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Francisco Tatad vs Secretary of the Department of Energy [SEPARATE OPINION MELO, J.]

FRANCISCO S. TATAD, petitioner, vs. THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, respondents. [ SEPARATE OPINION MELO, J.]

G.R. No. 124360 | 1997-11-05

Separate Opinions
 
 
MELO, J ., dissenting: 
 
With all due respect to my esteemed colleague, Mr. Justice Puno, who has, as usual, prepared a well-written and comprehensive ponencia, I regret I cannot share the view that Republic Act No. 8180 should be struck down as violative of the Constitution. 
 
The law in question, Republic Act No. 8180, otherwise known as the Downstream Oil Deregulation Act of 1996, contains, inter alia, the following provisions which have become the subject of the present controversy, to wit: 
 
SEC. 5. Liberalization of Downstream Oil Industry and Tariff Treatment. - 
 
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