Gonzales v.

Hechanova

G.R. No. L-21897, October 22, 1963

Ponente: Justice Conception

RAMON A. GONZALES, petitioner,

vs.

RUFINO G. HECHANOVA, as Executive Secretary, MACARIO PERALTA, JR., as Secretary of Defense, PEDRO GIMENEZ,
as Auditor General, CORNELIO BALMACEDA, as Secretary of Commerce and Industry, and SALVADOR MARINO,
Secretary of Justice, respondents.

Facts:

 On 22 September 1963, Hechanova authorized the importation of 67,000 tons of foreign rice to be
purchased from private sources, and created a rice procurement committee composed of the other
respondents mentioned above.
 On 25 September 1963, Gonzales, a rice planter and president of the Iloilo Palay and Corn Planters
Association, filed the petition against the respondents for “acting without jurisdiction or in excess of
jurisdiction” because Republic Act No. 3452 which reverses Republic Act No. 2207 that explicitly prohibits
the importation of rice and corn by “the Rice and Corn Administration or any other government agency”.
 The Philippine Government, headed by the respondents, has already entered contracts with the Republic
of Burma and the Government of Vietnam for the purchasing of rice.

Issue:

 Whether or not the executive agreements with Burma and Vietnam under international law can be
validated by the Philippine courts.

Held:

 The Supreme Court rendered a decision that the respondent’s executive agreements with Burma and
Vietnam are unlawful should not push through because they have no power to authorize the said
importation. Since Republic Act Nos. 3452 and 2207 states the limitation of the government or government
agencies to engage in importation activities of these said commodities, it is concluded that the respondents
exceeded their jurisdiction in this case. Therefore, the injunction prayed for is denied.