Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Moot and academic - sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/november2012/197466.pdf

sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/november2012/197466.pdf

"x x x.


Accordingly, there no longer exists an actual controversy between the parties and resolving the merits of this case would no longer serve any useful purpose.  As  we  held  in  Ocampo  v.  House  of Representatives  Electoral Tribunal:

At  any  rate,  the  petition  has  become  moot  and  academic.  The Twelfth Congress formally adjourned on June  11, 2004.  And on May  17, 2004,  the  City  Board  of Canvassers  proclaimed  Bienvenido  Abante  the duly  elected Congressman of the  Sixth District of Manila pursuant to the
May 1 0, 2004 elections.

In the recent case of Enrile vs.  Senate Electoral Tribunal, we ruled that a  case becomes moot and academic when there is  no more actual controversy between the parties or no useful purpose can be served in passing  upon  the  merits.  Worth  reiterating  is  our  pronouncement  in Gancho-on vs.  Secretary of Labor and Employment, thus:

"It  is  a  rule  of universal  application,  almost,  that courts of justice constituted to  pass  upon substantial rights will  not consider questions in which no  actual interests  are involved;  they  decline  jurisdiction  of moot  cases.  And where the issue has become moot and academic, there is no justiciable controversy, so that a declaration thereon would be  of  no  practical  use  or  value.  There  is  no  actual substantial relief to  which petitioner would  be  entitled  and which would be negated by the dismissal of the petition."

(Emphasis supplied)

x x x."