Tatad, Imbong and Mirupuri

8/19/2019 Tatad, Imbong and Mirupuri

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Tatad v. Secretary of EnergyG.R. No. 124360 | November 5, 1!| ". #$no

Facts

T%e con&o'(dated )et(t(on& a&&a(' t%e con&t(t$t(ona'(ty of var(o$& )rov(&(on& of R* +1+0 ent(t'ed t%e -on&tream /(' nd$&try-ereg$'at(on *ct of 16. nder t%e dereg$'ated

env(ronment, any )er&on or ent(ty may (m)ort or )$rc%a&e any$ant(ty of cr$de o(' and )etro'e$m )rod$ct& from a fore(gn or

dome&t(c &o$rce, 'ea&e or on and o)erate ref(ner(e& and ot%er

don&tream o(' fac('(t(e& and maret &$c% cr$de o(' or $&e t%e&ame for %(& on re$(rement, &$bect on'y to mon(tor(ng by

t%e -e)artment of Energy.

Issue/s

(r&t, t%at t%e (m)o&(t(on of d(fferent tar(ff rate& on (m)orted

cr$de o(' and (m)orted ref(ned )etro'e$m )rod$ct& v(o'ate& t%ee$a' )rotect(on c'a$&e. #et(t(oner contend& t%at t%e 378!7

tar(ff d(fferent(a' $nd$'y favor& t%e t%ree e9(&t(ng o(' ref(ner(e&

and d(&cr(m(nate& aga(n&t )ro&)ect(ve (nve&tor& (n t%edon&tream o(' (nd$&try %o do not %ave t%e(r on ref(ner(e&

and ('' %ave to &o$rce ref(ned )etro'e$m )rod$ct& fromabroad.

Second, t%at t%e (m)o&(t(on of d(fferent tar(ff rate& doe& notdereg$'ate t%e don&tream o(' (nd$&try b$t (n&tead contro'& t%e

o(' (nd$&try, contrary to t%e avoed )o'(cy of t%e 'a.#et(t(oner aver& t%at t%e tar(ff d(fferent(a' beteen (m)orted

cr$de o(' and (m)orted ref(ned )etro'e$m )rod$ct& bar& t%e

entry of ot%er )'ayer& (n t%e o(' (nd$&try beca$&e (t effect(ve'y )rotect& t%e (ntere&t of o(' com)an(e& (t% e9(&t(ng ref(ner(e&.

T%$&, (t r$n& co$nter to t%e obect(ve of t%e 'a :to fo&ter atr$'y com)et(t(ve maret.:

T%(rd, %et%er )redatory )r(ce& (m)o&ed &$b&tant(a' barr(er& to t%e

entry and e9(t of ne )'ayer& (n o$r don&tream o(' (nd$&try. f t%ey do,t%ey %ave to be &tr$c don for t%ey ('' nece&&ar('y (n%(b(t t%e

format(on of a tr$'y com)et(t(ve maret. ;ontrar((&e, (f t%ey are

(n&(gn(f(cant (m)ed(ment&, t%ey need not be &tr(cen don.

Ratio.

8ncon&t(t$t(ona' in toto

n t%e ca&e& at bar, (t cannot be den(ed t%at o$r don&tream o('

(nd$&try (& o)erated and contro''ed by an o'(go)o'y, a fore(gn

o'(go)o'y at t%at. #etron, S%e'' and ;a'te9 &tand a& t%e on'ymaor 'eag$e )'ayer& (n t%e o(' maret. *'' ot%er )'ayer& be'ong

to t%e '(''()$t(an 'eag$e. *& t%e dom(nant )'ayer&, #etron, S%e''and ;a'te9 boa&t of e9(&t(ng ref(ner(e& of var(o$& ca)ac(t(e&.

8 As to the Tariff Differential:

T%e tar(ff d(fferent(a' of 47 t%erefore or& to t%e(r (mmen&e benef(t.


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attract ne )'ayer& and t%ey cannot be attracted by b$rden(ngt%em (t% %eavy d(&(ncent(ve&. >(t%o$t ne )'ayer& be'ong(ng

to t%e 'eag$e of #etron, S%e'' and ;a'te9, com)et(t(on (n o$r

don&tream o(' (nd$&try (& an (d'e dream.

8 As to the Inventory Requirement

T%e )rov(&(on on (nventory (den& t%e ba'ance of advantage of

#etron, S%e'' and ;a'te9 aga(n&t )ro&)ect(ve ne )'ayer&.#etron, S%e'' and ;a'te9 can ea&('y com)'y (t% t%e (nventory

re$(rement of R.*. No. +1+0 (n v(e of t%e(r e9(&t(ng &toragefac('(t(e&. #ro&)ect(ve com)et(tor& aga(n ('' f(nd com)'(ance

(t% t%(& re$(rement d(ff(c$'t a& (t ('' enta(' a )ro%(b(t(ve

co&t. T%e con&tr$ct(on co&t of &torage fac('(t(e& and t%e co&t of

(nventory can t%$& &care )ro&)ect(ve )'ayer&. T%e(r net effect (&to f$rt%er occ'$de t%e entry )o(nt& of ne )'ayer&, dam)encom)et(t(on and en%ance t%e contro' of t%e maret by t%e t%ree

?3@ e9(&t(ng o(' com)an(e&.

8 As to the Predatory Pricing Provision

(na''y, e come to t%e )rov(&(on on )redatory )r(c(ng %(c% (&def(ned a& :. . . &e''(ng or offer(ng to &e'' any )rod$ct at a )r(ce

$nrea&onab'y be'o t%e (nd$&try average co&t &o a& to attract

c$&tomer& to t%e detr(ment of com)et(tor&.: Re&)ondent&contend t%at t%(& )rov(&(on or& aga(n&t #etron, S%e'' and

;a'te9 and )rotect& ne entrant&. T%e ban on )redatory )r(c(ngcannot be ana'y=ed (n (&o'at(on. t& va'(d(ty (& (nter'oced (t%

t%e barr(er& (m)o&ed by R.*. No. +1+0 on t%e entry of ne )'ayer&. T%e (n$(ry &%o$'d be to determ(ne %et%er )redatory

)r(c(ng on t%e )art of t%e dom(nant o(' com)an(e& (&enco$raged by t%e )rov(&(on& (n t%e 'a b'oc(ng t%e entry of

ne )'ayer&. ;on&(der(ng t%e&e &(gn(f(cant barr(er& e&tab'(&%ed

by R.*. No. +1+0 and t%e 'ac of )'ayer& (t% t%e com)arab'ec'o$t of #ETR/N, SAEBB and ;*BTEC, t%e tem)tat(on for a

dom(nant )'ayer to engage (n )redatory )r(c(ng and &$cceed (&

a c%(''(ng rea'(ty. #et(t(oner&D c%arge t%at t%(& )rov(&(on on

)redatory )r(c(ng (& ant(8com)et(t(ve (& not (t%o$t rea&on.

Analysis

In this case, the Supreme Court clearly decided theconstitutionality of the three challenged provisions purely on

the potential effect these could have on the economy This is

important, !ecause it can !e seen that the arguments raised !ythe court are purely speculative, and not !ased on findings of

evidentiary value Although the plain te"t of the case does not

outright state it, #hat the Supreme Court actually did #asdra# !ehavioral assumptions similar to those used ineconomic analysis in order to conclude that the !ig players

#ere going to engage in violations as a matter of certainty

To emphasi$e, the case dre# the follo#ing !ehavioral

assumptions: %irst, that ne# players #ill not enter the mar&et if there are high costs to entry due to the need to construct

facilities for maintaining an inventory Second, that a higher

tariff rate #ill automatically favor the large players, #ho have

e"isting refineries in the country, and third, that the large players #ill surely succeed if they engage in predatory pricing

As can !e seen, these assumptions, #hile seemingly

reasona!le, may not actually !e !orne out !y actual evidenceor #hat may occur in reality To stri&e do#n these provisions

on unfounded speculation, #as, to my mind, an a!use of discretion on the part of the court


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(r$)$r( v. ;o$rt of *))ea'&G.R. No. 11450+ | November 1, 1| ". #$no

Facts

T%e ;onvent(on of #ar(& for t%e #rotect(on of nd$&tr(a'#ro)erty (& a m$'t(8'atera' treaty %(c% t%e #%('())(ne& bo$nd(t&e'f to %onor and enforce (n t%(& co$ntry. *& to %et%er or not

t%e treaty afford& )rotect(on to a fore(gn cor)orat(on aga(n&t a#%('())(ne a))'(cant for t%e reg(&trat(on of a &(m('ar trademar

(& t%e )r(nc()a' (&&$e (n t%(& ca&e.

/n "$ne 15, 1!0, one Bo'(ta E&cobar, t%e )redece&&or8(n8(ntere&t of )et(t(oner #r(b%da& ". (r)$r(, f('ed an a))'(cat(on

(t% t%e F$rea$ of #atent& for t%e reg(&trat(on of t%e trademar

:Farb(=on: for $&e (n bra&&(ere& and 'ad(e&$ndergarment&. E&cobar a''eged t%at &%e %ad been

man$fact$r(ng and &e''(ng t%e&e )rod$ct& $nder t%e f(rm name:B F ;ommerc(a': &(nce arc% 3, 1!0.

#r(vate re&)ondent Farb(=on ;or)orat(on, a cor)orat(onorgan(=ed and do(ng b$&(ne&& $nder t%e 'a& of Ne


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man$fact$rer or merc%ant to (dent(fy %(& good& and d(&t(ng$(&%t%em from t%o&e man$fact$red, &o'd or dea't (n by ot%er&.: T%(&

def(n(t(on %a& been &(m)'(f(ed (n R.*. No. +23, t%e nte''ect$a'

#ro)erty ;ode of t%e #%('())(ne&, %(c% def(ne& a :trademar:

a& :any v(&(b'e &(gn ca)ab'e of d(&t(ng$(&%(ng good&.: n#%('())(ne $r(&)r$dence, t%e f$nct(on of a trademar (& to )o(nto$t d(&t(nct'y t%e or(g(n or oner&%() of t%e good& to %(c% (t (&

aff(9edK to &ec$re to %(m, %o %a& been (n&tr$menta' (n br(ng(ng (nto t%e maret a &$)er(or art(c'e of merc%and(&e, t%e

fr$(t of %(& (nd$&try and &(''K to a&&$re t%e )$b'(c t%at t%ey are

)roc$r(ng t%e gen$(ne art(c'eK to )revent fra$d and (m)o&(t(onKand to )rotect t%e man$fact$rer aga(n&t &$b&t(t$t(on and &a'e of

an (nfer(or and d(fferent art(c'e a& %(& )rod$ct

Today, t%e trademar (& not mere'y a &ymbo' of or(g(n andgood(''K (t (& often t%e mo&t effect(ve agent for t%e act$a'creat(on and )rotect(on of good(''. t (m)r(nt& $)on t%e )$b'(c

m(nd an anonymo$& and (m)er&ona' g$aranty of &at(&fact(on,creat(ng a de&(re for f$rt%er &at(&fact(on. n ot%er ord&, t%e

mar act$a''y &e''& t%e good&. T%e mar %a& become t%e :&('ent&a'e&man,: t%e cond$(t t%ro$g% %(c% d(rect contact beteen

t%e trademar oner and t%e con&$mer (& a&&$red. t %a&

(nvaded )o)$'ar c$'t$re (n ay& never ant(c()ated t%at (t %a& become a more conv(nc(ng &e''(ng )o(nt t%an even t%e $a'(ty

of t%e art(c'e to %(c% (t refer&. n t%e 'a&t %a'f cent$ry, t%e$n)ara''e'ed grot% of (nd$&try and t%e ra)(d deve'o)ment of

comm$n(cat(on& tec%no'ogy %ave enab'ed trademar&,

tradename& and ot%er d(&t(nct(ve &(gn& of a )rod$ct to )enetratereg(on& %ere t%e oner doe& not act$a''y man$fact$re or &e''

t%e )rod$ct (t&e'f. Good('' (& no 'onger conf(ned to t%eterr(tory of act$a' maret )enetrat(onK (t e9tend& to =one& %ere

t%e mared art(c'e %a& been f(9ed (n t%e )$b'(c m(nd t%ro$g%advert(&(ng. >%et%er (n t%e )r(nt, broadca&t or e'ectron(c

comm$n(cat(on& med($m, )art(c$'ar'y on t%enternet, advert(&(ng %a& )aved t%e ay for grot% and

e9)an&(on of t%e )rod$ct by creat(ng and earn(ng a re)$tat(on

t%at cro&&e& over border&, v(rt$a''y t$rn(ng t%e %o'e or'd (nto

one va&t maret)'ace.

)aving thus said that, the court then proceeded to rule that:

nte''ect$a' and (nd$&tr(a' )ro)erty r(g%t& ca&e& are not

&(m)'e )ro)erty ca&e&. Trademar& dea' (t% t%e )&yc%o'og(ca'

f$nct(on of &ymbo'& and t%e effect of t%e&e &ymbo'& on t%e )$b'(c at 'arge. Trademar& )'ay a &(gn(f(cant ro'e (n

comm$n(cat(on, commerce and trade, and &erve va'$ab'e and(nterre'ated b$&(ne&& f$nct(on&, bot% nat(ona''y and

(nternat(ona''y. or t%(& rea&on, a'' agreement& concern(ng(nd$&tr(a' )ro)erty, '(e t%o&e on trademar& and tradename&,are (nt(mate'y connected (t% econom(c

deve'o)ment. nd$&tr(a' )ro)erty enco$rage& (nve&tment& (nne (dea& and (nvent(on& and &t(m$'ate& creat(ve effort& for t%e

&at(&fact(on of %$man need&. T%ey &)eed $) tran&fer of tec%no'ogy and (nd$&tr(a'(=at(on, and t%ereby br(ng abo$t &oc(a'

and econom(c )rogre&&. T%e&e advantage& %ave been

acno'edged by t%e #%('())(ne government (t&e'f.

T%e nte''ect$a' #ro)erty ;ode of t%e #%('())(ne& dec'are&t%at :an effect(ve (nte''ect$a' and (nd$&tr(a' )ro)erty &y&tem (&v(ta' to t%e deve'o)ment of dome&t(c and creat(ve act(v(ty,

fac('(tate& tran&fer of tec%no'ogy, (t attract& fore(gn (nve&tment&,

and en&$re& maret acce&& for o$r )rod$ct&.: T%e nte''ect$a'#ro)erty ;ode too effect on "an$ary 1, 1+ and by (t&

e9)re&& )rov(&(on, re)ea'ed t%e Trademar Ba, t%e #atentBa, *rt(c'e& 1++ and 1+ of t%e Rev(&ed #ena' ;ode, t%e

-ecree on nte''ect$a' #ro)erty, and t%e -ecree on ;om)$'&ory


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Re)r(nt(ng of ore(gn Te9tboo&. T%e ;ode a& enacted to&trengt%en t%e (nte''ect$a' and (nd$&tr(a' )ro)erty &y&tem (n t%e

#%('())(ne& a& mandated by t%e co$ntryD& acce&&(on to t%e

*greement E&tab'(&%(ng t%e >or'd Trade /rgan(=at(on ?>T/@.

T%e >T/ (& a common (n&t(t$t(ona' frameor for t%econd$ct of trade re'at(on& among (t& member& (n matter& re'atedto t%e m$'t('atera' and )'$r('atera' trade agreement& anne9ed to

t%e >T/ *greement. T%e >T/ frameor en&$re& a :&(ng'e$nderta(ng a))roac%: to t%e adm(n(&trat(on and o)erat(on of

a'' agreement& and arrangement& attac%ed to t%e >T/

*greement. *mong t%o&e anne9ed (& t%e *greement on Trade8Re'ated *&)ect& of nte''ect$a' #ro)erty R(g%t& or TR#&

ember& to t%(& *greement :de&(re to red$ce d(&tort(on& and(m)ed(ment& to (nternat(ona' trade, ta(ng (nto acco$nt t%e need

to )romote effect(ve and ade$ate )rotect(on of (nte''ect$a' )ro)erty r(g%t&, and to en&$re t%at mea&$re& and )roced$re& toenforce (nte''ect$a' )ro)erty r(g%t& do not t%em&e've& become

barr(er& to 'eg(t(mate trade.: To f$'f('' t%e&e obect(ve&, t%emember& %ave agreed to ad%ere to m(n(m$m &tandard& of

)rotect(on &et by &evera' ;onvent(on&. T%e&e ;onvent(on&areH t%e Ferne ;onvent(on for t%e #rotect(on of B(terary and

*rt(&t(c >or& ?1!1@, t%e Rome ;onvent(on or t%e

nternat(ona' ;onvent(on for t%e #rotect(on of #erformer&,#rod$cer& of #%onogram& and Froadca&t(ng /rgan(&at(on&, t%e

Treaty on nte''ect$a' #ro)erty (n Re&)ect of ntegrated;(rc$(t&, and the Paris Convention (1967), a& rev(&ed (n

Stoc%o'm on "$'y 14, 16!.

* maor )ro)ort(on of (nternat(ona' trade de)end& on t%e )rotect(on of (nte''ect$a' )ro)erty r(g%t&. S(nce t%e 'ate 1!0D&,

t%e $na$t%or(=ed co$nterfe(t(ng of (nd$&tr(a' )ro)erty andtrademared )rod$ct& %a& %ad a con&(derab'e adver&e (m)act on

dome&t(c and (nternat(ona' trade reven$e&. T%e TR#&

*greement &ee& to grant ade$ate )rotect(on of (nte''ect$a' )ro)erty r(g%t& by creat(ng a favorab'e econom(c env(ronment

to enco$rage t%e (nf'o of fore(gn (nve&tment&, and

&trengt%en(ng t%e m$'t(8'atera' trad(ng &y&tem to br(ng abo$t

econom(c, c$'t$ra' and tec%no'og(ca' (nde)endence. T%e#%('())(ne& and t%e n(ted State& of *mer(ca %ave acceded tot%e >T/ *greement. T%(& *greement %a& revo'$t(on(=ed

(nternat(ona' b$&(ne&& and econom(c re'at(on& among &tate&,and %a& )ro)e''ed t%e or'd toard& trade '(bera'(=at(on and

econom(c g'oba'(=at(on. #rotect(on(&m and (&o'at(on(&m be'ong

to t%e )a&t. Trade (& no 'onger conf(ned to a b('atera'&y&tem. T%ere (& no :a ne era of g'oba' econom(c

coo)erat(on, ref'ect(ng t%e (de&)read de&(re to o)erate (n afa(rer and more o)en m$'t('atera' trad(ng

&y&tem.: ;onformab'y, t%e State m$&t reaff(rm (t& comm(tmentto t%e g'oba' comm$n(ty and tae )art (n evo'v(ng a ne(nternat(ona' econom(c order at t%e dan of t%e ne

m(''enn($m.

Analysis

The court !ased its ruling here on the !elief that protecting

trademar&s #ould spur innovation, #hich #ould !e necessary

to maintain glo!al competitiveness in a #orld #here freer trade #as !ecoming possi!le Interestingly, the court

concluded that a stronger trademar& system #ould spur investment, #hich is a !ehavioral assumption: *Industrial

property encourages investments in ne# ideas and inventionsand stimulates creative efforts for the satisfaction of human

needs They speed up transfer of technology and

industriali$ation, and there!y !ring a!out social and economic progress+


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It is actually common orthodo"y amongst development studiesthat technology transfer is one of the !est #ays to enhance

economic efficiency, !ecause it accelerates the rate at #hich

an optimum improvement in the learning curve can !e reached

The court, in deciding in favor of stricter patent rights, !ased its reasoning on the !enefits that a stronger patent systemcould potentially !ring to the economy )o#ever, it has also

!een esta!lished that an unduly restrictive system of patentsand trademar&s can actually stifle innovation in certain

industries, and !ring a!out mar&et failure in some of them as

demonstrated !y certain pharmaceuticals- In that sense, theSupreme Court decided this case follo#ing conventional lines

of economic thin&ing

mbong v. /c%oaG.R. No. 204+1 | *)r(' +, 2014| ". endo=a


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Facts

Re)$b'(c *ct ?R.*.@ No. 10354, ot%er(&e non a& t%e

Re&)on&(b'e #arent%ood and Re)rod$ct(ve Aea't% *ct of 2012?RA Ba@, a& enacted by ;ongre&& on -ecember 21, 2012.;%a''enger& from var(o$& &ector& of &oc(ety are $e&t(on(ng t%e

con&t(t$t(ona'(ty of t%e &a(d *ct. T%e )et(t(oner& are a&&a('(ngt%e con&t(t$t(ona'(ty of RA Ba on t%e fo''o(ng gro$nd&H

Issue/s

T%e RA Ba v(o'ate& t%e r(g%t to '(fe of t%e $nborn.T%e RA Ba v(o'ate& t%e r(g%t to %ea't% and t%e r(g%t to

)rotect(on aga(n&t %a=ardo$& )rod$ct&.T%e RA Ba v(o'ate& t%e r(g%t to re'(g(o$& freedom.T%e RA Ba v(o'ate& t%e con&t(t$t(ona' )rov(&(on on

(nvo'$ntary &erv(t$de.T%e RA Ba v(o'ate& t%e r(g%t to e$a' )rotect(on of t%e 'a.

T%e RA Ba v(o'ate& t%e r(g%t to free &)eec%.T%e RA Ba (& vo(d8for8vag$ene&& (n v(o'at(on of t%e d$e

)roce&& c'a$&e of t%e ;on&t(t$t(on.

T%e RA Ba (ntr$de& (nto t%e =one of )r(vacy of oneJ& fam('y )rotected by t%e ;on&t(t$t(on

Ratio.

T%e ca&e $)%e'd (n &$m t%e Re)rod$ct(ve Aea't% *ct. T%e$nder'y(ng a&&$m)t(on be%(nd t%e dec(&(on a& t%at %(g%

)o)$'at(on grot% a& %armf$' to t%e economyH

*& e9)o$nded ear'(er, t%e $&e of contrace)t(ve& and fam('y )'ann(ng met%od& (n t%e #%('())(ne& (& not of recent v(ntage.

rom t%e enactment of R.*. No. 4!2, ent(t'ed :*n *ct ToReg$'ate T%e Sa'e, -(&)en&at(on, andLor -(&tr(b$t(on of

;ontrace)t(ve -r$g& and -ev(ce& :on "$ne 1+, 166,

)re&cr(b(ng r$'e& on contrace)t(ve dr$g& and dev(ce& %(c%

)revent fert('(=at(on,

13+

to t%e )romot(on of ma'e va&ectomy andt$ba' '(gat(on,13 and t%e rat(f(cat(on of n$mero$& (nternat(ona'agreement&, the country has lon reconi!ed the need to

"ro#ote "o"ulation control throuh the use o$

contrace"tives in order to achieve lon%ter# econo#ic

develo"#ent.

ore (m)ortant'y, t%e co$rt f$rt%er re(terate& t%e c'o&e

connect(on beteen econom(c grot% and />&, and t%e(m)ortance of a &tab'e )o)$'at(onH

*& %ea't%f$' a& t%e (ntent(on of t%e RA Ba may be, the idea

does not esca"e the Court that &hat it see's to address is

the "role# o$ risin "overty and une#"loy#ent in the

country. et it e said that the cause o$ these "erennial

issues is not the lare "o"ulation ut the une*ual

distriution o$ &ealth. Even (f )o)$'at(on grot% (&

contro''ed, )overty ('' rema(n a& 'ong a& t%e co$ntryD& ea't%rema(n& (n t%e %and& of t%e very fe.

*t any rate, )o)$'at(on contro' may not be benef(c(a' for t%eco$ntry (n t%e 'ong r$n. T%e E$ro)ean and *&(an co$ntr(e&,

%(c% embared on &$c% a )rogram generat(on& ago, are no b$rdened (t% age(ng )o)$'at(on&. +he nu#er o$ theiryoun &or'ers is d&indlin &ith adverse e$$ects on their

econo#y. +hese youn &or'ers re"resent a sini$icant

hu#an ca"ital &hich could have hel"ed the# inviorate,

innovate and $uel their econo#y. T%e&e co$ntr(e& are no

http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2014/apr2014/gr_204819_2014.html#fnt138http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2014/apr2014/gr_204819_2014.html#fnt138http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2014/apr2014/gr_204819_2014.html#fnt139http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2014/apr2014/gr_204819_2014.html#fnt139http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2014/apr2014/gr_204819_2014.html#fnt138http://www.lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2014/apr2014/gr_204819_2014.html#fnt139


8/8

try(ng to rever&e t%e(r )rogram&, b$t t%ey are &t('' &tr$gg'(ng.or one, S(nga)ore, even (t% (ncent(ve&, (& fa('(ng.

And in this country, the econo#y is ein "ro""ed u" y

re#ittances $ro# our verseas Fili"ino -or'ers. +his isecause &e have an a#"le su""ly o$ youn ale%odied

&or'ers. >%at o$'d %a))en (f t%e co$ntry o$'d be e(g%ed

don by an age(ng )o)$'at(on and t%e feer yo$nger

generat(on o$'d not be ab'e to &$))ort t%emM T%(& o$'d bet%e &(t$at(on %en o$r tota' fert('(ty rate o$'d go don be'o

t%e re)'acement 'eve' of to ?2@ c%('dren )er oman.

ndeed, at t%e )re&ent, t%e co$ntry %a& a )o)$'at(on )rob'em,

b$t t%e State &%o$'d not $&e coerc(ve mea&$re& ?'(e t%e )ena'

)rov(&(on& of t%e RA Ba aga(n&t con&c(ent(o$& obector&@ to&o've (t. Nonet%e'e&&, t%e )o'(cy of t%e ;o$rt (& non8(nterference (n t%e (&dom of a 'a.

Analysis

The court !ased its ruling here on the merits, !ut decided it

#ith the proper conte"tuali$ation that it #as primarily a population control measure )o#ever, they appear to have

!ought into the mista&en assumption that the Philippineeconomy is .propped up+ !y /%0 remittances It is not, though

they do have a favora!le effect on our foreign reserves The

court as correct ho#ever, in deciding that human capital isimportant in the long term gro#th of the economy 0hat is

pu$$ling is that the court found opportunity to state that unequal distri!ution of #ealth #as the cause of poverty and

unemployment, #hich is a total o!iter dictum #ithout any!earing on the lis mota of the case

Documents

Tatad, Imbong and Mirupuri