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EN BANC paragraph

[G. R. No. 124360. December 3, 1997] paragraph

FRANCISCO S. TATAD, Petitioner, v. THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AND THE SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, respondents. paragraph

[G. R. No. 127867. December 3, 1997] paragraph

EDCEL C. LAGMAN, JOKER P. ARROYO, ENRIQUE GARCIA, WIGBERTO TAADA, FLAG HUMAN RIGHTS FOUNDATION, INC., FREEDOM FROM DEBT COALITION ( FDC ), SANLAKAS, Petitioners, vs. HON. RUBEN TORRES in his capacity as Executive Secretary, HON. FRANCISCO VIRAY, in his capacity as the Secretary of Energy, CALTEX Philippines, Inc., PETRON Corporation, and PILIPINAS SHELL Corporation, respondents. paragraph

EASTERN PETROLEUM CORP., SEAOIL PETROLEUM CORP., SUBIC BAY DISTRIBUTION, INC., TWA, INC., and DUBPHIL GAS, movants - in intervention. paragraph

R E S O L U T I O N paragraph

PUNO, J.: paragraph

For resolution are : ( 1 ) the motion for reconsideration filed by the public respondents ; and ( 2 ) the partial motion for reconsideration filed by petitioner Enrique T. Garcia and the intervernors. ¹ paragraph

In the Motion for Reconsideration, the public respondents contend : paragraph

I paragraph

" Executive Order No. 392 is not a misapplication of Republic Act No. 8180 ; paragraph

II paragraph

Section 5 ( b ), 6 and 9 ( b ) of Republic Act No. 8180 do not contravene section 19, Article XII of the Constitution ; and paragraph

III paragraph

Section 5 ( b ), 6 and 9 ( b ) of R. A No. 8180 do not permeate the essence of the said law ; hence their nullity will not vitiate the other part thereof. " paragraph

In their motion for Reconsideration, the intervernors argue : paragraph

" 2. 1. 1 The total nullification of Republic Act No. 8180 restores the disproportionate advantage of the three big oil firms Caltex, Shell and Petron over the small oil firms ; paragraph

2. 1. 2 The total nullification of Republic Act. No. 8180 " disarms " the new entrants and seriously cripples their capacity to compete and grow ; and paragraph

2. 1. 3 Ultimately the total nullification of Republic Act No. 8180 removes substantial, albeit imperfect, barriers to monopolistic practices and unfair competition and trade practices harmful not only to movant - intervernors but also to the public in general. " paragraph

In his Partial Motion for Reconsideration, ² petitioner Garcia prays that only the provisions of R. A. No. 8180 on the 4 % tariff differential, predatory pricing and minimum inventory be declared unconstitutional. He cites the " pernicious effect " of a total declaration on unconstitutionality of R. A No. 8180. He avers that " it is very problematic x x x if Congress can fasttrack an entirely new law. " paragraph

We find no merit in the motions for reconsideration and partial motion for reconsideration. paragraph

We shall first resolve public respondents ' motion for reconsideration. They insist that there was no misapplication of Republic Act. 8180 when the Executive considered the depletion of the OPSF in advancing the date of full deregulation of the downstream oil industry. They urge that the consideration of this factor did not violate the rule that exercise of delegated power must be done strictly in accord with the standard provided in the law. They contend that the rule prohibits the executive from subtracting but not from adding to the standard set by Congress. This hair splitting is sterile attempt to make a distinction when there is no difference. The choice and crafting of the standard to guide the exercise of delegated power is part of the lawmaking process and lies within the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress. The standard cannot be altered in any way by the Executive for the Executive cannot modify the will of the Legislature. To be sure, public respondents do not cite any authority to support its strange thesis for there is none in our jurisprudence. paragraph

The public respondents next recycle their arguments that section 5 ( b ), 6 and 9 ( b ) of R. A No. 8180 do not contravene section 19, Article XII of the Constitution. ³ They reiterate that the 4 % tariff differential would encourage the construction of new refineries which will benefit the country for they use Filipino labor and goods. We have rejected this submission for a reality check will reveal that this 4 % tariff differential gives a decisive edge to the existing oil companies even as it constitute a substantial barrier to the entry of prospective players. We do not agree with the public respondents that there is no empirical evidence to support this ruling. In the recent hearing of the Senate Committee on Energy chaired by Senator Freddie Webb, it was established that the 4 % tariff differential on crude oil and refined petroleum importation gives a 20 - centavo per liter advantage to the three big oil companies over the new players. It was also found that said tariff differential serves as a protective shield for the big oil companies. ⁴ Nor do we approve public respondents ' submission that the entry of new players after deregulation is proof that the 4 % tariff differential is not a heavy disincentive. Acting as the mouthpiece of the new players, public respondents even lament that " unfortunately, the opportunity to get the answer right from the ' horses ` mouth ' eluded this Honorable Court since none of the new players supposedly adversely affected by the assailed provision came forward to voice their position. " ⁵ They need not continue their lamentation. The new players represented by Eastern Petroleum, Seaiol Petroleum Corporation, Subic Bay Distribution, Inc., TWA Inc., and Dubphil Gas have intervened in the cases at bar and have spoken for themselves. In their motion for intervention, they made it crystal clear that it is not their intention " x x x to seek the reversal of the Court ' s nullification of the 4 % differential in section 5 ( b ) nor of the inventory requirement of section 6, nor of the prohibition of predatory pricing in section 9 ( b ). " ⁶They stressed that they only protest the restoration of the 10 % oil tariff differential under the Tariff Code. ⁷ The horse ' s mouth therefore authoritatively tells us that the new players themselves consider the 4 % tariff differential in R. A No. 8180 as oppressive and should be nullified. paragraph

To give their argument a new spin, public respondents try to justify the 4 % tariff differential on the ground that there is a substantial difference between a refiner and an importer just as there is difference between raw material and finished product. Obviously, the effort is made to demonstrate that the unequal tariff does not violate the equal protection clause of the Constitution. The effort only proves that the public respondents are still looking at the issue of tariff differential from wrong end of the telescope. Our Decision did not hold that the 4 % tariff differential infringed the equal protection clause of the Constitution even as this was contended by petitioner Tatad. ⁸ Rather, we held that said tariff differential substantially occluded the entry point of prospective players in the downstream oil industry. We further held that its inevitable result is to exclude fair and effective competition and to enhance the monopolists ` ability to tamper with mechanism of a free market. This consideration is basic in anti - trust suite and cannot be eroded by belaboring the applicable principle in taxation that different things can be taxed differently. paragraph

The public respondents tenaciously defend the validity of the minimum inventory requirement. They aver that the requirement will not prejudice new player " x x x during their first year of operation because they do not have yet annual sales from which the required minimum inventory may be determined. Compliance with such requirement on their second and succeeding years of operation will not be difficult because the putting up of storage facilities in proportion to the volume of their business becomes an ordinary and necessary business undertaking just as the case of importers of finished products in other industries. " ⁹ The contention is an old one although it is purveyed with a new lipstick. The contention cannot convince for a well articulated by petitioner Garcia, " the prohibitive cost of the required minimum inventory will not be any less burdensome on the second, third, fourth, etc. years of operations. Unlike most products which can be imported and stored with facility, oil imports require ocean receiving, storage facilities. Ocean receiving terminals are already very expensive, and to require new players to put up more than they need is to compound and aggravate their cost, and consequently their great dis - advantage vis - a - vis the Big 3. " ¹⁰ Again, the argument on whether the minimum inventory requirement seriously hurts the new players is best settled by hearing the new players themselves. In their motion for intervention, they implicitly confirmed that the high cost of meeting the inventory requirement has an inhibiting effect in their operation and hence, they support the ruling of this Court striking it down as unconstitutional. paragraph

Public respondents still maintain that the provision on predatory pricing does not offend the Constitution. Again, their argument is not fresh though embellished with citation of cases in the United States sustaining the validity of sales - below - costs statutes. ¹¹ A quick look at these American cases will show that they are inapplicable. R. A No. 8180 has a different cast. As discussed, its provision on tariff differential and minimum inventory erected high barriers to the entry of prospective players even as they raised their new rivals ' costs, thus creating the clear danger that the deregulated market in the downstream oil industry will not operate under an atmosphere of free and fair competition. It is certain that lack of real competition will allow the present oil oligopolists to dictate prices, ¹² and can entice them to engage in predatory pricing to eliminate rivals. The fact that R. A. No. 8180 prohibits predatory pricing will not dissolve this clear danger. In truth, its definition of predatory pricing is too loose to be real deterrent. Thus, one of the law ' s principal authors, Congressman Dante O. Tinga filed H. B. No. 10057 where he acknowledged in its explanatory note that " the definition of predatory pricing x x x needs to be tightened up particularly with respect to the definitive benchmark price and the specific anti - competitive intent. The definition in the bill at hand which was taken from the Areeda - Turner test in the United States on predatory pricing resolves the questions. " Following the more effective Areeda - Turner test, Congressman Tinga has proposed the redefine predatory pricing, viz.: " Predatory pricing means selling or offering to sell any oil product at a price below the average variable cost for the purpose of destroying competition, eliminating a competitor or discouraging a competitor from entering the market. " ¹³ In light of its lose characterization in R. A. 8180 and the law ' s anti - competitive provisions, we held that the provision on predatory pricing is constitutionally infirmed for it can be wielded more successfully by the oil oligopolist. Its cumulative effect is to add to the arsenal of power of the dominant oil companies. For as structured, it has no more than the strength of a spider web - - - it can catch the weak but cannot catch the strong ; it can stop the small oil players but cannot the big oil players from engaging in predatory pricing. paragraph

Public respondents insists on their thesis that the cases at bar actually assail the wisdom of R. A. No. 8180 and that this Court should refrain from examining the wisdom of legislations. They contend that R. A No. 8180 involves an economic policy which this Court cannot review for lack of power and competence. To start with, no school of scholars can claim any infallibility. Historians with undefiled learning have chronicled ¹⁴ over the years the disgrace of many economist and the fall of one economic dogma after another. Be that as it may, the Court is aware that the principle of separation of powers prohibits the judiciary from interferring with the policy setting function of the legislature. ¹⁵ For this reason we italicized in our Decision that the Court did not review the wisdom of R. A. No. 8180 but its compatibility with the Constitution ; the Court did not annual the Economic policy of deregulation but vitiated its aspects which offended the constitutional mandate on fair competition. It is beyond debate that the power of Congress to enact laws does not include the right to pass unconstitutional laws. In fine, the Court did not usurp the power of Congress to enact laws but merely discharged its bounden duty to check the constitutionality of laws when challenged in appropriate cases. Our Decision annulling R. A. No. 8180 is justified by the principle of check and balance. paragraph

We hold that the power and obligation of this Court to pass upon the constitutionality of laws cannot be defeated by the fact that the challenged law carries serious economic applications. This Court has struck down laws abridging the political and civil rights of our people even if it has to offend the other more powerful branches of government. There is no reason why the Court cannot strike down R. A No. 8180 that violates the economic rights of our people even if it has to bridle the liberty of big business within reasonable bounds. In Alalayan vs. National Power Corporation¹⁶ the Court, speaking thru Mr. Chief Justice Enrique M. Fernando, held : paragraph

" 2. Nor is petitioner anymore successful in his plea for the nullification of the challenged provision on the ground of his being deprived of the liberty to contract without due process of law. paragraph

It is to be admitted of course that property rights find shelter in specific constitutional provisions, one of which is the due process clause. It is equally certain that our fundamental law framed at a time of " surging unrest and dissatisfaction, " when there was a fear expressed in many quarters that a constitutional democracy, in view of its commitments to the claims of property, would not be able to cope effectively with the problems of poverty and misery that unfortunately afflict so many of our people, therein established is impotent to take the necessary state concept is not alien to philosophy of our Constitution. It is implicit in quite a few of its provisions. It suffices to mention two. paragraph

There is the clause on the promotion of social justice to ensure the well - being and economic security of all the people, as well as the pledge of protection to labor with the specific authority to regulate the relations between landowners and tenants and between labor and capital. This particularized reference to the rights of working men whether in industry and agriculture certainly cannot preclude attention to and concern for the rights of consumers, who are the object of solicitude in the legislation now complained of. The police power as an attribute to promote the common weal would be diluted considerably of its reach and effectiveness if on the mere plea that the liberty to contract would be restricted, the statue complained of may be characterized as a denial of due process. The right to property cannot be pressed to such an unreasonable extreme. paragraph

It is understandable though why business enterprises, not unnaturally evincing lack of enthusiasm for police power legislation that effect the adversely and restrict their profits could predicate alleged violation of their rights on the due process clause, which as interpreted by them is a bar to regulatory measures. Invariably, the response from this Court, from the time the Constitution was enacted, has been far from sympathetic. Thus, during the Commonwealth, we sustained legislations providing for collective bargaining, security of tenure, minimum wages, compulsory arbitration, and tenancy regulation. Neither did the objections as to the validity of measures regulating the issuance of securities and public services prevail. " paragraph

The Constitution gave this Court the authority to strike down all laws that violate the Constitution. ¹⁷ It did not exempt from the reach of this authority laws with economic dimension. A 20 - 20 vision will show that the grant by the Constitution to this Court of this all important power of review is written without any fine print. paragraph

The next issue is whether the Court should only declare as unconstitutional the provision of R. A No. 8180 on 4 % tariff differential, minimum inventory and predatory pricing. paragraph

Positing the affirmative view, petitioner Garcia proffered the following arguments : paragraph

" 5. Begging the kind indulgence and benign patience of the Court, we humbly submit that the unconstitutionality of the aforementioned provisions of R. A. No 8180 implies that the other provisions are constitutional. Thus, said constitutional provisions of R. A No. 8180 may and can very well be spared. paragraph

5. 1 With the striking down of ultimately full deregulation, ' we simply go back to the transition period under R. A. 8180 which will continue until Congress enacts an amendatory law for the start of full oil deregulation in due time, when free market forces are already in place. In turn, the monthly automatic price control mechanism based on Singapore Posted Prices ( SPP ) will be revived. The energy Regulatory Board ( ERB ), which still exists, would re - acquire jurisdiction and would easily compute the monthly price ceiling, based in SPP, of each and every petroleum fuel product, effective upon finality of this Court ' s favorable resolution on this motion for partial reconsideration. paragraph

5. 2 Best of all, the oil deregulation can constitute uninterrupted without the three other assailed provision, namely, the 4 % tariff differential, predatory pricing and minimum inventory. paragraph

6. We further humbly submit that a favorable resolution on this motion for partial reconsideration would be consistent with public interest. paragraph

6. 1 In consequence, new players that have already come in can uninterrupted continue their operations more competitively and bullishly with an even playing field paragraph

6. 2 Further, an even playing field will attract many more new players to come in in a much shorter time. paragraph

6. 3 Correspondingly, Congress does not anymore have to pass a new deregulation law, thus it can immediately concentrate on just amending R. A. No. 8180 to abolish the OPSF, on the government ' s assumption that it is necessary to do so. Parenthetically, it is neither correct nor fair for high government officials to criticize and blame the Honorable Court on the OPSF, considering that said OPSF is not inherent in nor necessary to the transition period and may be removed at any time paragraph

6. 4 In as much as R. A. No. 8180 would continue to be in place ( sans its unconstitutional provision ), only the Comprehensive Tax Reform Package ( CTRP ) would be needed for the country to exit from IMF by December 1997. paragraph

7. The Court, in declaring the entire R. A No. 8180 unconstitutional, was evidently expecting that Congress " can fasttrack the writing of a new law on oil deregulation in accord with the Constitution " ( Decision, p. 38 ). However, it is very problematic, to say the least, if Congress can fasttrack an entirely new law. paragraph

7. 1 There is already limited time for Congress to pass such a new law before it adjourns for the 1998 elections. paragraph

7. 2 At the very least, whether or not Congress will be able to fasttrack the enactment of a new oil deregulation law consistent with the Honorable Court ' s ruling, would depend on many unforeseeable and uncontrollable factors. Already, several statements from legislators, senators and congressmen alike, say that the new law can wait because of other pending legislative matters, etc. Given the " realities " of politics, especially with the 1998 presidential polls six months away, it is not far - fetched that the general welfare could be sacrificed to gain political mileage, thus further unduly delaying the enactment of a new oil deregulation law. paragraph

8. Furthermore, if the entire R. A. No. 8180 remains nullified as unconstitutional, the following pernicious effects will happen : paragraph

8. 1 Until the new oil deregulation law enacted, we would have to go back to the old law. This means full regulation, i. e., higher tariff differential of 10 %, higher petroleum product price ceilings based on transfer prices of imported crude oil, and restrictions on the importation of refined petroleum product that would be allowed only if there are shortages, etc. paragraph

8. 2 In consequence of the above, the existing new players, would have to totally stop their operations. paragraph

8. 3 The existing new players would find themselves in a bind on how to fulfill their contractual obligations, especially on their delivery commitments of petroleum fuel products. They will be in some sort of " limbo " upon the nullification of the entire R. A. No. 8180. paragraph

8. 4 The investments that existing new players have already made would become idle and unproductive. All their planned additional investments would be put on hold. paragraph

8. 5 Needless to say, all this would translate into tremendous losses for them. paragraph

8. 6 And obviously, prospective new players cannot and will not come in. paragraph

8. 7 On the top of everything, public interest will suffer. Firstly, the oil deregulation program will be delayed. Secondly, the prices of petroleum products will be higher because of price ceiling based on transfer prices of imported crude. paragraph

9. When it passed R. A. No 8180 Congress provided a safeguard against the possibility that any of its provisions could be declared unconstitutional, thus the separability clause thereof, which the Court noted ( Decision, p. 29 ). We humbly submits that this is another reason to grant this motion for partial reconsideration. paragraph

In his Supplement to Urgent Motion for Partial Reconsideration, petitioner Garcia amplified his Contentions. paragraph

In a similar refrain, the public respondents contend that the " unmistakable intention of Congress " is to make each and every provision of R. A No. 8180 " independent and separable from one another. " To bolster this proposition, they cite the separability clause of the law and the pending bills in Congress proposing to repeal said offensive provisions but not the entire law itself. They also recite the " inevitable consequences of the declaration of unconstitutionality of R. A No. 8180 " as follows : paragraph

" 1. There will be bigger price adjustments in petroleum products due to ( a ) the reimposition of the higher tariff rates for imported crude oil and imported refined petroleum products [10 % - 20 %], ( b ) the uncertainty regarding R. A. 8184, or the Oil Tariff Law, " which simplified tax administration by lowering the tax rates for socially - sensitive products such as LPG, diesel, fuel oil and kerosene, and increasing tax rates of gasoline product which are used mostly by consumers who belong to the upper income group, and ( c ) the issue of wiping out the deficit of P2. 6 billion and creating a subsidy fund in the Oil Price Stabilization Funds ; Edp paragraph

2. Importers, traders, and industrial end - users like the National Power Corporation will be constrained to source their oil requirement only from existing oil companies because of the higher tariff on imported refined petroleum products and restriction on such importation that would be allowed only if there are shortages ; paragraph

3. Government control and regulation of all the activities of the oil industry will discourage prospective investors and drive away the existing new players ; paragraph

4. All expansion and investment programs of the oil companies and new players will be shelved indefinitely ; paragraph

5. Petition for price adjustment should be filed and approved by the ERB. " paragraph

Joining the chorus, the intervenors contend that : paragraph

" 2. 1. 1 The total nullification of Republic Act No. 8180 restores the disproportionate advantage of the three big oil firms Caltex, Shell and Petron over the small oil firms ; paragraph

2. 1. 2 The total nullification of Republic Act No. 8180 " disarms " the new entrants and seriously cripples their capacity to compete and grow ; and paragraph

2. 1. 3 Ultimately, the total nullification of Republic Act No. 8180 removes substantial, albeit imperfect, barriers to monopolistic practices and unfair competition and trade practices harmful not only to movants - intervenors but also to the public in general. " paragraph

The intervenors further aver that under a regime of regulation, ( 1 ) the big oil firms can block oil importation by small oil firm ; ( 2 ) the big oil firms can block the expansion and growth of the small oil firms. They likewise submit that the provision on tariff differential, minimum inventory, predatory pricing are separable from the body of R. A. No. 8180 because of its separability clause. They also allege that their separability is further shown by the pending bills in the Congress which only seek the partial repeal of R. A. No. 8180. paragraph

We shall first resolve petitioner Garcia ' s linchpin contention that the full deregulation decreed by R. A. No. 8180 to start at the end of March 1997 is unconstitutional. For prescinding from this premise, petitioner suggests that " we simply go back to the transition period under R. A No. 8180. Under the transition period, price control will be revived through the automatic pricing mechanism based on Singapore Posted Prices. The Energy Regulatory Board x x x would play a limited and ministerial role of computing the monthly price ceiling of each and every petroleum fuel product, using the automatic pricing formula. While the OPSF would return, this coverage would be limited to monthly price increases in excess of P0. 50 per liter. " paragraph

We are not impressed by petitioner Garcia ' s submission. Petitioner has no basis in condemning as unconstitutional per se the date fixed by Congress or the beginning of the full deregulation of the downstream oil industry. Our Decision merely faulted the Executive for factoring the depletion of OPSF in advancing the date of full deregulation to February 1997. Nonetheless, the error of the Executive is now a non - issue for the full deregulation set by Congress itself at the end of March 1997 has already come to pass. March 1997 is not an arbitrary date. By that date, the transition period has ended and it was expected that the people would have adjusted to the role of market forces in shaping the prices of petroleum and its products. The choice of March 1997 as the date of full deregulation is a judgement of Congress and its judgment call cannot be impugned by this Court. paragraph

We come to the submission that the provision on 4 % tariff differential, minimum inventory and predatory pricing are separable from body of R. A. No. 8180, and hence, should alone be declared as unconstitutional. In taking this position, the movants rely heavily on the separability provision of R. A. No. 8180. We cannot affirm the movants for to determine whether or not a particular provision is separable, the courts should consider the intent of the legislature. It is true that most of the time, such intent is expressed in a separability clause stating that the invalidity or unconstitutionality of any provision or section of the law will not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remainder. Nonetheless, the separability clause only creates a presumption that the act is severable. It is merely an aid in statutory construction. It is not inexorable command. ¹⁸ A separability clause does not clothe the valid parts with immunity from the invalidating effect the law gives to the inseparable blending of the bad with the good. The separability clause cannot also be applied if it will produce an absurd result. ¹⁹ In sum, if the separation of the statute will defeat the intent of the legislature, separation will not take place despite the inclusion of a separability clause in the law. ²⁰ paragraph

In the case of Republic Act No. 8180, the unconstitutionality of the provision on tariff differential, minimum inventory and predatory pricing cannot but result in the unconstitutionality of the entire law despite its separability clause. These provision cannot be struck down alone for they were the ones intended to carry out the policy of the law embodied in section 2 thereof which reads : paragraph

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. It shall be the policy of the State to deregulate the downstream oil industry to foster a truly competitive market which can better achieve the social policy objectives of fair prices and adequate, continuous supply of environmentally - clean and high - quality petroleum products. paragraph

They actually set the stage for the regime of deregulation where government will no longer intervene in fixing the price of oil and the operations of oil companies. It is conceded that the success of deregulation lies in a truly competitive market and there can be no competitive market without the easy entry and exit of competitors. No less than President Fidel V. Ramos recognized this matrix when he declared that the need is to " x x x recast our laws on trust, monopolies, oligopolies, cartels and combinations injurious to public welfare - - - to restore competition where it has disappeared and to preserve it where it still exists. In a word, we need to perpetuate competition as a system to regulate the economy and achieve global product quality. " ²¹ paragraph

We held in our decision that the provisions on 4 % tariff differential, minimum inventory and predatory pricing are anti - competition, and they are the key provisions of R. A. No. 8180. Without these provisions in place, Congress could not have deregulated the downstream oil industry. Consider the 4 % tariff differential on crude oil and refined petroleum. Before R. A. No. 8180, ²² there was ten - point difference between the tariff imposed on crude oil and that on refined petroleum. Section 5 ( b ) of R. A. No. 8180 lowered the difference to four by imposing a 3 % tariff on crude oil and a 7 % tariff on refined petroleum. We ruled, however, that this reduced tariffs differential is unconstitutional for it still posed a substantial barrier to the entry of new players and enhanced the monopolistic power of the three existing oil companies. The ruling that the 4 % differential is unconstitutional will unfortunately revive the 10 % tariff differential of the Tariff and Customs Code. The high 10 % tariff differential will certainly give a bigger edge to the three existing oil companies, will form an insuperable barrier to prospective players, and will drive out of business the new players. Thus, there can be no question that Congress will not allow deregulation if the tariff is 10 % on crude oil and 20 % on refined petroleum. To decree the partial unconstitutionality of R. A. No. 8180 will bring out an absurdity - - - a fully deregulated downstream oil industry where government is impotent to regulate to run away prices, where the oil oligopolists can engaged in cartelization without competition, where prospective players cannot come in, and where new players will close shop. paragraph

We also reject the argument that the bills pending in Congress merely seek to remedy the partial defects of R. A. No. 8180, and that this is proof that R. A. No. 8180 can be declared unconstitutional minus its offensive provisions. We referred to the pending bills in Congress in our Decision only to show that Congress itself is aware of the various defects of the law and not to prove the inseparability of the offending provisions from the body of R. A No. 8180. To be sure, movants even overlooked the fact that resolutions have been filed in both Houses of Congress calling for a total review of R. A. No. 8180. paragraph

The movants warn that our Decision will throw us back to the undesirable regime of regulation. They emphasize its pernicious consequences - - - the revival of the 10 % tariff differential which will wipe out the new players, the return of the OPSF which is too burdensome to government, the unsatisfactory scheme of price regulation by the ERB, etc. To stress again, it is not the will of the Court to return even temporarily to the regime of regulation. If we return to the regime of regulation, it is because it is the inevitable consequence of the enactment by Congress of an unconstitutional law, R. A. No. 8180. It is settled jurisprudence that the declaration of a law as unconstitutional revives the laws that it has repealed. Stated otherwise, an unconstitutional laws returns us to the status quo ante and this return is beyond the power of the Court to stay. Under our scheme of government, however, the remedy to prevent the revival of an unwanted status quo ante lies with Congress. Congress can block the revival of the status quo ante or stop its constitution by immediately enacting the necessary remedial legislation. We emphasize that in case at bar, the Court did not condemn the economic policy of deregulation as unconstitutional. It merely held that as crafted, the law runs counter to the constitutional provision calling for fair competition. ²³ Thus, there is no impediment in re - enacting R. A. No. 8180 minus its provisions which are anti - competition. The Court agrees that our return to the regime of regulation has pernicious consequences and it specially sympathizes with the intervenors. Be that as it may, the Court is powerless to prevent this return just as it is powerless to repeal the 10 % tariff differential of the Tariff Code. It is Congress that can give all these remedies. ²⁴ paragraph

Petitioner Garcia, however, injects a non - legal argument in his motion for partial reconsideration. He avers that " given the ' realities ' of politics, especially with the 1998 presidential polls six months away, it is not far - fetched that the general welfare could be sacrificed to gain political mileage, thus further unduly delaying the enactment of a new oil deregulation law. " The short answer to petitioner Garcia ' s argument is that when the Court reviews the constitutionality of a law, it does not deal with the realities of politics nor does it delve into the mysticism of politics. The Court has no partisan political theology for as an institution it is at best apolitical, and at worse, politically agnostic. In any event, it should not take a long time for Congress to enact a new oil deregulation law given its interest for the welfare of our people. Petitioner Garcia himself has been quoted as saying that " x x x with the Courts decision, it would now easy for Congress to craft a new law, considering that lawmakers will be guided by the Court ' s points. " ²⁵ Even before our Decision, bills amending the offensive provisions of R. A No. 8180 have already been filed in the Congress and under consideration by its committees. Speaker Jose de Venecia has assured after a meeting of the Legislative - Executive Advisory Council ( LEDAC ) that : " I suppose before Christmas, we should be able to pass a new oil deregulation law. ²⁶ The Chief Executive himself has urged the immediate passage of a new and better oil deregulation law. ²⁷ paragraph

Finally, public respondents raise the scarecrow argument that our Decision will drive away foreign investors. In response to this official repertoire, suffice to state that our Decision precisely levels the playing field for foreign investors as against the three dominant oil oligopolist. No less than the influential Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry whose motive is beyond question, stated thru its Acting President Jaime Ladao that " x x x this Decision, in fact tell us that we are for honest - to - goodness competition. " Our Decision should be a confidence - booster to foreign investors for it assures them of an effective judicial remedy against an unconstitutional law. There is need to attract foreign investment but the policy has never been foreign investment at any cost. We cannot trade - in the Constitution for foreign investment. It is not economic heresy to hold that that trade - in is not a fair exchange. paragraph

To recapitulate, our Decision declared R. A. No. 8180 unconstitutional for three reasons : ( 1 ) it gave more power to an already powerful oil oligopoly ; ( 2 ) it blocked the entry of effective competitors ; and ( 3 ) it will sire an even more powerful oligopoly whose unchecked power will prejudiced the interest of the consumer and comprise the general welfare. paragraph

A weak and developing country like the Philippines cannot risk downstream oil industry controlled by foreign oligopoly that can run riot. Oil is our most socially sensitive commodity and for it to be under control of a foreign oligopoly without effective competitors is a clear and present danger. A foreign oil oligopoly can undermine the security of the nation ; it can exploit the economy if greed becomes it creed ; it will have the power to drive the Filipino to a prayerful pose. Under a deregulated regime, the people ' s only hope to check the overwhelming power of the foreign oil oligopoly lies on a market where there is fair competition. With prescience, the Constitution mandates the regulation of monopolies and interdicts unfair competition. Thus, the Constitution provides a shield to the economic rights of our people, especially the poor. It is the unyielding duty of this court to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution not with a mere wishbone but with a backbone that should neither bend nor break. paragraph

IN VIEW WHEREOF, the Motions for Reconsideration of the public respondents and of the intervenors as well as thePartial Motion for Reconsideration of petitioner Enrique Garcia are DENIED lack of merit. paragraph

SO ORDERED. paragraph

Regalado, Davide, Jr., Romero, Bellosillo, Vitug, Mendoza, and Panganiban, JJ., concur. paragraph

Narvasa, C. J., took no part, on official leave when the case was deliberated. paragraph

Melo, and Francisco, JJ., dissent. paragraph

Martinez, J., no part, not yet a member of the Court when the case was deliberated. paragraph

Kapunan, J., has separate concurring and dissenting opinion. paragraph