2014 CASE DIGEST: ARIGO V. SWIFT PONENTE: Villarama TOPIC: Writ of kalikasan !"C#OS Imm$nit% from s$it
FACTS:
T&' !SS G$ar( G$ar(ian ian is an A)'n*'r+ A)'n*'r+,lass ,lass min' ,o$nt'rm'as$r' ,o$nt'rm'as$r'ss s&i- of t&' !S "a)% "a)%.. In D','m'r 2012 t&' !S Emass% Emass% in t&' /&ili--in's r'$'st'( (i-lomati, ,l'aran,' for t&' sai( )'ss'l to 'nt'r an( 'it t&' t'rritorial 3at'rs of t&' /&ili--in's an( to arri)' at t&' -ort of S$i, a% for t&' -$r-os' of ro$tin' s&i- r'-l'nis&m'nt maint'nan,' an( ,r'3 li'rt%.5 On 6an$ar% 7 2018 t&' s&i- l'ft Sas'o 6a-an for S$i, a% arri)in* on 6an$ar% 18 2018 aft'r a ri'f sto- for f$'l in Okina3a 6a-an. On 6an$ar% 19 2018 t&' !SS G$ar(ian ('-art'( S$i, a% for its n't -ort of ,all in akassar In(on'sia. On 6an$ar% 1; 2018 at 2:20 a.m. 3&il' transitin* t&' S$l$ S'a t&' s&i- ran a*ro$n( on t&' nort&3'st si(' of So$t& S&oal of t&' T$ata&a R''fs ao$t <0 mil's 'ast+ so$t&'ast of /ala3an. "o on' 3as in=$r'( in t&' in,i('nt an( t&'r' &a)' ''n no r'-orts of l'akin* f$'l or oil. /'tition'rs /'titio n'rs ,laim t&at t&' *ro$ *ro$n(in* n(in* sal)a* sal)a*in* in* an( -ost+ -ost+sal)a* sal)a*in* in* o-'r o-'rations ations of t&' !SS G$ar( G$ar(ian ian ,a$s' an( ,ontin ,ontin$' $' to ,a$s' 'n)ironm'ntal (ama*' of s$,& ma*nit$(' as to aff',t t&' -ro)in,'s of /ala3an Anti$' Aklan G$imaras Iloilo "'*ros O,,i('ntal "'*ros Ori'ntal >amoan*a ('l "ort' asilan S$l$ an( Ta3i+Ta3i 3&i,& ')'nts )iolat' t&'ir , onstit$tional ri*&ts to a alan,'( an( &'alt&f$l ',olo*%. ISSUES:
1.
W&'t&'r or not -'tition'rs &a)' l'*al stan(in*.
2.
W&' &'t& t&'r 'r or no not !S !S r's r's-o -on( n('n 'nts ts ma% ' &'l 'l( ( lia lial l'' fo for (am (ama* a*'s 's ,a ,a$s $s'( '( % !S !SS S G$a G$ar( r(ia ian. n.
8.
W&' &'t& t&'r 'r or no nott t& t&' 3ai 3ai) )'r of imm imm$ $ni nit% t% fr fro om s$ s$it $n $n(' ('rr VFA aa--l -li' i'ss in t& t&is is ,a ,ass'.
HELD: First issue: YES.
Petitioners have legal staning
#o,$s stan(i is a ri*&t of a--'aran,' in a ,o$rt of =$sti,' on a *i)'n $'stion.5 S-',ifi,all% it is a -art%?s -'rsonal an( s$stantial int'r'st in a ,as' 3&'r' &' &as s$stain'( or 3ill s$stain (ir',t in=$r% as a r's$lt5 of t&' a,t 'in* ,&all'n*'( an( ,alls for mor' t&an =$st a *'n'rali@'( *'n'r ali@'( *ri')an,'.5 *ri')an,'.5 o3')'r o3')'r t&' r$l' on stan( stan(in* in* is a -ro, -ro,'($ra '($rall matt'r 3&i,& t&is Co$ Co$rt rt &as r'la'( for non+t non+tra(it ra(itional ional -laintiffs -laintiffs lik' or(inar% ,iti@'ns ta-a%'rs an( l'*islators 3&'n t&' -$li, int'r'st so r'$ir's s$,& as 3&'n t&' s$=',t matt'r of t&' ,ontro)'rs% is of trans,'n('ntal im-ortan,' of o)'rr'a,&in* si*nifi,an,' to so,i't% or of -aramo$nt -$li, int'r'st. In t&' lan(mark ,as' of O-osa ). Fa,toran 6r. 3' r',o*ni@'( t&' -$li, ri*&t5 of ,iti@'ns to a alan,'( an( &'alt&f$l ',olo*% 3&i,& for t&' first tim' in o$r ,onstit$tional &istor% is sol'mnl% in,or-orat'( in t&' f$n(am'ntal la3.5 W' (',lar'( t&at t&' ri*&t to a alan,'( an( &'alt&f$l ',olo*% n''( not ' 3ritt'n in t&' Constit$tionfor it is ass$m'( lik' ot&'r ,i)il an( -olitt,al ri*&ts *$arant''( in t&' ill of Ri*&ts to 'ist from t&' in,'-tion of mankin( an( it is an iss$' of trans,'n('ntal im-ortan,' 3it& int'r*'n'rational im-li,ations. S$,& ri*&t ,arri's 3it& it t&' ,orr'lati)' ($t% to r'frain from im-airin* t&' 'n)ironm'nt. On t&' no)'l 'l'm'nt in t&' ,lass s$it fil'( % t&' -'tition'rs minors in O-osa t&is Co$rt r$l'( t&at not onl% (o or(inar% ,iti@'ns &a)' l'*al stan(in* to s$' for t&' 'nfor,'m'nt of 'n)ironm'ntal ri*&ts t&'% ,an (o so in r'-r's'ntation of t&'ir o3n an( f$t$r' *'n'rations. Se!on issue: YES.
T&' !S r's-on('nts 3'r' s$'( in t&'ir offi,ial ,a-a,it% as ,omman(in* offi,'rs of t&' !S "a)% 3&o &a( ,ontrol an( s$-'r)ision o)'r t&' !SS G$ar(ian an( its ,r'3. T&' all'*'( a,t or omission r's$ltin* in t&' $nfort$nat' *ro$n(in* of t&' !SS G$ar(ian on t&' TR"/ 3as ,ommitt'( 3&il' t&'% 3'r' -'rformin* offi,ial militar% ($ti's. Consi('rin* t&at t&' satisfa,tion of a =$(*m'nt a*ainst sai( offi,ials 3ill r'$ir' r'm'(ial a,tions an( a--ro-riation of f$n(s % t&' !S *o)'rnm'nt t&' s$it is (''m'( to ' on' a*ainst t&' !S its'lf. T&' -rin,i-l' of Stat' imm$nit% t&'r'for' ars t&' ''r,is' of =$ris(i,tion % t&is Co$rt o)'r t&' -'rsons of r's-on('nts S3ift Ri,' an( Rolin*. D$rin* t&' ('li'rations S'nior Asso,iat' 6$sti,' Antonio T. Car-io took t&' -osition t&at t&' ,on($,t of t&' !S in t&is ,as' 3&'n its 3ars&i- 'nt'r'( a r'stri,t'( ar'a in )iolation of R.A. "o. 1007; an( ,a$s'( (ama*' to t&' TR"/ r''f s%st'm rin*s t&' matt'r 3it&in t&' amit of Arti,l' 81 of t&' !nit'( "ations Con)'ntion on t&' #a3 of t&' S'a B!"C#OS. He e"#laine that $hile histori!all%& $arshi#s en'o% sovereign i((unit% )ro( suit as e"tensions o) their )lag State& Art. *+ o) the UNCLOS !reates an e"!e#tion to this rule in !ases $here the% )ail to !o(#l%$ith the rules an regulations o) the !oastal State regaring #assage through the latter,s internal $aters an the territorial sea.
In the !ase o) $arshi#s& as #ointe out -% usti!e Car#io& the% !ontinue to en'o% sovereign i((unit% su-'e!t to the )ollo$ing e"!e#tions: Arti!le */: "on+,om-lian,' % 3ars&i-s 3it& t&' la3s an( r'*$lations of t&' ,oastal Stat'
If an% 3ars&i- (o's not ,om-l% 3it& t&' la3s an( r'*$lations of t&' ,oastal Stat' ,on,'rnin* -assa*' t&ro$*& t&' t'rritorial s'a an( (isr'*ar(s an% r'$'st for ,om-lian,' t&'r'3it& 3&i,& is ma(' to it t&' ,oastal Stat' ma% r'$ir' it to l'a)' t&' t'rritorial s'a imm'(iat'l%. Arti!le *+: R's-onsiilit% of t&' fla* Stat' for (ama*' ,a$s'( % a 3ars&i- or ot&'r *o)'rnm'nt s&i- o-'rat'( for non+,omm'r,ial -$r-os's
T&' fla* Stat' s&all 'ar int'rnational r's-onsiilit% for an% loss or (ama*' to t&' ,oastal Stat' r's$ltin* from t&' non+,om-lian,' % a 3ars&i- or ot&'r *o)'rnm'nt s&i- o-'rat'( for non+,omm'r,ial -$r-os's 3it& t&' la3s an( r'*$lations of t&' ,oastal Stat' ,on,'rnin* -assa*' t&ro$*& t&' t'rritorial s'a or 3it& t&' -ro)isions of t&is Con)'ntion or ot&'r r$l's of i nt'rnational la3. Arti!le *0: Imm$niti's of 3ars&i-s an( ot&'r *o)'rnm'nt s&i-s o-'rat'( for non+,omm'r,ial -$r-os's
Wit& s$,& ','-tions as ar' ,ontain'( in s$s',tion A an( in arti,l's 80 an( 81 not&in* in t&is Con)'ntion aff',ts t&' imm$niti's of 3ars&i-s an( ot&'r *o)'rnm'nt s&i-s o-'rat'( for non+,omm'r,ial -$r-os's. A )oreign $arshi#,s unauthori1e entr% into our internal $aters $ith resulting a(age to (arine resour!es is one situation in $hi!h the a-ove #rovisions (a% a##l%. But what if the offending warship is a non-party to the UNCLOS, as in this case, the US? A,,or(in* to 6$sti,' Car-io alt&o$*& t&' !S to (at' &as not ratifi'( t&' !"C#OS as a matt'r of lon*+stan(in* -oli,% t&' !S ,onsi('rs its'lf o$n( % ,$stomar% int'rnational r$l's on t&' tra(itional $s's of t&' o,'ans5 as ,o(ifi'( in !"C#OS. or'o)'r 6$sti,' Car-io 'm-&asi@'s t&at t&' !S r'f$sal to =oin t&' !"C#OS 3as ,'nt'r'( on its (isa*r''m'nt 3it& !"C#OS5 r'*im' of (''s'a'( minin* B/art I 3&i,& ,onsi('rs t&' o,'ans an( (''- s'a'( ,ommonl% o3n'( % mankin(5 -ointin* o$t t&at s$,& &as not&in* to (o 3it& its t&' !S? a,,'-tan,' of ,$stomar% int'rnational r$l's on na)i*ation.5 T&' Co$rt also f$ll% ,on,$rr'( 3it& 6$sti,' Car-io?s )i'3 t&at non+m'm'rs&i- in t&' !"C#OS (o's not m'an t&at t&' !S 3ill (isr'*ar( t&' ri*&ts of t&' /&ili--in's as a Coastal Stat' o)'r its int'rnal 3at'rs an( t'rritorial s'a. W' t&$s '-',t t&' !S to 'ar int'rnational r's-onsiilit%5 $n('r Art. 81 in ,onn',tion 3it& t&' !SS G$ar(ian *ro$n(in* 3&i,& a()'rs'l% aff',t'( t&' T$ata&a r''fs. In(''( it is (iffi,$lt to ima *in' t&at o$r lon*+tim' all% an( tra(in* -artn'r 3&i,& &as ''n a,ti)'l% s$--ortin* t&' ,o$ntr%?s 'fforts to -r's'r)' o$r )ital marin' r'so$r,'s 3o$l( s&irk from its oli*ation to ,om-'nsat' t&' (ama*' ,a$s'( % its 3ars&i- 3&il' transitin* o$r int'rnal 3at'rs. $,& l'ss ,an 3' ,om-r'&'n( a Go)'rnm'nt ''r,isin* l'a('rs&i- in int'rnational affairs $n3illin* to ,om-l% 3it& t&' !"C#OS (ir',ti)' for all nations to ,oo-'rat' in t&' *loal task to -rot',t an( -r's'r)' t&' marin' 'n)ironm'nt as -ro)i('( in Arti,l' 1; of !"C#OS Arti!le +23: Coo-'ration on a *loal or r' *ional asis
Stat's s&all ,oo-'rat' on a *loal asis an( as a--ro-riat' on a r'*ional asis (ir',tl% or t&ro$*& ,om-'t'nt int'rnational or*ani@ations in form$latin* an( 'laoratin* int'rnational r$l's stan(ar(s an( r',omm'n('( -ra,ti,'s an( -ro,'($r's ,onsist'nt 3it& t&is Con)'ntion for t&' -rot',tion an( -r's'r)ation of t&' marin' 'n)ironm'nt takin* into a,,o$nt ,&ara,t'risti, r'*ional f'at$r's. In )ine& the relevan!e o) UNCLOS #rovisions to the #resent !ontrovers% is -e%on is#ute. Although the sai treat% u#hols the i((unit% o) $arshi#s )ro( the 'urisi!tion o) Coastal States $hile navigating the latter,s territorial sea& the )lag States shall -e re4uire to leave the territorial sea i((eiatel% i) the% )lout the la$s an regulations o) the Coastal State& an the% $ill -e lia-le )or a(ages !ause -% their $arshi#s or an% other govern(ent vessel o#erate )or non5!o((er!ial #ur#oses uner Arti!le *+.
Thir issue: NO.
T&' 3ai)'r of Stat' imm$nit% $n('r t&' VF A -'rtains onl% to ,riminal =$ris(i,tion an( not to s-',ial ,i)il a,tions s$,& as t&' -r's'nt -'tition for iss$an,' of a 3rit of alikasan. In fa,t it ,a n ' inf'rr'( from S',tion 1; R$l' ; of t&' R$l's t&at a ,riminal ,as' a*ainst a -'rson ,&ar*'( 3it& a )iolation of an ' n)ironm'ntal la3 is to ' fil'( s'-arat'l%. T&' Co$rt ,onsi('r'( a )i'3 t&at a r$lin* on t&' a--li,ation or non+a--li,ation of ,riminal =$ris(i,tion -ro)isions of t&' VFA to !S -'rsonn'l 3&o ma% ' fo$n( r's-onsil' for t&' *ro$n(in* of t&' !SS G$ar(ian 3o$l( ' -r'mat$r' an( '%on( t&' -ro)in,' of a -'tition for a 3rit of alikasan. T&' Co$rt also fo$n( $nn','ssar% at t&is -oint to ('t'rmin' 3&'t&'r s$,& 3ai)'r of Stat' imm$nit% is in(''( asol$t'. In t&' sam' )'in 3' ,annot *rant (ama*'s 3&i,& &a)' r's$lt'( from t&' )iolation of 'n)ironm'ntal la3s. T&' R$l's allo3s t&' r',o)'r% of (ama*'s in,l$(in* t&' ,oll',tion of a(ministrati)' fin's $n('r R.A. "o. 1007; in a s'-arat' ,i)il s$it or t&at (''m'( instit$t'( 3it& t&' ,riminal a,tion ,&ar*in* t&' sam' )iolation of an 'n)ironm'ntal la3.
