G.R. No.

166715 August 14, 2008

ABAKADA GURO PARTY LIST (formerly AASJS)1 OFFICERS/MEMBERS SAMSON S.

ALCANTARA, ED VINCENT S. ALBANO, ROMEO R. ROBISO, RENE B. GOROSPE and
EDWIN R. SANDOVAL, petitioners,
vs.
HON. CESAR V. PURISIMA, in his capacity as Secretary of Finance, HON. GUILLERMO L.
PARAYNO, JR., in his capacity as Commissioner of the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and
HON. ALBERTO D. LINA, in his Capacity as Commissioner of Bureau of
Customs, respondents.

DECISION

CORONA, J.:

This petition for prohibition1 seeks to prevent respondents from implementing and enforcing
Republic Act (RA) 93352 (Attrition Act of 2005).

RA 9335 was enacted to optimize the revenue-generation capability and collection of the
Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC). The law intends to
encourage BIR and BOC officials and employees to exceed their revenue targets by providing a
system of rewards and sanctions through the creation of a Rewards and Incentives Fund (Fund)
and a Revenue Performance Evaluation Board (Board).3 It covers all officials and employees of
the BIR and the BOC with at least six months of service, regardless of employment status. 4

The Fund is sourced from the collection of the BIR and the BOC in excess of their revenue
targets for the year, as determined by the Development Budget and Coordinating Committee
(DBCC). Any incentive or reward is taken from the fund and allocated to the BIR and the BOC in
proportion to their contribution in the excess collection of the targeted amount of tax revenue.5

The Boards in the BIR and the BOC are composed of the Secretary of the Department of
Finance (DOF) or his/her Undersecretary, the Secretary of the Department of Budget and
Management (DBM) or his/her Undersecretary, the Director General of the National Economic
Development Authority (NEDA) or his/her Deputy Director General, the Commissioners of the
BIR and the BOC or their Deputy Commissioners, two representatives from the rank-and-file
employees and a representative from the officials nominated by their recognized organization.6

Each Board has the duty to (1) prescribe the rules and guidelines for the allocation, distribution
and release of the Fund; (2) set criteria and procedures for removing from the service officials
and employees whose revenue collection falls short of the target; (3) terminate personnel in
accordance with the criteria adopted by the Board; (4) prescribe a system for performance
evaluation; (5) perform other functions, including the issuance of rules and regulations and (6)
submit an annual report to Congress.7

The DOF, DBM, NEDA, BIR, BOC and the Civil Service Commission (CSC) were tasked to
promulgate and issue the implementing rules and regulations of RA 9335, 8 to be approved by a
Joint Congressional Oversight Committee created for such purpose.9

Petitioners, invoking their right as taxpayers filed this petition challenging the constitutionality of
RA 9335, a tax reform legislation. They contend that, by establishing a system of rewards and
incentives, the law "transform[s] the officials and employees of the BIR and the BOC into
mercenaries and bounty hunters" as they will do their best only in consideration of such
rewards. Thus, the system of rewards and incentives invites corruption and undermines the
constitutionally mandated duty of these officials and employees to serve the people with utmost
responsibility, integrity, loyalty and efficiency.

Petitioners also claim that limiting the scope of the system of rewards and incentives only to
officials and employees of the BIR and the BOC violates the constitutional guarantee of equal
protection. There is no valid basis for classification or distinction as to why such a system
should not apply to officials and employees of all other government agencies.

In addition, petitioners assert that the law unduly delegates the power to fix revenue targets to
the President as it lacks a sufficient standard on that matter. While Section 7(b) and (c) of RA
9335 provides that BIR and BOC officials may be dismissed from the service if their revenue
collections fall short of the target by at least 7.5%, the law does not, however, fix the revenue
targets to be achieved. Instead, the fixing of revenue targets has been delegated to the
President without sufficient standards. It will therefore be easy for the President to fix an
unrealistic and unattainable target in order to dismiss BIR or BOC personnel.

Finally, petitioners assail the creation of a congressional oversight committee on the ground that
it violates the doctrine of separation of powers. While the legislative function is deemed
accomplished and completed upon the enactment and approval of the law, the creation of the
congressional oversight committee permits legislative participation in the implementation and
enforcement of the law.

In their comment, respondents, through the Office of the Solicitor General, question the petition
for being premature as there is no actual case or controversy yet. Petitioners have not asserted
any right or claim that will necessitate the exercise of this Court’s jurisdiction. Nevertheless,
respondents acknowledge that public policy requires the resolution of the constitutional issues
involved in this case. They assert that the allegation that the reward system will breed
mercenaries is mere speculation and does not suffice to invalidate the law. Seen in conjunction
with the declared objective of RA 9335, the law validly classifies the BIR and the BOC because
the functions they perform are distinct from those of the other government agencies and
instrumentalities. Moreover, the law provides a sufficient standard that will guide the executive
in the implementation of its provisions. Lastly, the creation of the congressional oversight
committee under the law enhances, rather than violates, separation of powers. It ensures the
fulfillment of the legislative policy and serves as a check to any over-accumulation of power on
the part of the executive and the implementing agencies.

After a careful consideration of the conflicting contentions of the parties, the Court finds that
petitioners have failed to overcome the presumption of constitutionality in favor of RA 9335,
except as shall hereafter be discussed.

Actual Case And Ripeness

An actual case or controversy involves a conflict of legal rights, an assertion of opposite legal
claims susceptible of judicial adjudication.10 A closely related requirement is ripeness, that is,
the question must be ripe for adjudication. And a constitutional question is ripe for adjudication
when the governmental act being challenged has a direct adverse effect on the individual
challenging it.11Thus, to be ripe for judicial adjudication, the petitioner must show a personal
stake in the outcome of the case or an injury to himself that can be redressed by a favorable
decision of the Court.12

In this case, aside from the general claim that the dispute has ripened into a judicial controversy
by the mere enactment of the law even without any further overt act,13 petitioners fail either to
assert any specific and concrete legal claim or to demonstrate any direct adverse effect of the
law on them. They are unable to show a personal stake in the outcome of this case or an injury
to themselves. On this account, their petition is procedurally infirm.

This notwithstanding, public interest requires the resolution of the constitutional issues raised by
petitioners. The grave nature of their allegations tends to cast a cloud on the presumption of
constitutionality in favor of the law. And where an action of the legislative branch is alleged to
have infringed the Constitution, it becomes not only the right but in fact the duty of the judiciary
to settle the dispute.14

Accountability of
Public Officers

Section 1, Article 11 of the Constitution states:

Sec. 1. Public office is a public trust. Public officers and employees must at all times be
accountable to the people, serve them with utmost responsibility, integrity, loyalty, and
efficiency, act with patriotism, and justice, and lead modest lives.

Public office is a public trust. It must be discharged by its holder not for his own personal gain
but for the benefit of the public for whom he holds it in trust. By demanding accountability and
service with responsibility, integrity, loyalty, efficiency, patriotism and justice, all government
officials and employees have the duty to be responsive to the needs of the people they are
called upon to serve.

Public officers enjoy the presumption of regularity in the performance of their duties. This
presumption necessarily obtains in favor of BIR and BOC officials and employees. RA 9335
operates on the basis thereof and reinforces it by providing a system of rewards and sanctions
for the purpose of encouraging the officials and employees of the BIR and the BOC to exceed
their revenue targets and optimize their revenue-generation capability and collection.15

The presumption is disputable but proof to the contrary is required to rebut it. It cannot be
overturned by mere conjecture or denied in advance (as petitioners would have the Court do)
specially in this case where it is an underlying principle to advance a declared public policy.

Petitioners’ claim that the implementation of RA 9335 will turn BIR and BOC officials and
employees into "bounty hunters and mercenaries" is not only without any factual and legal
basis; it is also purely speculative.

A law enacted by Congress enjoys the strong presumption of constitutionality. To justify its
nullification, there must be a clear and unequivocal breach of the Constitution, not a doubtful
and equivocal one.16 To invalidate RA 9335 based on petitioners’ baseless supposition is an
affront to the wisdom not only of the legislature that passed it but also of the executive which
approved it.
Public service is its own reward. Nevertheless, public officers may by law be rewarded for
exemplary and exceptional performance. A system of incentives for exceeding the set
expectations of a public office is not anathema to the concept of public accountability. In fact, it
recognizes and reinforces dedication to duty, industry, efficiency and loyalty to public service of
deserving government personnel.

In United States v. Matthews,17 the U.S. Supreme Court validated a law which awards to officers
of the customs as well as other parties an amount not exceeding one-half of the net proceeds of
forfeitures in violation of the laws against smuggling. Citing Dorsheimer v. United States,18 the
U.S. Supreme Court said:

The offer of a portion of such penalties to the collectors is to stimulate and reward their
zeal and industry in detecting fraudulent attempts to evade payment of duties and taxes.

In the same vein, employees of the BIR and the BOC may by law be entitled to a reward when,
as a consequence of their zeal in the enforcement of tax and customs laws, they exceed their
revenue targets. In addition, RA 9335 establishes safeguards to ensure that the reward will not
be claimed if it will be either the fruit of "bounty hunting or mercenary activity" or the product of
the irregular performance of official duties. One of these precautionary measures is embodied in
Section 8 of the law:

SEC. 8. Liability of Officials, Examiners and Employees of the BIR and the BOC. – The
officials, examiners, and employees of the [BIR] and the [BOC] who violate this Act or
who are guilty of negligence, abuses or acts of malfeasance or misfeasance or fail to
exercise extraordinary diligence in the performance of their duties shall be held liable for
any loss or injury suffered by any business establishment or taxpayer as a result of such
violation, negligence, abuse, malfeasance, misfeasance or failure to exercise
extraordinary diligence.

Equal Protection

Equality guaranteed under the equal protection clause is equality under the same conditions
and among persons similarly situated; it is equality among equals, not similarity of treatment of
persons who are classified based on substantial differences in relation to the object to be
accomplished.19When things or persons are different in fact or circumstance, they may be
treated in law differently. InVictoriano v. Elizalde Rope Workers’ Union,20 this Court declared:

The guaranty of equal protection of the laws is not a guaranty of equality in the
application of the laws upon all citizens of the [S]tate. It is not, therefore, a requirement,
in order to avoid the constitutional prohibition against inequality, that every man, woman
and child should be affected alike by a statute. Equality of operation of statutes does not
mean indiscriminate operation on persons merely as such, but on persons according to
the circumstances surrounding them. It guarantees equality, not identity of rights. The
Constitution does not require that things which are different in fact be treated in
law as though they were the same. The equal protection clause does not forbid
discrimination as to things that are different. It does not prohibit legislation which
is limited either in the object to which it is directed or by the territory within which it
is to operate.
 The equal protection of the laws clause of the Constitution allows classification.
Classification in law, as in the other departments of knowledge or practice, is the
grouping of things in speculation or practice because they agree with one another in
certain particulars. A law is not invalid because of simple inequality. The very idea of
classification is that of inequality, so that it goes without saying that the mere fact of
inequality in no manner determines the matter of constitutionality. All that is required of
a valid classification is that it be reasonable, which means that the classification
should be based on substantial distinctions which make for real differences, that
it must be germane to the purpose of the law; that it must not be limited to
existing conditions only; and that it must apply equally to each member of the
class. This Court has held that the standard is satisfied if the classification or
distinction is based on a reasonable foundation or rational basis and is not
palpably arbitrary.

In the exercise of its power to make classifications for the purpose of enacting laws over
matters within its jurisdiction, the state is recognized as enjoying a wide range of
discretion. It is not necessary that the classification be based on scientific or marked
differences of things or in their relation. Neither is it necessary that the classification be
made with mathematical nicety. Hence, legislative classification may in many cases
properly rest on narrow distinctions, for the equal protection guaranty does not preclude
the legislature from recognizing degrees of evil or harm, and legislation is addressed to
evils as they may appear.21 (emphasis supplied)

The equal protection clause recognizes a valid classification, that is, a classification that has a
reasonable foundation or rational basis and not arbitrary. 22 With respect to RA 9335, its
expressed public policy is the optimization of the revenue-generation capability and collection of
the BIR and the BOC.23 Since the subject of the law is the revenue- generation capability and
collection of the BIR and the BOC, the incentives and/or sanctions provided in the law should
logically pertain to the said agencies. Moreover, the law concerns only the BIR and the BOC
because they have the common distinct primary function of generating revenues for the national
government through the collection of taxes, customs duties, fees and charges.

The BIR performs the following functions:

Sec. 18. The Bureau of Internal Revenue. – The Bureau of Internal Revenue, which shall
be headed by and subject to the supervision and control of the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, who shall be appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the
Secretary [of the DOF], shall have the following functions:

(1) Assess and collect all taxes, fees and charges and account for all revenues
collected;

(2) Exercise duly delegated police powers for the proper performance of its functions
and duties;

(3) Prevent and prosecute tax evasions and all other illegal economic activities;

(4) Exercise supervision and control over its constituent and subordinate units; and

(5) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.24

 xxx xxx xxx (emphasis supplied)

On the other hand, the BOC has the following functions:

Sec. 23. The Bureau of Customs. – The Bureau of Customs which shall be headed and
subject to the management and control of the Commissioner of Customs, who shall be
appointed by the President upon the recommendation of the Secretary[of the DOF] and
hereinafter referred to as Commissioner, shall have the following functions:

(1) Collect custom duties, taxes and the corresponding fees, charges and
penalties;

(2) Account for all customs revenues collected;

(3) Exercise police authority for the enforcement of tariff and customs laws;

(4) Prevent and suppress smuggling, pilferage and all other economic frauds within all
ports of entry;

(5) Supervise and control exports, imports, foreign mails and the clearance of vessels
and aircrafts in all ports of entry;

(6) Administer all legal requirements that are appropriate;

(7) Prevent and prosecute smuggling and other illegal activities in all ports under its
jurisdiction;

(8) Exercise supervision and control over its constituent units;

(9) Perform such other functions as may be provided by law.25

xxx xxx xxx (emphasis supplied)

Both the BIR and the BOC are bureaus under the DOF. They principally perform the special
function of being the instrumentalities through which the State exercises one of its great
inherent functions – taxation. Indubitably, such substantial distinction is germane and intimately
related to the purpose of the law. Hence, the classification and treatment accorded to the BIR
and the BOC under RA 9335 fully satisfy the demands of equal protection.

Undue Delegation

Two tests determine the validity of delegation of legislative power: (1) the completeness test and
(2) the sufficient standard test. A law is complete when it sets forth therein the policy to be
executed, carried out or implemented by the delegate.26 It lays down a sufficient standard when
it provides adequate guidelines or limitations in the law to map out the boundaries of the
delegate’s authority and prevent the delegation from running riot.27 To be sufficient, the standard
must specify the limits of the delegate’s authority, announce the legislative policy and identify
the conditions under which it is to be implemented.28
RA 9335 adequately states the policy and standards to guide the President in fixing revenue
targets and the implementing agencies in carrying out the provisions of the law. Section 2 spells
out the policy of the law:

SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It is the policy of the State to optimize the revenue-
generation capability and collection of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the
Bureau of Customs (BOC) by providing for a system of rewards and sanctions through
the creation of a Rewards and Incentives Fund and a Revenue Performance Evaluation
Board in the above agencies for the purpose of encouraging their officials and
employees to exceed their revenue targets.

Section 4 "canalized within banks that keep it from overflowing" 29 the delegated power to the
President to fix revenue targets:

SEC. 4. Rewards and Incentives Fund. – A Rewards and Incentives Fund, hereinafter
referred to as the Fund, is hereby created, to be sourced from the collection of the BIR
and the BOC in excess of their respective revenue targets of the year, as
determined by the Development Budget and Coordinating Committee (DBCC), in
the following percentages:

Excess of Collection of the Percent (%) of the Excess Collection to

Excess the Revenue Targets Accrue to the Fund
30% or below – 15%
More than 30% – 15% of the first 30% plus 20% of the
remaining excess

The Fund shall be deemed automatically appropriated the year immediately following the
year when the revenue collection target was exceeded and shall be released on the
same fiscal year.

Revenue targets shall refer to the original estimated revenue collection expected
of the BIR and the BOC for a given fiscal year as stated in the Budget of
Expenditures and Sources of Financing (BESF) submitted by the President to
Congress. The BIR and the BOC shall submit to the DBCC the distribution of the
agencies’ revenue targets as allocated among its revenue districts in the case of the
BIR, and the collection districts in the case of the BOC.

xxx xxx xxx (emphasis supplied)

Revenue targets are based on the original estimated revenue collection expected respectively
of the BIR and the BOC for a given fiscal year as approved by the DBCC and stated in the
BESF submitted by the President to Congress.30 Thus, the determination of revenue targets
does not rest solely on the President as it also undergoes the scrutiny of the DBCC.

On the other hand, Section 7 specifies the limits of the Board’s authority and identifies the
conditions under which officials and employees whose revenue collection falls short of the target
by at least 7.5% may be removed from the service:
 SEC. 7. Powers and Functions of the Board. – The Board in the agency shall have the
following powers and functions:

xxx xxx xxx

(b) To set the criteria and procedures for removing from service officials and
employees whose revenue collection falls short of the target by at least seven and
a half percent (7.5%), with due consideration of all relevant factors affecting the
level of collection as provided in the rules and regulations promulgated under this
Act, subject to civil service laws, rules and regulations and compliance with
substantive and procedural due process: Provided, That the following exemptions
shall apply:

1. Where the district or area of responsibility is newly-created, not exceeding two

years in operation, as has no historical record of collection performance that can
be used as basis for evaluation; and

2. Where the revenue or customs official or employee is a recent transferee in

the middle of the period under consideration unless the transfer was due to
nonperformance of revenue targets or potential nonperformance of revenue
targets: Provided, however, That when the district or area of responsibility
covered by revenue or customs officials or employees has suffered from
economic difficulties brought about by natural calamities orforce majeure or
economic causes as may be determined by the Board, termination shall be
considered only after careful and proper review by the Board.

(c) To terminate personnel in accordance with the criteria adopted in the preceding
paragraph: Provided, That such decision shall be immediately executory: Provided,
further, That the application of the criteria for the separation of an official or
employee from service under this Act shall be without prejudice to the application
of other relevant laws on accountability of public officers and employees, such as
the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officers and Employees and
the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act;

xxx xxx xxx (emphasis supplied)

Clearly, RA 9335 in no way violates the security of tenure of officials and employees of the BIR
and the BOC. The guarantee of security of tenure only means that an employee cannot be
dismissed from the service for causes other than those provided by law and only after due
process is accorded the employee.31 In the case of RA 9335, it lays down a reasonable
yardstick for removal (when the revenue collection falls short of the target by at least 7.5%) with
due consideration of all relevant factors affecting the level of collection. This standard is
analogous to inefficiency and incompetence in the performance of official duties, a ground for
disciplinary action under civil service laws.32 The action for removal is also subject to civil
service laws, rules and regulations and compliance with substantive and procedural due
process.

At any rate, this Court has recognized the following as sufficient standards: "public interest,"
"justice and equity," "public convenience and welfare" and "simplicity, economy and
welfare."33 In this case, the declared policy of optimization of the revenue-generation capability
and collection of the BIR and the BOC is infused with public interest.

Separation Of Powers

Section 12 of RA 9335 provides:

SEC. 12. Joint Congressional Oversight Committee. – There is hereby created a Joint
Congressional Oversight Committee composed of seven Members from the Senate and
seven Members from the House of Representatives. The Members from the Senate
shall be appointed by the Senate President, with at least two senators representing the
minority. The Members from the House of Representatives shall be appointed by the
Speaker with at least two members representing the minority. After the Oversight
Committee will have approved the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) it shall
thereafter become functus officio and therefore cease to exist.

The Joint Congressional Oversight Committee in RA 9335 was created for the purpose of
approving the implementing rules and regulations (IRR) formulated by the DOF, DBM, NEDA,
BIR, BOC and CSC. On May 22, 2006, it approved the said IRR. From then on, it
became functus officio and ceased to exist. Hence, the issue of its alleged encroachment on the
executive function of implementing and enforcing the law may be considered moot and
academic.

This notwithstanding, this might be as good a time as any for the Court to confront the issue of
the constitutionality of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee created under RA 9335 (or
other similar laws for that matter).

The scholarly discourse of Mr. Justice (now Chief Justice) Puno on the concept of congressional
oversight in Macalintal v. Commission on Elections 34 is illuminating:

Concept and bases of congressional oversight

Broadly defined, the power of oversight embraces all activities undertaken by

Congress to enhance its understanding of and influence over
the implementation of legislation it has enacted. Clearly, oversight concerns post-
enactment measures undertaken by Congress: (a) to monitor bureaucratic
compliance with program objectives, (b) to determine whether agencies are
properly administered, (c) to eliminate executive waste and dishonesty, (d) to
prevent executive usurpation of legislative authority, and (d) to assess executive
conformity with the congressional perception of public interest.

The power of oversight has been held to be intrinsic in the grant of legislative power
itself and integral to the checks and balances inherent in a democratic system of
government. x x x x x x x x x

Over the years, Congress has invoked its oversight power with increased frequency to
check the perceived "exponential accumulation of power" by the executive branch. By
the beginning of the 20th century, Congress has delegated an enormous amount of
legislative authority to the executive branch and the administrative agencies. Congress,
thus, uses its oversight power to make sure that the administrative agencies perform
their functions within the authority delegated to them. x x x x x x x x x

Categories of congressional oversight functions

The acts done by Congress purportedly in the exercise of its oversight powers may be
divided into three categories, namely: scrutiny, investigation and supervision.

a. Scrutiny

Congressional scrutiny implies a lesser intensity and continuity of attention to

administrative operations. Its primary purpose is to determine economy and
efficiency of the operation of government activities. In the exercise of legislative
scrutiny, Congress may request information and report from the other branches
of government. It can give recommendations or pass resolutions for
consideration of the agency involved.

xxx xxx xxx

b. Congressional investigation

While congressional scrutiny is regarded as a passive process of looking at the

facts that are readily available, congressional investigation involves a more
intense digging of facts. The power of Congress to conduct investigation is
recognized by the 1987 Constitution under section 21, Article VI,
xxx xxx xxx

c. Legislative supervision

The third and most encompassing form by which Congress exercises its oversight power
is thru legislative supervision. "Supervision" connotes a continuing and informed
awareness on the part of a congressional committee regarding executive operations in a
given administrative area. While both congressional scrutiny and investigation involve
inquiry into past executive branch actions in order to influence future executive branch
performance, congressional supervision allows Congress to scrutinize the exercise of
delegated law-making authority, and permits Congress to retain part of that delegated
authority.

Congress exercises supervision over the executive agencies through its veto power. It
typically utilizes veto provisions when granting the President or an executive agency the
power to promulgate regulations with the force of law. These provisions require the
President or an agency to present the proposed regulations to Congress, which retains a
"right" to approve or disapprove any regulation before it takes effect. Such legislative
veto provisions usually provide that a proposed regulation will become a law after the
expiration of a certain period of time, only if Congress does not affirmatively disapprove
of the regulation in the meantime. Less frequently, the statute provides that a proposed
regulation will become law if Congress affirmatively approves it.

Supporters of legislative veto stress that it is necessary to maintain the balance of power
between the legislative and the executive branches of government as it offers lawmakers
a way to delegate vast power to the executive branch or to independent agencies while
retaining the option to cancel particular exercise of such power without having to pass
new legislation or to repeal existing law. They contend that this arrangement promotes
democratic accountability as it provides legislative check on the activities of unelected
administrative agencies. One proponent thus explains:

It is too late to debate the merits of this delegation policy: the policy is too deeply
embedded in our law and practice. It suffices to say that the complexities of
modern government have often led Congress-whether by actual or perceived
necessity- to legislate by declaring broad policy goals and general statutory
standards, leaving the choice of policy options to the discretion of an executive
officer. Congress articulates legislative aims, but leaves their implementation to
the judgment of parties who may or may not have participated in or agreed with
the development of those aims. Consequently, absent safeguards, in many
instances the reverse of our constitutional scheme could be effected: Congress
proposes, the Executive disposes. One safeguard, of course, is the legislative
power to enact new legislation or to change existing law. But without some
means of overseeing post enactment activities of the executive branch, Congress
would be unable to determine whether its policies have been implemented in
accordance with legislative intent and thus whether legislative intervention is
appropriate.

Its opponents, however, criticize the legislative veto as undue encroachment upon the
executive prerogatives. They urge that any post-enactment measures undertaken
by the legislative branch should be limited to scrutiny and investigation; any
measure beyond that would undermine the separation of powers guaranteed by
the Constitution. They contend that legislative veto constitutes an impermissible
evasion of the President’s veto authority and intrusion into the powers vested in the
executive or judicial branches of government. Proponents counter that legislative veto
enhances separation of powers as it prevents the executive branch and independent
agencies from accumulating too much power. They submit that reporting requirements
and congressional committee investigations allow Congress to scrutinize only the
exercise of delegated law-making authority. They do not allow Congress to review
executive proposals before they take effect and they do not afford the opportunity for
ongoing and binding expressions of congressional intent. In contrast, legislative veto
permits Congress to participate prospectively in the approval or disapproval of
"subordinate law" or those enacted by the executive branch pursuant to a delegation of
authority by Congress. They further argue that legislative veto "is a necessary response
by Congress to the accretion of policy control by forces outside its chambers." In an era
of delegated authority, they point out that legislative veto "is the most efficient means
Congress has yet devised to retain control over the evolution and implementation of its
policy as declared by statute."

In Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha, the U.S. Supreme Court

resolved the validity of legislative veto provisions. The case arose from the order of
the immigration judge suspending the deportation of Chadha pursuant to § 244(c)(1) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act. The United States House of Representatives
passed a resolution vetoing the suspension pursuant to § 244(c)(2) authorizing either
House of Congress, by resolution, to invalidate the decision of the executive branch to
allow a particular deportable alien to remain in the United States. The immigration judge
 reopened the deportation proceedings to implement the House order and the alien was
ordered deported. The Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed the alien’s appeal,
holding that it had no power to declare unconstitutional an act of Congress. The United
States Court of Appeals for Ninth Circuit held that the House was without constitutional
authority to order the alien’s deportation and that § 244(c)(2) violated the constitutional
doctrine on separation of powers.

On appeal, the U.S. Supreme Court declared § 244(c)(2) unconstitutional. But the
Court shied away from the issue of separation of powers and instead held that the
provision violates the presentment clause and bicameralism. It held that the one-house
veto was essentially legislative in purpose and effect. As such, it is subject to the
procedures set out in Article I of the Constitution requiring the passage by a majority of
both Houses and presentment to the President. x x x x x x x x x

Two weeks after the Chadha decision, the Court upheld, in memorandum decision, two
lower court decisions invalidating the legislative veto provisions in the Natural Gas Policy
Act of 1978 and the Federal Trade Commission Improvement Act of 1980. Following this
precedence, lower courts invalidated statutes containing legislative veto provisions
although some of these provisions required the approval of both Houses of Congress
and thus met the bicameralism requirement of Article I. Indeed, some of these veto
provisions were not even exercised.35(emphasis supplied)

In Macalintal, given the concept and configuration of the power of congressional oversight and
considering the nature and powers of a constitutional body like the Commission on Elections,
the Court struck down the provision in RA 9189 (The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003)
creating a Joint Congressional Committee. The committee was tasked not only to monitor and
evaluate the implementation of the said law but also to review, revise, amend and approve the
IRR promulgated by the Commission on Elections. The Court held that these functions infringed
on the constitutional independence of the Commission on Elections. 36

With this backdrop, it is clear that congressional oversight is not unconstitutional per se,
meaning, it neither necessarily constitutes an encroachment on the executive power to
implement laws nor undermines the constitutional separation of powers. Rather, it is integral to
the checks and balances inherent in a democratic system of government. It may in fact even
enhance the separation of powers as it prevents the over-accumulation of power in the
executive branch.

However, to forestall the danger of congressional encroachment "beyond the legislative

sphere," the Constitution imposes two basic and related constraints on Congress. 37 It may not
vest itself, any of its committees or its members with either executive or judicial power.38 And,
when it exercises its legislative power, it must follow the "single, finely wrought and exhaustively
considered, procedures" specified under the Constitution,39 including the procedure for
enactment of laws and presentment.

Thus, any post-enactment congressional measure such as this should be limited to scrutiny and
investigation. In particular, congressional oversight must be confined to the following:

(1) scrutiny based primarily on Congress’ power of appropriation and the budget
hearings conducted in connection with it, its power to ask heads of departments to
 appear before and be heard by either of its Houses on any matter pertaining to their
departments and its power of confirmation40 and

(2) investigation and monitoring41 of the implementation of laws pursuant to the power of
Congress to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation.42

Any action or step beyond that will undermine the separation of powers guaranteed by the
Constitution. Legislative vetoes fall in this class.

Legislative veto is a statutory provision requiring the President or an administrative agency to

present the proposed implementing rules and regulations of a law to Congress which, by itself
or through a committee formed by it, retains a "right" or "power" to approve or disapprove such
regulations before they take effect. As such, a legislative veto in the form of a congressional
oversight committee is in the form of an inward-turning delegation designed to attach a
congressional leash (other than through scrutiny and investigation) to an agency to which
Congress has by law initially delegated broad powers.43 It radically changes the design or
structure of the Constitution’s diagram of power as it entrusts to Congress a direct role in
enforcing, applying or implementing its own laws.44

Congress has two options when enacting legislation to define national policy within the broad
horizons of its legislative competence.45 It can itself formulate the details or it can assign to the
executive branch the responsibility for making necessary managerial decisions in conformity
with those standards.46 In the latter case, the law must be complete in all its essential terms and
conditions when it leaves the hands of the legislature.47 Thus, what is left for the executive
branch or the concerned administrative agency when it formulates rules and regulations
implementing the law is to fill up details (supplementary rule-making) or ascertain facts
necessary to bring the law into actual operation (contingent rule-making).48

Administrative regulations enacted by administrative agencies to implement and interpret the

law which they are entrusted to enforce have the force of law and are entitled to respect. 49 Such
rules and regulations partake of the nature of a statute 50 and are just as binding as if they have
been written in the statute itself. As such, they have the force and effect of law and enjoy the
presumption of constitutionality and legality until they are set aside with finality in an appropriate
case by a competent court.51 Congress, in the guise of assuming the role of an overseer, may
not pass upon their legality by subjecting them to its stamp of approval without disturbing the
calculated balance of powers established by the Constitution. In exercising discretion to approve
or disapprove the IRR based on a determination of whether or not they conformed with the
provisions of RA 9335, Congress arrogated judicial power unto itself, a power exclusively vested
in this Court by the Constitution.

Considered Opinion of
Mr. Justice Dante O. Tinga

Moreover, the requirement that the implementing rules of a law be subjected to approval by
Congress as a condition for their effectivity violates the cardinal constitutional principles of
bicameralism and the rule on presentment.52

Section 1, Article VI of the Constitution states:

 Section 1. The legislative power shall be vested in the Congress of the Philippines
which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives, except to the
extent reserved to the people by the provision on initiative and referendum. (emphasis
supplied)

Legislative power (or the power to propose, enact, amend and repeal laws) 53 is vested in
Congress which consists of two chambers, the Senate and the House of Representatives. A
valid exercise of legislative power requires the act of both chambers. Corrollarily, it can be
exercised neither solely by one of the two chambers nor by a committee of either or both
chambers. Thus, assuming the validity of a legislative veto, both a single-chamber legislative
veto and a congressional committee legislative veto are invalid.

Additionally, Section 27(1), Article VI of the Constitution provides:

Section 27. (1) Every bill passed by the Congress shall, before it becomes a law, be
presented to the President. If he approves the same, he shall sign it, otherwise, he
shall veto it and return the same with his objections to the House where it originated,
which shall enter the objections at large in its Journal and proceed to reconsider it. If,
after such reconsideration, two-thirds of all the Members of such House shall agree to
pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other House by which it
shall likewise be reconsidered, and if approved by two-thirds of all the Members of that
House, it shall become a law. In all such cases, the votes of each House shall be
determined by yeas or nays, and the names of the members voting for or against shall
be entered in its Journal. The President shall communicate his veto of any bill to the
House where it originated within thirty days after the date of receipt thereof; otherwise, it
shall become a law as if he had signed it. (emphasis supplied)

Every bill passed by Congress must be presented to the President for approval or veto. In the
absence of presentment to the President, no bill passed by Congress can become a law. In this
sense, law-making under the Constitution is a joint act of the Legislature and of the Executive.
Assuming that legislative veto is a valid legislative act with the force of law, it cannot take effect
without such presentment even if approved by both chambers of Congress.

In sum, two steps are required before a bill becomes a law. First, it must be approved by both
Houses of Congress.54 Second, it must be presented to and approved by the President.55 As
summarized by Justice Isagani Cruz56 and Fr. Joaquin G. Bernas, S.J.57, the following is the
procedure for the approval of bills:

A bill is introduced by any member of the House of Representatives or the Senate

except for some measures that must originate only in the former chamber.

The first reading involves only a reading of the number and title of the measure and its
referral by the Senate President or the Speaker to the proper committee for study.

The bill may be "killed" in the committee or it may be recommended for approval, with or
without amendments, sometimes after public hearings are first held thereon. If there are
other bills of the same nature or purpose, they may all be consolidated into one bill
under common authorship or as a committee bill.
 Once reported out, the bill shall be calendared for second reading. It is at this stage that
the bill is read in its entirety, scrutinized, debated upon and amended when desired. The
second reading is the most important stage in the passage of a bill.

The bill as approved on second reading is printed in its final form and copies thereof are
distributed at least three days before the third reading. On the third reading, the
members merely register their votes and explain them if they are allowed by the rules.
No further debate is allowed.

Once the bill passes third reading, it is sent to the other chamber, where it will also
undergo the three readings. If there are differences between the versions approved by
the two chambers, a conference committee58 representing both Houses will draft a
compromise measure that if ratified by the Senate and the House of Representatives will
then be submitted to the President for his consideration.

The bill is enrolled when printed as finally approved by the Congress, thereafter
authenticated with the signatures of the Senate President, the Speaker, and the
Secretaries of their respective chambers…59

The President’s role in law-making.

The final step is submission to the President for approval. Once approved, it takes effect
as law after the required publication.60

Where Congress delegates the formulation of rules to implement the law it has enacted
pursuant to sufficient standards established in the said law, the law must be complete in all its
essential terms and conditions when it leaves the hands of the legislature. And it may be
deemed to have left the hands of the legislature when it becomes effective because it is only
upon effectivity of the statute that legal rights and obligations become available to those entitled
by the language of the statute. Subject to the indispensable requisite of publication under the
due process clause,61 the determination as to when a law takes effect is wholly the prerogative
of Congress.62 As such, it is only upon its effectivity that a law may be executed and the
executive branch acquires the duties and powers to execute the said law. Before that point, the
role of the executive branch, particularly of the President, is limited to approving or vetoing the
law.63

From the moment the law becomes effective, any provision of law that empowers Congress or
any of its members to play any role in the implementation or enforcement of the law violates the
principle of separation of powers and is thus unconstitutional. Under this principle, a provision
that requires Congress or its members to approve the implementing rules of a law after it has
already taken effect shall be unconstitutional, as is a provision that allows Congress or its
members to overturn any directive or ruling made by the members of the executive branch
charged with the implementation of the law.

Following this rationale, Section 12 of RA 9335 should be struck down as unconstitutional.

While there may be similar provisions of other laws that may be invalidated for failure to pass
this standard, the Court refrains from invalidating them wholesale but will do so at the proper
time when an appropriate case assailing those provisions is brought before us.64
The next question to be resolved is: what is the effect of the unconstitutionality of Section 12 of
RA 9335 on the other provisions of the law? Will it render the entire law unconstitutional? No.

Section 13 of RA 9335 provides:

SEC. 13. Separability Clause. – If any provision of this Act is declared invalid by a
competent court, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected by such
declaration of invalidity shall remain in force and effect.

In Tatad v. Secretary of the Department of Energy,65 the Court laid down the following rules:

The general rule is that where part of a statute is void as repugnant to the Constitution,
while another part is valid, the valid portion, if separable from the invalid, may stand and
be enforced. The presence of a separability clause in a statute creates the presumption
that the legislature intended separability, rather than complete nullity of the statute. To
justify this result, the valid portion must be so far independent of the invalid portion that it
is fair to presume that the legislature would have enacted it by itself if it had supposed
that it could not constitutionally enact the other. Enough must remain to make a
complete, intelligible and valid statute, which carries out the legislative intent. x x x

The exception to the general rule is that when the parts of a statute are so mutually
dependent and connected, as conditions, considerations, inducements, or
compensations for each other, as to warrant a belief that the legislature intended them
as a whole, the nullity of one part will vitiate the rest. In making the parts of the statute
dependent, conditional, or connected with one another, the legislature intended the
statute to be carried out as a whole and would not have enacted it if one part is void, in
which case if some parts are unconstitutional, all the other provisions thus dependent,
conditional, or connected must fall with them.

The separability clause of RA 9335 reveals the intention of the legislature to isolate and detach
any invalid provision from the other provisions so that the latter may continue in force and effect.
The valid portions can stand independently of the invalid section. Without Section 12, the
remaining provisions still constitute a complete, intelligible and valid law which carries out the
legislative intent to optimize the revenue-generation capability and collection of the BIR and the
BOC by providing for a system of rewards and sanctions through the Rewards and Incentives
Fund and a Revenue Performance Evaluation Board.

To be effective, administrative rules and regulations must be published in full if their purpose is
to enforce or implement existing law pursuant to a valid delegation. The IRR of RA 9335 were
published on May 30, 2006 in two newspapers of general circulation 66 and became effective 15
days thereafter.67 Until and unless the contrary is shown, the IRR are presumed valid and
effective even without the approval of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee.

WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby PARTIALLY GRANTED. Section 12 of RA 9335 creating

a Joint Congressional Oversight Committee to approve the implementing rules and regulations
of the law is declared UNCONSTITUTIONAL and therefore NULL and VOID. The
constitutionality of the remaining provisions of RA 9335 is UPHELD. Pursuant to Section 13 of
RA 9335, the rest of the provisions remain in force and effect.

SO ORDERED.