Victoria No vs. Elizalde Rope Worker's Union

no L23246 SepLember 12 1974*
8Ln!AMln vlC1C8lAnC plalnLlffappellee vs LLlZALuL 8CL WC8kL8S' unlCn and LLlZALuL 8CL
lAC1C8? lnC defendanLs LLlZALuL 8CL WC8kL8S' unlCn defendanLappellanL
ConsLlLuLlonal law ConsLrucLlon and lnLegraLlon 1here ls a presumpLlon of consLlLuLlonallLy ln
sLaLuLesAll presumpLlons are lndulged ln favor of consLlLuLlonallLy one who aLLacks a sLaLuLe alleglng
unconsLlLuLlonally musL prove lLs lnvalldlLy beyond a
________________

* Ln 8AnC
33

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
33
vlcLorlano vs Lllzalde 8ope Workers' unlon
reasonable doubL LhaL a law may work hardshlp does noL render lL unconsLlLuLlonal LhaL lf any
reasonable basls may be concelved whlch supporLs Lhe sLaLuLe lL wlll be upheld and Lhe challenger
musL negaLe all posslble bases LhaL Lhe courLs are noL concerned wlLh Lhe wlsdom [usLlce pollcy or
expedlency of a sLaLuLe and LhaL a llberal lnLerpreLaLlon of Lhe consLlLuLlon ln favor of Lhe
consLlLuLlonallLy of leglslaLlon should be adopLed
Same 8lghL Lo form or [oln assoclaLlons An employee has Lhe rlghL Lo [oln or noL [oln a labor unlon
WhaL Lhe ConsLlLuLlon and Lhe lndusLrlal eace AcL recognlze and guaranLee ls Lhe rlghL" Lo form or [oln
assoclaLlons noLwlLhsLandlng Lhe dlfferenL Lheorles propounded by Lhe dlfferenL schools of
[urlsprudence regardlng Lhe naLure and conLenLs of a rlghL" lL can be safely sald LhaL whaLever Lheory
one subscrlbes Lo a rlghL comprehends aL leasL Lwo broad noLlons namely flrsL llberLy or freedom le
Lhe absence of legal resLralnL whereby an employee may acL for hlmself wlLhouL belng prevenLed by
law and second power whereby an employee may as he pleases [oln or refraln from [olnlng an
assoclaLlon lL ls Lherefore Lhe employee who should declde for hlmself wheLher he should [oln or noL
an assoclaLlon and should he choose Lo [oln he hlmself makes up hls mlnd as Lo whlch assoclaLlon he
would [oln and even afLer he has [olned he sLlll reLalns Lhe llberLy and Lhe power Lo leave and cancel hls
membershlp wlLh sald organlzaLlon aL any Llme lL ls clear Lherefore LhaL Lhe rlghL Lo [oln a unlon
lncludes Lhe rlghL Lo absLaln from [olnlng any unlon
Same Same Labor laws unfalr labor pracLlce 8lghL Lo refraln from [olnlng labor unlon llmlLed by Lhe
lndusLrlal eace AcL1he rlghL Lo refraln from [olnlng labor organlzaLlons recognlzed by SecLlon 3 of
Lhe lndusLrlal eace AcL ls however llmlLed 1he legal proLecLlon granLed Lo such rlghL Lo refraln from
[olnlng ls wlLhdrawal by operaLlon of law where a labor unlon and an employer have agreed on a closed
shop by vlrLue of whlch Lhe employer may employ only members of Lhe collecLlve bargalnlng unlon and
Lhe employees musL conLlnue Lo be members of Lhe unlon for Lhe duraLlon of Lhe conLracL ln order Lo
keep Lhelr [obs 1hus SecLlon 4 (a) (4) of Lhe lndusLrlal eace AcL before lLs amendmenL by 8epubllc AcL
no 3330 provldes LhaL alLhough lL would be an unfalr labor pracLlce for an employer Lo dlscrlmlnaLe ln
regard Lo hlre or Lenure of employmenL or any Lerm or condlLlon of employmenL Lo encourage or
dlscourage membershlp ln any labor organlzaLlon" Lhe employer ls however noL precluded from
maklng an agreemenL wlLh a labor organlzaLlon Lo requlre as a condlLlon of employmenL membershlp
Lhereln lf such labor organlzaLlon ls Lhe represenLaLlve of Lhe employees" 8y vlrLue
36

36
Su8LML CCu81 8LC81S AnnC1A1Lu
Lherefore of a closed shop agreemenL before Lhe enacLmenL of 8epubllc AcL no 3330 lf any person
regardless of hls rellglous bellefs wlshes Lo be employed or Lo keep hls employmenL he musL become a
member of Lhe collecLlve bargalnlng unlon Pence Lhe rlghL of sald employee noL Lo [oln Lhe labor unlon
ls curLalled and wlLhdrawn
Same Same Same Same LxcepLlon Lo closedshop agreemenL provlded for employees prohlblLed by
Lhelr rellglon from [olnlng any unlon1o LhaL allembraclng coverage of Lhe closed shop arrangemenL
8epubllc AcL no 3330 lnLroduced an excepLlon when lL added Lo SecLlon 4 (a) (4) of Lhe lndusLrlal eace
AcL Lhe followlng provlso buL such agreemenL shall noL cover members of any rellglous secLs whlch
prohlblL afflllaLlon of Lhelr members ln any such labor organlzaLlon" 8epubllc AcL no 3330 merely
excludes lpso [ure from Lhe appllcaLlon and coverage of Lhe closed shop agreemenL Lhe employees
belonglng Lo any rellglous secLs whlch prohlblL afflllaLlon of Lhelr members wlLh any labor organlzaLlon
WhaL Lhe excepLlon provldes Lherefore ls LhaL members of sald rellglous secLs cannoL be compelled or
coerced Lo [oln labor unlons even when sald unlons have closed shop agreemenLs wlLh Lhe employers
LhaL ln splLe of any closed shop agreemenL members of sald rellglous secLs cannoL be refused
employmenL or dlsmlssed from Lhelr [obs on Lhe sole ground LhaL Lhey are noL members of Lhe
collecLlve bargalnlng unlon
Same lmpalrmenL of conLracLs rohlblLlon agalnsL lmpalrmenL of conLracLs ls noL absoluLelL should
noL be over looked LhaL Lhe prohlblLlon Lo lmpalr Lhe obllgaLlon of conLracLs ls noL absoluLe and
unquallfled 1he prohlblLlon ls noL Lo be read wlLh llLeral exacLness llke a maLhemaLlcal formula for lL
prohlblLs unreasonable lmpalrmenL only ln splLe of Lhe consLlLuLlonal prohlblLlon Lhe SLaLe conLlnues Lo
possess auLhorlLy Lo safeguard Lhe vlLal lnLeresLs of lLs people LeglslaLlon approprlaLe Lo safeguardlng
sald lnLeresLs may modlfy or abrogaLe conLracLs already ln effecL lor noL only are exlsLlng laws read lnLo
conLracLs ln order Lo flx Lhe obllgaLlons as beLween Lhe parLles buL Lhe reservaLlon of essenLlal
aLLrlbuLes of soverelgn power ls also read lnLo conLracLs as a posLulaLe pf Lhe legal order All conLracLs
made wlLh reference Lo any maLLer LhaL ls sub[ecL Lo regulaLlon under Lhe pollce power musL be
undersLood as made ln reference Lo Lhe posslble exerclse of LhaL power CLherwlse lmporLanL and
valuable reforms may be precluded by Lhe slmple devlce of enLerlng lnLo conLracLs for Lhe purpose of
dolng LhaL whlch oLherwlse may be prohlblLed
Same Same 1esL for deLermlnlng wheLher sLaLuLe vlolaLes Lhe lmpalrmenLofconLracL clauseln order
Lo deLermlne wheLher
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vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
37
leglslaLlon unconsLlLuLlonally lmpalrs conLracL obllgaLlons no unchanglng yardsLlck appllcable aL all
Llmes and under all clrcumsLances by whlch Lhe valldlLy of each sLaLuLe may be measured or
deLermlned has been fashloned buL every case musL be deLermlned upon lLs own clrcumsLances
LeglslaLlon lmpalrlng Lhe obllgaLlon of conLracLs can be susLalned when lL ls enacLed for Lhe promoLlon
of Lhe general good of Lhe people and when Lhe means adopLed Lo secure LhaL end are reasonable
8oLh Lhe end soughL and Lhe means adopLed musL be leglLlmaLe le wlLhln Lhe scope of Lhe reserved
power of Lhe sLaLe consLrued ln harmony wlLh Lhe consLlLuLlonal llmlLaLlon of LhaL power
Same Same 8epubllc AcL 3330 provldlng for exempLlon from closed shop agreemenLs does noL vlolaLe
Lhe lmpalrmenLofconLracL clause of Lhe consLlLuLlonWhaL Lhen was Lhe purpose soughL Lo be
achleved by 8epubllc AcL no 3330? lLs purpose was Lo lnsure freedom of bellef and rellglon and Lo
promoLe Lhe general welfare by prevenLlng dlscrlmlnaLlon agalnsL Lhose members of rellglous secLs
whlch prohlblL Lhelr members from [olnlng labor unlons conflrmlng Lhereby Lhelr naLural sLaLuLory and
consLlLuLlonal rlghL Lo work Lhe frulLs of whlch work are usually Lhe only means whereby Lhey can
malnLaln Lhelr own llfe and Lhe llfe of Lhelr dependenLs lL cannoL be galnsald LhaL sald purpose ls
leglLlmaLe 1he quesLloned AcL also provldes proLecLlon Lo members of sald rellglous secLs agalnsL Lwo
aggregaLes of group sLrengLh from whlch Lhe lndlvldual needs proLecLlon 1he lndlvldual employee aL
varlous Llmes ln hls worklng llfe ls confronLed by Lwo aggregaLes of powercollecLlve labor dlrecLed by
a unlon and collecLlve caplLal dlrecLed by managemenL 1he unlon an lnsLlLuLlon developed Lo organlze
labor lnLo a collecLlve force and Lhus proLecL Lhe lndlvldual employee from Lhe power of collecLlve
caplLal ls paradoxlcally boLh Lhe champlon of employee rlghLs and a new source of Lhelr frusLraLlon
Moreover when Lhe unlon lnLeracLs wlLh managemenL lL produces yeL a Lhlrd aggregaLe of group
sLrengLh from whlch Lhe lndlvldual also needs proLecLlonLhe collecLlve bargalnlng relaLlonshlp lL
cannoL be denled furLhermore LhaL Lhe means adopLed by Lhe AcL Lo achleve LhaL purposeexempLlng
Lhe members of sald rellglous secLs from coverage of unlon securlLy agreemenLsls reasonable
Same Same 8ellglous freedom lreedom of rellglon Lakes precedence over Lhe rlghL agalnsL Lhe
lmpalrmenL of conLracLslL may noL be amlss Lo polnL ouL here LhaL Lhe free exerclse of rellglous
professlon or bellef ls superlor Lo conLracL rlghLs ln case of confllcL Lhe laLLer musL Lherefore yleld Lo
Lhe former 1he Supreme CourL of Lhe unlLed SLaLes has also declared on several occaslons LhaL Lhe
rlghLs ln Lhe llrsL AmendmenL whlch lnclude freedom of rellglon
38

38
en[oy a preferred poslLlon ln Lhe consLlLuLlonal sysLem 8ellglous freedom alLhough noL unllmlLed ls a
fundamenLal personal rlghL and llberLy and has a preferred poslLlon ln Lhe hlerarchy of values
ConLracLual rlghLs Lherefore musL yleld Lo freedom of rellglon lL ls only where unavoldably necessary
Lo prevenL an lmmedlaLe and grave danger Lo Lhe securlLy and welfare of Lhe communlLy LhaL
lnfrlngemenL of rellglous freedom may be [usLlfled and only Lo Lhe smallesL exLenL necessary Lo avold
Lhe danger
Same Same Same 8epubllc AcL 3330 does noL advance or dlmlnlsh Lhe lnLeresL of any parLlcular
rellglon1he prlmary effecLs of Lhe exempLlon from closed shop agreemenLs ln favor of members of
rellglous secLs LhaL prohlblL Lhelr members from afflllaLlng wlLh a labor organlzaLlon ls Lhe proLecLlon of
sald employees agalnsL Lhe aggregaLe force of Lhe collecLlve bargalnlng agreemenL and rellevlng cerLaln
clLlzens of a burden on Lhelr rellglous bellefs and by' ellmlnaLlng Lo a cerLaln exLenL economlc lnsecurlLy
due Lo unemploymenL whlch ls a serlous menace Lo Lhe healLh morals and welfare of Lhe people of Lhe
SLaLe Lhe AcL also promoLes Lhe wellbelng of socleLy lL ls our vlew LhaL Lhe exempLlon from Lhe effecLs
of closed shop agreemenL does noL dlrecLly advance or dlmlnlsh Lhe lnLeresLs of any parLlcular rellglon
AlLhough Lhe exempLlon may beneflL Lhose who are members of rellglous secLs LhaL prohlblL Lhelr
members from [olnlng labor unlons Lhe beneflL upon Lhe rellglous secLs ls merely lncldenLal and
lndlrecL 1he esLabllshmenL clause" (of rellglon) does noL ban regulaLlon on conducL whose reason or
effecL merely happens Lo colnclde or harmonlze wlLh Lhe LeneLs of some or all rellglons 1he free
exerclse clause of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon has been lnLerpreLed Lo requlre LhaL rellglous exerclse be
preferenLlally alded
Same Same Same 8epubllc AcL 3330 does noL requlre rellglous LesL for Lhe exerclse of clvll or pollLlcal
rlghL1he AcL does noL requlre as a quallflcaLlon or condlLlon for [olnlng any lawful assoclaLlon
membershlp ln any parLlcular rellglon or ln any rellglous secL nelLher does Lhe AcL requlre afflllaLlon
wlLh a rellglous secL LhaL prohlblLs lLs members from [olnlng a labor unlon as a condlLlon or quallflcaLlon
for wlLhdrawlng from a labor unlon !olnlng or wlLhdrawlng from a labor unlon requlres a poslLlve acL
8epubllc AcL no 3330 only exempLs members wlLh such rellglous afflllaLlon from Lhe coverage of closed
shop agreemenLs So under Lhls AcL a rellglous ob[ecLor ls noL requlred Lo do a poslLlve acLLo exerclse
Lhe rlghL Lo [oln or Lo reslgn from Lhe unlon Pe ls exempLed lpso [ure wlLhouL need of any poslLlve acL
on hls parL
Same Lqual proLecLlon of Lhe law 8epubllc AcL 3330 does noL vlolaLe Lhe equal proLecLlon of Lhe law
clause of Lhe consLlLuLlonWe
39

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
39
belleve LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 saLlsfles Lhe aforemenLloned requlremenLs 1he AcL classlfles
employees and workers as Lo Lhe effecL and coverage of unlon shop securlLy agreemenLs lnLo Lhose
who by reason of Lhelr rellglous bellefs and convlcLlons cannoL slgn up wlLh a labor unlon and Lhose
whose rellglon does noL prohlblL membershlp ln labor unlons 1he classlflcaLlon resLs on real or
subsLanLlal noL merely lmaglnary or whlmslcal dlsLlncLlon 1he classlflcaLlon lnLroduced by sald AcL ls
also germane Lo lLs purpose 1he purpose of Lhe law ls preclsely Lo avold Lhose who cannoL because of
Lhelr rellglous bellef [oln labor unlons from belng deprlved of Lhelr rlghL Lo work and from belng
dlsmlssed from Lhelr work because of unlon shop securlLy agreemenLs
Same Soclal [usLlce 8epubllc AcL 3330 does noL vlolaLe Lhe concepL of soclal [usLlce conLalned ln Lhe
ConsLlLuLlonAppellanL's furLher conLenLlon LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 vlolaLes Lhe consLlLuLlonal
provlslon on soclal [usLlce ls also baseless Soclal [usLlce ls lnLended Lo promoLe Lhe welfare of all Lhe
people 8epubllc AcL no 3330 promoLes LhaL welfare lnsofar as lL looks afLer Lhe welfare of Lhose who
because of Lhelr rellglous bellef cannoL [oln labor unlons Lhe AcL prevenLs Lhelr belng deprlved of work
and of Lhe means of llvellhood ln deLermlnlng wheLher any parLlcular measure ls for publlc advanLage lL
ls noL necessary LhaL Lhe enLlre sLaLe be dlrecLly beneflLedlL ls sufflclenL LhaL a porLlon of Lhe sLaLe be
beneflLed Lhereby
Same ConsLrucLlon and lnLerpreLaLlon SLaLuLe ls noL unconsLlLuLlonal merely because lL ls noL proper
necessary or denlmbleAppellanL conLends LhaL Lhe amendmenL lnLroduced by 8epubllc AcL no 3330
ls noL called forln oLher words Lhe AcL ls noL proper necessary or deslrable AnenL Lhls maLLer lL has
been held LhaL a sLaLuLe whlch ls noL necessary ls noL for LhaL reason unconsLlLuLlonal LhaL ln
deLermlnlng Lhe consLlLuLlonal valldlLy of leglslaLlon Lhe courLs are unconcerned wlLh lssues as Lo Lhe
necesslLy for Lhe enacLmenL of Lhe leglslaLlon ln quesLlon CourLs do lnqulre lnLo Lhe wlsdom of laws
Moreover leglslaLures belng chosen by Lhe people are presumed Lo undersLand and correcLly
appreclaLe Lhe needs of Lhe people and lL may change Lhe laws accordlngly
Labor law Labor dlspuLe ALLorney's fees Case aL bar labor unlon llable for aLLorney's fees1haL Lhere
was a labor dlspuLe ln Lhe lnsLanL case cannoL be dlspuLed for appellanL soughL Lhe dlscharge of
respondenL by vlrLue of Lhe closed shop agreemenL and under SecLlon 2 ([) of 8epubllc AcL no 873 a
quesLlon lnvolvlng Lenure of employmenL ls lncluded ln Lhe Lerm labor dlspuLe" 1he dlscharge or Lhe
acL of seeklng lL ls Lhe labor dlspuLe lLself lL belng Lhe labor
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60
dlspuLe lLself LhaL very same acL of Lhe unlon ln asklng Lhe employer Lo dlsmlss Appellee cannoL be an
acL done x x x ln furLherance of an lndusLrlal dlspuLe" 1he mere facL LhaL appellanL ls a labor unlon does
noL necessarlly mean LhaL all lLs acLs are ln furLherance of an lndusLrlal dlspuLe nelLher does ArLlcle
2208 of Lhe Clvll Code lnvoked by Lhe unlon serve as lLs shleld 1he arLlcle provldes LhaL aLLorney's fees
and expenses of llLlgaLlon may be awarded when Lhe defendanL's acL or omlsslon has compelled Lhe
plalnLlff x x x Lo lncur expenses Lo proLecL hls lnLeresL" and ln any oLher case where Lhe courL deems lL
[usL and equlLable LhaL aLLorney's fees and expenses of llLlgaLlon should be recovered" ln Lhe lnsLanL
case lL cannoL be galnsald LhaL appellanL unlon's acL ln demandlng Appellee's dlsmlssal caused Appellee
Lo lncur expenses Lo prevenL hls belng dlsmlssed from hls [ob
lernando ! Concurrlng

ConsLlLuLlonal law 8ellglous freedom 8ellglous freedom sLressed8ellglous freedom ls ldenLlfled wlLh
Lhe llberLy every lndlvldual possesses Lo worshlp or noL a Supreme 8elng and lf a devoLee of any secL Lo
any acL ln accordance wlLh lLs creed 1hls ls consLlLuLlonally safeguarded accordlng Lo !usLlce Laurel
LhaL professlon of falLh Lo an acLlve power LhaL blnds and elevaLes man Lo hls CreaLor * * *" 1he cholce
of whaL a man wlshes Lo belleve ln ls hls and hls alone 1haL ls a domaln lefL unLouched where lnLruslon
ls noL allowed a clLadel Lo whlch Lhe law ls denled enLry whaLever be hls LhoughLs or hopes ln LhaL
sphere whaL he wllls relgns supreme 1he docLrlne Lo whlch he pays fealLy may for some be
unsupporLed by evldence devold of raLlonal foundaLlon no maLLer 1here ls no requlremenL as Lo lLs
conformlLy Lo whaL has found accepLance lL sufflces LhaL for hlm such a concepL holds undlspuLed sway
1haL ls a recognlLlon of man's freedom 1haL for hlm ls one of Lhe ways of selfreallzaLlon lL would be Lo
dlsregard Lhe dlgnlLy LhaL aLLaches Lo every human belng Lo deprlve hlm of such an aLLrlbuLe 1he flxed
sLar on our consLlLuLlonal consLellaLlon" Lo borrow Lhe fellclLous phrase of !usLlce !ackson ls LhaL no
offlclal noL excludlng Lhe hlghesL has lL ln hls power Lo prescrlbe whaL shall be orLhodox ln maLLers of
consclenceor Lo mundane affalrs for LhaL maLLer
Same Same LlmlLaLlons on rellglous freedom clLedCne may belleve ln mosL anyLhlng however
sLrange blzarre and unreasonable Lhe same may appear Lo oLhers even hereLlcal when welghed ln Lhe
scales of orLhodoxy or docLrlnal sLandards 1here was Lhls quallflcaLlon Lhough 8uL beLween Lhe
freedom of bellef and Lhe exerclse of sald bellef Lhere ls qulLe a sLreLch of road Lo Lravel lf Lhe exerclse
of sald rellglous bellef clashes wlLh Lhe esLabllshed
61

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
61
lnsLlLuLlons of socleLy and wlLh Lhe law Lhen Lhe former musL yleld and glve way Lo Lhe laLLer 1he
CovernmenL sLeps ln and elLher resLralns sald exerclse or even prosecuLes Lhe one exerclslng lL"
Same Same 8epubllc AcL 3330 does noL dlmlnlsh proLecLlon Lo labor1here ls however Lhe quesLlon
of wheLher such an excepLlon possesses an lmpllcaLlon LhaL lessens Lhe effecLlveness of sLaLe efforLs Lo
proLecL labor llkewlse as noLed consLlLuLlonally ordalned Such a vlew on Lhe surface may noL be
lacklng ln plauslblllLy buL upon closer analysls lL cannoL sLand scruLlny 1houghL musL be glven Lo Lhe
freedom of assoclaLlon llkewlse an aspecL of lnLellecLual llberLy lor Lhe laLe rofessor Powe a
consLlLuLlonallsL and ln hls llfeLlme Lhe blographer of Lhe greaL Polmes lL even parLakes of Lhe pollLlcal
Lheory of plurallsLlc soverelgnLy So greaL ls Lhe respecL for Lhe auLonomy accorded volunLary socleLles
Such a rlghL lmplles aL Lhe very leasL LhaL one can deLermlne for hlmself wheLher or noL he should [oln or
refraln from [olnlng a labor organlzaLlon an lnsLlLuLlonal devlce for promoLlng Lhe welfare of Lhe
worklng man A closed shop on Lhe oLher hand ls lnherenLly coerclve 1haL ls why as ls unmlsLakably
reflecLed ln our declslons Lhe laLesL of whlch ls Cul[arno v CourL of lndusLrlal 8elaLlons lL ls far from
belng a favorlLe of Lhe law lor a sLaLuLory provlslon Lhen Lo furLher curLall lLs operaLlon ls preclsely Lo
follow Lhe dlcLaLes of sound publlc pollcy
ALAL from a declslon of Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance of Manlla

1he facLs are sLaLed ln Lhe oplnlon of Lhe CourL
Salonga Crdonez ?ap SlcaL AssoclaLes for plalnLlffappellee
Clprlano Cld AssoclaLes for defendanLappellanL
ZALulvA8 !

Appeal Lo Lhls CourL on purely quesLlons of law from Lhe declslon of Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance of Manlla
ln lLs Clvll Case no 38894
1he undlspuLed facLs LhaL spawned Lhe lnsLanL case follow 8en[amln vlcLorlano (herelnafLer referred Lo
as Appellee) a member of Lhe rellglous secL known as Lhe lglesla nl CrlsLo" had been ln Lhe employ of
Lhe Lllzalde 8ope lacLory lnc (herelnafLer referred Lo as Company) slnce 1938 As such employee he
was a member of Lhe Lllzalde 8ope Workers' unlon (herelnafLer referred Lo as unlon) whlch had wlLh
Lhe
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62
Company a collecLlve bargalnlng agreemenL conLalnlng a closed shop provlslon whlch reads as follows
Membershlp ln Lhe unlon shall be requlred as a condlLlon of employmenL for all permanenL employees
workers covered by Lhls AgreemenL"
1he collecLlve bargalnlng agreemenL explred on March 3 1964 buL was renewed Lhe followlng day
March 4 1964
under SecLlon 4(a) paragraph 4 of 8epubllc AcL no 873 prlor Lo lLs amendmenL by 8epubllc AcL no
3330 Lhe employer was noL precluded from maklng an agreemenL wlLh a labor organlzaLlon Lo requlre
as a condlLlon of employmenL membershlp Lhereln lf such labor organlzaLlon ls Lhe represenLaLlve of
Lhe employees" Cn !une 18 1961 however 8epubllc AcL no 3330 was enacLed lnLroduclng an
amendmenL Lo paragraph (4) subsecLlon (a) of secLlon 4 of 8epubllc AcL no 873 as follows xxx buL
such agreemenL shall noL cover members of any rellglous secLs whlch prohlblL afflllaLlon of Lhelr
members ln any such labor organlzaLlon"
8elng a member of a rellglous secL LhaL prohlblLs Lhe afflllaLlon of lLs members wlLh any labor
organlzaLlon Appellee presenLed hls reslgnaLlon Lo appellanL unlon ln 1962 and when no acLlon was
Laken Lhereon he relLeraLed hls reslgnaLlon on SepLember 3 1974 1hereupon Lhe unlon wroLe a
formal leLLer Lo Lhe Company asklng Lhe laLLer Lo separaLe Appellee from Lhe servlce ln vlew of Lhe facL
LhaL he was reslgnlng from Lhe unlon as a member 1he managemenL of Lhe Company ln Lurn noLlfled
Appellee and hls counsel LhaL unless Lhe Appellee could achleve a saLlsfacLory arrangemenL wlLh Lhe
unlon Lhe Company would be consLralned Lo dlsmlss hlm from Lhe servlce 1hls prompLed Appellee Lo
flle an acLlon for ln[uncLlon dockeLed as Clvll Case no 38894 ln Lhe CourL of llrsL lnsLance of Manlla Lo
en[oln Lhe Company and Lhe unlon from dlsmlsslng Appellee1 ln lLs answer Lhe unlon lnvoked Lhe
unlon securlLy clause" of Lhe collecLlve bargalnlng agreemenL assalled Lhe consLlLuLlonallLy of 8epubllc
AcL no 3330 and conLended LhaL Lhe CourL had no [urlsdlcLlon over Lhe case pursuanL Lo 8epubllc AcL
no 873 SecLlons 24 and 9 (d) and (e)2 upon Lhe facLs agreed upon by Lhe parLles durlng Lhe
________________

1 8ecord on Appeal pages 27
63

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
63
preLrlal conference Lhe CourL a quo rendered lLs declslon on AugusL 261963 Lhe dlsposlLlve porLlon of
whlch reads
ln vlLW Cl 1PL lC8LCClnC [udgmenL ls rendered en[olnlng Lhe defendanL Lllzalde 8ope lacLory lnc
from dlsmlsslng Lhe plalnLlff from hls presenL employmenL and senLenclng Lhe defendanL Lllzalde 8ope
Workers' unlon Lo pay Lhe plalnLlff 300 for aLLorney's fees and Lhe cosLs of Lhls acLlon"3
lrom Lhls declslon Lhe unlon appealed dlrecLly Lo Lhls CourL on purely quesLlons of law asslgnlng Lhe
followlng errors
l 1haL Lhe lower courL erred when lL dld noL rule LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 ls unconsLlLuLlonal
ll 1haL Lhe lower courL erred when lL senLenced appellanL hereln Lo pay plalnLlff Lhe sum of 300 as
aLLorney's fees and Lhe cosL Lhereof"
ln supporL of Lhe alleged unconsLlLuLlonallLy of 8epubllc AcL no 3330 Lhe unlon conLenLed flrsLly LhaL
Lhe AcL lnfrlnges on Lhe fundamenLal rlghL Lo form lawful assoclaLlons LhaL Lhe very phraseology of sald
8epubllc AcL 3330 LhaL membershlp ln a labor organlzaLlon ls banned Lo all Lhose belonglng Lo such
rellglous secL prohlblLlng afflllaLlon wlLh any labor organlzaLlon"4 prohlblLs all Lhe members of a glven
rellglous secL from [olnlng any labor unlon lf such secL prohlblLs afflllaLlons of Lhelr members LhereLo"3
and consequenLly deprlves sald members of Lhelr consLlLuLlonal rlghL Lo form or [oln lawful assoclaLlons
or organlzaLlons guaranLeed by Lhe 8lll of 8lghLs and Lhus becomes obnoxlous Lo ArLlcle lll SecLlon 1 (6)
of Lhe 1933 ConsLlLuLlon6
Secondly Lhe unlon conLended LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 ls unconsLlLuLlonal for lmpalrlng Lhe
obllgaLlon of conLracLs ln LhaL whlle Lhe unlon ls obllged Lo comply wlLh lLs collecLlve bargalnlng
agreemenL conLalnlng a closed shop provlslon" Lhe AcL relleves Lhe employer from lLs reclprocal
obllgaLlon of cooperaLlng ln Lhe malnLenance of unlon membershlp as a condlLlon of employmenL and
LhaL sald AcL furLhermore
________________

4 CuoLed from 8rlef for AppellanL page 3
3 CuoLed from 8rlef for AppellanL page 2
6 8rlef for AppellanL pages 23
64

64
lmpalrs Lhe unlon's rlghLs as lL deprlves Lhe unlon of dues from members who under Lhe AcL are
relleved from Lhe obllgaLlon Lo conLlnue as such members7
1hlrdly Lhe unlon conLended LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 dlscrlmlnaLorlly favors Lhose rellglous secLs
whlch ban Lhelr members from [olnlng labor unlons ln vlolaLlon of ArLlcle lll SecLlon 1 (7) of Lhe 1933
ConsLlLuLlon and whlle sald AcL unduly proLecLs cerLaln rellglous secLs lL leaves no rlghLs or proLecLlon
Lo labor organlzaLlons8
lourLhly 8epubllc AcL no 3330 asserLed Lhe unlon vlolaLes Lhe consLlLuLlonal provlslon LhaL no
rellglous LesL shall be requlred for Lhe exerclse of a clvll rlghL" ln LhaL Lhe laborer's exerclse of hls clvll
rlghL Lo [oln assoclaLlons for purposes noL conLrary Lo law has Lo be deLermlned under Lhe AcL by hls
afflllaLlon wlLh a rellglous secL LhaL conversely lf a worker has Lo sever hls rellglous connecLlon wlLh a
secL LhaL prohlblLs membershlp ln a labor organlzaLlon ln order Lo be able Lo [oln a labor organlzaLlon
sald AcL would vlolaLe rellglous freedom9
llfLhly Lhe unlon conLended LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 vlolaLes Lhe equal proLecLlon of laws" clause
of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon lL belng a dlscrlmlnaLory leglslaLlon lnasmuch as by exempLlng from Lhe operaLlon
of closed shop agreemenL Lhe members of Lhe lglesla nl CrlsLo" lL has granLed sald members undue
advanLages over Lhelr fellow workers for whlle Lhe AcL exempLs Lhem from unlon obllgaLlon and
llablllLy lL neverLheless enLlLles Lhem aL Lhe same Llme Lo Lhe en[oymenL of all concesslons beneflLs and
oLher emolumenLs LhaL Lhe unlon mlghL secure from Lhe employer10
SlxLhly Lhe unlon conLended LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 vlolaLes Lhe consLlLuLlonal provlslon regardlng
Lhe promoLlon of soclal [usLlce11
AppellanL unlon furLhermore asserLed LhaL a closed shop provlslon" ln a collecLlve bargalnlng
agreemenL cannoL be consldered vlolaLlve of rellglous freedom as Lo call for Lhe amendmenL lnLroduced
by 8epubllc AcL no 333012 and LhaL
________________

9 8rlef for AppellanL page 6
12 AppellanL clLes ln supporL Lhereof CLLen v 8alLlmore Cr eL
63

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
63
unless 8epubllc AcL no 3330 ls declared unconsLlLuLlonal Lrade unlonlsm ln Lhls counLry would be
wlped ouL as employers would prefer Lo hlre or employ members of Lhe lglesla nl CrlsLo ln order Lo do
away wlLh labor organlzaLlons13
Appellee assalllng appellanL's argumenLs conLended LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 does noL vlolaLe Lhe
rlghL Lo form lawful assoclaLlons for Lhe rlghL Lo [oln assoclaLlons lncludes Lhe rlghL noL Lo [oln or Lo
reslgn from a labor organlzaLlon lf one's consclence does noL allow hls membershlp Lhereln and Lhe AcL
has glven subsLance Lo such rlghL by prohlblLlng Lhe compulslon of workers Lo [oln labor
organlzaLlons14 LhaL sald AcL does noL lmpalr Lhe obllgaLlon of conLracLs for sald law formed parL of
and was lncorporaLed lnLo Lhe Lerms of Lhe closed shop agreemenL13 LhaL Lhe AcL does noL vlolaLe Lhe
esLabllshmenL of rellglon clause or separaLlon of Church and SLaLe for Congress ln enacLlng sald law
merely accommodaLed Lhe rellglous needs of Lhose workers whose rellglon prohlblLs lLs members from
[olnlng labor unlons and balanced Lhe collecLlve rlghLs of organlzed labor wlLh Lhe consLlLuLlonal rlghL of
an lndlvldual Lo freely exerclse hls chosen rellglon LhaL Lhe consLlLuLlonal rlghL Lo Lhe free exerclse of
one's rellglon has prlmacy and preference over unlon securlLy measures whlch are merely
conLracLual16 LhaL sald AcL does noL vlolaLe Lhe consLlLuLlonal provlslon of equal proLecLlon for Lhe
classlflcaLlon of workers under Lhe AcL dependlng on Lhelr rellglous LeneLs ls based on subsLanLlal
dlsLlncLlon ls germane Lo Lhe purpose of Lhe law and applles Lo all Lhe members of a glven class17 LhaL
sald AcL flnally does noL vlolaLe Lhe soclal [usLlce pollcy of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon for sald AcL was enacLed
preclsely Lo equallze employmenL opporLunlLles for all clLlzens ln Lhe mldsL of Lhe dlverslLles of Lhelr
rellglous bellefs18
l 8efore We proceed Lo Lhe dlscusslon of Lhe flrsL asslgned al 203 l 2d 38 and Wlcks v SouLhern
aclflc Co uC Cal 121 l Supp 434 !enson v unlon aclflc 8 Co eL al 121l Supp 434
________________

14 8rlef for lalnLlffAppellee pages 68
66

66
error lL ls necessary Lo premlse LhaL Lhere are some Lhoroughly esLabllshed prlnclples whlch musL be
followed ln all cases where quesLlons of consLlLuLlonallLy as obLalns ln Lhe lnsLanL case are lnvolved All
presumpLlons are lndulged ln favor of consLlLuLlonallLy one who aLLacks a sLaLuLe alleglng
unconsLlLuLlonallLy musL prove lLs lnvalldlLy beyond a reasonable doubL LhaL a law may work hardshlp
does noL render lL unconsLlLuLlonal LhaL lf any reasonable basls may be concelved whlch supporLs Lhe
sLaLuLe lL wlll be upheld and Lhe challenger musL negaLe all posslble bases LhaL Lhe courLs are noL
concerned wlLh Lhe wlsdom [usLlce pollcy or expedlency of a sLaLuLe and LhaL a llberal lnLerpreLaLlon
of Lhe consLlLuLlon ln favor of Lhe consLlLuLlonallLy of leglslaLlon should be adopLed19
1 AppellanL unlon's conLenLlon LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 prohlblLs and bans Lhe members of such
rellglous secLs LhaL forbld afflllaLlon of Lhelr members wlLh labor unlons from [olnlng labor unlons
appears nowhere ln Lhe wordlng of 8epubllc AcL no 3330 nelLher can Lhe same be deduced by
necessary lmpllcaLlon Lherefrom lL ls noL surprlslng Lherefore LhaL appellanL havlng Lhus mlsread Lhe
AcL commlLLed Lhe error of conLendlng LhaL sald AcL ls obnoxlous Lo Lhe consLlLuLlonal provlslon on
freedom of assoclaLlon
8oLh Lhe ConsLlLuLlon and 8epubllc AcL no 873 recognlze freedom of assoclaLlon SecLlon 1 (6) of ArLlcle
lll of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon of 1933 as well as SecLlon 7 of ArLlcle lv of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon of 1973 provlde LhaL
Lhe rlghL Lo form assoclaLlons or socleLles for purposes noL conLrary Lo law shall noL be abrldged SecLlon
3 of 8epubllc AcL no 873 provldes LhaL employees shall have Lhe rlghL Lo selforganlzaLlon and Lo form
[oln of asslsL labor organlzaLlons of Lhelr own chooslng for Lhe purpose of collecLlve bargalnlng and Lo
engage ln concerLed acLlvlLles for Lhe purpose of collecLlve bargalnlng and oLher muLual ald or
proLecLlon WhaL Lhe ConsLlLuLlon and Lhe lndusLrlal eace AcL recognlze and guaranLee ls Lhe rlghL" Lo
form or [oln assoclaLlons noLwlLhsLandlng Lhe dlfferenL Lheorles propounded by Lhe dlfferenL schools of
[urlsprudence regardlng Lhe naLure and conLenLs of a rlghL" lL can be safely sald LhaL whaLever Lheory
one subscrlbes Lo a rlghL comprehends aL leasL Lwo broad noLlons namely flrsL llberLy
________________

19 uanner v Pass 194 nW 2d 334 339 Spurbeck v SLaLLon 106 nW 2d 660 663
67

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
67
or freedom Le Lhe absence of legal resLralnL whereby an employee may acL for hlmself wlLhouL belng
prevenLed by law and second power whereby an employee may as he pleases [oln or refraln from
[olnlng an assoclaLlon lL ls Lherefore Lhe employee who should declde for hlmself wheLher he should
[oln or noL an assoclaLlon and should he choose Lo [oln he hlmself makes up hls mlnd as Lo whlch
assoclaLlon he would [oln and even afLer he has [olned he sLlll reLalns Lhe llberLy and Lhe power Lo
leave and cancel hls membershlp wlLh sald organlzaLlon aL any Llme20 lL ls clear Lherefore LhaL Lhe
rlghL Lo [oln a unlon lncludes Lhe rlghL Lo absLaln from [olnlng any unlon21 lnasmuch as whaL boLh Lhe
ConsLlLuLlon and Lhe lndusLrlal eace AcL have recognlzed and guaranLeed Lo Lhe employee ls Lhe
rlghL" Lo [oln assoclaLlons of hls cholce lL would be absurd Lo say LhaL Lhe law also lmposes ln Lhe same
breaLh upon Lhe employee Lhe duLy Lo [oln assoclaLlons 1he law does noL en[oln an employee Lo slgn
up wlLh any assoclaLlon
1he rlghL Lo refraln from [olnlng labor organlzaLlons recognlzed by SecLlon 3 of Lhe lndusLrlal eace AcL
ls however llmlLed 1he legal proLecLlon granLed Lo such rlghL Lo refraln from [olnlng ls wlLhdrawn by
operaLlon of law where a labor unlon and an employer have agreed on a closed shop by vlrLue of whlch
Lhe employer may employ only members of Lhe collecLlve bargalnlng unlon and Lhe employees musL
conLlnue Lo be members of Lhe unlon for Lhe duraLlon of Lhe conLracL ln order Lo keep Lhelr [obs 1hus
SecLlon 4 (a) (4) of Lhe lndusLrlal eace AcL before lLs amendmenL by 8epubllc AcL no 3330 provldes
LhaL alLhough lL would be an unfalr labor pracLlce for an employer Lo dlscrlmlnaLe ln regard Lo hlre or
Lenure of employmenL or any Lerm or condlLlon of employmenL Lo encourage or dlscourage
membershlp ln any labor organlzaLlon" Lhe employer ls however noL precluded from maklng an
agreemenL wlLh a labor organlzaLlon Lo requlre as a condlLlon of employmenL membershlp Lhereln lf
such labor organlzaLlon ls Lhe represenLaLlve of Lhe employees" 8y vlrLue Lherefore of a closed shop
agreemenL before Lhe enacLmenL of
________________

20 agkakalsa Samahang Manggagawa ng San Mlguel 8rewery vs Lnrlquez eL al 108 hll 1010 1019
21 Abo eL al vs PlLAML (kC) Lmployees unlon eL al L19912 !anuary 30 196313 SC8A 120123
quoLlng 8oLhenberg Labor 8elaLlons
68

68
8epubllc AcL no 3330 lf any person regardless of hls rellglous bellefs wlshes Lo be employed or Lo
keep hls employmenL he musL become a member of Lhe collecLlve bargalnlng unlon Pence Lhe rlghL of
sald employee noL Lo [oln Lhe labor unlon ls curLalled and wlLhdrawn
1o LhaL allembraclng coverage of Lhe closed shop arrangemenL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 lnLroduced an
excepLlon when lL added Lo SecLlon 4 (a) (4) of Lhe lndusLrlal eace AcL Lhe followlng provlso buL such
agreemenL shall noL cover members of any rellglous secLs whlch prohlblL afflllaLlon of Lhelr members ln
any such labor organlzaLlon" 8epubllc AcL no 3330 merely excludes lpso [ure from Lhe appllcaLlon and
coverage of Lhe closed shop agreemenL Lhe employees belonglng Lo any rellglous secLs whlch prohlblL
afflllaLlon of Lhelr members wlLh any labor organlzaLlon WhaL Lhe excepLlon provldes Lherefore ls LhaL
members of sald rellglous secLs cannoL be compelled or coerced Lo [oln labor unlons even when sald
unlons have closed shop agreemenLs wlLh Lhe employers LhaL ln splLe of any closed shop agreemenL
members of sald rellglous secLs cannoL be refused employmenL or dlsmlssed from Lhelr [obs on Lhe sole
ground LhaL Lhey are noL members of Lhe collecLlve bargalnlng unlon lL ls clear Lherefore LhaL Lhe
assalled AcL far from lnfrlnglng Lhe consLlLuLlonal provlslon on freedom of assoclaLlon upholds and
relnforces lL lL does noL prohlblL Lhe members of sald rellglous secLs from afflllaLlng wlLh labor unlons lL
sLlll leaves Lo sald members Lhe llberLy and Lhe power Lo afflllaLe or noL Lo afflllaLe wlLh labor unlons lf
noLwlLhsLandlng Lhelr rellglous bellefs Lhe members of sald rellglous secLs prefer Lo slgn up wlLh Lhe
labor unlon Lhey can do so lf ln deference and fealLy Lo Lhelr rellglous falLh Lhey refuse Lo slgn up Lhey
can do so Lhe law does noL coerce Lhem Lo [oln nelLher does Lhe law prohlblL Lhem from [olnlng and
nelLher may Lhe employer or labor unlon compel Lhem Lo [oln 8epubllc AcL no 3330 Lherefore does
noL vlolaLe Lhe consLlLuLlonal provlslon on freedom of assoclaLlon
2 AppellanL unlon also conLends LhaL Lhe AcL ls unconsLlLuLlonal for lmpalrlng Lhe obllgaLlon of lLs
conLracL speclflcally Lhe unlon securlLy clause" embodled ln lLs CollecLlve 8argalnlng AgreemenL wlLh
Lhe Company by vlrLue of whlch membershlp ln Lhe unlon was requlred as a condlLlon for employmenL
for all permanenL employees workers" 1hls agreemenL was already ln exlsLence aL Lhe Llme 8epubllc
AcL
69

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
69
no 3330 was enacLed on !une 18 1961 and lL cannoL Lherefore be deemed Lo have been lncorporaLed
lnLo Lhe agreemenL 8uL by reason of Lhls amendmenL Appellee as well as oLhers slmllarly slLuaLed
could no longer be dlsmlssed from hls [ob even lf he should cease Lo be a member or dlsafflllaLe from
Lhe unlon and Lhe Company could conLlnue employlng hlm noLwlLhsLandlng hls dlsafflllaLlon from Lhe
unlon 1he AcL Lherefore lnLroduced a change lnLo Lhe express Lerms of Lhe unlon securlLy clause Lhe
Company was parLly absolved by law from Lhe conLracLual obllgaLlon lL had wlLh Lhe unlon of employlng
only unlon members ln permanenL poslLlons lL cannoL be denled Lherefore LhaL Lhere was lndeed an
lmpalrmenL of sald unlon securlLy clause
Accordlng Lo 8lack any sLaLuLe whlch lnLroduces a change lnLo Lhe express Lerms of Lhe conLracL or lLs
legal consLrucLlon or lLs valldlLy or lLs dlscharge or Lhe remedy for lLs enforcemenL lmpalrs Lhe
conLracL 1he exLenL of Lhe change ls noL maLerlal lL ls noL a quesLlon of degree or manner or cause buL
of encroachlng ln any respecL on lLs obllgaLlon or dlspenslng wlLh any parL of lLs force 1here ls an
lmpalrmenL of Lhe conLracL lf elLher parLy ls absolved by law from lLs performance22 lmpalrmenL has
also been predlcaLed on laws whlch wlLhouL desLroylng conLracLs derogaLe from subsLanLlal
conLracLual rlghLs23
lL should noL be overlooked however LhaL Lhe prohlblLlon Lo lmpalr Lhe obllgaLlon of conLracLs ls noL
absoluLe and unquallfled 1he prohlblLlon ls general affordlng a broad ouLllne and requlrlng
consLrucLlon Lo flll ln Lhe deLalls 1he prohlblLlon ls noL Lo be read wlLh llLeral exacLness llke a
maLhemaLlcal formula for lL prohlblLs unreasonable lmpalrmenL only24 ln splLe of Lhe consLlLuLlonal
prohlblLlon Lhe SLaLe conLlnues Lo possess auLhorlLy Lo safeguard Lhe vlLal lnLeresLs of lLs people
LeglslaLlon approprlaLe Lo safeguardlng sald lnLeresLs may modlfy or abrogaLe conLracLs already ln
effecL23 lor noL only are exlsLlng laws read lnLo conLracLs ln
________________

22 8lack's ConsLlLuLlonal Law 2nd ed page 607
23 Pome 8ulldlng Loan AssoclaLlon vs 8lalsdell 290 uS 398 78 L Ld 413423
24 8e eople (1lLle MorL Cuar Co) 264 n? 69 190 nL 133 96 AL8 297304
23 SLephenson v 8lnford 287 uS 231 176 77 L ed 288 301 33
70

70
order Lo flx Lhe obllgaLlons as beLween Lhe parLles buL Lhe reservaLlon of essenLlal aLLrlbuLes of
soverelgn power ls also read lnLo conLracLs as a posLulaLe of Lhe legal order All conLracLs made wlLh
reference Lo any maLLer LhaL ls sub[ecL Lo regulaLlon under Lhe pollce power musL be undersLood as
made ln reference Lo Lhe posslble exerclse of LhaL power26 CLherwlse lmporLanL and valuable reforms
may be precluded by Lhe slmple devlce of enLerlng lnLo conLracLs for Lhe purpose of dolng LhaL whlch
oLherwlse may be prohlblLed 1he pollcy of proLecLlng conLracLs agalnsL lmpalrmenL presupposes Lhe
malnLenance of a governmenL by vlrLue of whlch conLracLual relaLlons are worLhwhllea governmenL
whlch reLalns adequaLe auLhorlLy Lo secure Lhe peace and good order of socleLy 1he conLracL clause of
Lhe ConsLlLuLlon musL Lherefore be noL only ln harmony wlLh buL also ln subordlnaLlon Lo ln
approprlaLe lnsLances Lhe reserved power of Lhe sLaLe Lo safeguard Lhe vlLal lnLeresLs of Lhe people lL
follows LhaL noL all leglslaLlons whlch have Lhe effecL of lmpalrlng a conLracL are obnoxlous Lo Lhe
consLlLuLlonal prohlblLlon as Lo lmpalrmenL and a sLaLuLe passed ln Lhe leglLlmaLe exerclse of pollce
power alLhough lL lncldenLally desLroys exlsLlng conLracL rlghLs musL be upheld by Lhe courLs 1hls has
speclal appllcaLlon Lo conLracLs regulaLlng relaLlons beLween caplLal and labor whlch are noL merely
conLracLual and sald labor conLracLs for belng lmpressed wlLh publlc lnLeresL musL yleld Lo Lhe
common good27
ln several occaslons Lhls CourL declared LhaL Lhe prohlblLlon agalnsL lmpalrlng Lhe obllgaLlons of
conLracLs has no appllcaLlon Lo sLaLuLes relaLlng Lo publlc sub[ecLs wlLhln Lhe domaln of Lhe general
leglslaLlve powers of Lhe sLaLe lnvolvlng publlc welfare28 1hus Lhls CourL also held LhaL Lhe 8lue Sunday
Law was noL an lnfrlngemenL of Lhe obllgaLlon of a conLracL LhaL requlred Lhe employer Lo furnlsh work
on Sundays Lo hls employees Lhe law havlng been enacLed Lo secure Lhe wellbelng and happlness of
Lhe laborlng class and
________________

SCL 18187AL8721
26 16 Am !ur 2d pages 384383
27 ArL 1700 Clvll Code of Lhe hlllpplnes
28 llusorlo eL al vs CourL of Agrarlan 8elaLlons eL al L20344 May 16196617 SC8A 23 29 Cngslako
v Camboa eL al 86 hll 30 3433
71

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
71
belng furLhermore a leglLlmaLe exerclse of Lhe pollce power29
ln order Lo deLermlne wheLher leglslaLlon unconsLlLuLlonally lmpalrs conLracL obllgaLlons no unchanglng
yardsLlck appllcable aL all Llmes and under all clrcumsLances by whlch Lhe valldlLy of each sLaLuLe may
be measured or deLermlned has been fashloned buL every case musL be deLermlned upon lLs own
clrcumsLances LeglslaLlon lmpalrlng Lhe obllgaLlon of conLracLs can be susLalned when lL ls enacLed for
Lhe promoLlon of Lhe general good of Lhe people and when Lhe means adopLed Lo secure LhaL end are
reasonable 8oLh Lhe end soughL and Lhe means adopLed musL be leglLlmaLe le wlLhln Lhe scope of
Lhe reserved power of Lhe sLaLe consLrued ln harmony wlLh Lhe consLlLuLlonal llmlLaLlon of LhaL
power30
WhaL Lhen was Lhe purpose soughL Lo be achleved by 8epubllc AcL no 3330? lLs purpose was Lo lnsure
freedom of bellef and rellglon and Lo promoLe Lhe general welfare by prevenLlng dlscrlmlnaLlon agalnsL
Lhose members of rellglous secLs whlch prohlblL Lhelr members from [olnlng labor unlons conflrmlng
Lhereby Lhelr naLural sLaLuLory and consLlLuLlonal rlghL Lo work Lhe frulLs of whlch work are usually Lhe
only means whereby Lhey can malnLaln Lhelr own llfe and Lhe llfe of Lhelr dependenLs lL cannoL be
galnsald LhaL sald purpose ls leglLlmaLe
1he quesLloned AcL also provldes proLecLlon Lo members of sald rellglous secLs agalnsL Lwo aggregaLes
of group sLrengLh from whlch Lhe lndlvldual needs proLecLlon 1he lndlvldual employee aL varlous Llmes
ln hls worklng llfe ls confronLed by Lwo aggregaLes of powercollecLlve labor dlrecLed by a unlon and
collecLlve caplLal dlrecLed by managemenL 1he unlon an lnsLlLuLlon developed Lo organlze labor lnLo a
collecLlve force and Lhus proLecL Lhe lndlvldual employee from Lhe power of collecLlve caplLal ls
paradoxlcally boLh Lhe champlon of employee rlghLs and a new source of Lhelr frusLraLlon Moreover
when Lhe unlon lnLeracLs wlLh managemenL lL produces yeL a Lhlrd aggregaLe of group sLrengLh from
whlch Lhe lndlvldual also needs proLecLlonLhe
________________

29 Asla 8ed lacLory vs naLlonal 8ed and kapok lndusLrles Workers' unlon 100 hll 837 840
30 8e eople (1lLle MorL Cuar Co) 264 n? 69 190 nL 133 96 AL8 297 304
72

72
collecLlve bargalnlng relaLlonshlp31
1he aforemenLloned purpose of Lhe amendaLory law ls clearly seen ln Lhe LxplanaLory noLe Lo Pouse 8lll
no 3839 whlch laLer became 8epubllc AcL no 3330 as follows
lL would be unLhlnkable lndeed Lo refuse employlng a person who on accounL of hls rellglous bellefs
and convlcLlons cannoL accepL membershlp ln a labor organlzaLlon alLhough he possesses all Lhe
quallflcaLlons for Lhe [ob 1hls ls LanLamounL Lo punlshlng such person for bellevlng ln a docLrlne he has
a rlghL under Lhe law Lo belleve ln 1he law would noL allow dlscrlmlnaLlon Lo flourlsh Lo Lhe deLrlmenL
of Lhose whose rellglon dlscards membershlp ln any labor organlzaLlon Llkewlse Lhe law would noL
commend Lhe deprlvaLlon of Lhelr rlghL Lo work and pursue a modesL means of llvellhood wlLhouL ln
any manner vlolaLlng Lhelr rellglous falLh and/or bellef"32
lL cannoL be denled furLhermore LhaL Lhe means adopLed by Lhe AcL Lo achleve LhaL purpose
exempLlng Lhe members of sald rellglous secLs from coverage of unlon securlLy agreemenLsls
reasonable
lL may noL be amlss Lo polnL ouL here LhaL Lhe free exerclse of rellglous professlon or bellef ls superlor Lo
conLracL rlghLs ln case of confllcL Lhe laLLer musL Lherefore yleld Lo Lhe former 1he Supreme CourL of
Lhe unlLed SLaLes has also declared on several occaslons LhaL Lhe rlghLs ln Lhe llrsL AmendmenL whlch
lnclude freedom of rellglon en[oy a preferred poslLlon ln Lhe consLlLuLlonal sysLem33 8ellglous
freedom alLhough noL unllmlLed ls a fundamenLal personal rlghL and llberLy34 and has a preferred
poslLlon ln Lhe hlerarchy of values ConLracLual rlghLs Lherefore musL yleld Lo freedom of rellglon lL ls
only where unavoldably necessary Lo prevenL an lmmedlaLe and grave danger Lo Lhe securlLy and
welfare of Lhe communlLy LhaL lnfrlngemenL of rellglous freedom may be [usLlfled and only Lo Lhe
smallesL exLenL necessary Lo avold Lhe danger
________________

31 lndlvldual 8lghLs ln lndusLrlal SelfCovernmenLA 'SLaLe AcLlon' Analysls" norLhwesLern unlverslLy
Law 8evlew vol 63 no 1 MarchAprll 1968 page 4
32 Congresslonal 8ecord of Lhe Pouse vol lv arL ll Aprll 11 Lo May 18 1961 pages 33003301
33 !ones vs Cpellka 316 uS 384 86 L ed 1691 62 S CL 717 lolleL vs McCormlck 321 uS 138 88 L
ed 938 64 S CL 717
34 Schnelder v lrglngLon 308 uS 147 161 84 L ed 133 164 60 S CL 146
73

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
73
3 ln furLher supporL of lLs conLenLlon LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 ls unconsLlLuLlonal appellanL unlon
averred LhaL sald AcL dlscrlmlnaLes ln favor of members of sald rellglous secLs ln vlolaLlon of SecLlon 1 (7)
of ArLlcle lll of Lhe 1933 ConsLlLuLlon and whlch ls now SecLlon 8 of ArLlcle lv of Lhe 1973 ConsLlLuLlon
whlch provldes
no law shall be made respecLlng an esLabllshmenL of rellglon or prohlblLlng Lhe free exerclse Lhereof
and Lhe free exerclse and en[oymenL of rellglous professlon and worshlp wlLhouL dlscrlmlnaLlon and
preference shall forever be allowed no rellglous LesL shall be requlred for Lhe exerclse of clvll or
pollLlcal rlghLs"
1he consLlLuLlonal provlslon lnLo only prohlblLs leglslaLlon for Lhe supporL of any rellglous LeneLs or Lhe
modes of worshlp of any secL Lhus foresLalllng compulslon by law of Lhe accepLance of any creed or Lhe
pracLlce of any form of worshlp33 buL also assures Lhe free exerclse of one's chosen form of rellglon
wlLhln llmlLs of uLmosL ampllLude lL has been sald LhaL Lhe rellglon clauses of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon are all
deslgned Lo proLecL Lhe broadesL posslble llberLy of consclence Lo allow each man Lo belleve as hls
consclence dlrecLs Lo profess hls bellefs and Lo llve as he belleves he oughL Lo llve conslsLenL wlLh Lhe
llberLy of oLhers and wlLh Lhe common good36 Any leglslaLlon whose effecL or purpose ls Lo lmpede Lhe
observance of one or all rellglons or Lo dlscrlmlnaLe lnvldlously beLween Lhe rellglons ls lnvalld even
Lhough Lhe burden may be characLerlzed as belng only lndlrecL37 8uL lf Lhe sLage regulaLes conducL by
enacLlng wlLhln lLs power a general law whlch has for lLs purpose and effecL Lo advance Lhe sLaLe's
secular goals Lhe sLaLuLe ls valld desplLe lLs lndlrecL burden on rellglous observance unless Lhe sLaLe can
accompllsh lLs purpose wlLhouL lmposlng such burden38
ln Agllpay v 8ulz39 Lhls CourL had occaslon Lo sLaLe LhaL Lhe
________________

33 uS v 8allard 322 uS 7888 L ed 11481133
36 Wllllam A Carroll 1he ConsLlLuLlon Lhe Supreme CourL and 8ellglon" 1he Amerlcan ollLlcal
Sclence 8evlew Lxl 637674 page 663 SepL 1967
37 SherberL v verner 374 uS 39810 Led 2d 963 83 S CL 1970
38 8raunfeld v 8rown 366 uS 399 6 L ed 2d 363 81 S CL 1144 McCowan v Maryland 366 uS 420
4443 and 449
39 64 hll 201209210
74

74
governmenL should noL be precluded from pursulng valld ob[ecLlves secular ln characLer even lf Lhe
lncldenLal resulL would be favorable Lo a rellglon or secL lL has llkewlse been held LhaL Lhe sLaLuLe ln
order Lo wlLhsLand Lhe sLrlcLures of consLlLuLlonal prohlblLlon musL have a secular leglslaLlve purpose
and a prlmary effecL LhaL nelLher advances nor lnhlblLs rellglon40 Assessed by Lhese crlLerla 8epubllc
AcL no 3330 cannoL be sald Lo vlolaLe Lhe consLlLuLlonal lnhlblLlon of Lhe noesLabllshmenL" (of
rellglon) clause of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon
1he purpose of 8epubllc AcL no 3330 ls secular worldly and Lemporal noL splrlLual or rellglous or holy
and eLernal lL was lnLended Lo serve Lhe secular purpose of advanclng Lhe consLlLuLlonal rlghL Lo Lhe
free exerclse of rellglon by averLlng LhaL cerLaln persons be refused work or be dlsmlssed from work or
be dlspossessed of Lhelr rlghL Lo work and of belng lmpeded Lo pursue a modesL means of llvellhood by
reason of unlon securlLy agreemenLs 1o help lLs clLlzens Lo flnd galnful employmenL whereby Lhey can
make a llvlng Lo supporL Lhemselves and Lhelr famllles ls a valld ob[ecLlve of Lhe sLaLe ln facL Lhe sLaLe ls
en[olned ln Lhe 1933 ConsLlLuLlon Lo afford proLecLlon Lo labor and regulaLe Lhe relaLlons beLween
labor and caplLal and lndusLry41 More so now ln Lhe 1973 ConsLlLuLlon where lL ls mandaLed LhaL Lhe
SLaLe shall afford proLecLlon Lo labor promoLe full employmenL and equallLy ln employmenL ensure
equal work opporLunlLles regardless of sex race or creed and regulaLe Lhe relaLlon beLween workers
and employers"42
1he prlmary effecLs of Lhe exempLlon from closed shop agreemenLs ln favor of members of rellglous
secLs LhaL prohlblL Lhelr members from afflllaLlng wlLh a labor organlzaLlon ls Lhe proLecLlon of sald
employees agalnsL Lhe aggregaLe force of Lhe collecLlve bargalnlng agreemenL and rellevlng cerLaln
clLlzens of a burden on Lhelr rellglous bellefs and by ellmlnaLlng Lo a cerLaln exLenL economlc lnsecurlLy
due Lo unemploymenL whlch ls a serlous menace Lo Lhe healLh morals and welfare of Lhe people of Lhe
SLaLe Lhe AcL also promoLes Lhe wellbelng of socleLy lL ls our vlew LhaL Lhe exempLlon from Lhe effecLs
of
________________

40 8oard of LducaLlon v Allen 392 uS 236 20 L ed 2d 1060 88 S CL 1923
41 ArL xlv SecLlon 6 1933 ConsLlLuLlon of Lhe hlllpplnes
42 ArLlcle ll SecLlon 9 1973 ConsLlLuLlon
73

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
73
closed shop agreemenL does noL dlrecLly advance or dlmlnlsh Lhe lnLeresLs of any parLlcular rellglon
AlLhough Lhe exempLlon may beneflL Lhose who are members of rellglous secLs LhaL prohlblL Lhelr
members from [olnlng labor unlons Lhe beneflL upon Lhe rellglous secLs ls merely lncldenLal and
lndlrecL 1he esLabllshmenL clause" (of rellglon) does noL ban regulaLlon on conducL whose reason or
effecL merely happens Lo colnclde or harmonlze wlLh Lhe LeneLs of some or all rellglons43 1he free
exerclse clause of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon has been lnLerpreLed Lo requlre LhaL rellglous exerclse be
preferenLlally alded44
We belleve LhaL ln enacLlng 8epubllc AcL no 3330 Congress acLed conslsLenLly wlLh Lhe splrlL of Lhe
consLlLuLlonal provlslon lL acLed merely Lo relleve Lhe exerclse of rellglon by cerLaln persons of a
burden LhaL ls lmposed by unlon securlLy agreemenLs lL was Congress lLself LhaL lmposed LhaL burden
when lL enacLed Lhe lndusLrlal eace AcL (8epubllc AcL 873) and cerLalnly Congress lf lL so deems
advlsable could Lake away Lhe same burden lL ls cerLaln LhaL noL every consclence can be
accommodaLed by all Lhe laws of Lhe land buL when general laws confllcL wlLh scrupples of consclence
exempLlons oughL Lo be granLed unless some compelllng sLaLe lnLeresL" lnLervenes43 ln Lhe lnsLanL
case We see no such compelllng sLaLe lnLeresL Lo wlLhhold exempLlon
AppellanL bewalls LhaL whlle 8epubllc AcL no 3330 proLecLs members of cerLaln rellglous secLs lL leaves
no rlghL Lo and ls sllenL as Lo Lhe proLecLlon of labor organlzaLlons 1he purpose of 8epubllc AcL no
3330 was noL Lo granL rlghLs Lo labor unlons 1he rlghLs of labor unlons are amply provlded for ln
8epubllc AcL no 873 and Lhe new Labor Code As Lo Lhe lamenLed sllence of Lhe AcL regardlng Lhe rlghLs
and proLecLlon of labor unlons sufflce lL Lo say flrsL LhaL Lhe valldlLy of a sLaLuLe ls deLermlned by lLs
provlslons noL by lLs sllence46 and
________________

43 McCowan v Maryland 366 uS 420 422 6 L ed 2d 393 408 81 S CL 1101
44 Alan SchwarLz no lmposlLlon of 8ellglon 1he LsLabllshmenL Clause value" ?ale Law !ournal 1968
vol 77 page 692
43 SherberL v verner 374 uS 398 10 L ed 2d 963 970 83 S CL 1790
46 eople ex rel 8yan v Sempek 147 nL 2d 293 298
76

76
second Lhe facL LhaL Lhe law may work hardshlp does noL render lL unconsLlLuLlonal47
lL would noL be amlss Lo sLaLe regardlng Lhls maLLer LhaL Lo compel persons Lo [oln and remaln
members of a unlon Lo keep Lhelr [obs ln vlolaLlon of Lhelr rellglous scrupples would hurL raLher Lhan
help labor unlons Congress has seen lL flL Lo exempL rellglous ob[ecLors lesL Lhelr reslsLance spread Lo
oLher workers for rellglous ob[ecLlons have conLaglous poLenLlallLles more Lhan pollLlcal and phllosophlc
ob[ecLlons
lurLhermore leL lL be noLed LhaL coerced unlLy and loyalLy even Lo Lhe counLry and a forLlorl Lo a labor
unlonassumlng LhaL such unlLy and loyalLy can be aLLalned Lhrough coerclonls noL a goal LhaL ls
consLlLuLlonally obLalnable aL Lhe expense of rellglous llberLy48 A deslrable end cannoL be promoLed by
prohlblLed means
4 AppellanLs' fourLh conLenLlon LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 vlolaLes Lhe consLlLuLlonal prohlblLlon
agalnsL requlrlng a rellglous LesL for Lhe exerclse of a clvll rlghL or a pollLlcal rlghL ls noL well Laken 1he
AcL does noL requlre as a quallflcaLlon or condlLlon for [olnlng any lawful assoclaLlon membershlp ln
any parLlcular rellglon or ln any rellglous secL nelLher does Lhe AcL requlre afflllaLlon wlLh a rellglous
secL LhaL prohlblLs lLs members from [olnlng a labor unlon as a condlLlon or quallflcaLlon for wlLhdrawlng
from a labor unlon !olnlng or wlLhdrawlng from a labor unlon requlres a poslLlve acL 8epubllc AcL no
3330 only exempLs members wlLh such rellglous afflllaLlon from Lhe coverage of closed shop
agreemenLs So under Lhls AcL a rellglous ob[ecLor ls noL requlred Lo do a poslLlve acLLo exerclse Lhe
rlghL Lo [oln or Lo reslgn from Lhe unlon Pe ls exempLed lpso [ure wlLhouL need of any poslLlve acL on hls
parL A consclenLlous rellglous ob[ecLor need noL perform a poslLlve acL or exerclse Lhe rlghL of reslgnlng
from Lhe labor unlonhe ls exempLed from Lhe coverage of any closed shop agreemenL LhaL a labor
unlon may have enLered lnLo Pow Lhen can Lhere be a rellglous LesL requlred for Lhe exerclse of a rlghL
when no rlghL need be exerclsed?
________________

47 ulamond AuLo Sales lnc v Lrbe 103 nW 2d 630 632 Spurbeck v SLaLLon 106 nW 2d 660 663
uanner v Pass 134 nW 2d 334 339 '
48 Cf Meyer v nebraska 262 uS 390 67 L ed 10421046
77

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
77
We have sald LhaL lL was wlLhln Lhe pollce power of Lhe SLaLe Lo enacL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 and LhaL
lLs purpose was legal and ln consonance wlLh Lhe ConsLlLuLlon lL ls never an lllegal evaslon of a
consLlLuLlonal provlslon or prohlblLlon Lo accompllsh a deslred resulL whlch ls lawful ln lLself by
dlscoverlng or followlng a legal way Lo do lL49
3 AppellanL avers as lLs flfLh ground LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 ls a dlscrlmlnaLory leglslaLlon lnasmuch
as lL granLs Lo Lhe members of cerLaln rellglous secLs undue advanLages over oLher workers Lhus
vlolaLlng SecLlon 1 of ArLlcle lll of Lhe 1933 ConsLlLuLlon whlch forblds Lhe denlal Lo any person of Lhe
equal proLecLlon of Lhe laws30
1he guaranLy of equal proLecLlon of Lhe laws ls noL a guaranLy of equallLy ln Lhe appllcaLlon of Lhe laws
upon all clLlzens of Lhe sLaLe lL ls noL Lherefore a requlremenL ln order Lo avold Lhe consLlLuLlonal
prohlblLlon agalnsL lnequallLy LhaL every man woman and chlld should be affecLed allke by a sLaLuLe
LquallLy of operaLlon of sLaLuLes does noL mean lndlscrlmlnaLe operaLlon on persons merely as such buL
on persons accordlng Lo Lhe clrcumsLances surroundlng Lhem lL guaranLees equallLy noL ldenLlLy of
rlghLs 1he ConsLlLuLlon does noL requlre LhaL Lhlngs whlch are dlfferenL ln facL be LreaLed ln law as
Lhough Lhey were Lhe same 1he equal proLecLlon clause does noL forbld dlscrlmlnaLlon as Lo Lhlngs LhaL
are dlfferenL31 lL does noL prohlblL leglslaLlon whlch ls llmlLed elLher ln Lhe ob[ecL Lo whlch lL ls dlrecLed
or by Lhe LerrlLory wlLhln whlch lL ls Lo operaLe
1he equal proLecLlon of Lhe laws clause of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon allows classlflcaLlon ClasslflcaLlon ln law as
ln Lhe oLher deparLmenLs of knowledge or pracLlce ls Lhe grouplng of Lhlngs ln speculaLlon or pracLlce
because Lhey agree wlLh one anoLher ln cerLaln parLlculars A law ls noL lnvalld because of slmple
lnequallLy32 1he very ldea of classlflcaLlon ls LhaL of lnequallLy so LhaL lL goes wlLhouL saylng LhaL Lhe
mere facL of lnequallLy ln no manner deLermlnes Lhe maLLer of
________________

49 8ook v SLaLe Cfflce 8ldg Commlsslon 149 nL 2d 273 278
30 now SecLlon 1 ArLlcle lv 1973 ConsLlLuLlon
31 16 Am !ur 2d page 830
32 lnLernaLlonal ParvesLer Co v Mlssourl 234 uS 199 38 L ed 1276 1282
78

78
consLlLuLlonallLy33 All LhaL ls requlred of a valld classlflcaLlon ls LhaL lL be reasonable whlch means LhaL
Lhe classlflcaLlon should be based on subsLanLlal dlsLlncLlons whlch make for real dlfferences LhaL lL
musL be germane Lo Lhe purpose of Lhe law LhaL lL musL noL be llmlLed Lo exlsLlng condlLlons only and
LhaL lL musL apply equally Lo each member of Lhe class34 1hls CourL has held LhaL Lhe sLandard ls
saLlsfled lf Lhe classlflcaLlon or dlsLlncLlon ls based on a reasonable foundaLlon or raLlonal basls and ls
noL palpably arblLrary33
ln Lhe exerclse of lLs power Lo make classlflcaLlons for Lhe purpose of enacLlng laws over maLLers wlLhln
lLs [urlsdlcLlon Lhe sLaLe ls recognlzed as en[oylng a wlde range of dlscreLlon36 lL ls noL necessary LhaL
Lhe classlflcaLlon be based on sclenLlflc or marked dlfferences of Lhlngs or ln Lhelr relaLlon37 nelLher ls
lL necessary LhaL Lhe classlflcaLlon be made wlLh maLhemaLlcal nlceLy38 Pence leglslaLlve classlflcaLlon
may ln many cases properly resL on narrow dlsLlncLlons39 for Lhe equal proLecLlon guaranLy does noL
preclude Lhe leglslaLure from recognlzlng degrees of evll or harm and leglslaLlon ls addressed Lo evlls as
Lhey may appear
We belleve LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 saLlsfles Lhe aforemenLloned requlremenLs 1he AcL classlfles
employees and workers as Lo Lhe effecL and coverage of unlon shop securlLy agreemenLs lnLo Lhose
who by reason of Lhelr rellglous bellefs and convlcLlons cannoL slgn up wlLh a labor unlon and Lhose
whose rellglon does noL prohlblL membershlp ln labor unlons 1he classlflcaLlon resLs on real or
subsLanLlal noL merely lmaglnary or whlmslcal dlsLlncLlons 1here ls such real dlsLlncLlon ln Lhe bellefs
feellngs and senLlmenLs of employees Lmployees do noL belleve ln Lhe same rellglous falLh and
dlfferenL rellglons dlffer ln Lhelr dogmas and cannons
________________

33 ALchlson 1Sl8 Co v Mlssourl 234 uS 199 38 L ed 1276 1282
34 eople v vera 63 hll 36126
33 eople v Carlos 78 hll 333 342 clLlng 16 C!S 997
36 16 Am !ur 2d page 862
37 ConLlnenLal 8aklng Co v Woodrlng 286 uS 332 76 L ed 1133 1182
38 CreaL ALlanLlc aclflc 1ea Co v Cros[ean 301 uS 412 81 Led1193 1200
39 Cerman Alllance lns Co v Lewls 233 uS 389 38 L ed 1011 1024
79

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
79
8ellglous bellefs manlfesLaLlons and pracLlces Lhough Lhey are found ln all places and ln all Llmes Lake
so many varled forms as Lo be almosL beyond lmaglnaLlon 1here are many vlews LhaL comprlse Lhe
broad specLrum of rellglous bellefs among Lhe people 1here are dlverse manners ln whlch bellefs
equally paramounL ln Lhe llves of Lhelr possessors may be arLlculaLed 1oday Lhe counLry ls far more
heLerogenous ln rellglon Lhan before dlfferences ln rellglon do exlsL and Lhese dlfferences are
lmporLanL and should noL be lgnored
Lven from Lhe phychologlcal polnL of vlew Lhe classlflcaLlon ls based on real and lmporLanL dlfferences
8ellglous bellefs are noL mere bellefs mere ldeas exlsLlng only ln Lhe mlnd for Lhey carry wlLh Lhem
pracLlcal consequences and are Lhe moLlves of cerLaln rules of human conducL and Lhe [usLlflcaLlon of
cerLaln acLs60 8ellglous senLlmenL makes a man vlew Lhlngs and evenLs ln Lhelr relaLlon Lo hls Cod lL
glves Lo human llfe lLs dlsLlncLlve characLer lLs Lone lLs happlness or unhapplness lLs en[oymenL or
lrksomeness usually a sLrong and passlonaLe deslre ls lnvolved ln a rellglous bellef 1o cerLaln persons
no slngle facLor of Lhelr experlence ls more lmporLanL Lo Lhem Lhan Lhelr rellglon or Lhelr noL havlng any
rellglon 8ecause of dlfferences ln rellglous bellef and senLlmenLs a very poor person may conslder
hlmself beLLer Lhan Lhe rlch and Lhe man who even lacks Lhe necesslLles of llfe may be more cheerful
Lhan Lhe one who has all posslble luxurles uue Lo Lhelr rellglous bellefs people llke Lhe marLyrs became
reslgned Lo Lhe lnevlLable and accepLed cheerfully even Lhe mosL palnful and excruclaLlng palns
8ecause of dlfferences ln rellglous bellefs Lhe world has wlLnessed Lurmoll clvll sLrlfe persecuLlon
haLred bloodshed and war generaLed Lo a large exLenL by members of secLs who were lnLoleranL of
oLher rellglous bellefs 1he classlflcaLlon lnLroduced by 8epubllc AcL no 3330 Lherefore resLs on
subsLanLlal dlsLlncLlons
1he classlflcaLlon lnLroduced by sald AcL ls also germane Lo lLs purpose 1he purpose of Lhe law ls
preclsely Lo avold Lhose who cannoL because of Lhelr rellglous bellef [oln labor unlons from belng
deprlved of Lhelr rlghL Lo work and from belng dlsmlssed from Lhelr work because of unlon shop securlLy
agreemenLs
________________

60 Charles uubray lnLroducLory hllosophy 1923 page 132
80

80
8epubllc AcL no 3330 furLhermore ls noL llmlLed ln lLs appllcaLlon Lo condlLlons exlsLlng aL Lhe Llme of
lLs enacLmenL 1he law does noL provlde LhaL lL ls Lo be effecLlve for a cerLaln perlod of Llme only lL ls
lnLended Lo apply for all Llmes as long as Lhe condlLlons Lo whlch Lhe law ls appllcable exlsL As long as
Lhere are closed shop agreemenLs beLween an employer and a labor unlon and Lhere are employees
who are prohlblLed by Lhelr rellglon from afflllaLlng wlLh labor unlons Lhelr exempLlon from Lhe
coverage of sald agreemenLs conLlnues
llnally Lhe AcL applles equally Lo all members of sald rellglous secLs Lhls ls evldenL from lLs provlslon
1he facL LhaL Lhe law granLs a prlvllege Lo members of sald rellglous secLs cannoL by lLself render Lhe AcL
unconsLlLuLlonal for as We have adverLed Lo Lhe AcL only resLores Lo Lhem Lhelr freedom of assoclaLlon
whlch closed shop agreemenLs have Laken away and puLs Lhem ln Lhe same plane as Lhe oLher workers
who are noL prohlblLed by Lhelr rellglon from [olnlng labor unlons 1he clrcumsLance LhaL Lhe oLher
employees because Lhey are dlfferenLly slLuaLed are noL granLed Lhe same prlvllege does noL render
Lhe law unconsLlLuLlonal for every classlflcaLlon allowed by Lhe ConsLlLuLlon by lLs naLure lnvolves
lnequallLy
1he mere facL LhaL Lhe leglslaLlve classlflcaLlon may resulL ln acLual lnequallLy ls noL vlolaLlve of Lhe rlghL
Lo equal proLecLlon for every classlflcaLlon of persons or Lhlngs for regulaLlon by law produces
lnequallLy ln some degree buL Lhe law ls noL Lhereby rendered lnvalld A classlflcaLlon oLherwlse
reasonable does noL offend Lhe consLlLuLlon slmply because ln pracLlce lL resulLs ln some lnequallLy61
AnenL Lhls maLLer lL has been sald LhaL whenever lL ls apparenL from Lhe scope of Lhe law LhaL lLs ob[ecL
ls for Lhe beneflL of Lhe publlc and Lhe means by whlch Lhe beneflL ls Lo be obLalned are of publlc
characLer Lhe law wlll be upheld even Lhough lncldenLal advanLage may occur Lo lndlvlduals beyond
Lhose en[oyed by Lhe general publlc62
6 AppellanL's furLher conLenLlon LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 vlolaLes Lhe consLlLuLlonal provlslon on
soclal [usLlce ls also baseless Soclal [usLlce ls lnLended Lo promoLe Lhe welfare
________________

61 CreaL ALlanLlc aclflc 1ea Co v Cros[ean 301 uS 412 81 L ed 1193 1200
62 SLaLe v SLlnson Cannlng Co 211 A 2d 333 333
81

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
81
of all Lhe people63 8epubllc AcL no 3330 promoLes LhaL welfare lnsofar as lL looks afLer Lhe welfare of
Lhose who because of Lhelr rellglous bellef cannoL [oln labor unlons Lhe AcL prevenLs Lhelr belng
deprlved of work and of Lhe means of llvellhood ln deLermlnlng wheLher any parLlcular measure ls for
publlc advanLage lL ls noL necessary LhaL Lhe enLlre sLaLe be dlrecLly beneflLedlL ls sufflclenL LhaL a
porLlon of Lhe sLaLe be beneflLed Lhereby
Soclal [usLlce also means Lhe adopLlon by Lhe CovernmenL of measures calculaLed Lo lnsure economlc
sLablllLy of all componenL elemenLs of socleLy Lhrough Lhe malnLenance of a proper economlc and soclal
equlllbrlum ln Lhe lnLerrelaLlons of Lhe members of Lhe communlLy64 8epubllc AcL no 3330 lnsures
economlc sLablllLy Lo Lhe members of a rellglous secL llke Lhe lglesla nl CrlsLo who are also componenL
elemenLs of socleLy for lL lnsures securlLy ln Lhelr employmenL noLwlLhsLandlng Lhelr fallure Lo [oln a
labor unlon havlng a closed shop agreemenL wlLh Lhe employer 1he AcL also advances Lhe proper
economlc and soclal equlllbrlum beLween labor unlons and employees who cannoL [oln labor unlons for
lL exempLs Lhe laLLer from Lhe compelllng necesslLy of [olnlng labor unlons LhaL have closed shop
agreemenLs and equallzes ln so far as opporLunlLy Lo work ls concerned Lhose whose rellglon prohlblLs
membershlp ln labor unlons wlLh Lhose whose rellglon does noL prohlblL sald membershlp Soclal [usLlce
does noL lmply soclal equallLy because soclal lnequallLy wlll always exlsL as long as soclal relaLlons
depend on personal or sub[ecLlve procllvlLles Soclal [usLlce does noL requlre legal equallLy because legal
equallLy belng a relaLlve Lerm ls necessarlly premlsed on dlfferenLlaLlons based on personal or naLural
condlLlons63 Soclal [usLlce guaranLees equallLy of opporLunlLy66 and Lhls ls preclsely whaL 8epubllc AcL
no 3330 proposes Lo accompllshlL glves laborers lrrespecLlve of Lhelr rellglous scrupples equal
opporLunlLy for work
7 As lLs lasL ground appellanL conLends LhaL Lhe
________________

63 Calalang v Wllllams 70 hll 726 734
64 lbld
63 Speech dellvered by !ose Laurel before Lhe ConsLlLuLlonal ConvenLlon on november 191934 ln
Malcolm and Laurel hlllpplne ConsLlLuLlonal Law page 334
66 Culdo v 8ural rogress AdmlnlsLraLlon 84 hll 847 832
82

82
vlcLorlano vs Lllzalde 8ope Workers'unlon
amendmenL lnLroduced by 8epubllc AcL no 3330 ls noL called forln oLher words Lhe AcL ls noL proper
necessary or deslrable AnenL Lhls maLLer lL has been held LhaL a sLaLuLe whlch ls noL necessary ls noL
for LhaL reason unconsLlLuLlonal LhaL ln deLermlnlng Lhe consLlLuLlonal valldlLy of leglslaLlon Lhe courLs
are unconcerned wlLh lssues as Lo Lhe necesslLy for Lhe enacLmenL of Lhe leglslaLlon ln quesLlon67
CourLs do lnqulre lnLo Lhe wlsdom of laws68 Moreover leglslaLures belng chosen by Lhe people are
presumed Lo undersLand and correcLly appreclaLe Lhe needs of Lhe people and lL may change Lhe laws
accordlngly69 1he fear ls enLerLalned by appellanL LhaL unless Lhe AcL ls declared unconsLlLuLlonal
employers wlll prefer employlng members of rellglous secLs LhaL prohlblL Lhelr members from [olnlng
labor unlons and Lhus be a faLal blow Lo unlonlsm We do noL agree 1he LhreaL Lo unlonlsm wlll depend
on Lhe number of employees who are members of Lhe rellglous secLs LhaL conLrol Lhe demands of Lhe
labor markeL 8uL Lhere ls really no occaslon now Lo go furLher and anLlclpaLe problems We cannoL
[udge wlLh Lhe maLerlal now before us AL any raLe Lhe valldlLy of a sLaLuLe ls Lo be deLermlned from lLs
general purpose and lLs efflcacy Lo accompllsh Lhe end deslred noL from lLs effecLs on a parLlcular
case70 1he essenLlal basls for Lhe exerclse of power and noL a mere lncldenLal resulL arlslng from lLs
exerLlon ls Lhe crlLerlon by whlch Lhe valldlLy of a sLaLuLe ls Lo be measured71
ll We now pass on Lhe second asslgnmenL of error ln supporL of whlch Lhe unlon argued LhaL Lhe
declslon of Lhe Lrlal courL orderlng Lhe unlon Lo pay 300 for aLLorney's fees dlrecLly conLravenes
SecLlon 24 of 8epubllc AcL no 873 for Lhe lnsLanL acLlon lnvolves an lndusLrlal dlspuLe whereln Lhe
unlon was a parLy and sald unlon merely acLed ln Lhe exerclse of lLs rlghLs under Lhe unlon shop
provlslon of lLs exlsLlng collecLlve
________________

67 16 Am !ur 2d page 378
68 rovlnce of angaslnan v Pon SecreLary of ubllc Works eL al L27861 CcLober 31 1969 30 SC8A
134
69 Arlzona Copper Co v Pammer 230 uS 400 63 L ed 1038 1066
70 SanlLaLlon ulsL v Campbell 249 SW 2d 767 770 ClLy of 8ochesLer v CuLberleLL 211 nW 309103 nL
348 330
71 Pammond acklng Co v Arkansas 212 uS 322 33 L ed 330 343
83

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
83
bargalnlng conLracL wlLh Lhe Company LhaL sald order also conLravenes ArLlcle 2208 of Lhe Clvll Code
LhaL furLhermore Appellee was never acLually dlsmlssed by Lhe defendanL Company and dld noL
Lherefore suffer any damage aL all72
ln refuLlng appellanL unlon's argumenLs Appellee clalmed LhaL ln Lhe lnsLanL case Lhere was really no
lndusLrlal dlspuLe lnvolved ln Lhe aLLempL Lo compel Appellee Lo malnLaln lLs membershlp ln Lhe unlon
under paln of dlsmlssal and LhaL Lhe unlon by lLs acL lnfllcLed lnLenLlonal harm on Appellee LhaL slnce
Appellee was compelled Lo lnsLlLuLe an acLlon Lo proLecL hls rlghL Lo work appellanL could legally be
ordered Lo pay aLLorney's fees under ArLlcles 1704 and 2208 of Lhe Clvll Code73
1he second paragraph of SecLlon 24 of 8epubllc AcL no 873 whlch ls relled upon by appellanL provldes
LhaL
no sulL acLlon or oLher proceedlngs shall be malnLalnable ln any courL agalnsL a labor organlzaLlon or
any offlcer or member Lhereof for any acL done by or on behalf of such organlzaLlon ln furLherance of an
lndusLrlal dlspuLe Lo whlch lL ls a parLy on Lhe ground only LhaL such acL lnduces some oLher person Lo
break a conLracL of employmenL or LhaL lL ls ln resLralnL of Lrade or lnLerferes wlLh Lhe Lrade buslness or
employmenL of some oLher person or wlLh Lhe rlghL of some oLher person Lo dlspose of hls caplLal or
labor" (Lmphasls supplled)
1haL Lhere was a labor dlspuLe ln Lhe lnsLanL case cannoL be dlspuLed for appellanL soughL Lhe dlscharge
of respondenL by vlrLue of Lhe closed shop agreemenL and under SecLlon 2 ([) of 8epubllc AcL no 873 a
quesLlon lnvolvlng Lenure of employmenL ls lncluded ln Lhe Lerm labor dlspuLe"74 1he dlscharge or Lhe
acL of seeklng lL ls Lhe labor dlspuLe lLself lL belng Lhe labor dlspuLe lLself LhaL very same acL of Lhe
unlon ln asklng Lhe employer Lo dlsmlss Appellee cannoL be an acL done xxx ln furLherance of an
lndusLrlal dlspuLe" 1he mere facL LhaL appellanL ls a labor unlon does noL necessarlly mean LhaL all lLs
acLs are ln furLherance of an lndusLrlal dlspuLe73 AppellanL unlon Lherefore cannoL lnvoke ln lLs favor
SecLlon 24 of 8epubllc AcL no 873 1hls case ls noL lnLerLwlned wlLh
________________

74 Seno v Mendoza L20363 nov 29196721 SC8A 1124 1129
73 Abo v PlLAML (kg) Lmployees and Workers unlon L19912 !anuary 30 1963 13 SC8A 120 124
84

84
any unfalr labor pracLlce case exlsLlng aL Lhe Llme when Appellee flled hls complalnL before Lhe lower
courL
nelLher does ArLlcle 2208 of Lhe Clvll Code lnvoked by Lhe unlon serve as lLs shleld 1he arLlcle provldes
LhaL aLLorney's fees and expenses of llLlgaLlon may be awarded when Lhe defendanL's acL or omlsslon
has compelled Lhe plalnLlff x x x Lo lncur expenses Lo proLecL hls lnLeresL') and ln any oLher case where
Lhe courL deems lL [usL and equlLable LhaL aLLorney's fees and expenses of llLlgaLlon should be
recovered" ln Lhe lnsLanL case lL cannoL be galnsald LhaL appellanL unlon's acL ln demandlng Appellee's
dlsmlssal caused Appellee Lo lncur expenses Lo prevenL hls belng dlsmlssed from hls [ob CosLs accordlng
Lo SecLlon 1 8ule 142 of Lhe 8ules of CourL shall be allowed as a maLLer of course Lo Lhe prevalllng
parLy
WPL8LlC8L Lhe lnsLanL appeal ls dlsmlssed and Lhe declslon daLed AugusL 26 1963 of Lhe CourL of
llrsL lnsLance of Manlla ln lLs Clvll Case no 38894 appealed from ls afflrmed wlLh cosLs agalnsL
appellanL unlon
lL ls so ordered
MakallnLal C! CasLro 1eehankee 8arredo Makaslar AnLonlo Lsguerra Munoz alma and Aqulno
!! concur
lernando ! concurs fully and submlLs a brlef separaLe oplnlon
lernandez ! dld noL Lake parL because he was coauLhor when he was a SenaLor of 8ep AcL no
3330
lL8nAnuC ! concurrlng

1he declslon arrlved aL unanlmously by Lhls CourL LhaL 8epubllc AcL no 3330 ls free from Lhe
consLlLuLlonal lnflrmlLles lmpuLed Lo lL was demonsLraLed ln a manner wellnlgh concluslve ln Lhe
learned scholarly and comprehenslve oplnlon so Lyplcal of Lhe efforLs of Lhe ponenLe !usLlce Zaldlvar
Llke Lhe resL of my breLhren l concur fully Conslderlng moreover Lhe deLalled aLLenLlon pald Lo each
and every ob[ecLlon ralsed as Lo lLs valldlLy and Lhe clarlLy and persuaslveness wlLh whlch lL was shown
Lo be devold of supporL ln auLhorlLaLlve docLrlnes lL would appear LhaL Lhe lasL word has been wrlLLen
on Lhls parLlcular sub[ecL noneLheless l deem lL proper Lo submlL Lhls brlef expresslon of my vlews on
83

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
83
Lhe LranscendenL characLer of rellglous freedom1 and lLs prlmacy even as agalnsL Lhe clalms of
proLecLlon Lo labor2 also one of Lhe fundamenLal prlnclples of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon
1 8ellglous freedom ls ldenLlfled wlLh Lhe llberLy every lndlvldual possesses Lo worshlp or noL a Supreme
8elng and lf a devoLee of any secL Lo acL ln accordance wlLh lLs creed 1hus ls consLlLuLlonally
safeguarded accordlng Lo !usLlce Laurel LhaL professlon of falLh Lo an acLlve power LhaL blnds and
elevaLes man Lo hls CreaLor * * *"3 1he cholce of whaL a man wlshes Lo belleve ln ls hls and hls alone
1haL ls a domaln lefL unLouched where lnLruslon ls noL allowed a clLadel Lo whlch Lhe law ls denled
enLry whaLever be hls LhoughLs or hopes ln LhaL sphere whaL he wllls relgns supreme 1he docLrlne Lo
whlch he pays fealLy may for some be unsupporLed by evldence devold of raLlonal foundaLlon no
maLLer 1here ls no requlremenL as Lo lLs conformlLy Lo whaL has found accepLance lL sufflces LhaL for
hlm such a concepL holds undlspuLed sway 1haL ls a recognlLlon of man's freedom 1haL for hlm ls one
of Lhe ways of selfreallzaLlon lL would be Lo dlsregard Lhe dlgnlLy LhaL aLLaches Lo every human belng Lo
deprlve hlm of such an aLLrlbuLe 1he flxed sLar on our consLlLuLlonal consLellaLlon" Lo borrow Lhe
fellclLous phrase of !usLlce !ackson ls LhaL no offlclal noL excludlng Lhe hlghesL has lL ln hls power Lo
prescrlbe whaL shall be orLhodox ln maLLers of consclenceor Lo mundane affalrs for LhaL maLLer
________________

1 ArLlcle lv SecLlon 8 of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon provldes no law shall be made respecLlng an esLabllshmenL
of rellglon or prohlblLlng Lhe free exerclse Lhereof 1he free exerclse and en[oymenL of rellglous
professlon and worshlp wlLhouL dlscrlmlnaLlon or preference shall forever be allowed no rellglous LesL
shall be requlred for Lhe exerclse
of clvll or pollLlcal rlghLs" 1here ls Lhus a relLeraLlon of such freedom as found ln ArLlcle lll SecLlon 1
par 7 of Lhe 1933 ConsLlLuLlon
2 ArLlcle ll SecLlon 9 of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon provldes 1he SLaLe shall afford proLecLlon Lo labor promoLe
full employmenL and equallLy ln employmenL ensure equal work opporLunlLles regardless of sex race
or creed and regulaLe Lhe relaLlons beLween workers and employers 1he SLaLe shall assure Lhe rlghLs of
workers Lo selforganlzaLlon collecLlve bargalnlng securlLy of Lenure and [usL and humane condlLlons of
work 1he SLaLe may provlde for compulsory arblLraLlon" 1he above ls an expanded verslon of whaL ls
found ln ArLlcle xlv SecLlon 6 of Lhe 1933 ConsLlLuLlon
3 Agllpay v 8ulz 64 hll 201206 (1937)
86

86
Cerona v SecreLary of LducaLlon4 speaks slmllarly ln Lhe language of lLs ponenLe !usLlce MonLemayor
1he realm of bellef and creed ls lnflnlLe and llmlLless bounded only by one's lmaglnaLlon and LhoughL
So ls Lhe freedom of bellef lncludlng rellglous bellef llmlLless and wlLhouL bounds Cne may belleve ln
mosL anyLhlng however sLrange blzarre and unreasonable Lhe same may appear Lo oLhers even
hereLlcal when welghed ln Lhe scales of orLhodoxy or docLrlnal sLandards"3 1here was Lhls quallflcaLlon
Lhough 8uL beLween Lhe freedom of bellef and Lhe exerclse of sald bellef Lhere ls qulLe a sLreLch of
road Lo Lravel lf Lhe exerclse of sald rellglous bellef clashes wlLh Lhe esLabllshed lnsLlLuLlons of socleLy
and wlLh Lhe law Lhen Lhe former musL yleld and glve way Lo Lhe laLLer 1he CovernmenL sLeps ln and
elLher resLralns sald exerclse or even prosecuLes Lhe one exerclslng lL"6 lL was on LhaL basls LhaL Lhe
dally compulsory flag ceremony ln accordance wlLh a sLaLuLe7 was found free from Lhe consLlLuLlonal
ob[ecLlon on Lhe parL of a rellglous secL Lhe !ehovah's WlLnesses whose members alleged LhaL Lhelr
parLlclpaLlon would be offenslve Lo Lhelr rellglous bellefs ln a case noL dlsslmllar WesL vlrglnla SLaLe
8oard of LducaLlon v 8arneLLe8 Lhe Amerlcan Supreme CourL reached a conLrary concluslon !usLlce
!ackson's eloquenL oplnlon ls for Lhls wrlLer hlghly persuaslve 1hus 1he case ls made dlfflculL noL
because Lhe prlnclples of lLs declslon are obscure buL because Lhe flag lnvolved ls our own neverLheless
we apply Lhe llmlLaLlons of Lhe ConsLlLuLlon wlLh no fear LhaL freedom Lo be lnLellecLually and splrlLually
dlverse or even conLrary wlll dlslnLegraLe Lhe soclal organlzaLlon 1o belleve LhaL paLrloLlsm wlll noL
flourlsh lf paLrloLlc ceremonles are volunLary and sponLaneous lnsLead of a compulsory rouLlne ls Lo
make an unflaLLerlng esLlmaLe of Lhe appeal of our lnsLlLuLlons Lo free mlnds We can have lnLellecLual
lndlvlduallsm and Lhe rlch culLural dlverslLles LhaL we owe Lo excepLlonal mlnds only aL Lhe prlce of
occaslonal eccenLrlclLy and abnormal aLLlLudes When Lhey are so harmless Lo oLhers or Lo Lhe SLaLe as
Lhose we
________________

4 106 hll 2 (1939)
3 lbld 910
6 lbld 10
7 8epubllc AcL no 1263 (1933)
8 319 uS 624 (1943) Mlnersvllle School ulsLrlcL v CoblLls 310 uS 386 (1940) was Lhus overruled
87

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
87
deal wlLh here Lhe prlce ls noL Loo greaL 8uL freedom Lo dlffer ls noL llmlLed Lo Lhlngs LhaL do noL
maLLer much 1haL would be a mere shadow of freedom 1he LesL of lLs subsLance ls Lhe rlghL Lo dlffer as
Lo Lhlngs LhaL Louch Lhe hearL of Lhe exlsLlng order"9 1here ls moreover Lhls rlnglng afflrmaLlon by Chlef
!usLlce Pughes of Lhe prlmacy of rellglous freedom ln Lhe forum of consclence even as agalnsL Lhe
command of Lhe SLaLe lLself Much has been sald of Lhe paramounL duLy Lo Lhe sLaLe a duLy Lo be
recognlzed lL ls urged even Lhough lL confllcLs wlLh convlcLlons of duLy Lo Cod undoubLedly LhaL duLy
Lo Lhe sLaLe exlsLs wlLhln Lhe domaln of power for governmenL may enforce obedlence Lo laws
regardless of scruples When one's bellef collldes wlLh Lhe power of Lhe sLaLe Lhe laLLer ls supreme
wlLhln lLs sphere and submlsslon or punlshmenL follows 8uL ln Lhe forum of consclence duLy Lo a moral
power hlgher Lhan Lhe sLaLe has always been malnLalned 1he reservaLlon of LhaL supreme obllgaLlon as
a maLLer of prlnclple would unquesLlonably be made by many of our consclenLlous and lawabldlng
clLlzens 1he essence of rellglon ls bellef ln a relaLlon Lo Cod lnvolvlng duLles superlor Lo Lhose arlslng
from any human relaLlon"10 1he Amerlcan Chlef !usLlce spoke ln dlssenL lL ls Lrue buL wlLh hlm ln
agreemenL were Lhree of Lhe foremosL [urlsLs who ever saL ln LhaL 1rlbunal !usLlces Polmes 8randels
and SLone
2 As l vlew !usLlce Zaldlvar's oplnlon ln LhaL llghL my concurrence as seL forLh earller ls wholehearLed
and enLlre WlLh such a cardlnal posLulaLe as Lhe basls of our pollLy lL has a message LhaL cannoL be
mlsread 1hus ls lnLoned wlLh a reverberaLlng clang Lo paraphrase Cardozo a fundamenLal prlnclple
LhaL drowns all weaker sounds 1he labored efforL Lo casL doubL on Lhe valldlLy of Lhe sLaLuLory provlslon
ln quesLlon ls far from persuaslve lL ls aLLended by fuLlllLy lL ls noL for Lhls CourL as l concelve of Lhe
[udlclal funcLlon Lo resLrlcL Lhe scope of a preferred freedom
3 1here ls however Lhe quesLlon of wheLher such an excepLlon possesses an lmpllcaLlon LhaL lessens
Lhe effecLlveness of sLaLe efforLs Lo proLecL labor llkewlse as noLed consLlLuLlonally ordalned Such a
vlew on Lhe surface may noL be lacklng ln plauslblllLy buL upon closer analysls lL
________________

9 lbld 641642
10 unlLed SLaLes v MaclnLosh 283 uS 603633634 (1931)
88

88
cannoL sLand scruLlny 1houghL musL be glven Lo Lhe freedom of assoclaLlon llkewlse an aspecL of
lnLellecLual llberLy lor Lhe laLe rofessor Powe a consLlLuLlonallsL and ln hls llfeLlme Lhe blographer of
Lhe greaL Polmes lL even parLakes of Lhe pollLlcal Lheory of plurallsLlc soverelgnLy So greaL ls Lhe
respecL for Lhe auLonomy accorded volunLary socleLles11 Such a rlghL lmplles aL Lhe very leasL LhaL one
can deLermlne for hlmself wheLher or noL he should [oln or refraln from [olnlng a labor organlzaLlon an
lnsLlLuLlonal devlce for promoLlng Lhe welfare of Lhe worklng man A closed shop on Lhe oLher hand ls
lnherenLly coerclve 1haL ls why as ls unmlsLakably reflecLed ln our declslons Lhe laLesL of whlch ls
Cul[arno v CourL of lndusLrlal 8elaLlons12 lL ls far from belng a favorlLe of Lhe law lor a sLaLuLory
provlslon Lhen Lo furLher curLall lLs operaLlon ls preclsely Lo follow Lhe dlcLaLes of sound publlc pollcy
1he exhausLlve and wellresearched oplnlon of !usLlce Zaldlvar Lhus ls ln Lhe malnsLream of
consLlLuLlonal LradlLlon 1haL for me ls Lhe channel Lo follow
Appeal dlsmlssed and declslon afflrmed
noLesLffecLs of ClosedShop AgreemenLsWhere Lhe unlon shop agreemenL requlres new
employees Lo [oln Lhe unlon and lL provldes LhaL should Lhey laLer reslgn or be expelled from Lhe
conLracLlng unlon Lhe company would lmmedlaLely
________________

11 Cf Powe ollLlcal 1heory and Lhe naLure of LlberLy 67 Parvard Law 8evlew 91 94 (1933) Pe was
reflecLlng on Lhe radlaLlons Lo whlch kedroff v SL nlcholas CaLhedral 344 uS 94 (1932) and 8arrows v
!ackson 346 uS 249 (1933) mlghL glve rlse Lo
12 L28791 AugusL 27 1973 32 SC8A 307 Cf ConfederaLed Sons of Labor v Anakan Lumber Co 107
hll 913 (1960) lreeman ShlrL ManufacLurlng Co lnc v CourL of lndusLrlal 8elaLlons L16361 !an 28
1961 1 SC8A 333 llndlay Mlllar 1lmber Co v hll LandAlrSea Labor unlon L18217 SepL 291962 6
SC8A 227 kaplsanan ng Mga Manggagawa ng Alak v PamllLon ulsLlllery Company L18112 CcL 30
1962 6 SC8A 367 unlLed SLaLes Llnes Co v AssoclaLed WaLchmen SecurlLy unlon L13308 !une 29
1963 8 SC8A 326 naLlonal 8rewery Allled lndusLrles Labor unlon of Lhe hll v San Mlguel 8rewery
lnc L18170 Aug 31 1963 8 SC8A 803 hll SLeam navlgaLlon Co v hll Marlne Cfflcers Culld L
20667 CcL 29 1963 13 SC8A 174 8lzal Labor unlon v 8lzal CemenL Co lnc L19779 !uly 30 1966 17
SC8A 837
89

vCL 39 SL1LM8L8 12 1974
89
vlsayan SLevedore 1ransporLaLlon Company vsWorkmen's CompensaLlon Commlsslon
dlsmlss Lhem sald sLlpulaLlon 'cannoL be exLended Lo old workers San Carlos Mllllng Co lnc vs CourL
of lndusLrlal 8elaLlons L13433 L13723 March 17 1961 1 SC8A 734
unlon shop wlLh closed shop provlslons should be sLrlcLly consLrued agalnsL Lhe exlsLence of unlon shop
1he employer ln separaLlng some of lLs employees from Lhe servlce because of Lhelr refusal Lo
dlsafflllaLe from a labor unlon and [oln one whlch had a collecLlve bargalnlng agreemenL wlLh lL acLed ln
good falLh because Lhe vlew Lhen prevalllng ln Lhe llghL of Amerlcan [urlsprudence buL whlch no longer
holds waLer was LhaL a closedshop agreemenL applled noL only Lo persons Lo be hlred buL also Lo Lhose
already ln Lhe servlce who were members of anoLher unlon llndlay Mlller 1lmber Co vs hlllpplne
LandAlrSea Labor unlon L18217 L18222 SepL 29 1962 6 SC8A 227
1he provlslon ln Lhe closedshop agreemenL Lo Lhe effecL LhaL Lhe waLchmen agency shall hlre no oLher
waLchmen buL members of Lhe unlon durlng Lhe duraLlon of Lhe agreemenL cannoL operaLe
reLroacLlvely so as Lo compel Lhose already employed Lo [oln Lhe unlon favored by Lhe closedshop
provlslon unlLed SLaLes Llnes Co vs AssoclaLed WaLchmen and SecurlLy unlon L13308 !une 29 1963
8 SC8A 326 vlcLorlano vs Lllzalde 8ope Workers' unlon 39 SC8A 34(1974)

Victoria No vs. Elizalde Rope Worker's Union

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Victoria No vs. Elizalde Rope Worker's Union

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no L23246 SepLember 12 1974*

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Victoria No vs. Elizalde Rope Worker&#39;s Union

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no L23246 SepLember 12 1974*

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Victoria No vs. Elizalde Rope Worker's Union

Victoria No vs. Elizalde Rope Worker's Union