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129093
FACTS:
On 02 September 1976, President Ferdinand Marcis issued Presidential Decree (P.D.) 991,
calling for a national referendum to be held on 16 October 1976 for the Citizens Assemblies
(barangays) to resolve, among others, the issues on martial law and to amend certain
provisions in the Constitution, thru the authority of the President.
Twenty (20) days after, Marcos issued P.D. 1031, amending P.D. 991, which declared the
provisions of P.D. 229, which provides for the manner of voting in barangays applicable to the
national referendum to be held. Herein public respondent, the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC) was vested with the exclusive supervision and control of the said referendum.
On 27 September 1976, herein petitioners, father and son, commenced for Prohibition with
Preliminary Injunction seeking to enjoin the COMELEC from holding the said referendum,
invoking that the 1935 and 1973 Constitutions do not grant the incumber President to exercise
constituent power to propose amendments to the new Constitution. Hence, the referendum has
no legal basis.
The Solicitor General, replying for the COMELEC, stated that petitioners has no capacity to sue;
that the issue is political in nature and beyond the powers of the Court, and that at such
situation (transition period), only the incumbent President can exercise constituent power.
ISSUE: Whether or not the case filed by petitioners is a political one and beyond the judicial
review powers of the Court?
On the other hand, a justiciable question is said to be a question where the vortex of the
controversy refers to the legality or validity of the contested act.
In the present case, the basic issue is the constitutional validity of the presidential acts of
proposing amendments to the Constitution and of calling a referendum-plebiscite for the
ratification of the proposals made. Evidently, the question does not concern itself with the
wisdom of the exercise of the authority claimed, instead, the inquiry vel non is focused soley on
the existence of the said power of the President a question purely of legality determinable thru
interpretation and construction of the Constitution by the Court.
Who declares that a question is a political or justiciable?
As mentioned in the present case, it is the Supreme Court who exercises the power of judicial
review, to whom the people vested such power, has the competence to determine whether the
constitutional norm of amendments have been observed or not.
Hence, it is the Supreme Court that declares whether a question is political or justiciable.
Who are the parties involved in resolving these cases?
The Supreme Court has the final say is determining whether a case should be
considered as Political or Justiciable in nature. If Justiciable, the Court can take
cognizance, if Political , it is considered beyond jurisdiction.