Abueva vs.

Wood, 45 Phil 612

FACTS:
The petitioners are members of the legislature and having more than six
months being members of Independence Commission created by the virtue
of Concurrent Resolution No. 20. The Act no. 2933 provided appropriation to
the independence commission the P1,000,000 per annum payable to the
insular treasury. The petitioners, for being tax payers, verbally and writingly
requested the respondents to exhibit and permit to them to see the vouchers
relating to expenditures and payments made out of funds appropriated. The
original vouchers are in possession of Paciano Dizon, as acting insular
director who is under the authority of Governor-general Leonard Wood. A writ
of mandamus was filed in the Supreme Court to compel the holders of these
vouchers to be exhibited to them and permit them to examine.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the Court has the jurisdiction over the disputes and shall
issue writ of mandamus?
HELD:
No. The writ of mandamus that is being issued by Supreme Court would
control the action of Governor General and those who are in legislature.
Respecting the doctrine of separation of powers and principle of checks and
balances, the Supreme Court should not intervene in the administration of
the other departments of the government or vice versa. Under the form of
government established by the United States in the Philippine Islands, one
department of the government has no power or authority to inquire into the
acts of another.