PEOPLE vs. LAGMAN G.R. Nos.
L-45892 and 45893 FACTS: Appellants Tranquilino Lagm an and Primitivo de Sosa are charged with a violation of section 60 of Commonwea lth Act No. 1, known as the National Defense Law. It is alleged that these two a ppellants, being Filipinos and having reached the age of twenty years in 1936, w illfully and unlawfully refused to register in the mi litary service between the 1st and 7th of April of said year, even though they h ad been required to do so . The two appellants were duly notified to appear befor e the Acceptance Board i n order to register for military service but still did n ot register up to the d ate of the filing of the information. Appellants argue that they did not registe r because de Sosa is fatherless and ha s a mother and a brother eight years old to support, and Lagman also has a fathe r to support, has no military learnings, and does not wish to kill or be killed. The Court of First Instance sentenced t hem both to one month and one day of impr isonment, with the costs. ISSUE: WON t he National Defense Law (Sec 60, Commonwealth Act No. 1) was constitutional by v irtue of Section 2, Article II of the Constitution which states that: SEC. 2. Th e defense of the state is a prime duty of government, and in the fulfi llment of this duty all citizens may be required by law to render personal milit ary or c ivil service. HELD: YES. Decision of CFI affirmed. The National Defense Law, in so far as it establi shes compulsory military service, does not go against this constitutional provis ion but is, on the contrary, in faithful compliance therew ith. The duty of the G overnment to defend the State cannot be performed except through an army. To lea ve the organization of an army to the will of the citize ns would be to make this duty of the Government excusable should there be no suf ficient men who voluntee r to enlist therein. In US cases, it was stated that th e right of the Government to require compulsor y military service is a consequen ce of its duty to defend the State; and, that a person may be compelled by force to take his place in the ranks of the army of his country, and risk the chance of b eing shot down in its defense. What justifies compulsory military service is the defense of the State, whether actual or whether in preparation to make it more effective, in case of need. The circumstances of the appellants do not excuse th em from their duty to present t hemselves before the Acceptance Board because th ey can obtain the proper pecunia ry allowance to attend to these family responsi bilities (secs. 65 and 69 of Comm onwealth Act No. 1).
