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Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURTManila

EN BANC

DECISION

January 3 ! "#$%

&'R' No' ()$ #ANASTACIO LAUREL ! petitioner!*s'ERIBERTO MISA ! respon+ent'

Claro M. Recto and Querube C. Makalintal for petitioner.

First Assistant Solicitor General Reyes and Solicitor Hernandez, Jr., for respondent.

, J. :

,"- Consi+erin. that a citi/en or sub0ect o1es! not a 2ualifie+ an+ te porary! but anabsolute an+ per anent alle.iance! 1hich consists in the obli.ation of fi+elity an+obe+ience to his .o*ern ent or so*erei.n4 an+ that this absolute an+ per anentalle.iance shoul+ not be confuse+ 1ith the 2ualifie+ an+ te porary alle.iance 1hich aforei.ner o1es to the .o*ern ent or so*erei.n of the territory 1herein he resi+es! so lon.

as he re ains there! in return for the protection he recei*es! an+ 1hich consists in theobe+ience to the la1s of the .o*ern ent or so*erei.n' ,Carlisle *s' 5nite States! 6" (a1'e+' $6#4 Secretary of State 7ebster Report to the Presi+ent of the 5nite+ States in thecase of 8hraser! 9 7eb' 7or:s! ;69-4

Consi+erin. that the absolute an+ per anent alle.iance of the inhabitants of a territoryoccupie+ by the ene y of their le.iti ate .o*ern ent or so*erei.n is not abro.ate+ or se*ere+ b y the ene y occupation! because the so*erei.nty of the .o*ern ent or so*erei.n de ure is not transferre+ thereby to the occupier! as 1e ha*e hel+ in the casesof Co


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the occupant4 that the subsistence of the so*erei.nty of the le.iti ate

.o*ern ent in aterritory occupie+ by the ilitary forces of the ene y +urin. the 1ar! @althou.hthefor er is in fact pre*ente+ fro e?ercisin. the supre acy o*er the @ is one of the @rulesof international la1 of our ti es@4 ,II Oppenhei ! 9th (auterpacht e+'! "#$$! p'$>6-!reco.ni/e+! by necessary i plication! in articles 63! $$! $;! an+ ;6 of a.ueRe.ulation4an+ that! as a corollary of the conclusion that the so*erei.nty itself is notsuspen+e+ an+subsists +urin. the ene y occupation! the alle.iance of the inhabitants to their le.iti ate.o*ern ent or so*erei.n subsists! an+ therefore there is no such thin. assuspen+e+alle.iance! the basic theory on 1hich the 1hole fabric of the petitioner scontention rests4

Consi+erin. that the conclusion that the so*erei.nty of the 5nite+ State 1assuspen+e+ inCastine! set forth in the +ecision in the case of 5nite+ States *s' Rice! $7heaton! 6$9!6;3! +eci+e+ in ">"#! an+ 2uote+ in our +ecision in the cases of Co


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Consi+erin. that! as a corollary of the suspension of the e?ercise of the ri.hts of so*erei.nty b y the le.iti ate .o*ern ent in the territory occupie+ by theene y ilitaryforces! because the authority of the le.iti ate po1er to .o*ern has passe+ intothe han+sof the occupant ,Article $3! a.ue Re.ulations-! the political la1s 1hich

prescribe thereciprocal ri.hts! +uties an+ obli.ation of .o*ern ent an+ citi/ens! aresuspen+e+ or inabeyance +urin. ilitary occupation ,Co


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.o*ern ent! or co pel the to a+here an+ .i*e ai+ an+ co fort to hi 4 because

it ise*i+ent that such action is not +e an+e+ by the e?i.encies of the ilitaryser*ice or notnecessary for the control of the inhabitants an+ the safety an+ protection of hisar y! an+ because it is tanta ount to practically transfer te porarily to the occupant their alle.iance to the titular .o*ern ent or so*erei.n4 an+ that! therefore! if aninhabitant of the occupie+ territory 1ere co pelle+ ille.ally by the ilitary occupant!throu.h force!threat or inti i+ation! to .i*e hi ai+ an+ co fort! the for er ay la1fullyresist an+ +ieif necessary as a hero! or sub it thereto 1ithout beco in. a traitor4

Consi+erin. that a+option of the petitioner s theory of suspen+e+ alle.iance1oul+ lea+ to+isastrous conse2uences for s all an+ 1ea: nations or states! an+ 1oul+ berepu.nant tothe la1s of hu anity an+ re2uire ents of public conscience! for it 1oul+ allo1in*a+ersto le.ally recruit or enlist the uislin. inhabitants of the occupie+ territory tofi.hta.ainst their o1n .o*ern ent 1ithout the latter incurrin. the ris: of bein.

prosecute+ for treason! an+ e*en co pel those 1ho are not ai+ the in their ilitary operationa.ainstthe resistin. ene y forces in or+er to co pletely sub+ue an+ con2uer the 1holenation!an+ thus +epri*e the all of their o1n in+epen+ence or so*erei.nty suchtheory 1oul+sanction the action of in*a+ers in forcin. the people of a free an+ so*erei.ncountry to bea party in the nefarious tas: of +epri*in. the sel*es of their o1n free+o an+in+epen+ence an+ repressin. the e?ercise by the of their o1n so*erei.nty4 inother 1or+s! to co it a political suici+e4

,6- Consi+erin. that the cri e of treason a.ainst the .o*ern ent of thePhilippines+efine+ an+ penali/e+ in article ""$ of the Penal Co+e! thou.h ori.inallyinten+e+ to be acri e a.ainst sai+ .o*ern ent as then or.ani/e+ by authority of the so*erei.n

people of the 5nite+ States! e?ercise+ throu.h their authori/e+ representati*e! theCon.ress an+ thePresi+ent of the 5nite+ States! 1as a+e! upon the establish ent of theCo on1ealth&o*ern ent in "#3;! a cri e a.ainst the &o*ern ent of the Philippinesestablishe+ byauthority of the people of the Philippines! in 1ho the so*erei.nty resi+esaccor+in. tosection "! Article II! of the Constitution of the Philippines! by *irtue of the

pro*ision of section 6! Article =I thereof! 1hich pro*i+es that @All la1s of the PhilippineIslan+s ' ' 'shall re ain operati*e! unless inconsistent 1ith this Constitution ' ' ' an+ allreferences insuch la1s to the &o*ern ent or officials of the Philippine Islan+s! shall beconstrue+! inso far as applicable! to refer to the &o*ern ent an+ correspon+in. officialsun+er thisconstitution4

Consi+erin. that the Co on1ealth of the Philippines 1as a so*erei.n.o*ern ent!thou.h not absolute but sub0ect to certain li itations i pose+ in theIn+epen+ence Actan+ incorporate+ as Or+inance appen+e+ to our Constitution! 1as reco.ni/e+not only bythe (e.islati*e Depart ent or Con.ress of the 5nite+ States in appro*in. theIn+epen+ence (a1 abo*e 2uote+ an+ the Constitution of the Philippines! 1 hichcontainsthe +eclaration that @So*erei.nty resi+es in the people an+ all .o*ern entauthoritye anates fro the @ ,section "! Article II-! but also by the E?ecuti*eDepart ent of the5nite+ States4 that the late Presi+ent Roose*elt in one of his essa.es toCon.ress sai+!a on. others! @As I state+ on Au.ust "6! "#$3! the 5nite+ States in practi cere.ar+s thePhilippines as ha*in. no1 the status as a .o*ern ent of other in+epen+entnations in


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fact all the attributes of co plete an+ respecte+ nationhoo+@ ,Con.ressional

Recor+! =ol'6#! part 9! pa.e >"%3-4 an+ that it is a principle uphel+ by the Supre e Court of the5nite+ States in any cases! a on. the in the case of Jones *s' 5nite+ States,"3% 5'S'6 64 3$ (a1' e+' 9#"! 9#9- that the 2uestion of so*erei.nty is @a purely political2uestion!the +eter ination of 1hich by the le.islati*e an+ e?ecuti*e +epart ents of any.o*ern ent conclusi*ely bin+s the 0u+.es! as 1ell as all other officers! citi/ensan+sub0ects of the country'

Consi+erin. that section I ,"- of the Or+inance appen+e+ to the Constitution1hich pro*i+es that pen+in. the final an+ co plete 1ith+ra1al of the so*erei.nty of the 5nite+States @All citi/ens of the Philippines shall o1e alle.iance to the 5nite+ States@!1as oneof the fe1 li itations of the so*erei.nty of the Filipino people retaine+ by the5nite+States! but these li itations +o not a1ay or are not inconsistent 1ith sai+so*erei.nty! inthe sa e 1ay that the people of each State of the 5nion preser*es its o1nso*erei.ntyalthou.h li ite+ by that of the 5nite+ States conferre+ upon the latter by theStates4 that 0ust as to reason ay be co itte+ a.ainst the Fe+eral as 1ell as a.ainst theState&o*ern ent! in the sa e 1ay treason ay ha*e been co itte+ +urin. theJapaneseoccupation a.ainst the so*erei.nty of the 5nite+ States as 1ell as a.ainst theso*erei.ntyof the Philippine Co on1ealth4 an+ that the chan.e of our for of .o*ern ent froCo on1ealth to Republic +oes not affect the prosecution of those char.e+1ith thecri e of treason co itte+ +urin. the Co on1ealth! because it is an offensea.ainstthe sa e .o*ern ent an+ the sa e so*erei.n people! for Article =III of our Constitution pro*i+es that @8he .o*ern ent establishe+ by this constitutionshall be:no1n as the Co on1ealth of the Philippines' 5pon the final an+ co plete1ith+ra1alof the so*erei.nty of the 5nite+ States an+ the procla ation of Philippinein+epen+ence!the Co on1ealth of the Philippines shall thenceforth be :no1n as theRepublic of thePhilippines@4

8his Court resol*es! 1ithout pre0u+ice to 1rite later on a ore e?ten+e+opinion! to +enythe petitioner s petition! as it is hereby +enie+! for the reasons abo*e set forthan+ for others to be state+ in the sai+ opinion! 1ithout pre0u+ice to concurrin. opiniontherein! if any' Messrs' Justices Paras an+ onti*eros +issent in a separate opinion' Mr'

0usticePerfecto concurs in a separate opinion'

Separate Opinions

PERFEC8O! J'! concurrin.G8reason is a 1ar cri e' It is not an all)ti e offense' It cannot be co itte+ in

peace ti e'7hile there is peace! there are no traitors' 8reason ay be incubate+ 1hen

peace rei.ns'8reasonable acts ay actually be perpetrate+ +urin. peace! but there are notraitors until1ar has starte+'As treason is basically a 1ar cri e! it is punishe+ by the state as a easure of self)+efense an+ self)preser*ation' 8he la1 of treason is an e er.ency easure' Itre ains+or ant until the e er.ency arises' But as soon as 1ar starts! it is relentlessly

put into


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effect' Any lu:e1ar attitu+e in its enforce ent 1ill only be consistent 1ith

nationalhara:iri' All 1ar efforts 1oul+ be of no a*ail if they shoul+ be allo1e+ to besabota.e+ by fifth colu nists! by citi/ens 1ho ha*e sol+ their country out to the ene y! or anyother :in+ of traitors! an+ this 1oul+ certainly be the case if he la1 cannot beenforce+un+er the theory of suspension'

Petitioner s thesis that alle.iance to our .o*ern ent 1as suspen+e+ +urin.ene yoccupation is a+*ance+ in support of the proposition that! since alle.iance isi+entical1ith obe+ience to la1! +urin. the ene y occupation! the la1s of theCo on1ealth1ere suspen+e+' Article ""$ of the Re*ise+ Penal Co+e! the la1 punishin.treason! un+er the theory! 1as one of the la1s obe+ience to 1hich 1as also suspen+e+ t"6FFH'

Alle.iance has been +efine+ as the obli.ation for fi+elity an+ obe+ience 1hichthein+i*i+ual o1es to his .o*ern ent or his so*erei.n in return for the protection1hich herecei*es F *D%Jypu'

@Alle.iance@! as the return is .enerally use+! eans fealty or fi+elity to the.o*ern ent of 1hich the person is either a citi/en or sub0ect' Murray *s' 8he Char in. Betsy!9 5'S' ,6Cranch-! 9$! "6 4 6 (a1' e+' 6 >'

@Alle.iance@ 1as sai+ by Mr' Justice Story to be @nothin. ore than the tie or +uty of obe+ience of a sub0ect to the so*erei.n! un+er 1hose protection he is'@ 5nite+States *s'7on.


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reason! e*i+ently foun+e+ on the nature of .o*ern ent' Alle.iance is a +ebt +ue

fro thesub0ect upon an i plie+ contract 1ith the prince that so lon. as the one affor+s protectionthe other 1ill +e ean hi self faithfully' Natural)born sub0ects ha*e a .reat*ariety of ri.hts 1hich they ac2uire by bein. born 1ithin the '-'

@Alle.iance!@ as its ety olo.y in+icates! is the na e for the tie 1hich bin+s theciti/en tohis state the obli.ation of obe+ience an+ support 1hich he o1es to it' 8hestate is the

political person to 1ho this lie.e fealty is +ue' Its substance is the a..re.ate of personso1in. this alle.iance' 8he achinery throu.h 1hich it operates is its.o*ern ent' 8he

persons 1ho operate this achinery constitute its a.istracy' 8he rules of con+uct 1hichthe state utters or enforces are its la1! an+ anifest its 1ill' 8his 1ill! *ie1e+ a sle.allysupre e! is its so*erei.nty' ,7'7' 7illou.hby! Citi/enship an+ Alle.iance inConstitutional an+ International (a1! " A erican Journal of Internation al (a1!

p' #";'-'8he obli.ations flo1in. fro the relation of a state an+ its nationals arereciprocal in


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our people! accor+in. to the basic philosophy of Philippine +e ocracy! it coul+

not ha*e been suspen+e+ +urin. the ene y occupation' So*erei.nty is the *er y life of our people!an+ there is no such thin. as @suspen+e+ life'@ 8here is no possible i++lesituation bet1een life an+ +eath' So*erei.nty is the *er y essence of the personality an+e?istenceof our people' Can anyone i a.ine the possibility of @suspen+e+ personality@ or @suspen+e+ e?istence@ of a peopleL In no ti e +urin. ene y occupation ha*ethe Filipino people cease+ to be 1hat they are'

8he i+ea of suspen+e+ so*erei.nty or suspen+e+ alle.iance is inco patible 1ithour Constitution'

8here is si ilarity in characteristics bet1een alle.iance to the so*erei.n an+ a1ife sloyalty to her husban+' Because so e e?ternal an+ insur ountable force

preclu+es thehusban+ fro e?ercisin. his arital po1ers! functions! an+ +uties an+ the 1ifeis thereby+epri*e+ of the benefits of his protection! ay the 1ife in*o:e the theory of suspen+e+loyalty an+ ay she freely share her be+ 1ith the assailant of their ho eL After .i*in.ai+ an+ co fort to the assailant an+ allo1in. hi to en0oy her char s +urin. thefor er sstay in the in*a+e+ ho e! ay the 1ife alle.e as +efense for her a+ultery the

principle of suspen+e+ con0u.al fi+elityL

Petitioner s thesis on chan.e of so*erei.nty at the a+*ent of in+epen+ence onJuly $!"#$9! is unacceptable' 7e ha*e alrea+y +eci+e+ in Bro+ett *s' De la Rosa an+=+a' +eEscaler ,p' %;6! ante - that the Constitution of the Republic is the sa e as that of theCo on1ealth' 8he a+*ent of in+epen+ence ha+ the effect of chan.in. thena e of our &o*ern ent an+ the 1ith+ra1al by the 5nite+ States of her po1er to e?ercisefunctionsof so*erei.nty in the Philippines' Such facts +i+ not chan.e the so*erei.nty of theFilipino people' 8hat so*erei.nty! follo1in. our constitutional philosophy! hase?iste+e*er since our people be.an to e?ist' It has been reco.ni/e+ by the 5nite+ Statesof A erica! at least since "#3;! 1hen Presi+ent Roose*elt appro*e+ our Constitution' Bysuch act! Presi+ent Roose*elt! as spo:es an of the A erican people! accepte+an+reco.ni/e+ the principle that so*erei.nty resi+es in the people that is! thatPhilippineso*erei.nty resi+es in the Filipino people'

8he sa e so*erei.nty ha+ been internationally reco.ni/e+ lon. before the procla ationof in+epen+ence on July $! "#$9' Since the early part of the Pacific 1ar!Presi+entue/on ha+ been sittin. as representati*e of a so*erei.n people in the Allie+7ar Council! an+ in June! "#$;! the sa e Filipino people too: part outstan+in.an+ brilliant! it ay be a++e+ in the +raftin. an+ a+option of the charter of the5nite+

Nations! the un ista:able forerunner of the future +e ocratic fe+eralconstitution of the1orl+ .o*ern ent en*isione+ by all those 1ho a+here to the principle of unityof all

an:in+! the early reali/ation of 1hich is an?iously +esire+ by all 1ho 1ant to be spare+the sufferin.s! isery an+ +isaster of another 1ar'5n+er our Constitution! the po1er to suspen+ la1s is of le.islati*e nature an+ islo+.e+in Con.ress' So eti es it is +ele.ate+ to the Chief E?ecuti*e! such as the

po1er .rante+ by the Election Co+e to the Presi+ent to suspen+ the election in certain +istrictsan+ areas


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for stron. reasons! such as 1hen there is rebellion! or a public cala ity! but it

has ne*er been e?ercise+ by tribunals' 8he Supre e Court has the po1er to +eclare nullan+ *oi+all la1s *iolati*e of the Constitution! but it has no po1er! authority! or

0uris+iction tosuspen+ or +eclare suspen+e+ any *ali+ la1! such as the one on treason 1hich petitioner 1ants to be inclu+e+ a on. the la1s of the Co on1ealth 1hich! by his theor y of suspen+e+ alle.iance an+ suspen+e+ so*erei.nty! he clai s ha*e beensuspen+e+ +urin.the Japanese occupation'

Suppose Presi+ent ue/on an+ his .o*ern ent! instea+ of .oin. froCorre.i+or toAustralia! an+ later to 7ashin.ton! ha+ fle+ to the ountains of (u/on! an+ a.roup of Filipino rene.a+es shoul+ ha*e :ille+ the to ser*e the interests of the Japanesei perialforces' By petitioner s theory! those rene.a+es cannot be prosecute+ for treasonor for rebellion or se+ition! as the la1s punishin. the 1ere suspen+e+' Such absur+result betrays the untenability of the theory'

@8he +efense of the State is a pri e +uty of &o*ern ent! an+ in the fulfill entof that+uty all citi/ens ay be re2uire+ by la1 to ren+er personal! ilitary or ci*ilser*ice'@8hus! section 6 of Article II of the Constitution pro*i+esG 8hat +uty of +efense

beco esore i perati*e in ti e of 1ar an+ 1hen the country is in*a+e+ by ana..ressor nation'o1 can it be fulfille+ if the alle.iance of the citi/ens to the so*erei.n people issuspen+e+ +urin. ene y occupationL 8he fra ers of the Constitution surely +i+notentertain e*en for the o ent the absur+ity that 1hen the alle.iance of theciti/ens to theso*erei.n people is ore nee+e+ in the +efense of the sur*i*al of the state! thesa eshoul+ be suspen+e+! an+ that upon such suspension those 1ho ay be re2uire+to ren+er personal! ilitary or ci*il ser*ice ay clai e?e ption fro the in+ispensable+uty of ser*in. their country in +istress'

Petitioner a+*ances the theory that protection in the consi+eration of alle.iance'ear.ues that the Co on1ealth &o*ern ent ha*in. been incapacitate+ +urin.

ene yoccupation to protect the citi/ens! the latter 1ere relie*e+ of their alle.iance tosai+.o*ern ent' 8he proposition is untenable' Alle.iance to the so*erei.n is anin+ispensable bon+ for the e?istence of society' If that bon+ is +issol*e+! society has to+isinte.rate'7hether or not the e?istence of the latter is the result of the social co pact

entione+ byRoseau! there can be no 2uestion that or.ani/e+ society 1oul+ be +issol*e+ if itis notunite+ by the cohesi*e po1er of the citi/en s alle.iance' Of course! the citi/ensareentitle+ to the protection of their .o*ern ent! but 1hether or not that.o*ern ent fulfillsthat +uty! is i aterial to the nee+ of aintanin. the loyalty an+ fi+elity of alle.iance! inthe sa e 1ay that the physical forces of attraction shoul+ be :ept unha pere+ if the lifeof an in+i*i+ual shoul+ continue! irrespecti*e of the ability or inability of his

in+ tochoose the ost effecti*e easures of personal protection'After +eclarin. that all le.islati*e! e?ecuti*e! an+ 0u+icial processes ha+ +urin.an+ un+er the Japanese re.i e! 1hether e?ecute+ by the Japanese the sel*es or b yFilipino officersof the puppet .o*ern ent they ha+ set up! are null an+ *oi+! as 1e ha*e +on e inour opinions in Co


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been entione+! 1e cannot consistently accept petitioner s theor y'

If all la1s or le.islati*e acts of the ene y +urin. the occupation 1ere null an+*oi+! an+as 1e cannot i a.ine the e?istence of or.ani/e+ society! such as the oneconstitute+ bythe Filipino people! 1ithout la1s of the Co on1ealth 1ere the ones in effect+urin. theoccupation an+ the only ones that coul+ clai obe+ience fro our citi/ens'

Petitioner 1oul+ 1ant us to accept the thesis that +urin. the occupation 1eo1e+alle.iance to the ene y' 8o .i*e 1ay to that para+o?ical an+ +isconcertin.alle.iance! itis su..este+ that 1e accept that our alle.iance to our le.iti ate .o*ern ent 1assuspen+e+' Petitioner s proposition has to fall by its o1n 1ei.ht! because of its.larin.absur+ities' Alle.iance! li:e its synony s! loyalty an+ fi+elity! is base+ onfeelin.s of attraction! lo*e! sy pathy! a+ iration! respect! *eneration! .ratitu+e! a ity!un+erstan+in.! frien+liness' 8hese are the feelin.s or so e of the feelin.s that

bin+ us toour o1n people! an+ are the natural roots of the +uty of alle.iance 1e o1e the '8heene y only pro*o:es repellin. an+ repulsi*e feelin.s hate! an.er! *e?ation!cha.rin!ortification! resent ent! conte pt! spitefulness' 8he natural inco patibility of

political!social an+ ethical i+eolo.ies bet1een our people an+ the Japanese! a:in.i possible thee?istence of any feelin. of attraction bet1een the ! asi+e fro the initial factthat theJapanese in*a+e+ our country as our ene y! 1as a..ra*ate+ by the orbi+co ple?itiesof hau.htiness! bra..a+ocio an+ beastly brutality of the Nippon sol+iers an+officers intheir +ealin.s 1ith e*en the ost inoffensi*e of our citi/ens'

&i*in. brea+ to our ene y! an+! after slappin. one si+e of our face! offer hithe other to be further slappe+! ay appear to be +i*inely charitable! but to a:e the areality! it isnecessary to chan.e hu an nature' Political actions! le.al rules an+ 0u+icial+ecisions+eal 1ith hu an relations! ta:in. an as he is! not as he shoul+ be' 8o lo*e theene y isnot natural' As lon. as hu an pyscholo.y re ains as it is! the ene y shallal1ays behate+' Is it possible to concei*e an alle.iance base+ on hatre+L

8he Japanese! ha*in. 1a.e+ a.ainst us an ille.al 1ar con+e ne+ by pre*ailin. principlesof international la1! coul+ not ha*e establishe+ in our country any .o*ern entthat can be le.ally reco.ni/e+ as de facto ' 8hey ca e as ban+its an+ ruffians! an+ it isinconcei*able that ban+itry an+ ruffianis can clai any +uty of alle.iance e*en ate porary one fro a +ecent people'

One of the i plications of petitioner s theory! as inti ate+ so e1here! is thattheciti/ens! in case of in*asion! are free to +o anythin. not forbi++en b y the a.ueCon*entions' Anybo+y 1ill notice i e+iately that the result 1ill be the +ooof s allnations an+ peoples! by 1hettin. the co*etousness of stron. po1ers prone oni perialistic practices' In the i inence of in*asion! 1ea:)hearte+ sol+iers o f the s aller nations 1ill rea+ily thro1 a1ay their ar s to rally behin+ the pala+iu of th ein*a+ers'81o of the three .reat +epart ents of our &o*ern ent ha*e alrea+y re0ecte +

petitioner stheory since Septe ber 6;! "#$;! the +ay 1hen Co on1ealth Act No' 9 >6too: effect'By sai+ act! creatin. the People s Court to try an+ +eci+e all cases of cri ea.ainst


12/45

national security @co itte+ bet1een Dece ber >! "#$" an+ Septe ber 6!

"#$;!@,section 6-! the le.islati*e an+ e?ecuti*e +epart ents ha*e 0ointly +eclare+ that+urin. the perio+ abo*e entione+! inclu+in. the ti e of Japanese occupation! all la1s

punishin.cri es a.ainst national security! inclu+in. article ""$ of the Re*ise+ PenalCo+e! punishin. treason! ha+ re aine+ in full effect an+ shoul+ be enforce+'

8hat no one raise+ a *oice in protest a.ainst the enact ent of sai+ act an+ thatno one! atthe ti e the act 1as bein. consi+ere+ by the Senate an+ the ouse of Representati*es!e*er +are+ to e?pose the uselessness of creatin. a People s Court to try cri e1hich! asclai e+ by petitioner! coul+ not ha*e been co itte+ as the la1s punishin.the ha*e been suspen+e+! is a historical fact of 1hich the Supre e Court ay ta:e

0u+icial notice'8his fact sho1s uni*ersal an+ unani ous a.ree ent of our people that the la1sof theCo on1ealth 1ere not suspen+e+ an+ that the theory of suspen+e+ alle.ianceis 0ust anafterthou.ht pro*o:e+ by a +esperate effort to help 2uash the pen+in. treasoncases atany cost'

A on. the ar.u ents a++uce+ in fa*or of petitioner s theory is that it is base+on.enerally accepte+ principles of international la1! althou.h this ar.u ent

beco es futile by petitioner s a+ ission that the theory is a+*anta.eous to stron. po1ers buthar ful tos all an+ 1ea: nations! thus hintin. that the latter cannot accept it by heart'Suppose 1eaccept at face *alue the pre ise that the theories! ur.e+ by petitioner! of suspen+e+alle.iance an+ suspen+e+ so*erei.nty are base+ on .enerally accepte+ principlesof international la1' As the latter for s part of our la1s by *irtue of the pro*isionsof section 3 of Article II of the Constitution! it see s that there is no alternati*e buttoaccept the theory' But the theory has the effect of suspen+in. the la1s!especially those political in nature' 8here is no la1 ore political in nature than the Constitutionof thePhilippines' 8he result is an in*erte+ repro+uction of the &ree: yth of Saturn+e*ourin.his o1n chil+ren' ere! un+er petitioner s theory! the offsprin. +e*ours its

parent'Can 1e concei*e of an instance in 1hich the Constitution 1as suspen+e+ e*enfor ao entL

8here is conclusi*e e*i+ence that the le.islature! as policy)+eter inin. a.encyof .o*ern ent! e*en since the Pacific 1ar starte+ on Dece ber %! "#$"! inti ate+that it1oul+ not accept the i+ea that our la1s shoul+ be suspen+e+ +urin. ene yoccupation' Itust be re e bere+ that in the i++le of Dece ber! "#$"! 1hen Manila an+other partsof the archipela.o 1ere un+er constant bo bin. by Japanese aircraft an+ ene yforcesha+ alrea+ y set foot so e1here in the Philippines! the Secon+ NationalAsse bly passe+Co on1ealth Act No' 9%"! 1hich ca e into effect on Dece ber "9! "#$"'7hen 1eappro*e+ sai+ act! 1e starte+ fro the pre ise that all our la1s shall continue ineffect+urin. the e er.ency! an+ in sai+ act 1e e*en 1ent to the e?tent of authori/i n.thePresi+ent @to continue in force la1s an+ appropriations 1hich 1oul+ lapse or other1ise

beco e inoperati*e!@ ,section 6! +K-! an+ also to @pro ul.ate such rules an+re.ulationsas he ay +ee necessary to carry out the national policy!@ ,section 6-! that @thee?istence of 1ar bet1een the 5nite+ States an+ other countries of Europe an+Asia!1hich in*ol*es the Philippines! a:es it necessary to in*est the Presi+ent 1ith


13/45

e?traor+inary po1ers in or+er to eet the resultin. e er.ency'@ ,Section "'- 8o

.i*ee phasis to the inti ation! 1e pro*i+e+ that the rules an+ re.ulations pro*i+e+@shall bein force an+ effect until the Con.ress of the Philippines shall other1ise

pro*i+e!@foreseein. the possibility that Con.ress ay not eet as sche+ule+ as a result of thee er.ency! inclu+in. in*asion an+ occupation by the ene y' E*er ybo+y 1asthencon*ince+ that 1e +i+ not ha*e a*ailable the necessary eans of repellin.effecti*ity theene y in*asion'

Maybe it is not out of place to consi+er that the acceptance of petitioner s theoryof suspen+e+ alle.iance 1ill cause a .reat in0ustice to those 1ho! althou.hinnocent! areno1 un+er in+ict ent for treason an+ other cri es in*ol*in. +isloyalty to their country! because their cases 1ill be +is isse+ 1ithout the opportunity for the tore*in+icatethe sel*es' a*in. been ac2uitte+ upon a ere le.al technicality 1hich appearsto us to be 1ron.! history 1ill in+iscri inality classify the 1ith the other accuse+ 1ho1erereally traitors to their country' Our conscience re*olts a.ainst the i+ea of allo1in. theinnocent ones to .o +o1n in the e ory of future .enerations 1ith theinfa ous sti. aof ha*in. betraye+ their o1n people' 8hey shoul+ not be +epri*e+ of theopportunity tosho1 throu.h the +ue process of la1 that they are free fro all bla e an+ that!if they1ere really patriots! they acte+ as such +urin. the critical perio+ of test'

I(ADO! J'! concurrin.G

I concur in the result reache+ in the a0ority opinion to the effect that +urin. theso)calle+ Japanese occupation of the Philippines ,1hich 1as nothin. ore than theoccupation of Manila an+ certain other specific re.ions of the Islan+s 1hichconstitute+the inor area of the Archipela.o- the alle.iance of the citi/ens of this countryto their le.iti ate .o*ern ent an+ to the 5nite+ States 1as not suspen+e+! as 1ell asthe rulin.that +urin. the sa e perio+ there 1as no chan.e of so*erei.nty here4 but yreasons are+ifferent an+ I procee+ to set the forthG

I' S5SPENDED A((E&IANCE'

,a- Before the horror an+ atrocities of 7orl+ 7ar I! 1hich 1ere ultiplie+ orethan ahun+re+)fol+ in 7orl+ 7ar II! the nations ha+ e*ol*e+ certain rules an+

principles 1hichca e to be :no1n as International (a1! .o*ernin. their con+uct 1ith each other an+to1ar+ their respecti*e citi/ens an+ inhabitants! in the ar e+ forces or ci*ilianlife! inti e of peace or in ti e of 1ar' Durin. the a.es 1hich prece+e+ that first 1orl+conflictthe ci*ili/e+ .o*ern ents ha+ no reali/ation of the potential e?cesses of 1hich@ en sinhu anity to an@ coul+ be capable' 5p to that ti e 1ar 1as! at least un+er certaincon+itions! consi+ere+ as sufficiently 0ustifie+! an+ the nations ha+ not on thataccount!

proscribe+ nor renounce+ it as an instru ent of national policy! or as a eans of settlin.international +isputes' It is not for us no1 to +1ell upon the reasons accountin.for thishistorical fact' Suffice it to reco.ni/e its e?istence in history'But 1hen in 7orl+ 7ar I ci*ili/e+ hu anity sa1 that 1ar coul+ be! as it ac tually1as!e ploye+ for entirely +ifferent reasons an+ fro entirely +ifferent oti*es!co pare+ to


14/45

pre*ious 1ars! an+ the instru ents an+ etho+s of 1arfare ha+ been so

ateriallychan.e+ as not only to in*ol*e the conten+in. ar e+ forces on 1ell +efine+ battlefiel+sor areas! on lan+! in the sea! an+ in the air! but to sprea+ +eath an+ +estruction totheinnocent ci*ilian populations an+ to their properties! not only in the countriesen.a.e+ inthe conflict but also in neutral ones! no less than 9" ci*ili/e+ nations an+.o*ern ents!a on. the Japan! ha+ to for ulate an+ sole nly subscribe to the no1 fa ousBrian+)


15/45

Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURTManila

EN BANC

DECISION

January 3 ! "#$%

&'R' No' ()$ #ANASTACIO LAUREL ! petitioner!*s'ERIBERTO MISA ! respon+ent'

Claro M. Recto and Querube C. Makalintal for petitioner.

First Assistant Solicitor General Reyes and Solicitor Hernandez, Jr., for respondent., J. :

,"- Consi+erin. that a citi/en or sub0ect o1es! not a 2ualifie+ an+ te porary! butanabsolute an+ per anent alle.iance! 1hich consists in the obli.ation of fi+elityan+obe+ience to his .o*ern ent or so*erei.n4 an+ that this absolute an+ per anentalle.iance shoul+ not be confuse+ 1ith the 2ualifie+ an+ te porary alle.iance1hich aforei.ner o1es to the .o*ern ent or so*erei.n of the territory 1herein he

resi+es! so lon.as he re ains there! in return for the protection he recei*es! an+ 1hich consistsin theobe+ience to the la1s of the .o*ern ent or so*erei.n' ,Carlisle *s' 5nite States!6" (a1'e+' $6#4 Secretary of State 7ebster Report to the Presi+ent of the 5nite+ Statesin thecase of 8hraser! 9 7eb' 7or:s! ;69-4

Consi+erin. that the absolute an+ per anent alle.iance of the inhabitants of aterritoryoccupie+ by the ene y of their le.iti ate .o*ern ent or so*erei.n is notabro.ate+ or se*ere+ b y the ene y occupation! because the so*erei.nty of the .o*ern entor so*erei.n de ure is not transferre+ thereby to the occupier! as 1e ha*e hel+ in the casesof Co


16/45

tothe occupant4 that the subsistence of the so*erei.nty of the le.iti ate

.o*ern ent in aterritory occupie+ by the ilitary forces of the ene y +urin. the 1ar! @althou.hthefor er is in fact pre*ente+ fro e?ercisin. the supre acy o*er the @ is one of the @rulesof international la1 of our ti es@4 ,II Oppenhei ! 9th (auterpacht e+'! "#$$! p'$>6-!reco.ni/e+! by necessary i plication! in articles 63! $$! $;! an+ ;6 of a.ueRe.ulation4an+ that! as a corollary of the conclusion that the so*erei.nty itself is notsuspen+e+ an+subsists +urin. the ene y occupation! the alle.iance of the inhabitants to their le.iti ate.o*ern ent or so*erei.n subsists! an+ therefore there is no such thin. assuspen+e+alle.iance! the basic theory on 1hich the 1hole fabric of the petitioner scontention rests4

Consi+erin. that the conclusion that the so*erei.nty of the 5nite+ State 1assuspen+e+ inCastine! set forth in the +ecision in the case of 5nite+ States *s' Rice! $7heaton! 6$9!6;3! +eci+e+ in ">"#! an+ 2uote+ in our +ecision in the cases of Co


17/45

Consi+erin. that! as a corollary of the suspension of the e?ercise of the ri.hts of

so*erei.nty b y the le.iti ate .o*ern ent in the territory occupie+ by theene y ilitaryforces! because the authority of the le.iti ate po1er to .o*ern has passe+ intothe han+sof the occupant ,Article $3! a.ue Re.ulations-! the political la1s 1hich

prescribe thereciprocal ri.hts! +uties an+ obli.ation of .o*ern ent an+ citi/ens! aresuspen+e+ or inabeyance +urin. ilitary occupation ,Co


18/45

because it is e*i+ent that such action is not +e an+e+ by the e?i.encies of the

ilitaryser*ice or not necessary for the control of the inhabitants an+ the safety an+ protection of his ar y! an+ because it is tanta ount to practically transfer te porarily to theoccupanttheir alle.iance to the titular .o*ern ent or so*erei.n4 an+ that! therefore! if aninhabitantof the occupie+ territory 1ere co pelle+ ille.ally by the ilitary occupant!throu.h force!threat or inti i+ation! to .i*e hi ai+ an+ co fort! the for er ay la1fullyresist an+ +ieif necessary as a hero! or sub it thereto 1ithout beco in. a traitor4

Consi+erin. that a+option of the petitioner s theory of suspen+e+ alle.iance1oul+ lea+ to+isastrous conse2uences for s all an+ 1ea: nations or states! an+ 1oul+ berepu.nant tothe la1s of hu anity an+ re2uire ents of public conscience! for it 1oul+ allo1in*a+ersto le.ally recruit or enlist the uislin. inhabitants of the occupie+ territory tofi.hta.ainst their o1n .o*ern ent 1ithout the latter incurrin. the ris: of bein.

prosecute+ for treason! an+ e*en co pel those 1ho are not ai+ the in their ilitary operationa.ainstthe resistin. ene y forces in or+er to co pletely sub+ue an+ con2uer the 1holenation!an+ thus +epri*e the all of their o1n in+epen+ence or so*erei.nty suchtheory 1oul+sanction the action of in*a+ers in forcin. the people of a free an+ so*erei.ncountry to bea party in the nefarious tas: of +epri*in. the sel*es of their o1n free+o an+in+epen+ence an+ repressin. the e?ercise by the of their o1n so*erei.nty4 inother 1or+s! to co it a political suici+e4

,6- Consi+erin. that the cri e of treason a.ainst the .o*ern ent of thePhilippines+efine+ an+ penali/e+ in article ""$ of the Penal Co+e! thou.h ori.inallyinten+e+ to be acri e a.ainst sai+ .o*ern ent as then or.ani/e+ by authority of the so*erei.n

people of the 5nite+ States! e?ercise+ throu.h their authori/e+ representati*e! theCon.ress an+ thePresi+ent of the 5nite+ States! 1as a+e! upon the establish ent of theCo on1ealth&o*ern ent in "#3;! a cri e a.ainst the &o*ern ent of the Philippinesestablishe+ byauthority of the people of the Philippines! in 1ho the so*erei.nty resi+esaccor+in. tosection "! Article II! of the Constitution of the Philippines! by *irtue of the

pro*ision of section 6! Article =I thereof! 1hich pro*i+es that @All la1s of the PhilippineIslan+s ' ' 'shall re ain operati*e! unless inconsistent 1ith this Constitution ' ' ' an+ allreferences insuch la1s to the &o*ern ent or officials of the Philippine Islan+s! shall beconstrue+! inso far as applicable! to refer to the &o*ern ent an+ correspon+in. officialsun+er thisconstitution4

Consi+erin. that the Co on1ealth of the Philippines 1as a so*erei.n.o*ern ent!thou.h not absolute but sub0ect to certain li itations i pose+ in theIn+epen+ence Actan+ incorporate+ as Or+inance appen+e+ to our Constitution! 1as reco.ni/e+not only bythe (e.islati*e Depart ent or Con.ress of the 5nite+ States in appro*in. theIn+epen+ence (a1 abo*e 2uote+ an+ the Constitution of the Philippines! 1hichcontainsthe +eclaration that @So*erei.nty resi+es in the people an+ all .o*ern entauthoritye anates fro the @ ,section "! Article II-! but also by the E?ecuti*eDepart ent of the5nite+ States4 that the late Presi+ent Roose*elt in one of his essa.es toCon.ress sai+!a on. others! @As I state+ on Au.ust "6! "#$3! the 5nite+ States in practicere.ar+s thePhilippines as ha*in. no1 the status as a .o*ern ent of other in+epen+entnations infact all the attributes of co plete an+ respecte+ nationhoo+@ ,Con.ressionalRecor+!


19/45

=ol' 6#! part 9! pa.e >"%3-4 an+ that it is a principle uphel+ by the Supre e

Court of the5nite+ States in any cases! a on. the in the case of Jones *s' 5nite+ States,"3% 5'S'6 64 3$ (a1' e+' 9#"! 9#9- that the 2uestion of so*erei.nty is @a purely political2uestion!the +eter ination of 1hich by the le.islati*e an+ e?ecuti*e +epart ents of any.o*ern ent conclusi*ely bin+s the 0u+.es! as 1ell as all other officers! citi/ensan+sub0ects of the country'

Consi+erin. that section I ,"- of the Or+inance appen+e+ to the Constitution1hich pro*i+es that pen+in. the final an+ co plete 1ith+ra1al of the so*erei.nty of the 5nite+States @All citi/ens of the Philippines shall o1e alle.iance to the 5nite+ States@!1as oneof the fe1 li itations of the so*erei.nty of the Filipino people retaine+ by the5nite+States! but these li itations +o not a1ay or are not inconsistent 1ith sai+so*erei.nty! inthe sa e 1ay that the people of each State of the 5nion preser*es its o1nso*erei.ntyalthou.h li ite+ by that of the 5nite+ States conferre+ upon the latter by theStates4 that 0ust as to reason ay be co itte+ a.ainst the Fe+eral as 1ell as a.ainst theState&o*ern ent! in the sa e 1ay treason ay ha*e been co itte+ +urin. theJapaneseoccupation a.ainst the so*erei.nty of the 5nite+ States as 1ell as a.ainst theso*erei.ntyof the Philippine Co on1ealth4 an+ that the chan.e of our for of .o*ern ent froCo on1ealth to Republic +oes not affect the prosecution of those char.e+1ith thecri e of treason co itte+ +urin. the Co on1ealth! because it is an offensea.ainstthe sa e .o*ern ent an+ the sa e so*erei.n people! for Article =III of our Constitution pro*i+es that @8he .o*ern ent establishe+ by this constitutionshall be:no1n as the Co on1ealth of the Philippines' 5pon the final an+ co plete1ith+ra1alof the so*erei.nty of the 5nite+ States an+ the procla ation of Philippinein+epen+ence!the Co on1ealth of the Philippines shall thenceforth be :no1n as theRepublic of thePhilippines@4

8his Court resol*es! 1ithout pre0u+ice to 1rite later on a ore e?ten+e+opinion! to +enythe petitioner s petition! as it is hereby +enie+! for the reasons abo*e set forthan+ for others to be state+ in the sai+ opinion! 1ithout pre0u+ice to concurrin. opiniontherein! if any' Messrs' Justices Paras an+ onti*eros +issent in a separate opinion' Mr'

0usticePerfecto concurs in a separate opinion'

Separate Opinions

PERFEC8O! J'! concurrin.G

8reason is a 1ar cri e' It is not an all)ti e offense' It cannot be co itte+ in peace ti e'7hile there is peace! there are no traitors' 8reason ay be incubate+ 1hen

peace rei.ns'8reasonable acts ay actually be perpetrate+ +urin. peace! but there are notraitors until1ar has starte+'As treason is basically a 1ar cri e! it is punishe+ by the state as a easure of self)+efense an+ self)preser*ation' 8he la1 of treason is an e er.ency easure' Itre ains+or ant until the e er.ency arises' But as soon as 1ar starts! it is relentlessly

putintoeffect' Any lu:e1ar attitu+e in its enforce ent 1ill only be consistent 1ithnational


20/45

hara:iri' All 1ar efforts 1oul+ be of no a*ail if they shoul+ be allo1e+ to be

sabota.e+ by fifth colu nists! by citi/ens 1ho ha*e sol+ their country out to the ene y! or anyother :in+ of traitors! an+ this 1oul+ certainly be the case if he la1 cannot beenforce+un+er the theory of suspension'

Petitioner s thesis that alle.iance to our .o*ern ent 1as suspen+e+ +urin.ene yoccupation is a+*ance+ in support of the proposition that! since alle.iance isi+entical1ith obe+ience to la1! +urin. the ene y occupation! the la1s of theCo on1ealth1ere suspen+e+' Article ""$ of the Re*ise+ Penal Co+e! the la1 punishin.treason! un+er the theory! 1as one of the la1s obe+ience to 1hich 1as also suspen+e+ t"6FFH'

Alle.iance has been +efine+ as the obli.ation for fi+elity an+ obe+ience 1hichthein+i*i+ual o1es to his .o*ern ent or his so*erei.n in return for the protection1hich herecei*es F *D%Jypu'

@Alle.iance@! as the return is .enerally use+! eans fealty or fi+elity to the.o*ern ent of 1hich the person is either a citi/en or sub0ect' Murray *s' 8he Char in. Betsy!9 5'S' ,6Cranch-! 9$! "6 4 6 (a1' e+' 6 >'

@Alle.iance@ 1as sai+ by Mr' Justice Story to be @nothin. ore than the tie or +uty of obe+ience of a sub0ect to the so*erei.n! un+er 1hose protection he is'@ 5nite+States *s'7on.


21/45

sub0ect upon an i plie+ contract 1ith the prince that so lon. as the one affor+s

protectionthe other 1ill +e ean hi self faithfully' Natural)born sub0ects ha*e a .reat*ariety of ri.hts 1hich they ac2uire by bein. born 1ithin the '-'

@Alle.iance!@ as its ety olo.y in+icates! is the na e for the tie 1hich bin+s theciti/en tohis state the obli.ation of obe+ience an+ support 1hich he o1es to it' 8hestate is the political person to 1ho this lie.e fealty is +ue' Its substance is the a..re.ate of

personso1in. this alle.iance' 8he achinery throu.h 1hich it operates is its.o*ern ent' 8he

persons 1ho operate this achinery constitute its a.istracy' 8he rules of con+uct 1hichthe state utters or enforces are its la1! an+ anifest its 1ill' 8his 1ill! *ie1e+ a sle.allysupre e! is its so*erei.nty' ,7'7' 7illou.hby! Citi/enship an+ Alle.iance inConstitutional an+ International (a1! " A erican Journal of International ( a1!

p' #";'-'8he obli.ations flo1in. fro the relation of a state an+ its nationals arereciprocalincharacter' 8his principle ha+ been aptly state+ by the Supre e Court of the5nite+


22/45

States in its opinion in the case of (uria *s' 5nite+ StatesG

Citi/enship is e bership in a political society an+ i plies a +uty of alle.ianceon the part of the e ber an+ a +uty protection on the part of the society' 8hese arereciprocalobli.ations! one bein. a co pensation for the other' ,3 ac:1orth! Di.est of International (a1! "#$6 e+'! p'9'-

Alle.iance' 8he tie 1hich bin+s the citi/en to the .o*ern ent! in return for the protection 1hich the .o*ern ent affor+s hi ' 8he +uty 1hich the sub0ect o1esto theso*erei.n! correlati*e 1ith the protection recei*e+'

It is a co parati*ely o+ern corruption of li.eance ,li.eantia-! 1hich is +eri*e+frolie.e ,li.ius-! eanin. absolute or un2ualifie+' It si.nifie+ ori.inally lie.efealty! i' e'!absolute an+ 2ualifie+ fealty' "> (' ' Re*'! $%'

? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Alle.iance ay be an absolute an+ per anent obli.ation! or it ay be a2ualifie+ an+te porary one4 the citi/en or sub0ect o1es the for er to his .o*ern ent or so*erei.n!until by so e act he +istinctly renounces it! 1hilst the alien +o icile+ in thecountryo1es a te porary an+ local alle.iance continuin. +urin. such resi+ence',Carlisle *s'5nite+ States! "9 7all' 5'S'K! ";$4 6" (a1' e+' $69' ," Bou*ier s (a1Dictionary! p'"%#'-'

8he abo*e 2uotations e?press i+eas that +o not fit e?actly into the Philippine pattern in*ie1 of the re*olutionary insertion in our Constitution of the fun+a ental principle that@so*erei.nty resi+es in the people an+ all .o*ern ent authority e anates frothe '@,Section "! Article II'- 8he authorities abo*e 2uote+! 0u+.es an+ 0uri+ical

publicists +efinealle.iance 1ith the i+ea that so*erei.nty resi+es so e1here else! on sy bols or sub0ectsother than the people the sel*es' Althou.h it is possible that they ha+ alrea+y+isco*ere+that the people an+ only the people are the true so*erei.n! their in+s 1ere notyet freefro the shac:les of the tra+ition that the po1ers of so*erei.nty ha*e beene?ercise+ by princes an+ onarchs! by sultans an+ e perors! by absolute an+ tyrannical rules1hosei+eolo.y 1as best e?presse+ in the fa ous 1or+s of one of the :in.s of FranceG@( etatc est oi!@ or such other persons or .roup of persons posin. as the .o*ern ent!as anentity +ifferent an+ in opposition to the people the sel*es' Althou.h +e ocracyhas been:no1n e*er since ol+ &reece! an+ o+ern +e ocracies in the people! no1hereis such principle ore i perati*e than in the pronounce ent e bo+ie+ in thefun+a ental la1of our people'8o those 1ho thin: that so*erei.nty is an attribute of .o*ern ent! an+ not of the

people!there ay be so e plausibility in the proposition that so*erei.nty 1assuspen+e+ +urin.the ene y occupation! 1ith the conse2uence that alle.iance ust also ha*e beensuspen+e+! because our .o*ern ent stoppe+ to function in the country' But thei+eacannot ha*e any place un+er our Constitution' If so*erei.nty is an essentialattributeofour people! accor+in. to the basic philosophy of Philippine +e ocracy! itcoul+ not


23/45

ha*e been suspen+e+ +urin. the ene y occupation' So*erei.nty is the *ery life

of our people! an+ there is no such thin. as @suspen+e+ life'@ 8here is no possiblei++lesituation bet1een life an+ +eath' So*erei.nty is the *ery essence of the

personality an+e?istence of our people' Can anyone i a.ine the possibility of @suspen+e+ personality@ or @suspen+e+ e?istence@ of a peopleL In no ti e +urin. ene y occupation ha*ethe Filipino people cease+ to be 1hat they are'

8he i+ea of suspen+e+ so*erei.nty or suspen+e+ alle.iance is inco patible 1ithour Constitution'

8here is si ilarity in characteristics bet1een alle.iance to the so*erei.n an+ a1ife sloyalty to her husban+' Because so e e?ternal an+ insur ountable force

preclu+es thehusban+ fro e?ercisin. his arital po1ers! functions! an+ +uties an+ the 1ifeis thereby+epri*e+ of the benefits of his protection! ay the 1ife in*o:e the theory of suspen+e+loyalty an+ ay she freely share her be+ 1ith the assailant of their ho eL After .i*in.ai+ an+ co fort to the assailant an+ allo1in. hi to en0oy her char s +urin. thefor er sstay in the in*a+e+ ho e! ay the 1ife alle.e as +efense for her a+ultery the

principle of suspen+e+ con0u.al fi+elityL

Petitioner s thesis on chan.e of so*erei.nty at the a+*ent of in+epen+ence onJuly $!"#$9! is unacceptable' 7e ha*e alrea+y +eci+e+ in Bro+ett *s' De la Rosa an+=+a' +eEscaler ,p' %;6! ante - that the Constitution of the Republic is the sa e as that of theCo on1ealth' 8he a+*ent of in+epen+ence ha+ the effect of chan.in. thena e of our &o*ern ent an+ the 1ith+ra1al by the 5nite+ States of her po1er to e?ercisefunctionsof so*erei.nty in the Philippines' Such facts +i+ not chan.e the so*erei.nty of theFilipino people' 8hat so*erei.nty! follo1in. our constitutional philosophy! hase?iste+e*er since our people be.an to e?ist' It has been reco.ni/e+ by the 5nite+ Statesof A erica! at least since "#3;! 1hen Presi+ent Roose*elt appro*e+ our Constitution' Bysuch act! Presi+ent Roose*elt! as spo:es an of the A erican people! accepte+an+reco.ni/e+ the principle that so*erei.nty resi+es in the people that is! thatPhilippineso*erei.nty resi+es in the Filipino people'

8he sa e so*erei.nty ha+ been internationally reco.ni/e+ lon. before the procla ationof in+epen+ence on July $! "#$9' Since the early part of the Pacific 1ar!Presi+entue/on ha+ been sittin. as representati*e of a so*erei.n people in the Allie+7ar Council! an+ in June! "#$;! the sa e Filipino people too: part outstan+in.an+ brilliant! it ay be a++e+ in the +raftin. an+ a+option of the charter of the5nite+ Nations! the un ista:able forerunner of the future +e ocratic fe+eralconstitution of the1orl+ .o*ern ent en*isione+ by all those 1ho a+here to the principle of unityof all

an:in+! the early reali/ation of 1hich is an?iously +esire+ by all 1ho 1ant to be spare+the sufferin.s! isery an+ +isaster of another 1ar'5n+er our Constitution! the po1er to suspen+ la1s is of le.islati*e nature an+ islo+.e+in Con.ress' So eti es it is +ele.ate+ to the Chief E?ecuti*e! such as the

po1er .rante+ by the Election Co+e to the Presi+ent to suspen+ the election in certain +istrictsan+areasfor stron. reasons! such as 1hen there is rebellion! or a public cala ity! butit has


24/45

ne*er been e?ercise+ by tribunals' 8he Supre e Court has the po1er to +eclare

null an+*oi+ all la1s *iolati*e of the Constitution! but it has no po1er! authority! or 0uris+ictionto suspen+ or +eclare suspen+e+ any *ali+ la1! such as the one on treason 1hich petitioner 1ants to be inclu+e+ a on. the la1s of the Co on1ealth 1hich! byhistheory of suspen+e+ alle.iance an+ suspen+e+ so*erei.nty! he clai s ha*e beensuspen+e+ +urin. the Japanese occupation'

Suppose Presi+ent ue/on an+ his .o*ern ent! instea+ of .oin. froCorre.i+or toAustralia! an+ later to 7ashin.ton! ha+ fle+ to the ountains of (u/on! an+ a.roup of Filipino rene.a+es shoul+ ha*e :ille+ the to ser*e the interests of the Japanesei perialforces' By petitioner s theory! those rene.a+es cannot be prosecute+ for treasonor for rebellion or se+ition! as the la1s punishin. the 1ere suspen+e+' Such absur+result betrays the untenability of the theory'

@8he +efense of the State is a pri e +uty of &o*ern ent! an+ in the fulfill entof that+uty all citi/ens ay be re2uire+ by la1 to ren+er personal! ilitary or ci*ilser*ice'@8hus! section 6 of Article II of the Constitution pro*i+esG 8hat +uty of +efense

beco esore i perati*e in ti e of 1ar an+ 1hen the country is in*a+e+ by ana..ressor nation'o1 can it be fulfille+ if the alle.iance of the citi/ens to the so*erei.n people issuspen+e+ +urin. ene y occupationL 8he fra ers of the Constitution surely +i+notentertain e*en for the o ent the absur+ity that 1hen the alle.iance of theciti/ens to theso*erei.n people is ore nee+e+ in the +efense of the sur*i*al of the state! thesa eshoul+ be suspen+e+! an+ that upon such suspension those 1ho ay be re2uire+to ren+er personal! ilitary or ci*il ser*ice ay clai e?e ption fro the in+ispensable+uty of ser*in. their country in +istress'

Petitioner a+*ances the theory that protection in the consi+eration of alle.iance'ear.ues that the Co on1ealth &o*ern ent ha*in. been incapacitate+ +urin.

ene yoccupation to protect the citi/ens! the latter 1ere relie*e+ of their alle.iance tosai+.o*ern ent' 8he proposition is untenable' Alle.iance to the so*erei.n is anin+ispensable bon+ for the e?istence of society' If that bon+ is +issol*e+! society has to+isinte.rate'7hether or not the e?istence of the latter is the result of the social co pact

entione+ byRoseau! there can be no 2uestion that or.ani/e+ society 1oul+ be +issol*e+ if itis notunite+ by the cohesi*e po1er of the citi/en s alle.iance' Of course! the citi/ensareentitle+ to the protection of their .o*ern ent! but 1hether or not that.o*ern ent fulfillsthat +uty! is i aterial to the nee+ of aintanin. the loyalty an+ fi+elity of alle.iance! inthe sa e 1ay that the physical forces of attraction shoul+ be :ept unha pere+ if the lifeof an in+i*i+ual shoul+ continue! irrespecti*e of the ability or inability of his

in+ tochoose the ost effecti*e easures of personal protection'After +eclarin. that all le.islati*e! e?ecuti*e! an+ 0u+icial processes ha+ +urin.an+ un+er the Japanese re.i e! 1hether e?ecute+ by the Japanese the sel*es or b yFilipino officersof the puppet .o*ern ent they ha+ set up! are null an+ *oi+! as 1e ha*e +on e inour opinions in Co


25/45

If all la1s or le.islati*e acts of the ene y +urin. the occupation 1ere null an+*oi+! an+as 1e cannot i a.ine the e?istence of or.ani/e+ society! such as the oneconstitute+ bythe Filipino people! 1ithout la1s of the Co on1ealth 1ere the ones in effect+urin. theoccupation an+ the only ones that coul+ clai obe+ience fro our citi/ens'

Petitioner 1oul+ 1ant us to accept the thesis that +urin. the occupation 1eo1e+alle.iance to the ene y' 8o .i*e 1ay to that para+o?ical an+ +isconcertin.alle.iance! itis su..este+ that 1e accept that our alle.iance to our le.iti ate .o*ern ent 1assuspen+e+' Petitioner s proposition has to fall by its o1n 1ei.ht! because of its.larin.absur+ities' Alle.iance! li:e its synony s! loyalty an+ fi+elity! is base+ onfeelin.s of attraction! lo*e! sy pathy! a+ iration! respect! *eneration! .ratitu+e! a ity!un+erstan+in.! frien+liness' 8hese are the feelin.s or so e of the feelin.s that

bin+ us toour o1n people! an+ are the natural roots of the +uty of alle.iance 1e o1e the '8heene y only pro*o:es repellin. an+ repulsi*e feelin.s hate! an.er! *e?ation!cha.rin!ortification! resent ent! conte pt! spitefulness' 8he natural inco patibility of

political!social an+ ethical i+eolo.ies bet1een our people an+ the Japanese! a:in.i possible thee?istence of any feelin. of attraction bet1een the ! asi+e fro the initial factthat theJapanese in*a+e+ our country as our ene y! 1as a..ra*ate+ by the orbi+co ple?itiesof hau.htiness! bra..a+ocio an+ beastly brutality of the Nippon sol+iers an+officers intheir +ealin.s 1ith e*en the ost inoffensi*e of our citi/ens'

&i*in. brea+ to our ene y! an+! after slappin. one si+e of our face! offer hithe other to be further slappe+! ay appear to be +i*inely charitable! but to a:e the areality! it isnecessary to chan.e hu an nature' Political actions! le.al rules an+ 0u+icial+ecisions+eal 1ith hu an relations! ta:in. an as he is! not as he shoul+ be' 8o lo*e theene y isnot natural' As lon. as hu an pyscholo.y re ains as it is! the ene y shallal1ays behate+' Is it possible to concei*e an alle.iance base+ on hatre+L

8he Japanese! ha*in. 1a.e+ a.ainst us an ille.al 1ar con+e ne+ by pre*ailin. principlesof international la1! coul+ not ha*e establishe+ in our country any .o*ern entthat can be le.ally reco.ni/e+ as de facto ' 8hey ca e as ban+its an+ ruffians! an+ it isinconcei*able that ban+itry an+ ruffianis can clai any +uty of alle.iance e*en ate porary one fro a +ecent people'

One of the i plications of petitioner s theory! as inti ate+ so e1here! is thattheciti/ens! in case of in*asion! are free to +o anythin. not forbi++en b y the a.ueCon*entions' Anybo+y 1ill notice i e+iately that the result 1ill be the +ooof s allnations an+ peoples! by 1hettin. the co*etousness of stron. po1ers prone oni perialistic practices' In the i inence of in*asion! 1ea:)hearte+ sol+iers o f the s aller nations 1ill rea+ily thro1 a1ay their ar s to rally behin+ the pala+iu of th ein*a+ers'81o of the three .reat +epart ents of our &o*ern ent ha*e alrea+y re0ecte +

petitioner stheory since Septe ber 6;! "#$;! the +ay 1hen Co on1ealth Act No' 9 >6too: effect'By sai+ act! creatin. the People s Court to try an+ +eci+e all cases of cri ea.ainstnational security @co itte+ bet1een Dece ber >! "#$" an+ Septe ber 6!"#$;!@


26/45

,section 6-! the le.islati*e an+ e?ecuti*e +epart ents ha*e 0ointly +eclare+ that

+urin. the perio+ abo*e entione+! inclu+in. the ti e of Japanese occupation! all la1s punishin.cri es a.ainst national security! inclu+in. article ""$ of the Re*ise+ PenalCo+e! punishin. treason! ha+ re aine+ in full effect an+ shoul+ be enforce+'

8hat no one raise+ a *oice in protest a.ainst the enact ent of sai+ act an+ thatno one! atthe ti e the act 1as bein. consi+ere+ by the Senate an+ the ouse of Representati*es!e*er +are+ to e?pose the uselessness of creatin. a People s Court to try cri e1hich! asclai e+ by petitioner! coul+ not ha*e been co itte+ as the la1s punishin.the ha*e been suspen+e+! is a historical fact of 1hich the Supre e Court ay ta:e

0u+icial notice'8his fact sho1s uni*ersal an+ unani ous a.ree ent of our people that the la1sof theCo on1ealth 1ere not suspen+e+ an+ that the theory of suspen+e+ alle.ianceis 0ust anafterthou.ht pro*o:e+ by a +esperate effort to help 2uash the pen+in. treasoncases atany cost'

A on. the ar.u ents a++uce+ in fa*or of petitioner s theory is that it is base+on.enerally accepte+ principles of international la1! althou.h this ar.u ent

beco es futile by petitioner s a+ ission that the theory is a+*anta.eous to stron. po1ers buthar ful tos all an+ 1ea: nations! thus hintin. that the latter cannot accept it by heart'Suppose 1eaccept at face *alue the pre ise that the theories! ur.e+ by petitioner! of suspen+e+alle.iance an+ suspen+e+ so*erei.nty are base+ on .enerally accepte+ principlesof international la1' As the latter for s part of our la1s by *irtue of the pro*isionsof section 3 of Article II of the Constitution! it see s that there is no alternati*e buttoaccept the theory' But the theory has the effect of suspen+in. the la1s!especially those political in nature' 8here is no la1 ore political in nature than the Constitutionof thePhilippines' 8he result is an in*erte+ repro+uction of the &ree: yth of Saturn+e*ourin.his o1n chil+ren' ere! un+er petitioner s theory! the offsprin. +e*ours its

parent'Can 1e concei*e of an instance in 1hich the Constitution 1as suspen+e+ e*enfor ao entL

8here is conclusi*e e*i+ence that the le.islature! as policy)+eter inin. a.encyof .o*ern ent! e*en since the Pacific 1ar starte+ on Dece ber %! "#$"! inti ate+that it1oul+ not accept the i+ea that our la1s shoul+ be suspen+e+ +urin. ene yoccupation' Itust be re e bere+ that in the i++le of Dece ber! "#$"! 1hen Manila an+other partsof the archipela.o 1ere un+er constant bo bin. by Japanese aircraft an+ ene yforcesha+ alrea+ y set foot so e1here in the Philippines! the Secon+ NationalAsse bly passe+Co on1ealth Act No' 9%"! 1hich ca e into effect on Dece ber "9! "#$"'7hen 1eappro*e+ sai+ act! 1e starte+ fro the pre ise that all our la1s shall continue ineffect+urin. the e er.ency! an+ in sai+ act 1e e*en 1ent to the e?tent of authori/in.thePresi+ent @to continue in force la1s an+ appropriations 1hich 1oul+ lapse or other1ise

beco e inoperati*e!@ ,section 6! +K-! an+ also to @pro ul.ate such rules an+re.ulationsas he ay +ee necessary to carry out the national policy!@ ,section 6-! that @thee?istence of 1ar bet1een the 5nite+ States an+ other countries of Europe an+Asia!1hich in*ol*es the Philippines! a:es it necessary to in*est the Presi+ent 1ithe?traor+inary po1ers in or+er to eet the resultin. e er.ency'@ ,Section "'- 8o.i*e


27/45

e phasis to the inti ation! 1e pro*i+e+ that the rules an+ re.ulations pro*i+e+

@shall bein force an+ effect until the Con.ress of the Philippines shall other1ise pro*i+e!@foreseein. the possibility that Con.ress ay not eet as sche+ule+ as a result of thee er.ency! inclu+in. in*asion an+ occupation by the ene y' E*er ybo+y 1asthencon*ince+ that 1e +i+ not ha*e a*ailable the necessary eans of repellin.effecti*ity theene y in*asion'

Maybe it is not out of place to consi+er that the acceptance of petitioner s theoryof suspen+e+ alle.iance 1ill cause a .reat in0ustice to those 1ho! althou.hinnocent! areno1 un+er in+ict ent for treason an+ other cri es in*ol*in. +isloyalty to their country! because their cases 1ill be +is isse+ 1ithout the opportunity for the tore*in+icatethe sel*es' a*in. been ac2uitte+ upon a ere le.al technicality 1hich appearsto us to be 1ron.! history 1ill in+iscri inality classify the 1ith the other accuse+ 1ho1erereally traitors to their country' Our conscience re*olts a.ainst the i+ea of allo1in. theinnocent ones to .o +o1n in the e ory of future .enerations 1ith theinfa ous sti. aof ha*in. betraye+ their o1n people' 8hey shoul+ not be +epri*e+ of theopportunity tosho1 throu.h the +ue process of la1 that they are free fro all bla e an+ that!if they1ere really patriots! they acte+ as such +urin. the critical perio+ of test'

I(ADO! J'! concurrin.G

I concur in the result reache+ in the a0ority opinion to the effect that +urin. theso)calle+ Japanese occupation of the Philippines ,1hich 1as nothin. ore than theoccupation of Manila an+ certain other specific re.ions of the Islan+s 1hichconstitute+the inor area of the Archipela.o- the alle.iance of the citi/ens of this countryto their le.iti ate .o*ern ent an+ to the 5nite+ States 1as not suspen+e+! as 1ell asthe rulin.that +urin. the sa e perio+ there 1as no chan.e of so*erei.nty here4 but yreasons are+ifferent an+ I procee+ to set the forthG

I' S5SPENDED A((E&IANCE'

,a- Before the horror an+ atrocities of 7orl+ 7ar I! 1hich 1ere ultiplie+ orethan ahun+re+)fol+ in 7orl+ 7ar II! the nations ha+ e*ol*e+ certain rules an+

principles 1hichca e to be :no1n as International (a1! .o*ernin. their con+uct 1ith each other an+to1ar+ their respecti*e citi/ens an+ inhabitants! in the ar e+ forces or ci*ilianlife! inti e of peace or in ti e of 1ar' Durin. the a.es 1hich prece+e+ that first 1orl+conflictthe ci*ili/e+ .o*ern ents ha+ no reali/ation of the potential e?cesses of 1hich@ en sinhu anity to an@ coul+ be capable' 5p to that ti e 1ar 1as! at least un+er certaincon+itions! consi+ere+ as sufficiently 0ustifie+! an+ the nations ha+ not on thataccount!

proscribe+ nor renounce+ it as an instru ent of national policy! or as a eans of settlin.international +isputes' It is not for us no1 to +1ell upon the reasons accountin.for thishistorical fact' Suffice it to reco.ni/e its e?istence in history'But 1hen in 7orl+ 7ar I ci*ili/e+ hu anity sa1 that 1ar coul+ be! as it ac tually1as!e ploye+ for entirely +ifferent reasons an+ fro entirely +ifferent oti *es!co pare+ to

pre*ious 1ars! an+ the instru ents an+ etho+s of 1arfare ha+ been soaterially


28/45

chan.e+ as not only to in*ol*e the conten+in. ar e+ forces on 1ell +efine+

battlefiel+sor areas! on lan+! in the sea! an+ in the air! but to sprea+ +eath an+ +estruction totheinnocent ci*ilian populations an+ to their properties! not only in the countriesen.a.e+ inthe conflict but also in neutral ones! no less than 9" ci*ili/e+ nations an+.o*ern ents!a on. the Japan! ha+ to for ulate an+ sole nly subscribe to the no1 fa ousBrian+)


29/45


30/45

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So e of the rules an+ principles of international la1 1hich ha*e been cite+ for petitioner herein in support of his theory of suspen+e+ alle.iance! ha*e been e*ol*e+ an+

accepte++urin. those perio+s of the history of nations 1hen all 1ar 1as consi+ere+ le.al!as state+ by Justice Jac:son! an+ the others ha*e reference to ilitary occupation in thecourse of really 0ustifiable 1ar'

Japan in subscribin. the Brian+)


31/45

Brian+)


32/45

the inhabitants an oath of obe+ience to his la1s4 an+ since! accor+in. to the

sa e rule! hecannot e?act fro the inhabitants an oath of alle.iance! it follo1s that obe+ienceto his la1s! 1hich he can e?act fro the ! +oes not constitute alle.iance'

,c- 8he theory of suspen+e+ alle.iance is unpatriotic to the last +e.ree' 8o saythat 1henthe one s country is unable to affor+ hi in its protection! he ceases to be boun+to it bythe sacre+ ties of alle.iance! is to a+*ocate the +octrine that precisely 1hen his

country isin such +istress! an+ therefore ost nee+s his loyalty! he is absol*e+ fro theloyalty'(o*e of country shoul+ be so ethin. per anent an+ lastin.! en+in. only in

+eath4loyalty shoul+ be its 1orth offsprin.' 8he out1ar+ anifestation of one or theother ayfor a ti e be pre*ente+ or th1arte+ by the irresistible action of the occupant4 but

thisshoul+ not in the least e?tin.uish nor obliterate the in*isible feelin.s! an+ pro ptin.s of the spirit' An+ beyon+ the una*oi+able conse2uences of the ene y s irresistible

pressure!those in*isible feelin.s an+ pro ptin.s of the spirit of the people shoul+ ne*er allo1the to act! to spea:! nor e*en to thin: a 1hit contrar y to their lo*e an+ loyaltyto theFatherlan+' For the ! in+icte+! to face their country an+ say to it that! because1hen it1as o*errun an+ *an2uishe+ by the barbarous in*a+er an+! in conse2uence 1as

+isable+fro affor+in. the protection! they 1ere release+ fro their sacre+ obli.ationof alle.iance an+ loyalty! an+ coul+ therefore freely a+here to its ene y! .i*in.

hi ai+ an+co fort! incurrin. no cri inal responsibility therefor! 1oul+ only ten+ toa..ra*ate their cri e'

II' C AN&E OF SO=EREI&N8

Article II! section "! of the Constitution pro*i+es that @So*erei.nty resi+es inthe peoplean+ all .o*ern ent authority e anates fro the '@ 8he Filipino people are the

self)sa e people before an+ after Philippine In+epen+ence! proclai e+ on July $! "#$9'Durin. thelife of the Co on1ealth so*erei.nty resi+e+ in the un+er the Constitution4

after the procla ation of in+epen+ence that so*erei.nty re aine+ 1ith the un+er the*ery sa efun+a ental la1' Article =III of the sai+ Constitution stipulates that the

.o*ern entestablishe+ thereby shall be :no1n as the Co on1ealth of the Philippines4an+ thatupon the final an+ co plete 1ith+ra1al of the so*erei.nty of the 5nite+ States

an+ the procla ation of Philippine in+epen+ence! @8he Co on1ealth of thePhilippines shallthenceforth be :no1n as the Republic of the Philippines'@ 5n+er this pro*ision

the&o*ern ent of the Philippines i e+iately prior to in+epen+ence 1asessentially to bethe i+entical .o*ern ent thereafter only the na e of that .o*ern ent 1as to

be chan.e+'Both before an+ after the a+option of the Philippine Constitution the people of the

Philippines 1ere an+ are al1ays the plaintiff in all cri inal prosecutions! thecase bein.

entitle+G @8he People of the Philippines *s' ,the +efen+ant or +efen+ants-'@ 8h is1as

alrea+y true in prosecutions un+er the Re*ise+ Penal Co+e containin. the la1 of treason'

@8he &o*ern ent of the Philippines@ spo:en of in article ""$ of sai+ Co+eerely

represents the people of the Philippines' Sai+ co+e 1as continue+! alon. 1it hthe other

la1s! by Article =I! section 6! of the Constitution 1hich constitutional pro*ision further

+irects that @all references in such la1s to the &o*ern ent or officials of thePhilippine


33/45

Islan+s shall be construe+! in so far as applicable! to refer to the &o*ern ent

an+ correspon+in. officials un+er this Constitution@ of course! eanin. theCo on1ealth of the Philippines before! an+ the Republic of the Philippinesafter!in+epen+ence ,Article =III-' 5n+er both .o*ern ents so*erei.nty resi+e+ an+

resi+esin the people ,Article II! section "-' Sai+ so*erei.nty 1as ne*er transferre+ frothat people they are the sa e people 1ho preser*e it to this +ay' 8here has ne*er

been any chan.e in its respect'

If one co itte+ treason a.ainsts the People of the Philippines befor e July $!"#$9! hecontinues to be cri inally liable for the cri e to the sa e people no1' An+ if!

follo1in.the literal 1or+in. of the Re*ise+ Penal Co+e! as continue+ by the Constitution!thataccuse+ o1e+ alle.iance upon the co ission of the cri e to the @&o*ern ent

of thePhilippines!@ in the te?tual 1or+s of the Constitution ,Article =I! section 6!an+ =III-that 1as the sa e .o*ern ent 1hich after in+epen+ence beca e :no1n as the@Republicof the Philippines'@ 8he ost that can be sai+ is that the so*erei.nty of the

people beca eco plete an+ absolute after in+epen+ence that they beca e! politically! fullyof a.e! touse a etaphor' But if the responsibility for a cri e a.ainst a inor is not

e?tin.uishe+ by the ere fact of his beco in. of a.e! 1hy shoul+ the responsibility for thecri e of treason co itte+ a.ainst the Filipino people 1hen they 1ere not fully

politicallyin+epen+ent be e?tin.uishe+ after they ac2uire this statusL 8he offen+e+ partycontinues to be the sa e only his status has chan.e+ ((;8e*&9B'

PARAS! J'! +issentin.G

Durin. the lon. perio+ of Japanese occupation! all the political la1s of thePhilippines1ere suspen+e+' 8his is full har ony 1ith the .enerally accepte+ principles of

theinternational la1 a+opte+ by our Constitution,Article II! section 3- as a part of the la1 of the Nation' Accor+in.ly! 1e ha*e on ore than one occasion alrea+y state+ that@la1s of a political nature or affectin. political relations! ' ' ' are consi+ere+ as suspen+e+

or inabeyance +urin. the ilitary occupation@ ,Co


34/45

Correspon+in. notice 1as .i*en by the Japanese occupyin. ar y! first! in the procla ation of its Co an+er in chief of January 6! "#$6! to the effect that asa @resultof the Japanese Military operations! the so*erei.nty of the 5nite+ States of A erica o*er the Philippines has co pletely +isappeare+ an+ the Ar y hereby proclai s theMilitaryA+ inistration un+er artial la1 o*er the +istrict occupie+ by the Ar y4@secon+ly! inOr+er No' 3 of the sai+ Co an+er in Chief of February 6 ! "#$6! pro*i+in.

that@acti*ities of the a+ inistrati*e or.ans an+ 0u+icial courts in the Philippinesshall be base+ upon the e?istin. statutes! or+ers! or+inances an+ custo s until further or+ers pro*i+e+ that they are not inconsistent 1ith the present circu stances un+er the

JapaneseMilitary A+ inistration4@ an+! thir+ly! in the e?planation to Or+er No' 3re in+in. that@all la1s an+ re.ulations of the Philippines has been suspen+e+ since Japanese

occupation!@ an+ e?ceptin. the application of @la1s an+ re.ulations 1hich arenot proper act un+er the present situation of the Japanese Military A+ inistration!@especially those @pro*i+e+ 1ith so e political purposes'@

8he suspension of the political la1 +urin. ene y occupation is lo.ical! 1isean+ hu ane'8he latter phase out1ei.hs all other aspects of the principle ai e+ ore or less

at pro otin. the necessarily selfish oti*es an+ purposes of a ilitary occupant' Itthusconsolin. to note that the po1ers instru ental in the crystalli/ation of the

a.ueCon*entions of "# % +i+ not for.et to +eclare that they 1ere @ani ate+ by the+esire toser*e ' ' ' the interest of the hu anity an+ the o*er pro.ressi*e nee+s of

ci*ili/ation!@ an+that @in case not inclu+e+ in the Re.ulations a+opte+ by the ! the inhabitantsan+ the belli.erents re ain un+er the protection an+ the rule of the principles of internationalla1! as they result fro the usa.es establishe+ a on. ci*ili/e+ peoples! fro

the la1s of hu anity! an+ the +ictates of the public conscience'@ 8hese sa*in. state entsco e to theai+ of the inhabitants in the occupie+ territory in a situation 1herein! e*en

before the belli.erent occupant @ta:es a further step an+ by appropriate affir ati*e actionun+erta:es to ac2uire the ri.ht of so*erei.nty for hi self! ' ' ' the occupant isli:ely tore.ar+ to hi self as clothe+ 1ith free+o to en+ea*or to i pre.nate the people1hoinhabit the area concerne+ 1ith his o1n political i+eolo.y! an+ to a:e that

en+ea*or successful by *arious for s of pressure e?erte+ upon ene y officials 1ho are per itte+to retain the e?ercise of nor al .o*ern ental functions'@ , y+e! International(a1! =ol' III! Secon+ Re*ise+ E+ition! "#$;! p' ">%#'-

8he inhabitants of the occupie+ territory shoul+ necessarily be boun+ to the soleauthorityof the in*a+in. po1er! 1hose interest an+ re2uire ents are naturally in conflict

1iththose of the +isplace+ .o*ern ent! if it is le.iti ate for the ilitar y occupant to+e an+an+ enforce fro the inhabitants such obe+ience as ay be necessary for thesecurity of his forces! for the aintenance of la1 an+ or+er! an+ for the proper a+ inistration of the

country ,5nite+ States Rules of (an+ 7arfare! "#$ ! article 6#%-! an+ to+e an+ all

:in+s of ser*ices @of such a nature as not to in*ol*e the population in theobli.ation of

ta:in. part in ilitary operations a.ainst their o1n country@ , a.ueRe.ulations! article

;6-4an+ if! as 1e ha*e in effect sai+! b y the surren+er the inhabitants pass un+er a

te porary alle.iance to the .o*ern ent of the occupant an+ are boun+ by suc hla1s! an+such only! as it chooses to reco.ni/e an+ i pose! an+ the belli.erent occupant

is totally


35/45

in+epen+ent of the constitution an+ the la1s of the territory! since occupation is

an ai of 1arfare! an+ the aintenance an+ safety of his forces! an+ the purpose of 1ar!stan+ inthe fore.roun+ of his interest an+ ust be pro ote+ un+er all circu stances or con+itions'@ ,Peralta *s' Director of Prisons! %; Phil' 6>;! 6#;-! citin. 5nite+ States

Rice! $ 7heaton! 6$9! an+ 2uotin. Oppenhei ! International (a1! =ol' II' Si?thE+ition! Re*ise+! "#$$!p' $36'-

e 1oul+ be a bi.ot 1ho cannot or 1oul+ refuse to see the cruel result if the people in anoccupie+ territory 1ere re2uire+ to obey t1o anta.onistic an+ opposite po1ers'

8oe phasi/e our point! 1e 1oul+ a+opt the ar.u ent! in a re*erse or+er! of Mr'Justiceila+o in Peralta *s' Director of Prisons , %; Phil' 6>; ! 3;>-! containe+ in the follo

passa.eG

8o ha*e boun+ those of our people 1ho constitute+ the .reat a0ority 1hone*er sub itte+ to the Japanese oppressors! by the la1s! re.ulations! processes an+

other acts of those t1o puppet .o*ern ents! 1oul+ not only ha*e been utterly un0ust an++o1nri.htille.al! but 1oul+ ha*e place+ the in the absur+ an+ i possible con+ition of bein.si ultaneously sub itte+ to t1o utually hostile .o*ern ents! 1ith their respecti*econstitutional an+ le.islati*e enact ents an+ institutions on the one han+

boun+ tocontinue o1in. alle.iance to the 5nite+ States an+ the Co on1ealth&o*ern ent! an+!on the other! to o1e alle.iance! if only te porary! to Japan'

8he only sensible purpose of the treason la1 1hich is of politicalco ple?ion an+ta:en out of the territorial la1 an+ penali/e+ as a ne1 offense co itte+ a.ainstthe belli.erent occupant! inci+ent to a state of 1ar an+ necessary for the control of

theoccupant ,Alcantara *s' Director of Prisons! %; Phil' $#$-! ust be the preser*ationthe nation! certainly not its +estruction or e?ter ination' An+ yet the latter isun1ittin.ly1ishe+ by those 1ho are fon+ of the theory that 1hat is suspen+e+ is erely thee?erciseof so*erei.nty by the de ure .o*ern ent or the latter s authority to i pose penalsanctions or that! other1ise state+! the suspension refers only to the ilitaryoccupant' If this 1ere to be the only effect! the rule 1oul+ be a eanin.less an+ superfluousopticalillusion! since it is ob*ious that the fleein. or +isplace+ .o*ern ent cannot!

e*en if itshoul+ 1ant! physically assert its authority in a territory actually beyon+ itsreach! an+that the occupant! on the other han+! 1ill not ta:e the absur+ step of prosecutin.an+ punishin. the inhabitants for a+herin. to an+ ai+in. it' If 1e 1ere to belie*e theopponents of the rule in 2uestion! 1e ha*e to accept the absur+ proposition thatthe.uerrillas can all be prosecute+ 1ith ille.al possession of firear s' It shoul+ be

borne inthe in+ that @the possession by the belli.erent occupant of the ri.ht to control!aintainor o+ify the la1s that are to obtain 1ithin the occupie+ area is an e?clusi*eone' 8he

territorial so*erei.n +ri*en therefro ! can not co pete 1ith it on an e*en plane'8hus! if the latter atte pt interference! its action is a ere anifestation of belli.erenteffort to

1ea:en the ene y' It has no bearin. upon the le.al 2uality of 1hat the occupante?acts!1hile it retains control' 8hus! if the absent territorial so*erei.n! throu.h so ele.islati*e +ecree! forbi+s its nationals to co ply 1ith 1hat the occupant hasor+aine+

obe+ience to such co an+ 1ithin the occupie+ territory 1oul+ not safe.uar+the

in+i*i+ual fro the prosecution by the occupant'@ , y+e! International (a1!=ol' III!


36/45

Secon+ Re*ise+ E+ition! "#$;! p' ">>9'-

As lon. as 1e ha*e not outla1e+ the ri.ht of the belli.er ent occupant to prosecute an+ punish the inhabitants for @1ar treason@ or @1ar cri es!@ as an inci+ent of the

state of 1ar an+ necessity for the control of the occupie+ territory an+ the protection of thear y of the occupant! a.ainst 1hich prosecution an+ punish ent such inhabitants cannotob*iously be protecte+ by their nati*e so*erei.n! it is har+ to un+erstan+ ho11e can 0ustly rule that they ay at the sa e ti e be prosecute+ an+ punishe+ for an act

penali/e+ by the Re*ise+ Penal Co+e! but alrea+y ta:en out of the territorial la1 an+ penali/e+ as ane1 offense co itte+ a.ainst the belli.erent occupant iOH"


37/45

o1n .o*ern ent! there can be no suspicion of bias in the in+ of the court in

fa*or of theconclusion at 1hich it arri*e+! an+ no +oubt that the la1 see e+ to the court to1arrantan+ +e an+ such a +ecision' 8hat case .re1 out of the 1ar of ">"6! bet1een the5nite+States an+ &reat Britain' It appeare+ that in Septe ber! ">"$! the British forces

ha+ ta:enthe port of Castine! in the State of Maine! an+ hel+ it in ilitary occupation4 an+that1hile it 1as so hel+! forei.n .oo+s! by the la1s of the 5nite+ States sub0ect to

+uty! ha+ been intro+uce+ into that port 1ithout payin. +uties to the 5nite+ States' At theclose of the 1ar the place by treaty restore+ to the 5nite+ States! an+ after that 1as +one&o*ern ent of the 5nite+ States sou.ht to reco*er fro the persons sointro+ucin. the.oo+s there 1hile in possession of the British! the +uties to 1hich by the la1s of

the5nite+ States! they 1oul+ ha*e been liable' 8he clai of the 5nite+ States 1asthat itsla1s 1ere properly in force there! althou.h the place 1as at the ti e hel+ by the

Britishforces in hostility to the 5nite+ States! an+ the la1s! therefore! coul+ not at theti e beenforce+ there4 an+ that a court of the 5nite+ States ,the po1er of that

.o*ern ent thereha*in. since been restore+- 1as boun+ so to +eci+e' But this illusion of the prosecutin.officer there 1as +ispelle+ by the court in the ost su ary anner' Mr'Justice Story!that .reat lu inary of the A erican bench! bein. the or.an of the court in+eli*erin. itsopinion! sai+G 8he sin.le 2uestion is 1hether .oo+s i porte+ into Castine

+urin. itsoccupation by the ene y are liable to the +uties i pose+ by the re*enue la1supon .oo+si porte+ into the 5nite+ States'' 7e are all of opinion that the clai for +utiescannot besustaine+' ' ' ' 8he so*erei.nty of the 5nite+ States o*er the territory 1as! of

course!suspen+e+! an+ the la1s of the 5nite+ States coul+ no lon.er be ri.htfullyenforce+ there!or be obli.atory upon the inhabitants 1ho re aine+ an+ sub itte+ to thecon2uerors' Bythe surren+er the inhabitants passe+ un+er a te porary alle.iance of the British&o*ern ent! an+ 1ere boun+ by such la1s! an+ such only! as it chose toreco.ni/e an+i pose' Fro the nature of the case no other la1s coul+ be obli.atory uponthe ' ' ' 'Castine 1as therefore! +urin. this perio+! as far as respecte+ our re*enue la1s!to be+ee e+ a forei.n port! an+ .oo+s i porte+ into it by the inhabitants 1ere

sub0ects to such+uties only as the British &o*ern ent chose to re2uire' Such .oo+s 1ere in nocorrectsense i porte+ into the 5nites States' 8he court then procee+e+ to say! that thecase isthe sa e as if the port of Castine ha+ been forei.n territory! ce+e+ by treaty to

the 5nite+States! an+ the .oo+s ha+ been i porte+ there pre*ious to its cession' In thiscase theysay there 1oul+ be no pretense to say that A erican +uties coul+ be +e an+e+4

an+ upon principles of public or unicipal la1! the cases are not +istin.uishable' 8heya++ at theconclusion of the opinionG 8he authorities cite+ at the bar 1oul+! if there 1ere

any +oubt! be +ecisi*e of the 2uestion' But 1e thin: it too clear to re2uire any ai+ froauthority'Does this case lea*e roo for a +oubt 1hether a country hel+ as this 1as in

ar e+ belli.erents occupation! is to be .o*erne+ by hi 1ho hol+s it! an+ by hialoneL Does itnot so +eci+e in ter s as plain as can be state+L It is asserte+ by the Supre eCourt of the5nite+ States 1ith entire unani ity! the .reat an+ *enerate+ Marshall presi+in.!an+ theeru+ite an+ acco plishe+ Story +eli*erin. the opinion of the court! that such isthe la1!

an+ it is so a+0u+.e+ in this case' Nay! oreG it is e*en a+0u+.e+ that no other la1s coul+ be obli.atory4 that such country! so hel+! is for the purpose of the application of the la1off its for er .o*ern ent to be +ee e+ forei.n territory! an+ that .oo+si porte+ there,an+ by parity of reasonin. other acts +one there- are in no correct sense +one1ithin the territory of its for er so*erei.n! the 5nite+ States'@


38/45

But it is alle.e+ by the a0ority that the so*erei.nty spo:en of in the +ecision of

the5nite+ States *s' Rice shoul+ be construe+ to refer to the e?ercise of so*erei.nty! an+that! if so*erei.nty itself 1as eant! the +octrine has beco e obsolete after the

a+optionof the a.ue Re.ulations in "# %' In ans1er! 1e ay state that so*erei.nty canha*e an yi portant si.nificance only 1hen it ay be e?ercise+4 an+! to our 1ay of

thin:in.! it isi aterial 1hether the thin. hel+ in abeyance is the so*erei.nty itself or itse?ercise! because the point cannot nullify! *ary! or other1ise *itiate the plain eanin. of

the+octrinal 1or+s @the la1s of the 5nite+ States coul+ no lon.er be ri.htfullyenforce+there! or be obli.atory upon the inhabitants 1ho re aine+ an+ sub itte+ to the

con2uerors'@ 7e cannot accept the theory of the a0ority! 1ithout in effect*iolatin. therule of international la1! hereinabo*e a+*erte+ to! that the possession by the belli.erentoccupant of the ri.ht to control! aintain or o+ify the la1s that are to obtain1ithin theoccupie+ area is an e?clusi*e one! an+ that the territorial so*erei.n +ri*en

therefrocannot co pete 1ith it on an e*en plane' Neither ay the +octrine in the 5nite+States*s' Rice be sai+ to ha*e beco e obsolete! 1ithout repu+iatin. the actual rule

prescribe+an+ follo1e+ by the 5nite+ States! allo1in. the ilitary occupant to suspen+ allla1s of a political nature an+ e*en re2uire public officials an+ inhabitants to ta:e an oathof fi+elity,5nite+ States Rules of (an+ 7arfare! "#$ ! article 3 #-' In fact! it is a

reco.ni/e++octrine of A erican Constitutional (a1 that ere con2uest or ilitaryoccupation of aterritory of another State +oes not operate to anne? such territory to occupyin.State! butthat the inhabitants of the occupie+ +istrict! no lon.er recei*in. the protection of

their nati*e State! for the ti e bein. o1e no alle.iance to it! an+! bein. un+er thecontrol an+ protection of the *ictorious po1er! o1e to that po1er fealty an+ obe+ience'

,7illou.hby! 8he Fun+a ental Concepts of Public (a1 "#3"K! p'39$'-8he a0ority ha*e resorte+ to +istinctions! ore apparent than real! if noti aterial! intryin. to ar.ue that the la1 of treason 1as obli.atory on the Filipinos +urin. the

Japaneseoccupation' 8hus it is insiste+ that a citi/en or sub0ect o1es not a 2ualifie+ an+te porary! but an absolute an+ per anent alle.iance! an+ that @te poraryalle.iance@ tothe ilitary occupant ay be li:ene+ to the te porary alle.iance 1hich aforei.ner o1esto the .o*ern ent or so*erei.n to the territory 1herein he resi+es in return for

the protection he recei*es therefro ' 8he co parison is ost unfortunate' Sai+forei.ner isin the territory of a po1er not hostile to or in actual 1ar 1ith his o1n.o*ern ent4 he isin the territory of a po1er 1hich has not suspen+e+! un+er the rules of international la1!the la1s of political nature of his o1n .o*ern ent4 an+ the protections r ecei*e+ by hi fro that frien+ly or neutral po1er is real! not the :in+ of protection 1hich the

inhabitants of an occupie+ territory can e?pect fro a belli.erent ar y' @It is butreasonable that States! 1hen they conce+e to other States the ri.ht to e?ercise

0uris+ictiono*er such of their o1n nationals as are 1ithin the territorial li its of such other States!

shoul+ insist that States shoul+ pro*i+e syste of la1 an+ of courts! an+ inactual

practice! so a+ inister the ! as to furnish substantial le.al 0ustice to alienresi+ents' 8his+oes not ean that a State ust or shoul+ e?ten+ to aliens 1ithin its bor+ers allthe ci*il!or uch less! all the political ri.hts or pri*ile.es 1hich it .rants to its o1nciti/ens4 but it

+oes ean that aliens ust or shoul+ be .i*en a+e2uate opportunity to ha*esuch le.al

ri.hts as are .rante+ to the by the local la1 i partially an+ 0u+icially+eter ine+! an+!

1hen thus +eter ine+! protecte+'@ ,7illou.hby! 8he Fun+a ental Concepts of Public (a1 "#3"K! p' 39 '-


39/45

7hen it is therefore sai+ that a citi/en of a so*erei.n ay be prosecute+ for an+

con*icte+ of treason co itte+ in a forei.n country or! in the lan.ua.e of article""$ of the Re*ise+ Penal Co+e! @else1here!@ a territory other than one un+er

belli.erentoccupation ust ha*e been conte plate+' 8his 1oul+ a:e sense! becausetreason is acri e @the +irect or in+irect purpose of 1hich is the +eli*ery! in 1hole or in part!of thecountry to a forei.n po1er! or to pa*e the 1ay for the ene y to obtain +o inion

o*er thenational territory@ ,Albert! 8he Re*ise+ Penal Co+e! citin. 3 &roi/ar+! "$-4 an+!*ery e*i+ently! a territory alrea+y un+er occupation can no lon.er be @+eli*ere+'@

8he a0ority li:e1ise ar.ue that the theory of suspen+e+ so*erei.nty or alle.iance 1illenable the ilitary occupant to le.ally recruit the inhabitants to fi.ht a.ainsttheir o1n.o*ern ent! 1ithout sai+ inhabitants bein. liable for treason' 8his ar.u ent is

notcorrect! because the suspension +oes not e?e pt the occupant fro co plyin.1ith thea.ue Re.ulations ,article ;6- that allo1s it to +e an+ all :in+s of ser*ices

pro*i+e+ thatthey +o not in*ol*e the population @in the obli.ation of ta:in. part ilitaryoperationsa.ainst their o1n country'@ Neither +oes the suspension pre*ent the inhabitantsfroassu in. a passi*e attitu+e! uch less fro +yin. an+ beco in. heroes if

co pelle+ bythe occupant to fi.ht a.ainst their o1n country' Any i perfection in the presentstate of international la1 shoul+ be correcte+ by such 1orl+ a.ency as the 5nite+

Nations or.ani/ations'It is of co on :no1le+.e that e*en 1ith the alle.e+ cooperation i pute+ tothecollaborators! an alar in. nu ber of Filipinos 1ere :ille+ or other1ise torture+

b y theruthless! or 1e ay say sa*a.e! Japanese Ar y' 7hich lea+s to the conclusionthat if theFilipinos +i+ not obey the Japanese co an+s an+ fei.n cooperation! there1oul+ not beany Filipino nation that coul+ ha*e been liberate+' Assu in. that the entire populationcoul+ .o to an+ li*e in the ountains! or other1ise fi.ht as .uerrillas after the for alsurren+er of our an+ the A erican re.ular fi.htin. forces! they 1oul+ ha*e

face+certain annihilation by the Japanese! consi+erin. that the latter s ilitarystren.th at theti e an+ the lon. perio+ +urin. 1hich they 1ere left ilitary un oleste+ by

A erica' Inthis connection! 1e hate to a:e reference to the ato ic bo b as a possibleeans of +estruction ( 7ulA'If a substantial nu ber of .uerrillas 1ere able to sur*i*e an+ ulti ately help intheliberation of the Philippines! it 1as because the fei.ne+ cooperation of their

country enenable+ the to .et foo+ an+ other ai+ necessary in the resistance o*e ent' If they1ere able to sur*i*e! it 1as because they coul+ ca oufla.e the sel*es in the

i+st of theci*ilian population in cities an+ to1ns' It is easy to ar.ue no1 that the peoplecoul+ ha*eerely follo1e+ their or+inary pursuits of lif

microsoft word - laurel v misa

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