KILOSBAYAN, INC. VS. GUINGONA, JR.

(G.R. No. 113375, May 5, 1994)

FACTS:
Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), with the approval of the President
entered into a Contract of Lease with Philippine Gaming Management Corp. (PGMC) which
was organized through the initiative of the Berjaya Group Berhad, a foreign company. This
was executed despite vigorous opposition from Kilosbayan on account of its alleged
immorality and illegality. Kilosbayan, an organization of civic-spirited citizens, now sues as
taxpayers and concerned citizens. Respondents challenge the petitioners locus standi.

ISSUE:
Must the action fail for the alleged lack of a locus standi?
RULING:
No. The Court found that the instant case petition to be transcendental importance to
the public, and the issues it raised are of paramount public interest. The ramifications of such
issues immeasurably affect the social, economic and moral wellbeing of the people even in the
remotest barangays of the country and the counter-productive and retrogressive effects of the
envisioned on-line lottery system are as staggering as the billions of pesos it is expected to
raise. In the exercise of its sound discretion, in keeping with its duty to determine whether or
not the other branches of government have exercised grave abuse of discretion given them,
with this in mind the Court brushed aside the procedural barrier which the respondents tried to
take advantage of.