MENZON VS.

PETILLA 1991 (Gutierrez) Facts:

Because no Governor had been proclaimed in the province of Leyte, Secretary of Local Government Luis Santos designated Vice-Governor Leopoldo Petilla as Acting Governor of Leyte. Petitioner Aurelio Menzon, a senior member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, was designated by Secretary Luis Santos to act as the Vice-Governor for the province of Leyte. Provincial Administrator Tente Quintero inquired from the Undersecretary of the Department of Local Government, Jacinto Rubillar, on the legality of the appointment of petitioner to act as Vice-Governor. Undersecretary Rubillar stated that the appointment of petitioner as the temporary Vice- Governor is not necessary since the Vice-Governor who is temporarily performing the functions of the Governor, could concurrently assume the functions of both offices. The Sangguniang Panlalawigan in a special session issued Resolution No. 505 where it held invalid the appointment of the petitioner as acting Vice-Governor of Leyte. Undersecretary Rubillar explained his opinion: the peculiar situation in the Province of Leyte, where the electoral controversy in the Office of the Governor has not yet been settled, calls for the designation of the Sangguniang Member to act as vice-governor temporarily. The Acting Governor and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan refused to correct Resolution No. 505 and to pay the petitioner the emoluments attached to the Office of ViceGovernor. The petitioner filed before the SC a petition for certiorari and mandamus and sought the nullification of Resolution No. 505 and payment of his salary for his services as the acting Vice-Governor of Leyte. Adelina Larrazabal was proclaimed the Governor of the province of Leyte. The provincial treasurer of Leyte allowed the payment to the petitioner of his salary as acting Vice-Governor. Supreme Court dismissed the petition filed by the petitioner. Respondent Petilla requested Governor Larrazabal to direct the petitioner to pay back to the province of Leyte all emoluments and compensation which he received while acting as the Vice-Governor. The petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration and prayed that the Supreme Court uphold his right to receive the salary and emoluments attached to the office of the ViceGovernor while he was acting as such. Issues: 1) Whether or not there was a vacancy? YES 2) Whether or not the Secretary of Local Government has the authority to make temporary appointments? YES Held: 1. Petilla's automatic assumption to the acting Governorship resulted in a vacancy in the office of Vice-Governor. Law on Public Officers: There is no vacancy when the office is occupied by a legally qualified incumbent. There is a vacancy when there is no person lawfully authorized to assume and exercise the duties of the office. The office of the Vice-Governor was left vacant when the elected Vice-Governo Petilla was appointed Acting Governor. The office to which he was elected was left barren of a legally qualified person to exercise the duties of the office of the Vice-Governor.

 There is no satisfactory showing that Petilla continued to simultaneously exercise the

duties of the Vice-Governor. The nature of the duties of a Provincial Governor calls for a full-time occupant to discharge them. More so when the vacancy is for an extended period. The fact that the Secretary of Local Government was prompted to appoint the petitioner shows the need to fill up the position during the period it was vacant. The Department Secretary had the discretion to ascertain whether or not the Provincial Governor should devote all his time to that particular office.

2. SC declared valid the temporary appointment extended to the petitioner to act as the Vice-Governor. Under the circumstances of this case and the silence of the Local Government Code, in order to obviate the dilemma resulting from an interregnum created by the vacancy, the President, acting through her alter ego, the Secretary of Local Government, may remedy the situation. The exigencies of public service demanded nothing less than the immediate appointment of an acting Vice-Governor. Commonwealth Act No. 588 and Revised Administrative Code of 1987: The President is empowered to make temporary appointments in certain public offices, in case of any vacancy that may occur. In the absence of any contrary provision in the Local Government Code and in the best interest of public service, the procedure in the two laws may be similarly applied in the present case. Section 49, LGC: In case a permanent vacancy arises when a Vice-Governor assumes the Office of the Governor, . . . refuses to assume office, fails to qualify, dies, is removed from office, voluntary resigns or is otherwise permanently incapacitated to discharge the functions of his office the sangguniang panlalawigan . . . member who obtained the highest number of votes in the election immediately preceding, . . . shall assume the office for the unexpired term of the Vice-Governor. The mode of succession for permanent vacancies may be observed in a temporary vacancy in the same office. There was a need to fill the vacancy. The petitioner is the member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan with the highest number of votes. The Department Secretary acted correctly in extending the temporary appointment. The COURT GRANTS the motion. The additional compensation which the petitioner has received shall be considered as payment for actual services rendered as acting ViceGovernor and may be retained by him.