IN Re Cunana 93

7/25/2019 IN Re Cunana 93

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In the Matter of the Petitions for Admission to the Bar of Unsuccessful Candidates of 1946to 1953; ALBI! CUAA "# AL$,petitioners. [Resolution. March 18, 1954.]

Jose M. Aruego, M. H. de Joya, Miguel R. Cornejo, andAntonio Enrile Intonfor petitioners.;Solicitor General Juan R. Liwagfor respondent.

%&LLABU%

1.ATTOR!"#$AT$%A&; A'M(##(O; R!%AT(O TO )O*RT A' +*%(). - its declared o/0ectie, Repu/lic Act o. 923 is contrar to pu/lic interest /ecause itualifies 1,94 la6 7raduates 6ho confessedl had inadeuate preparation for the practiceof the profession, as 6as eactl found / this Tri/unal in the aforesaid eainations. Thepu/lic interest deands of the le7al profession adeuate preparation and efficienc,precisel ore so as le7al pro/les eoled / the ties /ecoe ore difficult.

3.('.; ('.; A :*'()(A% *)T(O. - (n the 0udicial sste fro 6hich ours has/een eoled, the adission, suspension, dis/arent and reinstateent of attornes$at$la6in the practice of the profession and their superision hae /een indisputa/l a 0udicialfunction and responsi/ilit. ecause of this attri/ute, its continuous and .('.; ('.; +O&!R O )O?R!## TO R!+!A%, A%T!R OR #*++%!M!TR*%!#. - The )onstitution has not conferred on )on7ress and this Tri/unal eualresponsi/ilities 7oernin7 the adission to the practice of la6. The priar po6er andresponsi/ilit 6hich the )onstitution reco7ni


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#enate ill o. >21, e/odin7 su/stantiall the proisions of the etoed /ill. Althou7h thee/ers of this court reiterated their unfaora/le ie6s on the atter, the +residentallo6ed the /ill to /ecoe a la6 on :une 31, 195> 6ithout his si7nature. The la6, 6hichincidentall 6as enacted in an election ear, reads in full as follo6sD

R!+*%() A)T O. 923.A A)T TO (I T@! +A##(? MARJ# OR AR !IAM(AT(O#ROM (!T!! @*'R!' A' ORT"$#(I *+ TO A' ()%*'(?(!T!! @*'R!' A' (T"$(C!.

e it enacted !y t"e Senate and House o# Representati$es o#t"e %"ilippines in Congress asse&!ledD

#!)T(O 1.ot6ithstandin7 the proisions of section fourteen,Rule nu/ered on hundred t6ent$seen of the Rules of )ourt, an /arcandidate 6ho o/tained a 7eneral aera7e of seent per cent in an /areainations after :ul fourth, nineteen hundred and fort$si up to theAu7ust nineteen hundred and fift$one /ar eainations; seent$one percent in the nineteen hundred and fift$t6o /ar eainations; seent$t6oper cent in the nineteen hundred and fift$three /ar eainations;seent$three per cent in the nineteen hundred and fift$four /areainations; seent$four per cent in the nineteen hundred and fift$fie/ar eainations 6ithout a candidate o/tainin7 a 7rade /elo6 fift percent in an su/0ect, shall /e allo6ed to taEe and su/scri/e thecorrespondin7 oath of office as e/er of the +hilippine arD %ro$ided,"owe$er,That for the purpose of this Act, an eact one$half or ore of afraction, shall /e considered as one and included as part of the net 6holenu/er.

#!). 3.An /ar candidate 6ho o/tained a 7rade of seent$fieper cent in an su/0ect in an /ar eaination after :ul fourth, nineteenhundred and fort$si shall /e deeed to hae passed in such su/0ect orsu/0ects and such 7rade or 7rades shall /e included in coputin7 thepassin7 7eneral aera7e that said candidate a o/tain in ansu/seuent eainations that he a taEe.

#!). >.This Act shall taEe effect upon its approal.

!nacted on :une 31, 195>, 6ithout the !ecutie approal.

After its approal, an of the unsuccessful post6ar candidates filed petitions foradission to the /ar inoEin7 its proisions, 6hile others otions for the reision of theireaination papers 6ere still pendin7 also inoEed the aforesaid la6 as an additional7round for adission. There are also others 6ho hae sou7ht sipl the reconsideration oftheir 7rades 6ithout, ho6eer, inoEin7 the la6 in uestion. To aoid in0ustice to indiidualpetitioners, the court first reie6ed the otions for reconsideration, irrespectie of 6hetheror not the had inoEed Repu/lic Act o. 923. *nfortunatel, the court has found no reasonto reise their 7rades. (f the are to /e aditted to the /ar, it ust /e pursuant to Repu/lic

Act o. 923 6hich, if declared alid, should /e applied euall to all concerned 6hetherthe hae filed petitions or not. A coplete list of the petitioners, properl classified, affected/ this decision, as 6ell as a ore detailed account of the histor of Repu/lic Act o. 923,are appended to this decision as Annees ( and ((. And to reali1942249>41948899491119491,3185>31B41951,>1B89>3B19513,B882919B419533,2>81,>>43B195>3,55598B384Total13,3>5,4311,1B8.

Of the aforesaid 1,1B8 candidates, 93 hae passed in su/seuent eaination,and onl 58B hae filed either otions for adission to the /ar pursuant to said Repu/licAct, or ere otions for reconsideration.

G3H(n addition, soe other 1 unsuccessful candidates are to /e /enefited /section 3 of said Repu/lic Act. These candidates had each taEen fro t6o to fie differenteainations, /ut failed to o/tain a passin7 aera7e in an of the. )onsolidatin7,ho6eer, their hi7hest 7rades in different su/0ects in preious eainations, 6ith their latestarEs, the 6ould /e sufficient to reach the passin7 aera7e as proided for / Repu/licAct 923.

G>HThe total nu/er of candidates to /e /enefited / this Repu/lic Acts is

therefore 1,94, of 6hich onl B4 hae filed petitions. Of these B4 petitioners, >> 6hofailed in 194B to 1951 had indiiduall presented otions for reconsideration 6hich 6eredenied, 6hile 135 unsuccessful candidates of 1953, and 5B of 195>, had presented siilarotions, 6hich ar still pendin7 /ecause the could /e faora/l affected / Repu/lic Act

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o. 923, $ althou7h as has /een alread stated, this tri/unal finds no sufficient reasons toreconsider their 7rades.

*)O#T(T*T(OA%(T" O R!+*%() A)T O. 923.

@ain7 /een called upon to enforce a la6 of far$reachin7 effects on the practice ofthe le7al profession and the adinistration of 0ustice, and /ecause soe dou/ts hae /eenepressed as to its alidit, the court set the hearin7 of the afore$entioned petitions for

adission on the sole ues tion of 6hether or not Repu/lic Act o. 923 is constitutional.

&e hae /een enli7htened in the stud of this uestion / the /rilliant assistanceof the e/ers of the /ar 6ho hae apl ar7ued, orall and in 6ritin7, on the ariousaspects in 6hich the uestion a /e 7leaned. The alua/le studies of Messrs. !. Coltaire?arcia, Cicente :. rancisco, Cicente +elae< and uenaentura !an7elista, in faor of thealidit of the la6, and of the *.+. &oen %a6ersF )ircle, the #olicitor ?eneral, Messrs.Arturo A. Alafri


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April 2, 18B, 6hich 6as declared / the )ourt of Appeals to /e consistent 6ith the)onstitution of the state of e6 "orE.

(t appears that the )onstitution of e6 "orE at that tie proidedD

=The Gi.e.,the 0ud7esH shall not hold an other office of pu/lictrust. All otes for either of the for an electie office ecept that of the)ourt of Appeals, 7ien / the %e7islature or the people, shall /e oid.

The shall not eercise an po6er of appointent to pu/lic office. Anale citiH

Accordin7 to the )ourt of Appeals, the o/0ect of the constitutional precept is asfollo6sD

=Attornes, solicitors, etc., 6ere pu/lic officers; the po6er ofappointin7 the had preiousl rested 6ith the 0ud7es, and this 6as theprincipal appointin7 po6er 6hich the possessed. The conention 6aseidentl dissatisfied 6ith the anner in 6hich this po6er had /eeneercised, and 6ith the restrictions 6hich the 0ud7es had iposed uponadission to practice /efore the. The prohi/itor clause in the sectionuoted 6as aied directl at this po6er, and the insertion of the proisionrespectin7 the adission of attornes, in its particular section of the)onstitution, eidentl arose fro its connection 6ith the o/0ect of thisprohi/itor clause. There is nothin7 indicatie of confidence in the courtsor of a disposition to presere an portion of their po6er oer this su/0ect,unless the #upree )ourt is ri7ht in the inference it dra6s fro the use ofthe 6ord FadissionF in the action referred to. (t is ur7ed that the adissionspoEen of ust /e / the court; that to adit eans to 7rant leae, andthat the po6er of 7rantin7 necessaril iplies the po6er of refusin7, andof course the ri7ht of deterinin7 6hether the applicant possesses thereuisite ualifications to entitle hi to adission.

=These positions a all /e conceded, 6ithout affectin7 thealidit of the act.= Gp. 9>.H

o6, 6ith respect to the la6 of April 2, 18B, the decision sees to indicate that itproided that the possession of a diploa of the school of la6 of )olu/ia )olle7econferrin7 the de7ree of achelor of %a6s 6as eidence of the le7al ualifications that theconstitution reuired of applicants for adission to the ar. The decision does not ho6eeruote the tet of the la6, 6hich 6e cannot find in an pu/lic or accessi/le priate li/rar inthe countr.

(n the case of )ooper, supra, to aEe the la6 consistent 6ith the )onstitution ofe6 "orE, the )ourt of Appeals said of the o/0ect of the la6D

=The otie for passin7 the act in uestion is apparent.)olu/ia )olle7e /ein7 an institution of esta/lished reputation, andhain7 a la6 departent under the char7e of a/le professors, thestudents in 6hich departent 6ere not onl su/0ected to a foral

eaination / the la6 coittee of the institution, /ut to a certaindefinite period of stud /efore /ein7 entitled to a diploa as 7raduates,the %e7islature eidentl, and no dou/t 0ustl, considered this eainationto7ether 6ith the preliinar stud reuired / the act, as full euialentas a test of le7al reuireents, to the ordinar eaination / the court;and as renderin7 the latter eaination, to 6hich no definite period ofpreliinar stud 6as essential, unnecessar and /urdensoe.

=The act 6as o/iousl passed 6ith reference to the learnin7and a/ilit of the applicant, and for the ere purpose of su/stitutin7 theeaination / the la6 coittee of the colle7e for that of the court. (tcould hae had no other o/0ect, and hence no 7reater scope should /e7ien to its proisions. &e cannot suppose that the %e7islature desi7nedentirel to dispense 6ith the plain and eplicit reuireents of the)onstitution; and the act contains nothin7 6hateer to indicate anintention that the authorities of the colle7e should inuire as to the a7e,citiH

ro the fore7oin7, the coplete inapplica/ilit of the case of )ooper 6ith that at/ar a /e clearl seen. +lease note onl the follo6in7 distinctionsD

G1HThe la6 of e6 "orE does not reuire that an candidate of )olu/ia )olle7e6ho failed in the /ar eainations /e aditted to the practice of la6.

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G3HThe la6 of e6 "orE accordin7 to the er decision of )ooper, has not taEenfro the court its 0urisdiction oer the uestion of adission of attorne at la6; in effect, itdoes not decree the adission of an la6er.

G>HThe )onstitution of e6 "orE at the tie and that of the +hilippines are entireldifferent on the atter of adission to the practice of la6.

(n the 0udicial sste fro 6hich ours has /een eoled, the adission,suspension, dis/arent and reinstateent of attornes at la6 in the practice of theprofession and their superision hae /een indisputa/l a 0udicial function andresponsi/ilit. ecause of this attri/ute, its continuous and H decision as to 6hether these facts are 7oerned/ the rules and principles; in effect, a 0udicial function of the hi7hest de7ree. And it/ecoes ore undisputa/l 0udicial, and not le7islatie, if preious 0udicial resolutions onthe petitions of these sae indiiduals are attepted to /e reoEed or odified.

&e hae said that in the 0udicial sste fro 6hich ours has /een deried, theact of adittin7, suspendin7, dis/arrin7 and reinstatin7 attornes at la6 in the practice ofthe profession is concededl 0udicial. A coprehensie and conscientious stud of thisatter had /een undertaEen in the case of #tate $s.)annon G19>3H 34 & 441, in 6hichthe alidit of a le7islatie enactent proidin7 that )annon /e peritted to practice /eforethe courts 6as discussed. ro the tet of this decision 6e uote the follo6in7 para7raphsD

=This statute presents an assertion of le7islatie po6er 6ithoutparallel in the histor of the !n7lish speaEin7 people so far as 6e hae/een a/le to ascertain. There has /een uch uncertaint as to the etentof the po6er of the %e7islature to prescri/e the ultiate ualifications ofattornes at la6, /ut in !n7land and in eer state of the *nion the act ofadittin7 an attorne at la6 has /een epressl coitted to the courts,and the act of adission has al6as /een re7arded as a 0udicial function.This act purports to constitute Mr. )annon an attorne at la6, and in thisrespect it stands alone as an assertion of le7islatie po6er. Gp. 444H

=o 7reater responsi/ilit rests upon this court than that ofpreserin7 in for and su/stance the eact for of 7oernent set up /the people. Gp. 444H

=*nder the )onstitution all le7islatie po6er is ested in a#enate and Asse/l. G#ection 1, art. 4.H (n so far as the prescri/in7 ofualifications for adission to the /ar are le7islatie in character, the%e7islature is actin7 6ithin its constitutional authorit 6hen it sets up andprescri/es such ualifications. Gp. 444H

=ut 6hen the %e7islature has prescri/ed those ualifications6hich in its 0ud7ent 6ill sere the purpose of le7itiate le7islatiesolicitude, is the po6er of the court to ipose other and further eactionsand ualifications foreclosed or ehaustedL Gp. 444H

=*nder our )onstitution the 0udicial and le7islatie departentsare distinct, independent, and coordinate /ranches of the 7oernent.either /ranch en0os all the po6ers of soerei7nt, /ut each is supreein that /ranch of soerei7nt 6hich properl /elon7s to its departent.either departent should so act as to e/arrass the other in thedischar7e of its respectie functions. That 6as the schee and thou7ht ofthe people settin7 upon the for of 7oernent under 6hich 6e eist.#tate $s. @astin7s, 1 &is., 535; Attorne ?eneral e rel. ashford $s.arsto6, 4 &is., 5B2. Gp. 445H

=The 0udicial departent of 7oernent is responsi/le for theplane upon 6hich the adinistration of 0ustice is aintained. (tsresponsi/ilit in this respect is eclusie. coittin7 a portion of thepo6ers of soerei7nt to the 0udicial departent of our state 7oernent,under a schee 6hich it 6as supposed rendered it iune froe/arrassent or interference / an other departent of 7oernent,the courts cannot escape responsi/ilit for the anner in 6hich thepo6ers of soerei7nt thus coitted to the 0udicial departent areeercised. Gp. 445H

=The relation of the /ar to the courts is a peculiar and intiaterelationship. The /ar is an attach of the courts. The ualit of 0usticedispensed / the courts depends in no sall de7ree upon the inte7rit ofits /ar. An unfaithful /ar a easil /rin7 scandal and reproach to theadinistration of 0ustice and /rin7 the courts theseles into disrepute. Gp.445H

=Throu7h all tie courts hae eercised a direct and seeresuperision oer their /ars, at least in the !n7lish speaEin7 countries.= Gp.445H

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After eplainin7 the histor of the case, the )ourt ends thusD

=Our conclusion a /e epitoi5, Fconstitutes the ost solid of all titles.F (f thecourts and the 0udicial po6er /e re7arded as an entit, the po6er todeterine 6ho should /e aditted to practice la6 is a constituent eleentof that entit. (t a /e difficult to isolate that eleent and sa 6ithassurance that it is either a part of the inherent po6er of the court, or anessential eleent of the 0udicial po6er eercised / the court, /ut that it isa po6er /elon7in7 to the 0udicial entit cannot /e denied. Our people/orro6ed fro !n7land this 0udicial entit and ade of not onl asoerei7n institution, /ut ade of it a separate independent, andcoordinate /ranch of the 7oernent. The tooE this institution alon7 6iththe po6er traditionall eercised to deterine 6ho should constitute itsattornes at la6. There is no epress proision in the )onstitution 6hichindicates an intent that this traditional po6er of the 0udicial departentshould in an anner /e su/0ect to le7islatie control. +erhaps thedoinant thou7ht of the fraers of our constitution 6as to aEe the three7reat departents of 7oernent separate and independent of oneanother. The idea that the %e7islature i7ht e/arrass the 0udicialdepartent / prescri/in7 inadeuate ualifications for attornes at la6 isinconsistent 6ith the doinant purpose of aEin7 the 0udicial independentof the le7islatie departent, and such a purpose should not /e inferred inthe a/sence of epress constitutional proision. &hile the %e7islature ale7islate 6ith respect to the ualifications of attornes, its po6er in thatrespect does not rest upon an po6er possessed / it to deal eclusiel6ith the su/0ect of the ualifications of attornes, /ut is incidental erelto its 7eneral and unuestioned po6er to protect the pu/lic interest. &henit does le7islate fiin7 a standard of ualifications reuired of attornes atla6 in order that pu/lic interests a /e protected, such ualificationsconstitute onl a iniu standard and liit the class fro 6hich thecourt ust aEe its selection. #uch le7islatie ualifications do notconstitute the ultiate ualifications /eond 6hich the court cannot 7o infiin7 additional ualifications deeed necessar / the course for theproper adinistration of 0udicial functions. There is no le7islatie po6er tocopel courts to adit to their /ars persons deeed / the unfit toeercise the prero7aties of an attorne at la6.= Gp. 45H

=urtherore it is an unla6ful attept to eercise the po6er ofappointent. (t is uite liEel true that the %e7islature a eercise thepo6er of appointent 6hen it is in pursuance of a le7islatie functions.@o6eer, the authorities are 6ell$ni7h unanious that the po6er to aditattornes to the practice of la6 is a 0udicial function. (n all of the states,ecept e6 :erse G(n re Reisch, 8> . :. !. 83, 9 A. 13H, so far as ourinesti7ation reeals, attornes receie their foral license to practice la6/ their adission as e/ers of the /ar of the court so adittin7. )or.:ur. 523; ! parte #eco/e, 19 @o6. 9, 15 %. !d. 5B5; ! parte ?arland,4 &all. >>>, 18 %. !d. >BB; Randall $s.ri7ha, 2 &all. 53, 19 %. !d. 385;@anson $s.?rattan, 48 Jan, 84>, 115 +. B4B, >4 %.R.A. 519; 'anforth $s.!7an, 3> #. '. 4>, 119 . &. 131, 1> A. #t. Rep. 1>, 3 Ann. )as.41>.

=The po6er of adittin7 an attorne to practice hain7 /eenperpetuall eercised / the courts, it hain7 /een so 7enerall held thatthe act of a court in adittin7 an attorne to practice is the 0ud7ent forthe court, and an attept as this on the part of the %e7islature to confersuch ri7ht upon an one /ein7 ost eceedin7l uncoon, it seesclear that the licensin7 of an attorne is and al6as has /een a purel0udicial function, no atter 6here the po6er to deterine the ualificationsa reside.= Gp. 451H

(n that sae ear of 19>3, the #upree )ourt of Massachusetts, in ans6erin7 a

consultation of the #enate of that #tate, 18 ! 235, saidD

=(t is indispensa/le to the adinistration of 0ustice and tointerpretation of the la6s that there /e e/ers of the /ar of sufficienta/ilit, adeuate learnin7 and sound oral character. This arises fro theneed of enli7htened assistance to the honest, and restrainin7 authoritoer the Enaish, liti7ant. (t is hi7hl iportant, also that the pu/lic /eprotected fro incopetent and icious practitioners, 6hose opportunitfor doin7 ischief is 6ide. (t 6as said / )ardo


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conceded to /e a 0udicial function. +etition to that end is filed in courts, asare other proceedin7s inoEin7 0udicial action. Adission to the /ar isaccoplish and ade open and notorious / a decision of the courtentered upon its records. The esta/lishent / the )onstitution of the0udicial departent conferred authorit necessar to the eercise of itspo6ers as a coordinate departent of 7oernent. (t is an inherent po6erof such a departent of 7oernent ultiatel to deterine theualifications of those to /e aditted to practice in its courts, for assistin7in its 6orE, and to protect itself in this respect fro the unfit, those lacEin7in sufficient learnin7, and those not possessin7 7ood oral character.)hief :ustice Tane stated succinctl and 6ith finalit in ! parte#eco/e, 19 @o6. 9, 1>, 15 %. !d. 5B5, F(t has /een 6ell settled, / therules and practice of coon$la6 courts, that it rests eclusiel 6ith thecourt to deterine 6ho is ualified to /ecoe one of its officers, as anattorne and counsellor, and for 6hat cause he ou7ht to /e reoed.F= Gp.232H

(n the case of 'a and others 6ho collectiel filed a petition to secure license topractice the le7al profession / irtue of a la6 of state G(n re 'a, 54 ! B4BH, the court saidin partD

=(n the case of ! parte ?arland, 4 &all, >>>, 18 %. !d. >BB, thecourt, holdin7 the test oath for attornes to /e unconstitutional, eplainedthe nature of the attorneFs office as follo6sD =The are officers of thecourt, aditted as such / its order, upon eidence of their possessin7sufficient le7al learnin7 and fair priate character. (t has al6as /een the7eneral practice in this countr to o/tain this eidence / an eainationof the parties. (n this court the fact of the adission of such officers in thehi7hest court of the states to 6hich the, respectiel, /elon7, for threeears precedin7 their application, is re7arded as sufficient eidence of thepossession of the reuisite le7al learnin7, and the stateent of counseloin7 their adission sufficient eidence that their priate andprofessional character is fair. The order of adission is the 0ud7ent of

the court that the parties possess the reuisite ualifications as attornesand counselors, and are entitled to appear as such and conduct causestherein. ro its entr the parties /ecoe officers of the court, and areresponsi/le to it for professional isconduct. The hold their office durin77ood /ehaior, and can onl /e depried of it for isconduct ascertainedand declared / the 0ud7ent of the court after opportunit to /e heardhas /een afforded. ! parte @ofron, 2 @o6. GMiss. 132; letcher $s.'ain7erfield, 3 )al. 4>. Their adission or their eclusion is not theeercise of a ere inisterial po6er. (t is the eercise of 0udicial po6er,and has /een so held in nuerous cases. (t 6as so held / the court of

appeals of e6 "orE in the atter of the application of )ooper foradission. Re )ooper 33 . ". 81. FAttornes and )ounsellors,F said thatcourt, Fare not onl officers of the court, /ut officers 6hose duties relatealost eclusiel to proceedin7s of a 0udicial nature; and hence theirappointent a, 6ith propriet, /e intrusted to the court, and the latter, inperforin7 his dut, a er 0ustl considered as en7a7ed in theeercise of their appropriate 0udicial functions.= Gpp. B5$ B51H.

&e uote fro other cases, the follo6in7 pertinent portionsD

=Adission to practice of la6 is alost 6ithout eceptionconceded eer6here to /e the eercise of a 0udicial function, and thisopinion need not /e /urdened 6ith citations in this point. Adission topractice hae also /een held to /e the eercise of one of the inherentpo6ers of the court.= - Re ruen, 13 &ash. 423, 123 +ac. 9B.

=Adission to the practice of la6 is the eercise of a 0udicialfunction, and is an inherent po6er of the court.= - A. ). rdon0acE, $s.#tate ar of )alifornia, 381 +ac. 118; #ee Annotation on +o6er of%e7islature respectin7 adission to /ar, B5, A. %. R. 1513.On this atter there is certainl a clear distinction /et6een the functions of the

0udicial and le7islatie departents of the 7oernent.

=The distinction /et6een the functions of the le7islatie and the0udicial departents is that it is the proince of the le7islature to esta/lishrules that shall re7ulate and 7oern in atters of transactions occurrin7su/seuent to the le7islatie action, 6hile the 0udiciar deterines ri7htsand o/li7ations 6ith reference to transactions that are past or conditionsthat eist at the tie of the eercise of 0udicial po6er, and the distinction isa ital one and not su/0ect to alteration or chan7e either / le7islatieaction or / 0udicial decrees.

=The 0udiciar cannot consent that its proince shall /e inaded

/ either of the other departents of the 7oernent.= - 1B ). :. #.,)onstitutional %a6, p. 339.

=(f the le7islature cannot thus indirectl control the action of thecourts / reuirin7 of the construction of the la6 accordin7 to its o6nie6s, it is er plain it cannot do so directl, / settlin7 aside their0ud7ents, copellin7 the to 7rant ne6 trials, orderin7 the dischar7e ofoffenders, or directin7 6hat particular steps shall /e taEen in the pro7ressof a 0udicial inuir.= - )ooleFs )onstitutional %iitations, 193.

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(n decreein7 that /ar candidates 6ho o/tained in the /ar eainations of 194B to1953, a 7eneral aera7e of 2 per cent 6ithout fallin7 /elo6 5 per cent in an su/0ect, /eaditted in ass to the practice of la6, the disputed la6 is not a le7islation; it is a 0ud7ent- a 0ud7ent reoEin7 those proul7ated / this )ourt durin7 the aforecited ear affectin7the /ar candidates concerned; and althou7h this )ourt certainl can reoEe these0ud7ents een no6, for 0ustifia/le reasons, it is no less certain that onl this )ourt, and notthe le7islatie nor eecutie departent, that a /e so. An attept on the part of an ofthese departents 6ould /e a clear usurpation of its functions, as is the case 6ith the la6in uestion.

That the )onstitution has conferred on )on7ress the po6er to repeal, alter orsuppleent the rules proul7ated / this Tri/unal, concernin7 the adission to the practiceof la6, is no alid ar7uent. #ection 1>, article C((( of the )onstitution proidesD

=#ection 1>.The #upree )ourt shall hae the po6er toproul7ate rules concernin7 pleadin7, practice, and procedure in allcourts, and the adission to the practice of la6. #aid rules shall /eunifor for all courts of the sae 7rade and shall not diinish increase orodif su/stantie ri7hts. The eistin7 la6s on pleadin7, practice, andprocedure are here/ repealed as statutes, and are declared Rules of)ourts, su/0ect to the po6er of the #upree )ourt to alter and odif thesae. The )on7ress shall hae the po6er to repeal, alter, or suppleentthe rules concernin7 pleadin7, practice, and procedure, and the adissionto the practice of la6 in the +hilippines.= - )onstitution of the +hilippines,Art. C(((, sec. 1>.

(t 6ill /e noted that the )onstitution has not conferred on )on7ress and thisTri/unal eual responsi/ilities concernin7 the adission to the practice of la6. The priarpo6er and responsi/ilit 6hich the )onstitution reco7ni2, illustrates our criterion. ?uariNa tooE the

eaination and failed / a fe6 points to o/tain the 7eneral aera7e. A recentl enactedla6 proided that one 6ho had /een appointed to the position of iscal a /e aditted tothe practice of la6 6ithout a preious eaination. The ?oernent appointed ?uariNa andhe dischar7ed the duties of iscal in a reote proince. This Tri/unal refused to 7ie hislicense 6ithout preious eainations. The court saidD

=Relin7 upon the proisions of section 3 of Act o. 1592, theapplicant in this case seeEs adission to the /ar, 6ithout taEin7 theprescri/ed eaination, on the 7round that he holds the office ofproincial fiscal for the +roince of atanes. #ection 3 of Act o. 1592,enacted e/ruar 38, 192, is as follo6sD

=#!). 3.+ara7raph one of section thirteen of Act u/ered One

@undred and ninet, entitled FAn Act proidin7 a )ode of +rocedure in )iilActions and #pecial +roceedin7s in the +hilippine (slands,F is here/aended to read as follo6sD

=1.Those 6ho hae /een dul licensed under the la6s andorders of the (slands under the soerei7nt of #pain or of the *nited#tates and are in 7ood and re7ular standin7 as e/ers of the /ar of the+hilippine (slands at the tie of the adoption of this code; %ro$ided,Thatan person 6ho, prior to the passa7e of this Act, or at an tie thereafter,shall hae held, under the authorit of the *nited #tates, the position of

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0ustice of the #upree )ourt, 0ud7e of the )ourt of irst (nstance, or 0ud7eor associate 0ud7e of the )ourt of %and Re7istration, of the +hilippine(slands, or the position of Attorne ?eneral, #olicitor ?eneral, AssistantAttorne ?eneral, assistant attorne in the office of the Attorne ?eneral,prosecutin7 attorne for the )it of Manila, assistant prosecutin7 attornefor the )it of Manila, cit attorne of Manila, assistant cit attorne ofManila, proincial fiscal, attorne for the Moro +roince, or assistantattorne for the Moro +roince, a /e licensed to practice la6 in thecourts of the +hilippines (slands 6ithout an eaination, upon otion/efore the #upree )ourt and esta/lishin7 such fact to the satisfaction ofsaid court.=

=The records of this court disclose that on a forer occasion thisappellant tooE, and failed to pass the prescri/ed eaination. The reportof the eainin7 /oard, dated March 3>, 192, sho6s that he receied anaera7e of onl 21 per cent in the arious /ranches of le7al learnin7 upon6hich he 6as eained, thus fallin7 four points short of the reuiredpercenta7e of 25. &e 6ould /e delinuent in the perforance of our dutto the pu/lic and to the /ar, if, in the face of this affiratie indication ofthe deficienc of the applicant in the reuired ualifications of learnin7 inthe la6 at the tie 6hen he presented his forer application for adissionto the /ar, 6e should 7rant hi a license to practice la6 in the courts ofthese (slands, 6ithout first satisfin7 ourseles that despite his failure topass the eaination on that occasion, he no6 Fpossesses the necessarualifications of learnin7 and a/ilit.F

=ut it is contended that under the proisions of the a/oe$citedstatute the applicant is entitled as of ri7ht to /e aditted to the /ar 6ithouttaEin7 the prescri/ed eaination Fupon otion /efore the #upree)ourtF accopanied / satisfactor proof that he has held and no6 holdsthe office of proincial fiscal of the +roince of atanes. (t is ur7ed thathain7 in ind the o/0ect 6hich the le7islator apparentl sou7ht to attainin enactin7 the a/oe$cited aendent to the earlier statute, and in ie6

of the contet 7enerall and especiall of the fact that the aendent 6asinserted as a proiso in that section of the ori7inal Act 6hich specificallproides for the adission of certain candidates 6ithout eaination, theclause a /e licensed to practice la6 in the courts of the +hilippine(slands 6ithout an eaination.F (t is contended that this andatorconstruction is iperatiel reuired in order to 7ie effect to the apparentintention of the le7islator, and to the candidateFs clai de jureto hae thepo6er eercised.=

And after copin7 article 9 of Act of :ul 1, 193 of the )on7ress of the *nited#tates, articles 3, 1B and 12 of Act o. 1>B, and articles 1> to 1B of Act 19, the )ourtcontinuedD

=Manifestl, the 0urisdiction thus conferred upon this court / thecoission and confired to it / the Act of )on7ress 6ould /e liitedand restricted, and in a case such as that under consideration 6holldestroed, / 7iin7 the 6ord Fa,F as used in the a/oe citation fro Acto. 1592, a andator rather than a perissie effect. ut an act of thecoission 6hich has the effect of settin7 at nau7ht in 6hole or in partthe Act of )on7ress of :ul 1, 193, or of an Act of )on7ress prescri/in7,definin7 or liitin7 the po6er conferred upon the coission is to thatetent inalid and oid, as transcendin7 its ri7htful liits and authorit.#peaEin7 on the application of the la6 to those 6ho 6ere appointed to the

positions enuerated, and 6ith particular ephasis in the case of ?uariNa, the )ourt heldD

=(n the arious cases 6herein applications for adission to the/ar under the proisions of this statute hae /een considered heretofore,6e hae accepted the fact that such appointents had /een ade assatisfactor eidence of the ualifications of the applicant. ut in all ofthose cases 6e had reason to /eliee that the applicants had /eenpracticin7 attornes prior to the date of their appointent.

=(n the case under consideration, ho6eer, it affiratielappears that the applicant 6as not and neer had /een practicin7 attornein this or an other 0urisdiction prior to the date of his appointent asproincial fiscal, and it further affiratiel appears that he 6as deficient inthe reuired ualifications at the tie 6hen he last applied for adissionto the /ar.

=(n the li7ht of this affiratie proof of his deficienc on thatoccasion, 6e do not thinE that his appointent to the office of proincialfiscal is in itself satisfactor proof of his possession of the necessar

ualifications of learnin7 and a/ilit. &e conclude therefore that thisapplication for license to practice in the courts of the +hilippines, should/e denied.

=(n ie6, ho6eer, of the fact that 6hen he tooE the eainationhe fell onl four points short of the necessar 7rade to entitle hi to alicense to practice; and in ie6 also of the fact that since that tie he hasheld the responsi/le office of the 7oernor of the +roince of #orso7onand presua/l 7ae eidence of such arEed a/ilit in the perforanceof the duties of that office that the )hief !ecutie, 6ith the consent and

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approal of the +hilippine )oission, sou7ht to retain hi in the?oernent serice / appointin7 hi to the office of proincial fiscal, 6ethinE 6e 6ould /e 0ustified under the a/oe$cited proisions of Act o.1592 in 6aiin7 in his case the ordinar eaination prescri/ed /7eneral rule, proided he offers satisfactor eidence of his proficienc ina special eaination 6hich 6ill /e 7ien hi / a coittee of the courtupon his application therefor, 6ithout pre0udice to his ri7ht, if he desires soto do, to present hiself at an of the ordinar eainations prescri/ed /7eneral rule.= - G(n re ?uariNa, pp. 48$49.H

(t is o/ious, therefore, that the ultiate po6er to 7rant license for the practice ofla6 /elon7s eclusiel to this )ourt, and the la6 passed / )on7ress on the atter is ofperissie character, or as other authorities sa, erel to fi the iniu conditions forthe license.

The la6 in uestion, liEe those in the )ase of 'a and )annon, has /een foundalso to suffer fro the fatal defect of /ein7 a class le7islation, and that if it has intended toaEe a classification, it is ar/itrar and unreasona/le.

(n the case of 'a, a la6 enacted on e/ruar 31, 1899 reuired of the #upree)ourt, until 'ece/er >1 of that ear, to 7rant license for the practice of la6 to thosestudents 6ho /e7an studin7 /efore oe/er 4, 1892, and had studied for t6o ears andpresented a diploa issued / a school of la6, or to those 6ho had studied in a la6 officeand 6ould pass an eaination, or to those 6ho had studied for three ears if thecoenced their studies after the aforeentioned date. The #upree )ourt declared thatthis la6 6as unconstitutional /ein7, aon7 others, a class le7islation. The )ourt saidD

=This is an application to this court for adission to the /ar ofthis state / irtue of diploas fro la6 schools issued to the applicants.The act of the 7eneral asse/l passed in 1899, under 6hich theapplication is ade, is entitled FAn act to aend section 1 of an actentitled =An act to reise the la6 in relation to attornes and counselors,Fapproed March 38, 1894, in force :ul 1, 1824.F The aendent, as far

as it appears in the enactin7 clause, consists in the addition to the sectionof the follo6in7D FAnd eer applicant for a license 6ho shall copl 6iththe rules of the supree court in re7ard to adission to the /ar in force atthe tie such applicant coend the stud of la6, either in a la6 office ora la6 school or colle7e, shall /e 7ranted a license under this actnot6ithstandin7 an su/seuent chan7es in said rulesF.= - (n re 'a et al,54 . "., p. B4B.

. . . =After said proision there is a dou/le proiso, one /ranch of6hich is that up to 'ece/er >1, 1899, this court shall 7rant a license of

adittance to the /ar to the holder of eer diploa re7ularl issued /an la6 school re7ularl or7aniB 6eeEs in each of such ears, and sho6in7 thatthe student /e7an the stud of la6 prior to oe/er 4, 1892, andaccopanied 6ith the usual proofs of 7ood oral character. The other/ranch of the proiso is that an student 6ho has studied la6 for t6oears in a la6 office, or part of such tie in a la6 office, Fand part in theaforesaid la6 school,F and 6hose course of stud /e7an prior tooe/er 4, 1892, shall /e aditted upon a satisfactor eaination /the eainin7 /oard in the /ranches no6 reuired / the rules of thiscourt. (f the ri7ht to adission eists at all, it is / irtue of the proiso,6hich, it is claied, confers su/stantial ri7hts and priile7es upon thepersons naed therein, and esta/lishes rules of le7islatie creation fortheir adission to the /ar.= Gp. B42.H

=)onsiderin7 the proiso, ho6eer, as an enactent, it is clearl

a special le7islation, prohi/ited / the constitution, and inalid as such. (fthe le7islature had an ri7ht to adit attornes to practice in the courtsand taEe part in the adinistration of 0ustice, and could prescri/e thecharacter of eidence 6hich should /e receied / the court as conclusieof the reuisite learnin7 and a/ilit of persons to practice la6, it could onl/e done / a 7eneral la6, and not / 7rantin7 special and eclusiepriile7es to certain persons or classes of persons. )onst. art 4, section 3.The ri7ht to practice la6 is a priile7e, and a license for that purposeaEes the holder an officer of the court, and confers upon hi the ri7ht toappear for liti7ants, to ar7ue causes, and to collect fees therefor, andcreates certain eeptions, such as fro 0ur serices and arrest on ciilprocess 6hile attendin7 court. The la6 conferrin7 such priile7es ust /e7eneral in its operation. o dou/t the le7islature, in frain7 an enactentfor that purpose, a classif persons so lon7 as the la6 esta/lishin7classes in 7eneral, and has soe reasona/le relation to the end sou7ht.There ust /e soe difference 6hich furnishes a reasona/le /asis for

different le7islation as to the different classes, and not a purel ar/itrarone, hain7 no 0ust relation to the su/0ect of the le7islation. raceille )oal)o. $s. +eople, 142 (((. BB, >5 . !. B3; Ritchie $s.+eople, 155 (((. 98, 4. !. 454; Railroad )o. $s.!llis, 1B5 *. #. 15, 12 #up. )t. 355.

=The len7th of tie a phsician has practiced, and the sEillacuired / eperience, a furnish a /asis for classification G&illias $s.+eople 131 (ll. 48, (( . !. 881H; /ut the place 6here such phsician hasresided and practiced his profession cannot furnish such /asis, and is anar/itrar discriination, aEin7 an enactent /ased upon it oid G#tate

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$s.+enneor, B5 . !. 11>, 18 Atl. 828H. @ere the le7islature undertaEesto sa 6hat shall sere as a test of fitness for the profession of the la6and plainl, an classification ust hae soe reference to learnin7,character, or a/ilit to en7a7e in such practice. The proiso is liited, first,to a class of persons 6ho /e7an the stud of la6 prior to oe/er 4,1892. This class is su/diided into t6o classes $ irst, those presentin7diploas issued / an la6 school of this state /efore 'ece/er >1,1899; and, second, those 6ho studied la6 for the period of t6o ears in ala6 office, or part of the tie in a la6 school and part in a la6 office, 6hoare to /e aditted upon eaination in the su/0ects specified in thepresent rules of this court, and as to this latter su/diision there sees to/e no liit of tie for aEin7 application for adission. As to /othclasses, the conditions of the rules are dispensed 6ith, and as /et6eenthe t6o different conditions and liits of tie are fied. o course of studis prescri/ed for the la6 school, /ut a diploa 7ranted upon thecopletion of an sort of course its ana7ers a prescri/e is ade all$sufficient. )an there /e anthin7 6ith relation to the ualifications orfitness of persons to practice la6 restin7 upon the ere date of oe/er4, 1892, 6hich 6ill furnish a /asis of classification. +lainl not. Those 6ho/e7an the stud of la6 oe/er 4th could ualif theseles to practicein t6o ears as 6ell as those 6ho /e7an on the >rd. The classes naedin the proiso need spend onl t6o ears in stud, 6hile those 6hocoenced the net da ust spend three ears, althou7h the 6ouldcoplete t6o ears /efore the tie liit. The one 6ho coenced on the>d. (f possessed of a diploa, is to /e aditted 6ithout eaination/efore 'ece/er >1, 1899, and 6ithout an prescri/ed course of stud,6hile as to the other the prescri/ed course ust /e pursued, and thediploa is utterl useless. #uch classification cannot rest upon an naturalreason, or /ear an 0ust relation to the su/0ect sou7ht, and none issu77ested. The proiso is for the sole purpose of /esto6in7 priile7esupon certain defined persons. Gpp. B42$B48.H

(n the case of )annon a/oe cited, #tate $s.)annon, 34 . &. 441, 6here the

le7islature attepted / la6 to reinstate )annon to the practice of la6, the court also held6ith re7ards to its aspect of /ein7 a class le7islationD

=ut the statute is inalid for another reason. (f it /e 7ranted thatthe le7islature has po6er to prescri/e ultiatel and definitel theualifications upon 6hich courts ust adit and license those applin7 asattornes at la6, that po6er can not /e eercised in the anner hereattepted. That po6er ust /e eercised throu7h 7eneral la6s 6hich 6illappl to all aliEe and accord eual opportunit to all. #peaEin7 of the ri7htof the %e7islature to eact ualifications of those desirin7 to pursue

chosen callin7s, Mr. :ustice ield in the case of 'ent. $s.&est Cir7inia,139 *. #. 114, 131, 9 #. )t. 3>3, 3>>, >3 %. !d. B3B, saidD F(t isundou/tedl the ri7ht of eer citi, 38 #. !. 512; see, also, The #tate e rel. &inEler $s.Rosen/er7, 11&is. 123, 2B . &. >45; #tate $s.&hitco, 133 &is. 11, 99 . &. 4B8.

=This la6 sin7les out Mr. )annon and assues to confer uponhi the ri7ht to practice la6 and to constitute hi an officer of this )ourtas a ere atter of le7islatie 7race or faor. (t is not aterial that he hadonce esta/lished his ri7ht to practice la6 and that one tie he possessedthe reuisite learnin7 and other ualifications to entitle hi to that ri7ht.That fact in no anner affect the po6er of the %e7islature to select frothe 7reat /od of the pu/lic an indiidual upon 6ho it 6ould confer itsfaors.

=A statute of the state of Minnesota G%a6s 1939, c. 434Hcoanded the #upree )ourt to adit to the practice of la6 6ithouteaination, all 6ho had Fsere in the ilitar or naal forces of the *nited#tates durin7 the &orld &ar and receied an honora/le dischar7etherefro and 6ho G6ere disa/led therein or there/ 6ithin the purie6 ofthe Act of )on7ress approed :une 2th, 1934, Eno6n as F&orld &arCeteranFs Act, 1934 and 6hose disa/ilit is rated at least ten per centthereunder at the tie of the passa7e of this Act.= This Act 6as heldunconstitutional on the 7round that it clearl iolated the ualit clauses of

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the constitution of that state. (n re Application of ?eor7e &. @uphre,128 Minn. >>1, 332 . &. 129.

A 7ood suar of a classification constitutionall accepta/le is eplained in 13A. :ur. 151$15> as follo6sD

=The 7eneral rule is 6ell settled / unaniit of the authoritiesthat a classification to /e alid ust rest upon aterial differences/et6een the person included in it and those ecluded and, furtherore,ust /e /ased upon su/stantial distinctions. As the rule has soetiesaoided the constitutional prohi/ition, ust /e founded upon pertinent andreal differences, as distin7uished fro irreleant and artificial once.Therefore, an la6 that is ade applica/le to one class of citi.H

+ursuant to the la6 in uestion, those 6ho, 6ithout a 7rade /elo6 5 per cent inan su/0ect, hae o/tained a 7eneral aera7e of B9.5 per cent in the /ar eainations in194B to 1951, 2.5 per cent in 1953, 21.5 per cent in 195>, and those 6ill o/tain 23.5 percent in 1954, and 2>.5 per cent in 1955, 6ill /e peritted to taEe and su/scri/e thecorrespondin7 oath of office as e/ers of the ar, not6ithstandin7 that the rules reuire ainiu 7eneral aera7e of 25 per cent, 6hich has /een inaria/l follo6ed since 195. (sthere an otie of the nature indicated / the a/oeentioned authorities, for thisclassificationL (f there is none, and none has /een 7ien, then the classification is fatall

defectie.(t 6as indicated that those 6ho failed in 1944, 1941 or the ears /efore, 6ith the

7eneral aera7e indicated, 6ere not included /ecause the Tri/unal has no record of theunsuccessful candidates of those ears. This fact does not 0ustif the uneplainedclassification of unsuccessful candidates / ears, fro 194B$1951, 1953, 195>, 1954,1955. either is the eclusion of those 6ho failed /efore said ears under the saeconditions 0ustified. The fact that this )ourt has no record of eainations prior to 194Bdoes not si7nif that no one concerned a proe / soe other eans his ri7ht to aneual consideration.

To defend the disputed la6 fro /ein7 declared unconstitutional on account of itsretroactiit, it is ar7ued that it is curatie, and that in such for it is constitutional. &hatdoes Rep. Act 923 intend to cureL Onl fro 194B to 1949 6ere there cases in 6hich theTri/unal peritted adission to the /ar of candidates 6ho did not o/tain the 7eneralaera7e of 25 per centD in 194B those 6ho o/tained onl 23 per cent; in the 1942 and those6ho had B9 per cent or ore; in 1948, 2 per cent and in 1949, 24 per cent; and in 195 to195>, those 6ho o/tained 24 per cent, 6hich 6as considered / the )ourt as euialent to25 per cent as prescri/ed / the Rules, / reason of circustances deeed to /esufficientl 0ustifia/le. These chan7es in the passin7 aera7es durin7 those ears 6ere allthat could /e o/0ected to or critici, 1954 and 1955, increasin7 each earthe 7eneral aera7e / one per cent, 6ith the order that said candidates /e aditted to thear. This purpose, anifest in the said la6, is the /est proof that 6hat the la6 attepts toaend and correct are not the rules proul7ated, /ut the 6ill or 0ud7ent of the )ourt, /eans of sipl taEin7 its place. This is doin7 directl 6hat the Tri/unal should hae donedurin7 those ears accordin7 to the 0ud7ent of )on7ress. (n other 6ords, the po6ereercised 6as not to repeal, alter or suppleent the rules, 6hich continue in force. &hat6as done 6as to stop or suspend the. And this po6er is not included in 6hat the)onstitution has 7ranted to )on7ress, /ecause it falls 6ithin the po6er to appl the rules.This po6er corresponds to the 0udiciar, to 6hich such dut /een confided.

Article 3 of the la6 in uestion perits partial passin7 of eainations, atindefinite interals. The 7rae defect of this sste is that it does not taEe into account thatthe la6s and 0urisprudence are not stationar, and 6hen a candidate finall receies hiscertificate, it a happen that the eistin7 la6s and 0urisprudence are alread different,seriousl affectin7 in this anner his usefulness. The sste that the said la6 prescri/es6as used in the first /ar eainations of this countr, /ut 6as a/andoned for this and other

disadanta7es. (n this case, ho6eer, the fatal defect is that the article is not epressed inthe title of the Act. &hile this la6 accordin7 to its title 6ill hae teporar effect onl fro194B to 1955, the tet of article 3 esta/lishes a peranent sste for an indefinite tie.This is contrar to #ection 31G1H, article C( of the )onstitution, 6hich itiates and annulsarticle 3 copletel; and /ecause it is insepara/le fro article 1, it is o/ious that its nullitaffects the entire la6.

%a6s are unconstitutional on the follo6in7 7roundsD first, /ecause the are not6ithin the le7islatie po6ers of )on7ress to enact, or )on7ress has eceeded its po6ers;second, /ecause the create or esta/lish ar/itrar ethods or fors that infrin7e

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constitutional principles; and third, /ecause their purposes or effects iolate the )onstitutionor its /asic principles. As has alread /een seen, the contested la6 suffers fro these fataldefects.

#uari. the disputed la6, )on7ress has eceeded its le7islatie po6er to repeal,alter and suppleent the rules on adission to the ar. #uch additional or aendatorrules are, as the ou7ht to /e, intended to re7ulate acts su/seuent to its proul7ation andshould tend to iproe and eleate the practice of la6, and this Tri/unal shall considerthese rules as iniu nors to6ards that end in the adission, suspension, dis/arentand reinstateent of la6ers to the ar, inasuch as a 7ood /ar assists iensel in thedail perforance of 0udicial functions and is essential to a 6orth adinistration of 0ustice.(t is therefore the priar and inherent prero7atie of the #upree )ourt to render theultiate decision on 6ho a /e aditted and a continue in the practice of la6accordin7 to eistin7 rules.

4.The reason adanced for the pretended classification of candidates, 6hich the

la6 aEes, is contrar to facts 6hich are of 7eneral Eno6led7e and does not 0ustif theadission to the ar of la6 students inadeuatel prepared. The pretended classification isar/itrar. (t is undou/tedl a class le7islation.

5.Article 3 of Repu/lic Act o. 923 is not e/raced in the title of the la6, contrarto 6hat the )onstitution en0oins, and /ein7 insepara/le fro the proisions of article 1, theentire la6 is oid..

B.%acEin7 in ei7ht otes to declare the nullit of that part of article 1 referrin7 tothe eainations of 195> to 1955, said part of article 1, insofar as it concerns theeainations in those ears, shall continue in force.

R!#O%*T(O

*pon ature deli/eration / this )ourt, after hearin7 and aailin7 of thea7nificent and ipassioned discussion of the contested la6 / our )hief :ustice at theopenin7 and close of the de/ate aon7 the e/ers of the )ourt, and after hearin7 the0udicious o/serations of t6o of our /eloed collea7ues 6ho since the /e7innin7 haeannounced their decision not to taEe part in otin7, 6e, the ei7ht e/ers of the )ourt 6hosu/scri/e to this decision hae oted and resoled, and hae decided for the )ourt, andunder the authorit of the saeD

1.That GaH the portion of article 1 of Repu/lic Act o. 923 referrin7 to theeainations of 194B to 1953, and G!H all of article 3 of said la6 are unconstitutional and,therefore, oid and 6ithout force and effect.

3.That, for lacE of unaniit in the ei7ht :ustices, that part of article 1 6hich refersto the eainations su/seuent to the approal of the la6, that is fro 195> to 1955inclusie, is alid and shall continue to /e in force, in conforit 6ith section 1, article C((

of the )onstitution.

)onseuentl, G1H all the a/oe$entioned petitions of the candidates 6ho failedin the eainations of 194B to 1953 inclusie are denied, and G3H all candidates 6ho in theeainations of 195> o/tained a 7eneral aera7e of 21.5 per cent or ore, 6ithout hain7a 7rade /elo6 5 per cent in an su/0ect, are considered as hain7 passed, 6hether thehae filed petitions for adission or not. After this decision has /ecoe final, the shall /eperitted to taEe and su/scri/e the correspondin7 oath of office as e/ers of the ar onthe date or dates that the )hief :ustice a set. #o ordered..

eng(on, Monte&ayor, Jugo, La!rador, %a!lo, %adillaand Reyes, JJ.,concur.A!I (

+!T(T(O!R# *'!R R!+*%() A)T O. 923A resue of pertinent facts concernin7 the /ar eainations of

194B to 195> inclusie follo6sDAugust, )*+1

oard o# E-a&inersD @on. +edro Tuason, )hairan, +rof.?erardo lorendo, Att. ernardino ?uerrero, Att. :oauin Raire


14/29

2>FsB23FsB

u/er of candidates 6ho passed85u/er of candidates 6ho failed131u/er of those affected / Repu/lic Act o. 92318+ercenta7e of successGper centH41.B3+ercenta7e of failureGper centH58.24+assin7 7radeGper centH23

o$e&!er, )*+oard o# E-a&inersD The sae as that of Au7ust, 194B, ecept

@on. :ose Teodoro 6ho 6as su/stituted / Att. @onesto J. ausan.u/er of candidates481u/er of candidates 6hose 7rades 6ere raised19

G23 per cent and a/oe /ut /elo6 2> per cent -Minutes of March >1, 1942H.

u/er of candidates 6ho passed349u/er of candidates 6ho failed338u/er of those affected / Repu/lic Act o. 9234>+ercenta7e of successGper centH53.3+ercenta7e of failureGper centH42.8+assin7 7radeGper centH23.

G resolution of the )ourtH.'cto!er, )*+/

oard o# E-a&iners0@on. )esar en74u/er of those affected / Rep. Act o. 923923+ercenta7e of successGper centH54.59+ercenta7e of failureGper centH45.41+assin7 7radeGper centHB9.

G resolution of the )ourtH.OT!. - (n passin7 the 3 6hose 7rades 6ere B8.95 per centand B8.1 per cent respectiel, the )ourt found out that the

6ere not /enefited at all / the /onus of 13 points 7ien / the!ainer in )iil %a6.

August, )*+1oard o# E-a&iners0@on. Marceliano R. Monteaor,

)hairan @on. %uis +. Torres, @on. elipe atiidad, @on. :ose Teodoro,#r., Att. ederico A7raa, Att. Macario +eralta, #r., @on. :esus ?.arrera, @on. Rafael Aparo, Att. Alfonso +once !nrile, Me/ers.u/er of candidates899u/er of candidates 6hose 7rades 6ere raisedB4

21Fs392Fs>5

u/er of candidates 6ho passed49u/er of candidates 6ho failed49u/er of those affected / Rep. Act o. 92311+ercenta7e of successGper centHB3.4+ercenta7e of failureGper centH>2.B+assin7 7radeGper centH2

G Resolution of the )ourtH.August, )*+*

oard o# E-a&iners0@on. #a/ino +adilla, )hairan, @on.ernando :u7o, 1 @on. !nriue ilaor, Att. #alador Araneta, @on.

+astor M. !ndencia, Att. ederico A7raa, @on. Mariano @. de :oa,@on. elipe atiidad, Att. !eterio Rarcelon, Me/ers.u/er of candidates1,318u/er of candidates 6hose 7rades 6ere raised G24FsH55u/er of candidates 6ho passedB8Bu/er of candidates 6ho failed5>3u/er of those affected / Repu/lic Act o. 9231B4+ercenta7e of successGper centH5B.38+ercenta7e of failureGper centH4>.23+assin7 7radesGper centH24

G resolution of the )ourtH.August, )*23

oard o# E-a&inersD @on. ernando :u7o, 1 )hairan, @on.?uillero . ?ueara, Att. !nriue Altaas, Att. Marcial +. %ichauco,Att. )arlos . @ilado , Att. :. Antonio Araneta, @on. !nriue C. ilaor,@on. rancisco A. 'el7ado, @on. Antonio @orrilleno, Me/ers.u/er of candidates1,>1Bu/er of candidates 6hose 7rades 6ere raised>8

GThe 7rade of 24 6as raised to 25 per cent / recoendationand authorit of the eainer in Reedial %a6, Att. rancisco'el7adoH.

14
http://www.cdasiaonline.com/search/show_article/37976?search=date%3A%5B1954+1955%5D+AND+title%3A+(Cunanan)#footnoteshttp://www.cdasiaonline.com/search/show_article/37976?search=date%3A%5B1954+1955%5D+AND+title%3A+(Cunanan)#footnoteshttp://www.cdasiaonline.com/search/show_article/37976?search=date%3A%5B1954+1955%5D+AND+title%3A+(Cunanan)#footnoteshttp://www.cdasiaonline.com/search/show_article/37976?search=date%3A%5B1954+1955%5D+AND+title%3A+(Cunanan)#footnotes


15/29

u/er of candidates 6ho passed43>u/er of candidates 6ho failed894u/er of those affected / Repu/lic Act o. 9233B+ercenta7e of successGper centH>3.14+ercenta7e of failureGper centHB2.8B+assin7 7radeGper centH25

August, )*2)oard o# E-a&inersD @on. ?uillero . +a/lo, )hairan, @on.

+astor M. !ndencia, Att. !nriue Altaas, @on. Manuel %i, @on. elipeatiidad, @on. Cicente Al/ert, Att. Arturo Alafri>u/er of candidates 6hose 7rades 6ere raised G24FsH1B>u/er of candidates 6ho passed1,25u/er of candidates 6ho failed1,>>u/er of those affected / Repu/lic Act o. 92343B+ercenta7e of successGper centHB3.32+ercenta7e of failureGper centH>2.2>+assin7 7radeGper centH25

August, )*25

oard o# E-a&inersD @on. ernando :u7o, )hairan, @on.+astor M. !ndencia, Att. !nriue Altaas, Att. rancisco Orti7as, :r.,@on. !ilio +eNa, Att. :ose #. de la )ru8.9B+assin7 7radeGper centH25

A list of petitioners for adission to the ar under Repu/lic Act o. 923, 7rouped/ the ears in 6hich the tooE the /ar eainations, 6ith annotations as to 6ho hadpresented otions for reconsideration 6hich 6ere denied GMR'H, and 6ho filed ereotions for reconsideration 6ithout inoEin7 said la6, 6hich are still pendin7, follo6sD

+!T(T(O!R# *'!R T@! AR %*J!R#F %A&)i.%andMerc.(nt.+ol.)ri.Re.%e7.?en. A.

MR'$1.A7unod, ileon %BB21B12B88>2>2521.4MR'$3.)unanan, Al/ino2B23242522B52321.45

>.Me0ia, laiano C.B4B4B5B88>24B88B9.85)*+1

MR'$4.Orlina, #oledad R.21B8BB25B>25288B9.9MR'$5.Ciero, Antonio %u.252>2>B5B>BBB58B9.95MR'$B.?atchalian, #alud23BB212528B8B5 5B9.B5

)*+*2.A/aa, :esus A.B9292525218955252.8

MR'$8.Adincula, 'aid '.2B8B38B8123BB52.59.A7raiador, Alfredo %.B>85222881B5821.8

1.Alacar, +ascual ).B1B>8>292185B5823.511.Ao7, +edro M.25BB2B288124558523.313.Apolinario, Mi7uel #.2584282822B2521.951>.Auino, Maio ?.832221222B22B252>.1514.Asinas, )andido '.258>B98818>558523.B515.aldiino, :ose .25B5238383B9B821.951B.alintona, ernardo258B42824B2B52212.ana6a, An7el %.282225818>BB23.>18.andala, Anacleto A.BB8BB219>23552B9.B19.andon, Ala6adin %.2429B922912>B82>.>53.auero, en0ain2B29B4228523B52523.531.lanco, :ose2525225222BB923.5

33.uenalu.)anda, en0ain #.252325832B22B5252>.5534.)anon, ?uillero228BB28825B92852>.935.)arlos, !stela #.25818129232>B522>.83B.)ereB92252>.9538.)laudio, )onrado O.2BB328222>23B221.439.)ondeillaar, Antonio C.B8B52488525B2521.B

MR'$>.)orne0o, )risanto R.2325B9838>29B582>.4

15


16/29

>1.)orona, Olido '.B82B2>818123B2521.15>3.'i2524B582>.1>>.!nriue.25>4.!spiritu, (reneo !..888B9252B22B5252>.8>5.ernande832B258184B52523.95>B.?allardo, Aando ).2829B2222B25BB52.95>2.?arcia, reidrich M.2B8BB25232B25B9.2>8.?arcia, :ulian %.B422B8838922B52523.15>9.?arcia, %eon Mo.228B218B83B52521.854.?arcia, +edro C.2B832>81248>B852>.B41.?arcia, #antia7o ).B39129252325B5821.843.?enoes, +edro258>228822B55823.24>.?on83B182B522>.B42.:esus, elipe '. de258>B2292885B2523.4548.:oco, :aco/o M.2222242224B455852.B549.:uares, icolas22845B2B2>83B8525.Jalalan7, Ree7ioB52524822B5852.>51.%auas, Cicente %.B284B52589BBB82.>

53.%eson, Aancio .B98>252B8125B5252>.155>.%i/anan, Marcelino218>B122881B58521.2554.%i, :ose !.2222232B23B4B5221.1555.%i, :ose .225B38>821B582.45B.%inao, Mariano M.BB842B28825B2521.2552.%ope.#ali7ua, )riso7ono '.29292428B9B5B5221.884.#aano, ortunato A.25842322283B2521.985.#antos, austina ).21B8B82B25855525B9.58B.#antos, :osefina R.B8B92B212283B52523.>82.#eludo, Ananias ?.258B9292283B5252>.3588.#eilia, Rafael (.B885558>8929B5821.3589.Telan, ?audencio2229225225B252.859.Tesorero, %eocadio T.2521B>2583B3B5B>B9.B591.Torre, Calentin #. de la8581212BB9B55522.493.Torres, Ariston %.28212381B18455852.49>.Cera, osio ). de2252129B58B582.B5

94.Ciado, :oseB2224252595582.295.Cillacarlos, 'elfin A.2>822183B9225852>.859B.Cillail, %eonor #.2>812B8B8B2>55852>.B92.a/ala, Aando A.2B2B2252B2BB252.B

)*23MR'$98.)ru.4

99.!spaNola, +a/lo #.2128552B85B9B59>2.31.oronda, )larencio :.B28B8298488B39>21.911.@echanoa, Cicente592B2525B9B8259B21.>

MR'$13.+eNalosa, Osias R.828B12BB122BB852.31>.#ariento, loro A. B58BB>838923B232.15

MR'$14.Torre, )atalino +.2585B828B9B2B5B92.3515.*n7son, ernando #.B18225252858>8323.8

)*2)1B.A/asolo, Roulo222B4B52B22BB421.212.Adea, 'aniel ?.255924B5B95128B22.418.A7uilar, Cicente .2>B>B8252B9252521.3519.Aodia, :uan T.252BBB252BB222B23.>5

MR'$11.ANosa, +a/lo #.2B28B>2524B1252921.B111.Antiola, Anastacio R. B82B25221281BB2>.5113.Auino, #. Re A.22121B24B32B2221.1

16


17/29

11>.Atien.85114.AanceNa, Alfonso2121B52522328821.8

MR'$115.alacuit, )ailo .252>25223B5252B2>.3511B.arina7a, :ereias %.B8B92>224582921.3

MR'$112.arrientos, A/rosio '.2BBB25524B>22B32.35MR'$118.enite23252823.3

119.iason, #ito .2>83B2B5BB2322B821.35MR'$13. riNas, (sa7ani, A.21B92422B53292321.95

131. uela, Arcadio +.2322B1221582921B9.25133.)a/ilao, %eonardo #.2>5252525B212921.3513>.)a/rera, (reneo M.25BB2B523812293.4134.)acacho, !ilio C.135.)alilun7, #oledad ).B42>2>82>522559B9.B5

MR'$13B.)alili, :ose .B42>2>82>522559B9.B5132.)alili, +edro .BB83B9BB9538>252138.)aello, #otero @.222B>B525BB84B421.55139.)apos, :uan A.2188225B4B921B32.151>.)astillo, Antonio del28282B29B2B92B23.B5

MR'$1>1.)astillo, 'oinador Ad.25B123252421B2BB21.1MR'$1>3.)astro, :esus .238B2325B5252B2123.85

1>>.)asu7a, ienenido .2523232B9B125B2.95

1>4.)a/an7/an7, #antia7o . 22B2B182>598>2B23.31>5.)ruB.'acana, !ufeio +.22>B32523B9852123.51>2.'esolon7, elis/ertoBBB323252B38>B32.85

MR'$1>8.'iaano, :r., :ose .2829B>252>2581592>.51>9.!spinosa, 'oin7o %.28B>5822B282B>21.B

MR'$14.arol, !encia ).828BB258123B32>23.35141.eli, )onrado #.212125B525825B92.25143.ernan, +a/lo %.B288BB852>B8282523.>514>.?andioco, #alador ?.B458BBB52B2892523.1144.?astardo, )rispin .2B9B82528BB8B232>.9145.?enson, An7elo .25522>B5B254285BB9.55

14B.?uiani, ?uinaid M.B8B25B524B2252221.5142.?uina, ?raciano +.BBB9B2B28538>B1B9.B

MR'$148.@oeres, +raedes +.2424252521B925212>.>5149.(/arra, Cenancio M.B2524224282521.915.(perial, Monico %.23282525235B83222>.2

MR'$151.(/asco, :r., !iliano M212B>8521B855>2.85153.(nandan, ortunato ).2222B2552>25295223.515>.:iene23B52B2>25B923.95155.%an7uido, )esar C.B>21B>852B185292.55

15B.%ailles, )esar %.B1925552>B>25282.55152.%lenos, rancisco *.B42B5B23B5932521.25158.%eon, Marcelo '. de B>2>B8525259223.25159.%lanto, +riscilla 23 B8 B52BB284B821.>51B.Macachor, Oscar B85928225225252.15

MR'$1B1.Ma7sino, !ncarnacion 22BB222B2125B123.35MR'$1B3.Mali7aa, 'eetrio M.2B125B5255915123.>1B>.Manio, ?re7orioB2B2B9821B225252.B51B4.+u.95MR'$1B8.Montero, %eode7ario ).2>B2BB881B581252>.25

1B9.Mon29B8B52>B9252923.3

MR'$121.aallo, )apistrano ).223B88581BB212423.1123.isce, )ailo .BBBB25B529B885B32>.5

MR'$12>.Ocapo, Antonio . de 25812BB524B225B92>.25124.Olaiar, :ose O.232B955BB222252.5

MR'$125.+ere83B923.9512B.+o7ado, )ausin O.2BBB5225B4252B9.95

122.Raos$alori, Manuela252>B3B5285925BB2.3128.)ecinto, (reneo (.2>2BB82524B885>23.>

MR'$129.Redor, ransisco, J.B3222>25B9B42BB92MR'$18.Re7is, 'eo7racias A.2B24B8B5B5B588252>.>5

181.Ri7or, !stelita ).B228B18212229B52.9MR'$183.Riorin$?ordo, !stela223B3B88BBB2292.15

18>.Rosario, +risco del2B422232>855223.B5184.Rosario, Cicente '. del2591B525B8B829B323.3185.#aaedra, elipe2>8B>252B2>B8B32.>518B.#ala25B2B822B92.85182.#ale, Roulo R.228123B52>B2B252>188.o19.#antos, Auilino23BBB9B5B82812121.2191.#antos, Caleriano C.2B2325B8B32B292>.1193.#uico, #auel2>292325215984B52>.>19>.#uson, Teodorico24B8BB8BB5929B22.>5194.Tado, lorentino +.B42BB2B52B232B5>B9.2195.Tapaan, 'oin7o A.B923B922B2>83292>.25

MR'$19B.Tiausas, Mi7uel C.B2B212529B284B23.2192.Torres, )arlos +.B8212122B>832121.B198.Tria, @ipolito B92325BB95428BB2.5

17


18/29

199.Celasco, Aelino A.B523252521B2282B23.13.Cilla, rancisco ).B582>25B829B5252.331.Cilla7on.A/acon, +a/lo252328812823B45523.2

MR+$34.A/ad, A7apito2>2B2>8525B>B3252.95MR+$35.A/ella, %udoico .2812B812BB225823.2MR+$3B.A/ellera, ?eronio .252929822B51B>2212MR+$32.A/eno0ar, A7apito .232884225B9223.9

38.Aland, 'oroteo R.B48>9>91B859BB21.339.Alano, a/ian T.28>B18>238223221.9

MR+$31.Alcantara, +a/lo C.21298812>223B32>.B5311.Arcan7el, A7ustin A7.2585212>2BB5B8B521.85313.Acosta, 'ionisio .258128825BB522223.8

MR+$31>.A/in7una, A7apito ).BB8588425582B252>.B5314.Adoe, eheias ).2B8B2822BB28B9B32>.55315.Adrias, (nocencio ).258>B1882BB229252>.431B.A7lu7u/, Andres R.258>2>8823B323B323.B5312.Andrada, Mariano %.2B85BB82B>2225222>

MR+$318.Aleda, #erafin C.23 232581B1B22>B52.25

319.Alonte$+eralta, elicidad2>21239125B2B55>2.2MR+$33.Alodia, :uan T.2529B885B3B4252821.4MR+$331.Antonio, elino A.212B818>29532322>.>MR+$333.Antonio, :ose #.25939B8B5B4B8B2>.25

33>.ANonueo, Raos .21822881B4B>242B23.2334.Auino, #. Re A.B2225228B92B98B2.2335.Arteche, iloeno '.288>5892B22222.8

MR+$33B.Arri/as, (saac M.25282812>2B22823.3MR+$332.A>.anta, :ose ".258228125B>21252>.95MR+$3>4. arrientos, A/rosio '.2B2B28B2B52812.23>5.atucan, :ose M.BB2B2888B32BB22821.33>B.autista, Atilano ).283848558B121B321.353>2.autista, )elso :.21B8B>828B28223.253>8.elderon, :ose 2B812B932BBB2B323.B5

MR+$3>9.elo, Cictor .2B22B42>25212B2B23.85MR+$34.e0ec, )onseso '.2982>83B>222552>.15

MR+$341.eltran, ?erasio M.2325812>25522582>.95MR+$343.enao0an, Ro/ustiano O.2484228425B>B8B323.85MR+$34>.eriNa, Ro7er ).282929B823B42821.85MR+$344.ihis, Marcelo M.258BB593B4B484252>.45MR+$345.inaoro, Cicente M.2>B9288>2>5928323.25MR+$34B.o/ila, Rosalio .2B8B2B8>B85921282>.5

342.uenafe, Aelina R.288252525523823.25348.ueno, Anastacio .2>28212821B221B21.15349.orres, Maiino %.B285B39123B>2B82.9

MR+$35.)a/e7in, )esar C.23212B2524221B23.3MR+$351.)a/ello, Melecio .23282889582B2212.5MR+$353.)a/rera, (rineo M.29885>912185252B2>.>

35>.)a/reros, +aulino .2129 8>84BB32152.85354.)alaa7, lorentino R.B929BB88B925B82B2.B

MR+$355.)al.2

MR+$352.)a/u7ao, +a/lo .2B82B9858B4282521.8358.)alaN7i, Mateo ).2>9>21822BBB9B321.8359.)anda, en0ain #.2321229B325BB8321.953B.)antoria,!uolo7io21821892552325213B1.)apacio, :r., )onradoB228219B52523B2.B5

3B3.)apitulo, Ale0andro +.2525>8228B>2B9121.3MR+$3B>.)alupitan, :r., Alfredo 259>812BB425B85B2>.15MR+$3B4.)alua, Arsenio C.258B282225322832>.9MR+$3B5.)apanilla, Mariano . ...82528222>21B>2B2>.B5MR+$3BB.)apos, :uan A. ...BB858>84B2B18522>.35

3B2.)ardoso, An7elita ?. ...28212>2B295BB9B21.83B8.)arta7ena, @erinio R. ....2123B589B42>8221.B5

MR+$3B9.)astro, 'aniel T.B525222B85B25B92>.1532.)aunta, ?audencio C.228232>22B9B4821.3321.)astro, +edro %. de2B8B9822B2523223.>5323.)erio, :uan A.2583258BB542B2521.2532>.)olorado, Alfonso R.B82582422BBB2823.B

324.)hae


19/29

383.)unanan, #alador .283B493B2252>2B21.4538>.)iafranca, A7ustin .212B2B822125212>.>5384.)risol, ?etulio R.2912885B8552152.8

MR+$385.'usi, elicisio R.2B83B983BBB382123.85MR+$38B.'atu, Alfredo :.225238B855B82921.5

382.'acua, %uis .21B2828>215B5221.35MR+$388.'e7ao, +edro R.2>883248B2B2522>.B5

389.'el7ado, Cicente .284838422532>523.B5

MR+$39.'iola8B2>5454252523.35391.'ionisio, :r., ?uillero2>84B489212825BB23.8

MR+$393.'ichoso, Al/erto M.21222181B925822>.B5MR+$39>.'ipasupil, )laudio R.22B832>292235B2>.9MR+$394.'el7ado, A/ner2584B>B2B4B223B8.>5MR+$395.'oin7o, 'oinador T.2B98183B8B>212523.3

39B.'ucusin, A7apito .228 5>882522B32BB8.5MR+$392.'uue, Antonio #.2522288B2B23B4252>.9

398.'uue, )astulo2582>8>BBB2B5BB2.B5399.!//ah, +ercial .28852BBBB>2B252>.95>.!disa, #ulpicioB522258925B325B523>1.!dradan, Rosa ).22584842159B98B2>.4

MR+$>3.!na7e, :acinto .BB2889>23B2B5252>.3MR+$>>.!ncarnacion, Alfonso .258B2>81B>22B92523.B5

>4.!ncarnacion, )esarB52858B8BBB42528B2.1>5.!stoista, A7ustin A.282B248B58B2222B21.2

MR+$>B.a/ros, :ose .BB25883821B222>.5MR+$>2.a0ardo, al/ino +22B9838>B5B25252>.9

>8.a0ardo, ?enaro +.22922292952>2523.5>9.!an7elita, elicidad +.25252382B>B>22223.15>1.ailara, Raundo .B825828>B4B5B8B521.85>11.ariNas, 'ionisio22889BBB5252523.25>13.aila, @ilario .218424225B22>5923.3

MR+$>1>.eliciano, Al/erto (.21B9285B98123223.35

MR+$>14.ernando, %ope .2>228B2922BB452>MR+$>15.lores, 'ionisio #.2823228>B2BB82>23.5MR+$>1B. ortich, en0ain .2832228B5B4252.>5MR+$>12.uente, :ose #. de la2B882324B2129292>.55

>18.ohantes, a19.u77an, %orenB23.85

>3.?a/ua, :esus #.28>838>2B>25B52>.25>31.?alan7, Cictor .B98>842B25221B21.95>33.?aerlan, Manuel %.2>82229B2B123252>.15

>3>.?ale, estor R.23298B28BB12522>.5>34.?allardo, :ose +e .25882525B>22B521.85

MR+$>35.?allos, )irilo .2288491851B5223.85>3B.?alindo, !ulalio '.28982B52821B3B32>.4>32.?alan, +atrocino ?.2323885215B25>21.15>38.?aalinda, )arlos #.2B29818BB2B>B95523.55>39.?a/oa, Antonio ?.21B22232BB25B82.95>>.?annod, :ose A.B982581B8B32>B821.35

MR+$>>1.?arcia, Matias .B22824929592BB523.8

MR+$>>3.?anete, )arelo258222832452B8812>.>>>>.?il/an7, ?audioso R.25B2883B252B422.5>>4.?ofredo, )laro ).B828238B285322B2.9>>5.?oeB9B32.85

MR+$>>B.?osiaoco, %oren8528B4B925423.>5MR+$>>2.?on>8.?racia, !ulalia %. deBBB89842259B9B52>.>

>>9.?ra7eda, :ose M. A.28523B22B2>2>2.25>4.?u.B

MR+$>41.?u23B9B882>.9>43.?u4>.?u44.@a/elito, ?eronio !.212B21822>BB255B9.B5>45.@edriana, aterno ?.25B8842BBB582BB23.9>4B.@ernande42.@oeres, A7ustin R.2>84B58B222B>2B2.2>48.(nes, %eonilo .B5882188222>B122.55>49.:aer, Alipio #.B8258>898B1B5523

MR+$>5.(/asco, :r., !iliano M.25B5B8852B28>542>.8MR+$>51.:ardinico, :r., !ilio2>8B232883B2B2B423.8MR+$>53.:aen, :ustiniano .2B25288421BB2222>.85

>5>. :arin7, Antonio #.232229223522152.25MR+$>54.:aier, Auilino M.2584292822B1BBBB2>.5

>55.:ouad, rancisco2525238828582B24>5B.:ose, estor %.28B1B42>B82BB48B9.2>52.%a O, :ose M.252125232B281592>.5>58.%eon, ri7ido ). deB2252893285123823.55>59.%eones, )onstante .B88129842>B22B2>>B.%i/oro, @oracio T.23B98822>B32B123.4>B1.%lanera, )esar %.2281828B45925B>2>>B3.%oontod, :ose +.252BB922>2B24252>.3>B>.%una, %ucito225B98>595>2425B8.4

19


20/29

MR+$>B4.%u.95MR+$>B5.Macasaet, Toas #.2>81238>BB2523223.5

>BB.Ma7/ira, ?odofredo C.8B2842B2B3B5B82>.5>B2.Ma0arias, Rodolfo +2B3B4838825212923.85

MR+$>B8.MaEa/enta, !duardo259228>592123282>.>MR+$>B9.Malapit, :ustiniano #.248>248958B232B21.1

>2.Maloles, (luinado M.2822>2B2252B2B23.>>21.Maniuis, 'aniel R.2582>91B921B5223.1>23.MaraNa, ArsenioB529B232>51258BB2.9

>2>.Marasi7an, apoleon25218>25B9B3B9223.25MR+$>24.Marco, :aie +.25B2242BB425255221.9MR+$>25.Martir, Osundo +.28B2B282321255>23.95MR+$>2B.Masanca, Aando !.2>8225222352882>.3MR+$>22.Mati$on7, (7nacio T.B38223292>2BB92221.>

>28.Mara, ?uillero %.228288925B2BBB523.>5MR+$>29.Mercado, elipe A.2>2283832853B9852>.9MR+$>8.Miculo/, !u7enio +.2832>8B225329B523.8

>81.Mison, Rafael M. : r.,29282>2521B8B95>21.95MR+$>83.Monpon/anua, Antonio '.2929B888B428B98>2>.1MR+$>8>.Montero, %eode7ario ).2389B9892B822523.15

>84.Morada, #erillano #.252BB221B5BB252B2.9

>85.Morocco, ?eneroso28842884B2>B822>MR+$>8B.Mosuera, !stanislao %.25282585235522BB2>.15

>82.Motus, Rodentor +.82829423252522>.25>88.Macario, +edro R.2B2248B28B>23BB23.15

MR+$>89.adela, ?eredion T.23B4B4812>52525B9.15MR+$>9.a91.ieto, enedicto #.B929222223B32B2B23.9MR+$>93.o7uera, Raundo218B8182>5B2322>.15MR+$>9>.odado, 'oiciano R. 22B92>52>2B423B>.B

>94.ono, +acifico ?.B22228B22559212B21.>5MR+$>95.ual, Manuel R.2823B2923B828B22>.B5

>9B.Ocapo, Au7usto2592223B955B5B2B.2

>92.Olieros, Aado A.2325B823845252921.9>98.OpiNa, :r., +edro2B2224B22>BBB8221.85

MR+$>99. Olaiar, :ose O.2B38581245B82921.8MR+$4.Olandesca, +er O.2912B8223BB2292>.45

41.Orden, Apolonio :.23B5848BBB523B821.4543.Orti.+a/lo, edelino #.23B42B8B23B12B2523.9544.+acifico, Cicente C.2B29B982B5323821.95

MR+$45.+aderna, +erfecto '.25B92325285825223.B

4B.+adlan, )rispin M.21BB2B29B8B224BB21.B542.+adilla, :ose ).2B5B283282528252>.>48.+adilla, :r., !stanislao !.2188288B592528523.95

MR+$49.+ala, artoloeB2818832125B9252>.35MR+$41.+apa, An7el A.252385852259B>212>.45MR+$411.+arano, Mario C.21882489B9BB2B2>2>.B5

413.+ariNa, #antos %.2828522B4B2B>2B21.85MR+$41>.+asion, AnastacioB>8B88183292B5823.55

414.+astrana, Ri228>21.B5

MR+$415.+aulin, :ose O.2BB882255B582.9MR+$41B.+elae8>B921B8B52>.3

412.+eNa, :esus252525B3252BBB2.4418.+ere.3

MR+$43. +ido, #erafin ).22812383B921B2521.15431.+inlac, ileonB22B248BB529B5232.55433.+o/lete, )elso .2329832BBBB424523.15

MR+$43>.+iBB542.55439.Raire82B3B325821.B5

MR+$4>.RaffiNan, :ose A.88>2929B323B8B52>.35MR+$4>1.Raos, +atricio #.25822B252323B12523.35MR+$4>3.Raos$alori, Manuela28842B948258B52>.45MR+$4>>.Raro, )elso25812BB22522552221.4MR+$4>4.Raos, Cictor #.258B299121B2B222>.9

4>5.Reilla, Mariano #.2528819254B9812>.>54>B.Rees, A/don %.23B481282B2>B95>23.854>2.Rees, 'oin7o .2382288>2325B3223.2>8.Rees, rancisco M.258584B82521B852>.9

4>9Rees, %o.>5MR+$44.Rees, Oscar R.252583832BB4B8B2>.B5

441.Ri7onan, )esar C.2185B58B2522B223.2443. Riera, @onorio215B2921B5252121.3

MR+$44>. Riero, uenaentura A.23882394B82>BB823.BMR+$444. Ro/les, !nriue2522252283B4B922>.2

445.Rodri7ueB922B52823.3544B.Roldan, :ose C.B28298>2>212522>.9442.Rosario, Adelaida R. del825B52B823822>.1548.Rosario, Restituto . del2525299B8B5BBB>23.1

20


21/29

MR+$449.#a/elino, )onrado #.2181B925222125223.9545.#an :uan, 'aaso228B2389592BB52321.B451.#aNiel, eli %.239>2B8B225BBB323.1453.#aanie7o, :esus .2582B23BB2B822.B

MR+$45>.#andoal, !anuel M.258>28>22B222B2>.95MR+$454.#anidad, !anuel K.2125819B3B42BB823.95

455.#antia7o, :r., )risto/al252B849>B>B559221.845B.#antillan, :uanito %l2B898>8>B>58B55321.35

MR+$452.#antos, Rodolfo ).252528832>2BBB22>.2

MR+$458.#antos, Ruperto M.B254B92BB>B421BBB.25MR+$459.#antos, Auilino ).23212>292>2921852>.8MR+$4B.#antos, Rufino A.258129852423BB542>.>

4B1.#uandin7, antas25B2B29329592B2B2>.1MR+$4B3.#ulit, eli< M.2B292B282325B8B22>.5

4B>.#on7co, elicisio, ?.2B88384BB92BB52>.>54B4.#oriano, Aniceto #.B42922885>2B52.24B5.#uare.85485.Ce7a, Macairo7 %. de28B329822221B52>.8

MR+$48B. Celasco, !anuel '.2182485BBB2B2B21.85482.Cele28985B523B221.5

MR+$488.Cenal, Arteio C.289158B22B55252>2>.B5489.Cenus, )onrado .B9812485B3BB232222.5

MR+$49.Cer22BB4B425B521.3MR+$493.Cillanuea, )ecilio ).25852988BB22B222>.95

49>.Cillar, )ustodio R.2>B92882BBBB952.25MR+$494.CillaseNor, %eonidas .885B222B3252B2>2>.15

495.Citer/o, :ose @.822B59>2B5B5B52.B549B."aranon, +edro2222B85235252521.85

MR+$492."asa, Mariano R.2525232BB>222B21.1MR+$498."7a, Cenancio M.2>88>84B359232223.B5

499."ulo, :r., Teodoro2>832825B81252B2>.955.aora, Al/erto2B52B29B322B98321.>51.Ri7onan, elipe ).229B9892BB321B421.3

A list of those 6ho petitioned for the consolidation of their 7rades in su/0ectspassed in preious eainations, sho6in7 the ears in 6hich the tooE the eainationsto7ether 6ith their 7rades and aera7es, and those 6ho had filed otions forreconsideration 6hich 6ere denied, indicated / the initials MR', follo6sD

+!T(T(O!R# *'!R R!+*%() A)T O. 923)i.%andMerc.(nt.+ol.)ri.Re.%e7.?en.Ae.1.Aao, #ulpicio M.

194BB8B22B2B2>2>49 5BB.5195598B222B382152B2.43.aldo, Ole7ario ?a.1951B52B585559B>2523B4.91953B5B8258423592>52B9.25195>5224B8B82B53212BBB.2>.lanco ,:ose .MR'$19492525225222BB923.151951B42158B5B822521BB.954.)ondeno, Mateo195218B32525815593B9.>19512BB1B522B2B4B281B2.85

5.'ucusin, A7apito .MR'$1949B922B2>2B2155BB8.B5195B2155B2B2255B89B>.1B.?arcia, Manuel .MR'$1949B283292B9B8B9.3519552B551B954855B84B.>2.%una, %ucito A.194BB>5>B92B252B52B9BB.551953225B98>595>2425B8.48.MaraNa, Arsenio #.

21


22/29

194923B8B8252523B25B9.>51953B529B232>51258BB2.99.Montano, Manuel M.1951B1B58B2B>25B4B4.81953222B529BB5325BB.4195>28B4BBB881521282.B51.+eNa, :esus #.1953525452545534B214B.3195124B1B3B5B9B52552B8.31953252525B3252BBB2.4

11.+lacido, #r., (sidro195B828225B9258B9B2.251951B5B325B2>522521BB.813.ReentiB8B2585B25B4B5.21>.Riera, !ulo7io :.1953B2851B9B9222>5>BB.>5195>B5B2282425B3B982.914.Rodulfa, :uan T.1951B2B2B5B85B25BBB2.251953221B228B2252122.1

15.#anche9B983252B23555B>.5MR'$1949B25BB9252322B25B8195125955BB85228B2B5.81B.#antos, )onstantino1953B32B54832322BBB5BB.B5195>2>212B528B4B5282.412.#antos, #alador @.1951BB4552B853225B3.85195325B42812B55B125B9.1195>22129B52354BB8218.#eilla, Macario ).MR'$19485B42BBBBBB9B53B>.1

MR'$194942BB28B4218BB585B8195>5B5425B>52342945MR'$1951B8592355B9B52525B9.>195>22>242815BB92121.5.

inall, 6ith re7ards to the eainations of 195>, 6hile soe candidates - 85 inall - presented otions for reconsideration of their 7rades, others inoEed the proisionsof Repu/lic Act o. 923. A list of those candidates separatin7 those 6ho filed ere otionsfor reconsideration G5BH fro those 6ho inoEed the aforesaid Repu/lic Act, is as follo6sD

195> +!T(T(O!R# OR R!)O#('!RAT(O.)i.%andMerc.(nt.+ol.)ri.Re.%e7.1.Acenas, )alito R.2>2B8B38351B2222>.453.Alcantara, +edro .B222585825421823.8>.Ale0andro, !euielB223212582B25222>.44.Andres, ?re7orio M.22>8B58295212823.25.Arnai.4B.Asis, loriano *. deBB28258122552>B921.352.acaiso, )elestino M.21B52BB82B52522.95

8.ala, lorencio .B48342283582583B29.aldo, Ole7ario A.B224B8B82B5322BBB.21.arrios, en0ain O.B5212B258B38>2>2>.9511.uha, !duardo %.2>2B21912BB124282>.>513.ur7os, 'oinador ).23889B1BB>2B9B82.51>.)ariNo, !ldo :.2981B2524242B242>14.)asar, 'iapuro B22>842922B121242>.>515.)astaNeda, ?re7orio22>8212522>282>.951B.!strellado, en0ain R.B229B42>83B321242.312.a/unan, !dil/erto ).223B8B922B2B2421.118.eril, 'oin7o .252184B52BB5221.B19.ernandeB1823.8

3.?apus, Rosita #. GMissH 2B88B22B424BBB92>.931.?arcia, Rafael .28B2252>B>2>2521.B533.?racia, Mi7uel %. de2>B825598512321213>.?un7on, Arando ?.B82B2B842252228>2>.B34.?utierre.23B.%eon, en0ain %a. deBBBB252225521832.>532.%u7tu, elipe %.B3228B5285BB981B9.938.%uEan, A/dul$@aid2BB4B2B92>592>252.4539.Maloles, :r., en0ain ?.222BB8B8215125282.85>.Maloles, :ulius ?.2221B2129B3B823B9.25>1.Mandi, #antia7o +.B52B2B129B8252321.1

>3.Mar7ete, Rufino ).22BBB25852>212523.25>>.Melocoton, estorio .2812>288>53232523.>5>4.Molina, Manuel ).25282B125B>BB852.95>5.MuNo.25>B.aarro, uenaentura M.825B5258>552>292>>2.odado, 'oiciano R.BB2B25255B25B1.2>8.+apas, #isenando .B5B321B125BBBB2BB>9.+a7ulaan$#, ernandoB>2521B38>B22232.44.+adula, en0ain ).22254B3242825B8B9.541.+asno, !nriue M.2823BB5421582328B9.85

22


23/29

43.+eNa, :r., arciso2958128B2BBB22>23.554>.+eralta, Rodolfo +.225381B8B>59B9B>.244.+i7ar, %eopoldo R.2B2528B1232321292>.2545.+u/lico, +aciano %.B8B92B2B25924B22.B4B.Rada8153BB82.148.Ra/aino, Andres '.B823252>2855B92B2.B549.Raanera, Oscar . 22282183B3B9282>.B5.Renoilla, :ose M.B5258B82953B328B9.5

51.#a/aot, #oloon .B92>8B983B9B9292>.8553.#ua6a, Ricardo #.BB2BB92B245B23B8B9.15>.Torrefiel, #ofronio O.22224252>5B823B9.5554.Cera, ederico C. deBB14222B95B222B.955.Cira, Cenancio ustos B5B2B2532>B421B5B2.155B."laa, An7ela +. GMissH B>25B25B854222B4.5+!T(T(O!R# *'!R R!+*%() A)T. O. 9231.Ala, arciso2212>592>2481222>.53.Alcantara, +edro .B222585825421823.8>.Arellano, Antonio %.24BB2>B28B>282323.94.uha, !duardo %.2>2B21912BB124282>.>55.)alautit, )elestino R.2128842525B1B8232>.3

B.)asuncad, #ulio +.B12>83B981B821842>.52.!nriue.>511.i7ueroa, Alfredo A.2258228255B8B823.>13.orille512252>.351>.?arcia, Manuel M.B9B88>8>2>B3B322114.?rospe, Cicente !.B8B528BB29B1B98321.B15.?alea, estor R. G1953H23298B28BB12522>.51B.:aco/o, Rafael .2B2B25242B5232B23.>12.Macalindon7, Reinerio %.B22229292423B82223.25

18Man7u/at, Antonio M.2228B1824B3221.4519.Montano, Manuel M.28B4BBB881521282.B53.+loantes, Marcos2>B22458B822B2121.B31.Raos, !u7enio R.282BB223B9232923.B33.Rees, :uan R.212>222B815923242>.33>.Rees, #antia7o R.B5288>B2B252223.934.Riera, !ulo7io :. B5B2282425B3B982.935.#antos, )onstantino +.2>212B528B4B5282.43B.#antos, #alador @.22129B52354BB8232.#eilla, Macario ).22>242815BB92121.5

38.Cillaicencio, :ose A. ..... 28252B2B922B4222>.339.Cira, Ruperto ?.2B2>2B2>858B88>2>.35

These are the unsuccessful candidates totalin7 B4 directl affected / thisresolution. Addin7 49 candidates 6ho hae not presented an petition, the reach a totalof 1,94.

6"e Enact&ent o# Repu!lic Act o. */4

As 6ill /e o/sered fro Anne (, this )ourt reduced to 23 per cent the passin77eneral aera7e in the /ar eaination of Au7ust and oe/er of 194B; B9 per cent in1942; 2 per cent in 1948; 24 per cent in 1949; aintainin7 the prescri/ed 25 per centsince 195, /ut raisin7 to 25 per cent those 6ho o/tained 24 per cent since 195. Thiscaused the introduction in 1951, in the #enate of the +hilippines of ill o. 13 6hich 6asintended to aend #ections 5, 9, 13, 14 and 1B of Rule 132 of the Rules of )ourt,concernin7 the adission of attornes$at$la6 to the practice of the profession. Theaendents e/race an interestin7 atters, /ut those referrin7 to sections 14 and 1Biediatel concern us. The proposed aendent is as follo6sD

=#!). 14.%assing a$erage.- (n order that a candidate a /e

deeed to hae passed the eainations successfull, he ust hae

o/tained a 7eneral aera7e of 2 per cent 6ithout fallin7 /elo6 5 percent in an su/0ect. (n deterinin7 the aera7e, the fore7oin7 su/0ectsshall /e 7ien the follo6in7 relatie 6ei7htsD )iil %a6, 3 per cent; %andRe7istration and Mort7a7es, 5 per cent; Mercantile %a6, 15 per cent;)riinal %a6, 1 per cent; +olitical %a6, 1 per cent; (nternational %a6, 5per cent; Reedial %a6, 3 per cent; %e7al !thics and +ractical!ercises, 5 per cent; #ocial %e7islation, 5 per cent; Taation, 5 per cent.*nsuccessful candidates shall not /e reuired to taEe anothereaination in an su/0ect in 6hich the hae o/tained a ratin7 of 2 percent or hi7her and such ratin7 shall /e taEen into account in deterinin7their 7eneral aera7e in an su/seuent eainationsD %ro$ided,"owe$er,That if the candidate fails to 7et a 7eneral aera7e of 2 per cent

in his third eaination, he shall lose the /enefit of hain7 alread passedsoe su/0ects and shall /e reuired to the eaination in all the su/0ects.

=#!). 1B.Ad&ission and oat" o# success#ul applicants.- Anapplicant 6ho has o/tained a 7eneral aera7e of 2 per cent in allsu/0ects 6ithout fallin7 /elo6 5 per cent in an eaination held after the4th da of :ul, 194B, or 6ho has /een other6ise found to /e entitled toadission to the /ar, shall /e allo6ed to taEe and su/scri/e /efore the#upree )ourt the correspondin7 oath of office.GArts. 4 and 5, 8, o. 13H.

23


24/29

&ith the /ill 6as an !planator ote, the portion pertinent to the atter /eforeus /ein7D

=(t sees to /e unfair that unsuccessful candidates at /areainations should /e copelled to repeat een those su/0ects 6hichthe hae preiousl passed. This is not the case in an other 7oernenteaination. The Rules of )ourt hae therefore /een aended in thiseasure to 7ie a candidate due credit for an su/0ect 6hich he haspreiousl passed 6ith a ratin7 of 25 per cent or hi7her.=

#enate ill o. 13 hain7 /een approed / )on7ress on Ma >, 1951, the+resident reuested the coents of this Tri/unal /efore actin7 on the sae. Thecoent 6as si7ned / seen :ustices 6hile three chose to refrain fro aEin7 an andone tooE no part. &ith re7ards to the atter that interests us, the )ourt saidD

=The net aendent is of section 14 of Rule 132. One part ofthis aendent proides that if a /ar candidate o/tains 2 per cent orhi7her in an su/0ect, althou7h failin7 to pass the eaination, he neednot /e eained in said su/0ect in his net eaination. This is a sort ofpassin7 the ar !aination on the installent plan, one or t6o or threesu/0ects at a tie. The trou/le 6ith this proposed sste is that althou7h

it aEes it easier and ore conenient for the candidate /ecause he ain an eaination prepare hiself on onl one or t6o su/0ects so as toinsure passin7 the, / the tie that he has passed the last reuiredsu/0ect, 6hich a /e seeral ears a6a fro the tie that he reie6edand passed the first su/0ects, he shall hae for7otten the principles andtheories contained in those su/0ects and ree/ers onl those of the oneor t6o su/0ects that he had last reie6ed and passed. This is hi7hlpossi/le /ecause there is nothin7 in the la6 6hich reuires a candidate tocontinue taEin7 the ar eainations eer ear in succession. The onlcondition iposed is that a candidate, on this plan, ust pass theeaination in no ore than three installents; /ut there is no liitationas to the tie or nu/er of ears interenin7 /et6een each eaination

taEen. This 6ould defeat the o/0ect and the reuireents of the la6 andthe )ourt in adittin7 persons to the practice of la6. &hen a person is soaditted, it is to /e presued and presupposed that he possesses theEno6led7e and proficienc in the la6 and the Eno6led7e of all la6su/0ects reuired in /ar eainations, so as presentl to /e a/le topractice the le7al profession and adeuatel render the le7al sericereuired / prospectie clients. ut this 6ould not hold true of thecandidates 6ho a hae o/tained a passin7 7rade on an fie su/0ectsei7ht ears a7o, another three su/0ects one ear later, and the last t6osu/0ects the present ear. &e /eliee that the present sste of reuirin7

a candidate to o/tain a passin7 7eneral aera7e 6ith no 7rade in ansu/0ect /elo6 5 per cent is ore desira/le and satisfactor. (t reuiresone to /e all around, and prepared in al l reuired le7al su/0ects at the tieof adission to the practice of la6.

.=&e no6 coe to the last aendent, that of section 1B of Rule

132. This aendent proides that an applicant 6ho has o/tained a7eneral aera7e of 2 per cent in all su/0ects 6ithout failin7 /elo6 5 per

cent in an su/0ect in an eaination held after the 4th da of :ul, 194B,shall /e allo6ed to taEe and su/scri/e the correspondin7 oath of office. (nother 6ords, ar candidates 6ho o/tained not less than 2 per cent in aneaination since the ear 194B 6ithout failin7 /elo6 5 per cent in ansu/0ect, despite their non$adission to the ar / the #upree )ourt/ecause the failed to o/tain a passin7 7eneral aera7e in an of thoseears, 6ill /e aditted to the ar. This proision is not onl prospectie/ut retroactie in its effects.

=&e hae alread stated in our coent on the net precedin7aendent that 6e are not eactl in faor of reducin7 the passin77eneral aera7e fro 25 per cent to 2 per cent to 7oern een in the

future. As to the alidit of aEin7 such reduction retroactie, 6e haeserious le7al dou/ts. &e should not lose si7ht of the fact that after eer/ar eainations, the #upree )ourt passes the correspondin7resolution not onl adittin7 to the ar those 6ho hae o/tained apassin7 7eneral aera7e 7rade, /ut also re0ectin7 and denin7 thepetitions for reconsideration of those 6ho hae failed. The presentaendent 6ould hae the effect of repudiatin7, reersin7 and reoEin7the #upree )ourtFs resolution denin7 and re0ectin7 the petitions ofthose 6ho a hae o/tained an aera7e of 2 per cent or ore /ut lessthan the 7eneral passin7 aera7e fied for that ear. (t is clear that thisuestion inoles le7al iplications, and this phase of the aendent iffinall enacted into la6 i7ht hae to 7o thru a le7al test. As one e/er

of the )ourt rearEed durin7 the discussion, 6hen a court renders adecision or proul7ate a resolution or order on the /asis of and inaccordance 6ith a certain la6 or rule then in force, the su/seuentaendent or een repeal of said la6 or rule a not affect the finaldecision, order, or resolution alread proul7ated, in the sense ofreoEin7 or renderin7 it oid and of no effect.

=Another aspect of this uestion to /e considered is the fact thate/ers of the /ar are officers of the courts, includin7 the #upree)ourt. &hen a ar candidate is aditted to the ar, the #upree )ourt

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IN Re Cunana 93

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