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Blas F. Ople vs Ruben D. Torres, et al.293 SCRA 141 / GR No. 127685, 23 July 1998, J. Puno

FACTS:

Adm n !"#$" %& '#d No. 3(8, &n" "l&d ) Ado*" on o+ $ N$" on$l Com*u" &d -d&n" + $" onR&+&n & Sy!"&m,) $! !!u&d 0y P#&! d&n" F d&l R$mo! 'n & &m0 12, 1996.

S&n$"o# l$! F. '*l& + l&d $ *&" " on !&& n "o n%$l d$"& A.'. No. 3(8 on !&%$l #ound!.'n& o+ " &m ! " $": T & &!"$0l ! m&n" o+ $ N$" on$l Com*u" &d -d&n" + $" on R&+&n &Sy!"&m #& u #&! $ l& !l$" %& $ ". T & !!u$n & o+ A.'. No. 3(8 0y " & P#&! d&n" ! $nun on!" "u" on$l u!u#*$" on o+ " & l& !l$" %& *o ! o+ on #&!!. P&" " on l$ m! " $" A.'.No. 3(8 ! no" $ m& $dm n !"#$" %& o#d 0u" $ l$ $nd &n &, 0&yond " & *o o+ " &P#&! d&n" "o !!u&. & $ll& &! " $" A.'. No. 3(8 &!"$0l ! &! $ !y!"&m o+ d&n" + $" on " $" !$ll &n om*$!! n n ! o*&, $++& "! " & l +& $nd l 0"y o+ &%y F l * no " &n $nd +o#& n#&! d&n", $nd mo#& *$#" ul$#ly, % ol$"&! " & # # " "o *# %$ y.

'n " ! *o n", #&!*ond&n"! oun" $# u& " $": A.'. No. 3(8 $! !!u&d " n " & & & u" %&$nd $dm n !"#$" %& *o ! o+ " & *#&! d&n" " ou" &n #o$ n on " & l& !l$" %& *o ! o+

on #&!!.

-SS ;:

< &" " & !!u$n & o+ A.'. No. 3(8 ! $n un on!" "u" on$l u!u#*$" on o+ " & *o o+ Con #&!! "o l& !l$"&.

R =-NG:

=& !l$" %& *o ! " & $u" o# "y "o m$ & l$ !, $nd "o $l" $nd #&*&$l " &m. T &Con!" "u" on $! %&!"&d " ! *o n " & Con #&!!. T & #$n" o+ l& !l$" %& *o "oCon #&!! ! 0#o$d, &n$l, $nd om*#& &n! %&. Any *o d&&m&d "o 0& l& !l$" %& 0yu!$ & $nd "#$d " on, ! n& &!!$# ly *o!!&!!&d 0y Con #&!!, unl&!! " & Con!" "u" on $!lod &d " &l!& &.

T & & & u" %& *o , on " & o" $nd, ! %&!"&d n " & P#&! d&n". -" ! &n$lly d&+ n&d $!" & *o "o &n+o# & $nd $dm n !" " & l$ !. -" ! " & *o o+ $##y n " & l$ ! n"o*#$ " $l o*$" on $nd &n+o# n " & # du& o0!%$n &. A! &$d o+ " & ; & u" %&

&*$#"m&n", " & P#&! d&n" ! " & C &+ ; & u" %&. & #&*#&!&n"! " & o%nm&n" $! $ ol&$nd !&&! "o " " $" $ll l$ ! $#& &n+o# &d 0y " & o++ $l! $nd &m*loy&&! o+ ! d&*$#"m&n". &

$! on"#ol o% " & & & u" %& d&*$#"m&n", 0u#&$u! $nd o++ &!. Co#oll$#y "o " & *o o+ on"#ol, " & P#&! d&n" $l!o $! " & du"y o+ !u*% ! n " & &n+o# &m&n" o+ l$ ! +o# " &m$ n"&n$n & o+ &n$l *&$ & $nd *u0l o#d. T u!, & ! #$n"&d $dm n !"#$" %& *o o% 0u#&$u! $nd o++ &! und ! on"#ol "o &n$0l& m "o d ! $# & ! du" &! &++& " %&ly.

Adm n !"#$" %& *o ! on n&d " " & o# o+ $**ly n *ol &! $nd &n+o# n o#d! $!d&"m n&d 0y *#o* o%nm&n"$l o# $n!. -" &n$0l&! " & P#&! d&n" "o + $ un +o#m

!"$nd$#d o+ $dm n !"#$" %& &++ &n y $nd & " & o++ $l ondu " o+ ! $ &n& $n !!u& $dm n !"#$" %& o#d!, #ul&! $nd #& ul$" on!.

F#om " &!& *#& &*"!, " & Cou#" old! " $" A.'. No. 3(8 n%ol%&! $ !u0>& " " $" $**#o*# $"& "o 0& o%&d 0y $n $dm n !"#$" %& o#d.

T & Adm n !"#$" %& Cod& o+ 1987 *#o% d&!:Sec. 3. Administrative Orders. Acts of the President which relate to

particular aspects of governmental operation in pursuance of his duties asadministrative head shall be promulgated in administrative orders.

An $dm n !"#$" %& o#d ! $n o#d n$n & !!u&d 0y " & P#&! d&n" #&l$"&$!*& "! n " & $dm n !"#$" %& o*$" on o+ o%nm&n". -" mu!" 0& n $#mony "! ould 0& +o# " & !ol& *u#*o!& o+ m*l&m&n" n " & l$ $nd $##y n ou" " & l& !l$"T & Cou#" #&>& "! " & $# um&n" " $" A.'. No. 3(8 m*l&m&n"! " & l& !l$" %& *ol

Adm n !"#$" %& Cod& o+ 1987. T & Cod& ! $ &n$l l$ $nd n o#*o#$"&! n do um&n" " & m$>o# !"#u "u#$l, +un " on$l $nd *#o &du#$l *# n *l&! o+ o%&m0od &! $n &! n $dm n !"#$" %& !"#u "u#& $nd *#o &du#&! d&! n&d "o !%& "

-" $nno" 0& ! m*l !" $lly $# u&d " $" A.'. No. 3(8 m&ly m*l&m&n"! " & Adm nCod& o+ 1987. -" &!"$0l ! &! +o# " & + #!" " m& $ N$" on$l Com*u" &d -dR&+&n & Sy!"&m. Su $ Sy!"&m #& u #&! $ d&l $"& $d>u!"m&n" o+ %$# ou! !"$"& *ol &! ? " & *# m$ y o+ n$" on$l !& u# "y, " & & "&n" o+ *# %$ y n"do!! $" n 0y o%nm&n", " & o & o+ *ol &!, &" . A! !$ d $dm n#&d&+ n&! " & *$#$m&"! o+ !om& 0$! # "! o+ ou# " &n#y % ! $ % ! " & " & l n& " $" !&*$#$"&! " & $dm n !"#$" %& *o o+ " & P#&! d&n" "o m$ & #l& !l$" %& *o o+ Con #&!!, " ou " "o 0& &% d&n" " $" " d&$l! " $ !u0>& " "

o%&d 0y l$ .

P&" " on ! #$n"&d $nd A.'. No. 3(8 ! d& l$#&d null $nd %o d +o# 0& n un on!" "u" on

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#7 IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR THE WRIT OF AMPARO AND WRIT OF HABEASDATA IN FAVOR OF NORIEL H. RODRIGUEZGR NO. 191805NOVEMBER 15, 2011

F !" $Petitioner Noriel Rodriguez is a member of Alyansa Dagiti Mannalon Iti Cagayan

(Kagimungan), a peasant organization a liated !it" Kilusang Magbubu#id ng Pilipinas (KMP)$ %e&laims t"at t"e military tagged KMP as an enemy of t"e 'tate under t"e plan antay *aya, ma#ingits members targets of e+tra udi&ial #illings and enfor&ed disappearan&es$

Rodriguez !as abdu&ted by military men and !as tortured repeatedly !"en "e refused to&onfess to "is members"ip in t"e NPA$ -"en released, "e .led a Petition for t"e -rit of Amparo and

and Petition for t"e -rit of %abeas Data !it" Prayers for Prote&tion rders, Inspe&tion of Pla&e, andProdu&tion of Do&uments and Personal Properties$ /"e petition !as .led against former Pres$ Arroyo,et al$ /"e !rits !ere granted but t"e CA dropped Pres Arroyo as party0respondent, as s"e may not besued in any &ase during "er tenure of o &e or a&tual in&umben&y$

I %&$1$ -"et"er former Pres 2MA s"ould be dropped as respondent on t"e basis of presidential

immunity from suit3$ -"et"er t"e do&trine of &ommand responsibility &an be used in amparo and "abeas data

&ases$4$ -"et"er t"e president, as &ommander0in0&"ief of t"e military, &an be "eld responsible or

a&&ountable for e+tra udi&ial #illings and enfor&ed disappearan&es$5$ -"et"er Rodriguez "as pro6en t"roug" substantial e6iden&e t"at former President Arroyo is

responsible or a&&ountable for "is abdu&tion$H&'($

1$ No$ It bears stressing t"at sin&e t"ere is no determination of administrati6e, &i6il or &riminalliability in amparo and "abeas data pro&eedings, &ourts &an only go as far as as&ertainingresponsibility or a&&ountability for t"e enfor&ed disappearan&e or e+tra udi&ial #illing$

As !as "eld in t"e &ase of 7strada 6 Desierto, a non0sitting President does not en oyimmunity from suit, e6en for a&ts &ommitted during t"e latter8s tenure9 t"at &ourts s"ould loo# !it"disfa6or upon t"e presidential pri6ilege of immunity, espe&ially !"en it impedes t"e sear&" for trut" orimpairs t"e 6indi&ation of a rig"t$ /"e deliberations of t"e Constitutional Commission also re6eal t"att"e intent of t"e framers is &lear t"at presidential immunity from suit is &on&urrent only !it" "is tenureand not "is term$ (/"e term means t"e time during !"i&" t"e o &er may &laim to "old t"e o &e as of rig"t, and .+es t"e inter6al after !"i&" t"e se6eral in&umbents s"all su&&eed one anot"er$ /"e tenurerepresents t"e term during !"i&" t"e in&umbent a&tually "olds o &e$ /"e tenure may be s"orter t"ant"e term for reasons !it"in or beyond t"e po!er of t"e in&umbent$) /"erefore, former Pres$ 2MA&annot use su&" immunity to s"ield "erself from udi&ial s&rutiny t"at !ould assess !"et"er, !it"int"e &onte+t of amparo pro&eedings, s"e !as responsible or a&&ountable for t"e abdu&tion of Rodriguez$

3$ Yes . As !e e+plained in Rubri&o 6$ Arroyo, &ommand responsibility pertains to t"e:responsibility of &ommanders for &rimes &ommitted by subordinate members of t"e armed

for&es or ot"er persons sub e&t to t"eir &ontrol in international !ars or domesti&&on;i&t$: Alt"oug" originally used for as&ertaining &riminal &ompli&ity, t"e &ommandresponsibility do&trine "as also found appli&ation in &i6il &ases for "uman rig"ts abuses$ /"isde6elopment in t"e use of &ommand responsibility in &i6il pro&eedings s"o!s t"at t"eappli&ation of t"is do&trine "as been liberally e+tended e6en to &ases not &riminal in nature$

/"us, it is our 6ie! t"at &ommand responsibility may li#e!ise .nd appli&ation in pro&eedingssee#ing t"e pri6ilege of t"e !rit of amparo$

Pre&isely in t"e &ase at bar, t"e do&trine of &ommand responsibility may be used to determine!"et"er respondents are a&&ountable for and "a6e t"e duty to address t"e abdu&tion of Rodriguez inorder to enable t"e &ourts to de6ise remedial measures to prote&t "is rig"ts$ Clearly, not"ingpre&ludes t"is Court from applying t"e do&trine of &ommand responsibility in amparo pro&eedings toas&ertain responsibility and a&&ountability in e+tra udi&ial #illings and enfor&ed disappearan&es$

In ot"er !ords, &ommand responsibility may be loosely applied in amparo &ases in order toidentify t"ose a&&ountable indi6iduals t"at "a6e t"e po!er to e

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T & Com*#& &n! %& $n ou! #u ! A " o+ 2((2 @RA 9165 , on"$ n! " & +ollo n *#o% ! on!:

1. B$nd$"o#y d#u "&!" n o+ $ll $nd d$"&! +o# *u0l o++ & &" $**o n"&d o# &l& "&d 0o" n " &n$" on$l o# lo $l o%nm&n"2. B$nd$"o#y d#u "&!" n o+ $ ll *!on! $# &d 0&+o#& " & *#o!& u"o# ! o++ & " $ # m n$l o++&n!&

$% n $n m*o!$0l& *&n$l"y o+ m*# !onm&n" o+ no" l&!! " $n 6 y&$#! $nd 1 d$y3. R$ndom d#u "&!" n +o# !& ond$#y $nd "" $#y ! ool !"ud&n"! $! &ll $! +o# o++ $l! $nd&m*loy&&! o+ *u0l $nd *# %$"& o++ &!

A#& " & !$ d *#o% ! on! o+ " & l$ on!" "u" on$lD

ANSu!" + $" on +o# m$nd$"o#y d#u "&!" n +o# *!on! $ u!&d o+ # m&!, $!#& u #&d 0y !& . 36@+ o+ " & l$ , $! $ m$nd$"o#y d#u "&!" n n " & $!& o+ *!on! $# &d " $

# m& 0&+o#& " & *#o!& u"o# ! o++ & E $n n&% 0& #$ndom o# !u!* onl&!!.

E< &n *!on! !u!*& "&d o+ omm "" n $ # m& $#& $# &d, " &y $#& ! n l&d ou" $nd $#& m*l&$d&d$ $ n!" " & # ll, !$ d " & Cou#". ETo m*o!& m$nd$"o#y d#u "&!" n on " & $ u!&d ! $ 0l$"$n" $""&m*""o $#n&!! $ m&d $l "&!" $! $ "ool +o# # m n$l *#o!& u" on, on"#$#y "o " & !"$"&d o0>& " %&! o+ RA 9165.

#u "&!" n n " ! $!& ould % ol$"& $ *!on ! # " "o *# %$ y u$#$n"&&d und S& . 2, A#". --- o+ " &Con!" "u" on.

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Con!" "u" on$l =$ : R " "o P# %$ y0y T & =$ yH! Po!" I S&*"&m0 21, 2(14 I Comm&n"! '++

In this day and age, video surveillance cameras are installed practically everywhere for the

protection and safety of everyone. The installation of these cameras, however, should not cover

places where there is reasonable expectation of privacy, unless the consent of the individual,

whose right to privacy would be affected, was obtained

ll $nd "o# $, !*ou!&!, + l&d $ Com*l$ n" +o# -n>un " on $nd $m$ &! " *#$y +o# !!u$n & o+ $

$ &n"

"o " & lo"! o n&d 0y Aldo &%&lo*m&n" $nd R&!ou# &!, & Al& $nd All$n $#& !"o old!. T &

o#*o#$" on 0u l" $n $u"o ! o* 0u ld n on = o" 19(( C $d>$ &n" "o " & lo" o n&d 0y ll $nd "o# $. -n

A*# l, 2((5, Aldo + l&d $ $!& +o# n>un " on $nd d$m$ &! $ $ n!" ll $nd "o# $ l$ m n " $" " &y

& on!"#u " n $ +&n & " ou" $ %$l d *m " $nd " & on!"#u " on ould d&!"#oy "! 0u ld n . T &

ou#" d&n &d " & $**l $" on 0y Aldo +o# *#&l m n$#y n>un " on +o# +$ lu#& "o !u0!"$n" $"& "! $ll& $" on!.

To $" &% d&n & $ $ n!" " & !*ou!&!, Aldo ll& $lly !&" u* on " & 0u ld n o+ Aldo " o % d&o

!u#%& ll$n & $m$ +$ n *&" " on! *$#"y $nd " #ou " & # &m*loy&&! $nd " ou" " & on!&n" o+

!*ou!&! "oo * "u#&! o+ " & # on o n on!"#u " onK " u! " % ol$"&! " & # # " "o *# %$ y. T & !*ou!&!

*#$y&d " $" Al& $nd $nd All$n 0& o#d&d "o #&mo%& " & # % d&o $m$! $nd !"o**&d +#om

ondu " n ll& $l !u#%& ll$n &.

An! n , Al& $nd $nd All$n l$ m&d " $" " &y d d no" n!"$ll " & $m$!, no# o#d&d " & #&m*loy&&! "o "$ & * "u#&! o+ " & !*ou!& ! on!"#u " onK " &y $l!o $%#&d " $" " &y $#& m&

!"o old! o+ AldoK

T & R& on$l T# $l Cou#" #$n"&d " & *#$y +o# "&m*o#$#y #&!"#$ n n o#d $nd d #& "&d A

All$n "o #&mo%& " & # % d&o $m$! $nd n!"$ll " &m &l!& & & " & !*ou!& ! *#o*

lon 0& % & &d.

Al& $nd $nd All$n + l&d $ *&" " on +o# " o#$# " " & Cou#" o+ A**&$l!, #$n"&d

ll $nd "o# $ " &+o#& &l&%$"&d " & $!& "o " & Su*#&m& Cou#":

ET & # " "o *# %$ y ! &n! # n&d n ou# Con!" "u" on $nd n ou# l$ !. -" ! d&+ n&d $! E" & #

+#om un $##$n"&d & *lo "$" on o+ on& ! *!on o# +#om n"#u! on n"o on& ! *# %$"& $ " % "

$y $! "o $u!& um l $" on "o $ *!on ! o#d n$#y !&n! 0 l " &!. -" ! " & # " o+ $n nd % d

+#om un $##$n"&d *u0l "y, o# "o l %& " ou" un $##$n"&d n"+&n & 0y " & *u0l n m$

" & *u0l ! no" n& &!!$# ly on n&d. S m*ly *u", " & # " "o *# %$ y ! E" & # " "o 0

T & ll o+ R "! u$#$n"&&! " & *&o*l& ! # " "o *# %$ y $nd *#o"& "! " &m $ $ n!" " & S"

o+ *o . -n " ! #& $#d, " & S"$"& #& o n &! " & # " o+ " & *&o*l& "o 0& !& u#& n " &

on&, no" &%&n " & S"$"&, & &*" E n $!& o+ o%# d n !o $l n&&d $nd " &n only und " &

*#o &du#$l !$+& u$#d!, $n d !"u#0 " &m n " & *# %$ y o+ " & # om&!.

E'u# Cod& !*& + $lly m&n" on! E*#y n n"o " & *# %$ y o+ $no" ! #&! d&n &. T ! do

o &%, " $" only " & #&! d&n & ! &n" "l&d "o *# %$ y, 0& $u!& " & l$ o%! $l!o E! m l$

0u! n&!! o++ & ! &n" "l&d "o " & !$m& *# %$ y &n " & *u0l ! & lud&d " &+#om $nd

nd % du$l! $! $#& $llo &d "o &n" m$y om& n. L @;m* $! ! !u**l &d

T u!, $n nd % du$l ! # " "o *# %$ y und A#" l& 26@1 o+ " & C % l Cod& ! ould no" 0&

ou!& o# #&! d&n & $! " m$y & "&nd "o *l$ &! & & $! " & # " "o & lud& " & *u0l o

" &m $ &!!. T & * #$!& E*#y n n"o " & *# %$ y o+ $no" ! #&! d&n &, " &+o#&, o

lo $" on!, o# &%&n ! "u$" on! $n nd % du$l on! d! $! *# %$"&. And $! lon $! ! #

http://thelawyerspost.net/author/thesword96/http://thelawyerspost.net/author/thesword96/

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#& o n &d 0y !o &"y, o" nd % du$l! m$y no" n+# n & on ! # " "o *# %$ y. T & CA, " &+o#&,

#&d n l m " n " & $**l $" on o+ A#" l& 26@1 o+ " & C % l Cod& only "o #&! d&n &!.

-n $! "$ n n &" " & ! $ % ol$" on o+ " & # " "o *# %$ y, ou#"! u!& " & E#&$!on$0l& & *& "$" on

o+ *# %$ y "&!". T ! "&!" d&"m n&! &" $ *!on $! $ #&$!on$0l& & *& "$" on o+ *# %$ y $nd

&" " & & *& "$" on $! 0&&n % ol$"&d. -n '*l& %. To##&!, & &nun $"&d " $" E" & #&$!on$0l&n&!!

o+ $ *!on ! & *& "$" on o+ *# %$ y d&*&nd! on $ " o *$#" "&!": @1 &" , 0y ! ondu ", " &

nd % du$l $! & 0 "&d $n & *& "$" on o+ *# %$ yK $nd @2 " ! & *& "$" on ! on& " $" !o &"y

#& o n &! $! #&$!on$0l&. Cu!"om!, ommun "y no#m!, $nd *#$ " &! m$y, " &+o#&, l m " o# & "&nd

$n nd % du$l ! E#&$!on$0l& & *& "$" on o+ *# %$ y. &n &, " & #&$!on$0l&n&!! o+ $ *!on !

& *& "$" on o+ *# %$ y mu!" 0& d&"m n&d on $ $!& "o $!& 0$! ! ! n & " d&*&nd! on " & +$ "u$l

# um!"$n &! !u##ound n " & $!&.

-n " ! d$y $nd $ &, % d&o !u#%& ll$n & $m$! $#& n!"$ll&d *#$ " $lly &%y & +o# "

$nd !$+&"y o+ &%yon&. T & n!"$ll$" on o+ " &!& $m$!, o &%, ! ould no" o% *l$ &

" & ! #&$!on$0l& & *& "$" on o+ *# %$ y, unl&!! " & on!&n" o+ " & nd % du$l, o!& #

ould 0& $++& "&d, $! o0"$ n&d. No# ! ould " &!& $m$! 0& u!&d "o *#y n"o " & *# %$ y o+

#&! d&n & o# 0u! n&!! o++ & $! " ould 0& no d ++&n" +#om &$%&!d#o** n , ! $ #

R&*u0l A " No. 42(( o# " & An" < #&"$** n =$ .

ET & on &*" o+ l 0"y ould 0& &m$! ul$"&d + " do&! no" l & !& om*&l #&!*& " +o# Lon

*!on$l "y $! $ un u& nd % du$l o!& l$ m "o *# %$ y $nd LnonM n"+&n & d&m$nd

G.R. No. 179736, Jun& 26, 2(13, SP' S;S -== AN -CT'R-A -NG, P;T-T-'N;RS, S.

A=; AN ;R C 'AC O, SR. AN A==AN C 'AC O, R;SP'N ;NTS.