Tanada vs. Tuvera, GR L-63915, April 24, 1985

ISSUE:  Whether or not Petitioners have legal standing. 

FACTS:  Petitioners seek a writ of mandamus to compel respondent public officials to publish, and/or cause the publication in the Official Gazette of various presidential decrees, letters of instructions, general orders, proclamations, executive orders, letter of implementation and administrative orders. Respondents, through the Solicitor General, would have this case dismissed outright on the ground that petitioners have no legal personality or standing to bring the instant petition and that it is not required for a law to be published when the date of its effectivity are expressly mentioned in said laws. Petitioners then contended that the publication of said Presidential Issuance is a public right and that compelling the respondent to publish it is a public duty that does not need any other specific interest from the petitioner to be given due course. 

DECISION:  The petition was GRANTED. 

RATIO DECIDENDI:  Yes, the Court agrees with petitioners that although they are private citizens, the subject of the Petition is a public right and thus they, being citizens of this country, have the proper interest in seeing this case resolved.