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[G .R . N o . 1 3 8 5 7 0 . O c to b e r 1 0 , 2 0 0 0 ]
B A Y A N
(B a g o n g
A ly a n s a n g
M akabayan), a ( Ig le s ia
JU N K
V FA
M O V E M E N T,
B IS H O P
TO M A S
M IL L A M E N A
F i lip in a
In d e p e n d ie n t e ) ,
B IS H O P E L M E R B O L O C A N ( U n it e d C h u r c h o f C h r is t o f t h e P h il.) , D R . R E Y N A LD O L E G A S C A , M D , K IL U S A N G M A Y O M A M B U B U K ID N G
P IL IP IN A S , K IL U S A N G th e P U B L IC
U N O , G A B R IE L A , P R O L A B O R , a n d LA W R O N A LD O C E N T E R , p e t it io n e r s , ZA M O R A , S IA Z O N , G E N . F O R E IG N D E FE N S E A LE X A N D E R
IN T E R E S T S E C R E TA R Y
v s . E X E C U T IV E A F F A IR S S E C R E TA R Y
S E C R E TA R Y O R LA N D O
D O M IN G O M E R C A D O ,
B R IG .
A G U IR R E , S E N A T E F R A N K L IN R O D O LFO
P R E S ID E N T M A R C E L O S E N A TO R and B LA S
FE R N A N , S E N A TO R O P LE , S E N A TO R TA TA D ,
D R IL O N , B IA Z O N ,
S E N A TO R
F R A N C IS C O
re s p o n d e n ts .
[G .R . N o . 1 3 8 5 7 2 . O c to b e r 1 0 , 2 0 0 0 ]
P H IL IP P IN E
C O N S T IT U T IO N B . G A R C IA , R A M O N
A S S O C IA T IO N , A M A D O G A T A .
IN C .( P H IL C O N S A ) , C A M IL O L .
E X E Q U IE L S A B IO ,
IN C IO N G ,
A N D
G O N Z A L E S , p e t it io n e r s ,
vs. H O N .
R O N A LD O M E R C A D O , D O M IN G O
B . Z A M O R A , a s E x e c u t iv e S e c r e t a r y , H O N . O R L A N D O as L. S e c re ta ry S IA Z O N , of J R ., N a t io n a l as D e fe n s e , and of H O N . F o r e ig n
S e c re ta ry
A f f a ir s , r e s p o n d e n t s .
[G .R . N o . 1 3 8 5 8 7 . O c to b e r 1 0 , 2 0 0 0 ]
T E O F IS T O
T .
G U IN G O N A ,
J R .,
R A U L
S .
R O C O ,
and
S E R G IO
R . B .
O S M E A III, p e t it io n e r s , v s . J O S E P H E . E S T R A D A , R O N A L D O
Z A M O R A , D O M IN G O M A R C E LO
L . S IA Z O N , J R . , O R L A N D O
B . M E R C A D O , F. O P LE
B . F E R N A N , F R A N K L IN
M . D R IL O N , B L A S
a n d R O D O L F O G . B IA Z O N ,r e s p o n d e n t s .
[G .R . N o . 1 3 8 6 8 0 . O c to b e r 1 0 , 2 0 0 0 ]
E S T R A D A , in
P r e s id e n t , R e p u b lic
t h e P h ilip p in e s , a n d H O N . D O M IN G O
S IA Z O N , in h is c a p a c it y a s
S e c r e t a r y o f F o r e i g n A f f a ir s , r e s p o n d e n t s .
[G .R . N o . 1 3 8 6 9 8 . O c to b e r 1 0 , 2 0 0 0 ]
J O V IT O
R .
S A LO N G A ,
W IG B E R T O
TA A D A ,
Z E N A ID A
Q U E ZO N -
A V E N C E A , R O LA N D O S O C O R R O I. D IO K N O ,
S IM B U L A N , P A B L IT O A G A P IT O A .
V . S A N ID A D , M A . JO K E R P .
A Q U IN O ,
A R R O Y O , F R A N C IS C O K IL O S B A Y A N , B R O TH E R H O O D ,
C . R IV E R A
J R ., R E N E O F
A .V . S A G U IS A G , FO R IN C . TH E O F B . G .
M O V E M E N T IN T E G R IT Y vs . TH E
A TTO R N E Y S N A T IO N A L IS M , S E C R E TA R Y , S E C R E TA R Y M A R C E LO
A N D
( M A B IN I) , p e t it io n e r s , S E C R E TA R Y N A T IO N A L FE R N A N , O F
E X E C U T IV E A F F A IR S , TH E
F O R E IG N
D E FE N S E , S E N A TO R
S E N A TE F.
P R E S ID E N T S E N A TO R
B LA S
O P LE ,
R O D O LFO
B IA Z O N , A N D A L L O T H E R P E R S O N S A C T IN G S U P E R V IS IO N , D IR E C T IO N , A N D
T H E IR C O N T R O L , IN R E L A T IO N
IN S T R U C T IO N
T O T H E V IS IT IN G
F O R C E S A G R E E M E N T (V F A ), re s p o n d e n ts .
D E C I S I O N
B U E N A , J .:
A m e r ic a - t h e V is it in g F o r c e s A g r e e m e n t .
T h e a n t e c e d e n t s u n f o ld . O n M a rc h 1 4, 1 9 4 7 , th e P h ilip p in e s and th e U n it e d S ta te s of A m e r ic a fo rg e d a
d e f e n s e a n d s e c u r it y r e l a t io n s h ip , t h e M u tu a l D e fe n s e re s p o n d to any
[1 ]
P h i lip p in e s a n d t h e U n it e d S t a t e s e n t e r e d tre a ty , th e p a r t ie s
T re a ty
on
A u g u s t 3 0 , 1 9 5 1 . U n d e r th e a tta c k o n
a g re e d
e x te rn a l a rm e d
t h e ir t e r r it o r y , a r m e d
f o r c e s , p u b lic v e s s e ls ,
a n d a ir c r a f t .
in
e ffe c t, th e
w o u ld
have of
e x te n d e d th e
p re s e n c e M il it a r y tw o
m ilit a r y b a s e s in A g re e m e n t, th e
P h ilip p in e s .
W it h
e x p ir a t io n
R P -U S th e
B ases
p e r io d ic
m il it a r y
e x e r c is e s
c o n d u c te d and
b e tw e e n s e c u r it y
c o u n t r ie s
w e re
h e ld
in
a b e y a n c e . N o t w it h s t a n d in g , t h e and th e U n it e d S ta te s
d e fe n s e of
r e la t io n s h ip
b e tw e e n
th e
P h ili p p in e s
A m e r ic a
A f f a ir s
U n d e rs e c re ta ry
S e v e r in o
exchange
n o te s
c o m p le m e n t in g s t r a t e g ic in t e r e s t s o f t h e U n it e d S t a t e s a n d t h e
P h i lip p in e s in t h e A s ia -
P a c if ic r e g io n . B o t h s id e s d is c u s s e d , a m o n g o t h e r t h in g s , t h e p o s s ib le e le m e n t s o f t h e V is it in g le d and th e n to a F o rc e s A g re e m e n t (V F A f o r b r e v it y ) . N e g o t ia t io n s b y in tu rn r e s u lt e d to a b o th p a n e ls o n th e V F A
c o n s o l id a t e d
[3 ]
d r a f t t e x t, w h ic h in
f in a l s e r ie s o f c o n f e r e n c e s and w as 1 3 , 1 9 9 8 . T h e re a fte r, r e s p e c t iv e ly s ig n e d by
n e g o t ia t io n s
t h a t c u lm in a t e d
M a n i la
on
J a n u a ry 1 2
P r e s id e n t F id e l V . R a m o s
a p p ro v e d a nd
th e
V F A , w h ic h
p u b lic r e s p o n d e n t S e c r e t a r y S ia z o n o n F e b ru a ry 1 0 , 1 9 9 8 .
U n it e s S t a t e s A m b a s s a d o r T h o m a s H u b b a r d
O n O c t o b e r 5 , 1 9 9 8 , P r e s id e n t J o s e p h E . E s t r a d a , t h r o u g h r e s p o n d e n t S e c r e t a r y o f F o r e ig n A f f a ir s , r a t if ie d t h e V F A .
[4 ]
O n O c t o b e r 6 , 1 9 9 8 , t h e P r e s id e n t , a c t in g t h r o u g h r e s p o n d e n t E x e c u t iv e S e c r e t a r y R o n a ld o Z a m o r a , o f f ic ia lly t r a n s m it t e d t o t h e S e n a t e o f t h e P h ilip p i n e s , o f R a t if ic a t io n , t h e le t t e r o f t h e P r e s id e n t
[6 ] [5 ]
th e In stru m e n t p u rs u a n t to
and
th e
V F A , fo r c o n c u rre n c e
S e c t io n 2 1 , A r t ic le V I I o f t h e 1 9 8 7 C o n s t it u t io n . T h e S e n a t e , in t u r n , r e f e r r e d t h e V F A t o it s C o m m it t e e o n F o r e ig n R e la t io n s , c h a ir e d b y S e n a t o r B la s F . O p le , a n d it s C o m m itt e e o n N a t io n a l D e f e n s e a n d S e c u r it y , c h a ir e d b y S e n a t o r R o d o lf o G . B ia z o n , f o r t h e ir jo in t c o n s id e r a t io n and
[7 ]
r e c o m m e n d a t io n . T h e r e a f t e r , jo in t p u b lic h e a r in g s w e r e
h e ld
b y th e
t w o C o m m it t e e s . O n 443
[8 ]
M ay
3,
1999,
th e
C o m m it t e e s
s u b m itt e d S e n a te
P ro p o s e d to th e
S e n a te and
R e s o lu t io n th e c r e a t io n
N o. of a
r e c o m m e n d in g
th e
c o n c u rre n c e
o f th e
V FA
L e g is la t iv e O v e r s ig h t C o m m it t e e t o o v e r s e e it s im p le m e n t a t io n . D e b a t e s t h e n e n s u e d .
O n
M ay
27,
1999,
P ro p o s e d
[9 ]
S e n a te
R e s o lu t io n
N o.
443
w as
a p p ro v e d
by
th e
S e n a t e , b y a t w o - t h ir d s ( 2 / 3 ) v o t e
o f it s m e m b e r s . S e n a t e R e s o lu t io n N o . 4 4 3 w a s t h e n
[1 0 ]
r e - n u m b e r e d a s S e n a t e R e s o lu t io n N o . 1 8 .
O n J u n e 1 , 1 9 9 9 , t h e V F A o f f ic ia lly e n t e r e d
in t o f o r c e a f t e r a n E x c h a n g e o f N o t e s
m e c h a n is m
r e g u la t in g
c ir c u m s t a n c e s
c o n d it io n s
A rm e d
F o r c e s a n d d e f e n s e p e r s o n n e l m a y b e p r e s e n t in t h e P h ilip p in e s , a n d is q u o t e d in it s f u ll te x t, h e re u n d e r:
A r tic le I D e f in i t i o n s A s u s e d i n th i s A g r e e m e n t , U n i t e d S t a t e s p e r s o n n e l m e a n s U n i t e d S t a t e s m i l i t a r y a n d c iv i l i a n p e r s o n n e l t e m p o r a r i l y in th e P h i l i p p in e s in c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a c t i v i t i e s a p p r o v e d b y t h e P h i l i p p i n e G o v e r n m e n t. W i t h in t h i s d e f in i t i o n :
1 . T h e te rm m ilita r y p e r s o n n e l r e fe r s to m ilita r y m e m b e r s o f t h e U n ite d S ta te s A r m y ,
e m p lo y e d S t a te s
fo rc e s
or w ho
a c c o m p a n y in g
U n ite d
a rm e d
fo rc e s , s u c h
e m p lo y e e s o f th e A m e r ic a n R e d C r o s s a n d th e U n ite d S e r v ic e s O r g a n i z a tio n .
A r tic le II R e sp e c t f o r L a w I t i s th e d u ty o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s p e r s o n n e l t o r e s p e c t th e l a w s o f t h e R e p u b l i c o f t h e P h i l i p p i n e s a n d t o a b s t a i n f r o m a n y a c t i v i ty in c o n s i s t e n t w i t h th e s p i r i t o f th i s a g r e e m e n t , a n d , in p a r t i c u l a r , f r o m a n y p o l i t i c a l a c t i v i t y in t h e P h i l i p p i n e s . T h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s s h a l l t a k e a l l m e a s u r e s w i th i n i t s a u t h o r i ty t o e n s u r e t h a t th i s i s d o n e . A r tic le II I E n t r y a n d D e p a r tu r e 1 . T h e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e P h i l i p p in e s s h a l l f a c i l i t a t e t h e a d m i s s i o n o f U n i t e d S t a t e s p e r s o n n e l a n d th e i r d e p a r t u r e f r o m t h e P h i l i p p i n e s i n c o n n e c t i o n w i t h a c t i v i t i e s c o v e r e d b y th i s a g r e e m e n t .
c o m m i tte d
w it h in
P h ilip p i n e s
p u n is h a b le
P h ilip p in e s
d is c i p lin a r y
j u r is d ic ti o n
c o n fe rre d
th e m
( 1 ) tr e a s o n ;
( 2 ) s a b o t a g e , e s p io n a g e o r v io l a t i o n o f a n y l a w r e l a t i n g t o n a t i o n a l d e fen se.
3 . In case s w h e re th e r ig h t to e x e r c is e ju r i s d ic tio n is c o n c u rre n t, t h e fo llo w in g ru le s
o f th e U n ite d
U n ite d
S ta te s
or
(c ) T h e
a u t h o r itie s
o f e ith e r w a iv e
g o v e rn m e n t m a y p rim a ry r ig h t to
r e q u e s t th e e x e r c is e
a u th o r itie s in
o f th e a
o th e r
g o v e rn m e n t to case.
th e ir
ju r is d i c tio n
p a r t ic u la r
( d ) R e c o g n iz in g th e r e s p o n s ib ility o f th e U n i te d S t a te s m ilita r y a u th o r itie s to m a i n ta i n good o rd e r and th e d is c ip lin e U n ite d am ong t h e ir fo r c e s , P h i lip p in e p r im a r y r ig h t to a u th o r i tie s e x e r c is e w ill , u p o n ju r is d ic tio n
re q u e s t b y
S ta t e s , w a iv e
th e ir
c o m m u n i c a te
su ch
d e te r m in a ti o n
U n it e d
a u th o r itie s
t w e n ty
( 2 0 ) d a y s a fte r t h e P h ili p p in e a u th o r i tie s r e c e iv e th e U n it e d S ta t e s r e q u e s t. ( e ) W h e n th e U n ite d S ta te s m ilit a r y c o m m a n d e r d e te r m in e s th a t a n o ffe n s e c h a r g e d b y a u th o r itie s o f t h e P h ilip p in e s a g a in s t U n ite d s ta te s p e r s o n n e l a r i s e s o u t o f a n a c t o r o m is s io n d o n e in th e p e r fo r m a n c e o f o f fic ia l d u ty , t h e c o m m a n d e r w ill is s u e a c e r tific a te s e tt in g fo r th s u c h d e te r m i n a tio n . T h is c e r tific a te w ill b e tr a n s m itte d to th e a p p r o p r ia te a u th o r itie s o f th e P h ilip p in e s a n d w ill c o n s ti tu te s u f fic ie n t p r o o f o f p e r fo r m a n c e o f o ffic ia l d u ty fo r th e p u r p o s e s o f p a r a g r a p h 3 ( b ) ( 2 ) o f th i s A r tic le . In th o s e ca ses w h e re th e G o v e rn m e n t of th e P h il ip p in e s b e l ie v e s th e
c ir c u m s ta n c e s o f th e c a s e r e q u ir e a r e v ie w
o f th e d u t y c e r tific a te , U n ite d S ta te s
m ilita r y a u th o r itie s a n d P h ilip p i n e a u th o r itie s s h a ll c o n s u lt i m m e d ia te ly . P h ili p p in e a u th o r itie s a t th e h ig h e s t le v e ls m a y a l s o p r e s e n t a n y in f o r m a tio n b e a r in g o n its v a lid ity . U n ite d S ta te s m ilit a r y a u th o r i tie s s h a ll ta k e fu ll a c c o u n t o f th e P h ili p p in e p o s itio n . W h e re a p p r o p r ia te , U n ite d S ta t e s m ilita r y a u th o r iti e s w ill ta k e
d is c ip lin a r y o r o th e r a c tio n a g a in s t o ffe n d e r s i n o ffic i a l d u t y c a s e s , a n d n o tif y th e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e P h il ip p in e s o f th e a c tio n s ta k e n . ( f) If th e g o v e r n m e n t h a v in g th e p r im a r y r ig h t d o e s n o t e x e r c is e ju r is d ic ti o n , it s h a ll n o tify th e a u th o r i tie s o f th e o t h e r g o v e r n m e n t a s s o o n a s p o s s ib le . ( g ) T h e a u th o r iti e s o f th e P h ilip p in e s a n d th e U n ite d S ta te s s h a ll n o ti fy e a c h o th e r o f th e d is p o s itio n o f a ll c a s e s in w h ic h b o th th e a u th o r it ie s o f th e P h ili p p in e s a n d th e U n ite d S t a te s h a v e th e r ig h t t o e x e r c is e ju r i s d ic tio n . 4 . W ith in th e s c o p e o f th e ir le g a l c o m p e t e n c e , th e a u th o r it ie s o f th e P h ilip p in e s a n d
p r o c e e d in g s . U n ite d S ta t e s m ilita r y a u th o r itie s s h a ll, u p o n fo r m a l n o tific a tio n b y t h e P h ilip p in e a u th o r itie s and w ith o u t d e l a y , m a k e suc h p e r s o n n e l a v a ila b le to th o s e
a u th o r itie s in tim e fo r a n y in v e s t ig a tiv e o r ju d ic i a l p r o c e e d i n g s r e la tin g to th e o ffe n s e w ith w h ic h th e p e rs o n has b een charged to th e in e x tr a o r d in a r y U n i te d S ta t e s cases, th e P h ilip p i n e
G o v e r n m e n t s h a ll p r e s e n t it s c u s to d y , w h ic h th e U n ite d
p o s itio n
G o v e rn m e n t r e g a rd in g in to fu ll a c c o u n t. In th e
S ta te s
G o v e r n m e n t s h a ll ta k e
e v e n t P h ilip p i n e ju d ic ia l p r o c e e d in g s a r e n o t c o m p l e te d w ith in o n e y e a r , th e U n it e d
S ta te s
s h a ll
be
r e lie v e d
of
an y
o b lig a tio n s
un der
th is
p a ra g r a p h .
The
o n e -y e a r w ill
p e r io d w ill n o t in c lu d e th e t im e n e c e s s a r y to a p p e a l. A l s o , th e o n e - y e a r p e r io d
n o t in c lu d e a n y ti m e d u r in g w h ic h s c h e d u le d tr ia l p r o c e d u r e s a r e d e la y e d b e c a u s e U n ite d S ta te s a u t h o r itie s , a fte r tim e ly n o tifi c a tio n b y P h ili p p in e a u th o r itie s to a r r a n g e fo r th e p r e s e n c e o f th e a c c u s e d , fa il to d o s o . 7 . W ith in th e scope o f t h e ir l e g a l a u th o r it y , U n i te d S ta te s and P h ilip p i n e a u th o r iti e s
c o lle c tio n
p r o d u c t io n
o f e v id e n c e , in c lu d in g
a n d , in
p ro p e r c a s e s , th e
d e liv e r y o f o b je c ts c o n n e c te d w ith a n o ffe n s e . 8 . W h e n U n i te d S ta te s p e r s o n n e l h a v e b e e n tr ie d in a c c o r d a n c e w ith th e p r o v is i o n s o f th is A r tic l e and have been a c q u itte d or hav e bee n c o n v ic te d and a re s e r v in g , o r
sam e
t h e a c t o r o m is s io n
w itn e s s e s ; (d ) T o p re s e n t e v id e n c e in th e i r d e fe n s e an d to ha ve c o m p u ls o r y p ro c e s s fo r
a u th o r itie s , a n d to h a v e s u c h a u th o r i tie s p r e s e n t a t a ll ju d ic ia l p r o c e e d in g s . T h e s e p r o c e e d in g s s h a ll b e p u b lic u n le s s th e c o u r t, in a c c o r d a n c e w it h P h ili p p in e e x c lu d e s p e r s o n s w h o h a v e n o r o le i n th e p r o c e e d in g s . 1 0 . T h e c o n fi n e m e n t o r d e te n t io n b y P h ilip p in e a u t h o r itie s o f U n ite d S ta t e s p e r s o n n e l s h a ll b e S ta te s c a rrie d o u t in fa c iliti e s S ta te s a g re e d on b y a p p r o p r ia t e P h ilip p in e in th e and U n it e d la w s ,
a u th o r iti e s . U n ite d
P e rs o n n e l
s e r v in g
s e n te n c e s
P h ilip p in e s
A r tic le V I C la im s
1 . E x c e p t fo r c o n tr a c tu a l a r r a n g e m e n ts , in c lu d in g U n ite d S ta t e s fo r e ig n m ilita r y s a l e s le tte r s o f o ffe r a n d a c c e p t a n c e a n d le a s e s o f m ilit a r y e q u ip m e n t, b o t h g o v e r n m e n ts w a iv e an y and a ll c la im s o th e r s a g a in s t arm ed each o th e r or fo r fo r d a m a g e , lo s s or in ju r y to or d e s tr u c tio n m ilita r y to
p ro p e rty
of eac h
fo rc e s
d e a th
th e ir
a nd
c iv ilia n p e r s o n n e l a r is in g fr o m 2 . F o r c la im s w h ic h U n ite d a g a in s t th e 1
U n it e d
p a ra g ra p h S ta te s
a p p lie s ,
th e
G o ve rn m e n t, w ill pay
a c c o rd a n c e and
w i th
la w
r e g a r d in g
ju s t
r e a s o n a b le
o r a c q u ir e d
P h i lip p in e s
or o n
b e h a lf o f th e
U n ite d
a r m e d f o r c e s in c o n n e c t io n w ith a c tiv itie s to w h ic h th is a g r e e m e n t a p p li e s , s h a ll b e fr e e o f a ll P h il ip p in e s h a ll r e m a in P h ilip p in e s The w ith d u tie s , t a x e s a n d o th e r s i m ila r c h a r g e s . T i tle to s u c h p r o p e r ty U n it e d S ta te s , fro m th is w h ic h m ay re m o v e suc h p ro p e rty fro m th e
th e
at any
tim e , fr e e in
e x p o r t d u tie s , ta x e s , a n d p a ra g ra p h s h a ll a l s o
o th e r s im il a r c h a r g e s . to any d u t y , ta x , o r
e x e m p tio n s
p r o v id e d
e xte n d
a s s e s s e d u p o n s u c h p ro p e r ty a ft e r S uch p ro p e rty m ay be of
P h ili p p in e s .
fr o m
P h ilip p i n e s , o r
d is p o s e d
o f th e r e in , p r o v id e d
t h a t d is p o s itio n
te m p o ra ry
P h ilip p in e s .
p e rs o n s
e n tit ie s
U n ite d S t a te s p e r s o n n e l s h a ll b e fr e e o f a ll P h ilip p in e d u ti e s , ta x e s , a n d o th e r s im il a r c h a rg e s .
A r tic le V II I M o v e m e n t o f V e s s e ls a n d A ir c r a f t
1 . A ir c r a f t o p e r a te d b y o r f o r t h e U n ite d S ta te s a r m e d fo r c e s m a y e n t e r th e P h ilip p in e s u p o n a p p r o v a l o f th e G o v e r n m e n t o f t h e P h i lip p in e s in a c c o r d a n c e w ith p r o c e d u r e s s tip u la te d in im p l e m e n t in g a r r a n g e m e n ts .
2 .
V e s s e ls
o p e ra te d
by
or
fo r
th e
U n it e d
S t a te s
arm ed
fo rc e s
m ay
e n te r
th e
s u c h v e s s e ls , a n d s u c h a g r e e d im p l e m e n ti n g a r r a n g e m e n ts a s n e c e s s a r y . 3 . V e h ic le s , v e s s e ls , a n d a ir c r a f t o p e r a te d by o r fo r th e U n ite d S ta te s a rm e d fo rc e s
s h a ll n o t b e s u b je c t to th e p a y m e n t o f la n d in g o r p o r t fe e s , n a v ig a tio n o r o v e r flig h t c h a r g e s , o r to lls o r o th e r u s e c h a r g e s , in c lu d i n g li g h t a n d h a r b o r d u e s , w h ile in t h e P h ilip p in e s . A ir c r a ft o p e r a te d b y o r fo r th e U n i te d S ta te s a r m e d fo r c e s s h a ll o b s e r v e lo c a l a ir tr a ffic c o n tro l r e g u la tio n s w h ile in th e P h ilip p in e s . V e s s e ls ow ned or
V ia t h e s e le g is la t o r s ,
c o n s o l id a t e d
p e t it io n s
fo r
c e r t io r a r i
and
p r o h ib it io n , and
p e t it i o n e r s a s s a il
as th e
n o n -g o v e rn m e n ta l
o r g a n iz a t io n s ,
c it iz e n s
ta x p a y e rs
D o p e t i t i o n e r s h a v e l e g a l s t a n d in g a s c o n c e r n e d c i t i z e n s , t a x p a y e r s , o r l e g i s l a to r s t o q u e s t i o n th e c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f t h e V F A ?
II
I s th e V F A g o v e r n e d b y th e p r o v i s i o n s o f S e c t i o n 2 1 , A r t i c l e V I I o r o f S e c t io n 2 5 , A r t i c l e X V I I I o f th e C o n s t i t u t i o n ?
III
D o e s th e V F A c o n s t i t u t e a n a b d i c a t i o n o f P h i l i p p i n e s o v e r e ig n ty ?
a . A r e P h ilip p i n e c o u r ts d e p r iv e d o f th e i r ju r i s d ic tio n to h e a r a n d tr y o ffe n s e s c o m m itt e d b y U S m ili ta r y p e r s o n n e l?
b . Is
th e
S u p re m e
C o u rt
d e p riv e d
of
its
ju r is d ic tio n
over
o ffe n s e s
p u n is h a b le
by
r e c lu s io n p e r p e t u a o r h ig h e r ?
IV
D o e s th e V F A v io l a t e :
a . th e e q u a l p r o t e c tio n c la u s e u n d e r S e c tio n 1 , A r t ic le III o f th e C o n s tit u tio n ? b . th e P r o h ib itio n a g a in s t n u c l e a r w e a p o n s u n d e r A r tic le II, S e c t io n 8 ? c . S e c tio n 2 8 ( 4 ) , A r tic le V I o f th e C o n s titu tio n g r a n tin g th e e x e m p ti o n fr o m d u tie s fo r th e e q u ip m e n t , m a te r ia l s s u p p lie s and o th e r p r o p e r tie s ta x e s a n d in to or
i m p o rte d
a c q u ir e d i n th e P h ilip p i n e s b y , o r o n b e h a lf, o f th e U S A r m e d F o r c e s ?
LO C U S S TA N D I
any
in t e r e s t or
in
th e
case,
and d ir e c t
th at
p e t it io n e r s as th a t w h ic h a
f a ile d
to
s u b s t a n t ia t e o p e r a t io n in v a l id it y s t a n d in g . of of
[1 3 ]
th a t th e y th e th e V FA . V F A
s u s t a in e d , on
w ill s u s t a in o th e r
in ju r y
r e s u lt
o f th e or
P e t it io n e r s , a m a tte r of
th e
hand,
c o u n te r
th e
v a lid it y
is
tra n s c e n d e n ta l
im p o r t a n c e
j u s t if ie s
t h e ir
im m e d ia t e ,
im m in e n t
danger
s u s t a in in g
som e
d ir e c t som e
in ju r y
r e s u lt
e n fo rc e m e n t, a n d show
n o t m e r e ly t h a t h e
s u ff e r s t h e r e b y in
in d e f in it e
w a y . H e
m ust is by
t h a t h e h a s b e e n , o r is a b o u t t o b e , d e n ie d s o m e r ig h t o r p r iv il e g e t o w h ic h h e is a b o u t to
[1 4 ]
la w f u l ly e n t it le d , o r t h a t h e
be
s u b je c t e d
to
som e
b u r d e n s o r p e n a lt ie s
r e a s o n o f t h e s t a t u t e c o m p la in e d o f .
r e s u lt o f t h e th a t th e V FA
e n fo rc e m e n t of th e in v o lv e s t h e b e a rs
t a x p a y e r s , p e t it io n e r s
e x e r c is e
b y C o n g r e s s o f it s t a x in g t a x p a y e r s s u it refe rs to
o r s p e n d in g a case
O n t h is p o in t , it c o m p la in e d
[1 6 ]
s t r e s s in g
th a t a
w h e re
act
of
d ir e c t ly in v o lv e s t h e
ill e g a l d is b u r s e m e n t o f p u b lic f u n d s d e r iv e d f r o m
[1 7 ]
t a x a t io n .
Thus,
in B u g n a y C o n s t . & D e v e l o p m e n t C o r p . v s . L a r o n
, w e h e ld :
x x x i t i s e x ig e n t t h a t th e t a x p a y e r - p l a in t i f f s u f f i c i e n t l y s h o w th a t h e w o u ld b e b e n e f i t e d o r in j u r e d b y t h e j u d g m e n t o r e n t i t l e d t o t h e a v a i l s o f th e s u i t a s a r e a l p a r t y i n i n t e r e s t . B e f o r e h e c a n i n v o k e th e p o w e r o f j u d i c i a l r e v i e w , h e m u s t s p e c i f i c a l l y p r o v e th a t h e h a s s u f f i c i e n t i n t e r e s t i n p r e v e n t i n g th e i l l e g a l e x p e n d i t u r e o f m o n e y r a i s e d b y t a x a t i o n a n d th a t h e w i l l s u s t a i n a d i r e c t in j u r y a s a r e s u l t o f t h e e n f o r c e m e n t o f t h e q u e s t io n e d s t a t u t e o r c o n tr a c t . I t i s n o t s u f f i c i e n t th a t h e h a s m e r e ly a g e n e r a l i n t e r e s t c o m m o n t o a l l m e m b e r s o f th e p u b l i c .
C le a r ly , in a s m u c h
as n o
p u b l ic f u n d s r a is e d
b y t a x a t io n
a re
i n v o lv e d
in
t h is c a s e ,
a n d in t h e a b s e n c e o f a n y a l le g a t io n b y p e t it io n e r s t h a t p u b lic f u n d s a r e b e in g m is s p e n t o r il le g a l ly e x p e n d e d , p e t it io n e r s , a s ta x p a y e rs , h a v e no le g a l s t a n d in g to a s s a il t h e
le g a l it y o f t h e V F A . S im ila r ly , R e p r e s e n t a t iv e s W ig b e r t o T a a d a , A g a p it o A q u in o a n d J o k e r A rro y o , a s
p e t it io n e r s - le g is l a t o r s , d o n o t p o s s e s s t h e r e q u is it e lo c u s s t a n d i t o m a in t a in t h e p r e s e n t s u it . W h ile E n riq u e z ,
[1 8 ]
t h is
C o u rt,
in P h i l .
C o n s t it u t i o n
A s s o c ia tio n
vs.
H on.
S a lv a d o r
s u s t a in e d t h e le g a l s t a n d i n g o f a m e m b e r o f t h e S e n a t e a n d t h e H o u s e o f
o f th e p o w e r o f C o n g r e s s to it m ay be tru e th a t
g r a n t t a x e x e m p t io n s , a r e m o r e a p p a r e n t t h a n p o in t e d to p r o v is io n s of th e V FA w h ic h
p e t it io n e r s
a lle g e d ly im p a ir t h e ir le g is la t iv e
p o w e r s , p e t it io n e r s f a ile d
h o w e v e r to
s u f f ic ie n t ly s h o w
t h a t t h e y h a v e in f a c t s u ff e r e d d ir e c t in ju r y . In th e in sam e th e s e v e in , p e t it io n e r I n t e g r a t e d c a s e s . A s a p t ly o b s e r v e d b r in g t h is s u it in th e B a r o f th e b y th e of a P h ili p p in e s ( I B P ) is s t r ip p e d of
s t a n d in g
S o lic it o r G e n e r a l, t h e b o a rd r e s o lu t i o n fro m
IB P
la c k s t h e of
le g a l c a p a c it y t o
absence
it s B o a r d
[1 9 ]
G o v e r n o r s a u t h o r iz in g it s N a t io n a l P r e s id e n t t o c o m m e n c e t h e p r e s e n t a c t io n . N o t w it h s t a n d in g , in v ie w of th e p a ra m o u n t im p o r t a n c e an d th e
c o n s t it u t io n a l
s ig n if ic a n c e o f t h e is s u e s r a is e d i n t h e p e t it io n s , t h is C o u r t , in t h e e x e r c is e o f it s s o u n d d is c r e t io n , b r u s h e s a s id e th e p r o c e d u r a l b a r r ie r a n d t a k e s c o g n iz a n c e
[2 0 ]
o f th e
p e t it io n s ,
a s w e h a v e d o n e in t h e e a r ly E m e r g e n c y P o w e r s C a s e s , r u le :
w h e r e w e h a d o c c a s io n t o
w as vs.
r e it e r a t e d S in g s o n ,
[2 2 ]
in
th e
cases
o f G o n z a le s and
vs.
C O M E LE C ,
D aza
and B asco
A m usem ent
G a m in g
C o rp o ra tio n ,
[2 3 ]
w h e r e w e e m p h a t ic a lly h e ld :
C o n s i d e r i n g h o w e v e r th e im p o r t a n c e to th e p u b l i c o f th e c a s e a t b a r , a n d i n k e e p in g w i t h th e C o u r t s d u t y , u n d e r th e 1 9 8 7 C o n s t i t u t i o n , t o d e t e r m in e w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e
o t h e r b r a n c h e s o f th e g o v e r n m e n t h a v e k e p t t h e m s e l v e s w i t h in th e l i m i t s o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n a n d th e l a w s a n d th a t t h e y h a v e n o t a b u s e d t h e d i s c r e t i o n g iv e n t o t h e m , th e C o u r t h a s b r u s h e d a s id e te c h n ic a litie s o f p ro c e d u r e a n d h a s ta k e n c o g n iz a n c e o f th is p e titio n . x x x
A g a in , in t h e m o r e r e c e n t c a s e o f K il o s b a y a n v s . G u i n g o n a , J r . , th a t in cases of and tra n s c e n d e n ta l a llo w a im p o r t a n c e , t h e C o u rt w h ere m ay
[2 4 ]
t h is C o u r t r u le d th e s ta n d in g
re la x no
re q u ire m e n ts
s u it t o p r o s p e r e v e n
th e re is
d ir e c t i n j u r y t o
th e t h is
d e p a rtm e n ts C o u rt
of
th e
g o v e rn m e n t
re s p e c t
n e v e r t h e le s s
r e s o lv e s t o t a k e c o g n iz a n c e o f t h e in s t a n t p e t it io n s .
A P P L IC A B L E C O N S T IT U T IO N A L P R O V IS IO N
a p p lic a b le
c o n s id e r in g t h a t t h e
h a s f o r it s s u b j e c t t h e p r e s e n c e
o f f o r e ig n m i lit a r y
t r o o p s in t h e P h ilip p in e s . R e s p o n d e n t s , o n t h e c o n t r a r y , m a in t a in t h a t S e c t io n 2 1 , A r t ic le V I I s h o u ld a p p ly in a s m u c h w h ic h a s th e V FA is n o t a b a s in g a rra n g e m e n t b u t a n a g re e m e n t in j o in t
in v o lv e s m e r e ly t h e t e m p o r a r y v is it s o f U n it e d S t a t e s p e r s o n n e l e n g a g e d
t r e a t ie s
h e r e in r e s p o n d e n t s in v o k e , r e a d s :
N o t r e a ty o r i n t e r n a t io n a l a g r e e m e n t s h a l l b e v a l i d a n d e f f e c t i v e u n l e s s c o n c u r r e d i n b y a t l e a s t tw o - t h ir d s o f a l l t h e M e m b e r s o f t h e S e n a t e .
S e c t io n 2 5 , A r t ic le X V I I I , p r o v id e s :
A f t e r t h e e x p ir a t i o n in 1 9 9 1 o f t h e A g r e e m e n t b e tw e e n t h e R e p u b l i c o f th e P h i l i p p in e s a n d th e U n i t e d S t a t e s o f A m e r i c a c o n c e r n in g M i l i t a r y B a s e s , f o r e i g n m i l i t a r y b a s e s , t r o o p s , o r f a c i l i t i e s s h a l l n o t b e a l l o w e d in th e P h i l i p p i n e s e x c e p t u n d e r a t r e a t y d u ly c o n c u r r e d in b y th e s e n a t e a n d , w h e n th e C o n g r e s s s o r e q u i r e s , r a t i f i e d b y a m a j o r i t y o f th e v o t e s c a s t b y th e p e o p l e i n a n a t i o n a l r e f e r e n d u m h e ld f o r th a t p u r p o s e , a n d r e c o g n i z e d a s a t r e a t y b y th e o t h e r c o n t r a c t i n g S t a t e .
S e c t io n 2 1 , A r t ic le
V I I d e a ls w it h
t r e a t is e o r in t e r n a t io n a l a g r e e m e n t s in g e n e r a l, in
w h ic h c a s e , t h e c o n c u r r e n c e o f a t le a s t t w o - t h ir d s ( 2 / 3 ) o f a ll t h e M e m b e r s o f t h e S e n a t e
is r e q u ir e d t o m a k e t h e s u b je c t t r e a t y , o r in t e r n a t io n a l a g r e e m e n t , v a lid a n d b in d in g th e p a rt of th e P h ilip p i n e s . T h is p r o v is io n la y s do w n th e g e n e r a l r u le on t r e a t is e
on or
o f t r e a t y w it h a w id e v a r ie t y o f s u b je c t or ta x t r e a t is e in t o or th o s e by th e e c o n o m ic in
n a t u r e . A ll
t r e a t ie s
in t e r n a t io n a l
a g re e m e n ts
e n te re d
P h ilip p in e s ,
p re s e n c e t h is
m ilit a r y
tro o p s S e n a te
P h il ip p i n e s . U n d e r
p r o v is io n ,
c o n c u rr e n c e
m ilit a r y b a s e s , t r o o p s , o r f a c ilit ie s m a y b e
P h ili p p in e s
v ir t u e o f a t r e a t y d u ly c o n c u r r e d in b y t h e S e n a t e , r a t if ie d b y a m a jo r it y o f t h e v o t e s c a s t in a n a t io n a l re fe re n d u m h e ld fo r th a t p u rp o s e if so r e q u ir e d by C o n g re s s , and
r e c o g n iz e d a s s u c h b y t h e o t h e r c o n tr a c t in g s t a t e . I t is o u r c o n s id e r e d v ie w th a t b o th c o n s t it u t io n a l p r o v is io n s , f a r f r o m c o n t r a d ic t in g
e a c h o t h e r , a c t u a lly s h a r e s o m e em body p h ra s e s in th e n e g a t iv e
c h a r a c t e r . I n p a r t ic u la r , S e c t io n 2 1 o p e n s w it h t h e c la u s e N o t r e a t y x x x , a n d S e c t io n 25 c o n t a in s th e of p h ra s e th e s h a ll is n ot be a llo w e d . A d d it io n a lly , to re n d e r th e in b o th in s t a n c e s , or th e
c o n c u rre n c e
S e n a te
in d is p e n s a b le
tre a ty
in t e r n a t io n a l
2 1 , A r t ic le is
V II, a n d
th a t th e in
e x te n d e d w h e th e r
it s c o n c u r r e n c e under S e c t io n
u n d e r th e A r t ic le
p r o v is io n ,
im m a t e r ia l. F o r
e it h e r
21,
S e c t io n 2 5 , A r t ic le
X V I I I , t h e f u n d a m e n t a l la w
is c r y s t a ll in e t h a t t h e c o n c u r r e n c e o f t h e
S e n a t e is m a n d a t o r y t o c o m p ly w it h t h e s t r ic t c o n s t it u t io n a l r e q u ir e m e n t s . O n S ta te s g o v e rn th e w h o le , and v is it s th e V FA is an a g re e m e n t th e w h ic h d e f in e s th e tre a tm e n t fo r th e of U n it e d to
tr o o p s such
p e r s o n n e l v is it in g o f m ilit a r y
P h ili p p in e s . I t and f u rt h e r
p r o v id e s th e
g u id e lin e s o f th e
p e r s o n n e l,
d e f in e s
r ig h t s
U n it e d
f u r t h e r d is c u s s e d h e r e u n d e r . I t is a f in e ly - im b e d d e d p r in c ip le la w in in s t a t u t o r y c o n s t r u c t io n t h a t a s p e c ia l p r o v is i o n o r
p r e v a i ls o v e r a g e n e r a l o n e . L e x s p e c i a l i s d e r o g a t g e n e r a l i . T h u s , w h e r e t h e r e is sam e s ta tu te a p a r t ic u la r e n a c t m e n t a n d w o u ld i n c lu d e w hat is a ls o a g e n e ra l o n e in th e w h ic h , in it s m o s t p a r t ic u la r
th e
c o m p r e h e n s iv e
sense,
e m b ra c e d
f o r m e r, t h e
e n a c t m e n t m u s t b e o p e r a t iv e , a n d t h e g e n e r a l e n a c t m e n t m u s t b e t a k e n t o a f f e c t o n ly such cases w it h in it s
[2 6 ]
g e n e ra l
la n g u a g e
w h ic h
a re
not
w it h in
th e
p r o v is io n
of
th e
p a r t ic u la r e n a c t m e n t .
[2 7 ]
w e e n u n c ia t e d :
x x x th a t a n o t h e r b a s i c p r in c i p l e o f s t a tu t o r y c o n s t r u c t i o n m a n d a t e s t h a t g e n e r a l l e g i s l a t i o n m u s t g iv e w a y t o a s p e c i a l l e g i s l a t i o n o n t h e s a m e s u b j e c t , a n d g e n e r a l l y b e s o in t e r p r e t e d a s t o e m b r a c e o n l y c a s e s in w h i c h t h e s p e c i a l p r o v i s io n s a r e n o t a p p l i c a b l e ( S t o . D o m in g o v s . d e l o s A n g e l e s , 9 6 S C R A 1 3 9 ) , t h a t a s p e c i f i c s t a tu t e p r e v a i l s o v e r a g e n e r a l s t a tu t e ( D e J e s u s v s . P e o p l e , 1 2 0 S C R A 7 6 0 ) a n d th a t w h e r e t w o s t a t u t e s a r e o f e q u a l t h e o r e t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n t o a p a r t i c u l a r c a s e , th e o n e d e s ig n e d t h e r e f o r s p e c i a l l y s h o u ld p r e v a i l ( W i l W i l h e n s e n I n c . v s . B a lu y o t , 8 3 S C R A 3 8 ) .
M o r e o v e r , it is m e re t r a n s ie n t s p e c io u s to fo r a rg u e th e t h a t S e c t io n re a s o n th a t 2 5 , A r t ic le th e re is no X V I I I is in a p p lic a b le p la c i n g to of
a g re e m e n ts
p e rm a n e n t
p la c e d p e r m a n e n t l y in t h e P h ilip p in e s . I t is a r u d im e n t in le g a l h e r m e n u e t ic s t h a t w h e n no d is t in c t io n is m a d e b y la w , t h e
in t h e
V F A . N o t a b ly , a p e r u s a l o f s a id f o r e ig n to m ilit a r y th e bases,
c o n s t it u t io n a l p r o v is io n r e v e a ls t h a t d if f e r e n t ly , any f o r e ig n bases,
p r o s c r ip t io n p r o h ib it io n b e in g
c o v e rs is not
lim it e d
e n tr y
o f tr o o p s not th e m
bases
e s t a b l is h e d . T h e c o lle c t iv e ly of com m a
c la u s e but and of
f o r e ig n
m i lit a r y
t r o o p s , o r f a c ilit ie s s u b je c t s . T h e d is a s s o c ia t io n e n u m e r a t io n ,
[2 8 ]
s e p a ra te w o rd th e th re e o r oth e rs
and
in d e p e n d e n t s ig n if ie s in th e a
d is ju n c t iv e t h in g fro m
c le a r ly in c lu d e d
in d e p e n d e n c e th a t, th e
p r o v is io n
c o n t e m p la t e s
d if f e r e n t
s it u a t io n s
m ilit a r y t r e a t y t h e s u b je c t o f w h ic h c o u ld b e e it h e r ( a ) f o r e ig n b a s e s , ( b ) f o r e ig n
tro o p s ,
d e lib e r a t io n s in t e r p r e t a t io n :
th e
C o n s t it u t io n a l
C o m m is s i o n ,
q u e s tio n i s : If t h e
c o u n t r y d o e s e n te r in to
k in d
o f a tr e a ty , m u s t it c o v e r t h e in to c o v e r o n ly o n e o r
th r e e -b a s e s , tr o o p s o r fa c ilitie s -o r c o u ld t h e tr e a ty e n te r e d tw o ?
an y
re a s o n
w hy
th e
g o v e rn m e n t c a n
e n te r
i n to
tre a ty
( U n d e r s c o r in g S u p p lie d )
m ilit a r y
w a r s h ip s
a c t u a lly
s u b s t it u t e s
la n d - h o m e
base
c o u n t r y , u n le s s a tre a ty ; (b )
f o llo w in g m ust
under so
th e
tr e a t y
co n cu rred
w hen
C o n s t it u t io n ,
w h e th e r
g e n e ra l
r e q u ir e m e n t in S e c t io n 2 1 , A r t ic le V I I , o r t h e s p e c if ic m a n d a t e m e n t io n e d in S e c t io n 2 5 , A r t ic le X V III, th e p r o v is io n in th e la t t e r a r t ic le r e q u ir in g r a t if ic a t io n by a m a jo r it y o f t h e
v o t e s c a s t in a n a t io n a l r e f e r e n d u m it .
b e in g u n n e c e s s a r y s in c e C o n g r e s s h a s n o t r e q u ir e d
A s t o t h e m a tt e r o f v o t in g , S e c t i o n 2 1 , A r t i c l e V II p a r t ic u la r ly r e q u ir e s t h a t a t r e a t y o r in t e r n a t io n a l a g r e e m e n t , t o b e v a lid a n d e f f e c t iv e , m u s t b e c o n c u r r e d i n b y a t l e a s t t w o - t h ir d s o f a l l t h e m e m b e r s o f t h e S e n a t e . O n t h e o t h e r h a n d , S e c t io n 2 5 , A r t ic le
X V I I I s im p ly p r o v id e s t h a t t h e t r e a t y b e d u l y c o n c u r r e d i n b y t h e S e n a t e . A p p ly i n g th e f o r e g o in g c o n s t it u t io n a l p r o v is io n s , a t w o - t h ir d s v o te of a ll th e
m o re
s p e c if ic
r e q u ir e s
c o n c u rre n c e
in t e r n a t io n a l
a g re e m e n t, b e
m ade
by a
tw o
- t h ir d s v o t e
o f a ll t h e
m e m b e rs o f th e
S e n a te . In d e e d ,
c o n s tru e d
r e la t io n
p r o v is io n s
la n g u a g e , t h e c o n c u r r e n c e o f t h e
S e n a t e c o n t e m p la t e d
u n d e r S e c t io n 2 5 , A r t ic le
W it h o u t a t in g e o f d o u b t , t w o - t h ir d s ( 2 / 3 ) o f t h is f ig u r e , o r m e m b e rs , f a v o r a b ly a c t in g on th e p ro p o s a l is an
(1 6 )
u n q u e s t io n a b le c o m p lia n c e
w i t h t h e r e q u is it e n u m b e r o f v o t e s m e n t io n e d in S e c t io n 2 1
o f A r t ic le V I I . T h e f a c t t h a t t h e r e w e r e a c t u a lly t w e n t y - t h r e e ( 2 3 ) in c u m b e n t S e n a t o r s a t th e t im e th e v o t in g w as m ade,
[3 1 ]
w i ll n o t a lt e r in m em b e rs o f th e
a n y s ig n if ic a n t w a y t h e S e n a te c o n c u rre d w it h
c ir c u m s t a n c e th e p ro p o s e d
th a t m o re th a n
t w o - t h ir d s o f t h e
V F A , e v e n if t h e t w o - t h ir d s v o t e r e q u ir e m e n t is b a s e d o n t h is f ig u r e o f a c t u a l m e m b e r s ( 2 3 ) . I n t h is r e g a r d , t h e f u n d a m e n t a l la w is c le a r t h a t t w o - t h ir d s o f t h e 2 4 S e n a t o r s , o r a t le a s t 1 6 f a v o r a b le v o t e s , s u f f ic e s o a s t o r e n d e r c o m p l ia n c e w it h t h e s t r ic t c o n s t it u t io n a l m a n d a t e o f g iv in g c o n c u r r e n c e t o t h e s u b je c t t r e a t y . H a v in g r e s o lv e d th a t th e f ir s t t w o r e q u is it e s p r e s c r ib e d in S e c t io n 2 5 , A r t ic le X V III
p u rs u a n t
it s
c o n s t it u t io n a l p r o c e s s ,
c o n s id e r e d m e r e ly a n e x e c u t iv e a g r e e m e n t b y t h e U n it e d S t a t e s . In o p p o s it io n , re s p o n d e n ts a rg u e th a t th e le t t e r of U n it e d S ta te s A m bassador
H u b b a r d s t a t in g t h a t t h e V F A is b in d in g o n t h e U n it e d S t a t e s G o v e r n m e n t is c o n c lu s iv e , on th e p o in t th a t th e V FA is r e c o g n iz e d as a tre a ty by th e U n it e d S ta te s of
A m e r ic a . A c c o r d in g t o r e s p o n d e n t s , t h e V F A , t o b e b in d in g , m u s t o n ly b e a c c e p t e d a s a t r e a t y b y t h e U n it e d S t a t e s . T h is C o u r t is o f t h e f ir m v ie w th a t th e p h ra s e re c o g n iz e d a s a tre a ty m e a n s th a t
[3 2 ]
t h e o t h e r c o n t r a c t in g p a r t y a c c e p t s o r a c k n o w l e d g e s t h e a g r e e m e n t a s a t r e a t y . r e q u ir e th e o th e r V FA
[3 3 ]
To to it s
c o n t r a c t in g s t a t e , to th e U n it e d
th e
U n it e d S e n a te
S ta te s fo r
of
A m e r ic a
in
t h is
case, to
s u b m it t h e C o n s t it u t io n ,
S ta te s
c o n c u rre n c e
p u rs u a n t
is t o a c c o r d s t r ic t m e a n in g t o t h e p h r a s e . is t h e p r in c ip le th a t th e w o rd s u s e d in th e C o n s t it u t io n a re to be
W e ll- e n t r e n c h e d
g iv e n t h e ir o r d in a r y m e a n in g e x c e p t w h e r e t e c h n ic a l t e r m s a r e e m p lo y e d , in w h ic h c a s e th e s ig n if ic a n c e th u s a tta c h e d to th e m
[3 4 ]
p r e v a i ls . I t s la n g u a g e
s h o u ld
be
u n d e rs to o d
in
t h e s e n s e t h e y h a v e in c o m m o n u s e .
M o r e o v e r , it is in c o n s e q u e n t ia l w h e t h e r t h e U n it e d S t a t e s t r e a t s t h e V F A o n ly a s a n e x e c u t iv e b in d in g a g r e e m e n t b e c a u s e , u n d e r in t e r n a t io n a l la w , a n tre a ty .
[3 5 ]
e x e c u t iv e
a g r e e m e n t is
as
as a
To
be
s u r e , a s lo n g
as
th e
V F A
p o s s e s s e s th e
e le m e n t s o f a n
a g re e m e n t tre a ty . A
under
in t e r n a t io n a l la w ,
th e
s a id
a g re e m e n t
is
to
be
ta k e n
e q u a lly
as
tre a ty ,
as
d e f in e d
by
th e
V ie n n a
C o n v e n t io n S ta te s in
on
th e
Law fo rm
of
T r e a t ie s ,
is
a n by
in t e r n a t io n a l
in s t r u m e n t
c o n c lu d e d
b e tw e e n in a
w r it t e n
[3 6 ]
and
g o v e rn e d
in t e r n a t io n a l la w , w h e t h e r e m b o d ie d in s t r u m e n t s , used fo r a and w h a te v e r or it s
s in g le
in s t r u m e n t o r in T h e re of
tw o
o r m o re o th e r
r e la t e d te rm s
p a r t ic u la r
d e s ig n a t io n .
a re
m any a re :
tre a ty
in t e r n a t io n a l
a g re e m e n t,
som e
w h ic h
a c t,
p r o t o c o l,
in t e r n a t io n a l a g r e e m e n t s
g e n e ra l te rm
t r e a t y h a v e lit t le o r n o le g a l s ig n if ic a n c e . C e r t a in t e r m s a r e u s e f u l, b u t t h e y
[3 7 ]
f u r n is h lit t le m o r e t h a n m e r e d e s c r ip t io n . A r t ic le 2 (2 ) o f th e V ie n n a
C o n v e n t io n
p r o v id e s t h a t t h e
p r o v is io n s o f p a r a g r a p h
r e g a r d in g t h e u s e o f t e r m s in t h e p r e s e n t C o n v e n t io n a r e w it h o u t p r e j u d ic e t o t h e u s e o f t h o s e t e r m s , o r t o t h e m e a n in g s w h ic h m a y b e S ta te . Thus, in in t e r n a t io n a l la w , in t h e ir b in d in g th e re is no d if f e r e n c e b e tw e e n t r e a t ie s lo n g as and th e e x e c u t iv e n e g o t ia t in g g iv e n to th e m in t h e i n t e r n a l la w o f th e
a g re e m e n ts
e ffe c t u p o n
sta te s
c o n c e rn e d , a s
[3 8 ]
f u n c t io n a r ie s h a v e r e m a in e d no d is t in c t io n b e tw e e n
w it h in t h e ir p o w e r s . and e x e c u tiv e
I n t e r n a t io n a l l a w th e y
c o n t in u e s t o m a k e a re e q u a l ly b in d i n g
t r e a t ie s
[3 9 ]
a g re e m e n ts :
o b lig a t io n s u p o n n a t io n s . In even
o u r ju r is d ic t io n , w e w it h o u t th e
have
r e c o g n iz e d of th e
[4 0 ]
th e
b in d in g or
e f f e c t o f e x e c u t iv e
a g re e m e n ts of
c o n c u rre n c e
S e n a te
C o n g re s s . In C o m m is s io n e r
C u s to m s v s . E a s te rn S e a T ra d in g ,
w e h a d o c c a s io n t o p r o n o u n c e :
F u r t h e r m o r e , th e U n i t e d S t a t e s S u p r e m e C o u r t h a s e x p r e s s l y r e c o g n i z e d th e v a l i d i t y a n d c o n s t i t u t i o n a l i t y o f e x e c u t iv e a g r e e m e n t s e n t e r e d in t o w i th o u t S e n a t e a p p r o v a l . ( 3 9 C o l u m b i a L a w R e v i e w , p p . 7 5 3 - 7 5 4 ) ( S e e , a l s o , U .S . v s . C u r t i s W r i g h t E x p o r t C o r p o r a t io n , 2 9 9 U . S . 3 0 4 , 8 1 L . e d . 2 5 5 ; U . S . v s . B e l m o n t , 3 0 1 U .S . 3 2 4 , 8 1 L . e d . 1 1 3 4 ; U .S . v s . P i n k , 3 1 5 U .S . 2 0 3 , 8 6 L . e d . 7 9 6 ; O z a n i c v s . U . S . 1 8 8 F . 2 d . 2 8 8 ; Y a le L a w J o u r n a l, V o l. 1 5 p p . 1 9 0 5 -1 9 0 6 ; C a lif o r n ia L a w R e v ie w , V o l . 2 5 , p p . 6 7 0 - 6 7 5 ; H y d e o n I n t e r n a t i o n a l L a w [ r e v i s e d E d i t io n ] , V o l . 2 , p p .
1 4 0 5 , 1 4 1 6 - 1 4 1 8 ; w i l l o u g h b y o n t h e U . S . C o n s t it u t i o n L a w , V o l . I [ 2 d e d . ] , p p . 5 3 7 - 5 4 0 ; M o o r e , I n t e r n a t io n a l L a w D i g e s t , V o l . V , p p . 2 1 0 - 2 1 8 ; H a c k w o r t h , I n t e r n a t io n a l L a w D i g e s t , V o l . V , p p . 3 9 0 - 4 0 7 ) . ( I t a l i c s S u p p l i e d ) ( E m p h a s i s O u r s)
The d e l ib e r a t io n s of th e C o n s t it u t io n a l C o m m is s io n w h ic h d ra fte d th e 1987
C o n s t it u t io n is e n lig h t e n in g a n d h i g h ly - in s t r u c t iv e :
M R . M A A M B O N G . O f c o u r s e it g o e s w ith o u t s a y in g th a t a s fa r a s r a tific a tio n o f th e o th e r
e v e r y th in g to m a k e it a tr e a ty , th e n a s f a r a s w e a r e c o n c e r n e d , w e tre a ty .
[4 1 ]
w ill a c c e p t it a s
The
re c o rd s
re v e a l
th a t
th e
U n it e d
[4 2 ]
S ta te s
G o v e rn m e n t,
th ro u g h
A m bassador
c o n c u r r e n c e o f t h e S e n a t e s h o u ld b e t a k e n a s a c le a r a n u n e q u iv o c a l e x p r e s s io n o f o u r n a t io n s c o n s e n t to be bound by s a id tr e a t y , w it h th e c o n c o m it a n t d u t y t o u p h o ld th e
A S t a t e m a y p r o v id e in it s d o m e s t ic le g is la t io n t h e p r o c e s s o f
th a t th e
n e g o t ia t in g S ta te s ig n
S ta te s a g re e d has th e s ig n e d tre a ty th e
t h a t r a t if ic a t io n
s h o u ld
r e q u ir e d , ( c ) th e f u ll
r e p r e s e n t a t iv e of th e
o f th e to
t r e a t y s u b je c t t o to r a t if ic a t io n
r a t if ic a t io n , o r ( d ) a p p e a rs
[4 4 ]
in t e n t io n
S ta te
s u b je c t
fro m
th e
p o w e r s o f it s r e p r e s e n t a t iv e , o r w a s e x p r e s s e d d u r in g t h e n e g o t ia t io n . In our ju r is d ic t io n , th e pow er to r a t if y is v e s te d in th e
P r e s id e n t
and
n o t,
as
c o m m o n ly b e lie v e d , in t h e le g is la t u r e . T h e r o le o f t h e S e n a t e is lim it e d o n ly t o g iv in g o r w it h h o ld in g it s c o n s e n t , o r c o n c u r r e n c e , t o t h e r a t if ic a t io n .
[4 5 ]
W it h t h e r a t if ic a t io n o f t h e V F A , w h ic h is e q u iv a le n t t o f in a l a c c e p t a n c e , a n d w it h t h e exchange o f n o te s b e tw e e n th e P h il ip p in e s and th e U n it e d S t a t e s o f A m e r ic a , i t n o w
b e c o m e s o b lig a t o r y a n d in c u m b e n t o n o u r p a r t , u n d e r t h e p r in c ip le s o f in t e r n a t io n a l la w , to th e be bound b y t h e t e rm s o f t h e
[4 6 ]
a g re e m e nt. T h u s , n o th e P h ilip p in e s
le s s t h a n th e
S e c t io n
2 , A r t ic le
II o f
C o n s t it u t io n ,
d e c la r e s
th a t
a d o p ts
g e n e r a lly
a c c e p te d
p r in c ip le s o f i n t e r n a t io n a l la w
a s p a r t o f t h e la w o f t h e la n d a n d a d h e r e s t o t h e p o l ic y o f
p e a c e , e q u a lit y , ju s t ic e , f r e e d o m , c o o p e r a t io n a n d a m it y w it h a ll n a t io n s .
A s
m em ber a c c e p te d
of
th e
f a m ily fo r
of
n a t io n s , con duct th e it s
th e of
P h ilip p in e s it s and
a g re e s
to
be
bound
by th e
g e n e r a lly
r u le s
th e
in t e r n a t io n a l not upon th e
r e la t io n s . W h ile
in t e r n a t io n a l o b li g a t io n in s t it u t io n , r e s p o n s ib le or in d iv i d u a l
d e v o lv e s m em ber
upon of
s ta te
any
p a r t ic u la r b r a n c h , is n o n e t h e le s s
g o v e rn m e n t,
P h ili p p in e s
f o r v io la t io n s c o m m it t e d b y a n y b r a n c h
o r s u b d iv is io n o f it s g o v e r n m e n t o r
a n y o f f ic ia l t h e r e o f . A s a n in t e g r a l p a r t o f t h e c o m m u n it y o f n a t io n s , w e a r e r e s p o n s ib le to a s s u re t h a t o u r g o v e r n m e n t , C o n s t it u t io n
[4 7 ]
and th e
la w s
w i ll c a r r y
o u t o u r in t e r n a t io n a l c o n v e n ie n t e x c u s e
o b lig a t io n .
H ence, w e w it h
c a n n o t r e a d ily
p le a d
C o n s t it u t io n
as a
f o r n o n - c o m p lia n c e la w .
o u r o b l ig a t io n s , d u t ie s a n d
r e s p o n s ib il it ie s u n d e r in t e r n a t io n a l
it s o b lig a t io n s a r is in g n o t in v o k e p r o v is io n s
[4 8 ]
la w , a n d
it m a y
f a ilu r e t o p e r f o r m t h is d u t y .
f a it h . T h is
know n
th e
p r in c ip le been on e
o f p a c ta o f th e
sunt
s e r v a n d a w h ic h
p re s e rv e s
s a n c t it y o f t r e a t ie s a n d
have
m o s t f u n d a m e n t a l p r in c ip l e s o f p o s it iv e
[4 9 ]
in t e r n a t io n a l la w , s u p p o r t e d b y t h e ju r is p r u d e n c e o f in t e r n a t io n a l t r ib u n a ls .
N O G R A V E A B U S E O F D IS C R E T IO N
I n t h e in s t a n t c o n t r o v e r s y , t h e P r e s id e n t , in e f f e c t , is h e a v i ly f a u lt e d f o r e x e r c is in g a p o w e r a n d p e r f o r m in g a t a s k c o n f e r r e d u p o n h im in t o and r a t if y t r e a t ie s . T h r o u g h c o n s o lid a t e d in th e e x p e d ie n c y b y t h e C o n s t it u t io n - t h e p o w e r t o e n t e r of R u le 65 of th e R u le s of C o u r t, p a rt
p e t it io n e r s in of th e c h ie f
th e s e
c a s e s im p u t e g r a v e th e V F A , and
abuse
o f d is c re tio n o n th e sam e to th e
th e
E x e c u t iv e
r a t if y in g
r e f e r r in g
S e n a te
w h im s ic a l e x e r c is e
ju d g m e n t
e q u iv a le n t
ju r is d ic t io n ,
p o w e r is e x e r c is e d in a n a r b it r a r y o r d e s p o t ic m a n n e r b y r e a s o n o f p a s s io n o r p e r s o n a l h o s t ilit y , a n d it m u s t b e s o p a t e n t a n d g r o s s a s t o a m o u n t t o a n e v a s io n o f p o s it iv e d u t y e n jo in e d o r t o a c t a t a ll in c o n t e m p la t io n o f la w .
[5 0 ]
B y c o n s t it u t io n a l f ia t a n d b y t h e in t r in s ic n a t u r e o f h is o ff ic e , t h e P r e s id e n t , a s h e a d o f S t a t e , is t h e s o le o rg a n and a u t h o r it y in th e e x t e r n a l a ff a ir s o f t h e
[5 1 ]
c o u n tr y . I n m a n y
w a y s , t h e P r e s id e n t is t h e c h ie f a r c h it e c t o f t h e n a t io n s f o r e ig n p o lic y ; h is d o m in a n c e in th e h is f ie ld o f f o r e ig n in th e r e la t io n s is ( t h e n ) c o n c e d e d . e x t e r n a l a ff a ir s o f th e W ie ld in g v a s t p o w e rs a n d e s c r ib e s , is in f lu e n c e , e x e c u tiv e
conduct
[5 2 ]
n a t io n , a s
J e ff e r s o n
a lto g e th e r . "
A s
re g a rd s
th e
pow er
to
e n te r
in t o
t r e a t ie s
or
in t e r n a t io n a l
a g re e m e n ts ,
th e
C o n s t it u t io n v e s t s t h e s a m e in t h e P r e s id e n t , s u b je c t o n ly t o t h e c o n c u r r e n c e o f a t le a s t
p o w e rs
g r a n t e d h im S e n a te th e a c ts
n o l e s s t h a n b y t h e f u n d a m e n t a l la w C o n g re s s o f th e
it s e lf . I n t o t h e f ie ld o f n e g o t ia t i o n t h e to in v a d e it . C o n s e q u e n t ly , th e a c ts of
c a n n o t in t r u d e , a n d o r ju d g m e n t c a lls
it s e lf is p o w e r le s s th e
P r e s id e n t in v o lv in g
V F A - s p e c if ic a lly
c le a r s h o w in g o f g r a v e a b u s e o f p o w e r o r d is c r e t io n . It is th e C o u r t s c o n s id e r e d v ie w th a t th e P r e s id e n t , in r a t if y in g th e V FA and in
s u b m it t in g t h e s a m e t o t h e S e n a t e f o r c o n c u r r e n c e , a c t e d w it h in t h e c o n f in e s a n d lim it s o f t h e p o w e r s v e s t e d in h im b y t h e C o n s t it u t io n . I t is o f n o m o m e n t t h a t t h e P r e s id e n t , in
S e n a te
fo r
under g ra v e ,
a f o r e m e n t io n e d and
p r o v is io n . C e r t a in ly , abus e an d of
no
abuse m ay to
d is c r e t io n , im p u t e d to
p a te n t
w h im s ic a l th e V FA
ju d g m e n t , th e
P r e s id e n t in
h is a c t o f r a t if y in g
r e f e r r in g
sam e
S e n a t e f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f c o m p ly i n g w it h t h e c o n c u r r e n c e r e q u ir e m e n t e m b o d ie d i n t h e f u n d a m e n t a l la w . I n d o in g s o , t h e P r e s id e n t m e r e ly p e r f o r m e d a c o n s t it u t io n a l t a s k a n d e x e r c is e d e rre d in a p r e r o g a t iv e th e t h a t c h ie f ly V FA to th e p e r t a in s S e n a te to fo r 25 th e f u n c t io n s o f h is under o f f ic e . E v e n th e if h e of
s u b m it t in g 21 o f A r t ic le
c o n c u rre n c e
p r o v is io n s
S e c t io n
V I I, in s t e a d
o f S e c t io n
o f A r t ic le
X V III o f th e
C o n s t it u t io n , s t ill,
b ro a d e n e d
scope
ju d ic ia l
n o r m a lly
p o lit ic a l
d e p a r t m e n t s t o d e c id e , s u c h a s t h o s e r e la t in g t o n a t io n a l s e c u r it y , it h a s n o t a lt o g e t h e r done aw ay
[5 4 ]
w it h The
p o lit ic a l q u e s t io n s H ig h T r ib u n a ls
such
as as
th o s e
w h ic h
a r is e by
in
th e
f ie ld
of
f o r e ig n 1 , is
r e la t io n s .
f u n c t io n ,
s a n c t io n e d
A r t ic le
V III ,
S e c t io n
m e r e ly ( t o ) c h e c k w h e t h e r o r n o t t h e g o v e r n m e n t a l b r a n c h o r a g e n c y h a s g o n e b e y o n d t h e c o n s t it u t io n a l l im it s o f it s ju r is d ic t io n , n o t t h a t it e r r e d o r h a s a d if f e r e n t v ie w . I n t h e a b s e n c e o f a s h o w in g ( o f ) g r a v e a b u s e o f d is c r e t io n a m o u n t in g t o la c k o f ju r is d ic t io n , C o u r t t o e x e r c is e it s c o r r e c t iv e p o w e r I t h a s n o p o w e r t o
[5 5 ]
t h e r e is n o o c c a s io n f o r t h e
lo o k in t o w h a t it t h in k s is a p p a r e n t e r r o r . A s to S e n a te th e p o w e r to c o n c u r w it h once th e
t r e a t ie s , t h e
[5 6 ]
c o n s t it u t io n th a t
lo d g e s t h e p o w e r, or
sam e
w it h
th e it s
a lo n e . T h u s , w it h in lik e th e
S e n a te
p e rfo rm s by an th e
e x e r c is e s
p r e r o g a t iv e c a n n o t , in
b o u n d a r ie s v ie w e d
p r e s c r ib e d to c o n s t it u t e
C o n s t it u t io n ,
th e
c o n c u rre n c e le s s gra v e
m a n n e r, b e
abuse
o f p o w e r, m u c h
r o le th e
of
th e
S e n a te an
in
r e l a t io n
to
t r e a t ie s
is
e s s e n t ia lly o f it s ow n
le g is la t iv e e r u d it e
in
c h a ra c te r;
S e n a te , a s
in d e p e n d e n t b o d y
possessed
m in d ,
h a s th e a c t io n
p r e r o g a t iv e th e
to
e it h e r a c c e p t o r r e je c t t h e o f it s w id e a c t. In t h is la t it u d e
p ro p o s e d
a g re e m e n t, a n d
w h a te v e r w is d o m
it t a k e s in th e
e x e r c is e o f th e
o f d is c r e t io n , p e r t a in s t o S e n a te
of
th e
ra th e r th a n d e lic a t e ,
b a la n c e s
le g a lit y in
s e n s e , th e
p a rta k e s
pow ers
p r in c ip a l, y e t o f chec ks
an d
r o le a liv e
k e e p in g
th e
p r in c ip le s
o f s e p a r a tio n
and
a n d v ig ila n t ly e n s u r e s t h a t t h e s e c h e r is h e d r u d im e n t s r e m a in t r u e t o t h e ir
fo rm
in a d e m o c r a t ic g o v e r n m e n t s u c h a s o u r s . T h e C o n s t it u t io n t h u s a n im a t e s , t h r o u g h p o w e r o f th e S e n a te , a h e a lt h y s y s t e m of checks and b a la n c e s
t h is t r e a t y - c o n c u r r in g
n a tu re . F o r
D a v id e ,
R e y e s , Y n a r e s - S a n t ia g o , a n d D e L e o n , J r ., J J . , c o n c u r . M e lo , a n d V it u g , J J ., jo in t h e d is s e n t o f J . P u n o . P u n o , J . , s e e d is s e n t in g o p in io n . M e n d o z a , J ., in t h e r e s u lt . P a n g a n ib a n , J . , n o p a r t d u e t o c lo s e p e r s o n a l a n d f o r m e r p r o f e s s io n a l r e la t io n s w it h a p e t it io n e r , S e n . J . R . S a lo n g a .
[1 ]
A rtic le
V . A ny to th e
such
arm ed
a tta c k
and th e
a ll m e a s u r e s N a tio n s . to
ta k e n S uch
as
r e s u lt
th e re o f s h a ll b e
s h a ll b e
S e c u r ity C o u n c il o f has ta k e n th e
U n it e d
m easures and
te r m in a te d
C o u n c il
m eas ure
neces sary
re s to re
m a in ta i n
in te r n a tio n a l
S e c u r ity o n th e V is itin g F o r c e s A g r e e m e n t.
[3 ]
J o i n t C o m m i t t e e R e p o r t. P e titio n , G .R . N o . 1 3 8 6 9 8 , A n n e x B , R o llo , p p . 6 1 - 6 2 .
[4 ]
IN S T R U M E N T O F R A T IF IC A T IO N TO A LL TO W H O M T H E S E P R E S E N T S S H A L L C O M E , G R E E T IN G S :
K N O W th e
G o v e rn m e n t o f th e
F orces 1998;
V is itin g
th e
P h ilip p in e s ,
h e r e in a fte r
re ferre d
to
as
V FA ,
w as
s ig n e d
in
M a n ila
on
10
F ebruary
W H E R E A S , th e
V FA
is e s s e n tia lly a
fra m e w o rk to
p ro m o te
b ila te r a l d e fe n s e
c o o p e r a tio n
b e tw e e n
th e
o b je c tiv e s o f th e th e R e p u b lic
j o i n t m i li t a r y
c o n d u c te d
b e tw e e n
a r m e d fo r c e s a n d d e fe n s e p e r s o n n e l m a y b e p r e s e n t in th e P h ilip p in e s s u c h
( a ) s p e c ific r e q u ir e m e n ts to fa c ilita te th e a d m is s io n
o f U n ite d S ta te s p e r s o n n e l a n d th e ir d e p a r tu r e fr o m
th e P h ilip p in e s in c o n n e c tio n w ith a c tiv itie s c o v e r e d b y th e a g r e e m e n t; ( b ) c le a r g u id e lin e s o n th e p r o s e c u tio n o f o ffe n s e s c o m m itte d b y a n y m e m b e r o f th e U n ite d S ta te s a r m e d f o r c e s w h i l e i n t h e P h i li p p i n e s ; ( c ) p r e c is e d ir e c tiv e on th e im p o r ta tio n and e x p o r ta tio n of U n ite d S ta te s G overnm e nt e q u ip m e n t,
n o tifie d e a c h
w r itin g , th r o u g h d ip lo m a tic c h a n n e ls , th a t th e y h a v e
c o m p le te d th e ir
c o n s t i t u t i o n a l r e q u i r e m e n t s f o r it s e n t r y i n t o f o r c e . I t s h a l l r e m a i n i n f o r c e u n t i l t h e e x p i r a t i o n o f 1 8 0 d a y s fro m t h e d a t e o n w h i c h e i t h e r P a r t y g i v e s t h e o t h e r P a r t y w r it t e n n o t i c e t o t e r m i n a t e t h e A g r e e m e n t . E S T R A D A , P r e s id e n t o f th e R e p u b lic o f th e th e G o v e rn m e n t
c o n s id e r e d th e a fo r e m e n tio n e d A g r e e m e n t b e tw e e n
o f th e U n ite d S ta te s o f A m e r ic a R e g a r d in g th e T r e a tm e n t o f th e U n ite d S ta te s A r m e d F o r c e s V is itin g th e P h ilip p in e s , d o h e r e b y r a tify a n d c o n fir m IN T E S T IM O N Y W H E R E O F, I have th e s a m e a n d e a c h a n d e v e r y A r tic le a n d C la u s e th e r e o f. set m y hand an d cau sed th e s e a l o f th e R e p u b lic o f th e
h e re u n to
P e titio n , G .R . N o . 1 3 8 5 8 7 , A n n e x C , R o llo , p . 5 9 .
U N IT E D
A M E R IC A
R E G A R D IN G
T R E A T M E N T O F T H E U N IT E D S T A T E S A R M E D F O R C E S V IS IT IN G W ith b e s t w is h e s .
T H E P H IL IP P IN E S .
V e r y tr u ly y o u r s , R O N A LD O B . ZA M O R A
E x e c u tiv e S e c r e ta r y
[6 ]
P e titio n , G .R . N o . 1 3 8 6 9 8 , A n n e x C . B e t w e e n J a n u a r y 2 6 a n d M a r c h 1 1 , 1 9 9 9 , t h e t w o C o m m i tt e e s j o i n t l y h e l d s i x p u b l i c h e a r i n g s - t h r e e i n
[7 ]
W H E R E A S , th e c o u n tr ie s ; and
fo r
s tr e n g th e n in g
th e ir
p a r tn e r s h ip
D e fe n s e T re a ty ; x x x x x x x x x W H E R E A S , th e V F A d o e s n o t g iv e u n r e s tr ic te d a c c e s s o r u n h a m p e r e d m o v e m e n t to U S F o r c e s in th e
s o v e r e ig n ty ; W H E R E A S , th e V FA is n o t a b a s in g a r r a n g e m e n t; n e ith e r d o e s it p a v e w a y fo r th e r e s to r a tio n o f th e
A m e r ic a n b a s e s a n d fa c ilitie s in th e P h ilip p in e s , in c o n tr a v e n tio n o f th e p r o h ib itio n a g a in s t fo r e ig n b a s e s and perm anent th e s ta tio n in g of fo r e ig n tro o p s o n ly und er A r tic le v is its X V III, of U S S e c tio n 25 of th e 198 7 in C o n s titu tio n jo in t m ilita r y
becau se
a greem ent
e n v is io n s
te m p o ra ry
p ersonn el
enga ged
e x e r c is e s o r o th e r a c tiv itie s a s m a y b e a p p r o v e d b y th e P h ilip p in e G o v e r n m e n t; W H E R E A S , th e V F A g iv e s P h ilip p in e c o u r ts p r im a r y ju r is d ic tio n o v e r o ffe n s e s th a t m a y b e c o m m itte d b y U S p e r s o n n e l w i t h i n P h i l i p p i n e t e r r i t o r y , w it h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h o s e i n c u r r e d s o l e l y a g a i n s t t h e s e c u r i t y o r p r o p e r ty o f t h e U s o r s o le ly a g a in s t th e p e r s o n o r p r o p e r ty o f U S p e r fo r m a n c e o f o ffic ia l d u ty ; x x x x x x x x x W H E R E A S , by v ir tu e of A rt ic le II o f th e th e V FA , th e U n ite d S ta te s c o m m its to respect th e la w s 8 of th e p e r s o n n e l, a n d th o s e c o m m itte d in th e
R e p u b lic o f th e p o lic y o f fr e e d o m
P h ilip p in e s , in c lu d in g
C o n s titu tio n , w h ic h
d e c la r e s in
A r tic le
II , S e c t i o n
th e re o f, a
W H E R E A S , th e V F A c o u n tr ie s - e n h a n c in g
th e
F o rc e s o f th e
fu n c tio n s o f S e n a te and
a s m a n d a te d co ncurs
b y th e in th e
C o n s titu tio n , P r e s id e n ts
h o ld in g
several
h e a r in g s
d e lib e r a tio n s ,
P h ilip p in e s a n d a rm e d fo rc e s ; (2) T he
U .S . a n d
th u s e n h a n c e
ta c tic a l, s tr a te g ic , a n d
te c h n o lo g ic a l c a p a b ilitie s o f o u r
A greem ent
w i ll g o v e r n
th e
tr e a t m e n t
of
U . S . , m il i t a r y a n d
d e fe n s e
p e r s o n n e l w ith in
P h ilip p in e
t e r r it o r y , w h i l e t h e y a r e e n g a g e d i n
a c tiv itie s c o v e r e d
b y th e M u tu a l D e fe n s e T re a ty a n d
c o n d u c te d w ith
th e p r io r a p p r o v a l o f th e P h ilip p in e g o v e r n m e n t; a n d
(3) T he
A g r e e m e n t w ill p r o v id e
th e
r e g u la to r y m e c h a n is m
fo r th e
c ir c u m s ta n c e s
and
c o n d itio n s u n d e r
The
fo llo w in g
v o te d
fo r
con currence:
(1)
S e n a te
P r e s id e n t
M a r c e lo
F ern an,
(2)
S e n a te
P r e s id e n t P r o F r a n c is c o
T e m p o r e B la s O p le , ( 3 ) S e n a to r F r a n k lin
D r ilo n , ( 4 ) S e n a to r R o d o lfo
B ia z o n , ( 5 ) S e n a to r
T a ta d , (6 ) S e n a to r R e n a to
C a y e ta n o , (7 ) S e n a to r T e re s a
A q u in o - O r e ta , ( 8 ) S e n a to r R o b e r t
S e n a to r V ic e n te S o tto III, ( 1 6 ) S e n a to r R a m o n R e v illa , ( 1 7 ) S e n a to r A n n a D o m in iq u e C o s e te n g , a n d ( 1 8 ) S e n a to r G r e g o r io H o n a s a n . O n ly th e fo llo w in g v o te d to r e je c t th e r a tific a tio n O sm ena of th e V FA : (1) S e n a to r T e o fis to G u in g o n a , J r., (2)
S e n a to r R a u l R o c o , ( 3 ) S e n a to r S e r g io L o r e n L e g a r d a - L e v is te .
[1 0 ]
I I I , ( 4 ) S e n a t o r A q u i li n o
P im e n te l, J r ., a n d
(5 ) S e n a to r
S e e P e titio n , G .R . N o . 1 3 8 5 7 0 , R o llo , p p . 1 0 5 . M in u te R e s o lu tio n d a te d J u n e 8 , 1 9 9 9 . S e e C o n s o lid a te d C o m m e n t. R e p ly to C o n s o lid a te d C o m m e n t, G .R . N o . 1 3 8 6 9 8 ; G .R . N o . 1 3 8 5 8 7 . V a lm o n te v s . P h ilip p in e C h a r ity S w e e p s ta k e s O ffic e , (R e s .) G .R . N o . 78716, S e p te m b e r 22, 1987,
[1 1 ]
[1 2 ]
[1 3 ]
[1 4 ]
c ite d in T e le c o m m u n ic a tio n s a n d B r o a d c a s t A tto r n e y s o f th e P h ilip p in e s , In c . v s . C O M E L E C , 2 8 9 S C R A 337, 343 [1 9 9 8 ]; C o n s t. V a lle y F orge C o lle g e v s . Laron, A m e r ic a n s 176 S C R A U n ite d , 240, 45 4 U S 464, 7 0 L. E d. 2d 7 00 [1 9 8 2 ]; Jr. 243
B ugna y
A nd
D e v.
C orp. vs.
25 1 -252
[1 9 8 9 ];
T a ta d v s .
G a r c ia ,
S C R A 4 3 6 , 4 7 3 [1 9 9 5 ].
[1 5 ]
[1 6 ]
[1 9 9 1 ];
[1 9 8 0 ];
G o n z a le s v s . M a r c o s , 6 5 S C R A 6 2 4 [1 9 7 5 ].
[1 7 ]
[1 8 ]
[1 9 ]
[2 0 ]
P h i l . 3 5 8 [ 1 9 6 5 ] ; P h i l i p p i n e C o n s t i t u ti o n A s s o c i a t i o n v s . G i m e n e z , 1 2 2 P h i l . 8 9 4 [ 1 9 6 5 ] .
[2 1 ]
[2 2 ]
[2 3 ]
[2 4 ]
[2 5 ]
[2 6 ]
[2 7 ]
[2 8 ]
[2 9 ]
[3 0 ]
s h a ll b e e le c te d a t la r g e b y th e q u a lifie d v o te r s o f th e P h ilip p in e s , a s m a y b e p r o v id e d b y la w .
[3 1 ]
The
2 4 th
m e m b e r ( G lo r ia
M a c a p a g a l-A rro y o ) o f th e
S e n a te
w hose
te rm
w a s to
e x p ir e
in
2001
w a s
e le c te d V ic e - P r e s id e n t in th e 1 9 9 8 n a tio n a l e le c tio n s .
[3 2 ]
B a lle n tin e s L e g a l D ic tio n a r y , 1 9 9 5 . A r tic le 2, S e c tio n 2, paragraph s h a ll h a v e 2 of th e U n ite d S ta te s w ith th e C o n s titu tio n , a d v ic e and s p e a k in g of th e U n ite d to S ta te s m ake
[3 3 ]
P r e s id e n t p r o v id e s : H e
c o n s e n t o f th e
S e n a te
tr e a tie s , p r o v id e d tw o - th ir d s o f th e s e n a to r s p r e s e n t c o n c u r .
[3 4 ]
[3 5 ]
In te r n a tio n a l L a w , 1 9 9 8 E d . P . 4 9 7 .
[3 6 ]
[3 7 ]
[3 8 ]
T r e a s u r e r o f th e P h ilip p in e s , 1 0 5 P h il. 1 0 3 0 , 1 0 3 7 [1 9 5 9 ].
[3 9 ]
R ic h a r d
J.
E r ic k s o n ,
T he
M a k in g
of
E x e c u tiv e
A g re e m e n ts
by
th e
U n ite d
S ta te s
D e p a rtm e n t
of
[4 1 ]
[4 2 ]
P h ilip p in e - U S V is itin g F o r c e s A g r e e m e n t in U S le g a l te r m s . Y o u r a is e a n im p o r ta n t q u e s tio n a n d I b e lie v e th is r e s p o n s e w ill h e lp in th e S e n a te d e lib e r a tio n s . A s a m a tte r of b o th U S and in te r n a tio n a l la w , an in te r n a tio n a l agreem ent li k e th e V is itin g F orces
a g r e e m e n t , b e c a u s e i t d o e s n o t r e q u i r e t h e a d v i c e a n d c o n s e n t o f t h e s e n a t e u n d e r A r t i c l e I I, s e c t i o n 2 o f o u r C o n s titu tio n . T h e P r e s id e n ts p o w e r to c o n c lu d e th e V F A w ith th e o th e r I I, c o u n tr ie s , S ec. 1) and d e r iv e s and h is fro m w ith th e P h ilip p in e s , a n d o th e r s ta tu s o f fo rc e s a g re e m e n ts fo r th e in con duct of of th e fo r e ig n A rm ed
th e
P r e s id e n ts pow ers
r e s p o n s ib ilitie s a s
r e la t io n s ( A rt . F o rc e s . S e n a te
c o n s titu tio n a l
C om m an der th e V FA
C h ie f and
a d v ic e
c o n s e n t is n o t n e e d e d , in te r a lia , b e c a u s e
s im ila r a g r e e m e n ts
percent
S e n a te a d v ic e a n d c o n s e n t. H o w e v e r , in te r m s o f th e U S of th e V FA , th e re is no d iffe r e n c e b e tw e e n a tre a ty
c oncurred
a g r e e m e n t. B a c k g r o u n d in fo r m a tio n o n th e s e p o in ts c a n b e fo u n d in th e R e s ta te m e n t 3 r d o f th e F o r e ig n R e la tio n s L a w o f th e U n ite d S ta te s , S e c . 3 0 1 , e t s e q . [1 9 8 6 ]. I hope you fin d th is answ er you h e lp fu l. A s th a t th e th e P r e s id e n ts S ta te s r e p r e s e n ta tiv e to th e G overnm ent to liv in g up of to th e th e
P h ilip p in e s , I c a n te rm s o f th e V F A . S in c e r e ly y o u r s ,
assure
U n ite d
G o v e r n m e n t is fu lly c o m m itte d
TH O M A S C . H U B B A R D A m bassa dor
[4 3 ]
[4 4 ]
E d ., p p . 5 0 6 -5 0 7 .
[4 5 ]
[4 6 ]
a c c e p te d p r in c ip le s o f in te r n a tio n a l la w
a s p a r t o f th e la w
o f th e la n d a n d a d h e r e s to th e p o lic y o f p e a c e ,
e q u a l i t y , j u s t i c e , fr e e d o m , c o o p e r a t i o n , a n d a m i t y w i t h a l l n a t i o n s .
[4 7 ]
L o u is H e n k in , R ic h a r d C . P u g h , O s c a r S c h a c h te r , H a n s S m it, In te r n a tio n a l L a w , C a s e s a n d M a te r ia ls ,
2 n d E d A m e r ic a n C a s e b o o k S e r ie s , p . 1 3 6 .
[4 8 ]
[4 9 ]
[5 0 ]
c itin g A r r o y o v s . D e V e n e c ia , 2 7 7 S C R A 2 6 8 [1 9 9 7 ].
[5 1 ]
[5 2 ]
[5 3 ]
[5 4 ]
[5 5 ]
O r b o s , 2 0 2 S C R A 8 4 9 , 8 5 7 ( 1 9 9 1 ) ; L a n s a n g v s . G a r c ia , 4 2 S C R A a t 4 8 0 - 4 8 1 [1 9 7 1 ].
[5 6 ]
P h ilip p in e s
r e s e r v e d to th e p e o p le b y th e p r o v is io n o n in itia tiv e a n d r e fe r e n d u m .
[5 7 ]
5 t h e d . , p . 4 5 ; U n it e d S t a t e s v s . C u r t i s s - W r i g h t E x p o r t C o r p . , 2 9 9 U . S . 3 0 4 , 3 1 9 ( 1 9 3 6 ) .