9/26/2017 CASE DIGEST: Cruz v. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources [G.R. No.

135385, 2000] – Emir Mendoza

Emir Mendoza

MAY 30, 2016 BY EMIR MENDOZA

CASE DIGEST: Cruz v. Secretary of Environment

and Natural Resources [G.R. No. 135385, 2000]

Cruz v. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources (2000)

Petitioners: Isagani Cruz

Respondents: Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources

Topic: Territory !eo"le and #overnment $ Territory

SUMMARY: !etitioners assail t%e constitutionality of certain "rovisions of t%e Indigenous

!eo"les Rig%ts &ct of ' (I!R&) or R& *+' and its Im"lementing Rules and Regulations
(IRR). ,o-ever due to a tie vote ($) after due delieration and re$delieration t%e "etition
-as dismissed. (T%us t%e se"arate o"inions are more im"ortant in t%is case).

FACTS: See issues.

ISSUE/S:

• Most important issue: /oN Sections +(a) and ()  1  * and  and * of R&
*+'I!R& and its IRR are unconstitutional for unla-fully de"riving t%e State of its
o-ners%i" over lands of t%e "ulic domain minerals and ot%er natural resources
t%erein violating t%e regalian doctrine ens%rined in Section 2 &rticle 3II of t%e
Constitution
o Justice Kapunan: N4.
Said "rovisions affirming t%e o-ners%i" y indigenous "eo"les of t%eir 
ancestral lands and domains y virtue of native title ( definition5 lands %eld
in "rivate o-ners%i" since time immemorial) do not diminis% t%e State6s
o-ners%i" of lands -it%in t%e "ulic domain ecause said ancestral
lands and domains are considered as "rivate land and never to %ave
een "art of t%e "ulic domain follo-ing t%e doctrine laid do-n in Cariño
v. Insular Government.
  Section +(a) does not confer or recognize any rig%t of o-ners%i" over t%e
natural resources to t%e ICCsI!s. Its "ur"ose is definitional and not
declarative of a rig%t or title.
  Section  only grants 7"riority rig%ts8 to ICCsI!s in t%e utilization of 
nat ral reso rces and not asol te o ners%i" t%ereof T%e State retains
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9/26/2017 CASE DIGEST: Cruz v. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources [G.R. No. 135385, 2000] – Emir Mendoza

 Addendum to Cruz v. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources

1. What are the four modes of exploiting natural resources? (Section 2, Article XII of the
Constitution)

Justice Puno:

The Constitution provides that in the exploration, development and utilization of these natural
resources, the State exercises full control and supervision, and may undertae the same in four 
(!) modes"

#$ The State may directly undertae such activities% or

2$ The State may enter into co&production, 'oint venture or production&sharin

areements ith *ilipino citizens or +ualified corporations%

$ Conress may, -y la, allo small&scale utilization of natural resources -y *ilipino

citizens%

!$ *or the lare&scale exploration, development and utilization of minerals, petroleum

and other mineral oils, the .resident may enter into areements ith forein&oned
corporations involvin technical or financial assistance$

2. Which of the following modes apply for indigenous people?

According to Justice Puno:

The mall!cale "tili#ation of $atural %esources &n ec. ' ()* of the &P%A &s Allowed
"nder Paragraph +, ection 2 of Article -&& of the onstitution

xxx

The limited rihts of /manaement and use/ in Section 0 (-) must -e taen to contemplate
small&scale utilization of natural resources as distinuished from lare&scale$ Small&scale
utilization of natural resources is expressly alloed in the third pararaph of Section 2, Article
XII of the Constitution /in reconition of the pliht of forest dellers, old panners, marinal
fishermen and others similarly situated ho exploit our natural resources for their daily
sustenance and survival$/ Section 0 (-) also expressly mandates the ICCs1I.s to manae and
conserve these resources and ensure environmental and ecoloical protection ithin the

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9/26/2017 CASE DIGEST: Cruz v. Secretary of Environment and Natural Resources [G.R. No. 135385, 2000] – Emir Mendoza

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