Manila barangay wants certificate of good moral character

MANILA, Philippines — The Manila city council has declared unconstitutional a barangay ordinance in Malate, which requires certificates of good moral character from new tenants.

Ordinance No. 006, Series of 2022 of Barangay 731, Zone 80 in Malate compelled owners, administrators and operators of residential as well as commercial buildings to demand proof of good moral character from tenants.

Property owners were also required to prepare a record of their occupants and submit the lists to the barangay.

The ordinance also requires property owners to allot parking spaces for their tenants.

Barangay officials will not issue the necessary permits to property owners who fail to comply with the ordinance, the city council said. Under the measure, violators will be fined up to P1,000, render community service or face suspension of business permit.

Members of the Manila city council denounced the ordinance approved by officials of Barangay 731 Zone 80, led by chairman Ariel Dakis, on July 18, 2022.

During the city council’s session on May 4, District 3 Councilor Ernesto Isip Jr. said the measure violates Article 3, Section 6 of the 1987 Constitution that guarantees a person’s liberty of abode.

City legal officer Veronica Nakpil-Lladoc said the ordinance “infringes one’s constitutional right to liberty of abode as well as statutory right of ownership.”

“Sa ginawa ni barangay chairman Dakis at ng mga council members, sila na nagiging judge without due process. If the tenants cannot present certificates of good moral character, automatically there is presumption of bad faith at hindi na papayagang manirahan sa kanilang barangay,” Isip said.

Dakis said they just wanted to protect their constituents from criminals.