Title
Alvarez vs. Guingona, Jr.
Case
G.R. No. 118303
Decision Date
Jan 31, 1996
Petitioners challenged RA 7720, converting Santiago into a city, arguing improper origination and income requirements. SC upheld constitutionality, ruling IRAs count as income and legislative process complied.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 128056-57)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

  • Parties and Subject Matter
    • Petitioners: Senator Heherson T. Alvarez, Senator Jose D. Lina, Jr., Nicasio B. Bautista, Jesus P. Gonzaga, Solomon D. Maylem, Leonora C. Medina, Casiano S. Alipon, et al.
    • Respondents: Executive Secretary Teofisto T. Guingona, Jr., Secretary Rafael Alunan, Secretary Salvador Enriquez, Commission on Audit, Municipal Officials of Santiago, Isabela.
    • Act in Question: Republic Act No. 7720 converting Santiago, Isabela into an independent component city.
  • Petitioners’ Contentions
    • Origination Defect: RA 7720 allegedly did not originate exclusively in the House of Representatives, in violation of Section 24, Article VI, 1987 Constitution.
    • Income Deficiency: Municipality’s average annual income allegedly fell below the ₱20 million requirement under Section 450, Local Government Code, when IRAs were excluded.
  • Legislative Chronology
    • House Process
      • HB No. 8817 filed April 18, 1993; public hearings May–December 1993; approved 2nd Reading December 13, 1993; 3rd Reading December 17, 1993; transmitted to Senate January 28, 1994.
    • Senate Process
      • SB No. 1243 filed May 19, 1993; hearings February 23, 1994; Committee Report No. 378 adopted March 3, 1994; approved 3rd Reading March 14, 1994.
    • Enrollment and Plebiscite
      • House concurrence on Senate amendments March 22, 1994; enrolled bill signed May 5, 1994; plebiscite held July 13, 1994 approving conversion.
      • Petition for Prohibition filed January 31, 1996; Resolution of En Banc February 10, 1997.

Issues:

  • Whether Internal Revenue Allotments (IRAs) must be included in the computation of a municipality’s average annual income for city conversion under Section 450, Local Government Code.
  • Whether RA 7720 originated exclusively in the House of Representatives as required by Section 24, Article VI, 1987 Constitution, despite the Senate’s passage of SB No. 1243.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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