Rubi vs. Prov.

Board of Mindanao
39 Phil. 660 (1919)
TOPIC: Substantive Due Process
FACTS:
The provincial board, by Resolution No. 25, selected a site in the sitio of Tigbao on Naujan Lake for the
permanent settlement of Mangyanes in Mindoro.
Pursuant to the provisions of section 2145 of the revised Administrative Code, all the Mangyans in the
vicinities of the townships of Naujan and Pola and the Mangyans east of the Baco River including those
in the districts of Dulangan and Rubis place in Calapan are directed to take up their habitation on the
site of Tigbao, Naujan Lake.
It is alleged that the Maguianes are being illegally deprived of their liberty by the provincial officials of
that province.
Rubi and his companions are said to be held on the reservation established at Tigbao, Mindoro, against
their will, and one Dabalos is said to be held under the custody of the provincial sheriff in the prison at
Calapan for having run away from the reservation.
This is an application for habeas corpus in favor of Rubi and other Manguianes of the Province of
Mindoro.

ISSUE: Whether or Not Section 2145 of the Administrative Code deprive a person of his liberty without due process
of law

HELD:

One cannot hold that the liberty of the citizen is unduly interfered without when the degree of
civilization of the Manguianes is considered. They are restrained for their own good and the general
good of the Philippines. Nor can one say that due process of law has not been followed. To go back to
our definition of due process of law and equal protection of the law, there exists a law ; the law seems to
be reasonable; it is enforced according to the regular methods of procedure prescribed; and it applies
alike to all of a class.
Due process of law" means simply . . . "first, that there shall be a law prescribed in harmony with the
general powers of the legislative department of the Government; second, that this law shall be
reasonable in its operation; third, that it shall be enforced according to the regular methods of
procedure prescribed; and fourth, that it shall be applicable alike to all the citizens of the state or to all
of a class."
The pledge that no person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws is not infringed by a statute
which is applicable to all of a class. The classification must have a reasonable basis and cannot be purely
arbitrary in nature.
Action pursuant to section 2145 of the Administrative Code does not deprive a person of his liberty
without due process of law and does not deny to him the equal protection of the laws, and that
confinement in reservations in accordance with said section does not constitute slavery and involuntary
servitude.
Petitioners are not unlawfully imprisoned or restrained of their liberty. Habeas corpus can, therefore,
not issue.