Case Digest (G.R. No. 157870) Core Legal Reasoning Model
Core Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
In these consolidated petitions, Social Justice Society (SJS), Atty. Manuel J. Laserna, Jr., and Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. directly assailed Section 36 of Republic Act No. 9165 (the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) before the Supreme Court En Banc, invoking Rule 65. They challenged the provision’s requirement of mandatory drug testing for four groups: (c) secondary and tertiary school students; (d) officers and employees of public and private offices; (f) persons charged before the prosecutor’s office with offenses punishable by at least six years and one day of imprisonment; and (g) all candidates for public office. In State theory, SJS argued the tests constituted undue delegation of legislative power, breached equal protection, and violated the right against unreasonable searches. Laserna alleged infringements of privacy, unreasonable search and seizure, self-incrimination, due process, and equal protection. Senator Pimentel, a candidate in the May 10, 2004 Case Digest (G.R. No. 157870) Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model
Facts:
- Statutory Provision
- Republic Act No. 9165, Section 36, mandates drug testing by government or DOH-accredited labs using a two-step method (screening and confirmatory).
- Persons covered include:
- Students of secondary and tertiary schools (random, with notice to parents).
- Officers and employees of public and private offices (random, per company work rules).
- All persons charged before the prosecutor’s office with offenses punishable by ≥ 6 years and 1 day imprisonment.
- All candidates for public office (mandatory).
- COMELEC Implementing Rule
- COMELEC Resolution No. 6486 (Dec. 23, 2003) requires all May 10, 2004 election candidates to undergo mandatory drug tests in accredited labs.
- COMELEC to publish lists of candidates who complied or failed to comply; non-compliant winners barred from entering office until compliance.
- Petitions Filed
- Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr. (G.R. No. 161658): certiorari and prohibition to nullify Sec. 36(g) and COMELEC Resolution No. 6486 as adding a constitutional qualification for senators.
- Social Justice Society (G.R. No. 157870): prohibition to enjoin enforcement of Sec. 36(c), (d), (f), (g) for undue delegation, equal protection violation, and unreasonable search.
- Atty. Manuel J. Laserna, Jr. (G.R. No. 158633): certiorari and prohibition to strike down Sec. 36(c), (d), (f), (g) for violating privacy, unreasonable search and seizure, self-incrimination, due process, and equal protection.
- Procedural Posture
- Cases consolidated and heard En Banc.
- Court addressed justiciability and standing, relaxing locus standi for SJS and Laserna due to the public interest.
Issues:
- Qualification for Office
- Do Sec. 36(g) of RA 9165 and COMELEC Resolution No. 6486 impose an additional constitutional qualification on candidates for senator?
- Can Congress or COMELEC validly add qualifications beyond those in Sec. 3, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution?
- Constitutionality of Other Drug-Testing Provisions
- Do Sec. 36(c) and (d) (students and employees) violate the right to privacy or constitute unreasonable search and seizure?
- Does Sec. 36(f) (persons charged with crimes) violate privacy, self-incrimination, due process or equal protection?
- Do any of these provisions represent an undue delegation of legislative power?
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)