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[G.R. No. 160261. October 28, 2003]

FRANCISCO vs. THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Gentlemen:

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of this Court dated OCT 28 2003.

"G.R. No. 160261(Ernesto B. Francisco, Jr. vs. The House of Representatives, represented by Speaker Jose de Venecia, The Senate, represented by Senate President Franklin M. Drilon, Representative Gilberto C. Teodoro, Jr. and Representative Felix William B. Fuentebella.);

G.R. No. 160262(Sedfrey M. Candelaria, Carlos P. Medina, Jr. and Henedina Razon-Abad vs. The House of Representatives, through The Speaker or Acting Speaker or Presiding Officer, Speaker Jose G. De Venecia, Representative Gilberto G. Teodoro, Jr., Representative Felix William B. Fuentebella, The Senate of the Philippines, through its President, Senate President Franklin Drilon.);

G.R. No. 160263(Arturo M. de Castro and Soledad M. Cagampang vs. Franklin Drilon, in his capacity as Senate President, and Jose De Venecia, Jr., in his capacity as Speaker of the House of Representatives.);

G.R. No. 160277(Francisco I. Chavez vs. Jose De Venecia, in his capacity as Speaker of the House of Representatives, Franklin Drilon, in his capacity as President of the Senate of the Republic of the Philippines, Gilbert Teodoro, Jr., Felix William Fuentebella, Julio Ledesma IV, Henry Lanot, Kim Bernardo Lokin, Marcelino Libanan, Emmylou Tali�o-Santos, Douglas Cagas, Sherwin Gatchalian, Luis Bersamin, Jr., Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, Ernesto Nieva,Edgar Erice, Ismael Mathay , Samuel Dangwa, Alfredo Mara�on, Jr., Cecilia Carreon-Jalosjos, Agapito Aquino, Fausto Seachon, Jr., Georgilu Yumul-Hermida, Jose Carlos Lacson, Manuel Ortega, Uliran Juaquin, Soraya Jaafar, Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado, Claude Bautista, Del De Guzman, Zenaida Cruz-Ducut, Augusto Baculio, Faustino Dy III, Augusto Syjuco, Rozzano Rufino Biazon, Leovigildo Banaag, Eric Singson, Jacinto Paras, Jose Solis, Renato Matubo, Hermino Teves, Amado Espino, Jr., Emilio Macias, Arthur Pingoy, Jr., Francis Nepomuceno, Conrado Estrella III, Elias Bulut Jr., Jurdin Romualdo, Juan Pablo Bondoc, Generoso Tulagan, Perpetuo Ylagan, Michael Duavit, Joseph Durano, Jesli Lapus, Carlos Cojuangco, Giorgidi Aggabao, Francis Escuderro, Rene Velarde, Celso Lobregat, Alipio Badelles, Didagen Dilangalen, Abraham Mitra, Joseph Santiago, Darlene Antonio-Custodio, Aleta Suarez, Rodolfo Plaza, JV Bautista, Gregorio Ipong, Gilbert Remulla, Rolex Suplico, Celia Layus, Juan Miguel Zubiri, Benasing Macarambon, Jr., Josefina Joson, Mark Cojuangco, Mauricio Domogan, Ronaldo Zamora, Angelo Montilla, Roseller Barinaga, Jesnar Falcon, Reylina Nicolas, Rodolfo Albano, Joaquin Chipeco, Jr., and Ruy Elias Lopez.);

G.R. No. 160292(Herminio Harry L. Roque, Jr., Joel Ruiz Butuyan, Ma Cecilia Papa, Napoleon C. Reyes, Antonio H. Abad, Jr., Alfredo C. Ligon, Joan P. Serrano and Gary S. Mallari vs. Hon. Speaker Jose De Venecia Jr. and Roberto P. Nazareno, in his capacity as Secretary General of the House of Representatives, and The House of Representatives.); and

G.R. No. 160295(Salacnib F. Baterina and Deputy Speaker Raul M. Gonzales vs. The House of Representatives, through the Speaker or Acting Speaker or Presiding Officer, Speaker Jose G. De Venecia, Representative Gilberto G. Teodoro, Jr., Representative Felix William B. Fuentebella, The Senate of the Philippines, through Its President, Senate President Franklin Drilon.)

Before acting on the above-entitled petitions, Justices Puno and Vitug offered to recuse themselves, but the Court rejected their offer.Justice Panganiban inhibited himself, but the Court directed him to participate.

Acting on the petitions with prayers for temporary restraining order and/or writ of preliminary injunction, the Court Resolved, without giving due course to the petitions, to

(a)CONSOLIDATE these cases;

(b)Require respondents, as well as the Solicitor General, to COMMENT on the petitions within a NON-EXTENDIBLE period of five (5) days from the notice hereof and in any event, not later than 3 November 2003, Monday, at 4:30 in the afternoon; and

(c)SET these cases for ORAL ARGUMENT on 5 November 2003, Wednesday, at 10:00 in the morning, at the New Session Hall, New Supreme Court Building.

The Court calls on the petitioners and the respondents to maintain the STATUS QUO, enjoining the parties and all others acting for and in their behalf, to retain from committing acts that would render the petitions moot.

Further, the Court Resolved to APPOINT the following as AMICI CURIAE:

(1)Former Senate President Jovito R. Salonga;

(2)Former Constitutional Commissioner Joaquin G. Bernas;

(3)Justice Hugo E. Gutierrez, Jr.;

(4)Justice Florenz D. Regalado;

(5)Former Minister of Justice and Solicitor General Estelito P. Mendoza;

(6)Former Constitutional Commissioner Regalado E. Maambong; and

(7)Dean Raul C. Pangalangan of the UP College of Law."

Puno, J., presiding.

Davide, Jr., C.J., took no part.

Bellosillo, J., on sick leave.

Ynares-Santiago and Tinga, JJ., on leave.

Very truly yours,

(Sgd.)LUZVIMINDA D. PUNO
Clerk of Court

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