Lawyers League for a Better Philippines Vs. Corazon C.

Aquino
G.R. No. 73748, May 22, 1986

Facts:
On February 25, 1986, President Corazon Aquino issued Proclamation No. 1 announcing
that she and Vice President Laurel were taking power.
On March 25, 1986, proclamation No.3 was issued providing the basis of the Aquino
government assumption of power by stating that the “new government was installed through a
direct exercise of the power of the Filipino people assisted by units of the New Armed Forces of
the Philippines.”
  Petitioners alleged that the Aquino government is illegal because it was not established
pursuant to the 1973 Constitution.
 
Issues:
1. Whether or not the petitioners have a personality to sue.
2. Whether or not the government of Corazon Aquino is legitimate.
 
Discussions:
 In order that the citizen’s actions may be allowed a party must show that he personally
has suffered some actual or threatened injury as a result of the allegedly illegal conduct of the
government; the injury is fairly traceable to the challenged action; and the injury is likely to
be redressed by a favourable action.
 The community of nations has recognized the legitimacy of the provisional It was the
people that made the judgement and accepted the new government. Thus, the Supreme Court
held its legitimacy.
 
Rulings:
1. Petitioners have no personality to sue and their petitions state no cause of action. The
holding that petitioners did not have standing followed from the finding that they did not
have a cause of action.
2. The legitimacy of the Aquino government is not a justiciable matter but belongs to
the realm of politics where only the people are the judge. And the people have made the
judgment; they have accepted the government of President Corazon C. Aquino which is in
effective control of the entire country so that it is not merely a de facto government but is in
fact and law a de jure government.  Moreover, the community of nations has recognized the
legitimacy of the present government.