Bara Lidasan v.

COMELEC
G.R. No. L-28089
FACTS:
R.A. 4790, entitled An Act Creating the Municipality of Dianaton in the province of
Lanao del Sur took effect on June 18, 1966. It sought to create the new municipality of
Dianaton within barrios in Lanao del Sur, but also included barrios located in Cotabato.
Pursuant to this law, COMELEC proceeded to establish precincts for voter registration in
the said territories of Dianaton.
Bara Lidasan, a resident and tax payer of the detached portion of Parang, Cotabato
requested for certiorari and prohibition and declare RA 4790 as unconstitutional
because its title is misleading and invoked the provision of the Constitution that the title
of a bill is to be couched in a language sufficient to notify the legislators and the public
and those concerned of the import of the single subject thereof.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the title of RA 4790 An Act Creating the Municipality of Dianaton in the
Province of Lanao del Sur satisfied the provision of the Constitution that the title of an
act must be sufficient to notify the public and others concerned of its substance
HELD:
R.A. 4790, An Act Creating the Municipality of Dianaton, in the Province of Lanao del
Sur is deemed unconstitutional. The very title projected the impression that Lanao del
Sur is the only province affected by the act. This statute apprised neither Congress nor
the people in the towns of Buldon and Parang in Cotabato and in the province of
Cotabato that part of Cotabatos territory is being taken to add to the adjacent Lanao
del Sur.