Public  International  Law  

Course  Outline  
Atty.  Ethelbert  B.  Ouano  
 
Principal  References:  
JOAQUIN  G.  BERNAS,  S.J.,  INTRODUCTION  TO  PUBLIC  INTERNATIONAL  LAW  (2009  ed.)  
MERLIN  M.  MAGALLONA,    FUNDAMENTALS  OF  PUBLIC  INTERNATIONAL  LAW  (2005  ed.)  
JAMES  CRAWFORD,  BROWNLIE’S  PRINCIPLES  OF  PUBLIC  INTERNATIONAL  LAW  (2013)  
 
 
I. Introduction:  Nature  of  International  Law    
a. Definition  
b. Public  International  Law  vs.  Private  International  Law  
c. Divisions  
d. Basis  
 
II. Sources  of  International  Law  
a. Treaties  
i. Executive  Order  No.  459,  November  25,  1997,  Guidelines  in  the  Negotiation  of  
International  Agreements  
ii. Vienna  Convention  on  the  Law  of  Treaties,  May  23,  1969  
iii. Bagong  Alyansang  Makabayan  v.  Executive  Secretary  Ronaldo  Zamora,  G.R.  No.  
138570,  Oct.  10,  2000  
iv. Pimentel,  Jr.,  v.  Executive  Secretary  462  SCRA  622,  6  July  2005  
v. Tanada  v.  Angara,  272  SCRA  18,  May  2,  1997  
vi. Lim  vs.  Executive  Secretary,  G.R.  No.  151445,  April  11,  2002  
vii. Constantino v. Cuisia and Del Rosario, G.R. No. 106064, Oct. 13, 2005.  
viii. Abaya v. Ebdane, G.R. No. 167919, Feb. 14, 2007.  
ix. Pharmaceutical v. DOH, GR 173034, Oct. 9, 2007.  
x. The Province of North Cotabato v. GRP Peace Panel, G.R. No. 183591, Oct. 14, 2008.  
xi. Memorandum of Agreement on Ancestral Domain (2008)  
xii. Bangsamoro Framework Agreement (2012)  
xiii. Bayan Muna v. Romulo, G.R. No. 159618, Feb. 1, 2011.  
xiv. China National Machinery v. Santamaria, G.R. No. 185572, Feb. 7, 2012.  
xv. Reservations to the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of
Genocide (Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports, 1951)  
xvi. Interpretation of Peace Treaties Case (Second Phase, Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports
221, 1950)  
xvii. Fisheries Jurisdiction Case (Jurisdiction, United Kingdom v. Iceland, I.C.J. Reports,
1974)  
xviii. Danube Dam Case (Hungary v. Slovakia, 37 ILM, 1998)  
xix. Sei Fujii v. California (242 P. 2d 617; 19 ILR 312, 1952)  
 
b. State  Practice:  Custom  
i. Republic v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 104768, July 21, 2003.  
ii. The Paquete Habana (175 U.S. 677, 1900)  
iii. The Asylum Case (Colombia v. Peru, 17 I.L.R. 28; I.C.J. Reports, 1950)  
iv. North Sea Continental Shelf Case (I.C.J. Reports, 1969)  
v. Nuclear Test Cases (Australia v. France; New Zealand v. France, I.C.J. Reports, 1974)  
 vi. Nicaragua v. U.S. ( I.C.J Reports, 1986)  
 
c. Domestic  Law:  General  Principles  of  Law  and  Application  of  International  Law  by  
Domestic  Courts    
i. International  Law  vs.  Municipal  Law  
ii. Doctrine  of  Incorporation  
1. Mejoff  v.  Director  of  Prisons  90  Phil.  70  
2. Kuroda  vs.  Jalandoni  83  Phil.  171  
3. Agustin  v.  Edu  88  SCRA  195  
4. J.B.L.  Reyes  v.  Bagatsing  GR.  No.  65366  October  25,  1983  
5. Secretary  Of  Justice  v.  Judge  Lantion  GR  139465,  18  Jan.  2000  
6. Tanada  v.  Angara,  272  SCRA  18,  May  2,  1997  
iii. Doctrine  of  Transformation  
iv. Constitution  vs.  Treaty  
v. Mijares v. Hon. Ranada, GR 1393325, April 12, 2005  
vi. Filartiga v. Pena-Irala (630 F. 2d 876, 1980)  
vii. Trendtex Trading Corporation v. Central Bank of Nigeria (1 All E.R. 881, 1977)  
 
III. Subject  and  Objects  of  International  Law  
a. States  
i. Concept  of  Sovereignty  as  Autolimitation  
1. Abbas  vs.  COMELEC  
ii. Recognition  
1. Marcos  v.  Manglapus  GR  88211  15  Sept.  1989  
2. ICMC  vs.  Calleja  GR  85750,  28  Sept.  1990  
3. Wilson/Tobar  Doctrine  
4. Stimson  Doctrine  
5. Extrada  Doctrine  
iii. Belligerency  
b. International  Organizations  
i. Charter of the United Nations, Articles 1, 2, 7, 104  
ii. Reparations for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations (I.C.J. Reports,
1949)  
c. Individuals  and  Corporations  
i. Judgment of the Nuremberg Tribunal  
ii. Dispute between Texaco Overseas Petroleum Co./California Asiatic Oil Co. and the
Government of the Libyan Arab Republic (Compensation for Nationalized Property,
Arbitral Awards on the  Merits, 19 January 1977, 17 I.L.M., 1978)  
 
IV. Jurisdiction  of  States  
a. Territory  
i. Magallona  vs.  Ermita,  G.R  No.  187167  August  16,  2011  
ii. DFA Policy Paper No. 15 (on Sabah Claim)  
iii. New Baselines Law (R.A. 9522)  
iv. The  South  China  Sea  Dispute    –  The  Spratlys  
v. Island of Palmas Case (Netherlands v. U.S.A., 2 R.I.A.A. 829, Permanent Court of
Arbitration  
vi. Legal Status of Eastern Greenland (P.C.I.J. Reports, series A/B, No. 53, 1933)  
vii. Western Sahara Case (Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports, 1975)  
 viii. Convention on International Civil Aviation, signed at Chicago on 7 December 1944  
ix. Fisheries Case (United Kingdom v. Norway, I.C.J. Reports, 1951)  
x. The Corfu Channel Case (I.C.J. Reports, 1949)  
xi. 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, Articles 3, 8  
 
 
b. Adjacent  Maritime  Areas  
i. UNCLOS  /  ITLOS  
ii. People v. Tulin, GR 111709, August 30, 2009  
iii. North Sea Continental Shelf Cases (Germany v. Denmark/Holland, 8 I.L.M. 340, 1969)  
iv. Gulf of Maine (Canada/USA, I.C.J. Reports, 1984)  
v. Libya/Malta Continental Shelf Case (I.C.J. Reports,1985)  
vi. 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, Article 76  
vii. Fisheries Jurisdiction Case (U.K. v. Iceland, Merits, I.C.J. Reports, 1974)  
i. 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, Articles 55, 56, 57, 211, 123  
 
c. Jurisdiction  over  Persons  and  Economic  Activities  
i. Criminal  and  Civil  Jurisdiction  
1. Table of RP Extradition Treaties  
2. Procedure on Extradition under P.D. 1069  
3. The Princeton Principles on Universal Jurisdiction  
4. Gov’t.  of  U.S.A.  v.  Hon.  Purganan,  GR  148571  Sept.  24,  2002  
5. Gov’t.  of  Hongkong  v.  Olalia,  GR153675,  April  19,  2007  
6. The S.S. Lotus (2 World Court Reports, 1920) A97, UNCLOS –  
7. The Attorney-General of the Government of Israel v. Eichmann (36 I.L.R. 277,
1962)  
8. In the Matter of the Requested Extradition of Joseph Patrick Thomas Doherty (7
Vand. J.T. L.,1984)  
9. Philippine Extradition Law (P.D. 1069)  
10. Secretary of Justice v. Hon. Lantion (G.R. No. 139465, October 17, 2000)  
11. Secretary of Justice v. Muñoz (G.R. No. 140520, December 18, 2000)  
12. Rodriguez v. RTC of Manila (GR 157977, February 27, 2006)  
13. Montreal Convention of 1971- Article 8(2)  
 
ii. Immunity  from  Jurisdiction  
1. State  Immunity  and  Act  of  State  
a. Sanders v. Veridiano, 162 SCRA 88  
b. U.S. v. Guinto, 182 SCRA 644  
c. Chuidian v. Sandiganbayan, GR 139941, January 19, 2001  
d. Dayrit v. Phil Pharmawealth, GR 169304, March 13, 2007  
e. Professional Video v. TESA, GR 155504, June 26, 2009  
f. ATCI v. Echin, GR 178551, October 11, 2010  
g. Gunigundo v. Sandiganbayan, GR 124772, August 14, 200  
h. Victory Transport Inc. v. Comisaria General de Abastecimientos y
Transportes (35 I.L.R., 110 U.S.C.A. 2d Circ., 1994)  
i. Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo v. Venne (22
D.L.R. (3d) 669, 1972) t.  
j. I1 Congreso del Partido- Cuban Sugar Trade (2 All E.R. 1064, 1981)  
k. Trendtex Trading Corporation v. Central Bank of Nigeria (1 All E.R.
881, 1977) Philippines:  
 l. Pinochet Case (House of Lords, November 25, 1998)  
 
 
2. Diplomatic  and  Consular  Immunity  
a. Excerpts from the DFA 1997 Manual on Immunities and Privileges  
b. Minucher v. CA, 214 SCRA 242  
c. Republic of Indonesia v. Vinzon, 405 SCRA 126  
d. Nicolas v. Romulo, GR 175888, February 11, 2009  
e. U.S. Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran (U.S. v. Iran, I.C.J.
Reports 3, 1980)  
f. Regina v. Palacios (7 D.L.R. 112, 4th, 1984)  
g. Holy See v. Rosario (238 SCRA 524)  
h. Indonesia v. Vinzon (GR 154705, June 26, 2003)  
i. Deutsche v. CA (GR 152318, April 16, 2009)  
j. DFA v. NLRC (262 SCRA 39)  
k. Lasco v. UN (241 SCRA 681)  
l. WHO v. Aquino (48 SCRA 242)  
m. ICMC v. Calleja (190 SCRA 130)  
n. Liang v. People (G.R. 125865, January 28, 2000)  
o. Sps. Lacierda v. Platon (GR 157141, August 31, 2005 )  
3. Immunities  and  International  Organizations  
 
iii. Areas  not  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  of  individual  states  
1. 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, Articles 87, 97  
2. 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, Definition of Piracy, Article 101  
3. Declaration of Principles Governing the Seabed and the Ocean Floor and the
Subsoil Thereof,  
4. Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction –   Resolution 2749 XXV (1970)  
5. 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea, Part XI  
6. Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in Exploration of Outer
Space and the Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and other Celestial
Bodies (1967)  
7. Convention on Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects (1972)  
d. Other  rights  of  states  
 
V. Responsibility  of  States  
a. General  Principles  of  Responsibility  
i. International Law Commission Draft Articles on State Responsibility, Articles 1-10, 19
Youmans Case (RIAA iv. 110, 1926)  
ii. Caire Claim Case (France v. Mexico, French-Mexican Claims Commission, RIAA v.
516, 1929)  
iii. Home Missionary Society Case (RIAA vi. 42, 1920)  
 
b. Responsibility  for  Acts  Affecting  Individuals  
i. Traditional  International  Liability  
1. United States (Chattin) v. Mexico (4 R.I.A.A. 282, 1927)  
2. The Law of Responsibility of States for Damages Done in Their Territory to the
Person or Property  of Foreigners, 23 Am. J. Int’ l L. 131-239 (1929)
Supplement: Codification of International Law.  
 
 ii. International  Protection  of  Human  Rights  
1. U.N. Charter, Articles 1(3), 55, 56  
2. Mejoff v. Director of Prisons (90 Phil. 70)  
3. Marcos v. Manglapus, 177 SCRA 668; 178 SCRA 760  
4. International School v. Quisumbing, GR 128845, June 1, 2000  
5. Republic v. Sandiganbayan, GR 104768, July 21, 2003  
6. CB Employees v. BSP, GR 148208, December 14, 2004  
7. Sec. of National Defense v. Manalo, GR 180906, October 7, 2008  
8. Reyes v. CA, GR 182161, December 3, 2009  
9. Rubrico v. GMA, GR 183871, February 18, 2010  
10. BOAC v. Cadapan, GR 184461-62, May 31, 2011  
11. Biraogo v. Truth Commission, GR 192935, December 7, 2010  
12. International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and Optional
Protocols 1 and 2  
13. International Covenant on Economic, Social & Cultural Rights (1966)  
14. Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (1969)  
15. Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (1981) and
Optional Protocol (2000)  
16. Convention against Torture (1987)  
17. Convention on the Rights of the Child (1990) and Optional Protocols on Sale,
Prostitution and  
18. Pornography (2002) and Children in Situations of Armed Conflict (2002)  
19. Migrant Workers Convention (2003)  
20. South-West Africa Cases, Second Phase (I.C.J. Reports, 1966, Dissenting
Opinion of Judge  Tanaka)  
 
iii. The  Taking  of  Property:  Nationalization  and  Expropriation  
1. United Nations Declaration on Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources,
1962, U.N.G.A.  
2. Resolution 1803 (XVII) United Nations Resolution 3171 (XXVIII) on
Permanent Sovereignty over Natural Resources, Dec. 17, 1973  
3. Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of States, 1974, U.N.G.A. Resolution
3281 (XXIX)  
4. Proposed Amendment to Article 2 of Charter of Economic Rights and Duties of
States  
5. Texaco Overseas Petroleum Co./California Asiatic Oil Co. and the Government
of Libyan Arab  
6. Republic (Compensation for Nationalized Property, 19 January 1977, 17 I.L.M.
1)  
 
c. Responsibility  for  Environmental  Harm  
i. Oposa v. Factoran  
ii. DENR v. Concerned Residents, GR 171947, December 18, 2008  
iii. Ma. Socorro Manguiat, The Right to Cleaner Air: Strategies for Pollution Control in the
Light of  Existing Laws (1993) (unpublished J.D. thesis, Ateneo de Manila University)
(on file with the Professional Schools Lobrary, Ateneo de Manila University).  
iv. The Trail Smelter Arbitration (3 R.I.A.A.1905, 1938/1941)  
v. The Corfu Channel Case (supra.)  
vi. The Stockholm Principles (1972)  
vii. U.N.G.A. Resolution 2995 (XXVII)  
viii. U.N.G.A. Resolution 2996 (XXVII)  
 ix. International Law Association Resolution 1972 United Nations Environment Program:
Governing Council Decisions Concerning Policy  
x. Objectives, 12 I.L.M. 1183 (1973)  
xi. Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, A/CONF.151/5/Rev.1, 31 I.L.M. 874
(1992)  
xii. Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer  
xiii. 1989 Basel Convention on the Transboundary Movement of Hazardous Wastes  
 
d. International  Claims  
i. Vinuya v. Romulo, GR 162230, April 28, 2010  
ii. United States [North American Dredging Co. of Texas] v. United Mexican States (4
R.I.A.A. 26, 1927)  
iii. Dissent  of  Judge  Nielsen  in  the  subsequent  case  of  International  Fisheries  Co.,  
(Nielsen’s  Opinions  207, 1931)  
iv. The Tattler (United States v. Great Britain, Nielsen Rep. 489, 1920)  
v. The Panevezys-Saldutiskis Railway Case (Estonia v. Lithuania, P.C.I.J. Series A/B, No.
76, 1939)  
vi. Nottebohm Case (Liechtenstein v. Guatemala, I.C.J. Reports 4, 1955)  
vii. Case Concerning the Barcelona Traction (Belgium v. Spain, I.C.J. Reports 3, 1970)  
viii. Banco Nacional de Cuba v. Peter L.F. Sabbatino (376 U.S. 398, 1964)  
ix. Alfred Dunhill of London Inc. v. The Republic of Cuba (425 U.S. 682, 48 L.Ed. 2d.301,
1976)  
x. Buttes Gas and Oil Co. and Another v. Hammer and Another (3 W.L.R. 787, H.L., 1981)  
 
VI. United  Nations    
a. Principal  Purposes  
b. Membership  
c. Principal  Organs  
 
VII. Resolution  of  Disputes  
a. Use  of  Force  
i. General  
1. Charter of the United Nations, Articles 2 (3) (4), Articles 39-42  
2. General Assembly Resolution 3314 XXX on the Definition of Aggression  
ii. The  Laws  of  War  
iii. The  Concepts  of  Self-­‐‑Defense  
1. Charter of the United Nations, Article 51  
iv. The  Legality  of  Reprisals  
v. Humanitarian  Intervention  
1. U.N. Security Council Resolution 1483 (2003) –   Reconstruction of Iraq  
vi. Terrorism  
b. Judicial  and  Arbitral  Settlement  
i. International  Court  of  Justice  
1. Statute of the ICJ  
ii. Non-­‐‑judicial  
1. Del Monte v. CA, GR 136154, February 7, 2001  
2. LM Power v. Capitol, GR 141833, March 26, 2003  
3. Frabelle v. Philamlife, GR 158560, August 17, 2007  
4. Gonzales v. Hon Pimentel, GR 167994, January 22, 2007