EPZA VS CHR

Facts:

Valles, Aedia and Ordonez filed with CHR a joint complaint against EPZA for allegedly violating their human rights when EPZA Project Engineer Damondamon along with 215 the PNP Company tried to level the area occupied by complainants.The same parcel of land was reserved and allocated for purpose of development into Cavite Export Processing Zone which was bought by Filoil Refinery Corporation and was later sold to EPZA.CHR issued an order of injunction for EPZA and company to desist from committing further acts of demolition, terrorism and harassment until further order. 2 weeks later the group started bulldozing the area and CHR reiterated its order of injunction, including the Secretary of Public Works and Highways to desist fromdoing work on the area. EPZA filed a motion to life the order with CHR for lack of authority and said motion wasdismissed.EPZA filed the case at bar for certiorari and prohibition alleging that CHR acted in excess of its jurisdiction in issuing a restraining order and injunctive writ; that the private respondents have no clear and positive right to be protected by an injunction; and that CHR abused its discretion in entertaining the complaint. EPZA’s petition was granted and a TRO was issued ordering CHR to cease and desist from enforcing/implementing the injunction orders. CHR commented that its function is not limited to mere investigation (Art. 13, Sec. 18 of the 1987 Constitution).

Issue:

WON CHR has the jurisdiction to issue a writ of injunction or restraining order against supposed violatorsof human rights, to compel them to cease and desist from continuing the acts complained of.

Held:

The SC held that CHR is not a court of justice nor even a quasi-judicial body. The most that may be conceded to the Commission in the way of adjudicative power is that it may investigate, i.e., receive evidence and make findings of fact as regards claimed human rights violations involving civil and political rights. But fact-finding is not adjudication, and cannot be likened to the judicial function of a court of justice, or even aquasi-judicial agency or official. The function of receiving evidence and ascertaining there from the facts of a controversy is not a judicial function, properly speaking. The constitutional provision directing the CHR to "provide for preventive measures and legal aid services to the underprivileged whose human rights have been violated or need protection" may not be construed to confer jurisdiction on the Commission to issue are straining order or writ of injunction for, if that were the intention, the Constitution would have expressly said so. Jurisdiction is conferred by law and never derived by implication. Evidently, the "preventive measures and legal aid services" mentioned in the Constitution refer to extrajudicial and judicial remedies (including a preliminary writ of injunction) which the CHR may seek from the proper courts on behalf of the victims of human rights violations. Not being a court of justice, the CHR itself hasno jurisdiction to issue the writ, for a writ of preliminary injunction may only be issued "by the judge of any court in which the action is pending [within his district], or by a Justice of the Court of Appeals, or of the  Supreme Court .A writ of preliminary injunction is an ancillary remedy. It is available only in a pending principal action, for the preservation or protection of the rights and interest of a party thereto, and for no other purpose. EPZA’s petition is granted.