1.LibanVs.Gordon,G.R.No.

175352,July15,2009
FACTS:PetitionersDanteV.Liban,etal.wereofficersoftheBoardofDirectorsoftheQuezon
CityRedCrossChapter.TheyfiledwiththeSupremeCourtwhattheystyledasPetitionto
DeclareRichardJ.GordonasHavingForfeitedHisSeatintheSenateagainstrespondent
RichardJ.Gordon,whowaselectedChairmanofthePNRCBoardofGovernorsduringhis
incumbencyasSenatorofthePhilippines.
PetitionersallegedthatbyacceptingthechairmanshipofthePNRCBoardofGovernors,
respondentGordonceasedtobeamemberoftheSenatepursuanttoSec.13,ArticleVIofthe
Constitution.
Issue:ByacceptingthePNRCChair,didGordonforfeithisSenateseat?
Ruling:ThePresidentdoesnotappointtheChairmanofthePNRC.Neitherdoestheheadofany
department,agency,commissionorboardappointthePNRCChairman.Thus,thePNRC
ChairmanisnotanofficialoremployeeoftheExecutivebranchsincehisappointmentdoesnot
fallunderSection16,ArticleVIIoftheConstitution.Certainly,thePNRCChairmanisnotan
officialoremployeeoftheJudiciaryorLegislature.Thisleadsustotheobviousconclusionthat
thePNRCChairmanisnotanofficialoremployeeofthePhilippineGovernment.Notbeinga
governmentofficialoremployee,thePNRCChairman,assuch,doesnotholdagovernment
officeoremployment.
Therefore,respondentGordondidnotforfeithislegislativeseatwhenhewaselectedasPNRC
ChairmanduringhisincumbencyasSenator.
2.Libanvs.GordonJAN.18,2011
Facts:inhisMotionforClarificationand/orforReconsideration,respondentraisesthefollowing
grounds:(1)astheissueofconstitutionalityofRepublicAct(R.A.)No.95wasnotraisedbythe
parties,theCourtwentbeyondthecaseindecidingsuchissue;and(2)astheCourtdecidedthat
PetitionersdidnothavestandingtofiletheinstantPetition,thepronouncementoftheCourton
thevalidityofR.A.No.95shouldbeconsideredobiter.
Issue:ByacceptingthePNRCChair,didGordonforfeithisSenateseat?
Ruling:No.Basedontheabove,thesuigenerisstatusofthePNRCisnowsufficiently
established.Althoughitisneitherasubdivision,agency,orinstrumentalityofthegovernment,
noragovernmentownedorcontrolledcorporationorasubsidiarythereof,assuccinctly
explainedintheDecisionofJuly15,2009,somuchsothatrespondent,undertheDecision,was
correctlyallowedtoholdhispositionasChairmanthereofconcurrentlywhileheservedasa
Senator,suchaconclusiondoesnotipsofactoimplythatthePNRCisaprivatecorporation
withinthecontemplationoftheprovisionoftheConstitution,thatmustbeorganizedunderthe
CorporationCode.AscorrectlymentionedbyJusticeRobertoA.Abad,thesuigenerischaracter
ofPNRCrequiresustoapproachcontroversiesinvolvingthePNRConacasetocasebasis.