Topic: Commission on Apointments
Facts:
In August 2007, both the Senate and the House of Representatives (HOR) elected their respective representatives to the Commission on Appointments (CA). The contingent of the Senate for the CA is composed of 1 from KAMPI, 1 UNO, 3 Lakas-CMD, 2 PMP, 1 NPC, 1 LP, and 1 PRP. The contingent of HOR is 6 Lakas-CMD, 2 KAMPI, 3 NPC, and 1 CIBAC Party List.
Because of the non representation of LP, who have 20 elected member at the HOR, to the contingent, Representative Tanada requested De Venecia (JDV) to consider putting 1 LP member to the contingent and that they are entitled to such cause they have 20 elected members in the HOR. After letters between Tanada and JDV, Drilon filed a case on behalf of LP requesting the same by Rep. Tanada, which was docketed as G.R. No. 180055 which was later withdrawn due to mootness when Cong Umali from Mindoro was added to the contingent of HOR to the CA.
Meantime, Senator Jamby “Jajajajamby” Madrigal claimed that the contingent of Senate to the CA is not proportional, hence, in violation of the Constitution, for the follow reasons:
1. PMP has two representatives in the CA although it only has two members in the Senate and thus [is] entitled only to one (1) seat.
2. KAMPI has only one (1) member in the Senate and thus is not entitled to a CA seat and yet it is represented in the CA.
3. PRP has only one (1) member in the Senate and thus is not entitled to a CA seat and yet it is represented in the CA.
4. If Senators Richard Gordon and Pilar Juliana Cayetano are Independents, then Sen. Gordon cannot be a member of the CA as Independents cannot be represented in the CA even though there will be three Independents in the CA.
5. If Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is now NP, he still can sit in the CA representing NP.
She likewise claimed that the composition of the contingent of HOR is not proportional:
1. Lakas-CMD currently has five (5) members in the Commission on Appointments although