Adaza v. Pazana

HOMOBONO ADAZA v. FERNANDO PACANA JR (D)
135 SCRA 431 March 18, 1985

FACTS:

• Homobono A. Adaza was elected governor of the province of Misamis Oriental. He took his oath of office and started discharging his duties as provincial governor on March 3, 1980. 
• Elected vice-governor for said province was respondent Fernando Pacana, Jr., who likewise qualified for and assumed said office on March 3, 1980. Under the law, their respective terms of office would expire on March 3, 1986.
• March 27, 1984, respondent Pacana filed his certificate of candidacy for the May 14, 1984 Batasang Pambansa elections; petitioner Adaza followed suit on April 27, 1984. In the ensuing elections, petitioner won by placing first among the candidates, while respondent lost.
• July 19, 1984, petitioner took his oath of office as Mambabatas Pambansa and since then he has discharged the functions of said office.
• July 23, 1984, respondent took his oath of office as governor of Misamis Oriental before President Ferdinand E. Marcos, and started to perform the duties of governor on July 25, 1984.
• Claiming to be the lawful occupant of the governor's office, petitioner has brought this petition to exclude respondent therefrom. He argues that he was elected to said office for a term of six years, that he remains to be the governor of the province until his term expires on March 3, 1986 as provided by law, and that within the context of the parliamentary system.
• Petitioner further contends that respondent Pacana should be considered to have abandoned or resigned from the position of vice-governor when he filed his certificate of candidacy for the 1984 Batas Pambansa elections; and since respondent had reverted to the status of a mere private citizen after he lost in the Batas Pambansa elections, he could no longer continue to serve as vice-governor, much less assume the office of governor.

ISSUES:

• Whether or not a provincial governor who was elected and had qualified as a Mambabatas Pambansa [MP] can exercise and discharge the functions of both offices simultaneously.
• Whether or not a vice-governor who ran for the position of Mambabatas Pambansa, but lost, can continue serving as vice-governor and subsequently succeed to the office of governor if the said office is vacated.

HELD:

• No, a provincial governor who was elected and had qualified as a Mambabatas Pambansa [MP] cannot exercise and discharge the functions of both offices simultaneously.
• The constitutional prohibition against a member of the Batasan Pambansa from holding any other office or employment in the government during his tenure is clear and unambiguous. Section 10, Article VIII of the 1973 Constitution provides as follows: Sec 10. “A member of the National Assembly [Batasan Pambansa] shall not hold any other office or employment in the government or any subdivision, agency or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations, during his tenure, except that of prime minister or member of the cabinet . . .”
• The language used in the above-cited section is plain, certain and free from ambiguity. The only exceptions mentioned therein are the offices of prime minister and cabinet member. The wisdom or expediency of the said provision is a matter which is not within the province of the Court to determine.

• Yes, a vice-governor who ran for the position of Mambabatas Pambansa, but lost, can continue serving as vice-governor and subsequently succeed to the office of governor if the said office is vacated.
• The law governing the election of members of the Batasan Pambansa on May 14, 1984, Section 13[2] of which specifically provides that "governors, mayors, members of the various sangguniang or barangay officials shall, upon filing a certificate of candidacy, be considered on forced leave of absence from office." Indubitably, respondent falls within the coverage of this provision, considering that at the time he filed his certificate of candidacy for the 1984 Batasan Pambansa election he was a member of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan.