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G.R. No. 100113. September 3, 1991.*
RENATO L. CAYETANO, petitioner, vs. CHRISTIAN
MONSOD, HON. JOVITO R. SALONGA, COMMISSION
ON APPOINTMENTS, and HON. GUILLERMO
CARAGUE, in his capacity as Secretary of Budget
and Management, respondents.
Constitutional Law; Qualifications of COMELEC
Chairman; Practice of law defined.Practice of
law means any activity, in or out of court, which
requires the application of law, legal procedure,
knowledge, training and experience. To engage in
the practice of law is to perform those acts which
are characteristics of the profession. Generally, to
practice law is to give notice or render any kind of
service, which device or service requires the use in
any degree of legal knowledge or skill. (111 ALR
23) Interpreted in the light of the various definitions
of the term practice of law, particularly the
modern concept of law practice, and taking into
consideration the liberal construc-tion intended by
the framers of the Constitution, Atty. Monsods past
work experiences as a lawyer-economist, a lawyermanager, a lawyerentrepreneur of industry, a
lawyer-negotiator of contracts, and a lawyerlegislator of both the rich and the poorverily more
than satisfy the constitutional requirementthat he
has been engaged in the practice of law for at least
ten years.
Same; Same; Judicial review of judgments rendered
by
the
Commission
on
Appointments.The
Commission on the basis of evidence submitted
during
the
public
hearings
on
Monsods

confirmation,
implicitly
determined
that
he
possessed the necessary qualifications as required
by law. The judgment rendered by the Commission
in the exercise of such an acknowledged power is
beyond judicial interference except only upon a
clear showing of a grave abuse of discretion
amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction. (Art. VIII,
Sec. 1 Constitution). Thus, only where such grave
abuse of discretion is clearly shown shall the Court
interfere with the Commissions judgment. In the
instant case, there is no occasion for the exercise of
the Courts corrective power, since no abuse, much
less a grave abuse of discretion, that would amount
to lack or excess of jurisdiction and would warrant
the issuance of the writs prayed, for has been
clearly shown.
________________
* EN BANC.
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

PADILLA, J., Dissenting:
Constitutional Law; Qualifications of COMELEC
Chairman; Definition of Practice of Law".What
constitutes practice of law? As commonly
understood, practice refers to the actual
performance or application of knowledge as
distinguished from mere possession of knowledge; it
connotes an active, habitual, repeated or customary
action. To practice law, or any profession for that
matter, means, to exercise or pursue an
employment or profession actively, habitually,
repeatedly or customarily. Therefore, a doctor of
medicine who is employed and is habitually

performing the tasks of a nursing aide, cannot be

said to be in the practice of medicine. A certified
public accountant who works as a clerk, cannot be
said to practice his profession as an accountant. In
the same way, a lawyer who is employed as a
business executive or a corporate manager, other
than as head or attorney of a Legal Department of a
corporation or a governmental agency, cannot be
said to be in the practice of law.
GUTIERREZ, JR., J., Dissenting:
Constitutional Law; Qualifications of COMELEC
Chairman; Definition of Practice of Law".The
Constitution uses the phrase engaged in the
practice of law for at least ten years. The
deliberate choice of words shows that the practice
envisioned is active and regular, not isolated,
occasional, accidental, intermittent, incidental,
seasonal, or extemporaneous. To be engaged in
an activity for ten years requires committed
participation in something which is the result of
ones decisive choice. It means that one is occupied
and involved in the enterprise; one is obliged or
pledged to carry it out with intent and attention
during the ten-year period.
PETITION to review the decision of the Commission
on Appointments.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
Renato L. Cayetano for and in his own behalf.
Sabina E. Acut, Jr. and Mylene Garcia-Albano cocounsel for petitioner.
PARAS, J.:
We are faced here with a controversy of far-reaching
proportions. While ostensibly only legal issues are
involved, the Courts
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decision in this case would indubitably have a
profound effect on the political aspect of our
national existence.
The 1987 Constitution provides in Section 1 (1),
Article IX-C:
There shall be a Commission on Elections
composed of a Chairman and six Commissioners
who shall be natural-born citizens of the Philippines
and, at the time of their appointment, at least thirtyfive years of age, holders of a college degree, and
must not have been candidates for any elective
position in the immediately preceding elections.
However, a majority thereof, including the
Chairman, shall be members of the Philippine Bar
who have been engaged in the practice of law for at
least ten years. (Italics supplied)
The aforequoted provision is patterned after Section
1(1), Article XII-C of the 1973 Constitution which
similarly provides:
There shall be an independent Commission on
Elections composed of a Chairman and eight
Commissioners who shall be naturalborn citizens of
the Philippines and, at the time of their
appointment, at least thirty-five years of age and
holders of a college degree. However, a majority
thereof, including the Chairman, shall be mem-bers
of the Philippine Bar who have been engaged in the
practice of law for at least ten years. (Italics
supplied)
Regrettably, however, there seems to be no
jurisprudence as to what constitutes practice of law
as a legal qualification to an appointive office.

Black defines practice of law as:

The rendition of services requiring the knowledge
and the application of legal principles and technique
to serve the interest of another with his consent. It
is not limited to appearing in court, or advising and
assisting in the conduct of litigation, but embraces
the preparation of pleadings, and other papers
incident to actions and special proceedings,
conveyancing, the preparation of legal instruments
of all kinds, and the giving of all legal advice to
clients. It embraces all advice to clients and all
actions taken for them in matters connected with
the law. An attorney engages in the practice of law
by maintaining an office where he is held out to be
an attorney, using a letterhead describing himself as
an attorney, counseling clients in legal matters.
negotiating with opposing counsel about pending
litigation, and fixing and collecting fees for services
rendered by his associate. (Blacks Law Dictionary,
3rd ed.)
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

The practice of law is not limited to the conduct of
cases in court (Land Title Abstract and Trust Co. v.
Dworken, 129 Ohio St. 23, 193 N.E. 650) A person is
also considered to be in the practice of law when he:
x x x for valuable consideration engages in the
business of advising person, firms, associations or
corporations as to their rights under the law, or
appears in a representative capacity as an advocate
in proceedings pending or prospective, before any
court,
commissioner,
referee,
board,
body,
committee, or commission constituted by law or

authorized to settle controversies and there, in such

representative capacity performs any act or acts for
the purpose of obtaining or defending the rights of
their clients under the law. Otherwise stated, one
who, in a representative capacity, engages in the
business of advising clients as to their rights under
the law, or while so engaged performs any act or
acts either in court or outside of court for that
purpose, is engaged in the practice of law. (State
ex. rel. Mckittrick v, C.S. Dudley and Co., 102 S.W.
2d 895, 340 Mo. 852)
This Court in the case of Philippine Lawyers
Association v. Agrava, (105 Phil. 173, 176177)
stated:
The practice of law is not limited to the conduct of
cases or litigation in court; it embraces the
preparation of pleadings and other papers incident
to
actions
and
special
proceedings,
the
management of such actions and proceedings on
behalf of clients before judges and courts, and in
addition, conveying. In general, all advice to clients,
and all action taken for them in matters connected
with the law incorporation services, assessment and
condemnation
services
contemplating
an
appearance before a judicial body, the foreclosure of
a mortgage, enforcement of a creditors claim in
bankruptcy and insolvency proceedings, and
conducting proceedings in attachment, and in
matters of estate and guardianship have been held
to constitute law practice, as do the preparation and
drafting of legal instruments, where the work done
involves the determination by the trained legal
mind of the legal effect of facts and conditions. (5
Am. Jr. p. 262, 263). (Italics supplied)

Practice of law under modern conditions consists

in no small part of work performed outside of any
court and having no immediate relation to
proceedings in court. It embraces conveyancing, the
giving of legal advice on a large variety of subjects,
and the preparation and execution of legal
instruments covering an extensive field of business
and trust relations and other affairs. Although these
transactions may
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have no direct connection with court proceedings,
they are always subject to become involved in
litigation. They require in many aspects a high
degree of legal skill, a wide experience with men
and affairs, and great capacity for adaptation to
difficult and complex situations. These customary
functions of an attorney or counselor at law bear an
intimate relation to the administration of justice by
the courts. No valid distinction, so far as concerns
the question set forth in the order, can be drawn
between that part of the work of the lawyer which
involves appearance in court and that part which
involves advice and drafting of instruments in his
office. It is of importance to the welfare of the public
that these manifold customary functions be
performed by persons possessed of adequate
learning and skill, of sound moral character; and
acting at all times under the heavy trust obligations
to clients which rests upon all attorneys. (Moran,
Comments on the Rules of Court, Vol. 3 [1953 ed.],
p. 665666, citing In re Opinion of the Justices
[Mass.], 194 N.E. 313, quoted in Rhode Is. Bar

Assoc. v. Automobile Service Assoc. [R.I.] 179 A.

139, 144). (Italics ours)
The University of the Philippines Law Center in
conducting orientation briefing for new lawyers
(19741975) listed the dimensions of the practice of
law in even broader terms as advocacy, counselling
and public service.
One may be a practicing attorney in following any
line of employment in the profession. If what he
does exacts knowledge of the law and is of a kind
usual for attorneys engaging in the active practice
of their profession, and he follows some one or more
lines of employment such as this he is a practicing
attorney at law within the meaning of the statute.
(Barr v. Cardell, 155 NW 312)
Practice of law means any activity, in or out of court,
which requires the application of law, legal
procedure, knowledge, training and experience. To
engage in the practice of law is to perfom those acts
which are characteristics of the profession.
Generally, to practice law is to give notice or render
any kind of service, which device or service requires
the use in any degree of legal knowledge or skill.
(111 ALR 23)
The following records of the 1986 Constitutional
Commission show that it has adopted a liberal
interpretation of the term practice of law.
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

MR. FOZ. Before we suspend the session, may I
make a manifestation which I forgot to do during our
review of the provisions on the Commission on

Audit. May I be allowed to make a very brief

statement? , -. . ..
THE PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Jamir).
The Commissioner will please proceed.
MR. FOZ. This has to do with the qualifications of
the members of the Commission on Audit Among
others, the qualifications provided for by Section 1
is that They must be Members of the Philippine Bar
I am quoting from the provision'who have been
engaged in the practice of law for at least ten
years/
To avoid any misunderstanding which would result
in excluding members of the Bar who are now
employed in the COA or Commission on Audit, we
would like to make the clarification that this
provision on qualifications regarding members of
the Bar does not necessarily refer or involve actual
practice of law outside the COA We have to
interpret this to mean that as long as the lawyers
who are employed in the COA are using their legal
knowledge or legal talent in their respective work
within COA, then they are qualified to be considered
for appointment as members or commissioners,
even chairman, of the Commission on Audit.
This has been discussed by the Committee on
Constitutional Commissions and Agencies and we
deem it important to take it up on the floor so that
this interpretation may be made available whenever
this provision on the qualifications as regards
members of the Philippine Bar engaging in the
practice of law for at least ten years is taken up.
MR. OPLE. Will Commissioner Foz yield to just one
question.
MR. FOZ. Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.

MR. OPLE. Is he, in effect, saying that service in the

COA by a lawyer is equivalent to the requirement of
a law practice that is set forth in the Article on the
Commission on Audit?
MR. FOZ. We must consider the fact that the work
of COA, although it is auditing, will necessarily
involve legal work; it will involve legal work. And,
therefore, lawyers who are employed in COA now
would have the necessary qualifications in
accordance with the provision on qualifications
under our provisions on the Commission on Audit.
And, therefore. the answer is yes,
MR. OPLE. Yes. So that the construction given to
this is that this is equivalent to the practice of law.
MR. FOZ. Yes, Mr. Presiding Officer.
MR. OPLE. Thank you.
x x (Italics supplied)
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

Section 1(1), Article IX-D of the 1987 Constitution,
provides, among others, that the Chairman and two
Commissioners of the Commission on Audit (COA)
should either be certified public accountants with
not less than ten years of auditing practice, or
members of the Philippine Bar who have been
engaged in the practice of law for at least ten years.
(italics supplied)
Corollary to this is the term private practitioner''
and which is in many ways synonymous with the
word lawyer. Today, although many lawyers do not
engage in private practice, it is still a fact that the
majority of lawyers are private practitioners. (Gary

Munneke, Opportunities in Law Careers [VGM Career

Horizons: Illinois), 1986], p. 15]).
At this point, it might be helpful to define private
practice. The term, as commonly understood,
means an individual or organization engaged in the
business of delivering legal services. (Ibid.).
Lawyers who practice alone are often called sole
practitioners. Groups of lawyers are called firms.
The firm is usually a partnership and members of
the firm are the partners, Some firms may be
organized as professional corporations and the
members called shareholders. In either case, the
members of the firm are the experienced attorneys.
In most firms, there are younger or more
inexperienced
salaried
attorneys
called
associates. (Ibid.).
The test that defines law practice by looking to
traditional areas of law practice is essentially
tautologous, unhelpful defining the practice of law
as that which lawyers do. (Charles W. Wolfram,
Modern Legal Ethics [West Publishing Co.:
Minnesota, 1986], p. 593). The practice of law is
defined as the performance of any acts . .. . in or
out of court, commonly understood to be the
practice of law. (State Bar Assn v. Connecticut Bank
& Trust Co., 145 Conn. 222, 140 A.2d 863, 870
[1958] [quoting Grievance Comm. v. Payne, 128
Conn. 325, 22 A.2d 623, 626 [1941]). Because
lawyers perform almost every function known in the
commercial and governmental realm, such a
definition would obviously be too global to be
workable. (Wolfram, op. cit).
The appearance of a lawyer in litigation in behalf of
a client is at once the most publicly familiar role for

lawyers as well as an uncommon role for the

average lawyer. Most lawyers spend
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

little time in courtrooms, and a large percentage
spend their entire practice without litigating a case.
(Ibid., p. 593). Nonetheless, many lawyers do
continue to litigate and the litigating lawyers role
colors much of both the public image and the
selfperception of the legal profession. (Ibid.).
In this regard thus, the dominance of litigation in the
public mind reflects history, not reality. (Ibid.). Why
is this so? Recall that the late Alexander SyCip, a
corporate lawyer, once articulated on the
importance of a lawyer as a business counselor in
this wise: Even today, there are still uninformed
laymen whose concept of an attorney is one who
principally tries cases before the courts. The
members of the bench and bar and the informed
laymen such as businessmen, know that in most
developed societies today, substantially more legal
work is transacted in law offices than in the
courtrooms. General practitioners of law who do
both litigation and non-litigation work also know that
in most cases they find themselves spending more
time doing what [is] loosely describe[d] as business
counseling: than in trying cases. The business
lawyer has been described as the planner, the
diagnostician and the trial lawyer, the surgeon. I[t]
need not [be] stress[ed] that in law, as in medicine,
surgery should be avoided where internal medicine
can be effective. (Business Star, Corporate Finance
Law/' Jan. 11,1989, p. 4).

In the course of a working day the average general

practitioner will engage in a number of legal tasks,
each involving different legal doctrines, legal skills,
legal processes, legal institutions, clients, and other
interested parties. Even the increasing numbers of
lawyers in specialized practice will usually perform
at least some legal services outside their specialty.
And even within a narrow specialty such as tax
practice, a lawyer will shift from one legal task or
role such as advice-giving to an importantly
different one such as representing a client before an
administrative agency. (Wolfram, supra, p 687).
By no means will most of this work involve litigation,
unless the lawyer is one of the relatively rare types
a litigator who specializes in this work to the
exclusion of much else. Instead, the work will
require the lawyer to have mastered the full range
of traditional lawyer skills of client counselling,
advice-giving, document drafting, and negotiation.
And increasingly lawyers find that the new skills of
evaluation and mediation are both
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

effective for many clients and a source of
employment. (Ibid.).
Most lawyers will engage in non-litigation legal work
or in litigation work that is constrained in very
important ways, at least theoretically, so as to
remove from it some of the salient features of
adversarial litigation. Of these special roles, the
most prominent is that of prosecutor. In some
lawyers work the constraints are imposed both by
the nature of the client and by the way in which the

lawyer is organized into a social unit to perform that

work. The most common of these roles are those of
corporate practice and government legal service.
(Ibid.).
In several issues of the Business Star, a business
daily, hereinbelow quoted are emerging trends in
corporate law practice, a departure from the
traditional concept of practice of law.
We are experiencing today what truly may be called
a revolutionary transformation in corporate law
practice. Lawyers and other professional groups, in
particular those members participating in various
legal-policy decisional contexts, are finding that
understanding the major emerging trends in
corporation law is indispensable to intelligent
decision-making.
Constructive adjustment to major corporate
problems
of
today
requires
an
accurate
understanding of the nature and implications of the
corporate law research function accompanied by an
accelerating rate of information accumulation. The
recognition of the need for such improved corporate
legal policy formulation, particularly modelmaking
and contingency planning, has impressed upon us
the inadequacy of traditional procedures in many
decisional contexts.
In a complex legal problem the mass of information
to be processed, the sorting and weighing of
significant conditional factors, the appraisal of major
trends,
the
necessity
of
estimating
the
consequences of given courses of action, and the
need for fast decision and response in situations of
acute danger have prompted the use of
sophisticated concepts of information flow theory,
operational analysis, automatic data processing, and

electronic computing equipment. Understandably,

an improved decisional structure must stress the
predictive component of the policy-making process,
wherein a model, of the decisional context or a
segment thereof is developed to test projected
alternative courses of action in terms of futuristic
effects flowing therefrom.
Although members of the legal profession are
regularly engaged in predicting and projecting the
trends of the law, the subject of corporate finance
law has received relatively little organized and
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

formalized attention in the philosophy of advancing
corporate legal education. Nonetheless, a crossdisciplinary approach to legal research has become
a vital necessity.
Certainly, the general orientation for productive
contributions by those trained primarily in the law
can be improved through an early introduction to
multi-variable decisional contexts and the various
approaches for handling such problems. Lawyers,
particularly with either a masters or doctorate
degree in business administration or management,
functioning at the legal policy level of decisionmaking now have some appreciation for the
concepts and analytical techniques of other
professions which are currently engaged in similar
types of complex decision-making.
Truth to tell, many situations involving corporate
finance problems would require the services of an
astute attorney because of the complex legal
implications that arise from each and every

necessary step in securing and maintaining the

business issue raised. (Business Star, Corporate
Finance Law, Jan. 11,1989, p. 4).
In our litigation-prone country, a corporate lawyer is
assiduously referred to as the abogado de
campanilla. He is the big-time lawyer, earning big
money and with a clientele composed of the tycoons
and magnates of business and industry.
Despite the growing number of corporate lawyers,
many people could not explain what it is that a
corporate lawyer does. For one, the number of
attorneys employed by a single corporation will vary
with the size and type of the corporation. Many
smaller and some large corporations farm out all
their legal problems to private law firms, Many
others have in-house counsel only for certain
matters. Other corporation have a staff large
enough to handle most legal problems in-house.
A corporate lawyer, for all intents and purposes, is a
lawyer who handles the legal affairs of a
corporation. His areas of concern or jurisdiction may
include, inter alia: corporate legal research, tax laws
research, acting out as corporate secretary (in board
meetings), appearances in both courts and other
adjudicatory agencies (including the Securities and
Exchange Commission). and in other capacities
which require an ability to deal with the law.
At any rate, a corporate lawyer may assume
responsibilities other than the legal affairs of the
business of the corporation he is representing.
These include such matters as determining policy
and becoming involved in management. (Italics
supplied.)
In a big company, for example, one may have a
feeling of being isolated from the action, or not

understanding how ones work actually fits into the

work of the organization. This can be frustrating to
someone who needs to see the results of his work
first hand. In short,
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a corporate lawyer is sometimes offered this fortune
to be more closely involved in the running of the
business.
Moreover, a corporate lawyers services may
sometimes be engaged by a multinational
corporation (MNC). Some large MNCs provide one of
the few opportunities available to corporate lawyers
to enter the international law field. After all,
international law is practiced in a relatively small
number of companies and law firms. Because
working in a foreign country is perceived by many
as glamorous, this is an area coveted by corporate
lawyers. In most cases, however, the overseas jobs
go to experienced attorneys while the younger
attorneys do their international practice in law
libraries. (Business Star, Corporate Law Practice,
May 25, 1990, p. 4).
This brings us to the inevitable, i.e., the role of the
lawyer in the realm of finance. To borrow the lines of
Harvard-educated lawyer Bruce Wassertein, to wit:
A bad lawyer is one who fails to spot problems, a
good lawyer is one who perceives the difficulties,
and the excellent lawyer is one who surmounts
them. (Business Star, Corporate Finance Law, Jan.
11,1989, p. 4).
Today, the study of corporate law practice direly
needs a shot in the arm, so to speak. No longer

are we talking of the traditional law teaching

method of confining the subject study to the
Corporation Code and the Securities Code but an
incursion as well into the intertwining modern
management issues.
Such corporate legal management issues deal
primarily with three (3) types of learning: (1)
acquisition of insights into current advances which
are of particular significance to the corporate
counsel; (2) an introduction to usable disciplinary
skills
applicable
to
a
corporate
counsels
management responsibilities; and (3) a devotion to
the organization and management of the legal
function itself.
These three subject areas may be thought of as
intersecting circles, with a shared area linking them.
Otherwise known as intersecting managerial
jurisprudence, it forms a unifying theme for the
corporate counsels total learning.
Some current advances in behavior and policy
sciences affect the counsels role. For that matter,
the corporate lawyer reviews the globalization
process,
including
the
resulting
strategic
repositioning that the firms he provides counsel for
are required to make, and the need to think about a
corporations strategy at multiple levels. The
salience of the nation-state is being reduced as
firms deal both with global multinational entities and
simultaneously with sub-national governmental
units. Firms increasingly collaborate not only with
public entities but with each otheroften with those
who are competitors in other arenas.
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Also, the nature of the lawyers participation in
decision-making within the corporation is rapidly
changing. The modern corporate lawyer has gained
anew role as a stakeholderin some cases
participating in the organization and operations of
governance through participation on boards and
other decision-making roles. Often these new
patterns develop alongside existing legal institutions
and laws are perceived as barriers. These trends are
complicated as corporations organize for global
operations. (Italics supplied)
The practising lawyer of today is with
governmental policies toward the promotion and
management of technology. New collaborative
arrangements for promoting specific technologies or
competitiveness more generally require approaches
from industry that differ from older, more
adversarial relationships and traditional forms of
seeking to influence governmental policies. And
there are lessons to be learned from other countries.
In Europe, Esprit, Eureka and Race are examples of
collaborative efforts between governmental and
business Japans MITI is world famous. (Italics
supplied)
Following the concept of boundary spanning, the
office of the Corporate Counsel comprises a distinct
group within the managerial structure of all kinds of
organizations. Effectiveness of both long-term and
temporary groups within organizations has been
found to be related to indentifiable factors in the
group-context interaction such as the groups
actively
revising
their
knowledge
of
the
environment, coordinating work with outsiders.
promoting
team
achievements
within
the

organization. In general, such external activities are

better predictors of team performance than internal
group processes,
In a crisis situation, the legal managerial
capabilities of the corporate lawyer vis-a-vis the
managerial mettle of corporations are challenged.
Current research is seeking ways both to anticipate
effective managerial procedures and to understand
relationships of financial liability and insurance
considerations, (Italics supplied)
Regarding the skills to apply by the corporate
counsel, three factors are apropos:
First System Dynamics, The field of systems
dynamics has been found an effective tool for new
managerial thinking regarding both planning and
pressing immediate problems. An understanding of
the role of feedback loops, inventory levels, and
rates of flow, enable users to simulate all sorts of
systematic
problemsphysical,
economic,
managerial,
social,
and
psychological.
New
programming techniques now make the systems
dynamics principles more accessible to managers
including corporate counsels. (Italics supplied)
Second Decision Analysis. This enables users to
make better decisions involving complexity and
uncertainty. In the context of a law department, it
can be used to appraise the settlement value of
litigation,
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aid in negotiation settlement, and minimize the cost
and risk involved in managing a portfolio of cases,
(Italics supplied)

Third Modeling for Negotiation Management

Computer-based models can be used directly by
parties and mediators in all kinds of negotiations. All
integrated set of such tools provide coherent and
effective negotiation support, including hands-on on
instruction in these techniques. A simulation case of
an international joint venture may be used to
illustrate the point.
[Be this as it may,] the organization and
management of the legal function, concern three
pointed areas of consideration, thus:
Preventive Lawyering. Planning by lawyers
requires special skills that comprise a major part of
the general counsels responsibilities. They differ
from those of remedial law. Preventive lawyering is
concerned with minimizing the risks of legal trouble
and maximizing legal rights for such legal entities at
that time when transactional or similar facts are
being considered and made.
Managerial Jurisprudence. This is the framework
within which are undertaken those activities of the
firm to which legal consequences attach. It needs to
be directly supportive of this nations evolving
economic and organizational fabric as firms change
to stay competitive in a global, interdependent
environment. The practice and theory of law is not
adequate today to facilitate the relationships
needed in trying to make a global economy work.
Organization and Functioning of the Corporate
Counsels Office. The general counsel has emerged
in the last decade as one of the most vibrant
subsets of the legal profession. The corporate
counsel hear responsibility for key aspects of the
firms strategic issues, including structuring its
global operations, managing improved relationships

with an increasingly diversified body of employees,

managing expanded liability exposure, creating new
and varied interactions with public decision-makers,
coping internally with more complex make or by
decisions.
This whole exercise drives home the thesis that
knowing corporate law is not enough to make one a
good general corporate counsel nor to give him a
full sense of how the legal system shapes corporate
activities. And even if the corporate lawyers aim is
not the understand all of the laws effects on
corporate activities, he must, at the very least, also
gain a working knowledge of the management
issues if only to be able to grasp not only the basic
legal constitution or makeup of the modern
corporation. Business Star, The Corporate
Counsel, April 10, 1991, p. 4).
The challenge for lawyers (both of the bar and the
bench) is to have more than a passing knowledge of
financial law affecting each
223
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22
3

Cayetano vs. Monsod

aspect of their work, Yet, many would admit to
ignorance of vast tracts of the financial law territory.
What transpires next is a dilemma of professional
security: Will the lawyer admit ignorance and risk
opprobrium?; or will he feign understanding and risk
exposure? (Business Star, Corporate Finance law,
Jan. 11, 1989, p. 4).
Respondent Christian Monsod was nominated by
President Corazon C. Aquino to the position of
Chairman of the COMELEC in a letter received by
the Secretariat of the Commission on Appointments

on April 25, 1991. Petitioner opposed the

nomination because allegedly Monsod does not
possess the required qualification of having been
engaged in the practice of law for at least ten years.
On June 5, 1901,' the Commission on Appointments
confirmed the nomination of Monsod as Chairman of
the COMELEC. On June 18,1991, he took his oath of
office. On the same day, he assumed office as
Chairman of the COMELEC.
Challenging the validity of the confirmation by the
Commission
on
Appointments
of
Monsods
nomination, petitioner as a citizen and taxpayer,
filed the instant petition for Certiorari and
Prohibition praying that said confirmation and the
consequent appointment of Monsod as Chairman of
the Commission on Elections be declared null and
void.
Atty. Christian Monsod is a member of the Philippine
Bar, having passed the bar examinations of 1960
with a grade of 86.55%. He has been a dues paying
member of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines
since its inception in 197273. He has also been
paying his professional license fees as lawyer for
more than ten years. (p. 124, Rollo)
After graduating from the College of Law (U.P.) and
having hurdled the bar, Atty. Monsod worked in the
law office of his father. During his stint in the World
Bank Group (19631970), Monsod worked as an
operations officer for about two years in Costa Rica
and Panama, which involved getting acquainted
with the laws of member-countries, negotiating
loans and coordinating legal, economic, and project
work of the Bank. Upon returning to the Philippines
in 1970, he worked with the Meralco Group, served
as chief executive officer of an investment bank and

subsequently of a business conglomerate, and since

1986, has rendered services to various companies
as a legal and
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

economic consultant or chief executive officer. As
former Secretary-General (1986) and National
Chairman (1987) of NAMFREL. Monsods work
involved being knowledgeable In election law. He
appeared for NAMFREL in its accreditation hearings
before the Comelec. In the field of advocacy,
Monsod, in his personal capacity and as former CoChairman of the Bishops Businessmens Conference
for Human Development, has worked with the under
privileged sectors, such as the farmer and urban
poor groups, in initiating, lobbying for and engaging
in affirmative action for the agrarian reform law and
lately the urban land reform bill. Monsod also made
use of his legal knowledge as a member of the
Davide Commission, a quasijudicial body, which
conducted numerous hearings (1990) and as a
member of the Constitutional Commission (1986
1987), and Chairman of its Committee on
Accountability of Public Officers, for which he was
cited by the President of the Commission, Justice
Cecilia Muoz-Palma for innumerable amendments
to reconcile government functions with individual
freedoms and public accountability and the partylist system for the House of Representative. (pp.
128129 Rollo) (Italics supplied)
Just a word about the work of a negotiating team of
which Atty. Monsod used to be a member,

In a loan agreement, for instance, a negotiating

panel acts as a team, and which is adequately
constituted to meet the various contingencies that
arise during a negotiation. Besides top officials of
the Borrower concerned, there are the legal officer
(such as the legal counsel), the finance manager,
and an operations officer (such as an official
involved in negotiating the contracts) who comprise
the members of the team. (Guillermo V. Soliven,
Loan Negotiating Strategies for Developing Country
Borrowers, Staff Paper No. 2, Central Bank of the
Philippines, Manila, 1982, p. 11). (Italics supplied)
After a fashion, the loan agreement is like a
countrys Constitution; it lays down the law as far as
the loan transaction is concerned. Thus, the meat of
any Loan Agreement can be compartmentalized into
five (5) fundamental parts: (1) business terms; (2)
borrowers representation; (3) conditions of closing;
(4) covenants; and (5) events of default. (Ibid., p.
13),
In the same vein, lawyers play an important role in
any debt restructuring program. For aside from
performing the tasks of legislative drafting and legal
advising, they score national development
225
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

policies as key factors in maintaining their countries
sovereignty. (Condensed from the work paper,
entitled Wanted; Development Lawyers for
Developing Nations, submitted by L. Michael
Hager, regional legal adviser of the United States
Agency for International Development, during the
Session on Law for the Development of Nations at

the Abidjan World Conference in Ivory Coast,

sponsored by the World Peace Through Law Center
on August 2631 , 1973). 1973). (Italics supplied)
Loan concessions and compromises, perhaps even
more so than purely renegotiation policies, demand
expertise in the law of contracts, in legislation and
agreement
drafting
and
in
renegotiation.
Necessarily, a sovereign lawyer may work with an
international business specialist or an economist in
the formulation of a model loan agreement. Debt
restructuring contract agreements contain such a
mixture of technical language that they should be
carefully drafted and signed only with the advise of
competent counsel in conjunction with the guidance
of adequate technical support personnel. (See
International Law Aspects of the Philippine External
Debts, an unpublished dissertation, U.S.T. Graduate
School of Law, 1987, p. 321). (Italics supplied)
A
critical
aspect
of
sovereign
debt
restructuring/contract construction is the set of
terms and conditions which determines the
contractual remedies for a failure to perform one or
more elements of the contract. A good agreement
must not only define the responsibilities of both
parties, but must also state the recourse open to
either party when the other fails to discharge an
obligation. For a compleat debt restructuring
represents a devotion to that principle which in the
ultimate analysis is sine qua non for foreign loan
agreementsan adherence to the rule of law in
domestic and international affairs of whose kind U.S.
Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.
once said: They carry no banners, they beat no
drums; but where they are, men learn that bustle
and bush are not the equal of quiet genius and

serene mastery. (See Ricardo J. Romulo, The Role

of Lawyers in Foreign Investments, Integrated Bar
of the Philippine Journal, Vol. 15, Nos. 3 and 4, Third
Interpreted in the light of the various definitions of
the term practice of law, particularly the modern
concept of law practice, and taking into
consideration the liberal construction intended by
the framers of the Constitution, Atty. Monsods past
work experiences as a lawyer-economist, a lawyermanager, a lawyer-entrepreneur of industry, a
lawyer-negotiator of contracts, and a Iawyerlegislator of both the rich and the poorverily more
than satisfy the constitutional requirementthat he
226
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

has been engaged in the practice of law for at least
ten years.
Besides in the leading case of Luego v. Civil Service
Commission, 143 SCRA 327, the Court said:
Appointment is an essentially discretionary power
and must be performed by the officer in which it is
vested according to his best lights, the only
condition being that the appointee should possess
the qualifications required by law. If he does, then
the appointment cannot be faulted on the ground
that there are others better qualified who should
have been preferred. This is a political question
involving considerations of wisdom which only the
appointing
authority
can
decide."(emphasis
supplied)
No less emphatic was the Court in the case of
Central Bank v. Civil Service Commission, 171 SCRA
744) where it stated:

It is well-settled that when the appointee is

qualified, as in this case, and all the other legal
requirements are satisfied, the Commission has no
alternative but to attest to the appointment in
accordance with the Civil Service Law. The
Commission has no authority to revoke an
appointment on the ground that another person is
more qualified for a particular position. It also has
no authority to direct the appointment of a
substitute of its choice. To do so would be an
encroachment on the discretion vested upon the
appointing authority. An appointment is essentially
within the discretionary power of whomsoever it is
vested, subject to the only condition that the
appointee should possess the qualifications required
by law. (Italics supplied)
The appointing process in a regular appointment as
in the case at bar, consists of four (4) stages: (1)
nomination; (2) confirmation by the Commission on
Appointments; (3) issuance of a commission (in the
Philippines, upon submission by the Commission on
Appointments of its certificate of confirmation, the
President issues the permanent appointment; and
(4) acceptance e.g., oath-taking, posting of bond,
etc. . . . (Lacson v. Romero, No. L-3081, October
14,1949; Gonzales, Law on Public Officers, p. 200)
The power of the Commission on Appointments to
give its consent to the nomination of Monsod as
Chairman of the Commission on Elections is
mandated by Section 1(2) Sub-Article C, Article IX of
the Constitution which provides:
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

22
7

The Chairman and the Commissioners shall be

appointed by the President with the consent of the
Commission on Appointments for a term of seven
years without reappointment. Of those first
appointed, three Members shall hold office for seven
years, two Members for five years, and the last
Members for three years, without reappointment,
Appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the
unexpired term of the predecessor. In no case shall
any Member be appointed or designated in a
temporary or acting capacity.
Anent Justice Teodoro Padillas separate opinion,
suffice it to say that his definition of the practice of
law is the traditional or stereotyped notion of law
practice, as distinguished from the modern concept
of the practice of law, which modern connotation is
exactly what was intended by the eminent framers
of the 1987 Constitution. Moreover, Justice Padillas
definition would require generally a habitual law
practice, perhaps practised two or three times a
week and would outlaw say, law practice once or
twice a year for ten consecutive years. Clearly, this
is far from the constitutional intent.
Upon the other hand, the separate opinion of Justice
Isagani Cruz states that in my written opinion, I
made use of a definition of law practice which really
means nothing because the definition says that law
practice " ... is what people ordinar-ily mean by the
practice of law. True I cited the definition but only
by way of sarcasm as evident from my statement
that the definition of law practice by traditional
areas of law practice is essentially tautologous or
defining a phrase by means of the phrase itself that
is being defined.

Justice Cruz goes on to say in substance that since

the law covers almost all situations, most
individuals, in making use of the law, or in advising
others on what the law means, are actually
practicing law. In that sense, perhaps, but we should
not lose sight of the fact that Mr. Monsod is a
lawyer, a member of the Philippine Bar, who has
been practising law for over ten years. This is
different from the acts of persons practising law,
without first becoming lawyers.
Justice Cruz also says that the Supreme Court can
even disqualify an elected President of the
Philippines, say, on the ground that he lacks one or
more qualifications. This matter, I greatly doubt. For
one thing, how can an action or petition be brought
against the President? And even assuming that he is
228
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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Cayetano vs. Monsod

indeed disqualified, how can the action be
entertained since he is the incumbent President?
We now proceed:
The Commission on the basis of evidence submitted
during
the
public
hearings
on
Monsods
confirmation,
implicitly
determined
that
he
possessed the necessary qualifications as required
by law. The judgment rendered by the Commission
in the exercise of such an acknowledged power is
beyond judicial interference except only upon a
clear showing of a grave abuse of discretion
amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction. (Art. VIII,
Sec. 1 Constitution). Thus, only where such grave
abuse of discretion is clearly shown shall the Court
interfere with the Commissions judgment. In the

instant case, there is no occasion for the exercise of

the Courts corrective power, since no abuse, much
less a grave abuse of discretion, that would amount
to lack or excess of jurisdiction and would warrant
the issuance of the writs prayed, for has been
clearly shown.
Additionally, consider the following;
1.

2.

3.

(1)
If the Commission on Appointments rejects a
nominee by the President, may the Supreme Court
reverse the Commission, and thus in effect confirm
the appointment? Clearly, the answer is in the
negative.
(2)
In the same vein, may the Court reject the
nominee, whom the Commission has confirmed?
The answer is likewise clear.
(3)
If the United States Senate (which is the confirming
body in the U.S. Congress) decides to confirm a
Presidential nominee, it would be incredible that
the U.S. Supreme Court would still reverse the U.S.
Senate.

Finally, one significant legal maxim is:

We must interpret not by the letter that killeth, but
by the spirit that giveth life/'
Take this hypothetical case of Samson and Delilah.
Once, the procurator of Judea asked Delilah (who
was Samsons beloved) for help in capturing
Samson. Delilah agreed on condition that
229
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

No blade shall touch his skin;
No blood shall flow from his veins.

When Samson (his long hair cut by Delilah) was

captured, the procurator placed an iron rod burning
white-hot two or three inches away from in front of
Samsons eyes. This blinded the man. Upon hearing
of what had happened to her beloved, Delilah was
beside herself with anger, and fuming with righteous
fury, accused the procurator of reneging on his
word. The procurator calmly replied: Did any blade
touch his skin? Did any blood flow from his veins?
The procurator was clearly relying on the letter, not
the spirit of the agreement.
In view of the foregoing, this petition is hereby
DISMISSED.
SO ORDERED.
Fernan (C.J.), Grio-Aquino and Medialdea, JJ.,
concur.
Narvasa, J., See brief concurrence.
Melencio-Herrera, J., In the result, 011 the same
basis as Justice Narvasa.
Gutierrez, Jr., Cruz and Padilla, JJ., see dissents.
Feliciano, J., I certify that he voted to dismiss the
petition. (Fernan, C.J.)
Bidin, J., I join in the dissent of Justice Gutierrez.
Sarmiento, J., On leave.
Regalado, J., No part due to intended personal
association with respondent Monsod.
Davide, Jr., J., No part, I was among those who
issued a testimonial in favor of Christian Monsod
which was submitted by him to CA.
CONCURRENCE
NERVASA, J.:
I concur with the decision of the majority written by
Mr. Justice Paras, albeit only in the result; it does not
appear to me that there has been an adequate
showing that the challenged determination by the

Commission on Appointments -that the appointment

of respondent Monsod as Chairman of the
Commission on Elections should, on the basis of his
stated qualifications and after due assessment
thereof, be confirmedwas
230
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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Cayetano vs. Monsod

attended by error so gross as to amount to grave
abuse of discretion and consequently merits
nullification by this Court in accordance with the
second paragraph of Section 1, Article VIII of the
Constitution. I therefore vote to DENY the petition.
DISSENTING OPINION
PADILLA, J.:
The records of this case will show that when the
Court first deliberated on the Petition at bar, I voted
not only to require the respondents to comment on
the Petition, but I was the sole vote for the issuance
of a temporary restraining order to enjoin
respondent Monsod from assuming the position of
COMELEC Chairman, while the Court deliberated on
his constitutional qualification for the office. My
purpose in voting for a TRO was to prevent the
inconvenience and even embarrassment to all
parties concerned were the Court to finally decide
for respondent Monsods disqualification. Moreover.
a reading of the Petition then in relation to
established jurisprudence already showed prima
facie that respondent Monsod did not possess the
needed qualification, that is, he had not engaged in
the practice of law for at least ten (10) years prior to
his appointment as COMELEC Chairman.

After considering carefully respondent Monsods

comment, I am even more convinced that the
constitutional requirement of practice of law for at
least ten (10) years has not been met.
The procedural barriers interposed by respondents
deserve scant consideration because, ultimately,
the core issue to be resolved in this petition is the
proper construal of the constitutional provision
requiring a majority of the membership of COMELEC,
including the Chairman thereof to have been
engaged in the practice of law for at least ten (10)
years. (Art. IX(C), Section 1(1), 1987 Constitution).
Questions
involving
the
construction
of
constitutional provisions are best left to judicial
resolution. As declared in Angara v, Electoral
Commission, (63 Phil. 139) upon the judicial
department is thrown the solemn and inescapable
obligation of interpreting the Constitution and
defining constitutional boundaries.
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

The Constitution has imposed clear and specific
standards for a COMELEC Chairman. Among these
are that he must have been engaged in the
practice of law for at least ten (10) years. It is the
bounden duty of this Court to ensure that such
standard is met and complied with.
What constitutes practice of law? As commonly
understood, practice refers to the actual
performance or application of knowledge as
distinguished from mere possession of knowledge: it
connotes an active, habitual, repeated or customary
action.1 To practice law, or any profession for that

matter, means, to exercise or pursue an

employment or profession actively, habitually,
repeatedly or customarily.
Therefore, a doctor of medicine who is employed
and is habitually performing the tasks of a nursing
aide, cannot be said to be in the practice of
medicine. A certified public accountant who works
as a clerk, cannot be said to practice his profession
as an accountant. In the same way, a lawyer who is
employed as a business executive or a corporate
manager, other than as head or attorney of a Legal
Department of a corporation or a governmental
agency, cannot be said to be in the practice of law.
As aptly held by this Court in the case of People vs.
Villanueva.2
Practice Practice is more than an isolated
appearance for it consists in frequent or customary
actions, a succession of acts of the same kind. In
other words, it is frequent habitual exercise (State
vs. Cotner, 127, p. 1, 87 Kan. 864, 42 LRA, M.S.
768). Practice of law to fall within the prohibition of
statute has been interpreted as customarily or
habitually holding ones self out to the public as a
lawyer and demanding payment for such services
(State vs. Bryan, 4 S.E. 522, 98 N.C. 644, 647.) x x
x (italics supplied).
It is worth mentioning that the respondent
Commission on Appointments in a Memorandum it
prepared, enumerated several factors determinative
of whether a particular activity constitutes practice
of law. It states:
________________
1 Websters 3rd New International Dictionary.
2 14 SCRA 109.
232

23
2

SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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Cayetano vs. Monsod

1. 1.

Habituality. The term practice of law implies

customarily or habitually holding ones self out
to the public as a lawyer (People vs. Villanueva,
14 SCRA 109 citing State v. Boyen, 4 S.E. 522,
98 N.C. 644) such as when one sends a circular
announcing the establishment of a law office for
the general practice of law (U.S. v. Ney Bosque,
8 Phil. 146), or when one takes the oath of office
as, a lawyer before a notary public, and files a
manifestation with the Supreme Court informing
it of his intention to practice law in all courts in
the country (People v. De Luna, 102 Phil. 968).
Practice is more than an isolated appearance for it
consists in frequent or customary action, a
succession of acts of the same kind. In other words,
it is a habitual exercise (People v, Villanueva, 14
SCRA 109 citing State v. Cotner, 127, p; 1, 87 Kan,
864).
1. 2.

Compensation. Practice of law implies that one

must have presented himself to be in the active
and continued practice of the legal profession
and that his professional services are available
to the public for compensation, as a service of
his livelihood or in consideration of his said
services. (People v. Villanueva, supra). Hence,
charging for services such as preparation of
documents involving the use of legal knowledge
and skill is within the term practice of law
(Ernani Pao, Bar Reviewer in Legal and Judicial
Ethics, 1988 ed., p. 8 citing People v. Peoples

Stockyards State Bank, 176 N.B. 901) and, one

who renders an opinion as to the proper
interpretation of a statute, and receives pay for
it, is to that extent, practicing law (Martin,
supra, p. 806 citing Mendelaun v. Gilbert and
Barket Mfg. Co., 290 N.Y.S. 462) If compensation
is expected, all advice to clients and all action
taken for them in matters connected with the
law; are practicing law. (Elwood Fitchette et al.,
v. Arthur C. Taylor, 94 A-L.R. 356359)
2. 3.

Application of law, legal principle, practice, or

procedure which calls for legal knowledge,
training and experience is within the term
practice of law. (Martin supra)
3. 4.

Attorney-client relationship. Engaging in the

practice of law presupposes the existence of
lawyer-client relationship. Hence, where a
lawyer undertakes an activity which requires
knowledge of law but involves no attorney-client
relationship, such as teaching law or writing law
books or articles, he cannot be said to be
engaged in the practice of his profession or a
lawyer (Agpalo, Legal Ethics, 1989 ed., p. 30).3
________________
3 Commission on Appointments Memorandum
dated 25 June 1991 RE: WHAT CONSTITUTES
PRACTICE OF LAW, pp. 67.
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

The above-enumerated factors would, I believe, be
useful aids in determining whether or not

respondent Monsod meets the constitutional

qualification of practice of law for at least ten (10)
years at the time of his appointment as COMELEC
Chairman.
The following relevant questions may be asked:
1.

2.

3.

1.
Did respondent Monsod perform any of the tasks
which are peculiar to the practice of law?
2.
Did respondent perform such tasks customarily or
habitually?
3.
Assuming that he performed any of such tasks
habitually, did he do so HABITUALLY FOR AT LEAST
TEN (10) YEARS prior to his appointment as
COMELEC Chairman?

Given the employment or job history of respondent

Monsod as appears from the records, I am
persuaded that if ever he did perform any of the
tasks which constitute the practice of law, he did
not do so HABITUALLY for at least ten (10) years
prior to his appointment as COMELEC Chairman.
While it may be granted that he performed tasks
and activities which could be latitudinarianly
considered activities peculiar to the practice of law,
like the drafting of legal documents and the
rendering of legal opinion or advice, such were
isolated transactions or activities which do not
qualify his past endeavors as practice of law; To
become engaged in the practice of law, there must
be a continuity, or a succession of acts. As observed
by the Solicitor General in People vs. Villanueva:4
Essentially, the word private practice of law implies
that one must have presented himself to be in the
active and continued practice of the legal profession

and that his professional services are available to

the public for a compensation, as a source of his
livelihood or in consideration of his said services.
ACCORDINGLY, my vote is to GRANT the petition and
to declare respondent Monsod as not qualified for
the position of COMELEC Chairman for not having
engaged in the practice of law for at least ten (10)
years prior to his appointment to such position.
________________
4 14 SCRA 109.
234
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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Cayetano vs. Monsod

CRUZ,. J., dissenting:
I am sincerely impressed by the ponencia of my
brother Paras but find I must dissent just the same.
There are certain points on which I must differ with
him while of course respecting his viewpoint.
To begin with, I do not think we are inhibited from
examining the qualifications of the respondent
simply because his nomination has been confirmed
by the Commission on Appointments. In my view,
this is not a political question that we are barred
from resolving. Determination of the appointees
credentials is made on the basis of the established
facts, not the discretion of that body. Even if it were,
the exercise of that discretion would still be subject
to our review.
In Luego, which is cited in the ponencia, what was
involved was the discretion of the appointing
authority to choose between two claimants to the
same office who both possessed the required
qualifications. It was that kind of discretion that we
said could not be reviewed.

If a person elected by no less than the sovereign

people may be ousted by this Court for lack of the
required qualifications, I see no reason why we
cannot disqualify an appointee simply because he
has passed the Commission on Appointments.
Even the President of the Philippines may be
declared ineligible by this Court in an appropriate
proceeding notwithstanding that he has been found
acceptable by no less than the enfranchised
citizenry. The reason is that what we would be
examining is not the wisdom of his election but
whether or not he was qualified to be elected in the
first place.
Coming now to the qualifications of the private
respondent, I fear that the ponencia may have been
too sweeping in its definition of the phrase practice
of law as to render the qualification practically
toothless. From the numerous activities accepted as
embraced in the term, I have the uncomfortable
feeling that one does not even have to be a lawyer
to be engaged in the practice of law as long as his
activities involve the application of some law,
however peripherally. The stock broker and the
insurance adjuster and the realtor could come under
the definition as they deal with or give advice on
matters that are likely to become involved in
litigation.
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

The lawyer is considered engaged in the practice of
law even if his main occupation is another business
and he interprets and applies some law only as an
incident of such business. That covers every

company organized under the Corporation Code and

regulated by the SEC under P.D. 902-A. Considering
the ramifications of the modern society, there is
hardly any activity that is not affected by some law
or government regulation the businessman must
know about and observe. In fact, again going by the
definition, a lawyer does not even have to be part of
a business concern to be considered a practitioner.
He can be so deemed when, on his own, he rents a
house or buys a car or consults a doctor as these
acts involve his knowledge and application of the
laws regulating such transactions. If he operates a
public utility vehicle as his main source of livelihood,
he would still be deemed engaged in the practice of
law because he must obey the Public Service Act
and the rules and regulations of the Energy
Regulatory Board.
The ponencia quotes an American decision
defining the practice of law as the performance of
any acts, . , in or out of court, commonly understood
to be the practice of law, which tells us absolutely
nothing. The decision goes on to say that because
lawyers perform almost every function known in the
commercial and governmental realm, such a
definition would obviously be too global to be
workable.
The effect of the definition given in the ponencia is
to consider virtually every lawyer to be engaged in
the practice of law even if he does not earn his
living, or at least part of it, as a lawyer. It is enough
that his activities are incidentally (even if only
remotely) connected with some law, ordinance, or
regulation. The possible exception is the lawyer
whose income is derived from teaching ballroom

dancing or escorting wrinkled ladies with pubescent

pretensions.
The respondents credentials are impressive, to be
sure, but they do not persuade me that he has been
engaged in the practice of law for ten years as
required by the Constitution. It is conceded that he
has been engaged in business and finance, in which
areas he has distinguished himself, but as an
executive and economist and not as a practicing
lawyer. The plain fact is that he has occupied the
various positions listed in his resume by virtue of his
experience and prestige as a business236
23
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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Cayetano vs. Monsod

man and not as an attorney-at-law whose principal
attention is focused on the law. Even if it be argued
that he was acting as a lawyer when he lobbied in
Congress for agrarian and urban reform, served in
the NAMFREL and the Constitutional Commission
(together with non-lawyers like farmers and priests)
and was a member of the Davide Commission, he
has not proved that his activities in these capacities
extended over the prescribed 10-year period of
actual practice of the law. He is doubtless eminently
qualified for many other positions worthy of his
abundant talents but not as Chairman of the
Commission on Elections.
I have much admiration for respondent Monsod, no
less than for Mr. Justice Paras, but I must regretfully
vote to grant the petition;
DISSENTING OPINION
GUTIERREZ, JR., J.:

When this petition was filed, there was hope that

engaging in the practice of law as a qualification for
public office would be settled one way or another in
fairly definitive terms. Unfortunately, this was not
the result.
Of the fourteen (14) member Court, 5 are of the
view that Mr. Christian Monsod engaged in the
practice of law (with one of these 5 leaving his vote
behind while on official leave but not expressing his
clear stand on the matter); 4 categorically stating
that he did not practice law; 2 voting in the result
because there was no error so gross as to amount to
grave abuse of discretion; one of official leave with
no instructions left behind on how he viewed the
issue; and 2 not taking part in the deliberations and
the decision.
There are two key factors that make our task
difficult. First is our reviewing the work of a
constitutional Commission on Appointments whose
duty is precisely to look into the qualifications of
persons appointed to high office. Even if the
Commission errs, we have no power to set aside
error. We can look only into grave abuse of
discretion or whimsically and arbitrariness. Second
is our belief that Mr. Monsod possesses superior
qualifications in terms of executive ability,
proficiency in manage237
VOL. 201, SEPTEMBER 3,
1991

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7

Cayetano vs. Monsod

ment, educational background, experience in
international banking and finance, and instant
recognition by the public. His integrity and
competence are not questioned by the petitioner.

What is before us is compliance with a specific

requirement written into the Constitution.
Inspite of my high regard for Mr. Monsod, I cannot
shirk my constitutional duty. He has never engaged
in the practice of law for even one year. He is a
member of the bar but to say that he has practiced
law is stretching the term beyond rational limits.
A person may have passed the bar examinations.
But if he has not dedicated his life to the law, if he
has not engaged in an activity where membership
in the bar is a requirement I fail to see how he can
claim to have been engaged in the practice of law.
Engaging in the practice of law is a qualification not
only for COMELEC chairman but also for
appointment to the Supreme Court and all lower
courts. What kind of Judges or Justices will we have
if there main occupation is selling real estate,
managing a business corporation, serving in factfinding committee, working in media, or operating a
farm with no active involvement in the law, whether
in Government or private practice, except that in
one joyful moment in the distant past, they
happened to pass the bar examinations?
The Constitution uses the phrase engaged in the
practice of law for at least ten years. The
deliberate choice of words shows that the practice
envisioned is active and regular, not isolated,
occasional, accidental, intermittent, incidental,
seasonal, or extemporaneous. To be engaged in
an activity for ten years requires committed
participation in something which is the result of
ones decisive choice. It means that one is occupied
and involved in the enterprise: one is obliged or
pledged to carry it out with intent and attention
during the ten-year period.

I agree with the petitioner that based on the biodata submitted by respondent Monsod to the
Commission on Appointments, the latter has not
been engaged in the practice of law for at least ten
years. In fact, if appears that Mr. Monsod has never
practiced law except for an alleged one year period
after passing the bar examinations when he worked
in his fathers law firm. Even then his law practice
must have been extremely limited because he was
also working for M.A. and Ph. D. degrees in
238
23
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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Cayetano vs. Monsod

Economics at the University of Pennsylvania during
that period. How could he practice law in the United
States while not a member of the Bar there?
The professional life of the respondent follows:
1.15.1 Respondent Monsods activities since his
passing the Bar examinations in 1961 consist of the
following:
1. 1.

19611963: M.A. in Economics (Ph.

candidate), University of Pennsylvania

D.

2. 2.

19631970: World Bank GroupEconomist,

Industry
Department;
Operations,
Latin
American Department; Division Chief, South
Asia and Middle East, International Finance
Corporation
3. 3.

19701973:
Meralco
GroupExecutive
of
various companies, i.e., Meralco Securities
Corporation, Philippine Petroleum Corporation,
Philippine Electric Corporation

4. 4.

19731976: Yujuico GroupPresident, Fil-Capital

Development
Corporation
and
affiliated
companies
5. 5.

19761978: Finaciera ManilaChief Executive

Officer
6. 6.

19781986: Guevent Group of Companies

Chief Executive Officer
7. 7.

19861987:
Philippine
CommissionMember

Constitutional

8. 8.

19891991: The Fact-Finding Commission on the

December 1989 Coup AttemptMember
9. 9.

Presently: Chairman of the Board and Chief

Executive Officer of the following companies:
1. a.

ACE Container Philippines, Inc.

2. b.

Dataprep, Philippines
3. c.

Philippine SUN systems Products, Inc.

4. d.

Semirara Coal Corporation

5. e.

CBL Timber Corporation

Member of the Board of the Following:
1. a.

Engineering Construction Corporation of the

Philippines
2. b.

First Philippine Energy Corporation

3. c.

First Philippine Holdings Corporation

4. d.

First Philippine Industrial Corporation

5. e.

Graphic Atelier
6. f.

Manila Electric Company

7. g.

Philippine Commercial Capital, Inc.

8. h.

Philippine Electric Corporation

9. i.

Tarlac
Reforestation
Enterprises

and

Environment

j.

10.

Tolong Aquaculture Corporation

k.

11.

Visayan Aquaculture Corporation

239
VOL. 201, SEPTEMBER 3,
1991

23
9

Cayetano vs. Monsod

1. 1.

Guimaras Aquaculture Corporation

(Rollo, pp. 2122)
There is nothing in the above bio-data which even
remotely indicates that respondent Monsod has
given the law enough attention or a certain degree
of commitment and participation as would support
in all sincerity and candor the claim of having
engaged in its practice for at least ten years.
Instead of working as a lawyer, he has lawyers
working for him. Instead of giving legal advice of
legal services, he was the one receiving that advice
and those services as an executive but not as a
lawyer.

The deliberations before the Commission on

Appointments show an effort to equate engaged in
the practice of law? with the use of legal knowledge
in various fields of endeavor such as commerce,
industry, civic work, blue ribbon investigations,
agrarian reform, etc. where such knowledge would
be helpful.
I regret that I cannot join in playing fast and loose
with a term, which even an ordinary layman accepts
as having a familiar and customary well-defined
meaning. Every resident of this country who has
reached the age of discernment has to know, follow,
or apply the law at various times in his life. Legal
knowledge is useful if not necessary for the business
executive, legislator, mayor, barangay captain,
teacher, policeman, farmer, fisherman, market
vendor, and student to name only a few. And yet,
can these people honestly assert that as such, they
are engaged in the practice of law?
The Constitution requires having been engaged in
the practice of law for at least ten years. It is not
satisfied with having been a member of the
Philippine bar for at least ten years.
Some American courts have defined the practice of
law, as follows:
The practice of law involves not only appearance in
court in connection with litigation but also services
rendered out of court, and it includes the giving of
advice or the rendering of any services requiring the
use of legal skill or knowledge, such as preparing a
will, contract or other instrument, the legal effect of
which, under the facts and conditions involved,
must be carefully determined. People ex rel. Chicago
Bar Assn v. Tinkoff, 399 III. 282, 77 N.E.2d 693;
People ex rel. Illinois State Bar Assn v. Peoples

Stock Yards State Bank, 344 III. 462, 176 N.E. 901,
and cases cited.
240
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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Cayetano vs. Monsod

It would be difficult, if not impossible to lay down a
formula or definition of what constitutes the practice
of law. Practicing law has been defined as
Practicing as an attorney or counselor at law
according to the laws and customs of our courts, is
the giving of advice or rendition of any sort of
service by any person, firm or corporation when the
giving of such advice or rendition of such service
requires the use of any degree of legal knowledge or
skill. Without adopting that definition, we referred
to it as being substantially correct in People ex rel.
Illinois State Bar Assn v. Peoples Stock Yards State
Bank, 344 III. 462, 176 N.E. 901." (People v. Schafer,
87 N.E. 2d 773, 776)
For ones actions to come within the purview of
practice of law they should not only be activities
peculiar to the work of a lawyer, they should also be
performed, habitually, frequently or customarily, to
wit:
xxx
xxx
xxx
Respondents answers to questions propounded to
him were rather evasive. He was asked whether or
not he ever prepared contracts for the parties in
real-estate transactions where he was not the
procuring agent. He answered: Very seldom. In
answer to the question as to how many times he
had prepared contracts for the parties during the
twenty-nine years of his business, he said: I have
no idea. When asked if it would be more than half a

dozen times his answer was I suppose. Asked if he

did not recall making the statement to several
parties that he had prepared contracts in a large
number of instances, he answered: I dont recall
exactly what was said. When asked if he did not
remember saying that he had made a practice of
preparing deeds, mortgages and contracts and
charging a fee to the parties therefor in instances
where he was not the broker in the deal, he
answered: Well, I dont believe so, that is not a
practice/ Pressed further for an answer as to his
practice in preparing contracts and deeds for parties
where he was not the broker, he finally answered: I
have done about everything that is on the books as
far as real estate is concerned.
xxx
xxx
xxx
Respondent takes the position that because he is a
real-estate broker he has a lawful right to do any
legal
work
in
connection
with
real-estate
transactions, especially in drawing of real-estate
contracts, deeds, mortgages, notes and the like.
There is no doubt but that he has engaged in these
practices over the years and has charged for his
services in that connection. x x x. (People v.
Schafer, 87 N.E. 2d 773)
xxx
xxx
xxx
241
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Cayetano vs. Monsod

x x x. An attorney, in the most general sense, is a
person designated or employed by another to act in
his stead; an agent; more especially, one of a class
of persons authorized to appear and act for suitors
or defendants in legal proceedings. Strictly, these

professional persons are attorneys at law, and nonprofessional agents are properly styled attorneys in
fact; but the single word is much used as meaning
an attorney at law. A person may be an attorney in
facto for another, without being an attorney at law.
Abb. Law Dict. Attorney/ A public attorney, or
attorney at law, says Webster, is an officer of a
court of law, legally qualified to prosecute and
defend actions in such court on the retainer of
clients. The principal duties of an attorney are (1) to
be true to the court and to his client; (2) to manage
the business of his client with care, skill, and
integrity; (3) to keep his client informed as to the
state of his business; (4) to keep his secrets
confided to him as such. x x x His rights are to be
justly compensated for his services. Bouv. Law Dict.
tit. Attorney. The transitive verb practice, as
defined by Webster, means to door perform
frequently, customarily, or habitually; to perform by
a succession of acts, as, to practice gaming; x x x to
carry on in practice, or repeated action; to apply, as
a theory, to real life; to exercise, as a profession,
trade, art. etc.; as, to practice law or medicine, etc.
x x x. (State v. Bryan, S.E. 522, 523; Emphasis
supplied)
In this jurisdiction, we have ruled that the practice
of law denotes frequency or a succession of acts.
Thus, we stated in the case of People v. Villanueva
(14 SCRA 109 [1965]):
x x x Practice is more than an isolated appearance,
for it consists in frequent or customary actions, a
succession of acts of the same kind. In other words,
it is frequent habitual exercise (State v. Cotner, 127,
p. 1, 87 Kan. 864, 42 LRA, M.S. 768). Practice of law
to fall within the prohibition of statute has been

interpreted as customarily or habitually holding

ones self out to the public, as a lawyer and
demanding payment for such services. x x ." (at p. 1
12)
It is to be noted that the Commission on
Appointment itself recognizes habituality as a a
required component of the meaning of practice of
law in a Memorandum prepared and issued by it, to
wit:
1. Habituality. The term practice of law implies
customarily or habitually holding ones self out to
the public as a lawyer (People v.
242
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS

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Cayetano vs. Monsod

Villanueva, 14 SCRA 109 citing State v, Bryan, 4 S.E.
522, 98 N.C. 644) such as when one sends a circular
announcing the establishment of a law office for the
general practice of law (U.S. v. Noy Bosque, 8 Phil.
146), or when one takes the oath of office as a
lawyer before a notary public, and files a
manifestation with the Supreme Court informing it
of his intention to practice law in all courts in the
country (People v. De Luna, 102 Phil., 968).
Practice is more than an isolated appearance, for it
consists in frequent or customary action, a
succession of acts of the same kind. In other words,
it is a habitual exercise (People v. Villanueva, 14
SCRA 109 citing State v. Cotner, 127, p. 1, 87 Kan,
864)." (Rollo, p. 115)
xxx
xxx
xxx
While the career as a businessman of respondent
Monsod may have profited from his legal
knowledge, the use of such legal knowledge is

incidental and consists of isolated activities which

do not fall under the denomination of practice of
law. Admission to the practice of law was not
required for membership in the Constitutional
Commission or in the Fact-Finding Commission on
the 1989 Coup Attempt. Any specific legal activities
which may have been assigned to Mr. Monsod while
a member may be likened to isolated transactions of
foreign corporations in the Philippines which do not
categorize the foreign corporations as doing
business in the Philippines. As in the practice of law,
doing business also should be active and
continuous. Isolated business transactions or
occasional, incidental and casual transactions are
not within the context of doing business. This was
our ruling in the case of Antam Consolidated, Inc. v.
Court of Appeals, 143 SCRA 288 [1986]).
Respondent Monsod, corporate executive, civic
leader, and member of the Constitutional
Commission
may
possess
the
background,
competence, integrity, and dedication, to qualify for
such high offices as President, Vice-President,
Senator, Congressman or Governor but the
Constitution in prescribing the specific qualification
of having engaged in the practice of law for at least
ten (10) years for the position of COMELEC
Chairman has ordered that he may not be confirmed
for that office. The Constitution charges the public
respondents no less than this Court to obey its
mandate,
I, therefore, believe that the Commission on
Appointments committed grave abuse of discretion
in confirming the nomina243
VOL. 201, SEPTEMBER 3,

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1991

Cayetano vs. Monsod

tion of respondent Monsod as Chairman of the
COMELEC.
I vote to GRANT the petition.
Petition dismissed.
Note.View that the court should not impose its
view on areas within the competence of policy
makers. (Garcia vs. Board of lnvestments, 191 SCRA
288.)
o0o
244