State Immunity

Group 11
What
A principle is State law
of international Immunity?
which exempts a
State from prosecution or suit for the violation
of the domestic laws of another state.
State Immunity in Suit Filed by
Another State
The rule that a state may not be sued
without its consent is one of the
generally accepted principles of
International Law that we adopted as a
part of the law of the land
One of the attributes of the state is the
right of equality.
 Akin to the right of equality of state is the
International Law principle par in parem non
habet imperium or an equal has no dominion
over an equal, which is the basis of the
doctrine of state immunity.
Under the maxim of par in parem non habet
imperium, a State cannot assume jurisdiction
over a case lodged against another State
unless the latter gives consent to be sued.
State Immunity in a Suit Filed
by an Individual

The Constitution expressly adheres to

the postulate of state immunity.
The doctrine of non-suability of a State is
also a manifestation of republicanism.
 Consent to be Sued

The Immunity of the State from Suit may

be waived expressly or Impliedly.
 Express Consent
The intent of the State in allowing itself to
be sued must be clear and without doubt.
The consent of the State to be sued must
emanate from statutory authority.
Waiver of the state immunity can only be
made by an act of legislative body.
 General Law

Commonwealth Act No. 327 requires

that all money claims against the
government must be filed with the
Commission on Audit, which must act
upon it within 60 days.
Rejection of the claim will authorize the
claimant to elevate the matter to the
Supreme Court on certiorari, and in effect
sue the State thereby.
 Special Law

A special law may be passed to enable a

person to sue government for an alleged quasi-
delict.

Implied Consent
Consent of the state to be sued is implied
when it enters into a business contract and
when it files a suit exposing it of being sued
through a counterclaim.
 Business Contract

The State by implication gives it its

consent to be sued by entering into a
business contract.

Complaint
If the state filed a complaint, one of the
procedural remedies for the defendant is
to file a counter-claim.
 STATE IMMUNITY

GENERAL
LAW
EXPRESSED
SPECIAL
CONSENT LAW

IMPLIED BUSINESS
CONTRACT
 Right of Just Compensation

Even if the State does not give its

consent, express or implied, to be sued,
the government cannot invoke the
defense of non-suability of State to
perpetrate an injustice on a citizen whose
private property was taken for public use
without just compensation.
 Suit against the Philippines

It is very hard to determine if the suit filed

against the State. If the republic of the
Philippines is expressly included in the
complaint as defendant or respondent, it
is definitely a suit against the State.
 Suit against Government
Agencies and Officials

So as not to dismiss outright a case filed

against the State, the plaintiff or
petitioner usually will not mention in his
complaint or petition the Republic of the
Philippines as defendant or respondent.
 Government Agencies

Two Kinds :
1.Unincorporated Agency
Such as the DOJ, DOF, AFP, PNP,
NBI, BOC, are not created by law. Are
mere extensions of the personality of the
State.
The properties, rights and obligations
of unincorporated agencies all belong to
the state.
2. Incorporated Agency

Incorporated government agencies

being juridical persons have their own
personality, which is different and distinct
from that of the State.
 Public Officials

The mere invocation of official charter will

not suffice to insulate a public official
from suability and liability for an act
imputed to him as a personal tort
committed without or excess of his
authority.