Equal Protection Clause Digested Cases

8/9/2019 Equal Protection Clause Digested Cases

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Manotok v. Barque | GR 162335 & 162605 | March 6, 2012 | J.Villaraa, Jr.

!"#$%

$he 'urvivin( heir' o) the late *oer Barque, +le a -etition ith the /R"

)or aini'trative recon'titution o) the ori(inal co- o) $#$ o. 2101

i''ue in the nae o) *oer /. Barque, hich a e'troe in the +re

that (utte the ue4on #it *all, incluin( the ce o) the Re(i'ter o)

7ee' o) ue4on #it, 'oetie in 1899. :n 'u--ort o) the -etition,

-etitioner' 'u;itte the oner<' u-licate co- o) $#$ o. 2101, reale'tate ta= recei-t', ta= eclaration' anthe >lan !/% 3169 7 coverin( the

-ro-ert. $he Manotok' +le their o--o'ition to the Barque'< -etition,

claiin( that the lot covere ; the title 'ou(ht to ;e recon'titute ; the

latter )or' -art o) the lan covere ; the )orer<' on recon'titute

title, $#$ o. R$?22@91, an alle(in( that $#$ o. 2101 in the nae o)

*oer /. Barque i' '-uriou'. $he recon'titution a' enie on (roun'

that the to lot' covere ;the Barque'< title a--ear to u-licate the lot

covere ; the Manotok'<on recon'titute titleA an that the Barque'<

-lan, !l'?3169?7, i' a '-uriou' ocuent.n a--eal, the /R" rever'e the

recon'titutin( ocer an orere that recon'titution o) the Barque'< title

;e (iven ue cour'e, ;ut onl a)ter the Manotok'< on title ha' ;eencancelle u-on orer o) a court o) co-etent uri'iction. $he #" orere

the Re(i'ter o) 7ee' to cancel the Manotok'< title. $he latter +le the'e

-etition' to the %#.

:%%CD Eho i' the le(al oner o) the >iea D'tate in ue4on #itF

*D/7 $he national (overnent o) $he Re-u;lic o) the >hili--ine' i' the

le(al oner o) the 'u;ect -ro-ert. $he %u-ree #ourt enie ith

+nalit all the otion' )or recon'ieration +le ; all -artie' in thi' ca'e. "

vali certi+cate o) 'ale i''ue to %everino the ocial ocuente

noinate a' %ale #erti+cateH clearl require ;oth the 'i(nature' o) the

7irector o) /an' ho i''ue 'uch 'ale certi+cate to an a--licant'ettlerIoccu-ant an the %ecretar o) the :nteriorI"(riculture an atural

Re'ource' inicatin( hi' a--roval o) the 'ale. $he'e )or' ha ;een

-re-are an i''ue ; the #hie) o) the Bureau o) >u;lic /an' uner the

'u-ervi'ion o) the %ecretar o) the :nterior, con'i'tent ith "ct o. 1120.

Manotok<' a''i(nor' cannot 'i-l ;e -re'ue )ro the e=ecution o)

a''i(nent ocuent' in hi' )avor. either can it ;e euce )ro

alle(e i''uance o) the hal)?torn $#$, it'el) a ou;t)ul ocuent a

authenticit a' not e'ta;li'he, uch le'' the veracit o) it' re

;ecau'e the nae o) the re(i'tere oner an ate o) i''uance

a--ear at all. o Re(i'ter o) 7ee' ha te'ti+e an atte'te to the

that the ori(inal o) $#$ o. 22913 a 'not uner hi'Iher cu'to, no

'ai certi+cate o) title in the nae o) %everino Manotok e=i'te in the

o) the Re(i'tr o) 7ee' o) #aloocan or ue4on #it. $he clai o

Barque' ho, u't like the Manahan', ere una;le t o-rouce an authan (enuine 'ale certi+cate, u't likei'e )ail. $he 7eci'ion i'cu

e=ten'ivel the +nin(' o) the #" that th eBarque'< ocue

evience ere either '-uriou' or irre(ularl -rocure, hich

;uttre''e the earlier +nin(' entione in the 7ece;er 19,

Re'olution. n the other han, the ;elatel 'u;itte co- o)

#erti+cate o.511 ; the Manahan' a' not aon( tho'e o

ocuent' hich the ce o) the %olicitor General %GK oLer

evience, a' in )ac tno co- thereo) can ;e )oun in the recor' o) e

the 7DR?#R or/MB. Moreover, the 'uen eer(ence o)

unauthenticate ocuent i' 'u'-iciou', con'ierin( that #el4o

te'ti+e, a' itne'' )or ;oth the %G an the Manahan', cate(or

aitte that 'he never actuall 'a the a--lication to -urcha'e

alle(e %ale #erti+cate o. 511 o) the Manahan'.



Garcia v'. J. 7rilon an Garcia, G. R. o. 1826, 25 June 2013-o'te in RD%ER:2 ca'e' ; katco;in(ature o) the #a'e >etition )or Revie o) Re-u;lic "ct R.".K 8262

!act' >rivate re'-onent Ro'alie +le a -etition ;e)ore the R$# o) Bacolo #it a $e-orar >rotection rer a(ain't her hu';an, Je'u',-ur'uant to R.". 8262, entitle "n "ct 7e+nin( Violence "(ain't Eoen an $heir #hilren, >roviin( )or >rotective Mea'ure' )or Victi', >re'cri;in(>enaltie' $here)or, an )or ther >ur-o'e'.H %he claie to ;e a victi o) -h'ical, eotional, -'cholo(ical an econoic violence, ;ein( threateneo) e-rivation o) cu'to o) her chilren an o) +nancial 'u--ort an al'o avicti o) arital in+elit on the -art o) -etitioner.

$he $> a' (rante ;ut the -etitioner )aile to )aith)ull co-l ith theconition' 'et )orth ; the 'ai $>, -rivate?re'-onent +le anothera--lication )or the i''uance o) a $> e= -arte. $he trial court i''ue aoi+e $> an e=tene the 'ae hen -etitioner )aile to coent onh the $> 'houl not ;e oi+e. ")ter the (iven tie alloance toan'er, the -etitioner no lon(er 'u;itte the require coent a' it oul;e an a=erci'e in )utilit.H

>etitioner +le ;e)ore the #" a -etition )or -rohi;ition ith -raer )orinunction an $R on, que'tionin( the con'titutionalit o) the R" 8262 )orviolatin( the ue -roce'' an equal -rotection clau'e', an the valiit o) theoi+e $> )or ;ein( an unante -rouct o) an invali la.H

$he #" i''ue a $R on the en)orceent o) the $> ;ut hoever, enie the

-etition )or )ailure to rai'e the i''ue o) con'titutionalit in hi' -leain(' ;e)orethe trial court an the -etition )or -rohi;ition to annul -rotection orer'i''ue ; the trial court con'titute collateral attack on 'ai la.

>etitioner +le a otion )or recon'ieration ;ut a' enie. $hu', thi'-etition i' +le.

:''ue' E the #" erre in i'i''in( the -etition on the theor thai''ue o) con'titutionalit a' not rai'e at the earlie't o--ortunit anthe -etition con'titute' a collateral attack on the valiit o) the la.

E the #" coitte 'eriou' error in )ailin( to conclue that R" 82i'criinator, unu't an violative o) the equal -rotection clau'e.

E the #" coitte (rave i'take in not +nin( that R" 8262counter to the ue -roce'' clau'e o) the #on'titution

E the #" erre in not +nin( that the la oe' violence to the -olic 'tate to -rotect the )ail a' a ;a'ic 'ocial in'titution

E the #" 'eriou'l errein eclarin( R" 8262 a' invaliuncon'titutional ;ecau'e it allo' an unue ele(ation o) uicial -oBr(. cial'.

7eci'ion 1. >etitioner conten' that the R$# ha' liite authorit uri'iction, inaequate to tackle the co-le= i''ue o) con'titutionalit. !#ourt' have authorit an uri'iction to con'ier the con'titutionalit'tatute. $he que'tion o) con'titutionalit u't ;e rai'e at the ea-o''i;le tie 'o that i) not rai'e in the -leain(', it a not ;e rai'e trial an i) not rai'e in the trial court, it a not ;e con'iere in a--ea

2. R" 8262 oe' not violate the (uarant o) equal -rotection o) the Dqual -rotection 'i-l require' that all -er'on' or thin(' 'iilarl 'it'houl ;e treate alike, ;oth a' to ri(ht' con)erre an re'-on'i;i-o'e. :n Victoriano v. Dli4ale Ro-e Eorkerker'< Cnion, the #ourt ruleall that i' require o) a vali cla''i+cation i' that it ;e rea'ona;le, ean' that the cla''i+cation 'houl ;e ;a'e on 'u;'tantial i'tinhich ake )or real iLerence'A that it u't ;e (erane to the -ur-othe laA not liite to e=i'tin( conition' onlA an a--l equall to e;er o) the cla''. $here)ore, R"8262 i' ;a'e on a vali cla''i+catioi not violate the equal -rotection clau'e ; )avourin( oen over victi' o) violence an a;u'e to ho the %enate e=ten' it' -rotection

3. R" 8262 i' not violative o) the ue -roce'' clau'e o) the #on'titution

e''ence o) ue -roce'' i' in the rea'ona;le o--ortunit to ;e hear'u;it an evience one a have in 'u--ort o) one<' e)en'e. $he (rathe $> e=-arte cannot ;e i-u(ne a' violative o) the ri(ht to ue -roc

@. $he non?re)erral o) a V"E# ca'e to a eiator i' u'ti+e. >etitiocontention that ; not alloin( eiation, the la violate the -olic o%tate to -rotect an 'tren(then the )ail a' a ;a'ic autonoou'



in'titution cannot ;e 'u'taine. :n a eoranu o) the #ourt, it rule thatthe court 'hall not re)er the ca'e or an i''ue thero) to a eiator. $hi' i' 'o;ecau'e violence i' not a 'u;ect )or co-roi'e.

5. $here i' no unue ele(ation o) uicial -oer to Baran(a ocial'. Juicial -oer inclue' the ut o) the court' o) u'tice to 'ettle actualcontrover'ie' involvin( ri(ht' hich are le(all eana;le an en)orcea;lean to eterine hether or not there ha' ;een a (rave a;u'e o) i'cretionaountin( to lack or e=ce'' o) uri'iction on an -art o) an ;ranch o) theGovernent hile e=ecutive -oer i' the -oer to en)orce an aini'ter

the la'. $he -reliinar inve'ti(ation conucte ; the -ro'ecutor i' ane=ecutive, not a uicial, )unction. $he 'ae hol' true ith the i''uance o) B>. "''i'tance ; Br(. cial' an other la en)orceent a(encie' i'con'i'tent ith their ut e=ecutive )unction.

$he -etition )or revie on certiorari i' enie )or lack o) erit.

"$:"/ "R$:%$ !R /:$DR"$CRD V:RG:/: "/M"R: et al., v. $*DDD#C$:VD %D#RD$"RN et al., G.R. o. 198029, Jul 16, 2013

>leain(' an -ractice. :t ha' ;een hel that the reeie' o) -rohi;ition aninunction are -reventive an, a' 'uch, cannot ;e availe o) to re'train an actthat i' alrea )ait acco-li. Ehere the act 'ou(ht to ;e -rohi;ite or

enoine ha' alrea ;een acco-li'he or con'uate, -rohi;ition orinunction ;ecoe' oot.

everthele'', even i) the -rinci-al i''ue i' alrea oot, thi' #ourt a 'tillre'olve it' erit' )or the )uture (uiance o) ;oth ;ench an ;ar. #ourt' illecie a que'tion otheri'e oot an acaeic i) it i' ca-a;le o) re-etition,et evain( revie.H

:t i' an o--ortune tie )or the #ourt to a''ert it' role a' re-u;lican'choola'ter, a teacher in a vital national 'einar. $here are tie' hen thecontrover' i' o) 'uch character that, to -revent it' recurrence an to a''urere'-ect )or con'titutional liitation', thi' #ourt u't -a'' on the erit' o) aca'e.

"ini'trative la. Ee have hel that an aini'trative re(ulation ao-te-ur'uant to la ha' the )orce an eLect o) la. $hu', the rule', (uieline' an-olicie' re(arin( the rer o) ational "rti't' ointl i''ue ; the ##> Boaro) $ru'tee' an the ##" -ur'uant to their re'-ective 'tatutor anate'have the )orce an eLect o) la. Cntil 'et a'ie, the are ;inin( u-one=ecutive an aini'trative a(encie', incluin( the >re'ient hi'el)Iher'el) a' chie) e=ecutor o) la'.

#on'titutional laA Dqual -rotection. $here a' a violation o) the -rotection clau'e o) the #on'titution hen the )orer >re'ient -re)erential treatent to re'-onent' Guiote?"lvare4, #a-ara', MaOo'Moreno. $he )orer >re'ient<' con'titutional ut to )aith)ull e=ecutla' an o;'erve the rule', (uieline' an -olicie' o) the ##" an thea' to the 'election o) the noinee' )or con)erent o) the rer o) at"rti't' -ro'cri;e her )ro havin( a )ree an uninhi;ite han icon)erent o) the 'ai aar. $he ani)e't i're(ar o) the rule', (uian -roce''e' o) the ##" an the ##> a' an ar;itrar act that un

)avore re'-onent' Guiote?"lvare4, #a-ara', MaOo'a an Moreno. con)erent o) the rer o) ational "rti't' on 'ai re'-onent' a' theae ith (rave a;u'e o) i'cretion an 'houl ;e 'et a'ie.

Birao(o v. >hili--ine $ruth #oi''ionG.R. o. 182835 7ece;er , 2010

Meno4a, J.

!act'

>re'ient Beni(ni %ieon "quino ::: 'i(ne D=ecutive re1 e'ta;li'hin( the >hili--ine $ruth #oi''ion o) 2010 #oi''ionK.

$he >hili--ine $ruth #oi''ion >$#K i' a ere a hoc)ore uner the ce o) the >re'ient ith the -riar tainve'ti(ate re-ort' o) (ra)t an corru-tion coitte ; thir?level -ocer' an e-loee', their co?-rinci-al', acco-lice' an acce''urin( the -reviou' aini'tration, an therea)ter to 'u;it it' +n

an recoenation' to the >re'ient, #on(re'' an the ;u' $hou(h it ha' ;een e'cri;e a' an ine-enent colle(ial ;o,He''entiall an entit ithin the ce o) the >re'ient >ro-er an 'uto hi' control.

$o acco-li'h it' ta'k, the >$# 'hall have all the -oer' oinve'ti(ative ;o uner %ection 3, #ha-ter 8, Book : o)



"ini'trative #oe o) 189. :t i' not, hoever, a qua'i?uicial ;o a' itcannot auicate, ar;itrate, re'olve, 'ettle, or rener aar' in i'-ute';eteen contenin( -artie'. "ll it can o i' (ather, collect an a''e''evience o) (ra)t an corru-tion an ake recoenation'. :t a have'u;-oena -oer' ;ut it ha' no -oer to cite -eo-le in conte-t, uchle'' orer their arre't. "lthou(h it i' a )act?+nin( ;o, it cannoteterine )ro 'uch )act' i) -ro;a;le cau'e e=i't' a' to arrant the +lin(o) an in)oration in our court' o) la. eele'' to 'tate, it cannot i-o'ecriinal, civil or aini'trative -enaltie' or 'anction'.

$ruth coi''ion' have ;een e'cri;e a' ;oie' that 'hare the )olloin(characteri'tic' 1K the e=aine onl -a't event'A 2K the inve'ti(ate-attern' o) a;u'e coitte over a -erio o) tie, a' o--o'e to a-articular eventA 3K the are te-orar ;oie' that +ni'h their ork iththe 'u;i''ion o) a re-ort containin( conclu'ion' an recoenation'Aan @K the are ociall 'anctione, authori4e or e-oere ; the%tate. #oi''ion<' e;er' are u'uall e-oere to conuctre'earch, 'u--ort victi', an -ro-o'e -olic recoenation' to-revent recurrence o) crie'. $hrou(h their inve'ti(ation', thecoi''ion' a ai to i'cover an learn ore a;out -a't a;u'e', or)orall acknole(e the. $he a ai to -re-are the a )or-ro'ecution' an recoen in'titutional re)or'. $hu', their ain (oal'

ran(e )ro retri;ution to reconciliation.

:''ueEhether or not D=ecutive rer o. 1 violate' the equal -rotectionclau'e*el

"lthou(h the -ur-o'e o) the $ruth #oi''ion )all' ithin theinve'ti(ative -oer o) the >re'ient, the #ourt +n' icult in u-holin(the con'titutionalit o) D=ecutive rer o. 1 in vie o) it' a--arenttran'(re''ion o) the equal -rotection clau'e en'hrine in %ection 1, "rticle::: Bill o) Ri(ht'K o) the 189 #on'titution.

Dqual -rotection 'i-l require' that all -er'on' or thin('

'iilarl 'ituate 'houl ;e treate alike, ;oth a' to ri(ht' con)erre anre'-on'i;ilitie' i-o'e. :t require' -u;lic ;oie' an in'titution' to treat'iilarl 'ituate iniviual' in a 'iilar anner. $he -ur-o'e o) the equal-rotection clau'e i' to 'ecure ever -er'on ithin a 'tate<' uri'ictiona(ain't intentional an ar;itrar i'criination, hether occa'ione ;the e=-re'' ter' o) a 'tatue or ; it' i-ro-er e=ecution throu(h the'tate<' ul con'titute authoritie'. :n other or', the conce-t o) equal

u'tice uner the la require' the 'tate to (overn i-artiall, an itnot ra i'tinction' ;eteen iniviual' 'olel on iLerence' thairrelevant to a le(itiate (overnental o;ective.

$he equal -rotection clau'e i' aie at all ocial 'tate action', notho'e o) the le(i'lature. :t' inhi;ition' cover all the e-artent' o(overnent incluin( the -olitical an e=ecutive e-artent', an eto all action' o) a 'tate enin( equal -rotection o) the la', thrhatever a(enc or hatever (ui'e i' taken.

:t, hoever, oe' not require the univer'al a--lication o) the la' -er'on' or thin(' ithout i'tinction. Ehat it 'i-l require' i' equaon( equal' a' eterine accorin( to a vali cla''i+cation. :nthe equal -rotection clau'e -erit' cla''i+cation. %uch cla''i+choever, to ;e vali u't -a'' the te't o)rea'ona;lene''. $he te')our requi'ite' 1K $he cla''i+cation re't' on 'u;'tantial i'tinction'Ai' (erane to the -ur-o'e o) the laA 3K :t i' not liite to e=iconition' onlA an @K :t a--lie' equall to all e;er' o) the cla''. %u-er+cial iLerence' o not ake )or a vali cla''i+cation.

!or a cla''i+cation to eet the requireent' o) con'titutionalit, it inclue or e;race all -er'on' ho naturall ;elon( to the cla''

cla''i+cation ill ;e re(are a' invali i) all the e;er' o) the cla'not 'iilarl treate, ;oth a' to ri(ht' con)erre an o;li(ation' i-:t i' not nece''ar that the cla''i+cation ;e ae ith a;''etr, in the 'en'e that the e;er' o) the cla'' 'houl -o''e''ae characteri'tic' in equal e(ree. %u;'tantial 'iilarit ill 'uan a' lon( a' thi' i' achieve, all tho'e covere ; the cla''i+catioto ;e treate equall. $he ere )act that an iniviual ;elon(in( to a iLer' )ro the other e;er', a' lon( a' that cla'' i' 'u;'tani'tin(ui'ha;le )ro all other', oe' not u'ti) the non?a--lication ola to hi.

$he cla''i+cation u't not ;e ;a'e on e=i'tin( circu'tance' onl,con'titute a' to -reclue aition to the nu;er inclue in the cla

u't ;e o) 'uch a nature a' to e;race all tho'e ho a therea)tin 'iilar circu'tance' an conition'. :t u't not leave ounerinclueH tho'e that 'houl otheri'e )all into a ccla''i+cation.

$he equal -rotection o) the la' clau'e o) the #on'tiallo' cla''i+cation. #la''i+cation in la, a' in the other e-arte



knole(e or -ractice, i' the (rou-in( o) thin(' in '-eculation or -ractice;ecau'e the a(ree ith one another in certain -articular'. " la i' notinvali ;ecau'e o) 'i-le inequalit. $he ver iea o) cla''i+cation i' thato) inequalit, 'o that it (oe' ithout 'ain( that the ere )act o) inequalit in no anner eterine' the atter o) con'titutionalit. "ll thati' require o) a vali cla''i+cation i' that it ;e rea'ona;le, hich ean'that the cla''i+cation 'houl ;e ;a'e on 'u;'tantial i'tinction' hichake )or real iLerence', that it u't ;e (erane to the -ur-o'e o) thelaA that it u't not ;e liite to e=i'tin( conition' onlA an that itu't a--l equall to each e;er o) the cla''. $hi' #ourt ha' hel thatthe 'tanar i' 'ati'+e i) the cla''i+cation or i'tinction i' ;a'e on area'ona;le )ounation or rational ;a'i' an i' not -al-a;l ar;itrar.

"--lin( the'e -rece-t' to thi' ca'e, D=ecutive rer o. 1 'houl ;e'truck on a' violative o) the equal -rotection clau'e. $he clear anateo) the envi'ione truth coi''ion i' to inve'ti(ate an +n out the truthconcernin( the re-orte ca'e' o) (ra)t an corru-tion urin( the -reviou'aini'tration onl. $he intent to 'in(le out the -reviou' aini'tration i'-lain, -atent an ani)e't. Mention o) it ha' ;een ae in at lea't three-ortion' o) the que'tione e=ecutive orer. %-eci+call, the'e are

E*DRD"%, there i' a nee )or a 'e-arate ;o eicate 'olel to

inve'ti(atin( an +nin( out the truth concernin( the re-orte ca'e' o) (ra)t an corru-tion urin( the -reviou' aini'tration, an hich illrecoen the -ro'ecution o) the oLener' an 'ecure u'tice )or allA

%D#$: 1. #reation o) a #oi''ion. P $here i' here; create the>*:/:>>:D $RC$* #MM:%%:, hereina)ter re)erre to a' the#MM:%%:,H hich 'hall -riaril 'eek an +n the truth on, antoar thi' en, inve'ti(ate re-ort' o) (ra)t an corru-tion o) 'uch 'calean a(nitue that 'hock an oLen the oral an ethical 'en'i;ilitie' o) the -eo-le, coitte ; -u;lic ocer' an e-loee', their co?-rinci-al', acco-lice' an acce''orie' )ro the -rivate 'ector, i) an,urin( the -reviou' aini'trationA an therea)ter recoen thea--ro-riate action or ea'ure to ;e taken thereon to en'ure that the )ull

ea'ure o) u'tice 'hall ;e 'erve ithout )ear or )avor.

%D#$: 2. >oer' an !unction'. P $he #oi''ion, hich 'hall have allthe -oer' o) an inve'ti(ative ;o uner %ection 3, #ha-ter 8, Book : o) the "ini'trative #oe o) 189, i' -riaril ta'ke to conuct a thorou(h)act?+nin( inve'ti(ation o) re-orte ca'e' o) (ra)t an corru-tion re)erreto in %ection 1, involvin( thir level -u;lic ocer' an hi(her, their co?

-rinci-al', acco-lice' an acce''orie' )ro the -rivate 'ector, i)urin( the -reviou' aini'tration an therea)ter 'u;it it' +nin(recoenation' to the >re'ient, #on(re'' an the ;u'QD-ha'e' 'u--lie

:n thi' re(ar, it u't ;e ;orne in in that the "rroo aini'trat;ut u't a e;er o) a cla'', that i', a cla'' o) -a't aini'tration'not a cla'' o) it' on. ot to inclue -a't aini'tration' 'i'ituate con'titute' ar;itrarine'' hich the equal -rotection clau'e c'anction. %uch i'criinatin( iLerentiation clearl rever;erate' tothe coi''ion a' a vehicle )or vinictivene'' an 'elective retri;uti

$he re-ort' o) ie'-rea corru-tion in the "rroo aini'tration c;e taken a' ;a'i' )or i'tin(ui'hin( 'ai aini'tration )ro eaini'tration' hich ere al'o ;lei'he ; 'iilar ie'-rea reo) i-ro-riet. $he are not inherent in, an o not inure 'olel to"rroo aini'tration.

D=ecutive rer o. 1 'uLer' )ro ar;itrar cla''i+cation. $he >$#, true to it' anate o) 'earchin( )or the truth, u't not e=clue the -a't aini'tration'. $he >$# u't, at lea't, have the authoriinve'ti(ate all -a't aini'tration'. Ehile rea'ona;le -rioriti4ati

-eritte, it 'houl not ;e ar;itrar le't it ;e 'truck on )or uncon'titutional.

BM"Bureau o) #u'to' v $eve' G.R. o. 1910@ 7ece;er 6, 2011



!act'!orer >re'. "rroo 'i(ne into la R.". o. 8335 )or the -ur-o'e o) o-tii4in( the revenue?(eneration ca-a;ilit an collection o) the B:R anB# an to encoura(e B:R an B# ocial' an e-loee' to e=ceetheir revenue tar(et' ; -roviin( a ''te o) rear' an 'anction'throu(h the creation o) Rear' an :ncentive' !un an a Revenue>er)orance Dvaluation Boar.

$he Boar' in the B:R an B# are co-o'e o) %ecretarie' o) !inance,Bu(et an their uner'ecretarie', 7ir Gen D7" an hi' e-ut 7ir Gen,#oi''ioner' o) B:R an B# an their e-ut coi''ioner', tore-re'entative' )ro rank an +le e-loee' an re-re'entative )ro theocial' noinate ; their reco(ni4e or(ani4ation.Dach Boar ha' the ut toA1. >re'cri;e the rule' an (uieline' )or the allocation, i'tri;ution anrelea'e o) the !unA2. %et criteria an -roceure' )or reovin( )ro the 'ervice ocial' ane-loee' ho'e revenue collection )all' 'hort o) the tar(etA3. $erinate -er'onnel in accorance ith the criteria ao-te ; theBoarA@. >re'cri;e a ''te )or -er)orance evaluationA5. >er)or other )unction', incluin( the i''uance o) rule' an re(ulation'anA6. %u;it an annual re-ort to #on(re''.>etitioner Bureau o) #u'to' D-loee' "''ociation B#D"K conten'that enactent an i-leentation o) R.". o. 8335 are tainte ithcon'titutional in+ritie'.

>ur'uant to R" 8335 an it' :RR, #ollection 7i'trict >er)orance #ontract'a' i''einate to loer rankin( ocial' an e-loee' )or 'i(nin(.B#D" conten' that the tar(et a' i-o''i;le to eet ue to(overnent' on -olicie' on reuce tariL rate' an ta= ;reak' to ;i(;u'ine'', the occurrence o) natural calaitie' an ;ecau'e o) othereconoic )actor'. B#D" claie that 'oe B# e-loee' ere

coerce an )orce to 'i(n the -er)orance contract. $he -er'onnel erethreatene i) the ill not 'i(n the oul )ace -o''i;le rea''i(nent,re'huSin(, or or'e ;e -lace on Toatin( 'tatu'.>etition a' +le to the %u-ree #ourt. B#D" ar(ue aon( other', thatit' e;er' an other B# e-loee' are in (reat an(er o) lo'in( their

o;' 'houl the )aile to eet the require tar(et, in clear violation o)

their con'titutional ri(ht o) 'ecurit o) tenure an their re'-ective )a-reuice.

7urin( the +r't ear i-leentation o) R" 8335, B# e-loee' e=coena;le eLort' an e=cee their tar(et o) 186B o) a' uch a' 2that ear alone. *oever thi' a' attaine ;ecau'e oil co-anie' avance ta= -aent' to B#. Rear' are (iven, hich the e'ca' unu't, un)air, u;iou' an )rauulent ;ecau'e onl to- ocial' o)(ot hu(e rear hile the e-loee' receive onl > 9,500.00.

:''ue'3. E R"8335 an it' :RR violate' equal -rotection clau'e P ui'criinate' a(ain't B:R an B# a' co-are to other rev(eneratin( (overnent a(encie'.

$he la concern' onl the B:R an the B# ;ecau'e the havcoon i'tinct -riar )unction o) (eneratin( revenue' )or the nat(overnent throu(h the collection o) ta=e', cu'to' utie', )ee'char(e'. Both the B:R an the B# are ;ureau' uner the 7!. -rinci-all -er)or the '-ecial )unction o) ;ein( the in'truentathrou(h hich the %tate e=erci'e' one o) it' (reat inherent )unctiota=ation. :nu;ita;l, 'uch 'u;'tantial i'tinction i' (eraneintiatel relate to the -ur-o'e o) the la. *ence, the cla''i+catiotreatent accore to the B:R an the B# uner R" Qo. 8335'ati') the ean' o) equal -rotection.3



Tariff and Customs Code; Revised Administrative Code Customs Memorandum Order

No. 27-2003. Customs Memorandum Order No. 27-2003 (CMO 23-2007) is invalid. TheCommissioner of Customs (1) violated the right to due process in the issuance of CMO

27-2003 when he failed to observe the requirements under the Revised Administrative

Code, (2) violated the right to equal protection of laws when he provided for an

unreasonable classification in the application of the regulation, and (3) went beyond his

powers of delegated authority when the regulation limited the powers of the customs

officer to examine and assess imported articles. CMO 27-2003 was issued without

following the mandate of the Revised Administrative Code on public participation, prior

notice, and publication or registration with the University of the Philippines Law Center.

For tariff purposes, CMO 27-2003 classified wheat according to the following: (1)

importer or consignee; (2) country of origin; and (3) port of discharge. This is a violation

of the equal protection clause under the Constitution. The Court does not see how thequality of wheat is affected by who imports it, where it is discharged, or which country it

came from. Thus, on the one hand, even if other millers excluded from CMO 27-2003

have imported food grade wheat, the product would still be declared as feed grade

wheat, a classification subjecting them to 7% tariff. On the other hand, even if the

importers listed under CMO 27-2003 have imported feed grade wheat, they would only

be made to pay 3% tariff, thus depriving the state of the taxes due. The regulation,

therefore, does not become disadvantageous to respondent only, but even to the state.

Section 1403 of the Tariff and Customs Law, as amended mandates that the customs

officer must first assess and determine the classification of the imported article before

tariff may be imposed. Unfortunately, CMO 23-2007 has already classified the article

even before the customs officer had the chance to examine it. Finally, Commissioner ofCustoms diminished the powers granted by the Tariff and Customs Code with regard to

wheat importation when it no longer required the customs officer’s prior examination and

assessment of the proper classification of the wheat.Commissioner of Customs vs.

Hypermix Feeds Corporation, G.R. No. 179579, February 1, 2012.

Equal Protection Clause Digested Cases

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