Insufficient reasons

Pursuant to the principle of separation of powers, the major departments of government should be left alone to discharge their respective duties as they see fit.

- JOSE C. SISON

It also dictates that each department cannot lawfully exercise powers which belong to the two other departments.

In this case, the question that arose is whether the court can go beyond what the legislature has laid down and say what the law should be. Can it look into the wisdom of the law? Or can it remedy every unjust situation that may arise from the application of a particular law?

This case involves a non-stock, non-profit Catholic education institution (the school) and a legitimate labor organization representing all of the employees of the school, except the faculty and consultants of the Graduate School, managerial employees and those who occupy confidential positions (Samahan). The Samahan has an existing collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with the school.

For the school year 2000-2001, the school increased its tuition fees for all its departments. And pursuant to their CBA with Samahan, the school shall allocate, solely and exclusively, 85 percent of the incremental proceeds from said increase for adjustments in the employees' salaries and benefits.