DefensorSantiago vs. Guingona G.R. No. 134577, November 18,
1998Facts During t!e "rst regu#ar session of t!e e#event! $ongress,
Senator Fernan %as &ec#are& t!e &u#' e#ecte&
(resi&ent of t!e Senate b' a vote of )* to ). Senator
+ata&manifeste& t!at, %it! t!e agreement of Senator
Santiago, a##ege' t!e on#' ot!er member of t!e minorit', !e %as
assuming t!e ,osition of minorit' #ea&er. -e e.,#aine& t!at
t!ose %!o !a& vote& for Senator Fernan com,rise& t!e
ma/orit', %!i#e on#' t!ose %!o !a& vote& for !im, t!e
#osing nominee, be#onge& to t!e minorit'. Senator F#avier
manifeste& t!at t!e senators be#onging to t!e 0a1asN2$D324D(
(art' numbering 7 an&, t!us, a#so a minorit' !a& c!osen
Senator Guingona as t!e minorit' #ea&er. +!ereafter, t!e
ma/orit' #ea&er informe& t!e bo&' t!at !e %as in
recei,t of a #etter signe& b' t!e 7 0a1asN2$D24D( senators,
stating t!at t!e' !a& e#ecte& Senator Guingona as t!e
minorit' #ea&er. 5' virtue t!ereof, t!e Senate (resi&ent
forma##' recogni6e& Senator Guingona as t!e minorit' #ea&er
of t!e Senate. Senators Santiago an& +ata& "#e& a
,etition for 7uo %arranto, a##eging t!at Senator Guingona !a&
been usur,ing, un#a%fu##' !o#&ing an& e.ercising t!e
,osition of Senate minorit' #ea&er, a ,osition t!at,
accor&ing to t!em, rig!tfu##' be#onge& to Senator
+ata&. 8ssues 91: ;!et!er or not t!e $ourt !as /uris&iction
over t!e ,etition 9): ;!et!er or not t!ere is an actua# vio#ation
of t!e $onstitution-e#& Regar&ing t!e "rst issue,
/uris&iction over t!e sub/ect matter of a case is
&etermine& b' t!e a##egations of t!e com,#aint or ,etition,
regaress of %!et!er t!e ,etitioner is entit#e& to t!e re#ief
asserte&. 8n #ig!t of t!e a##egations of t!e ,etitioners, it is
c#ear t!at t!e $ourt !as /uris&iction over t!e ,etition. 8t is
%e## %it!in t!e ,o%er an& /uris&iction of t!e $ourt to
in7uire %!et!er in&ee& t!e Senate or its o
