Janu
ary 12, 2016
G.R. No. 212426
RENE A.V. SAGUISAG, WIGBERTO E. TAÑADA, FRANCISCO "DODONG" NEMENZO, JR., SR.
MARY JOHN MANANZAN, PACIFICO A. AGABIN, ESTEBAN "STEVE" SALONGA, H. HARRY L.
ROQUE, JR., EVALYN G. URSUA, EDRE U. OLALIA, DR. CAROL PAGADUAN-ARAULLO, DR.
ROLAND
SIMBULAN,
AND
TEDDY
CASIÑO,
Petitioners,
vs.
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR., DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE
SECRETARY VOLTAIRE GAZMIN, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ALBERT
DEL ROSARIO, JR., DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT SECRETARY FLORENCIO
ABAD, AND ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL EMMANUEL T.
BAUTISTA,
Respondents.
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G.R. No. 212444
BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN (BAYAN), REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY GENERAL
RENATO M. REYES, JR., BAYAN MUNA PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVES NERI J. COLMENARES
AND CARLOS ZARATE, GABRIELA WOMEN'S PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVES LUZ ILAGAN AND
EMERENCIANA DE JESUS, ACT TEACHERS PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE ANTONIO L. TINIO,
ANAKPAWIS PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE FERNANDO HICAP, KABATAAN PARTY-LIST
REPRESENTATIVE TERRY RIDON, MAKABAYANG KOALISYON NG MAMAMAYAN
(MAKABAYAN), REPRESENTED BY SATURNINO OCAMPO AND LIZA MAZA, BIENVENIDO
LUMBERA, JOEL C. LAMANGAN, RAFAEL MARIANO, SALVADOR FRANCE, ROGELIO M.
SOLUTA,
AND
CLEMENTE
G.
BAUTISTA,
Petitioners,
vs.
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE (DND) SECRETARY VOLTAIRE GAZMIN, DEPARTMENT
OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ALBERT DEL ROSARIO, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY PAQUITO
N. OCHOA, JR., ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES CHIEF OF STAFF GENERAL EMMANUEL
T. BAUTISTA, DEFENSE UNDERSECRETARY PIO LORENZO BATINO, AMBASSADOR LOURDES
YPARRAGUIRRE, AMBASSADOR J. EDUARDO MALAYA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
UNDERSECRETARY FRANCISCO BARAAN III, AND DND ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR
STRATEGIC ASSESSMENTS RAYMUND JOSE QUILOP AS CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS,
RESPECTIVELY, OF THE NEGOTIATING PANEL FOR THE PHILIPPINES ON EDCA,
Respondents.
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KILUSANG MAYO UNO, REPRESENTED BY ITS CHAIRPERSON, ELMER LABOG,
CONFEDERATION FOR UNITY, RECOGNITION AND ADVANCEMENT OF GOVERNMENT
EMPLOYEES (COURAGE), REPRESENTED BY ITS NATIONAL PRESIDENT FERDINAND GAITE,
NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR UNIONS-KILUSANG MAYO UNO, REPRESENTED BY ITS
NATIONAL PRESIDENT JOSELITO USTAREZ, NENITA GONZAGA, VIOLETA ESPIRITU, VIRGINIA
FLORES,
AND
ARMANDO
TEODORO,
JR.,
Petitioners-in-Intervention,
RENE A.Q. SAGUISAG, JR.,
Petitioner-in-Intervention.
D E C I S I O N
SERENO,
J.:
The petitions
1
before this Court question the constitutionality of the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement
(EDCA) between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States of America (U.S.). Petitioners allege that
respondents committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction when they entered into
EDCA with the U.S.,
2
claiming that the instrument violated multiple constitutional provisions.
3
In reply, respondents
argue that petitioners lack standing to bring the suit. To support the legality of their actions, respondents invoke the
1987 Constitution, treaties, and judicial precedents.
4
A proper analysis of the issues requires this Court to lay down at the outset the basic parameters of the constitutional
powers and roles of the President and the Senate in respect of the above issues. A more detailed discussion of these
