Renato V. Peralta vs. Phil.

Postal Corporation
G.R. No. 223395 December 04, 2018

FACTS:

Respondent Philippine Postal Corporation (PhilPost) issued a stamp commemorating Iglesia ni

Cristo’s (INC’s) Centennial Celebration. Later on, petitioner Renato Peralta filed a complaint
alleging that printing and issuance of INC Commemorative Stamp involved disbursement of
public fund which in violation of Section 2 of Article VI of the 1987 Constitution. He argued that
the respondents’ act of releasing of stamp was unconstitutional, it disrupted the separation of
Church and the State. Thus, the petitioner prayed that respondents be restrained from issuing
and distributing the INC commemorative Stamp.

ISSUE:
Did the printing of the INC centennial commemorative stamps of the PPC undermine the
inviolability of the separation of the church and the State?

RULING:
No, the Court upholds its finding that the printing and issuance of INC commemorative stamp
did not violate Section 29 (2), Article VI of the 1987 Constitution. The printing and issuance of
the assailed commemorative stamps were not inspired by any sectarian denomination. The
stamps were neither for the benefit of INC, nor money derived from their sale inured to its
benefit.  The stamps delivered to INC were not free of charge and whatever income derived
from the sale to INC and of the excess to the postal clients were not given to INC, but went to
the coffers of PhilPost.

Wherefore, the petition has been denied.