[G.R. No. 145894. November 28, 2000]

PHIL. TRIAL LAWYERS ASSN., INC., et al. vs. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, et al.

EN BANC

Gentlemen:

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of this Court dated NOV 28 2000.

G.R. No. 145894 (Philippine Trial Lawyers Association, Inc., et al. vs. The House of Representatives, et al.) and

G.R. No. 145897 (In the Matter of Declaratory Relief on the Petition for Certiorari, Injunction and Prohibition filed by the Philippine Trial Lawyers Assn., Eduardo Bacaltos Inlayo, Petitioner.)

These are consolidated petitions. G.R. No. 145894 is a petition for certiorari, prohibition, injunction and/or declaratory relief filed by the Philippine Trial Lawyers Association, Inc., and the officers and members of its Board of Directors. Petitioners therein pray that the separate rules of procedure for impeachment of the House of Representatives and of the Senate, as well as the complaint and the resolutions of endorsement for the impeachment of President Joseph E. Estrada by the House of Representatives, be declared unconstitutional; and that the Senate be prohibited from conducting the Trial on Impeachment of President Estrada.

On the other hand, G.R. No. 145897 is a petition for declaratory relief which seeks clarification on, among others, whether this Court has jurisdiction to pass upon the validity of the internal rules of the House of Representative On impeachment; whether the petition filed by the Philippine Trial Lawyers Association before this Court violated the rule on forum-shopping; and whether this Court can act on the petition seeking to enjoin the impeachment proceedings in the Senate where the Chief Justice is the Presiding Officer.

Both petitions must be dismissed for being without merit. Petitioners have no locus standi as taxpayers since there is no illegal disbursement of public funds involved. Moreover, it is well-settled that this Court has no exclusive and original jurisdiction over petitions for declaratory relief.

ACCORDINGLY, the petitions are DISMISSED.

Very truly yours,

LUZVIMINDA D. PUNO

Clerk of Court

(Sgd.) MA. LUISA D. VILLARAMA

Asst. Clerk of Court


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