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Miranda V Aguirre

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Synopsis/Syllabi

EN BANC

[G.R. No. 133064. September 16, 1999]

JOSE C. MIRANDA, ALFREDO S. DIRIGE, MANUEL H. AFIADO,


MARIANO V. BABARAN and ANDRES R. CABUYADAO, petitioners,
vs. HON. ALEXANDER AGUIRRE, In his capacity as Executive
Secretary; HON. EPIMACO VELASCO, in his capacity as Secretary of
Local Government, HON. SALVADOR ENRIQUEZ, in his capacity as
Secretary of Budget, THE COMMISSION ON AUDIT THE
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS HON. BENJAMIN G. DY, in his
capacity as Governor of Isabela, THE HONORABLE SANGGUNIANG
PANLALAWIGAN OF ISABELA, ATTY. BALTAZAR PICIO, in his
capacity as Provincial Administrator, and MR. ANTONIO CHUA, in his
capacity as Provincial Treasurer, respondents,
GIORGIDI B. AGGABAO, intervenor.

DECISION
PUNO, J.:

This is a petition for a writ of prohibition with prayer for preliminary injunction assailing the
constitutionality of Republic Act No. 8528 converting the city of Santiago, Isabela from an
independent component city to a component city.
On May 5, 1994, Republic Act No. 7720 which converted the municipality of Santiago,
Isabela into an independent component city was signed into law. On July 4, 1994, the people of
Santiago ratified R.A. No. 7720 in a plebiscite.1
On February 14, 1998, Republic Act No. 8528 was enacted. It amended R.A. No.
7720. Among others, it changed the status of Santiago from an independent component city to a
component city, viz:
AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NUMBERED 7720 AN ACT
CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF SANTIAGO INTO AN INDEPENDENT COMPONENT
CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF SANTIAGO.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 2 of Republic Act No. 7720 is hereby amended by deleting the words
an independent thereon so that said Section will read as follows:
SEC. 2. The City of Santiago. The Municipality of Santiago shall be converted into a
component city to be known as the City of Santiago, hereinafter referred to as the City, which
shall comprise of the present territory of the Municipality of Santiago, Isabela. The territorial
jurisdiction of the City shall be within the present metes and bounds of the Municipality of
Santiago.
Sec. 2. Section 51 of Republic Act No. 7720 is hereby amended deleting the entire section and in its
stead substitute the following:
SEC. 51. Election of Provincial Governor, Vice-Governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan
Members, and any Elective Provincial Position for the Province of Isabela.- The voters of the
City of Santiago shall be qualified to vote in the elections of the Provincial Governor, Vice-
Governor, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members and other elective provincial positions of the
Province of Isabela, and any such qualified voter can be a candidate for such provincial positions
and any elective provincial office.
Sec. 3. Repealing Clause.- All existing laws or parts thereof inconsistent with the provisions of this
Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
Sec. 4. Effectivity.- This Act shall take effect upon its approval.
Approved.
Petitioners assail the constitutionality of R.A. No. 8528.2 They alleged as ground the lack of
provision in R.A. No. 8528 submitting the law for ratification by the people of Santiago City in a
proper plebiscite.Petitioner Miranda was the mayor of Santiago at the time of the filing of the
petition at bar. Petitioner Afiado is the President of the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Santiago
City. Petitioners Dirige, Cabuyadao and Babaran are residents of Santiago City.
In their Comment, respondent provincial officials of Isabela defended the constitutionality of
R.A. No. 8528. They assailed the standing of petitioners to file the petition at bar. They also
contend that the petition raises a political question over which this Court lacks jurisdiction.
Another Comment was filed by the Solicitor General for the respondent public officials. The
Solicitor General also contends that petitioners are not real parties in interest. More importantly, it
is contended that R.A. No. 8528 merely reclassified Santiago City from an independent
component city to a component city. It allegedly did not involve any creation, division, merger,
abolition, or substantial alteration of boundaries of local government units, hence, a plebiscite of
the people of Santiago is unnecessary.
A third Comment similar in tone was submitted by intervenor Giorgidi B. Aggabao, 3 a
member of the provincial board of Isabela.4 He contended that both the Constitution and the Local
Government Code of 1991 do not require a plebiscite to approve a law that merely allowed
qualified voters of a city to vote in provincial elections. The rules implementing the Local
Government Code cannot require a plebiscite. He also urged that petitioners lacked locus standi.
Petitioners filed a Reply to meet the arguments of the respondents and the intervenor. They
defended their standing. They also stressed the changes that would visit the city of Santiago as a
result of its reclassification.
We find merit in the petition.
First. The challenge to the locus standi of petitioners cannot succeed. It is now an ancient rule
that the constitutionality of law can be challenged by one who will sustain a direct injury as a result
of its enforcement.5Petitioner Miranda was the mayor of Santiago City when he filed the present
petition in his own right as mayor and not on behalf of the city, hence, he did not need the consent
of the city council of Santiago City. It is also indubitable that the change of status of the city of
Santiago from independent component city to a mere component city will affect his powers as
mayor, as will be shown hereafter. The injury that he would sustain from the enforcement of R.A.
No. 8528 is direct and immediate and not a mere generalized grievance shared with the people of
Santiago City. Similarly, the standing of the other petitioners rests on a firm foundation. They are
residents and voters in the city of Santiago. They have the right to be heard in the conversion of
their city thru a plebiscite to be conducted by the COMELEC. The denial of this right in R.A. No.
8528 gives them proper standing to strike the law as unconstitutional.
Second. The plea that this court back off from assuming jurisdiction over the petition at bar
on the ground that it involves a political question has to be brushed aside. This plea has long lost
its appeal especially in light of Section 1 of Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution which defines
judicial power as including the duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving
rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has
been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any
branch or instrumentality of the government. To be sure, the cut between a political and justiciable
issue has been made by this Court in many cases and need no longer mystify us. In Taada v.
Cuenco,6 we held:
xxx
The term political question connotes what it means in ordinary parlance, namely, a question of
policy. It refers to those questions which under the Constitution are to be decided by the people in their
sovereign capacity; or in regard to which full discretionary authority has been delegated to the legislative
or executive branch of the government. It is concerned with issues dependent upon the wisdom, not legality,
of a particular measure.
In Casibang v. Aquino,7 we defined a justiciable issue as follows:
A purely justiciable issue implies a given right, legally demandable and enforceable, an act or omission
violative of such right, and a remedy granted and sanctioned by law, for said breach of right.
Clearly, the petition at bar presents a justiciable issue. Petitioners claim that under Section 10,
Article X of the 1987 Constitution they have a right to approve or disapprove R.A. No. 8528 in a
plebiscite before it can be enforced. It ought to be self-evident that whether or not petitioners have
the said right is a legal not a political question. For whether or not laws passed by Congress comply
with the requirements of the Constitution pose questions that this Court alone can decide. The
proposition that this Court is the ultimate arbiter of the meaning and nuances of the Constitution
need not be the subject of a prolix explanation.
Third. The threshold issue is whether R.A. No. 8528 is unconstitutional for its failure to
provide that the conversion of the city of Santiago from an independent component city to a
component city should be submitted to its people in a proper plebiscite. We hold that the
Constitution requires a plebiscite. Section 10, Article X of the 1987 Constitution provides:
No province, city, municipality, or barangay may be created, or divided, merged, abolished, or its
boundary substantially altered except in accordance with the criteria established in the local government
code and subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly
affected.
This constitutional requirement is reiterated in Section 10, Chapter 2 of the Local Government
Code (R.A. No. 7160), thus:
Sec. 10. No province, city, municipality, or barangay may be created, divided, merged, abolished, or
its boundary substantially altered except in accordance with the criteria established in the local government
code and subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly
affected.
The power to create, divide, merge, abolish or substantially alter boundaries of local
government units belongs to Congress.8 This power is part of the larger power to enact laws which
the Constitution vested in Congress.9 The exercise of the power must be in accord with the mandate
of the Constitution. In the case at bar, the issue is whether the downgrading of Santiago City from
an independent component city to a mere component city requires the approval of the people of
Santiago City in a plebiscite. The resolution of the issue depends on whether or not the
downgrading falls within the meaning of creation, division, merger, abolition or substantial
alteration of boundaries of municipalities per Section 10, Article X of the Constitution. A close
analysis of the said constitutional provision will reveal that the creation, division, merger, abolition
or substantial alteration of boundaries of local government units involve a common
denominator - - - material change in the political and economic rights of the local government
units directly affected as well as the people therein. It is precisely for this reason that the
Constitution requires the approval of the people in the political units directly affected. It is not
difficult to appreciate the rationale of this constitutional requirement. The 1987 Constitution, more
than any of our previous Constitutions, gave more reality to the sovereignty of our people for it
was borne out of the people power in the 1986 EDSA revolution. Its Section 10, Article X
addressed the undesirable practice in the past whereby local government units were created,
abolished, merged or divided on the basis of the vagaries of politics and not of the welfare of the
people. Thus, the consent of the people of the local government unit directly affected was required
to serve as a checking mechanism to any exercise of legislative power creating, dividing,
abolishing, merging or altering the boundaries of local government units. It is one instance where
the people in their sovereign capacity decide on a matter that affects them - - - direct democracy
of the people as opposed to democracy thru peoples representatives. This plebiscite requirement is
also in accord with the philosophy of the Constitution granting more autonomy to local
government units.
The changes that will result from the downgrading of the city of Santiago from an independent
component city to a component city are many and cannot be characterized as insubstantial. For
one, the independence of the city as a political unit will be diminished. The city mayor will be
placed under the administrative supervision of the provincial governor. The resolutions and
ordinances of the city council of Santiago will have to be reviewed by the Provincial Board of
Isabela. Taxes that will be collected by the city will now have to be shared with the
province. Petitioners pointed out these far reaching changes on the life of the people of the city of
Santiago, viz:10
Although RESPONDENTS would like to make it appear that R.A. No. 8528 had merely re-
classified Santiago City from an independent component city into a component city, the effect when
challenged (sic) the Act were operational would be, actually, that of conversion. Consequently, there would
be substantial changes in the political culture and administrative responsibilities of Santiago City, and the
Province of Isabela. Santiago City from an independent component city will revert to the Province of
Isabela, geographically, politically and administratively. Thus, the territorial land area of Santiago City will
be added to the land area comprising the province of Isabela. This will be to the benefit or advantage of the
Provincial Government of Isabela on account of the subsequent increase of its share from the internal
revenue allotment (IRA) from the National Government (Section 285, R.A. No. 7160 or the Local
Government Code of 1991). The IRA is based on land area and population of local government units,
provinces included.
The nature or kinds, and magnitude of the taxes collected by the City Government, and which taxes
shall accrue solely to the City Government, will be redefined (Section 151, R.A. No. 7160), and may be
shared with the province such as taxes on sand, gravel and other quarry resources (Section 138, R.A. No.
7160), professional taxes (Section 139, R.A. No. 7160), or amusement taxes (Section 140, R.A. No.
7160). The Provincial Government will allocate operating funds for the City. Inarguably, there would be a
(sic) diminished funds for the local operations of the City Government because of reduced shares of the
IRA in accordance with the schedule set forth by Section 285 of the R.A. No. 7160. The City Governments
share in the proceeds in the development and utilization of national wealth shall be diluted since certain
portions shall accrue to the Provincial Government (Section 292, R.A. No.7160).
The registered voters of Santiago City will vote for and can be voted as provincial officials (Section
451 and 452 [c], R.A. No. 7160).
The City Mayor will now be under the administrative supervision of the Provincial Governor who is
tasked by law to ensure that every component city and municipality within the territorial jurisdiction of the
province acts within the scope of its prescribed powers and functions (Section 29 and 465 (b) (2) (i), R.A.
No. 7160), and to review (Section 30, R.A. No. 7160) all executive orders submitted by the former (Section
455 (b) (1) (xii), R.A. No. 7160) and (R)eportorial requirements with respect to the local governance and
state of affairs of the city (Section 455 (b) (1) (xx), R.A. No. 7160). Elective city officials will also be
effectively under the control of the Provincial Governor (Section 63, R.A. No. 7160).Such will be the great
change in the state of the political autonomy of what is now Santiago City where by virtue of R.A. No.
7720, it is the Office of the President which has supervisory authority over it as an independent component
city (Section 25, R.A. No. 7160; Section 4 (ARTICLE X), 1987 Constitution).
The resolutions and ordinances adopted and approved by the Sangguniang Panlungsod will be subject
to the review of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Sections 56, 468 (a) (1) (i), 468 (a) (2) (vii), and 469 (c)
(4), R.A. No. 7160).Likewise, the decisions in administrative cases by the former could be appealed and
acted upon by the latter (Section 67, R.A. No. 7160).
It is markworthy that when R.A. No. 7720 upgraded the status of Santiago City from a
municipality to an independent component city, it required the approval of its people thru a
plebiscite called for the purpose. There is neither rhyme nor reason why this plebiscite should not
be called to determine the will of the people of Santiago City when R.A. No. 8528 downgrades the
status of their city. Indeed, there is more reason to consult the people when a law substantially
diminishes their right. Rule II, Article 6, paragraph (f) (1) of the Implementing Rules and
Regulations of the Local Government Code is in accord with the Constitution when it provides
that:
(f) Plebiscite - (1) no creation, conversion, division, merger, abolition, or substantial alteration of
boundaries of LGUS shall take effect unless approved by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite called
for the purpose in the LGU or LGUs affected. The plebiscite shall be conducted by the Commission on
Elections (COMELEC) within one hundred twenty (120) days from the effectivity of the law or ordinance
prescribing such action, unless said law or ordinance fixes another date.
x x x.
The rules cover all conversions, whether upward or downward in character, so long as they
result in a material change in the local government unit directly affected, especially a change in
the political and economic rights of its people.
A word on the dissenting opinions of our esteemed brethren. Mr. Justice Buena justifies R.A.
No. 8528 on the ground that Congress has the power to amend the charter of Santiago City. This
power of amendment, however, is limited by Section 10, Article X of the Constitution. Quite
clearly, when an amendment of a law involves the creation, merger, division, abolition or
substantial alteration of boundaries of local government units, a plebiscite in the political units
directly affected is mandatory. He also contends that the amendment merely caused a transition in
the status of Santiago as a city. Allegedly, it is a transition because no new city was created nor
was a former city dissolved by R.A. No. 8528. As discussed above, the spirit of Section 10, Article
X of the Constitution calls for the people of the local government unit directly affected to vote in
a plebiscite whenever there is a material change in their rights and responsibilities. They may call
the downgrading of Santiago to a component city as a mere transition but they cannot blink away
from the fact that the transition will radically change its physical and political configuration as
well as the rights and responsibilities of its people.
On the other hand, our esteemed colleague, Mr. Justice Mendoza, posits the theory that
"only if the classification involves changes in income, population, and land area of the local
government unit is there a need for such changes to be approved by the people x x x."
With due respect, such an interpretation runs against the letter and spirit of section 10, Article
X of the 1987 Constitution which, to repeat, states: "No province, city, municipality, or barangay
may be created, divided, merged, abolished, or its boundary substantially altered except in
accordance with the criteria established in the Local Government Code and subject to approval by
a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected." It is clear that the
Constitution imposes two conditions - - - first, the creation, division, merger, abolition or
substantial alteration of boundary of a local government unit must meet the criteria fixed by the
Local Government Code on income, population and land area and second, the law must be
approved by the people "by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly
affected."
In accord with the Constitution, sections 7, 8, and 9 of the Local Government Code fixed the
said criteria and they involve requirements on income, population and land area. These
requirements, however, are imposed to help assure the economic viability of the local
government unit concerned. They were not imposed to determine the necessity for a
plebiscite of the people. Indeed, the Local Government Code does not state that there will be no
more plebiscite after its requirements on income, population and land area have been satisfied. On
the contrary, section 10, Chapter 2 of the Code provides: "No creation, division, merger, abolition,
or substantial alteration of boundaries of local government units shall take effect unless approved
by a majority of the votes casts in a plebiscite called for the purpose in the political unit or units
directly affected.Said plebiscite shall be conducted by the COMELEC within one hundred twenty
(120) days from the date of the effectivity of the law or ordinance effecting such action, unless
said law or ordinance fixes another date."11Senator Aquilino Pimentel, the principal author of
the Local Government Code of 1991, opines that the plebiscite is absolute and mandatory.12
It cannot be overstressed that the said two requirements of the Constitution have different
purposes. The criteria fixed by the Local Government Code on income, population and land area
are designed to achieve an economic purpose. They are to be based on verified indicators, hence,
section 7, Chapter 2 of the Local Government Code requires that these "indicators shall be attested
by the Department of Finance, the National Statistics Office, and the Lands Management Bureau
of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources." In contrast, the people's plebiscite is
required to achieve a political purpose --- to use the people's voice as a check against the
pernicious political practice of gerrymandering. There is no better check against this excess
committed by the political representatives of the people themselves than the exercise of direct
people power. As well-observed by one commentator, as the creation, division, merger, abolition,
or substantial alteration of boundaries are "xxx basic to local government, it is also imperative that
these acts be done not only by Congress but also be approved by the inhabitants of the locality
concerned. xxx By giving the inhabitants a hand in their approval, the provision will also eliminate
the old practice of gerrymandering and minimize legislative action designed for the benefit of a
few politicians. Hence, it promotes the autonomy of local government units."13
The records show that the downgrading of Santiago City was opposed by certain segments of
its people. In the debates in Congress, it was noted that at the time R.A. No. 8528 was proposed,
Santiago City has been converted to an independent component city barely two and a half (2 1/2)
years ago and the conversion was approved by a majority of 14,000 votes. Some legislators
expressed surprise for the sudden move to downgrade the status of Santiago City as there had been
no significant change in its socio-economic-political status. The only reason given for the
downgrading is to enable the people of the city to aspire for the leadership of the province. To say
the least, the alleged reason is unconvincing for it is the essence of an independent component
city that its people can no longer participate or be voted for in the election of officials of the
province. The people of Santiago City were aware that they gave up that privilege when they
voted to be independent from the province of Isabela. There was an attempt on the part of the
Committee on Local Government to submit the downgrading of Santiago City to its people via a
plebiscite. The amendment to this effect was about to be voted upon when a recess was
called. After the recess, the chairman of the Committee anounced the withdrawal of the
amendment "after a very enlightening conversation with the elders of the Body." We quote the
debates, viz:14
"BILL ON SECOND READING
H.B. No. 8729 - City of Santiago
"Senator Tatad. Mr. President, I move that we consider House Bill No. 8729 as reported out under
Committee Report No. 971.
"The President. Is there any objection? [Silence] there being none, the motion is approved.
"Consideration of House Bill No. 8729 is now in order. With the permission of the Body, the Secretary
will read only the title of the bill without prejudice to inserting in the Record the whole text thereof.
"The Acting Secretary [Atty. Raval]. House Bill No. 8729, entitled
AN ACT AMENDING CERTAIN SECTIONS OF R.A. NO. 7720 ENTITLED "AN ACT
CONVERTING THE MUNICIPALITY OF SANTIAGO INTO AN INDEPENDENT
COMPONENT CITY TO BE KNOWN AS THE CITY OF SANTIAGO
_______________________________________________________
The following is the full text of H.B. No. 8729
Insert
_______________________________________________________
"Senator Tatad. Mr. President, for the sponsorship, I ask that the distinguished Chairman of the
Committee on Local Government be recognized.
"The President. Senator Sotto is recognized.
SPONSORSHIP SPEECH OF SENATOR SOTTO
"Mr. President. House Bill No. 8729, which was introduced in the House by Congressman Antonio M.
Abaya as its principal author, is a simple measure which merely seeks to convert the City of
Santiago into a component city of the Province of Isabela.
"The City of Santiago is geographically located within, and is physically an integral part of the Province
of Isabela. As an independent component city, however, it is completely detached and separate
from the said province as a local political unit. To use the language of the Explanatory Note of the
proposed bill, the City of Santiago is an island in the provincial milieu.
"The residents of the city no longer participate in the elections, nor are they qualified to run for any
elective positions in the Province of Isabela.
"The Province of Isabela, on the other hand, is no longer vested with the power and authority of general
supervision over the city and its officials, which power and authority are now exercised by the
Office of the President, which is very far away from Santiago City.
Being geographically located within the Province of Isabela, the City of Santiago is affected, one way
or the other, by the happenings in the said province, and is benefited by its progress and
development. Hence, the proposed bill to convert the City of Santiago into a component city of
Isabela.
"Mr. President, it is my pleasure, therefore, to present for consideration of this august Body Committee
Report No. 971 of the Committee on Local Government , recommending approval, with our
proposed committee amendment, of House Bill No. 8729.
"Thank you, Mr. President.
"The President. The Majority Leader is recognized.
"Senator Tatad. Mr. President, I moved (sic) that we close the period of interpellations.
"The President. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, the period of interpellations is
closed.
"Senator Tatad. I move that we now consider the committee amendments.
"Senator Roco. Mr. President.
"The President. What is the pleasure of Senator Roco?
"Senator Roco. Mr. President, may I ask for a reconsideration of the ruling on the motion to close the
period of interpellations just to be able to ask a few questions?
"Senator Tatad. May I move for a reconsideration of my motion, Mr. President.
"The President. Is there any objection to the reconsideration of the closing of the period of
interpellations? [Silence] There being none, the motion is approved.
"Senator Roco is recognized.
"Senator Roco. Will the distinguished gentleman yield for some questions?
"Senator Sotto. Willingly, Mr. President.
"Senator Roco. Mr. President, together with the Chairman of the Committee on Local
Government, we were with the sponsors when we approved this bill to make Santiago a
City. That was about two and a half years ago. At that time, I remember it was the cry of the
city that it be independent. Now we are deleting that word independent.
"Mr. President, only because I was a co-author and a co-sponsor, for the Record, I want some
explanation on what happened between then and now that has made us decide that the City
of Santiago should cease to be independent and should now become a component city.
"Senator Sotto. Mr. President, the officials of the province said during the public hearing that they are
no longer vested with the power and authority of general supervision over the city. The power and
authority is now being exercised by the Office of the President and it is quite far from the City of
Santiago.
"In the public hearing, we also gathered that there is a clamor from some sectors that they want to
participate in the provincial elections.
"Senator Roco. Mr. President, I did not mean to delay this. I did want it on record, however. I think
there was a majority of 14,000 who approved the charter, and maybe we owe it to those who voted
for that charter some degree of respect.But if there has been a change of political will, there has
been a change of political will, then so be it.
"Thank you, Mr. President.
"Senator Sotto. Mr. President, to be very frank about it, that was a very important point raised by
Senator Roco, and I will have to place it on the Record of the Senate that the reason why we are
proposing a committee amendment is that, originally, there was an objection on the part of the local
officials and those who oppose it by incorporating a plebiscite in this bill. That was the
solution. Because there were some sectors in the City of Santiago who were opposing the
reclassification or reconversion of the city into a component city.
"Senator Roco. All I wanted to say, Mr. President -- because the two of us had special pictures (sic) in
the city -- is that I thought it should be put on record that we have supported originally the proposal
to make it an independent city. But now if it is their request, then, on the manifestation of the
Chairman, let it be so.
"Thank you.
"Senator Drilon. Mr. President.
"Senator Drilon. Will the gentleman yield for a few questions, Mr. President?
"Senator Sotto. Yes, Mr. President.
"Senator Drilon. Mr. President, further to the interpellation of our good friend, the Senator from
Bicol, on the matter of the opinion of the citizens of Santiago City, there is a resolution passed
by the Sanggunian on January 30, 1997 opposing the conversion of Santiago from an
independent city.
"This opposition was placed on records during the committee hearings. And that is the reason
why, as mentioned by the good sponsor, one of the amendments is that a plebiscite be
conducted before the law takes effect.
"The question I would like to raise-- and I would like to recall the statement of our Minority
Leader -- is that, at this time we should not be passing it for a particular politician.
"In this particular case, it is obvious that this bill is being passed in order that the additional
territory be added to the election of the provincial officials of the province of Isabela.
"Now, is this for the benefit of any particular politician, Mr. President.
"Senator Sotto. If it is, I am not aware of it, Mr. President.
"Senator Alvarez. Mr. President.
"The President. With the permission of the two gentlemen on the Floor, Senator Alvarez is recognized.
"Senator Alvarez. As a born inbred citizen of this city, Mr. President, may I share some information.
"Mr. President, if we open up the election of the city to the provincial leadership, it will not be to the
benefit of the provincial leadership, because the provincial leadership will then campaign in a
bigger territory.
"As a matter of fact, the ones who will benefit from this are the citizens of Santiago who will now be
enfranchised in the provincial electoral process, and whose children will have the opportunity to
grow into provincial leadership. This is one of the prime reasons why this amendment is being put
forward.
"While it is true that there may have been a resolution by the city council, those who signed the resolution
were not the whole of the council. This bill was sponsored by the congressman of that district who
represents a constituency, the voice of the district.
"I think, Mr. President, in considering which interest is paramount, whose voice must be heard, and if
we have to fathom the interest of the people, the law which has been crafted here in accordance
with the rules should be given account, as we do give account to many of the legislations coming
from the House on local issues.
"Senator Drilon. Mr. President, the reason why I am raising this question is that, as Senator Roco
said, just two-and-a-half years ago we passed a bill which indeed disenfranchized--if we want
to use that phrase-- the citizens of the City of Santiago in the matter of the provincial
election. Two-and-a-half years after, we are changing the rule.
"In the original charter, the citizens of the City of Santiago participated in a plebiscite in order to
approve the conversion of the city into an independent city. I believe that the only way to
resolve this issue raised by Senator Roco is again to subject this issue to another plebiscite as
part of the provision of this proposed bill and as will be proposed by the Committee Chairman
as an amendment.
"Thank you very much, Mr. President.
"Senator Alvarez. Mr. President, the Constitution does not require that the change from an independent
to a component city be subjected to a plebiscite.
Sections 10, 11, 12 of Article X of the 1987 Constitution provides as follows:
Sec. 10. No province, city, municipality, or barangay may be created, divided, merged, abolished,
or its boundary substantially altered, except in accordance with the criteria established in the local
government code and subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the
political units directly affected.
This change from an independent city into a component city is none of those enumerated. So the
proposal coming from the House is in adherence to this constitutional mandate which does not
require a plebiscite.
Senator Sotto. Mr. President, the key word here is conversion. The word conversion appears in that
provision wherein we must call a plebiscite. During the public hearing, the representative of
Congressman Abaya was insisting that this is not a conversion; this is merely a reclassification. But
it is clear in the bill.
We are amending a bill that converts, and we are converting it into a component city. That is how
the members of the committee felt. That is why we have proposed an amendment to this, and
this is to incorporate a plebiscite in as much as there is no provision on incorporating a
plebiscite. Because we would like not only to give the other people of Santiago a chance or be
enfranchised as far as the leadership of the province is concerned, but also we will give a
chance to those who are opposing it. To them, this is the best compromise. Let the people
decide, instead of the political leaders of Isabela deciding for them.
"Senator Tatad. Mr. President.
"The President. The Majority Leader is recognized.
"Senator Tatad. At this point, Mr. President, I think we can move to close the period of interpellations.
"The President. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, the motion is approved.
"Senator Tatad. I move that we now consider the committee amendments, Mr. President.
"The President. Is there any objection? Silence] There being none, the motion is approved.
"Senator Sotto. On page 2, after line 13, insert a new Section 3, as follows:
"SEC. 3. SECTION 49 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7720 IS HEREBY AMENDED BY DELETING
THE ENTIRE SECTION AND IN ITS STEAD SUBSTITUTE THE FOLLOWING:
"SEC. 49. PLEBISCITE. - THE CONVERSION OF THE CITY OF SANTIAGO INTO A
COMPONENT CITY OF THE PROVINCE OF ISABELA SHALL TAKE EFFECT UPON THE
RATIFICATION OF THIS ACT BY A MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF SAID CITY IN A
PLEBISCITE WHICH SHALL BE HELD FOR THE PURPOSE WITHIN SIXTY (60) DAYS FROM
THE APPROVAL OF THIS ACT. THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS SHALL CONDUCT AND
SUPERVISE SUCH PLEBISCITE.
"The President. Is there any objection?
"Senator Enrile. Mr. President.
"The President. Senator Enrile is recognized.
"Senator Enrile. I object to this committee amendment, Mr. President.
"SUSPENSION OF SESSION
"Senator Tatad. May I ask for a one-minute suspension of the session.
"The President. The session is suspended for a few minutes if there is no objection. [There was none]
"It was 7:54 p.m.
"RESUMPTION OF SESSION
"At 7:57 p.m., the session was resumed.
"The President. The session is resumed.
"Senator Sotto is recognized.
"Senator Sotto. Mr. President, after a very enlightening conversation with the elders of the Body, I
withdraw my amendment.
"The President. The amendment is withdrawn.
"Senator Maceda. Mr. President.
"The President. Senator Maceda is recognized.
"Senator Maceda. We wish to thank the sponsor for the withdrawal of the amendment.
"Mr. President, with due respect to the Senator from Isabela -- I am no great fan of the Senator
from Isabela -- but it so happens that this is a local bill affecting not only his province but his
own city where he is a resident and registered voter.
"So, unless the issue is really a matter of life and death and of national importance, senatorial courtesy
demands that we, as much as possible, accommodate the request of the Senator from Isabela as we
have done on matters affecting the district of other senators. I need not remind them.
"Thank you anyway, Mr. President.
"Senator Alvarez. Mr. President.
"The President. Senator Alvarez is recognized.
"Senator Alvarez. Mr. President, may I express my deepest appreciation for the statement of the
gentleman from Ilocos and Laguna. Whatever he may have said, the feeling is not mutual. At least
for now, I have suddenly become his great fan for the evening.
"May I put on record, Mr. President, that I campaigned against the cityhood of Santiago not because I
do not want it to be a city but because it had disenfranchised the young men of my city from aspiring
for the leadership of the province.The town is the gem of the province. How could we extricate the
town from the province?
"But I would like to thank the gentleman, Mr. President, and also the Chairman of the Committee.
"Senator Tatad. Mr. President.
"The President. The Majority Leader is recognized.
"Senator Tatad. There being no committee amendments, I move that the period of committee
amendments be closed.
"The President. Shall we amend the title of this bill by removing the word independent preceding
component city?
"Senator Sotto. No, Mr. President. We are merely citing the title. The main title of this House Bill No.
8729 is An Act Amending Certain Sections of Republic Act 7720. The title is the title of Republic
Act 7720. So, I do not think that we should amend that anymore.
"The President. What is the pending motion? Will the gentleman kindly state the motion?
"Senator Tatad. I move that we close the period of committee amendments.
"The President. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, the motion is approved.
"Senator Tatad. Unless there are any individual amendments, I move that we close the period of
individual amendments.
"The President. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, the period of individual
amendments is closed.
"APPROVAL OF H.B. NO. 8729 ON SECOND READING
"Senator Tatad. Mr. President, I move that we vote on Second Reading on House Bill No. 8729.
"The President. Is there any objection? [Silence] There being none, we shall now vote on Second
Reading on House Bill No. 8729.
"As many as are in favor of the bill, say aye.
"Several Members. Aye
As many as are against the bill, say nay. [Silence]
"House Bill No. 8729 is approved on Second Reading."
The debates cannot but raise some quizzical eyebrows on the real purpose for the downgrading of
the city of Santiago. There is all the reason to listen to the voice of the people of the city via a
plebiscite.
In the case of Tan, et al. vs. COMELEC,15 BP 885 was enacted partitioning the province of
Negros Occidental without consulting its people in a plebiscite. In his concurring opinion striking
down the law as unconstitutional, Chief Justice Teehankee cited the illicit political purpose
behind its enactment, viz:
"The scenario, as petitioners urgently asserted, was to have the creation of the new Province a fait
accompli by the time elections are held on February 7, 1986. The transparent purpose is unmistakably so
that the new Governor and other officials shall by then have been installed in office, ready to function for
purposes of the election for President and Vice-President. Thus, the petitioners reported after the event:
With indecent haste, the plebiscite was held; Negros del Norte was set up and proclaimed by President
Marcos as in existence; a new set of government officials headed by Governor Armando Gustilo was
appointed; and, by the time the elections were held on February 7, 1986, the political machinery was in
place to deliver the solid North to ex-President Marcos. The rest is history. What happened in Negros del
Norte during the elections - the unashamed use of naked power and resources - contributed in no small way
to arousing peoples powerand steel the ordinary citizen to perform deeds of courage and patriotism that
makes one proud to be a Filipino today.
"The challenged Act is manifestly void and unconstitutional. Consequently, all the implementing acts
complained of, viz. the plebiscite, the proclamation of a new province of Negros del Norte and the
appointment of its officials are equally void. The limited holding of the plebiscite only in the areas of the
proposed new province (as provided by Section 4 of the Act) to the exclusion of the voters of the remaining
areas of the integral province of Negros Occidental (namely, the three cities of Bacolod, Bago and La
Carlota and the Municipalities of Las Castellana, Isabela, Moises Padilla, Pontevedra, Hinigaran,
Himamaylan, Kabankalan, Murcia, Valladolid, San Enrique, Ilog, Cauayan, Hinoba-an and Sipalay and
Candoni), grossly contravenes and disregards the mandate of Article XI, section 3 of the then prevailing
1973 Constitution that no province may be created or divided or its boundary substantially altered without
the approval of a majority of the votes in a plebiscite in the unit or units affected. It is plain that all the cities
and municipalities of the province of Negros Occidental, not merely those of the proposed new province,
comprise the units affected. It follows that the voters of the whole and entire province of Negros Occidental
have to participate and give their approval in the plebiscite, because the whole province is affected by its
proposed division and substantial alteration of its boundary. To limit the plebiscite to only the voters of the
areas to be partitioned and seceded from the province is as absurd and illogical as allowing only the
secessionists to vote for the secession that they demanded against the wishes of the majority and to nullify
the basic principle of majority rule.
Mr. Justice Mendoza and Mr. Justice Buena also cite two instances when
allegedly independent component cities were downgraded into component cities without need
of a plebiscite. They cite the City of Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental,16 and the City of San Carlos,
Pangasinan17 whose charters were amended to allow their people to vote and be voted upon in the
election of officials of the province to which their city belongs without submitting the amendment
to a plebiscite. With due respect, the cities of Oroquieta and San Carlos are not similarly
situated as the city of Santiago. The said two cities then were not independent component
cities unlike the city of Santiago. The two cities were chartered but were not independent
component cities for both were not highly urbanized cities which alone were considered
independent cities at that time. Thus, when the case of San Carlos City was under consideration
by the Senate, Senator Pimentel explained:18
"x x x Senator Pimentel. The bill under consideration, Mr. President, merely empowers the voters of
San Carlos to vote in the elections of provincial officials. There is no intention whatsoever to downgrade
the status of the City of San Carlos and there is no showing whatsoever that the enactment of this bill
will, in any way, diminish the powers and prerogatives already enjoyed by the City of San Carlos. In
fact, the City of San Carlos as of now, is a component city.It is not a highly urbanized city. Therefore,
this bill merely, as we said earlier, grants the voters of the city, the power to vote in provincial
elections, without in any way changing the character of its being a component city. It is for this reason
that I vote in favor of this bill.
It was Senator Pimentel who also sponsored the bill19 allowing qualified voters of the city of
Oroquieta to vote in provincial elections of the province of Misamis Occidental. In his sponsorship
speech, he explained that the right to vote being given to the people of Oroquieta City was
consistent with its status as a component city.20 Indeed, during the debates, former Senator Neptali
Gonzales pointed out the need to remedy the anomalous situation then obtaining xxx where voters
of one component city can vote in the provincial election while the voters of another component
city cannot vote simply because their charters so provide.21 Thus, Congress amended other
charters of component cities prohibiting their people from voting in provincial elections.
IN VIEW WHEREOF, the petition is granted. Republic Act No. 8528 is declared
unconstitutional and the writ of prohibition is hereby issued commanding the respondents to desist
from implementing said law.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., C.J., Bellosillo, Melo, Kapunan, Panganiban, Pardo, Gonzaga-
Reyes, and Ynares-Santiago, JJ., concur.
Vitug, J., see separate opinion.
Mendoza, J., see dissenting opinion.
Quisumbing, and Purisima, JJ., joins J. Mendoza in his dissenting opinion.
Buena, J., see dissenting opinion.
1
See Section 4 of R.A. No. 7720.
2
See Section 10, Article X of the 1987 Constitution.
3
The intervention was granted on June 30, 1998.
4
After R.A. No. 8528 was enacted, COMELEC reallocated the seats for the provincial board in Isabela. It added one
(1) seat to the 4th district where Santiago City belongs. The intervenor won the additional seat in the May 11, 1998
elections.
5
Sanidad vs. COMELEC, 73 SCRA 333 (1976).
6
100 Phil. 1101 (1957).
7
92 SCRA 642 (1979).
8
Mendenilla v. Onandia, 115 Phil. 534 (1962).
9
Section 1, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution.
10
Reply of Petitioners, pp. 7-9.
11
See also Rule II, Article 6, par. F(1) of the Implementing Rules of the Local Government Code.
12
Pimentel, The Local Government Code of 1991, The Key to National Development, p. 36.
13
Hector S. de Leon, Philippine Constitutional Law, Vol. 2, 1991 ed., p. 509.
14
Journal of the Senate, 10th Congress, 3rd Regular Session, Session No. 55, February 3, 1998, pp. 92-100.
15
142 SCRA 727, 753-754 (1986).
16
See R.A. No. 6720 which amended R.A. No. 5518.
17
See R.A. No. 6843 which amended R.A. No. 4487.
18
Record of the Senate, October 20, 1989, p. 795.
19
House Bill No. 1881; Committee Report Nos. 73 and 76 in the Senate.
20
Record of the Senate, November 25, 1988, p. 763.
21
Ibid., p. 764. See Record of the Senate, October 6, 1989, p. 506 where the cases of the cities of Naga and Ormoc
were cited as examples.

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