TOPIC: The Constitutionality of the Bangsamoro Basic Law

ABSTRACT
The purpose of the Bangsamoro Basic Law is to establish the new
Bangsamoro political entity and provide for its basic structure of government, in
recognition of the aspiration of the of the Bangsamoro people.
Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, a constitutional law expert, has also called
the government and the MILF peace deal as illegal because it creates a substate
instead of a mere autonomous region one of the basis that the Supreme Court
cited in declaring as unconstitutional the Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral
Domain (MOA-AD) between the Arroyo government and the MILF in 2008. Under the
said case the Supreme Court declared that the MOA-AD cannot be reconciled with
the present Constitution and laws. Not only its specific provisions but the very
concept underlying them, namely the associative relationship envisioned between
the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Bangsamoro Juridical
Entity, are unconstitutional, for the concept presupposes that the associated entity
is a State and implies that the same is on its way to independence.
The Committee hearings on the present draft sought to clarify the extent of
the powers of the Bangsamoro Chief Minister in relation to the President, as well as
different branches of government. The proposed law has provided for a number of
intergovernmental

relations

mechanism

that

would

see

the

Bangsamoro

government and national branches and agencies collaborate on matters that

interlay with each other.
This paper will try to answer the question Does the Bangsamoro Basic Law
creates a substate?

MEMBERS:

Diana Jean Alba

Stephen Rey Jacobo
TOPIC: Does UBER violate the franchising laws of the Philippines?

ABSTRACT
Uber is an American-based company founded in 2009; it is ridesharing
application on smartphones that connects people who need rides with drivers.
According to uber.com, with the use of Uber, there is no need to call a dispatcher or
hail on the street. You can request a ride with the push of a button and track your
drivers progress to your location.
Ubers innovation in providing alternative faces legal problems globally. South
Korea says both UberX and UberBLACK violate the law, stressing that anyone
offering this service through the Uber platform will face severe punishment. The
country vows to shut the firm down. In the Philippines, the Land Transportation
Franchising and Regulatory Board staged a sting operation against a driver
partnered with UberBLACK, Ubers premium service tier. Following a complaint
issued by the Philippine National Taxi Operators Association against Uber, the Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board arranged for an individual to book
a short ride using Uber.
This paper will try to answer the questions, is an executive rule sufficient to
legalized Uber private transportation services? Should Congress enact a law
regulating Uber and other similar service providers?

Members:
Diana Jean Alba
Stephen Rey Jacobo