J/SR. SUPT. JOSUE G.

ENGAO, Petitioner,

G.R. No. ()*+)+ Present:

- versus -

PUNO, J., Chairperson, SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ, CORONA, AZCUNA, and GARCIA, JJ. Promu !ated: "une #$, #%%&

HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS, !LG Se"ret#r$ JOSE . L!NA, JR., #n% CH!EF SUPT. ARTURO &. AL!T, Res'on%ents.

' ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------'

EC!S!ON GARC!A, J.,

Assa( ed and sou!)t to *e set as(de (n t)(s +et(t(on ,or re-(e. under Ru e /0 o, t)e Ru es o, Court .(t) +ra1er ,or a tem+orar1 restra(n(n! order 2TRO3 and .r(t o, +re (m(nar1 mandator1 (n4un5t(on, are t)e ,o o.(n! (ssuan5es o, t)e Court o, A++ea s 2CA3 (n CA-G.R. SP No. 72590, to .(t: 1. Decision[1] dated November 22, 2002, affirming an earlier decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City declaring the appointment of petitioner Sr. Supt. Josue G. nga!o to the position ofChief" #ureau of Jail $anagement and %enology (#J$%)" as null and &oid for petitioner's failure to meet the minimum (ualification standards set )y the Ci&il Ser&ice Commission (CSC)* and +. Resolution[2] dated January reconsideration. 21, 2003, denying petitioner,s motion for

Str(++ed to t)e *are essent(a s, t)e mater(a ,a5ts ma1 *e stated as ,o o.s: Pr(-ate res+ondent Arturo 6. A (t o55u+(ed, s(n5e "u 1 7888, t)e +os(t(on o, "a( 9C)(e, Su+er(ntendent, De+ut1 C)(e,, :ureau o, "a( ;ana!ement and Peno o!1 2:";P3, De+artment o, t)e Inter(or and Lo5a Go-ernment 2DILG3. On ;ar5) #8, #%%7, )e .as des(!nated O,,(5er-(nC)ar!e 2OIC3 o, t)e :ureau (n -(e. o, t)e res(!nat(on o, t)en :";P D(re5tor, P9;a4. Gen. A<u( (no G. "a5o*, "r. Pet(t(oner "osue G. En!a=o, on t)e ot)er )and, )e d dur(n! t)e +er(od mater(a t)e +os(t(on o, "a( Sen(or Su+er(ntendent o, t)e :";P. Pursuant to ;emorandum C(r5u ar No. / o, t)e O,,(5e o, t)e Pres(dent, t)e C)(e, D(re5torate ,or Personne o, t)e :";P su*m(tted to t)e DILG Se e5t(on :oard ,or Sen(or E'e5ut(-e Pos(t(ons 2S:-SEP3 a sen(or(t1 (nea (st ,rom .)(5) .ere 5u ed t)e names o, e (!(* e 5and(dates ,or t)e +os(t(on o, D(re5tor, :";P.

O, t)e e e-en 2773 5and(dates (nter-(e.ed, t)e :oard ran>ed +r(-ate res+ondent A (t ,(rst, *e(n! t)e on 1 one .)o ,u 1 met t)e CSC ?ua (,(5at(on Standards ,ort)e +os(t(on (n <uest(on, more +art(5u ar 1, t)e one-1ear e'+er(en5e re<u(rement as C)(e, Su+er(ntendent. Conse<uent 1, t)en DILG Se5retar1 "ose D. L(na re5ommended t)e a++o(ntment o, +r(-ate res+ondent A (t to t)e (nterested +os(t(on. @o.e-er, des+(te Se5retar1 L(naAs re5ommendat(on, t)e Pres(dent, on Se+tem*er &, #%%7, a++o(nted +et(t(oner En!a=o (nstead.BCD A,ter *e(n! s.orn (nto o,,(5e, En!a=o a++eared to )a-e assumed t)e +ost o, :";P C)(e, on Se+tem*er #$, #%%7.B/D On Se+tem*er #E, #%%7, (n t)e Re!(ona Tr(a Court 2RTC3 o, ?ueFon C(t1, +r(-ate res+ondent A (t (nst(tuted quo warranto +ro5eed(n!s a!a(nst +et(t(oner En!a=o 5 a(m(n! t)at t)e atterGs a++o(ntment .as )(!) 1 (rre!u ar and ( e!a due to )(s a5> o, t)e m(n(mum <ua (,(5at(ons re<u(red ,or t)e +os(t(on. A,ter due )ear(n!, t)e tr(a 5ourt den(ed +r(-ate res+ondent A (tAs + ea ,or a TRO and set t)e 5ase ,or )ear(n! on )(s a++ (5at(on ,or +ro)(*(t(on and (n4un5t(on. In a ;emorandumB0D o, O5to*er #, #%%7, t)e E'e5ut(-e Se5retar1 (n,ormed Se5retar1 L(na t)at +et(t(oner En!a=oAs a++o(ntment as )ead o, t)e :";P .as *e(n! )e d (n a*e1an5e +end(n! reso ut(on o, t)e e!a (ssues ra(sed *1 t)e DILG (n-o -(n! )(s <ua (,(5at(ons. Su*se<uent 1, t)e tr(a 5ourt, (n an Order B&D dated O5to*er E, #%%7, d(re5ted t)e O,,(5e o, t)e Pres(dent to ta>e a de,(n(te stand as to .)et)er or not (t (s a++o(nt(n! +et(t(oner En!a=o as +ermanent :";P C)(e, or reta(n(n! +r(-ate res+ondent A (t as OIC t)ereo,. In t)e same order, t)e tr(a 5ourt add(t(ona 1 d(re5ted as ,o o.s: -n the interest of pu)lic ser&ice and in the e.ercise of /udicial acti&ism" a cease and desist order is here)y issued restraining )oth parties" 0rturo 1. 0lit and Josue G. nga!o from performing and discharging the duties of the 2ffice of 3irector #J$%" and in order not to pre/udice the operation and control of the said office" the Court here)y designate4s5 Jose 6ina in his capacity as Secretary of 3-6G to perform the duties of the 3irector" #J$% for a period of t7enty (+8) days. -n the meantime" set the 0pplication for %reliminary -n/unction and %rohi)ition and Quo 1arranto on 2cto)er +9" +881 at :;<8 0.$.4=5 In 5om+ (an5e .(t) t)e a,ore<uoted d(re5t(-e, Se5retar1 L(na assumed t)e dut(es and ,un5t(ons o, D(re5tor, :";P. E-entua 1, t)e tr(a 5ourt rendered on O5to*er #8, #%%7 4ud!ment (n ,a-or o, +r(-ate res+ondent A (t, d(s+os(n! as ,o o.s: >ie7ed from the foregoing considerations it appears that 4petitioner5 nga!o does not possess the minimum (ualifications re(uired )y la7 for the position of 3irector" #ureau of Jail $anagement and %enology (#J$%) and as such his appointment thereto is here)y declared null and &oid. There )eing no &alid appointment to the contested position 4respondent5 0lit,s prior designation as 2fficer?in?Charge" #ureau of Jail $anagement and %enology (#J$%) remains unless re&o@ed )y the %resident or a permanent and &alid appointment is made. S2 2R3 R 3.4:5 (1ord in )rac@et added.) Ho o.(n! t)e tr(a 5ourtGs den(a o, )(s mot(on ,or re5ons(derat(on, +et(t(oner En!a=o e e-ated t)e 5ase to t)e CA .)ereat )(s a++e ate re5ourse .as do5>eted asCA-G.R. SP No. 72590. As stated at t)e outset )ereo,, t)e CA, (n (ts de5(s(onB8D o, No-em*er ##, #%%#, a,,(rmed t)at o, t)e tr(a 5ourt. 6(t) )(s mot(on ,or re5ons(derat(on )a-(n! *een den(ed *1 t)e a++e ate 5ourt (n (ts e<ua 1 5)a en!ed Reso ut(on o, "anuar1 #7, #%%C, +et(t(oner (s no. .(t) us via t)(s +et(t(on ,or re-(e. .(t) +ra1er ,or a TRO and .r(t o, +re (m(nar1 (n4un5t(on.

In (ts Reso ut(on o, ;ar5) 7$, #%%C, t)e Court (ssued a TRO en4o(n(n! +u* (5 res+ondent DILG Se5retar1 "ose D. L(na, "r., )(s a!ents, re+resentat(-es, or an1one a5t(n! (n )(s *e)a ,, ,rom en,or5(n! DILG De+artment C(r5u ar No. #%%7-#0 and +er,orm(n! t)e dut(es and ,un5t(ons as 5on5urrent D(re5tor o, t)e :";P. ;ean.)( e, ;a1 7C, #%%C mar>ed +et(t(oner En!a=oAs ast da1 o, !o-ernment ser-(5e, )e )a-(n! rea5)ed 5om+u sor1 ret(rement a!e as o, t)at date. Su*se<uent 1, Pres(dent G or(a ;a5a+a!a -Arro1o a++o(nted +r(-ate res+ondent A (t :";P D(re5tor. Pet(t(oner En!a=o, (n )(s ;emorandum, ra(ses e(!)t (ssues, ,oremost o, .)(5) are t)e ,o o.(n!: 1.) 1hether the prerogati&e of the %resident ... to appoint persons of hisAher trust and confidence to certain positions in go&ernment duly classified as presidential appointees can )e declared null and &oid )y the court* 1hether a nominee to a presidential appointi&e position can &alidly maintain an action for quo warranto against the person appointed thereto )y the %resident* 1hether a mere nominee can ac(uire a &ested right to an appointment to the contested post upon a court finding that the person appointed lac@s the minimum (ualifications* 1hether the compulsory retirement of petitioner moot and academic* nga!o has rendered this petition

+.) <.) 9.) B.)

1hether petitioner nga!o is entitled to salary differential" emoluments" rata" allo7ances" ran@ of director and all )enefits attached to the position of Chief" #J$%" )eing unla7fully and ar)itrarily depri&ed )y pu)lic respondent 3-6G Secretary 6ina* and 1hether petitioner nga!o is entitled to moral" nominal" e.emplary and correcti&e damages as pro&ided particularly in 0rticles ++1:" ++1D" +++8" +++1" ++++" +++<" and +++D of the Ci&il Code due to thealleged deli)erate" 7illful" ar)itrary" )aseless" unfounded and 7rongful acts of pri&ate respondent 0lit and pu)lic respondent 3-6G Secretary 6ina.

C.)

T)e +et(t(on must ,a( . Indeed, on (ssue No. / a one, t)e +resent +et(t(on must *e d(sm(ssed ,or )a-(n! *e5ome moot and a5adem(5 due to su+er-en(n! e-ents, name 1, t)e 5om+u sor1 ret(rement o, +et(t(oner En!a=o ,rom t)e ser-(5e, and t)e a++o(ntment o, +r(-ate res+ondent A (t as D(re5tor o, t)e :";P. S(n5e t)en, A (t )as a so ta>en )(s oat) o, o,,(5e and )as assumed and +er,ormed t)e dut(es o, t)e +os(t(on. T(me and a!a(n, 5ourts )a-e re,ra(ned ,rom e-en e'+ress(n! an o+(n(on (n a 5ase .)ere t)e (ssues )a-e *e5ome moot and a5adem(5, t)ere *e(n! no more 4ust(5(a* e 5ontro-ers1 to s+ea> o,, so t)at a determ(nat(on t)ereo, .ou d *e o, no +ra5t(5a use or -a ue. B7%D T)e su(t 5ommen5ed at t)e RTC .as one ,or quo warranto, .)(5), *1 (ts nature, (s an a5t(on a!a(nst t)e usur+at(on o, a +u* (5 o,,(5e or +os(t(on. B77D T)e (ssuet)ereat t)us turns on .)o, *et.een +et(t(oner En!a=o and +r(-ate res+ondent A (t, (s ent(t ed to t)e +os(t(on o, :";P D(re5tor. Pet(t(oner En!a=o )a-(n! ret(red (n t)e meant(me, and +r(-ate res+ondent A (t )a-(n! *een su*se<uent 1 a++o(nted *1 Pres(dent G or(a ;a5a+a!a -Arro1o to t)e 5ontested +os(t(on, a <uest(ons on t)e -a (d(t1 o, t)e +re-(ous a++o(ntment o, En!a=o )a-e *e5ome moot. In )(s ;emorandum, +et(t(oner ra(sed t.o add(t(ona (ssues, name 1, )(s ent(t ement to sa ar1 d(,,erent(a , re+resentat(on and trans+ortat(on a o.an5es 2RATA3, and ot)er *ene,(ts .)(5) )e a e!ed 1 ost due to t)e oss o, t)e 5ontested +os(t(on, as .e as dama!es o.(n! to t)e a e!ed de (*erate, ar*(trar1 and .ron!,u a5ts o,*ot) t)e +u* (5 and +r(-ate res+ondents. Pet(t(onerGs mone1 5 a(m a e!ed 1 ar(s(n! ,rom )(s ,a( ure to assume t)e +os(t(on o, D(re5tor, :";P and dama!es (s untena* e.

A +u* (5 o,,(5e (s not a +ro+ert1 .(t)(n t)e 5onte't o, t)e due +ro5ess !uarantee o, t)e Const(tut(on. T)ere (s no su5) t)(n! as a -ested (nterest (n a+u* (5 o,,(5e, et a one an a*so ute r(!)t to )o d (t. E'5e+t 5onst(tut(ona o,,(5es .)(5) +ro-(de ,or s+e5(a (mmun(t1 as re!ards sa ar1 and tenure, no one 5an *e sa(d to )a-e an1 -ested r(!)t (n a +u* (5 o,,(5e or (ts sa ar1.B7#D It (s on 1 .)en sa ar1 )as a read1 *een earned or a55rued t)at sa(d sa ar1 *e5omes +r(-ate +ro+ert1 and ent(t ed to t)e +rote5t(on o, due +ro5ess. T)e r(!)t to sa ar1 and ot)er emo uments ar(s(n! ,rom +u* (5 em+ o1ment (s *ased on oneGs -a (d a++o(ntment or e e5t(on to t)e o,,(5e (tse , and a55rues ,rom t)e date o, a5tua 5ommen5ement o, t)e d(s5)ar!e o, o,,(5(a dut(es. As ma1 *e re5a ed, +et(t(oner En!a=o, a *e(t a5>(n! (n <ua (,(5at(ons, .as nonet)e ess a++o(nted as D(re5tor o, t)e :";P and a++eared to )a-e entered u+on t)e +er,orman5e o, t)e dut(es o, t)e +os(t(on ,rom Se+tem*er #$, #%%7 to O5to*er #, #%%7 .)en t)e a++o(nt(n! aut)or(t1 re5a ed )(s a++o(ntment o.(n! to some e!a (ssues res+e5t(n! )(s <ua (,(5at(on. Su*se<uent 1, )o.e-er, t)e a++o(ntment .as +erem+tor( 1nu (,(ed. In a , t)ere,ore, +et(t(oner En!ano ser-ed as )ead o, t)e :";P ,or s(' 2&3 da1s on 1, *ut as a e !a"to o,,(5er at *est. And .)( e a e !a"to o,,(5er (s ent(t ed to some ,orm o, 5om+ensat(on, res+ondents Se5retar1 L(na and A (t 5annot *e )e d +ersona 1 (a* e ,or +et(t(onerGs 5 a(m ,or sa ar1, RATA and ot)er *ene,(ts.B7CD T)e :";P 5annot a so *e 5om+e ed to +a1 s(n5e (t .as not a +art1 (n t)e +et(t(on *e o. ,or quo warranto, nor (n t)e a++e ate +ro5eed(n!s *e,ore t)e CA.B7/D Ne(t)er (s +et(t(oner En!a=o ent(t ed to an1 dama!es. As (t .ere, t)e re5ords are *ere,t o, an1 s)o.(n! t)at e(t)er res+ondent A (t or Se5retar1 L(naa5ted (n a .( ,u , ar*(trar1, *ase ess, or .ron!,u manner, as En!a=o a e!es. It (s o*-(ous t)at *ot), (n !ood ,a(t), *e (e-ed t)at En!a=o .as un<ua (,(ed ,or t)e 5ontested +os(t(on, as .as su*se<uent 1 ,ound to *e t)e 5ase *1 t)e tr(a 5ourt and t)en *1 t)e CA. Se5retar1 L(naAs assum+t(on o, t)e +ost (n a tem+orar1 5a+a5(t1 dur(n! t)e +enden51 o, t)e quo warranto su(t .as -a (d as (t .as, (n ,a5t, +ursuant to t)e tr(a Gs 5ourt order. Pr(-ate res+ondent A (t, need ess to stress, .as a so .e .(t)(n )(s r(!)ts (n 5)a en!(n! +et(t(onerAs e (!(*( (t1 to t)e +ost. Hurt)er, t)e t.o 5ourts *e o. .ere 5orre5t (n assert(n! t)e(r res+e5t(-e 4ur(sd(5t(ons o-er -o(d a++o(ntments. 6)( e an a++o(ntment (s an essent(a 1 d(s5ret(onar1 e'e5ut(-e +o.er, (t (s su*4e5t to t)e (m(tat(on t)at t)e a++o(ntee s)ou d +ossess none o, t)e d(s<ua (,(5at(ons *ut a t)e <ua (,(5at(ons re<u(red *1 a..B70D 6)ere t)e a. +res5r(*es 5erta(n <ua (,(5at(ons ,or a !(-en o,,(5e or +os(t(on, 5ourts ma1 determ(ne .)et)er t)e a++o(ntee )as t)e re<u(s(te <ua (,(5at(ons, a*sent .)(5), )(s r(!)t or t(t e t)ereto ma1 *e de5 ared -o(d.B7&D &HEREFORE, t)(s +et(t(on (s Cost a!a(nst +et(t(oner. SO OR ERE . EN!E .

CANC!O C. GARC!A Asso5(ate "ust(5e

6E CONCUR:

RE-NATO S. PUNO Asso5(ate "ust(5e C)a(r+erson

ANGEL!NA SAN O.AL-GUT!ERRE/ Asso5(ate "ust(5e

RENATO C. CORONA Asso5(ate "ust(5e

A OLFO S. A/CUNA Asso5(ate "ust(5e ATTESTAT!ON I attest t)at t)e 5on5 us(ons (n t)e a*o-e de5(s(on .ere rea5)ed (n 5onsu tat(on *e,ore t)e 5ase .as ass(!ned to t)e .r(ter o, t)e o+(n(on o, t)e CourtGs D(-(s(on. RE-NATO S .PUNO Asso5(ate "ust(5e C)a(r+erson, Se5ond D(-(s(on

CERT!F!CAT!ON Pursuant to Art(5 e VIII, Se5t(on 7C o, t)e Const(tut(on, and t)e D(-(s(on C)a(r+ersonAs Attestat(on, (t (s )ere*1 5ert(,(ed t)at t)e 5on5 us(ons (n t)e a*o-e de5(s(on .ere rea5)ed (n 5onsu tat(on *e,ore t)e 5ase .as ass(!ned to t)e .r(ter o, t)e o+(n(on o, t)e Court. ARTE0!O .. PANGAN!BAN C)(e, "ust(5e

415 4+5
4<5 495 4B5

%enned )y 0ssociate Justice $artin S. >illarama" Jr. 7ith 0ssociate Justices Godardo 0. Jacinto and $ario 6. Guarina ---" concurring* Rollo" pp. 9B?B=. -d. at C8. See 0nne. EGF of the %etition* -d. at 1+=. See 0nne. EGF of the %etition* -d. at 1+D. 0nne. EHF of the %etition* -d. at 1<B. 0nne. EIF of the %etition* -d. at 19+?19<. -)id" p. 19<. 0nne. E%"F %etition" Rollo pp. 19=?1B<. Supra note 1.

4C5 4=5 4:5

4D5

4185

Garcia v. Commission on Elections, +B: SCR0 =B9" G.R. Io. 1+11<D" July 1DDC* Jaafar v. Commission on Elections, <89 SCR0 C=+" G.R. Io. 1<91::" $arch 1B" 1DDD.

1+"

4115 41+5

Section 1" Rule CC" The Rules of Court. National Land Titles and Deeds Registration Administration v. Civil ervice Commission " G.R. Io. :9<81" 0pril =" 1DD<" ++1 SCR0 19B. !endo"a v. Allas" G.R. Io. 1<1D==" Je)ruary 9" 1DDD" <8+ SCR0 C+<. #$id. Luego v. Civil ervice Commission, G.R. Io. 6?CD1<=" 0ugust B" 1D:C" 19< SCR0 <+=* Central %an& v. Civil ervice Commission, G.R. Ios. :89BB?BC" 0pril 18" 1D:D" 1=1 SCR0 =99. Javellana v. E'ecutive ecretar(, G.R. Io. 6?<C19+" $arch <1" 1D=<" B8 SCR0 <8" :=.

41<5 4195 41B5

41C5