What is the Doctrine of Auto Limitation

While sovereignty has traditionally been deemed absolute and all-encompassing on the domestic level, it is however SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS AND LIMITATIONS voluntarily agreed to by the Philippines, expressly or impliedly as a member of the family of nations. The sovereignty of a state therefore cannot in fact and in reality be considered absolute. Certain RESTRICTIONS enter into the picture: (1) limitations imposed by the very nature of membership in the family of nations and (2) limitations imposed by treaty stipulations. (Tañada v. Angara, G.R. No. 118295, May 2, 1997)