Torts Report Edited(1)

8/9/2019 Torts Report Edited(1)

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TORTS AND DAMAGES

(Violation of Right to Privacy)CASES:

RAMIREZ vs. CA

VALMONTE vs. BELMONTE


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TITLE: RAMIREZ vs. CA

G.R. No. 93833 September 28, 1995

FACTS: On February 22, 1988, there as a confrontation beteen!rivate res!on"ent #ster $. %arcia an" Petitioner $ocorro &.

Ra'ire. his confrontation lea" to the filling of a civil case for

"a'ages by Ra'ire against %arcia for allege"ly ve*ing, insulting +hu'iliating her in a 'anner hich is offensive to !etitioners "ignity

an" !ersonality. n su!!ort of her clai', !etitioner !ro"uce" a

verbati' transcri!tion of the event. he transcri!tion on hich the

civil case as base" as culle" fro' a ta!e recor"ing of the

confrontation 'a"e by !etitioner. -s a result of !etitioners

recor"ing of the event !rivate res!on"ent file" a cri'inal case

against !etitioner for violation of Re!ublic -ct /200, entitle" -n

-ct to !rohibit an" !enalie ireta!!ing an" other relate"

violations of !rivate co''unication, an" other !ur!oses.


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Petitioner file" a 3otion to 4uash the nfor'ation. $uch 'otion as

grante" by the trial court agreeing ith !etitioner that 1) the facts

charge" "o not constitute an offense un"er R.-. /2005 an" that 2) the

violation !unishe" by R.-. /200 refers to a the ta!ing of a co''unication

by a !erson otherthan a !artici!ant to the co''unication. $ai" or"er aslater "eclare" by the res!on"ent 6ourt of -!!eals as null an" voi" 7ence,

the instant !etition hereby !etitioner argues that R.-. /200 "oes not

a!!ly to !ersons ho are !rivy to the conversation an" that !hrase

!rivate co''unication in $ec 1 of R.-. /200 "oes not inclu"e !rivate

conversations.

ISSUES: 1) hether or not the !rovision of Re!ublic -ct /200 "oes nota!!ly to the ta!ing of a !rivate conversation by one of the !arties to the

conversation.

2) hether or not R.-. /200 !enalies the ta!ing of a !rivateco''unication, not a !rivate conversation an" that conse:uently, her

act of secretly ta!ing her conversation ith !rivate res!on"ent "oes not

constitute a violation of ones right to !rivacy.


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RULING:

(1) $ection 1 of R.-. /200 clearly an" une:uivocally 'a;es it illegal for any

!erson, not authorie" by all the !arties to any !rivate co''unication to

secretly recor" such co''unication by 'eans of a ta!e recor"er. he la

'a;es no "istinction as to hether the !arty sought to be !enalie" by the

statute ought to be a !arty other than or "ifferent fro' those involve" in

the !rivate co''unication. he statutes intent to !enalie all !ersons

unauthorie" to 'a;e such recor"ing is un"erscore" by the use of the

:ualifier any. 6onse:uently, as res!on"ent 6ourt of -!!eals correctlyconclu"e", even a (!erson) !rivy to a co''unication ho recor"s his

!rivate conversation ith another ithout the ;nole"ge of the latter (ill)

:ualify as a violatorun"er this !rovision of R.-. /200.

he una'biguity of the e*!ress or"s of the !rovision, ta;en together ith

the above:uote" "eliberations fro' the 6ongressional Recor", therefore

!lainly su!!orts the vie hel" by the res!on"ent court that the !rovisionsee;s to !enalie even those !rivy to the !rivate co''unications. here

the la 'a;es no "istinctions, one "oes not "istinguish.


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t has been sai" that innocent !eo!le have nothing to fear fro' their

conversations being overhear". >ut this state'ent ignores the usual

nature of conversationsas ell the un"eniable fact that 'ost, if not all,civilie" !eo!le have so'e as!ects of their lives they "o not ish to

e*!ose. Free conversations are often characterie" by e*aggerations,

obscenity, agreeable falsehoo"s, an" the e*!ression of antisocial "esires

of vies not inten"e" to be ta;en seriously. he right to the privacy of

communication, a'ong others, has e*!ressly been assure" by our

6onstitution. =ee"less to state here, the fra'ers of our 6onstitution'ust have recognie" the nature of conversations beteen in"ivi"uals

an" the significance of 'ans s!iritual nature, of his feelings an" of his

intellect. hey 'ust have ;non that !art of the !leasures an"

satisfactions of life are to be foun" in the unau"ite" an" free e*change

of communication beteen in"ivi"uals ? free fro' every un@ustifiable

intrusion by hatever 'eans.


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TITLE: !ALM"NTE #$. %ELM"NTE

G.R. No. &'93( Febr)*r+ 13, 1989

F*t$:Petitioner Val'onte rote res!on"ent >el'onte a letter re:uestingthat he be furnishe" ith the (a) the list of the na'es of the >atasang

Pa'bansa 'e'bers belonging to the A=&O an" P&PBaban ho ere able to

secure clean loans i''e"iately before the February C election thru the

intercessionD'arginal note of the then First Ba"y 'el"a 3arcos5 an"Dor(b) tofurnish !etitioners ith certifie" true co!ies of the "ocu'ents evi"encing

their res!ective loans5 an"Dor (c) to allo !etitioners access to the !ublic

recor"s for the sub@ect infor'ation. $uch re:uest as !re'ise" on their right

to infor'ation. he &e!uty %eneral 6ounsel of the %$$ re!lie" that a

confi"ential relationshi! e*ists beteen the %$$ an" all those ho borro

fro' it, hoever they 'ay be5 that the %$$ has a "uty to its custo'ers to

!reserve this confi"entiality5 an" that it oul" not be !ro!er for the %$$ to

breach this confi"entiality unless so or"ere" by the courts.


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Bater on, Val'onte, @oine" by the other !etitioners, file" the instant

suit for 'an"a'us ith !reli'inary in@unction for the res!on"ent to

grant their re:uest.

ISSUE: hether or not - #-e/ o0 te r-t to pr-#*+ /- -$e)*44+ protete b+ te Co$t-t)t-o * b+ e6-$t- 4*/$, the

"ocu'ents evi"encing loan transactions of the %$$ 'ust be "ee'e"

outsi"e the a'bit of the right to infor'ation.

RULING:=O, in several cases the court u!hel" that !eo!les constitutional right

to be infor'e" of 'atters of !ublic interest. he !ertinent !rovision

un"er the 198C 6onstitution is -rt. 111, $ec. C hich statesE

he right of the !eo!le to infor'ation on 'atters of !ublic concern

shall be recognie". -ccess to official recor"s, an" to "ocu'ents,an" !a!ers !ertaining to official acts, transactions, or "ecisions, as

ell as to govern'ent research "ata use" as basis for !olicy

"evelo!'ent, shall be affor"e" the citien, sub@ect to such

li'itations as 'ay be !rovi"e" by la.


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he right of access to infor'ation as also recognie" in the 19C 6onstitution, -rt. V

$ec. G of hich !rovi"e"E

he right of the !eo!le to infor'ation on 'atters of !ublic concern shall be

recognie". -ccess to official recor"s, an" to "ocu'ents an" !a!ers !ertaining to

official acts, transactions, or "ecisions, shall be affor"e" the citien sub@ect to suchli'itations as 'ay be !rovi"e" by la.

7et, 4-e *44 te o$t-t)t-o*4 )*r*tee$, te r-t to -0orm*t-o -$ ot *b$o4)te.

A$ $t*te - Legaspi, te peop4e$ r-t to -0orm*t-o -$ 4-m-te to m*tter$ o0p)b4- oer, * -$ 0)rter $)b;et to $) 4-m-t*t-o$ *$ m*+ be pro#-e b+

4*/. S-m-4*r4+, te St*te$ po4-+ o0 0)44 -$4o$)re -$ 4-m-te to tr*$*t-o$

-#o4#- p)b4- -tere$t, * -$ $)b;et to re*$o*b4e o-t-o$ pre$r-be b+4*/.

7ence, before 'an"a'us 'ay issue, it 'ust be clear that the infor'ation sought is of

p)b4- -tere$t or p)b4- oer, an" is ot e6empte b+ 4*/ 0rom te oper*t-o

o0 te o$t-t)t-o*4 )*r*teeHBega!i v. 6ivil $ervice 6o''ission, supra, at !. I/2.J

-s observe" in Legazpi:

n "eter'ining hether or not a !articular infor'ation is of !ublic concern there is no

rigi" test hich can be a!!lie". Public concern li;e !ublic interest is a ter' that

elu"es e*act "efinition. *** n the final analysis, it is for the courts to "eter'ine on a

case by case basis hether the 'atter at issue is of interest or i'!ortance, as it relates

to or affects the !ublic. HIbid. at !. I/1J


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he infor'ation sought by !etitioners in this case is the truth of re!orts

that certain 3e'bers of the >atasang Pa'bansa belonging to the o!!osition

ere able to secure clean loans fro' the %$$ i''e"iately before the

February C, 198G election through the intercession of the for'er First Ba"y,3rs. 'el"a 3arcos.

he %$$ is a trustee of contributions fro' the govern'ent an" its

e'!loyees an" the a"'inistrator of various insurance !rogra's for the

benefit of the latter. An"eniably, its fun"s assu'e a !ublic character. 3ore

!articularly, $ecs. I(b) an" /G of P.&. 11/G, as a'en"e" (the Revise"

%overn'ent $ervice nsurance -ct of 19CC), !rovi"e for annuala!!ro!riations to !ay the contributions, !re'iu's, interest an" other

a'ounts !ayable to %$$ by the govern'ent, as e'!loyer, as ell as the

obligations hich the Re!ublic of the Phili!!ines assu'es or guarantees to

!ay. 6onsi"ering the nature of its fun"s, the %$$ is e*!ecte" to 'anage its

resources ith ut'ost !ru"ence an" in strict co'!liance ith the !ertinent

las or rules an" regulations. hus, one of the reasons that !ro'!te" therevision of the ol" %$$ la (6.-. =o. 18G, as a'en"e") as the necessity

to !reserve at all ti'es the actuarial solvency of the fun"s a"'inistere" by

the $yste' H$econ" hereas 6lause, P.&. =o. 11/G.J 6onse:uently, as

res!on"ent hi'self a"'its, the %$$ is not su!!ose" to grant clean loans.

H6o''ent, !. 8.J


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t is therefore the legiti'ate concern of the !ublic to ensure that these

fun"s are 'anage" !ro!erly ith the en" in vie of 'a*i'iing the

benefits that accrue to the insure" govern'ent e'!loyees. 3oreover, the

su!!ose" borroers ere 3e'bers of the "efunct >atasang Pa'bansa hothe'selves a!!ro!riate" fun"s for the %$$ an" ere therefore e*!ecte"

to be the first to see to it that the %$$ !erfor'e" its tas;s ith the

greatest "egree of fi"elity an" that an its transactions ere above boar".

n su', the !ublic nature of the loanable fun"s of the %$$ an" the !ublic

office hel" by the allege" borroers 'a;e the infor'ation sought clearly a

'atter of !ublic interest an" concern.

- secon" re:uisite 'ust be 'et before the right to infor'ation 'ay be

enforce" through 'an"a'us !rocee"ings, viz., that te -0orm*t-o

$o)t m)$t ot be *mo to$e e64)e b+ 4*/.

Res!on"ent 'aintains that a confi"ential relationshi! e*ists beteen the

%$$ an" its borroers. t is argue" that a !olicy of confi"entiality restrictsthe in"iscri'inate "isse'ination of infor'ation. Re$poet ote$

t*t - #-e/ o0 te r-t to pr-#*+ /- -$ e)*44+ protete b+ te

Co$t-t)t-o * b+ e6-$t- 4*/$, the "ocu'ents evi"encing loan

transactions of the %$$ 'ust be "ee'e" outsi"e the a'bit of the right to

infor'ation.


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here can be no "oubt that right to !rivacy is constitutionally !rotecte".

n the lan"'ar; case of Morfe v. MutucH10 Phil. /1I (19G8), 22 $6R-

/2/J, this 6ourt, s!ea;ing through then 3r. Kustice Fernan"o, state"E

... he right to !rivacy as such is accor"e" recognition in"e!en"ently ofits i"entification ith liberty5 in itself, it is fully "eserving of constitutional

!rotection. he language of Prof. #'erson is !articularly a!tE he conce!t of

li'ite" govern'ent has alays inclu"e" the i"ea that govern'ental !oers

sto! short of certain intrusions into the !ersonal life of the citien. his is

in"ee" one of the basic "istinctions beteen absolute an" li'ite"

govern'ent. Ati'ate an" !ervasive control of the in"ivi"ual, in all as!ectsof his life, is the hall'ar; of the absolute. state, n contrast, a syste' of

li'ite" govern'ent safeguar"s a !rivate sector, hich belongs to the

in"ivi"ual, fir'ly "istinguishing it fro' the !ublic sector, hich the state can

control. Protection of this !rivate sector ? !rotection, in other or"s, of the

"ignity an" integrity of the in"ivi"ual ? has beco'e increasingly i'!ortant as

'o"e' society has "evelo!e". -ll the forces of technological age ?in"ustrialiation, urbaniation, an" organiation ? o!erate to narro the

area of !rivacy an" facilitate intrusion into it. n 'o"ern ter's, the ca!acity

to 'aintain an" su!!ort this enclave of !rivate life 'ar;s the "ifference

beteen a "e'ocratic an" a totalitarian society. Hat !!. /////I.J


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hen the infor'ation re:ueste" fro' the govern'ent intru"es into

the !rivacy of a citien, a !otential conflict beteen the rights to

infor'ation an" to !rivacy 'ay arise. 7oever, the co'!eting

interests of these rights nee" not be resolve" in this case. -!!arent

fro' the above:uote" state'ent of the 6ourt in Morfe is t*t te

r-t to pr-#*+ be4o$ to te --#-)*4 - -$ pr-#*te *p*-t+,

* ot to p)b4- * o#ermet*4 *e-e$ 4-e te GSIS.

Moreo#er, te r-t *ot be -#oe b+ ;)r--*4 et-t-e$ 4-e te

GSIS. -s hel" in the case of Vassar College v. Loose Wills iscuit Co.H19C F. 982 (1912)J, * orpor*t-o *$ o r-t o0 pr-#*+ - -t$ *me

$-e te et-re b*$-$ o0 te r-t to pr-#*+ -$ * -;)r+ to te

0ee4-$ * $e$-b-4-t-e$ o0 te p*rt+ * * orpor*t-o /o)4 *#e

o $) ro) 0or re4-e0.

Ne-ter * te GSIS tro) -t$ Geer*4 M**er, te re$poet,

-#oe te r-t to pr-#*+ o0 -t$ borro/er$. Te r-t -$ p)re4+per$o*4 - *t)re HCf.-t;inson v. Kohn &oherty + 6o., 121 3ich C2,

80 =.. 28I, /G B.R-. 219 (1899)5 $chuyler v. 6urtis, 1/C =.L. //, /2

=.#. 22, 1 B.R.-. 28G (189I)), an" hence 'ay be invo;e" only by the

!erson hose !rivacy is clai'e" to be violate".


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t 'ay be observe", hoever, that in the instant case, the concerne"

borro/er$ tem$e4#e$ m*+ ot $)ee -0 te+ oo$e to -#oe te-r

r-t to pr-#*+, o$-er- te p)b4- o00-e$ te+ /ere o4- *t te

t-me te 4o*$ /ere *44ee to *#e bee r*te. It *ot be e-et*t be*)$e o0 te -tere$t te+ eer*te * te-r e/$/ort-e$$,

p)b4- 0-)re$, mo$t e$pe-*44+ to$e o4- re$po$-b4e po$-t-o$ -

o#ermet, e;o+ * more 4-m-te r-t to pr-#*+ *$ omp*re to

or-*r+ --#-)*4$, te-r *t-o$ be- $)b;et to 4o$er p)b4- $r)t-+

HCf. -yer Pro"uctions Pty. Bt". v. 6a!ulong, %.R. =os. 8280 an" 8298,

-!ril 29, 19885 !ee also6ohen v. 3ar*, 211 P. 2" 21 (19/9).J

Res!on"ent ne*t asserts that the "ocu'ents evi"encing the loan

transactions of the %$$ are private in nature. It is argued that the

records of the "!I!, a government corporation performing proprietary

functions, are outside the coverage of the people#s right of access to

official records.

t is further conten"e" that since the loan function of the %$$ is 'erelyinci"ental to its insurance function, then its loan transactions are not

covere" by the constitutional !olicy of full !ublic "isclosure an" the

right to infor'ation hich is a!!licable only to official transactions.


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First of all, the constituent ? 'inistrant "ichoto'y

characteriing govern'ent function has long beenre!u"iate". n $CC%$ v. Confederation of &nions and

"overnment Corporations and 'ffices (%.R. =os. B21/8/

an" B2G0I, =ove'ber 29, 19G9, 0 $6R- G//1, the 6ourt

sai" that te o#ermet, /eter *rr+- o)t -t$

$o#ere- *ttr-b)te$ or r)- $ome b)$-e$$,-$*re$ te $*me 0)t-o o0 $er#-e to te peop4e.

6onse:uently, that the %$$, in granting the loans, as

e*ercising a !ro!rietary function oul" not @ustify the

e*clusion of the transactions fro' the coverage an" sco!e

of the right to infor'ation.


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Thank You!


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Torts Report Edited(1)