Title
Cruz vs. Youngberg
Case
G.R. No. 34674
Decision Date
Oct 26, 1931
Petitioner challenged Act No. 3155’s constitutionality, seeking a permit for cattle importation. Court upheld the law under police power, citing public health and industry protection, and noted Act No. 3052 would still bar importation.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 34674)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

  • Parties and Nature of the Action
    • Mauricio Cruz (petitioner/appellant) sought a writ of mandatory injunction against Stanton Youngberg, Director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (respondent/appellee), in the Court of First Instance of Manila.
    • The petition requested the issuance of a permit to land ten large cattle imported by petitioner and to slaughter them.
  • Challenge to Statutory Scheme
    • Petitioner attacked the constitutionality of Act No. 3155 (approved March 8, 1924), which prohibited the importation of any cattle from foreign countries into the Philippine Islands after March 31, 1925, subject to a discretionary suspension by the Governor-General with legislative concurrence.
    • Act No. 3155’s full text was quoted in the petition; the alleged legislative purpose was to prevent introduction of cattle diseases.
  • Procedural History
    • Respondent demurred on two grounds:
      • Even if Act No. 3155 were void, Act No. 3052 (approved March 14, 1922) would revive and bar the permit.
      • Act No. 3155 was constitutional.
    • The trial court sustained the demurrer and dismissed the complaint for failure to plead further.
    • Petitioner appealed to the Supreme Court.

Issues:

  • Does Act No. 3052 automatically take effect and bar cattle importation if Act No. 3155 is declared unconstitutional?
  • Is Act No. 3155 constitutional under the police power to protect agriculture and livestock?
  • Does the provision granting the Governor-General discretion to suspend the prohibition constitute unlawful delegation of legislative power?
  • Does Act No. 3155 unlawfully amend section 3 of the Tariff Law or is it a valid supplemental quarantine measure?

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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