KWONG SING VS. CITY OF MANILA [41 Phil 103; G.R. No.

15972; 11 Oct 1920]

Friday, January 30, 2009 Posted by Coffeeholic Writes
Labels: Case Digests, Political Law
Facts: Kwong Sing, in his own behalf and of other Chinese laundrymen who has
general and the same interest, filed a complaint for a preliminary injunction. The
Plaintiffs also questioned the validity of enforcing OrdinanceNo. 532 by the city of
Manila. Ordinance No. 532 requires that the receiptbe in duplicate in English and
Spanish duly signed showing the kind and number of articles delivered by laundries and
dyeing and cleaning establishments. The permanent injunction was denied by the trial
court. The appellants claim is that Ordinance No. 532 savors of class legislation; putting
in mind that they are Chinese nationals. It unjustly discriminates between persons in
similar circumstances; and that it constitutes an arbitrary infringement of property rights.
They also contest that the enforcement of the legislation is an act beyond the scope of
their police power. In view of the foregoing, this is an appeal with the Supreme Court.

Issues:
(1) Whether or Not the enforcement of Ordinance no, 532 is an act beyond the scope of
police

power

(2) Whether or Not the enforcement of the same is a class legislation that infringes
property

rights.

Held: Reasonable restraints of a lawful business for such purposes are permissible
under the police power. The police power of the City of Manila to enact Ordinance No.
532 is based on Section 2444, paragraphs (l) and (ee) of the Administrative Code, as
amended by Act No. 2744, authorizes themunicipal board of the city of Manila, with the
approval

of

the

mayor

of

the

city:

(l) To regulate and fix the amount of the license fees for the following: xxxx
xxxxxlaundries

xxxx.

(ee) To enact all ordinances it may deem necessary and proper for the sanitation and
safety, the furtherance of the prosperity, and the promotion of the morality, peace, good
order, comfort, convenience, and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants.
The court held that the obvious purpose of Ordinance No. 532 was to avoid disputes
between laundrymen and their patrons and to protect customers of laundries who are
not able to decipher Chinese characters from being defrauded. (Considering that in the
year 1920s, people of Manila are more familiar with Spanish and maybe English.)
In whether the ordinance is class legislation, the court held that theordinance invades
no fundamental right, and impairs no personal privilege. Under the guise of police
regulation, an attempt is not made to violate personal property rights. The ordinance is
neither

discriminatory

nor

unreasonable

in

its

operation.

It

applies

to

all

public laundries without distinction, whether they belong to Americans, Filipinos,

Chinese, or any other nationality. All, without exception, and each every one of them
without distinction, must comply with the ordinance. The obvious objection for the
implementation of the ordinance is based in sec2444 (ee) of the Administrative Code.
Although, an additional burden will be imposed on the business and occupation affected
by the ordinance such as that of the appellant by learning even a few words in Spanish
or English, but mostly Arabic numbers in order to properly issue a receipt, it seems that
the same burdens are cast upon the them. Yet, even if private rights of person or
property are subjected to restraint, and even if loss will result to individuals from the
enforcement of the ordinance, this is not sufficient ground for failing to uphold the power
of the legislative body. The very foundation of the police power is the control of private
interests

for

the

public

welfare.

Finding that the ordinance is valid, judgment is affirmed, and the petition for a
preliminary injunction is denied, with