Disomangcop v.

Datumanong (Tinga, 2004)

1
Facts:
On Aug. 1, 1989, RA 6734 was passed (Organic Act of ARMM). our pro!inces !oted for
inc"usion in ARMM, na#e"$% &anao de" 'ur, Maguindanao, 'u"u and (awi)(awi.
*n accordance wit+ it, ,O 4-6 was issued .$ /res. 0or$ A1uino on Oct. 1-, 1992. (+e sa#e
de!o"!ed to t+e ARMM t+e power of t+e 3/45.
On Ma$ -2, 1999, 3O 119 was issued .$ 3/45 'ec. 6igi"ar. *t created a 3/45 Marawi 'u.)
3istrict ,ngineering Office w+ic+ s+a"" +a!e 7urisdiction o!er a"" nationa" infrastructure pro7ects
and faci"ities under t+e 3/45 wit+in Marawi 0it$ and &anao de" 'ur.
On 8an. 17, -221, RA 8999 w+ic+ created a new ,ngineering 3istrict in t+e first district of
&anao de" 'ur was passed .$ /res. ,strada.
On Marc+ 31, -221, RA 9294 w+ic+ a#ended RA 6734 was passed. (+e pro!ince of :asi"an
and t+e 0it$ of Marawi !oted to 7oin ARMM t+roug+ said "aw.
/etitioners 3iso#angcop and 3i#a"otang in t+eir capacit$ as O*0 and ,nginer ** respecti!e"$
of t+e irst ,ngineering 3istrict of 3/45)ARMM in &anao de" 'ur fi"ed a petition 1uestioning
t+e constitutiona"it$ and !a"idit$ of 3O 119 and RA 8999 on t+e ground t+at t+e$ contra!ene
t+e constitution and t+e organic acts of t+e ARMM.
Issue: WON DO 119 an !" #999 a$e %ot& inva'i an constitutiona''( in)i$m.
*e' an !atio:
On !" #999
RA 8999 ne!er .eca#e operati!e and was superseded or repea"ed .$ a RA 9294. :$ creating
an office wit+ pre!ious"$ de!o"!ed functions, RA 8999, in essence soug+t to a#end RA 6274,
w+ic+ is an organic act w+ic+ en7o$s affir#ation t+roug+ a p"e.iscite. 5ence, t+e pro!isions
t+ereof cannot .e a#ended .$ an ordinar$ statute suc+ as RA 8999. (+e a#endator$ "aw needs
to .e su.#itted a"so to a p"e.iscite w+ic+ is "ac;ing in t+e case of RA 8999. RA 6734 de!o"!ed
t+e functions of t+e 3/45 to ARMM w+ic+ inc"udes &anao de" 'ur.
Moreo!er, RA 8999 is patent"$ inconsistent wit+ RA 9294 w+ic+ is a "ater "aw. RA 9294, w+ic+
is anc+ored on t+e 1987 0onstitution ad!ances t+e constitutiona" grant of autono#$ .$ detai"ing
t+e powers of t+e ARMM w+ic+ co!ers a#ong ot+ers &anao de" 'ur. 5owe!er, RA 8999
!entures to reesta."is+t +e <ationa" =o!ern#ent>s 7urisdiction o!er t+e infrastructure progra#s
in &anao de" 'ur. RA 8999 is patent"$ inconsistent wit+ RA 9294, and it destro$s t+e "atter "aw>s
o.7ecti!e of de!o"ution of t+e functions of 3/45 in "ine wit+ t+e po"ic$ of t+e 0onstitution to
grant &=?s #eaningfu" and aut+entic regiona" autono#$.
On DO 119
+ 3O 119 creating t+e Marawi 'u.)3istrict ,ngineering Office w+ic+ +as 7urisdiction o!er
infrastructure pro7ects wit+in Marawi 0it$ and &anao de" 'ur is !io"ati!e of t+e pro!isions of ,O 4-6
w+ic+ i#p"e#ents t+e transfer of contro" and super!ision of t+e 3/45 to t+e ARMM in "ine wit+ RA
6734. (+e office created under 3O 119 +a!ing essentia""$ t+e sa#e powers wit+ t+e 3istrict
,ngineering Office of &anao de" 'ur as created under ,O 4-6, is a dup"ication. (+e 3O in effect ta;es
.ac; powers w+ic+ +a!e .een pre!iou"s$ de!o"!ed under ,O 4-6. RA 9294 +owe!er +as repea"ed 3O
1 Ange"ica /ag"icawan
119 .ecause t+e for#er see;s to transfer contro" and super!ision of 3/45 offices to ARMM.