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La Bugal-B'laan Tribal Assn, Inc., et al vs Victor Ramos, et al [ DISSENTING OPINION, CARPIO, J.]

LA BUGAL-B'LAAN TRIBAL ASSOCIATION, INC.,Represented by its Chairman F'LONG MIGUEL M. LUMAYONG; WIGBERTO E. TA?ADA; PONCIANO BENNAGEN; JAIME TADEO; RENATO R. CONSTANTINO JR.; F'LONG AGUSTIN M.DABIE; ROBERTO P. AMLOY; RAQIM L. DABIE; SIMEON H. DOLOJO; IMELDA M. GANDON; LENY B. GUSANAN; MARCELO L. GUSANAN; QUINTOL A. LABUAYAN; LOMINGGES D. LAWAY; BENITA P. TACUAYAN; Minors JOLY L. BUGOY, Represented by His Father UNDERO D. BUGOY and ROGER M. DADING;Represented by His Father ANTONIO L. DADING; ROMY M. LAGARO, Represented by His Father TOTING A. LAGARO; MIKENY JONG B. LUMAYONG, Represented by His Father MIGUEL M. LUMAYONG; RENE T. MIGUEL, Represented by His Mother EDITHA T. MIGUEL; ALDEMAR L. SAL, Represented by His Father DANNY M. SAL; DAISY RECARSE, Represented by Her Mother LYDIA S. SANTOS; EDWARD M. EMUY; ALAN P. MAMPARAIR; MARIO L. MANGCAL; ALDEN S. TUSAN; AMPARO S. YAP; VIRGILIO CULAR; MARVIC M.V.F. LEONEN; JULIA REGINA CULAR, GIAN CARLO CULAR, VIRGILIO CULAR JR., Represented by Their Father VIRGILIO CULAR; PAUL ANTONIO P. VILLAMOR, Represented by His Parents JOSE VILLAMOR and ELIZABETH PUA-VILLAMOR; ANA GININA R. TALJA, Represented by Her Father MARIO JOSE B. TALJA; SHARMAINE R. CUNANAN, Represented by Her Father ALFREDO M. CUNANAN; ANTONIO JOSE A. VITUG III, Represented by His Mother ANNALIZA A. VITUG, LEAN D. NARVADEZ, Represented by His Father MANUEL E. NARVADEZ JR.; ROSERIO MARALAG LINGATING, Represented by Her Father RIO OLIMPIO A. LINGATING; MARIO JOSE B TALJA; DAVID E. DE VERA; MARIA MILAGROS L. SAN JOSE; Sr. SUSAN O. BOLANIO, OND; LOLITA G. DEMONTEVERDE; BENJIE L. NEQUINTO;[1] ROSE LILIA S. ROMANO; ROBERTO S. VERZOLA; EDUARDO AURELIO C. REYES; LEAN LOUEL A. PERIA, Represented by His Father ELPIDIO V. PERIA;[2] GREEN FORUM PHILIPPINES; GREEN FORUM WESTERN VISAYAS (GF-WV); ENVIRONMENTAL LEGAL ASSISTANCE CENTER (ELAC); KAISAHAN TUNGO SA KAUNLARAN NG KANAYUNAN AT REPORMANG PANSAKAHAN (KAISAHAN);[3] PARTNERSHIP FOR AGRARIAN REFORM and RURAL DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, INC. (PARRDS); PHILIPPINE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES IN THE RURAL AREAS, INC. (PHILDHRRA); WOMEN'S LEGAL BUREAU (WLB); CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES, INC. (CADI); UPLAND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (UDI); KINAIYAHAN FOUNDATION, INC.; SENTRO NG ALTERNATIBONG LINGAP PANLIGAL (SALIGAN); and LEGAL RIGHTS AND NATURAL RESOURCES CENTER, INC. (LRC), Petitioners vs. VICTOR O. RAMOS, Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR); HORACIO RAMOS, Director, Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB-DENR); RUBEN TORRES, Executive Secretary; and WMC (PHILIPPINES), INC.,[4] Respondents [ DISSENTING OPINION, CARPIO, J.]

G.R. No. 127882 | 2004-12-01

DISSENTING OPINION 

Carpio, J.:

I dissent and vote to deny respondents' motions for reconsideration. I find that Section 3(aq), Section 39, Section 80, the second paragraph of Section 81, the proviso in Section 84, and the first proviso in Section 112 of Republic Act No. 7942[1] ("RA 7942") violate Section 2, Article XII of the 1987 Constitution and are therefore unconstitutional. 
 
In essence, these provisions of RA 7942 waive the State's ownership rights under the Constitution over mineral resources. These provisions also abdicate the State's constitutional duty to control and supervise fully the exploitation of mineral...