This case has been cited 2 times or more.
|
2008-04-16 |
TINGA, J, |
||||
| Why the special concern over petroleum products? The answer is quite evident to all sentient persons. In this age where unfortunately dependence on petroleum as fuel has yet no equally feasible alternative, the cost of petroleum products, though fully controlled by private enterprise, remains an area of public concern. To be blunt about it, there is an inevitable link between the fluctuation of oil prices and the prices of every other commodity. The reality, indeed, is oil is a political commodity. Such fact has received recognition from this Court. "[O]il [is] a commodity whose supply and price affect the ebb and flow of the lifeblood of the nation. Its shortage of supply or a slight, upward spiral in its price shakes our economic foundation. Studies show that the areas most impacted by the movement of oil are food manufacture, land transport, trade, electricity and water."[53] "[T]he upswing and downswing of our economy materially depend on the oscillation of oil."[54] "Fluctuations in the supply and price of oil products have a dramatic effect on economic development and public welfare."[55] | |||||
|
2003-11-10 |
CARPIO MORALES, J. |
||||
| The historiography of our impeachment provisions will show that they were liberally lifted from the US Constitution. Following an originalist interpretation, there is much to commend to the thought that they are political in nature and character. The political character of impeachment hardly changed in our 1935, 1973 and 1987 Constitutions. Thus, among the grounds of impeachment are "other high crimes or betrayal of public trust."[43] They hardly have any judicially ascertainable content. The power of impeachment is textually committed to Congress, a political branch of government. The right to accuse is exclusively given to the House of Representatives.[44] The right to try and decide is given solely to the Senate[45] and not to the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice has a limited part in the process - - -to preside but without the right to vote when the President is under impeachment.[46] Likewise, the President cannot exercise his pardoning power in cases of impeachment.[47] All these provisions confirm the inherent nature of impeachment as political. | |||||