Facts: An amendment to the National Internal Revenue Code was
introduced to the House ofRepresentatives involving taxations on
the manufacture and sale of beer and cigarettes. This was later
passed accordingly and brought to the House of Senate. Upon the
interpellation on the second reading, herein petitioner moved for
adjournment for lack of quorum which is constitutionally needed to
conduct business. Petitioners motion was defeated and was
railroaded. The bill was then signedinto law by President Fidel
Ramos.
Issue: Whether or not the law was passed onviolation on the
constitutional mandate.
Held: There is no rule of the House concerned that quorum shall
be determined by viva voce ornominal voting. The Constitution does
not require that the yeas and nays of the Members be taken every
time a House has to vote, except only on the following instances
upon the last and the third readings of the bill, at the request of
1/5 of the Members present and in repassing a the veto of the
President. Second, there is obviousness on the part of the
petitioner to delay the business of the House, thus eliminating the
alleged skull duggery on part of the accused. Third, the enrolled
bill doctrine states that enrolled bills are in itself conclusive
thus legallybinding provided it is in harmony with the
constitution. Lastly, the court upheld principle ofseparation of
powers, which herein, is applicable for the legislative branch for
it has exercised itspower without grave abuse of discretion
resulting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.
