BRIGIDO R. SIMON, CARLOS QUIMPO vs.

CHR, ROQUE FERMO, and

others as JOHN DOES
G.R. No. 100150. January 5, 1994
VITUG, J.:

FACTS:
Carlos Quimpo, the Executive Officer of Quezon City issued a Demolition Notice
to herein respondents to vacate the questioned premises of North EDSA. Quimpo
informed private respondents to remove their stalls to give to way to People’s Park.

The North EDSA Vendors’ Association Inc. through their President Roque Fermo
(private respondent) filed a letter-complaint with the Commission on Human
Rights against petitioners. They asked the late CHR Mary Bautista to stop the
demolition of their stalls, sari-sari stores, and carinderias along North Edsa.

Consequently, the complaint was docketed as CHR Case and issued an order to
petitioners to desist from the demolishing the stalls and shanties of North EDSA
pending the resolution of the private respondents’ complaint before the CHR.

In its resolution, CHR ordered for the disbursement of financial assistance in favor
of the private respondents and directed petitioners to desist from further
demolition, that in case of continuing the same, CHR will cite them for contempt.

Notwithstanding CHR’s order to desist from the demolition of the private

respondents’ sari-sari stores and carinderia stalls, petitioners demolished the
same, hence, CHR cited the petitioners in contempt.

ARGUMENTS:
Petitioners filed a motion to dismiss and questioned CHR’s jurisdiction over
the complaint. Also, petitioners argue that the Commission’s authority should
be confined ONLY to the investigation of violations of civil and political
rights, and that the rights allegedly violated were not civil and political rights
but merely involved their privilege to engage in business.

Meanwhile, CHR argues that pursuant to their constitutional mandate, it has

jurisdiction over the complaint filed by the squatter-vendors (private
respondents) for their gross violations of their human and constitutional
rights.
CHR also said that they are a quasi-judicial body with the power to provide
appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights.
ISSUES:

1. Whether or not the CHR has jurisdiction to investigate the “alleged violation
of business rights” of squatters-vendors (herein respondents) whose stalls
were demolished by the petitioners at the instance and authority given by
Mayor of Quezon City (Brigido Simon).
2.