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/%0': november 9, 1967

1'0202"#'3(: 8amon A. Conzales (no. L-28196), hlllpplne ConsLlLuLlon AssoclaLlon (no. L-28224)
4'(5"#6'#0(: Commlsslon on LlecLlons, ulrecLor of rlnLlng and AudlLor Ceneral (no. L-28196), Commlsslon on
LlecLlons (L-28224)
1"#'#0': Chlef !usLlce Concepclon

7%.0(8
a)Cn March 16, 1967, Lhe SenaLe and Lhe Pouse of 8epresenLaLlves passed Lhe followlng resoluLlons:
8.8.P. (8esoluLlon of 8oLh Pouses)
no. 1 - 1o lncrease Lhe membershlp of Lhe Pouse of 8epresenLaLlves from 120 Lo 180 by
amendlng SecLlon 3, ArLlcle 6 of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon,
no. 2 - 1o call a convenLlon Lo propose amendmenL Lo Lhe ConsLlLuLlon, and,
no. 3 - 1o auLhorlze SenaLors and congressmen Lo become delegaLes Lo Lhe ConsLlLuLlonal
ConvenLlon wlLhouL forfelLlng Lhelr seaLs.

b) 8epubllc AcL 4913- effecLlve !une 17, 1967, ls an AcL submlLLlng Lo Lhe llllplno people for approval Lhe
amendmenLs Lo Lhe ConsLlLuLlon proposed by Lhe Congress ln 8.8.P 1 and 3, adopLed on March 16, 1967.

c) CcLober 21, 1967 - Conzales, allegedly ln behalf of all clLlzens of Lhls counLry, flled peLlLlon for prohlblLlon wlLh
prellmlnary ln[uncLlon Lo resLraln Comelec from lmplemenLlng 8A 4913, saylng sald law ls unconsLlLuLlonal.

d) hlllpplne ConsLlLuLlon AssoclaLlon (PlLCCnSA) flled a peLlLlon on urglng Comelec Lo refraln from
lmplemenLlng 8A 4913, saylng LhaL sald 8A as well as 88P nos. 1 and 3 are unconsLlLuLlonal. CCMLLLC dlsmlssed
peLlLlon. PlLCCnSA flled a peLlLlon for cerLlorarl ln Lhe Supreme CourL on CcLober 31, 1967.

9((:'(8

a) uld Lhe Congress erred when lL proposed amendmenLs Anu called for a ConsLlLuLlonal ConvenLlon aL Lhe
same Llme?
b) uld fallure Lo apporLlon render Congress lnvalld or composed of !" $%&'( )")*"+,?
c) ls 8A 4913 consLlLuLlonal?

4%02"8

a) ;". 1he dls[uncLlve C8" may mean Anu", or vlce-versa dependlng on Lhe conLexL or splrlL of Lhe law.
b) ;"+ 8elng under legal obllgaLlon Lo make apporLlonmenL does noL [usLlfy Lhe concluslon LhaL fallure Lo
comply wlLh such obllgaLlon renders Congress unconsLlLuLlonal or LhaL lLs Members have become !" $%&'(
congressmen.
c) <'(. 1he submlsslon of amendmenLs Lo Lhe people of Lhe hlllpplnes does noL vlolaLe Lhe splrlL of Lhe
ConsLlLuLlon. 1he power Lo amend Lhe ConsLlLuLlon ls parL of Lhe lnherenL powers of Lhe people. 1he
people's auLhorlLy does noL emanaLe from Lhe ConsLlLuLlon - Lhey are Lhe very source of all powers of
governmenL, lncludlng Lhe ConsLlLuLlon lLself.

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