<Midnight Appointments> <In Re Appointment of Valenzuela> <Abby Martinez>

<A.M. No. 98-5-01-SC.> <November 9, 1998> <J. Romulo>

KEY  TAKE-­‐AWAY  OR  DOCTRINE  TO  REMEMBER  
 
“Midnight  appointments”  are  those  obviously  for  partisan  reasons  as  shown  by  their  number  and  the  time  of  the  making  
–  but  also  appointments  presumed  made  for  the  purpose  of  influencing  the  outcome  of  the  Presidential  election  
 
RECIT-­‐READY  /  SUMMARY  
• Mateo  and  Vallarte  were  appointed  as  RTC    Judges  of  Bago  and  Cabanatuan  City.  However  their  appointments  fall  
within  the  period  ban  on  appointments  which  is  –  2  months  before  the  elections.    Their  appointment  were  
considered  as  midnight  appointments  hence  NULL  &  VOID.  
FACTS  
• 12  May  1998  —  The  appointments  of  Mateo  Valenzuela  and  Placido  Vallarta  signed  by  the  President  dated  March  
30,  1998  were  received  at  the  Chief  Justice's  chambers,  as  RTC  Judge  of  Bago  City  and  Cabanatuan  City,  
respectively.  
• The  appointment  of  the  two  RTC  Judges  falls  within  the  period  ban  on  appointments,  which  is  2  months  before  
elections  pursuant  to  Article  7  Section  15  of  the  1987  Constitution.    
• In  spite  of  this,  Valenzuela  still  took  oath  as  RTC  Judge,  acting  on  a  copy  of  his  supposed  appointment  from  
Malacañang  without  having  received  any  formal  notice  from  the  SC  which  was  the  standing  practice  

ISSUES   ARTICLES/LAWS  INVOLVED  

  1987  Constitution,  Article  7,  Section  15  
WON  the  President  can  fill  vacancies  in  the  judiciary  during   1987  Constitution,  Article  8,  Section  4(1)  
the  appointment  ban  period  stated  in  Article  7  Sec  15,   1987  Constitution,  Article  8,  Section  9.  
pursuant  to  Article  8  Sec  4(1)  &  9  of  the  1987  Constitution?    

HELD  
• NO.  
• Section  15,  Article  7  is  directed  against  two  types  of  appointments:  
1. those  made  for  buying  votes  and  
2. those  made  for  partisan  considerations  (“midnight”  appointments)  
 
Section  4(1)  Article  8    (GENERAL  PRIVISION)  
The  Supreme  Court  shall  be  composed  of  a  Chief  Justice  and  fourteen  Associate  Justices.  It  may  sit  en  banc  or,  in  its  
discretion,  in  divisions  of  three,  five,  or  seven  Members.  Any  vacancy  shall  be  filled  within  ninety  days  from  the  
occurrence  thereof  
 
Section  9  Article  8  (GENERAL  PROVISION)  
The  Members  of  the  Supreme  Court  and  judges  in  lower  courts  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  from  a  list  of  at  
least  three  nominees  prepared  by  the  Judicial  and  Bar  Council  for  every  vacancy.  Such  appointments  need  no  
confirmation.  
 
For  lower  courts,  the  President  shall  issue  the  appointments  within  ninety  days  from  the  submission  of  the  list.  
 
Section  15  Article  7  (PARTICULAR  /  EXCEPTION  PROVISION)  
Two  months  immediately  before  the  next  presidential  elections  and  up  to  the  end  of  his  term,  A  President  or  Acting  
President  shall  not  make  appointments,  except  temporary  appointments  to  executive  positions  when  continued  
vacancies  therein  will  prejudice  public  service  or  endanger  public  safety.  
 
• During  the  period  stated  in  Sec.  15,  Art.  7  of  the  Constitution  “two  months  immediately  before  the  next  presidential  
elections  and  up  to  the  end  of  his  term”  the  President  is  neither  required  to  make  appointments  to  the  courts  nor  
allowed  to  do  so;  and  that  Secs.  4(1)  and  9  of  Art.  8  simply  mean  that  the  President  is  required  to  fill  vacancies  in  
the  courts  within  the  time  frames  provided  therein  UNLESS  prohibited  by  Sec.  15  of  Art.  7.  This  prohibition  on  
appointments  comes  into  effect  once  every  6  years.  
• The  intent  of  the  Constitution  is  to  prevent  “midnight  appointments”  as  well  as  influence  of  appointments  upon  
elections.  2  months  prior  to  election,  the  President  is  deprived  of  appointing  power  subject  to  the  only  
exception.  
• The  appointments  of  Valenzuela  &  Vallarta  falls  within  this  time  frame  hence  their  appointments  are  NULL  &  
VOID.  
DECISION:  DISMISSED  
 <Midnight Appointments> <In Re Appointment of Valenzuela> <Abby Martinez>
<A.M. No. 98-5-01-SC.> <November 9, 1998> <J. Romulo>
OPINION  (CONCURRING)   OPINION  (DISSENTING)