STRUCTURE AND POWERS OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

The Separation of Powers

General Principles
Separation of Powers
READ *Republic vs. Bayao, GR No. 179492, June 5, 2013
Checks and Balances
READ Gancayco vs. City Government of Quezon City, GR No. 177807, October 11, 2011
Delegation of Powers
Art. VI, Sec. 32
Art. XVII, Sec. 1 & 2
READ Rubi vs. Provincial Board, GR No. L-14078, Mar 7, 1919
READ ABAKADA Guro Party List vs. Ermita, GR No. 168056, Sept 1, 2005, Oct 18, 2005
READ Bureau of Customs Employees Association vs. Teves, GR No. 181704, December 6, 2011
READ Vivas vs. The Monetary Board, GR No. 191424, August 7, 2013
READ Edu vs. Ericta, GR No. L-32096, Oct 24, 1970
READ Chiongbian vs. Orbos, GR No. 96754, June 22, 1995
READ *Solicitor General vs. Metro Manila Authority, GR No. 102782, Dec 11, 1991
READ Tatad vs. Secretary of Energy, GR No. 124360, Nov 5, 1997, Dec 3, 1997
READ Commissioner of Customs vs. Hypermix Feeds Corp. GR No. 179579, February 1, 2012
READ Go vs. Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, GR No. 191810, June 22, 2015
READ DOH vs. Philip Morris Philippines Manufacturing, Inc., GR No. 202943, March 25, 2015
READ Cawad vs. Abad, GR No. 207145, July 28, 2015
READ SEC vs. Universal Rightfield Property Holding, Inc., GR No. 181381, July 20, 2015
READ San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group, Inc. vs. Bayang, GR No. 194702, April 20,
2015
READ Besaga vs. Sps. Acosta, GR No. 194061, April 20, 2015
READ Clark Investors and Locators Association vs. Secretary of Finance, GR No. 200670, July 6, 2015
READ United Overseas Bank of the Phils. vs. The Board of Commissioners-HLURB, No. 182133,
June 23, 2015
SEC vs. Laigo, GR No. No. 188639, September 2, 2015
Unduran vs. Aberasturi, GR No. 181284, October 20 2015
Smart Communications, Inc. vs. Solidum, GR No. 197763, December 7, 2015
Pilipinas Total Gas vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, G. R. No. 207112, December 8, 2015
People vs. Dacuycuy, GR No. L-45127, May 5, 1989
US vs. Ang Tang Ho, GR No. 17122, February 27, 1922
Art. VI, Sec. 28 (2)
Garcia vs. Executive Secretary, GR No. 101273, July 3, 1992
Art. VI, Sec. 23 (2)
Test of Valid Delegation
People vs. Rosenthal, GR Nos. L-46076 and L-46077, June 12, 1939
Eastern Shipping Lines vs. POEA, GR No. 76633, Oct 18, 1988
Exercise of Legislative Powers by Congress
i. Classification of Lawmaking Power
ii. Limitations
iii. Post-Enactment Congressional Measures
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 Abakada Guro Party List vs. Purisima, GR No. 166715, Aug 14, 2008
Exercise of Legislative Powers by Local Government
Lina vs. Pano, GR No. 129093, Aug 30, 2001
Magtajas vs. Pryce Properties Corp, Inc., GR No. 111097, July 20, 1994
SJS vs. Atienza, GR No. 156052, March 7, 2007, February 13, 2008
SJS vs. Lim GR No. 187836, November 25, 2014, March 10, 2015
SBMA vs. COMELEC, GR No. 125416, Sep 26, 1996
Exercise of Legislative Powers by Peoples Initiative
Initiative to the Constitution
Art. XVII, Sec. 2
Defensor-Santiago vs. COMELEC, GR No. 127325, Mar 19, 1997
*Lambino vs. COMELEC, GR No. 174153, Oct 25, 2006
Historical Exercise of Legislative Power
Art. XVII, Sec. 3 (2) of the 1973 Constitution
Amendment No. 6 of the 1976 Amendments to the 1973 Constitution
Aquino, Jr. vs. COMELEC, GR No. L-40004, Jan 31, 1975
Sanidad vs. COMELEC, GR No. L-44640, Oct 12, 1976
Art. II, Sec. 1, Freedom Constitution
Municipality of San Juan vs. CA, GR No. 125183, Sept 29, 1997
A. Congress
1. Composition, Qualifications, and Term of Office
Senators
Art. VI, Sec. 2-4
Art. XVIII, Sec. 2
Poe-Llamanzares vs. COMELEC, GR 221697, March 8, 2016
Representatives
Art. VI, Sec. 5
Art. XVIII, Sec. 7
*Tobias vs. Abalos, GR No. L-114783, Dec 8, 1994
Jalosjos vs. Commission on Elections, GR No. 193314, February 26, 2013, June 25, 2013
Aratea vs. COMELEC, GR No. 195229, Oct 9, 2012
Jalover vs. Osmena and Comelec, GR No. 209286, September 23, 2014
Caballero vs. Commission on Elections, GR No. 209835, September 22, 2015
*Navarro vs. Exec Sec. GR No. 180050, Feb 10, 2010, May 12, 2010, Apr 12, 2011
Gerrymandering
Population Requirement
Mariano vs. Commission on Elections, GR No. 118577, Mar 7, 1995
Aldaba vs. COMELEC, GR No. 188078, Jan 25, 2010, Mar 15, 2010
Aquino III and Robredo vs. COMELEC, GR No. 189793, Apr 7, 2010
Samson vs. Aguirre, GR No. 133076, Sep 22, 1999
Bagabuyo vs. COMELEC, GR No. 176970, Dec 8, 2008
Art. X, Sec. 10
Sema vs. COMELEC, GR No. 177597, July 16, 2008
Montejo vs. COMELEC, GR No. 118702, Mar 16, 1995
Residency Requirement
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 Art. VI, Sec. 6
*Co vs. Electoral Tribunal of the House of Representatives, GR Nos. 92191-92, July 30, 1991
*Aquino vs. Commission on Elections, GR No. 120265, Sept 18, 1995
Theory of Legal Impossibility
Romualdez-Marcos vs. Commission on Elections, GR No. 119976, Sept 18, 1995
Perez vs. Commission on Elections, GR No. 133944, Oct 28, 1999
Pundaodaya vs. COMELEC, GR No. 179313, September 17, 2009
*Domino vs. COMELEC, GR No. 134015, July 19, 1999
Limbona vs. COMELEC, GR No. 186006, October 16, 2009
Other Requirements
Social Justice Society vs. Dangerous Drugs Bd, GR No. 157870 and
Pimentel vs. COMELEC, GR No. 161658, Nov 3, 2008
Tagolino vs. HRET, GR No. 202202, Mar 19, 2013
Fernandez vs. HRET, GR No. 187478, Dec 21, 2009
Term of Office
Art. VI, Sec. 7
Dimaporo vs. Mitra, Jr., GR No. 96859, Oct 15, 1991
Synchronized Terms of Office
Art. XVIII, Sec. 1-2
Art. VI, Sec. 8
Party-list System
Art. IX, C, Sec. 6-8
Art. XVIII, Sec. 7
R.A. 7941, Party-List System Act
PGBI vs. COMELEC, GR No. 190529, Apr 29, 2010, Mar 22, 2011
*Veterans Federation Party vs. COMELEC, GR No. 136781, Oct 6, 2000
Ang Bagong Bayani-OFW Labor Party vs. COMELEC, GR No. 147589, June 26, 2001, June 25, 2003
BANAT vs. COMELEC, GR No. 179271/179295, April 21, 2009, July 8, 2009
Paglaum vs. COMELEC, GR No. 203766, Apr 2, 2013
Amores vs. HRET, GR No. 189600, June 29, 2010
Ang Ladlad LGBT Party vs. COMELEC, GR No. 190582, April 8, 2010
V.C. Cadangen vs. COMELEC, GR No. 177179, June 5, 2009
Magdalo para sa Pagbabago vs. COMELEC, GR No. 190793, June 19 2012
Lokin vs. COMELEC, GR No. 193808, June 26, 2012
Lokin vs. COMELEC, GR No. 179431-32, June 22, 2010
Abang-Lingkod vs. COMELEC, GR No. 206952, Oct 22, 2013
Coalition of Assocns of Senior Citizens in the Phils vs. COMELEC, GR Nos. 206844-45, July 23, 2013
COCOFED vs. Commission on Elections, GR No. 207026, August 6, 2013
Alliance for Nationalism and Democracy (ANAD) vs. COMELEC, GR No. 206987, September 10, 2013
Jalover vs. Osmena, GR No. 209286, September 23, 2014
2. Election
Art. VI, Sec. 8-9
R.A. 6645, Dec 28, 1987
Art. IX, C, Sec. 11
3. Salaries, Privileges, and Disqualifications
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a. Salaries
Art. VI, Sec. 10
Art. XVIII, Sec. 17
Philippine Constitution Assn. Inc., vs. Mathay, GR No. L-25554, Oct 4, 1966
Ligot vs. Mathay, GR No. L-34676, Apr 30, 1974
b. Freedom from Arrest
Art. VI, Sec. 11
Revised Penal Code, Act. No. 3815, Art. 145
Art. VI, Sec. 15 of the 1935 Constitution as amended
Martinez vs. Morfe, GR No. L-34022, Mar 24, 1972
People vs. Jalosjos, GR No. 132875-76, Feb 3, 2000, Nov 16, 2001
c. Speech and Debate Clause
Art. VI, Sec. 11
Jimenez vs. Cabangbang, GR No. L-15905, Aug 3, 1966
Osmea vs. Pendatun, GR No. L-17144, Oct 28, 1960
Pobre vs. Defensor-Santiago, AC No. 7399, Aug 25, 2009
d. Disqualification
Art. VI, Sec. 13
Adaza vs. Pacana, Jr., GR No. L-68159, Mar 18, 1985
Liban vs. Gordon, GR No. 175352, July 15, 2009, Jan 18, 2011
Boy Scout of the Philippines vs. COA, GR No. 177131, June 7, 2011
Torres vs. De Leon, GR No. 199440, Jan 18, 2016
Art. VI, Sec. 14
Puyat vs. de Guzman, Jr., GR No. L-51122, Mar 25, 1982
e. Duty to Disclose
Art. XI, Sec. 17
Art. VI, Sec. 12
Art. VI, Sec. 20
R.A. 3019, Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act
SALN Cases Impeachment of CJ Corona
Rabe vs. Flores, AM P-97-1247, May 14, 1997
*Cavite Crusade for Good Govt vs. Cajigal, AM No. RTJ-00-1562, Nov 23, 2001
*Concerned Taxpayer vs. Doblada, AM No. P-99-1342, June 8, 2005, Sept 20, 2005
*Ombudsman vs. Racho, GR No. 185685, Jan 31, 2011
*Carabeo vs. Sandiganbayan, GR No. 190580-81, Feb 21, 2011
4. Internal Government of Congress
a. Election of Officers
Art. VI, Sec. 16 (1)
Art. VI, Sec. 19
Defensor-Santiago and Tatad vs. Guingona, GR No. 134577, Nov 18, 1998
b. Quorum
Art. VI, Sec. 16 (2)
Avelino vs. Cuenco, GR No. L-2821, Mar 4, 1949
c. Rules of Proceedings
Art. VI, Sec. 16 (3)
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 Art. VI, Sec. 21
Power to Issue Summons
Senate Blue Ribbon Committee vs. Majaducon, GR No. 136760, July 29, 2003
Romero II vs. Estrada, GR No. 174105, April 2, 2009
Standard Chartered Bank vs. Senate Comm. on Banks, GR No. 167173, Dec 27, 2007
Power to Punish Contempt
Arnault vs. Nazareno, GR No. L-3820, July 18, 1950
Lopez vs. de los Reyes, GR No. L-34361, Nov 5, 1930
*Romero II vs. Estrada, GR No. 174105, April 2, 2009
Neri vs. Senate, GR No. 180643, Mar 25, 2008 and Sept 04, 2008
Lorenzo Shipping Corp vs. Distribution Management Association of the Philippines, GR No. 155849,
Aug 31, 2011
Bengzon vs. Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, GR No. 89914, Nov 20, 1991
*Standard Chartered Bank vs. Senate Comm. on Banks, GR No. 167173, Dec 27, 2007
AKBAYAN vs. Aquino, GR No. 170516, July 16, 2008
Negros Oriental II Electric Cooperative vs. Sangguniang Panlungsod, GR No. 72492, Nov 5, 1987
Southern Cross Cement vs. Phil. Cement Manufacturers, GR No. 158540, July 8, 2004, Aug 3, 2005
Oversight Function
Art. VI, Sec. 22
Senate vs. Ermita, GR No. 169777, Apr 20, 2006, July 14, 2006
Executive Privilege
Art. VI, Sec. 22
Operational Proximity Test
*Neri vs. Senate, GR No. 180643, Mar 25, 2008 and Sept 04, 2008
Gudani vs. Senga, GR No. 170165, August 15, 2006
Rules of Procedures
Pacete vs. Sec. of the Commission on Appointments, GR No. L-25895, July 23, 1971
Arroyo vs. De Venecia, GR No. 127255, Aug 14, 1997, June 26, 1998
d. Discipline of Members
Art. VI, Sec. 16 (3)
*Osmena vs. Pendatun, GR No. L-17144, Oct 28, 1960
*Alejandrino vs. Quezon, GR No. 22041, Sept 11, 1924
Vera vs. Avelino, GR No. L-543, Aug 31, 1946
Defensor-Santiago vs. Sandiganbayan, GR No. 128055, Apr 18, 2001
Paredes vs. Sandiganbayan, GR No. 118364, Aug 10, 1995
De Venecia, Jr. vs. Sandiganbayan, GR No. 130240, February 5, 2002
Art. VI, Sec. 17
Aldovino, Jr. vs. COMELEC, GR No. 184836, Dec 23, 2009
e. Journal and Congressional Records
Art. VI, Sec. 16 (4)
*Mabanag vs. Lopez Vito, GR No. L-1123, Mar 5, 1947
U.S. vs. Pons, GR No. L-11530, Aug 12, 1916
Casco Philippines Chemical Co. Inc., vs. Gimenez, GR No. L-17931, Feb 28, 1963
Morales vs. Subido, GR No. L-29658, Nov 29, 1968, Feb 27, 1969
Astorga vs. Villegas, GR No. L-23475, Apr 30, 1974
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 Philippine Judges Association vs. Prado, GR No. 105371, Nov 11, 1993
Art. VI, Sec. 26 (2)
Art. VI, Sec. 27 (1)
Art. XI, Sec. 3 (3)
*Marshall Field & Co. vs. Clark, 143 U.S. 649, Feb 29, 1892
f. Sessions
Art. VI, Sec. 15
Art. VI, Sec. 16 (5)
Art. VII, Sec. 10, 11, 18
Art. VII, Sec. 4, 9
Art. VI, Sec. 23 (1)
Art. XVII, Sec. 1 (1)
Padilla vs. Congress, GR No. 231671, June 6, 2017, July 25, 2017
Right to Attend Sessions in relation to the Doctrine of Condonation
Trillanes IV vs. Pimentel, Sr., GR No. 179817, June 27, 2008
Pascual vs. Provincial Board of Nueva Ecija, GR No. 11959, Oct 31, 1959
Aguinaldo vs. Santos, GR No. 94115, Aug 21, 1992
Carpio-Morales vs. CA, GR No. 217126-27, Nov 10, 2015
5. Electoral Tribunals
Art. VI, Sec. 17
Art. VI, Sec. 19
a. Composition
Tanada vs. Cuenco, GR No. L-10520, Feb 28, 1957
Abbas vs. Senate Electoral Tribunal, GR No. 83767, Oct 27, 1988
Pimentel, Jr. vs. HRET, GR No. 141489, Nov 29, 2002
b. Nature of Function
*Angara vs. Electoral Commission, GR No. L-45081, July 15, 1936
Sampayan vs. Daza, GR No. 103903, Sept 11, 1992
*Duenas, Jr. vs. HRET, GR No. 185401, July 21, 2009
*Seeres vs. COMELEC, GR No. 178678, April 16, 2009
Robles vs. HRET, GR No. 86647, Feb 5, 1990
Arroyo vs. HRET, GR No. 118597, July 14, 1995
Sandoval vs. HRET, GR No. 190067, Mar 9, 2010
Sema vs. HRET, GR No. 190734, Mar 26, 2010
Abayon vs. HRET, GR No. 222236, May 3, 2016
David vs. SET, Poe-Llamanzares, GR No. 221538, Sep 20, 2016
Guerrero vs. Commission on Elections, GR No. 137004, July 26, 2000
*Rasul vs. Commission on Elections, GR No. 134142, Aug 24, 1999
Dimaporo vs. COMELEC, GR No. 179285, Feb 11, 2008
Limkaichong vs. COMELEC, GR No. 178831-32, April 1, 2009, July 30, 2009
*Pimentel III vs. COMELEC, GR No. 178413, March 13, 2008
*Tanada vs. COMELEC, GR No. 207199-200, Oct 22, 2013
Codilla, Sr. vs. De Venecia, GR No. 150605, Dec 10, 2002
Roces vs. House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, GR No. 167499, Sept 15, 2005
Request of J. Melencio-Herrera, Cruz & Feliciano as Members of the HRET (SC Resolution of
6
 March 19, 1991)
*Bondoc vs. Pineda, GR No. 97710, Sept 26, 1991
*Suanes vs. Chief Accountant, GR No. L-2460, Oct 26, 1948
Reyes vs. COMELEC, GR No. 207264, June 25, 2013, Oct 22, 2013
Velasco vs. Belmonte, Jr., GR No. 211140, Jan 12, 2016
Lico v. Commission on Elections, GR No. 205505, September 29, 2015
Rivera & Lokin, Jr. vs. COMELEC, GR No. 210273, Apr 19, 2016
Ty-Delgado v. House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, GR No. 219603, January 26, 2016
Tanada, Jr. vs. HRET, GR No. 217012, Mar 1, 2016
Pea vs. HRET, GR No. 123037, Mar 21, 1997
Vilando vs. HRET, GR Nos. 192147 & 192149, Aug 23, 2011
c. Independence of the Electoral Tribunals
Bondoc vs. Pineda, GR No. 97710, Sept 26, 1991
d. Powers
*Lazatin vs. House Electoral Tribunal, GR No. 84297, Dec 8, 1988
Abayon vs. HRET, GR No. 189466, Feb 11, 2010
Palparan, Jr. vs. HRET, GR No. 189506, Feb 11, 2010
ABC vs. COMELEC, GR No. 193256, March 22, 2011
e. Judicial Review of Decisions of Electoral Tribunals
*Co vs. Electoral Tribunal of the House of Rep, GR Nos. 92191-92, July 30, 1991
Garcia vs. HRET, GR No. 134792, August 12, 1999
*Morrero vs. Bocar, GR No. L-45352, Oct 31, 1938
Liwayway Vinzons-Chato vs. HRET, GR No. 199149, Jan 22, 2013
6. Commission on Appointments
Art. VI, Sec. 18
Art. VI, Sec. 19
Cunanan vs. Tan, GR No. L-19721, May 10, 1962
Daza vs. Singson, GR No. 86344, Dec 21, 1989
Coseteng vs. Mitra, Jr., GR No. 86649, July 12, 1990
Guingona vs. Gonzales, GR No. 106971, Oct. 20, 1992 and March 1, 1993
Drilon vs. De Venecia, Jr., GR No. 180055, July 31, 2009
Art. VII, Sec. 16
Pimentel, Jr. vs. Exec. Sec, GR No. 164978, Oct 13, 2005
7. Legislative Power and Process of Congress
Art. VI, Sec. 1
(1) Substantive Limitations
(a) Express Substantive Limitations
(i) Bill of Rights
Art. III
(ii) Appropriations Laws
Art. VI, Sec. 29
Art. VI, Sec. 25
Garcia vs. Mata, GR No. L-33713, July 30, 1975
Atitiw vs. Zamora, GR No. 143374, Sep 30, 2005
Farinas vs. Executive Secretary, GR No. 147387, Dec 10, 2003
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 Art. VI, Sec. 24
Art. VII, Sec. 22
Art. VII, Sec. 10
Demetria vs. Alba, GR No. 71977, Feb 27, 1987
Sanchez vs. Commission on Audit, GR No. 127545, Apr 23, 2008
DAP Araullo vs. Aquino III, GR No. 209287, July 1, 2014, Feb 3, 2015
PDAF Belgica vs. Ochoa, GR No. 208566, Nov 19, 2013
(iii) Tax Laws
Art. VI, Sec. 28
Ormoc Sugar Company, Inc., vs. Treasurer of Ormoc City, GR No. L-23794, Feb 17, 1968
Art. XIV, Sec. 4 (3)
(iv) Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
Art. VI, Sec. 30
First Lepanto Ceramics, Inc. vs. CA, GR No. 110571, March 10, 1994, October 7, 1994
(v) Title of Royalty
Art. VI, Sec. 31
(b) Implied Substantive Limitations
Emergency Powers
Art. VI, Sec. 23 (2)
Art. VI, Sec. 28 (2)
Art. X, Sec. 5
Pelaez vs. Auditor General, GR No. L-23825, Dec 24, 1965
Art. VI, Sec. 32
Endencia and Jugo vs. David, GR No. L-6355-56, Aug 31, 1953
Sameer Overseas Placement Agency, Inc. vs. Cabiles, GR No. 170139, Aug 5, 2014
Procedural Limitations
Art. VI, Sec. 26
Art. VI, Sec. 27
Tio vs. Videogram Regulatory Board, GR No. L-75697, June 18, 1987
*Sumulong vs. COMELEC, GR No. L-48609, Oct 10, 1941
(2) Question Hour
Art. VI, Sec. 22
(3) Legislative Investigations
Art. VI, Sec. 21
Arnault vs. Nazareno, GR No. L-3820, July 18, 1950
Arnault vs. Balagtas, GR No. L-6749, July 30, 1955
*Lopez vs. de los Reyes, GR No. L-34361, Nov 5, 1930
*Bengzon vs. Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, GR No. 89914, Nov 20, 1991
Philcomsat Holdings Corp vs. Senate, GR No. 180308, June 19, 2012
Sabio vs. Gordon, GR No. 174340, Oct 17, 2006
*Standard Chartered Bank vs. Senate Comm. on Banks, GR No. 167173, Dec 27, 2007
*Romero II vs. Estrada, GR No. 174105, April 2, 2009
Dela Paz vs. Senate, GR No. 184849, February 13, 2009
Garcillano vs. House of Rep. Committees, GR No. 170338, Dec 23, 2008
Abakada Guro Party List vs. Purisima, GR No. 166715, Aug 14, 2008
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 Art. VI, Sec. 22
*Senate vs. Ermita, GR No. 169777, Apr 20, 2006, July 14, 2006
*Gudani vs. Senga, GR No. 170165, Aug 15, 2006
*Neri vs. Senate, GR No. 180643, Mar 25, 2008 and Sept 04, 2008
Vicente V. Mendoza, The Use of Legislative Purpose as a Limitation on the Congressional
Power of Investigation, 46 PLJ 707, 1971
*Kilbourn vs. Thompson, 103 U.S. 168, 1880
Art. VIII, Sec. 1, 8 (2)