u#on issues t)!t
or"in!ri&- /ou&" )!ve 2een re'!r"e" !s %oot. But t)e #resent (!ses "o not #resent
su..i(ient 2!sis .or t)e e$er(ise o. t)e #o/er o. 1u"i(i!& revie/. T)e #ro(&!%!tion
o. %!rti!& &!/ !n" t)e sus#ension o. t)e #rivi&e'e o. t)e /rit o. habeas corpus in
t)is (!se, un&i3e si%i&!r Presi"enti!& !(ts in t)e &!te 8+s !n" e!r&- 6+s, !##e!r %ore
&i3e s!2er-r!tt&in' t)!n !n !(tu!& "e#&o-%ent !n" !r2itr!r- use o. #o&iti(!& #o/er.

8HEREFORE, t)e Court DISMISSES t)e (onso&i"!te" #etitions on t)e
'roun" t)!t t)e s!%e )!ve 2e(o%e %oot !n" !(!"e%i(.

SO ORDERED.

ROBERTO A. ABAD
Asso(i!te Justi(e


8E CONCURC



RENATO C. CORONA
C)ie. Justi(e




ANTONIO T. CARPIO PRESBITERO 3. 9ELASCO, 3R.
Asso(i!te Justi(e Asso(i!te Justi(e




TERESITA 3. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO ARTURO D. BRION
Asso(i!te Justi(e Asso(i!te Justi(e




DIOSDADO M. PERALTA LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Asso(i!te Justi(e Asso(i!te Justi(e




MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO MARTIN S. 9ILLARAMA, 3R.
Asso(i!te Justi(e Asso(i!te Justi(e




3OSE PORTUGAL PERE6 3OSE CATRAL MENDO6A
Asso(i!te Justi(e Asso(i!te Justi(e











MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO BIEN9ENIDO L. REES
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ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE
Asso(i!te Justi(e





CERTIFICATION


Pursu!nt to Se(tion ,4, Arti(&e VIII o. t)e Constitution, it is )ere2- (erti.ie"
t)!t t)e (on(&usions in t)e !2ove De(ision )!" 2een re!()e" in (onsu&t!tion 2e.ore
t)e (!se /!s !ssi'ne" to t)e /riter o. t)e o#inion o. t)e Court.



RENATO C. CORONA
C)ie. Justi(e

E,F
D.R. Nos. ,0*045 N ,04+48, De(e%2er 6, *+,+, 846 SCRA 6;, ,76-,7;.
E*F
See 'una v. "rmita, D.R. No. ,;767+, :e2ru!r- ,,, *+,+, 8,* SCRA 4+;, 4,0.
E4F
,70 P)i&. 576 I,06,J.
E7F
,5;-A P)i&. , I,067J.
E5F
%ec. Guingona! Jr. v. Court of Appeals, 457 P)i&. 7,5, 7*8 I,00;J.
E8F
06 P)i&. ;+8, ;,, I,055J, (itin' (ice v. %iou) Cit&, ?.S. Su#. Ct. A"v. Re#., M!- *4, ,055, L!/ E"., Vo&. 00, #.
5,,.
E6F
Boar# of *ptometr& v. Colet, 4*; P)i&. ,,;6, ,*+6 I,008J, (itin' +rilon v. Lim, D.R. No. ,,*706, Au'ust 7, ,007,
*45 SCRA ,45, ,7+.