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13 This
principle is one of the cornerstones of our constitutional democracy and it cannot be eroded
without endangering our government.14 The 1987 Constitution divides governmental power
into three co-equal branches: the executive, the legislative and the judicial. It delineates the
powers of the three branches: the legislature is generally limited to the enactment of laws, the
executive department to the enforcement of laws and the judiciary to their interpretation and
application to cases and controversies.15 Each branch is independent and supreme within its
own sphere and the encroachment by one branch on another is to be avoided at all costs.
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And equally settled is the rule that when a judgment is final and executory, it becomes
immutable and unalterable.44 It may no longer be modified in any respect, except to correct
clerical errors or to make nunc pro tunc entries, or when it is a void judgment.45 Outside of
these exceptions, the court which rendered judgment only has the ministerial duty to issue a
writ of execution.46 A decision that has attained finality becomes the law of the case regardless
of any claim that it is erroneous.47 Any amendment or alteration which substantially affects a
final and executory judgment is null and void for lack of jurisdiction, including the entire
proceedings held for that purpose.48 Thus, an order of execution which varies the tenor of the
judgment or exceeds the terms thereof is a nullity.49