In February 2006, due to the escape of some Magdalo members and the discovery of a plan

(Oplan Hacle I! to assassinate the president, then president "loria Macapagal#$rroyo ("M$!
issued %residential %roclamation &0&' (%%&0&'! and is to be implemented by "eneral Order (o)
* ("O *!) +he said la, ,as aimed to suppress la,lessness and the connivance of e-tremists to
bring do,n the government)
%ursuant to such %%, "M$ cancelled all plans to celebrate ./0$ I and at the same time revoed
all permits issued for rallies and other public organi1ation2meeting) (ot,ithstanding the
cancellation of their rally permit, 3ilusang Mayo 4no (3M4! head 5andolf /avid proceeded to
rally ,hich led to his arrest)
6ater that day, the /aily +ribune, ,hich 7acho#Olivares is the editor, ,as raided by the 7I/"
and they sei1ed and confiscated anti#"M$ articles and ,rite ups) 6ater still, another no,n anti#
"M$ ne,s agency (Malaya! ,as raided and sei1ed) On the same day, 8eltran of $napa,is, ,as
also arrested) His arrest ,as ho,ever grounded on a ,arrant of arrest issued ,ay bac in &9:*
for his actions against Marcos) His supporters cannot visit him in ;ail because of the current
imposition of %% &0&' and "O *)
In March, "M$ issued %% &02& ,hich declared that the state of national emergency ceased to
e-ist) /avid and some opposition 7ongressmen averred that %%&0&' is unconstitutional for it has
no factual basis and it cannot be validly declared by the president for such po,er is reposed in
7ongress) $lso such declaration is actually a declaration of martial la,) Olivares#7acho also
averred that the emergency contemplated in the 7onstitution are those of natural calamities and
that such is an overbreadth) %etitioners claim that %% &0&' is an overbreadth because it
encroaches upon protected and unprotected rights) +he 0ol#"en argued that the issue has become
moot and academic by reason of the lifting of %% &0&' by virtue of the declaration of %% &02&)
+he 0ol#"en averred that %% &0&' is ,ithin the president<s calling out po,er, tae care po,er
and tae over po,er)
ISSUE: =hether or not %% &0&' and "O * is constitutional)
HELD: %% &0&' and its implementing "O are partly constitutional and partly unconstitutional)
+he issue cannot be considered as moot and academic by reason of the lifting of the >uestioned
%%) It is still in fact operative because there are parties still affected due to the alleged violation of
the said %%) Hence, the 07 can tae cognition of the case at bar) +he 07 ruled that %% &0&' is
constitutional in part and at the same time some provisions of ,hich are unconstitutional) +he 07
ruled in the follo,ing ,ay?
5esolution by the 07 on the Factual 8asis of its declaration
+he petitioners ,ere not able to prove that "M$ has no factual basis in issuing %% &0&' and "O
*) $ reading of the 0olicitor "eneral<s 7onsolidated 7omment and Memorandum sho,s a
detailed narration of the events leading to the issuance of %% &0&', ,ith supporting reports
forming part of the records) Mentioned are the escape of the Magdalo "roup, their audacious
threat of the Magdalo /#/ay, the defections in the military, particularly in the %hilippine
Marines, and the reproving statements from the communist leaders) +here ,as also the Minutes
of the Intelligence 5eport and 0ecurity "roup of the %hilippine $rmy sho,ing the gro,ing
alliance bet,een the (%$ and the military) %etitioners presented nothing to refute such events)
+hus, absent any contrary allegations, the 7ourt is convinced that the %resident ,as ;ustified in
issuing %% &0&' calling for military aid) Indeed, ;udging the seriousness of the incidents, "M$
,as not e-pected to simply fold her arms and do nothing to prevent or suppress ,hat she
believed ,as la,less violence, invasion or rebellion) Ho,ever, the e-ercise of such po,er or
duty must not stifle liberty)
5esolution by the 07 on the Overbreadth +heory
First and foremost, the overbreadth doctrine is an analytical tool developed for testing @on their
faces< statutes in free speech cases) +he ' consolidated cases at bar are not primarily @freedom of
speech< cases) $lso, a plain reading of %% &0&' sho,s that it is not primarily directed to speech
or even speech#related conduct) It is actually a call upon the $F% to prevent or suppress all
forms of la,less violence) Moreover, the overbreadth doctrine is not intended for testing the
validity of a la, that @reflects legitimate state interest in maintaining comprehensive control over
harmful, constitutionally unprotected conduct)< 4ndoubtedly, la,less violence, insurrection and
rebellion are considered @harmful< and @constitutionally unprotected conduct)< +hus, claims of
facial overbreadth are entertained in cases involving statutes ,hich, by their terms, see to
regulate only @spoen ,ords< and again, that @overbreadth claims, if entertained at all, have been
curtailed ,hen invoed against ordinary criminal la,s that are sought to be applied to protected
conduct)< Here, the incontrovertible fact remains that %% &0&' pertains to a spectrum of conduct,
not free speech, ,hich is manifestly sub;ect to state regulation)
5esolution by the 07 on the 7alling Out %o,er /octrine
On the basis of 0ec &', $rt ' of the 7onstitution, "M$ declared %% &0&') +he 07 considered
the %resident<s @calling#out< po,er as a discretionary po,er solely vested in his ,isdom, it
stressed that @this does not prevent an e-amination of ,hether such po,er ,as e-ercised ,ithin
permissible constitutional limits or ,hether it ,as e-ercised in a manner constituting grave abuse
of discretion) +he 07 ruled that "M$ has validly declared %% &0&' for the 7onstitution grants
the %resident, as 7ommander#in#7hief, a @se>uence< of graduated po,ers) From the most to the
least benign, these areA the calling#out po,er, the po,er to suspend the privilege of the ,rit of
habeas corpus, and the po,er to declare Martial 6a,) +he only criterion for the e-ercise of the
calling#out po,er is that @,henever it becomes necessary,< the %resident may call the armed
forces @to prevent or suppress la,less violence, invasion or rebellion)< $nd such criterion has
been met)
5esolution by the 07 on the +ae 7are /octrine
%ursuant to the 2
nd
sentence of 0ec &', $rt ' of the 7onstitution (He shall ensure that the la,s be
faithfully e-ecuted)! the president declared %% &0&') /avid et al averred that %% &0&' ho,ever
violated 0ec &, $rt 6 of the 7onstitution for it arrogated legislative po,er to the %resident) 0uch
po,er is vested in 7ongress) +hey assail the clause @to enforce obedience to all the la,s and to
all decrees, orders and regulations promulgated by me personally or upon my direction)< +he 07
noted that such provision is similar to the po,er that granted former %resident Marcos legislative
po,ers (as provided in %% &0:&!) +he 07 ruled that the assailed %% &0&' is unconstitutional
insofar as it grants "M$ the authority to promulgate @decrees)< 6egislative po,er is peculiarly
,ithin the province of the 6egislature) 0ec &, $rticle 6 categorically states that @BtChe legislative
po,er shall be vested in the 7ongress of the %hilippines ,hich shall consist of a 0enate and a
House of 5epresentatives)< +o be sure, neither Martial 6a, nor a state of rebellion nor a state of
emergency can ;ustify "M$<Bs e-ercise of legislative po,er by issuing decrees) +he president
can only Dtae careE of the carrying out of la,s but cannot create or enact la,s)
5esolution by the 07 on the +ae Over %o,er /octrine
+he president cannot validly order the taing over of private corporations or institutions such as
the /aily +ribune ,ithout any authority from 7ongress) On the other hand, the ,ord emergency
contemplated in the constitution is not limited to natural calamities but rather it also includes
rebellion) +he 07 made a distinction? the president can declare the state of national emergency
but her e-ercise of emergency po,ers does not come automatically after it for such e-ercise
needs authority from 7ongress) +he authority from 7ongress must be based on the follo,ingA
(&! +here must be a ,ar or other emergency)
(2! +he delegation must be for a limited period only)
(F! +he delegation must be sub;ect to such restrictions as the 7ongress may prescribe)
(G! +he emergency po,ers must be e-ercised to carry out a national policy declared by
7ongress)
5esolution by the 07 on the Issue that %% &0&' is a Martial 6a, /eclaration
+he 07 ruled that %% &0&' is not a Martial 6a, declaration and is not tantamount to it) It is a
valid e-ercise of the calling out po,er of the president by the president)

Facts:
On December 12, 1996, then President FIDEL V. RAMOS issued Administrti!e
Order "#. $%& entit'ed (ADOP)IO" OF A "A)IO"AL *OMP+)ERI,ED IDE")IFI*A)IO"
REFERE"*E S-S)EM..
)he AO see/s t# h!e '' Fi'i0in# citi1ens nd 2#rei3n residents t# h!e P#0u'ti#n
Re2erence "umber 4PR"5 3enerted b6 the "ti#n' Sttistics O22ice 4"SO5 thr#u3h the
use #2 7IOME)RI*S )E*8"OLO9- .
)he AO :s ;uesti#ned b6 Sent#r O0'e #n the 2#''#:in3 3r#unds<
1. )he estb'ishment #2 the PR" :ith#ut n6 ': is n unc#nstituti#n'
usur0ti#n #2 the 'e3is'ti!e 0#:ers #2 the *#n3ress #2 the Phi'i00ines=
2. )he 00r#0riti#n #2 0ub'ic 2unds 2#r the im0'ementti#n #2 the sid AO is
unc#nstituti#n' since *#n3ress hs the e>c'usi!e uth#rit6 t# 00r#0rite 2unds 2#r
such e>0enditure= nd
$. )he AO !i#'tes the citi1en?s ri3ht t# 0ri!c6 0r#tected b6 the 7i'' #2 Ri3hts
#2 the *#nstituti#n.
Held:
1. )he AO estb'ishes s6stem #2 identi2icti#n tht is ''@enc#m0ssin3 in
sc#0e, 22ects the 'i2e nd 'ibert6 #2 e!er6 Fi'i0in# citi1ens nd 2#rei3n residents nd
there2#re, it is su00#sed t# be ': 0ssed b6 *#n3ress tht im0'ements it, n#t b6 n
Administrti!e Order issued b6 the President. Administrti!e P#:er, :hich is
su00#sed t# be e>ercised b6 the President, is c#ncerned :ith the :#r/ #2 00'6in3
0#'icies nd en2#rcin3 #rders s determined b6 0r#0er 3#!ernment' #r3ns. It
enb'es the President t# 2i> uni2#rm stndrd #2 dministrti!e e22icienc6 nd chec/
the #22ici' c#nduct #2 his 3ents. Prescindin3 2r#m the 2#re3#in3 0rece0ts, AO $%&
in!#'!es subAect tht is n#t 00r#0rite t# be c#!ered b6 n Administrti!e Order.
An dministrti!e #rder is n #rdinnce issued b6 the President :hich re'tes t#
s0eci2ic s0ects in the dministrti!e #0erti#n #2 the 3#!ernment. It must be in
hrm#n6 :ith the ': nd sh#u'd be 2#r the s#'e 0ur0#se #2 im0'ementin3 the ': nd
crr6in3 #ut the 'e3is'ti!e 0#'ic6. )he subAect #2 AO $%& there2#re is be6#nd the
0#:er #2 the President t# issue nd it is usur0ti#n #2 'e3is'ti!e 0#:er.
2. )he AO 'i/e:ise !i#'tes the ri3ht t# 0ri!c6 since its min 0ur0#se is t#
0r#!ide (c#mm#n re2erence number t# estb'ish 'in/3e m#n3 c#ncerned
3encies thr#u3h the use #2 7IOME)RI*S )E*8"OLO9-. 7i#metr6 is the science #2 the
00'icti#n #2 sttistic' meth#ds t# bi#'#3ic' 2cts= mthemtic' n'6sis #2
bi#'#3ic' dt. It is the c#n2irmti#n #2 n indi!idu'?s identit6 thr#u3h 2in3er0rint,
retin' scn, hnd 3e#metr6 #r 2ci' 2etures. )hr#u3h the PR", the 3#!ernment
#22ices hs the chnce #2 bui'din3 hu3e nd 2#rmidb'e in2#rmti#n bse thr#u3h the
e'ectr#nic 'in/3e #2 the 2i'es #2 e!er6 citi1en. )he dt, h#:e!er, m6 be 3thered
2#r 3in2u' nd use2u' 3#!ernment 0ur0#ses= but the e>istence #2 this !st reser!#ir #2
0ers#n' in2#rmti#n c#nstitutes c#!ert in!itti#n t# misuse, tem0tti#n tht m6
be t## 3ret 2#r s#me #2 #ur uth#rities t# resist.
Further, the AO d#es n#t e!en te''s us in c'er nd une;ui!#c' terms h#: these
in2#rmti#ns 3thered sh'' be hnd'ed. It d#es n#t 0r#!ide :h# sh'' c#ntr#' nd
ccess the dt nd under :ht circumstnces nd 2#r :ht 0ur0#se. )hese 2ct#rs
re essenti' t# s2e3urd the 0ri!c6 nd 3urnt6 the inte3rit6 #2 the in2#rmti#n.
)he c#m0uter 'in/3e 3i!es #ther 3#!ernment 3encies ccess t# the in2#rmti#n.
-E), )8ERE ARE "O *O")ROLS )O 9+ARD A9AI"S) LEABA9E OF I"FORMA)IO"S. C8E"
)8E A**ESS *ODE OF )8E *O")ROL PRO9RAMS OF )8E PAR)I*+LAR *OMP+)ER
S-S)EM IS 7ROBE", A" I")R+DER, CI)8O+) FEAR OF SA"*)IO" OR PE"AL)-, *A"
MABE +SE OF )8E DA)A FOR C8A)EVER P+RPOSE, OR CORSE, MA"IP+LA)E )8E DA)A
S)ORED CI)8I" )8E S-S)EM.
AO "#. $%& is unc#nstituti#n' since it 2''s sh#rt #2 ssurin3 tht 0ers#n' in2#rmti#n
3thered b#ut #ur 0e#0'e :i'' be used #n'6 2#r s0eci2ied 0ur0#ses thereb6 !i#'tin3
the citi1en?s ri3ht t# 0ri!c6.
Ople v. Torres [ GR 127685, 23 July 1998 ]
En Ban, !uno "J# $ 2 onur, 1 onurs %n resul&
'a&s$ On 12 (ee)*er 1996, !res%+en& '%+el ,. Ra)os %ssue+ -+)%n%s&ra&%ve
Or+er 3.8, en&%&le+ /-+op&%on o0 a 1a&%onal 2o)pu&er%3e+ 4+en&%5a&%on
Re0erene 6ys&e)./ 4& 7as pu*l%s8e+ %n 9 ne7spapers o0 :eneral %rula&%on
on 22 an+ 23 January 1997. On 29 January 1997, 6ena&or Blas '. Ople, as a
6ena&or, &a;payer an+ )e)*er o0 &8e Govern)en& 6erv%e 4nsurane 6ys&e)
"G646#, 5le+ %ns&an& pe&%&%on a:a%ns& &8en E;eu&%ve 6ere&ary Ru*en Torres
an+ &8e 8ea+s o0 &8e :overn)en& a:en%es, 78o as )e)*ers o0 &8e 4n&er<
-:eny 2oor+%na&%n: 2o))%&&ee are 8ar:e+ 7%&8 &8e %)ple)en&a&%on o0
-+)%n%s&ra&%ve Or+er 3.8.
4ssue$ =8e&8er &8e !8%l%pp%ne !res%+en& an %ssue an -+)%n%s&ra&%ve Or+er 0or
&8e a+op&%on o0 a 1a&%onal 2o)pu&er%3e+ 4+en&%5a&%on Re0erene 6ys&e),
%n+epen+en& o0 a le:%sla&%ve a&.
>el+$ -+)%n%s&ra&%ve Or+er 3.8 es&a*l%s8es a sys&e) o0 %+en&%5a&%on &8a& %s
all<eno)pass%n: %n sope, a?e&s &8e l%0e an+ l%*er&y o0 every '%l%p%no %&%3en
an+ 0ore%:n res%+en&, an+ )ore par&%ularly, v%ola&es &8e%r r%:8& &o pr%vay.
6u8 a sys&e) re@u%res a +el%a&e a+Aus&)en& o0 var%ous on&en+%n: s&a&e
pol%%es$ &8e pr%)ay o0 na&%onal seur%&y, &8e e;&en& o0 pr%vay %n&eres&
a:a%ns& +oss%er<:a&8er%n: *y :overn)en&, &8e 8o%e o0 pol%%es, e&. -s sa%+
a+)%n%s&ra&%ve or+er re+e5nes &8e para)e&ers o0 so)e *as% r%:8&s o0 our
%&%3enry v%s<a<v%s &8e 6&a&e as 7ell as &8e l%ne &8a& separa&es &8e
a+)%n%s&ra&%ve po7er o0 &8e !res%+en& &o )aBe rules an+ &8e le:%sla&%ve po7er
o0 2on:ress, %& ou:8& &o *e ev%+en& &8a& %& +eals 7%&8 a su*Ae& &8a& s8oul+ *e
overe+ *y la7. T8e Or+er %s a la7, ne:a&%n: la%)s &8a& %& on0ers no r%:8&,
%)poses no +u&y, a?or+s no pro&e&%on, an+ rea&es no oCe. Dn+er %&, a
%&%3en anno& &ransa& *us%ness 7%&8 :overn)en& a:en%es +el%ver%n: *as%
serv%es &o &8e people 7%&8ou& &8e on&e)pla&e+ %+en&%5a&%on ar+. 1o
%&%3en 7%ll re0use &o :e& &8%s %+en&%5a&%on ar+ 0or no one an avo%+ +eal%n:
7%&8 :overn)en&. 4& %s &8us lear &8a& 7%&8ou& &8e 4(, a %&%3en 7%ll 8ave
+%Cul&y e;er%s%n: 8%s r%:8&s an+ enAoy%n: 8%s pr%v%le:es. -+)%n%s&ra&%ve
Or+er 3.8 +oes no& )erely %)ple)en&s &8e -+)%n%s&ra&%ve 2o+e o0 1987, *u&
es&a*l%s8es 0or &8e 5rs& &%)e a 1a&%onal
2o)pu&er%3e+ 4+en&%5a&%on Re0erene 6ys&e). -n a+)%n%s&ra&%ve or+er %s an
or+%nane %ssue+ *y &8e !res%+en& 78%8 rela&es &o spe%5 aspe&s %n &8e
a+)%n%s&ra&%ve opera&%on o0 :overn)en&. 4& )us& *e %n 8ar)ony 7%&8 &8e la7
an+ s8oul+ *e 0or &8e sole purpose o0 %)ple)en&%n: &8e la7 an+ arry%n: ou&
&8e le:%sla&%ve pol%y. T8e au&8or%&y &o presr%*e rules an+ re:ula&%ons %s no&
an %n+epen+en& soure o0 po7er &o )aBe la7s. -O 3.8 7as *eyon+ &8e
po7er o0 &8e !res%+en& &o %ssue.
6agcao vs) 6abra
F$7+0AIn &96* petitioners purchased a lot (&029! on installment basis from the province
of 7ebu) 7onse>uently, the province through the 7ity of 7ebu tried to annul the sale
,hich prompted the petitioner to file civil action in the court of first instance) On Huly 9, &9:6,
the court of first instance ruled that the province e-ecute a deed of sale in favor of the petitioner)
On Hune &&, &992, the 7ourt of $ppeals affirmed the decision of the trial court ,herein this
ruling ,as affirmed by the 7$) $fter the title ,as ac>uired, petitioners discovered that the
property ,as occupied by s>uatters ,hich prompted them to institute e;ectment proceedings) In
this regard, +he Municipal +rial 7ourt in 7ities (M+77!, 8ranch &, 7ebu 7ity, rendered a
decision on $pril &, &99:, ordering the s>uatters to vacate the lot) On appeal, the 5+7 affirmed
the M+77Is decision and issued a ,rit of e-ecution and order of demolition) +he ,rit of
e-ecution and order of demolition ,as suspended for &20 days ,hen 7ebu 7ity $lvin "arcia
,rote a re>uest for the deferment of the e;ection order on the ground that the 7ity ,as still
looing for a relocation site for the s>uatters) /uring the effect of the suspension order, the
Sangguniang Panlungsod
of 7ebu 7ity passed a resolution and an Ordinance on Feb 22, &999 and Hune F0, &999
respectively, ,hich identified lot &029as part of the sociali1ed housing in pursuant of 5$ '2'9)
On Huly &9, 2000, Ordinance (o) &:GF ,as enacted authori1ing the mayor of 7ebu 7ity to
initiate e-propriation proceedings on petitioners< property)
IssueA =hether or not 7ebu 7ity Ordinance (o) &:GF contravenes the 7onstitution and
other applicable la,s
5ulingA
+he enactment of Ordinance &:GF contravenes the 7onstitution and other applicable la,s) First,
Ordinance &:GF contravenes the constitution because condemnation of private lands in an
irrational or piecemeal fashion or the random e-propriation of small lots to accommodate no
more than a fe, tenants or s>uatters is certainly not the condemnation for public use
contemplated by