2007 bar questions and suggested answers (POLITICAL LAW)

Political and Public International Law

-I-
(10 points)

True or False. Briefly explain your answer.
(a) For purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are English and Filipino, until otherwise
Alternative Answer:
The statement is false. Article XIV, Section 7 of the 1987 Constitution provides that for “purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the Philippines are Filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, English.” Thus, while Filipino will always be an official language, Congress may, by law, remove English as the other official language. Hence, the statement is false as the continuation of English as an official language is subject to the control and discretion of Congress.

Alternative Answer:
The statement is true. To be more precise, however, what is only to remain as official until otherwise provided by law is English. Filipino will always be an official language under the Charter.

(b) The 1987 Constitution has increased the scope of academic freedom recognized under the previous Constitution.
Alternative Answer:
The statement is true. The 1987 Constitution provides that academic freedom shall be enjoyed in all institutions of higher learning. This is more expansive in scope than the 1973 Constitution which stated that: All institutions of higher learning shall enjoy academic freedom. While the 1973 Charter suggests that academic freedom was institutional in the sense that it belonged to the colleges and universities, the present Charter gives the guaranty to all other components of the institution, including faculty and possibly students.

Alternative Answer:
The statement is false. The scope of academic freedom remains the same. Article XIV, Section 5 (2) of the Constitution provides that academic freedom shall be enjoyed in all institutions of higher learning. As held in U.P. Board of Regents v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 134629, August 31, 1999, “This (provision) is nothing new. The 1935 and the 1973 Constitution likewise provided for academic freedom or, more precisely, for the institutional autonomy of universities and institutions of higher learning.”

-II-
(10 points)

The City Mayor issues an Executive Order declaring that the city promotes responsible parenthood and upholds natural family planning. He prohibits all hospitals operated by the city from prescribing the use of artificial methods of contraception, including condoms, pills, intrauterine devices and surgical sterilization. As a result, poor women in his city lost their access to affordable family planning programs. Private clinics, however, continue to render family planning counsel and devices to paying clients.

(a) Is the Executive Order in any way constitutionally infirm? Explain.
Alternative Answer:
The Executive Order is constitutionally infirm. Under the 1987 Constitution, the State shall defend the right of spouses to establish a family in accordance with their religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood. (Art. XV, Sec. 3[1]). By upholding natural family planning and prohibiting city hospitals from prescribing artificial methods of contraception, the Mayor is imposing his religious beliefs on spouses who rely on the services of city hospitals. This clearly violates the above section of the Constitution.

Moreover, the 1987 Constitution states that no person shall be denied the equal protection of the laws. (Art. III, Sec. 1). The Constitution also provides that the state shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living and an improved quality of life for all. (Art. II, Section 9). The loss of access of poor city women to family planning programs is discriminatory and creates suspect classification. It also goes against the demands of social justice as enshrined in the immediately preceding provision.

Alternative Answer:
Yes. It constitutes an invalid exercise of police power and violates substantive due process by depriving people of the means to control their reproductive processes. Moreover, since the national government has not outlawed the use of artificial methods of contraception, then it would be against national policies. In addition, the Mayor cannot issue such Executive Order without an underlying ordinance. (Moday v, Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 107916, February 20, 1997) Besides, the action of the Mayor may be in violation of a person’s right to privacy.

(b) Is the Philippines in breach of any obligation under international law? Explain.
Alternative Answer:
The Philippines might be in breach of its obligations under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) of which the country is a signatory. Under the CEDAW, “ State Parties shall take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of health care in order to ensure, on basis of equality of men and women, access to health care services, including those related to family planning” (Article 12, Section 1) Women shall likewise have “access to adequate health care facilities, including information, counseling and services in family planning.” (Article 14, Section 2[b]).

(c) May the Commission on Human Rights order the Mayor to stop the implementation of the Executive Order? Explain.
Alternative Answer:
No, the power of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) is limited to fact-finding investigations. Thus, it cannot issue an “order to desist” against the mayor, inasmuch as the order prescinds from an adjudicatory power that CHR does not possess. (Simon v. Commission on Human Rights, G.R. No. 100150, January 5, 1994; Cariño v. Commission on Human Rights, G.R. No. 96681, December 2, 1991.)

- III -
(10 Points)

Lawrence is a Filipino computer expert based in Manila who invented a virus that destroys all the files stored in a computer. Assume that in May 2005, this virus spread all over the world and caused $50 million in damage to property in the United States, and that in June 2005, he was criminally charged before United States courts under their anti-hacker law. Assume that in July 2005, the Philippines adopted its own anti-hacker law, to strengthen existing sanctions already provided against damage to property. The United States has requested the Philippines to extradite him to US courts under the RP-US Extradition Treaty.

a. Is the Philippines under an obligation to extradite Lawrence? State the applicable rule and its rationale.
Alternative Answer:
The Philippine is under no obligation to extradite Lawrence. Under the principle of dual or double criminality, the crime must be punishable in both the requesting and requested states to make it extraditable. In this case, only the United States had anti-hacker law at the time of the commission of the crime in May 2005. The rational for the principle of dual criminality rests “in part on the basic principle of reciprocity” and “in part of the maxim nulla poena sine lege.” (LA Shearer, 1971 Extradition in International Law, Manchester University Press, Manchester, p. 137.)

b. Assume that the extradition request was made after the Philippines adopted its anti-hacker legislation. Will that change your answer?
Alternative Answer:
It will not change my answer as the rule is that the crime must be punishable in both countries at the time of the commission of the offense. Since there was yet no such crime in the Philippines at the time when the acts complained of were done, in so far as the Philippines is concerned, Lawrence did not commit any crime.

Alternative Answer:
Yes, it will change my answer if a crime like malicious mischief could be considered the equivalent of the anti-hacker law and is punishable in both countries at the time of the request for extradition.

- IV -
(10 points)

In 1993, historians confirmed that during World War II, "comfort women" were forced into serving the Japanese military. These women were either abducted or lured by false promises of jobs as cooks or waitresses, and eventually forced against their will to have sex with Japanese soldiers on a daily basis during the course of the war, and often suffered from severe beatings and venereal diseases. The Japanese government contends that the "comfort stations" were run as "onsite military brothels" (or prostitution houses) by private operators, and not by the Japanese military. There were many Filipina "comfort women."

a. Name at least one basic principle or norm of international humanitarian law that was violated by the Japanese military in the treatment of the "comfort women."
Alternative Answer:
The Japanese military violated jus cogens norms of international law concerning war crimes, crimes against humanity like white slavery, sexual slavery and trafficking in women.

Alternative Answer:
The principle of military necessity was violated. It prohibits the use of any measure that is not absolutely necessary for the purposes of the war. Military necessity is governed by several constraints: An attack or action must be intended to help in the military defeat of the enemy, it must be an attack on a military objective and the harm caused to civilians or civilian property must be proportional and not excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated. Having to force women of the enemy state to serve the sexual needs of the soldiers is not absolutely necessary for the conduct of the war.

b. The surviving Filipina "comfort women" demand that the Japanese government apologize and pay them compensation. However, under the 1951 San Francisco Peace Agreement -the legal instrument that ended the state of war between Japan and the Allied Forces -all the injured states, including the Philippines, received war reparations and, in return, waived all claims against Japan arising from the war. Is that a valid defense?
Alternative Answer:
No, that is not a valid defense. Even if it could be argued that the Philippines, by signing said Peace Agreement had the right as a state to bring further claims, it had no authority to waive the individual right to reparations vested directly in its nationals who were victims of sexual slavery. The Philippines can only validly waive its right to recovery of reparations for injuries to the state. Moreover, there is no defense for the violation of jus cogens norms.

Alternative Answer:
No. The claim is being made by the individuals, not by the State and it is recognized that individuals may also be subjects of international law apart from the state. Further, the San Francisco Peace Agreement could not be interposed as a valid defense as this could not have been contemplated therein. The use of “comfort women” was only confirmed long after that Agreement. Moreover, Article 17 (3) of the New Civil Code provides that “prohibitive laws concerning persons, their acts or property, and those which have for their object public order, policy and good customs, shall not be rendered ineffective by laws or judgments promulgated, or by determinations or conventions agreed upon in a foreign country.

c. The surviving Filipina "comfort women" sue the Japanese government for damages before Philippine courts. Will that case prosper?
Alternative Answer:
The case will not prosper in view of the doctrine of sovereign immunity from suit. However, a person who feels aggrieved by the acts of a foreign sovereign can ask his own government to espouse his cause through diplomatic channels. The “comfort women” can request the Philippine government, through the Department of Foreign Affairs, to espouse its claims against the Japanese government. (Holy See v. Rosario, G.R. No. 101949, December 1, 1994). The sovereign authority of a State to settle the claims of its national against foreign countries has repeatedly been recognized. This may be made without the consent of the nationals or even without consultation without them. (Dames and Moore v. Regan, 433 U.S. 654, [1981])

Alternative Answer:
No. since the Philippines is a signatory to that Agreement, courts may not entertain a suit since that has been waived by the State. Moreover, it can be argued that there was no state action since the prostitution houses were being run by private operators, without the control or supervision of the Japanese government. (Southeast Case, United States v. Wilhelm List, Nuremberg Case No. 7, 1949).

- V -
(10 points)

The Destilleria Felipe Segundo is famous for its 15-year old rum, which it has produced and marketed successfully for the past 70 years. Its latest commercial advertisement uses the line: "Nakalikim ka na ba ng kinse anyos?" Very soon, activist groups promoting women's and children's rights were up in arms against the advertisement.

a. All advertising companies in the Philippines have formed an association, the Philippine Advertising Council, and have agreed to abide by all the ethicalguidelines and decisions by the Council. In response to the protests, the Council orders the pull-out of the "kinse anyos" advertising campaign. Can Destilleria Felipe Segundo claim that its constitutional rights are thus infringed?
Alternative Answer:
No, Destillera Felipe Segundo may not claim that its constitutional rights, particularly freedom of expression, have been infringed. The constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech is a guarantee only against abridgment by the government and does not apply to private parties. (People v. Marti, G.R. No. 81561, January 18, 1991). Moreover, Destillera freely joined the Philippine Advertising Council and is therefore bound by the ethical guidelines and decisions of that council.

Alternative Answer:
No. Constitutional rights can be validly restricted to promote good morals. Moreover, what is being exercised is commercial expression which does not enjoy the same extent of freedom as political or artistic speech. (Central Hudson Gas & Electric v. PSC, 447 U.S. 557 [1980]). The order for the withdrawal comes not from the State but from a private group of advertisers which is not within the coverage of the Bill of Rights.

b. One of the militant groups, the Amazing Amazonas, call on all government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCC) to boycott any newspaper, radio or TV station that carries the "kinse anyos" advertisements. They call on all government nominees in sequestered corporations to block any advertising funds allocated for any such newspaper, radio or TV station. Can the GOCCs and sequestered corporations validly comply?
Alternative Answer:
They may comply with such call as these entities may institute certain measures to promote a socially desirable end, namely, the prevention of the exploitation and abuse of women, especially those who are not yet of age.

Alternative Answer:
The GOCCs and sequestered corporations may not be compelled to boycott or block advertising funds for media companies carrying the said advertisements. These companies may have existing contracts with the media companies concerned and non-compliance may result in breach that will open them to possible suits.

- VI -
(10 points)

True or False. Briefly explain your answer.
a. An amendment to the Constitution shall be valid upon a vote of three-fourths of all the Members of the Congress.

The statement is false. The Congress, acting as a constitutional assembly, may by ¾ vote of its membership only propose amendments to the Constitution. It is ratification by the people that validates the amendment.

b. All public officers and employees shall take an oath to uphold and defend the Constitution.
The statement is true as under Section 40 of the Administrative Code of 1987 (Executive Order No. 292), it is provided that “all public officers and employees of the government, including every member of the armed forces shall, before entering upon discharge of his duties, take an oath or affirmation to uphold and defend the Constitution.

- VII -
(10 Points)

Batas Pambansa 880, the Public Assembly Law of 1985, regulates the conduct of all protest rallies in the Philippines.

a. Salakay, Bayan! held a protest rally and planned to march from Quezon City to Luneta in Manila. They received a permit from the Mayor of Quezon City, but not from the Mayor of Manila. They were able to march in Quezon City and up to the boundary separating it from the City of Manila. Three meters after crossing the boundary, the Manila Police stopped them for posing a danger to pubHc safety. Was this a valid exercise of police power?
Alternative Answer:
Yes, the authorities are given the power to stop marchers who do not possess a permit. However, mere exercise of the right to peaceably assemble is not considered as a danger to public safety. They could have been asked to disperse peacefully, but it should not altogether be characterized as posing a danger to public safety. (Bayan v. Ermita, G.R. No. 169848, April 25, 2006; David v. Arroyo, G.R. No. 171390, May 3, 2006).

Alternative Answer:
No, this is not a valid exercise of police power. Police power has been defined as the power of promoting public welfare by restraining and regulating the use of liberty and property. (City of Manila v. Laguio, G.R. No. 118127, April 12, 2005). It is principally the Legislature that exercises the power but it may be delegated to the President and administrative agencies. Local government units exercise the power under the general welfare clause.

In this case, if Salakay applied for a permit from the city government, the application must be approved or denied within two (2) working days from the date it was filed, failing which, the permit shall be deemed granted. (Section 16, B.P. Blg. 880). Even without a permit, the law does not provide for outright stopping of the march if the demonstrators, for example, were marching peacefully without impeding traffic.

b. The security police of the Southern Luzon Expressway spotted a caravan of 20 vehicles, with paper banners taped on their sides and protesting graft and corruption in government. They were driving at 50 kilometers per hour in a 40-90 kilometers per hour zone. Some banners had been blown off by the wind, and posed a hazard to other motorists. They were stopped by the security police. The protesters then proceeded to march instead, sandwiched between the caravan vehicles. They were also stopped by the security force. May the security police validly stop the vehicles and the marchers?
Alternative Answer:
Yes, the security police may stop the vehicles and the marchers but only to advise the leaders to secure their banners so that it will not pose a hazard to others. They may not be prevented from heading to their destination. The marchers may also be ordered to ride the vehicles so as not to inconvenience other uses of the Expressway.

Alternative Answer:
Yes. While the protesters possess the right to freely express themselves, their actuations may pose a safety risk to other motorists and therefore be the subject of regulation. The security police may undertake measures to prevent any hazard to other motorists but not altogether prevent the exercise of the right. So, to that extent, while the protesters maybe asked to remove the banners which pose hazard to other motorists and prevent them from using the expressway as a venue for their march, the security force may not prevent them from proceeding to where they might want to go.

- VIII -
(10 Points)

The Provincial Governor of Bataan requested the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release its Internal Revenue Allocation (IRA) of P100 million for the current budget year. However, the General Appropriations Act provided that the IRA may be released only if the province meets certain conditions as determined by an Oversight Council created by the President.

a. Is this requirement valid?
No, this requirement is not valid. Under the 1987 Constitution, it is provided that “local government units shall have a just share, as determined by law, in the national taxes which shall be automatically released to them.” As held in the case of Alternative Center for Organizational Reforms and Development, et.al. v. Zamora, G.R. No. 144256 (June 08, 2005), a basic feature of local fiscal autonomy is the automatic release of the shares of LGUs in the national internal revenue. The Local Government Code specifies further that the release shall be made directly to the LGU concerned within five (5) days after every quarter of the year and “shall not be subject to any lien or holdback that may be imposed by the national government for whatever purpose.”

b. The Provincial Governor is a party-mate of the President. May the Bataan Representative instead file a petition to compel the DBM to release the funds?
Alternative Answer:
Yes, the Bataan representative may file a petition to compel the release of funds as a suit may lie against a public officer to compel the performance of a ministerial function or a duty required by law.

Alternative Answer:
Yes. A congressman from a particular LGU may validly have standing to demand that IRA for his province be released in accordance with the Constitution and the Local Government Code. As a representative of his province, he has a responsibility towards his constituencies who can expect no less than faithful compliance with the Constitution. Moreover, the issue presented could be characterized as involving transcendental importance to the people and the local government units which had been guaranteed greater local autonomy.

- IX -
(10 Points)

The Department of Education (DepEd) requires that any school applying for a tuition fee increase must, as a condition for the increase, offer full tuition scholarships to students from low-income families. The Sagrada Familia Elementary School is a Catholic school and has applied for a tuition fee increase. Under this regulation by the DepEd, it will end up giving tuition scholarships to a total of 21 students next year. At a cost of P50,OOO per student, the school will lose a total of P1.05 million for next year.

a. Is this DepEd requirement valid?
No. It constitutes deprivation of property without due process of law. The law is confiscatory as it unduly shifts the burden of providing for the welfare of the poor to the private sector. The objective may be laudable but the means would be arbitrary and unreasonable. (Quezon City v. Judge Ericta, G.R. No. 34195, June 24, 1983).

b. If instead the DepEd requires a full tuition scholarship for the highest ranking students in each grade, determined solely on the basis of academic grades and rank, will the DepEd requirement be valid?
Alternative Answer:
No. It would make a difference in my answer as this would still constitute a deprivation of property without due process of law. (Balacuit v. CFI, G.R. no. 38429, June 30, 1988).

Alternative Answer:
Yes. Here, the matter may be considered as a reasonable regulation exacted from those who seek some form of accommodation from the government. (Telebap v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 132922, April 21, 1998). In exchange for what they get as a concession from the State, these institutions may be required to shoulder part of the cost of promoting quality education for deserving citizens.

- X -
(10 Points)

The Supreme Court has provided a formula for allocating seats for party-list representatives.

a. The twenty percent allocation - the combined number of all party-Iist congressmen shall not exceed twenty percent of the total membership of the House of Representatives, including those elected under the party list;

Section 5(2), Article VI of the Constitution, as implemented by R.A. No. 7941. The purpose is to assure that there will be at least a guaranteed portion of the House of Representatives reserved for the party-list members. The legislative policy is to promote the election of party-list representatives in order to enable Filipinos belonging to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors to contribute legislation that would benefit them.

b. The two percent threshold - only those parties garnering a minimum of two percent of the total valid votes cast for the party-list system are "qualified" to have a seat in the House of Representatives;

R.A. No. 7941. This is to ensure that the party-list organizations at least represents a significant portion of those voting for the party-list system – that they at least have a substantial constituency which must, at the minimum, not be less than two percent (2%) of the total number of those casting their votes for party-list organizations.

c. The three-seat limit - each qualified party, regardless of the number of votes it actually obtained, is entitled to a maximum of three seats; that is, one "qualifying" and two additional seats; and

R.A. No. 7941. This is to prevent any dominant party-list organization from having a monopoly of the seats for the party-list system. Since the objective of the party-list system is to enable other groups who might otherwise have difficulty getting to Congress through the traditional system of elections, then the system developed to accommodate them must be fair and equitable enough to afford better odds to as many groups as possible.

d. The first-party rule - additional seats which a qualified party is entitled to shall be determined in relation to the total number of votes garnered by the party with the highest number of votes.

R.A. No. 7941. The party-list system is predicated, among others, on proportional representation. Thus, there is need to reflect the same in relation to the total number of votes obtained. Accordingly, the first party must not be placed on the same footing as the others who obtained less votes. The votes obtained by first placer would be the reckoning point for the computation of additional seats or members for the remaining organizations who got at least two percent (2%) of the votes cast for the party-list system. (Veterans Federation Party v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 136781, October 6, 2000).

For each of these rules, state the constitutional or legal basis, if any, and the purpose.

NOTHING FOLLOWS.