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76180

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RepublicofthePhilippines
SUPREMECOURT
Manila

G.R.No.76180October24,1986

INRE:SATURNINOV.BERMUDEZ,petitioner.

RESOLUTION

PERCURIAM:

Inapetitionfordeclaratoryreliefimpleadingnorespondents,petitioner,asalawyer,quotesthefirstparagraphof
Section5(notSection7aserroneouslystated)ofArticleXVIIIoftheproposed1986Constitution,whichprovides
infullasfollows:

Sec.5.ThesixyeartermoftheincumbentPresidentandVicePresidentelectedintheFebruary7,1986election
is,forpurposesofsynchronizationofelections,herebyextendedtonoonofJune30,1992.

ThefirstregularelectionsforthePresidentandVicePresidentunderthisConstitutionshallbeheldonthesecond
MondayofMay,1992.

Claimingthatthesaidprovision"isnotclear"astowhomitrefers,hethenaskstheCourt"todeclareandanswer
thequestionoftheconstructionanddefinitenessastowho,amongthepresentincumbentPresidentCorazon
AquinoandVicePresidentSalvadorLaurelandtheelectedPresidentFerdinandE.MarcosandVicePresident
ArturoM.TolentinobeingreferredtounderthesaidSection7(sic)ofARTICLEXVIIIoftheTRANSITORY
PROVISIONSoftheproposed1986Constitutionrefersto,....

Thepetitionisdismissedoutrightforlackofjurisdictionandforlackforcauseofaction.

Prescindingfrompetitioner'slackofpersonalitytosueortobringthisaction,(Tanvs.Macapagal,43SCRA677),
itiselementarythatthisCourtassumesnojurisdictionoverpetitionsfordeclaratoryrelief.Moreimportantly,the
petitionamountsineffecttoasuitagainsttheincumbentPresidentoftheRepublic,PresidentCorazonC.Aquino,
anditisequallyelementarythatincumbentPresidentsareimmunefromsuitorfrombeingbroughttocourtduring
theperiodoftheirincumbencyandtenure.

Thepetitionfurthermorestatesnocauseofaction.Petitioner'sallegationofambiguityorvaguenessofthe
aforequotedprovisionismanifestlygratuitous,itbeingamatterofpublicrecordandcommonpublicknowledge
thattheConstitutionalCommissionrefersthereintoincumbentPresidentCorazonC.AquinoandVicePresident
SalvadorH.Laurel,andtonootherpersons,andprovidesfortheextensionoftheirtermtonoonofJune30,
1992forpurposesofsynchronizationofelections.Hence,thesecondparagraphofthecitedsectionprovidesfor
theholdingonthesecondMondayofMay,1992ofthefirstregularelectionsforthePresidentandVicePresident
undersaid1986Constitution.Inpreviouscases,thelegitimacyofthegovernmentofPresidentCorazonC.Aquino
waslikewisesoughttobequestionedwiththeclaimthatitwasnotestablishedpursuanttothe1973Constitution.
Thesaidcasesweredismissedoutrightbythiscourtwhichheldthat:

Petitionershavenopersonalitytosueandtheirpetitionsstatenocauseofaction.ForthelegitimacyoftheAquino
governmentisnotajusticiablematter.ItbelongstotherealmofpoliticswhereonlythepeopleofthePhilippines
arethejudge.AndthepeoplehavemadethejudgmenttheyhaveacceptedthegovernmentofPresident
CorazonC.Aquinowhichisineffectivecontroloftheentirecountrysothatitisnotmerelyadefactogovernment
butinfactandlawadejuregovernment.Moreover,thecommunityofnationshasrecognizedthelegitimacyof
tliepresentgovernment.AlltheelevenmembersofthisCourt,asreorganized,havesworntoupholdthe
fundamentallawoftheRepublicunderhergovernment.(JointResolutionofMay22,1986inG.R.No.73748
[LawyersLeagueforaBetterPhilippines,etc.vs.PresidentCorazonC.Aquino,etal.]G.R.No.73972[People's
CrusadeforSupremacyoftheConstitution.etc.vs.Mrs.CoryAquino,etal.]andG.R.No.73990[Councilor
CliftonU.Ganayvs.CorazonC.Aquino,etal.])

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Fortheabovequotedreason,whicharefullyapplicabletothepetitionatbar,mutatismutandis,therecanbeno
questionthatPresidentCorazonC.AquinoandVicePresidentSalvadorH.Laurelaretheincumbentand
legitimatePresidentandVicePresidentoftheRepublicofthePhilippines.ortheabovequotedreasons,whichare
fullyapplicabletothepetitionatbar,

ACCORDINGLY,thepetitionisherebydismissed.

Teehankee,C.J.,Feria,Yap,Fernan,Narvasa,AlampayandParas,JJ.,concur.

MELENCIOHERRERA,J.,concurring:

GUTIERREZ,Jr.,J.,concurring:

FELICIANO,JJ.,concurring.

ThepetitioneraskstheCourttodeclarewhoare"theincumbentPresidentandVicePresidentelectedinthe
February7,1986elections"asstatedinArticleXVIII,Section5oftheDraftConstitutionadoptedbythe
ConstitutionalCommissionof1986.

WeagreethatthepetitiondeservesoutrightdismissalasthisCourthasnooriginaljurisdictionoverpetitionsfor
declaratoryrelief.

Astolackofcauseofaction,thepetitioner'sprayerforadeclarationastowhowereelectedPresidentandVice
PresidentintheFebruary7,1986electionsshouldbeaddressednottothisCourtbuttootherdepartmentsof
governmentconstitutionallyburdenedwiththetaskofmakingthatdeclaration.

The1935Constitution,the1913Constitutionasamended,andthe1986DraftConstitutionuniformlyprovide'that
boardsofcanvassersineachprovinceandcityshallcertifiedwhowereelectedPresidentandVicePresidentin
theirrespectiveareas.Thecertifiedreturnsaretransmittedtothelegislaturewhichproclaims,throughthe
designatedPresidingHead,whoweredutyelected.

Copiesofthecertifiedreturnsfromtheprovincialandcityboardsofcanvassershavenotbeenfurnishedthis
Courtnoristhereanyneedtodoso.Intheabsenceofalegislature,wecannotassumethefunctionofstating,
andneitherdowehaveanyfactualorlegalcapacitytoofficiallydeclare,whowereelectedPresidentandVice
PresidentintheFebruary7,1986elections.

AstowhoaretheincumbentPresidentandVicePresidentreferredtointhe1986DraftConstitution,weagree
thatthereisnodoubtthe1986ConstitutionalCommissionreferredtoPresidentCorazonC.AquinoandVice
PresidentSalvadorH.Laurel.

Finally,weagreewiththeResolutionoftheCourtinG.R.Nos.73748,73972,and73990.

Fortheforegoingreasons,wevotetoDISMISStheinstantpetition.

CRUZ,J.,concurring:

IvotetodismissthispetitiononthegroundthattheConstitutionweareaskedtointerprethasnotyetbeen
ratifiedandisthereforenotyeteffective.Iseeherenoactualconflictoflegalrightssusceptibleofjudicial
determinationatthistime.(AetnaLifeInsuranceCo.vs.Haworth,300U.S.227PACUvs.SecretaryofEducation,
97Phil.806.)

TheLawphilProjectArellanoLawFoundation

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