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Most Rev. Pedro D. Arigo, et al. Vs. Scott H. Swift, et al. [Concurring Opinion J. Leonen]

MOST REV. PEDRO D. ARIGO, Vicar Apostolic of Puerto Princesa D.D.; MOST REV. DEOGRACIAS S. INIGUEZ, JR., Bishop-Emeritus of Caloocan, FRANCES Q. QUIMPO, CLEMENTE G. BAUTISTA, JR., Kalikasan-PNE, MARIA CAROLINA P. ARAULLO, RENATO M. REYES, JR., Bagong Alyansang Makabayan, HON. NERI JAVIER COLMENARES, Bayan Muna Party-list, ROLAND G. SIMBULAN, Ph.D., Junk VFA Movement, TERESITA R. PEREZ, Ph.D., HON. RAYMOND V. PALATINO, Kabataan ;Party-list, PETER SJ. GONZALES, Pamalakaya, GIOVANNI A. TAPANG, Ph.D., Agham, ELMER C. LABOG, Kilusang Mayo Uno, JOAN MAYE. SALVADOR, Gabriela, JOSE ERIQUE A. AFRICA, THERESA A. CONCEPCION, MARY JOAN A. GUAN, NESTOR T. BAGUINON, Ph.D., A. EDSEL F. TUPAZ, petitioners, vs. SCOTT H. SWIFT in his capacity as Commander of the U.S. 7th Fleet, MARK A. RICE in his capacity as Commanding Officer of the USS Guardian, PRESIDENT BENIGNO S. AQUINO III in his capacity as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, HON. ALBERT F. DEL ROSARIO, Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs HON. PAQUITO OCHOA, JR., Executive Secretary, Office of the President, HON. VOLTAIRE T. GAZMIN, Secretary, Department of National Defense, HON. SECRETARY RAMON JESUS P. PAJE, Secretary, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, VICE ADMIRAL JOSE LUIS M. ALANO, Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command, Armed Forces of the Philippines, ADMIRAL RODOLFO D. ISORENA, Commandant, Philippine Coast Guard, COMMODORE ENRICO EFREN EVANGELISTA, Philippine Coast Guard Palawan, MAJOR GEN. VIRGILIO 0. DOMINGO, Commandant of Armed Forces of the Philippines Command, LT. GEN. TERRY G. ROBLING, US Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and Balikatan 2013 Exercise Co- Director, respondents. [Concurring Opinion J. Leonen]

G.R. No. 206510 | 2014-09-15

EN BANC
 
CONCURRING OPINION

LEONEN, J.:
 
Prefatory

I agree that the petition should be dismissed primarily because it is moot and academic.

The parties who brought this petition have no legal standing. They also invoke the wrong remedy. In my view, it is time to clearly unpack the rudiments of our extraordinary procedures in environmental cases in order to avoid their abuse. Abuse of our procedures contributes to the debasement of the proper function of the remedies and invites inordinate interference from this court from what may be technical and political decisions that must be made in a different...