the Constitution been acquiesced in (with or without valid ratification) by the people? Are petitioners entitled to relief? Is the Constitution in force? The court was severely divided on the issues raised in the petition, but when the crucial question of whether the petitioners are entitled to relief, six members of the court (Justices Makalintal, Castro, Barredo, Makasiar, Antonio and Esguerra) voted to dismiss the petition, thus upholding the 1973 Constitution and Marcos's rule. Concepcion, together with Justices Zaldivar, Fernando and Teehankee, voted to grant the relief being sought. In the issue of whether or not the 1973 Constitution has been ratified validly, six members of the court (the Chief Justice, and Justices Makalintal, Zaldivar, Castro, Fernando and Teehankee), answered that the Constitution was not validly ratified. Barredo's opinion was equivocal in its nature according to Cruz, but Joaquin Bernas, in his book on the Constitution, annotates that his opinion would be counted as concurring with the six justices. But it is unusual that of those who said that the Constitution was not validly ratified, Querube Makalintal and Fred Ruiz Castro voted to dismiss the petitions. Makalintal and Castro, in a joint opinion, justified their non-granting of relief on the basis of a case in relation to Luther v. Borden (48 U.S. (7 How.) 1; 12 L.Ed. 581, 1849). It said that the inquiry was indeed a political determination and not a judicial one. It was speculated that the two justices, being next in line for the position of Chief Justice, voted as such so as not to lose favor with Marcos. Makalintal was subsequently appointed Speaker of the Interim Batasang Pambansa, and Castro evidently showing his support of the Marcos regime through his court decisions and public statements. The last sentence of the decision said, "This being the vote of the majority, there is no further judicial obstacle to the new Constitution being considered in force and effect." It is disputed as to whether Concepcion placed this sentence intentionally or someone inserted these words after he signed the decision. Aftermath The Ratification Cases removed any legal challenge to the Marcos dictatorship. He had dictatorial power as President of the Philippines until he was forced out of power in 1986. Chief Justice Concepcion took a leave 18 days after the decision became public (50 days from his scheduled retirement) supposedly because he was disappointed on the outcome of the decision.