ANTOLIN vs.

DOMONDON

DOCTRINE: The people’s right to information is limited to matters of public concern and
subject to such limitations as may be provided by law

FACTS:

Petitioner Hazel Antolin took the 1997 CPA Board Exams but failed, receiving failing
grades from four out of seven subjects. Convinced that she deserved to pass, she wrote
to respondent Abelardo Domondon, Acting Chairman of the Board of Accountancy, and
requested that her answer sheets be re-corrected. Her answer sheets were shown but
these consisted merely of shaded marks. She requested for copies of the questionnaire,
their respective answer keys, and an explanation of the grading system used in each
subject. Respondent denied the request.

Issue: WON Antolin has a right to obtain copies of the examination papers.

The Court rules in favor of the petitioner. Section 28, Article 2 of the Constitution
provides that the State may adopt policies in the disclosure of all its transactions
involving public interest while Section 7, Article 3 provides the right of the people to
information on matters of public interest. It is clear that the people’s right to information
is limited to matters of public concern and subject to such limitations as may be
provided by law. The Court, nonetheless, conceded that the CPA Board Exams are
matters of public concern. The examinees in particular, would understandably be interested
in the fair and competent administration of these exams in order to ensure that only those
qualified are admitted into the accounting profession.

Furthermore, on the issue of mootness, the Court held that the petitioner’s belated passing of
the Board Exams does not automatically mean that her interest in the examination papers has
become mere superfluity.

Lastly, CA erred in ruling that petitioner should have exhausted administrative remedies before
seeking judicial intervention because issues of law cannot be resolved with finality by an
administrative officer.