Nicolas-Lewis, et al vs.

Comelec
G.R. No. 162759 August 4, 2006
Facts:
Petitioners were dual citizens by virtue of RA 922. Petitioners sou!"t to avail t"eir ri!"t of
su#ra!e under RA 9$%9 or t"e &verseas Absentee 'otin! Act of 2((). Comelec, "owever,
did not allow *etitioners to vote in t"e 2((+ election, reasonin! t"e *etitioners faield to
com*ly wit" t"e re,uirement of $-year residency *rior t"e elections as *rovided for under
Article , -ec $ of t"e Constitution.
Issue:
."et"er or not *etitioners may *artici*ate in t"e election sans t"e com*liance of t"e $ year
residency.
Ruling:
/"e Court "eld t"at t"ose w"o retained or reac,uired t"eir citizens"i* under RA 922 may
e0ercise t"eir ri!"t to vote under t"e &verseas Absentee 'otin! Act of 2((), RA 9$%9.
Article , -ection 2 of t"e Constitution *rovides for t"e e0ce*tion to t"e residency
re,uirement in -ection $ of t"e same article. /"e votin! mec"anism in RA 9$%9 was
*ractically set fort" to *rovide a system w"erein 1ili*inos of dual citizens"i* and are, at t"e
same time, not residin! in t"e P"ili**ines are em*owered to vote.
/"e Court "eld t"at *resent day duals may now e0ercise t"eir ri!"t of su#ra!e*rovided t"ey
meet t"e re,uirements under -ection $, Article ' of t"e Constitution in relation to R.A. 9$%9
Cayetano s. !onso"
R2NA/& CA32/AN&, *etitioner, vs.
C4R5-/5AN 6&N-&7, 4&N. 8&'5/& R. -AL&N9A, C&665--5&N &N APP&5N/62N/, and 4&N.
9:5LL2R6& CARA9:2, in "is ca*acity as -ecretary of ;ud!et and 6ana!ement,
res*ondents.
9.R. No. $(($$)
-e*tember ), $99$
PARA-, 8.<
1AC/-<
Res*ondent C"ristian 6onsod was nominated by President Corazon C. A,uino to t"e *osition
of c"airman of t"e C&62L2C. Petitioner o**osed t"e nomination because alle!edly 6onsod
does not *ossess re,uired ,uali=cation of "avin! been en!a!ed in t"e *ractice of law for at
least ten years. /"e $9%> constitution *rovides in -ection $, Article 5?-C< /"ere s"all be a
Commission on 2lections com*osed of a C"airman and si0 Commissioners w"o s"all be
natural-born citizens of t"e P"ili**ines and, at t"e time of t"eir a**ointment, at least t"irty-
=ve years of a!e, "olders of a colle!e de!ree, and must not "ave been candidates for any
elective *osition in t"e immediately *recedin! elections. 4owever, a ma@ority t"ereof,
includin! t"e C"airman, s"all be members of t"e P"ili**ine ;ar w"o "ave been en!a!ed in
t"e *ractice of law for at least ten years.
5--:2<
5t is w"et"er t"e res*ondent "as t"e ten year *ractice of law re,uirement for "im to assume
suc" oAce
42L7<
Practice of law means any activity, in or out of court, w"ic" re,uires t"e a**lication of law,
le!al *rocedure, Bnowled!e, trainin! and e0*erience. C/o en!a!e in t"e *ractice of law is to
*erform t"ose acts w"ic" are c"aracteristics of t"e *rofession. 9enerally, to *ractice law is
to !ive notice or render any Bind of service, w"ic" device or service re,uires t"e use in any
de!ree of le!al Bnowled!e or sBill.
5n !eneral, a *ractice of law re,uires a lawyer and client relations"i*, it is w"et"er in or out
of court. Atty. 6onsodDs *ast worB e0*eriences as a lawyer-economist, a lawyer-mana!er, a
lawyer-entre*reneur of industry, a lawyer-ne!otiator of contracts, and a lawyer-le!islator of
bot" t"e ric" and t"e *oor E verily more t"an satisfy t"e constitutional re,uirement E t"at
"e "as been en!a!ed in t"e *ractice of law for at least ten years..
;lacB de=nes C*ractice of lawC as<
/"e rendition of services re,uirin! t"e Bnowled!e and t"e a**lication of le!al *rinci*les and
tec"ni,ue to serve t"e interest of anot"er wit" "is consent. 5t is not limited to a**earin! in
court, or advisin! and assistin! in t"e conduct of liti!ation, but embraces t"e *re*aration of
*leadin!s, and ot"er *a*ers incident to actions and s*ecial *roceedin!s, conveyancin!, t"e
*re*aration of le!al instruments of all Binds, and t"e !ivin! of all le!al advice to clients. 5t
embraces all advice to clients and all actions taBen for t"em in matters connected wit" t"e
law. An attorney en!a!es in t"e *ractice of law by maintainin! an oAce w"ere "e is "eld out
to be-an attorney, usin! a letter"ead describin! "imself as an attorney, counselin! clients in
le!al matters, ne!otiatin! wit" o**osin! counsel about *endin! liti!ation, and =0in! and
collectin! fees for services rendered by "is associate. FBlack's Law Dictionary, )rd ed.G
/"e *ractice of law is not limited to t"e conduct of cases in court. FLand Title Abstract and
Trust Co. v. Dworken,$29 &"io -t. 2), $9) N.2. H(G A *erson is also considered to be in t"e
*ractice of law w"en "e<
... for valuable consideration en!a!es in t"e business of advisin! *erson, =rms, associations
or cor*orations as to t"eir ri!"ts under t"e law, or a**ears in a re*resentative ca*acity as an
advocate in *roceedin!s *endin! or *ros*ective, before any court, commissioner, referee,
board, body, committee, or commission constituted by law or aut"orized to settle
controversies and t"ere, in suc" re*resentative ca*acity *erforms any act or acts for t"e
*ur*ose of obtainin! or defendin! t"e ri!"ts of t"eir clients under t"e law. &t"erwise stated,
one w"o, in a re*resentative ca*acity, en!a!es in t"e business of advisin! clients as to t"eir
ri!"ts under t"e law, or w"ile so en!a!ed *erforms any act or acts eit"er in court or outside
of court for t"at *ur*ose, is en!a!ed in t"e *ractice of law. FState ex. rel. Mckittrick v..C.S.
Dudley and Co., $(2 -... 2d %9, )+( 6o. %2G
/"is Court in t"e case of Pili!!ine Lawyers Association v.A"rava, F$( P"il. $>),$>H-$>>G
stated<
Te !ractice o# law is not limited to t"e conduct of cases or liti"ation in courtI it embraces
t"e *re*aration of *leadin!s and ot"er *a*ers incident to actions and s*ecial *roceedin!s,
t"e mana!ement of suc" actions and *roceedin!s on be"alf of clients before @ud!es and
courts, and in addition, conveyin!. 5n !eneral, all advice to clients, and all action taBen for
t"em in mattersconnected wit te law incor*oration services, assessment and
condemnation services contem*latin! an a**earance before a @udicial body, t"e foreclosure
of a mort!a!e, enforcement of a creditorDs claim in banBru*tcy and insolvency *roceedin!s,
and conductin! *roceedin!s in attac"ment, and in matters of estate and !uardians"i* "ave
been "eld to constitute law *ractice, as do t"e *re*aration and draftin! of le!al
instruments, were te work done involves te deter$ination by te trained le"al $ind o#
te le"al e%ect o# #acts and conditions. F Am. 8r. *. 2H2, 2H)G. F2m*"asis su**liedG
Practice o# law under modem conditions consists in no small *art of worB *erformed outside
of any court and "avin! no immediate relation to *roceedin!s in court. 5t embraces
conveyancin!, t"e !ivin! of le!al advice on a lar!e variety of sub@ects, and t"e *re*aration
and e0ecution of le!al instruments coverin! an e0tensive =eld of business and trust relations
and ot"er a#airs. Altou" tese transactions $ay ave no direct connection wit court
!roceedin"s, tey are always sub&ect to beco$e involved in liti"ation. /"ey re,uire in many
as*ects a "i!" de!ree of le!al sBill, a wide e0*erience wit" men and a#airs, and !reat
ca*acity for ada*tation to diAcult and com*le0 situations. /"ese customary functions of an
attorney or counselor at law bear an intimate relation to t"e administration of @ustice by t"e
courts. No valid distinction, so far as concerns t"e ,uestion set fort" in t"e order, can be
drawn between t"at *art of t"e worB of t"e lawyer w"ic" involves a**earance in court and
t"at *art w"ic" involves advice and draftin! of instruments in "is oAce. 5t is of im*ortance
to t"e welfare of t"e *ublic t"at t"ese manifold customary functions be *erformed by
*ersons *ossessed of ade,uate learnin! and sBill, of sound moral c"aracter, and actin! at all
times under t"e "eavy trust obli!ations to clients w"ic" rests u*on all attorneys.
F6oran, Co$$ents on te 'ules o# Court, 'ol. ) J$9) ed.K , *. HH-HHH, citin! (n re )!inion
o# te *ustices J6ass.K, $9+ N.2. )$), ,uoted in 'ode (s. Bar Assoc. v. Auto$obile Service
Assoc. JR.5.K $>9 A. $)9,$++G. F2m*"asis oursG
At t"is *oint, it mi!"t be "el*ful to de=ne !rivate !ractice. /"e term, as commonly
understood, means Can individual or or!anization en!a!ed in t"e business of deliverin! le!al
services.C F(bid.G. Lawyers w"o *ractice alone are often called Csole *ractitioners.C 9rou*s of
lawyers are called C=rms.C /"e =rm is usually a *artners"i* and members of t"e =rm are t"e
*artners. -ome =rms may be or!anized as *rofessional cor*orations and t"e members called
s"are"olders. 5n eit"er case, t"e members of t"e =rm are t"e e0*erienced attorneys. 5n most
=rms, t"ere are youn!er or more ine0*erienced salaried attorneyscalled Cassociates.C F(bid.G.
/"e test t"at de=nes law *ractice by looBin! to traditional areas of law *ractice is essentially
tautolo!ous, un"el*ful de=nin! t"e *ractice of law as t"at w"ic" lawyers do. FC"arles ..
.olfram, Modern Le"al +tics J.est Publis"in! Co.< 6innesota, $9%HK, *. 9)G. /"e *ractice
of law is de=ned as t"e *erformance of any acts . . . in or out of court, commonly understood
to be t"e *ractice of law. FState Bar Ass'n v. Connecticut Bank , Trust Co., $+ Conn. 222,
$+( A.2d %H), %>( J$9%K J,uotin! -rievance Co$$. v. Payne, $2% Conn. )2, 22 A.2d H2),
H2H J$9+$KG. ;ecause lawyers *erform almost every function Bnown in t"e commercial and
!overnmental realm, suc" a de=nition would obviously be too !lobal to be worBable.
F.olfram, o!. cit.G.
#$illantes . %o$ac
9.R. No. 9)%H> 7ecember $%, $99(
Cruz, 8.
Facts:
/"e *etitioner is c"allen!in! t"e desi!nation by t"e President of t"e P"ili**ines of
Associate Commissioner 4aydee ;. 3orac as Actin! C"airman of t"e Commission on
2lections, in *lace of C"airman 4ilario ;. 7avide, w"o "ad been named c"airman of t"e fact-
=ndin! commission to investi!ate t"e 7ecember $9%9 cou* dL etat attem*t.
/"e *etitioner contends t"at t"e c"oice of t"e Actin! C"airman of t"e Commission on
2lections is an internal matter t"at s"ould be resolved by t"e members t"emselves and t"at
t"e intrusion of t"e President of t"e P"ili**ines violates t"eir inde*endence. 4e cites t"e
*ractice in t"e -u*reme Court, w"ere t"e senior Associate 8ustice serves as Actin! C"ief
8ustice in t"e absence of t"e C"ief 8ustice. No desi!nation from t"e President of t"e
P"ili**ines is necessary.
Issue:
w"et"er t"e desi!nation of an Actin! C"airman of C&62L2C is unconstitutional
&el":
3es. Article 5?-A, -ection $, of t"e Constitution e0*ressly describes all t"e
Constitutional Commissions as Minde*endent.N Alt"ou!" essentially e0ecutive in nature, t"ey
are not under t"e control of t"e President of t"e P"ili**ines in t"e disc"ar!e of t"eir
res*ective functions. 2ac" of t"ese Commissions conducts its own *roceedin!s under t"e
a**licable laws and its own rules and in t"e e0ercise of its own discretion. 5ts decisions,
orders and rulin!s are sub@ect only to review on Certiorari by t"e -u*reme Court as *rovided
by t"e Constitution in Article 5?-A, -ection >.
/"e c"oice of a tem*orary c"airman in t"e absence of t"e re!ular c"airman comes under
t"at discretion. /"at discretion cannot be e0ercised for it, even wit" its consent, by t"e
President of t"e P"ili**ines.
5n t"e c"oice of t"e Actin! C"airman, t"e members of t"e Commission on 2lections would
most liBely "ave been !uided by t"e seniority rule as t"ey t"emselves would "ave
a**reciated it. 5n any event, t"at c"oice and t"e basis t"ereof were for t"em and not t"e
President to maBe.
1. 'olle$ . C(!)*)CG.R. N(. 1+9,5+
1AC/-
Petitioner and *rivate res*ondent F-aulon!G were bot" candidates formayor of t"e
munici*ality of ;ansud, &riental 6indoro in t"e 6ay $$,$99% elections. /"e *etitioner was
*roclaimed as mayor by t"emunici*al board of canvassers. Private res*ondent =led a
*etition wit"t"e C&62L2C to annul t"e *roclamation. Later, *rivate res*ondent=led an
election *rotest a!ainst *etitioner wit" t"e R/C. /"e C&62L2Cdismissed t"e *re-
*roclamation case =led by *rivate res*ondent, w"ilet"e R/C denied *etitionerLs motion to
dismiss. Petitioner moved forreconsideration but said motion was denied.Petitioner t"en =led
wit" t"e C&62L2C a *etition for certioraricontendin! t"at res*ondent R/C acted wit"out or
in e0cess of @urisdiction or wit" !rave abuse of discretion in not dismissin!
*rivateres*ondentLs election *rotest. /"e C&62L2C en banc dismissed*etitionerLs suit.
Petitioner now ,uestions t"is decision of t"e C&62L2Cen banc.
5--:2<."et"er or not t"e C&62L2C "as t"e aut"ority to decide on t"e case.
42L7
/"e -C "as ruled in *revious cases t"at t"e C&62L2C, sittin! en banc,does not "ave
t"e re,uisite aut"ority to "ear and decide election cases includin! *re-*roclamation
controversies in t"e =rst instance. /"is *ower *ertains to t"e divisions of t"e Commission.
Any decision by t"e Commission en banc as re!ards election cases decided by it in t"e =rst
instance is null and void. 5n t"e -CLs view, t"e aut"ority to resolve *etition for certiorari
involvin! incidental issues of election *rotest, liBe t"e ,uestioned order of t"e trial court,
falls wit"in t"e division of t"eC&62L2C and not on t"e C&62L2C en banc.
/"us, in Sar$iento vs. C)M+L+C
[5]
and in subse,uent cases,
[6]
we ruled t"at t"e C&62L2C,
sittin! en banc, does not "ave t"e re,uisite aut"ority to "ear and decide election cases
includin! *re-*roclamation controversies in t"e =rst instance. /"is *ower *ertains to t"e
divisions of t"e Commission. Any decision by t"e Commission en banc as re!ards election
cases decided by it in t"e =rst instance is null and void.
1AC/-<

Petitioner Ru*erto A. Ambil, 8r. and res*ondent 8ose /. Ramirez were candidates for t"e
*osition of 9overnor, 2astern -amar, durin! t"e 6ay $$, $99% elections.iJ)K &n 6ay $H,
$99%, t"e Provincial ;oard of Canvassers *roclaimed Ru*erto A. Ambil, 8r. as t"e duly elected
9overnor, 2astern -amar.
5--:2< ."et"er Comelec, 1irst 7ivision, in sc"edulin! t"e *romul!ation of t"e resolution in
t"e case F2PC Case No. 9%-29G acted wit"out @urisdiction or wit" !rave abuse of discretion
amountin! to lacB of @urisdiction.
42L7<
.e =nd t"e *etition wit"out merit. /"e case at bar is an election *rotest involvin! t"e
*osition of 9overnor, 2astern -amar.iiJ)2K 5t is wit"in t"e ori!inal @urisdiction of t"e
Commission on 2lections in division. iiiJ))K Admittedly, *etitioner did not asB for a
reconsideration of t"e divisionLs resolution or =nal decision. 5n liBe manner, a decision, order
or resolution of a division of t"e Comelec must be reviewed by t"e Comelec en banc via a
motion for reconsideration before t"e =nal en banc decision may be brou!"t to t"e -u*reme
Court on certiorari. /"e *re-re,uisite =lin! of a motion for reconsideration is mandatory.
:nder t"e e0istin! Constitutional sc"eme, a *arty to an election case wit"in t"e @urisdiction
of t"e Comelec in division can not dis*ense wit" t"e =lin! of a motion for reconsideration of
a decision, resolution or =nal order of t"e 7ivision of t"e Commission on 2lections because
t"e case would not reac" t"e Comelec en banc wit"out suc" motion for reconsideration
"avin! been =led and resolved by t"e 7ivision. /"e instant case does not fall under any of
t"e reco!nized e0ce*tions to t"e rule in certiorari cases dis*ensin! wit" a motion for
reconsideration *rior to t"e =lin! of a *etition. ivJ)>K 5n trut", t"e e0ce*tions do not a**ly to
election cases w"ere a motion for reconsideration is mandatory by Constitutional =at to
elevate t"e case to t"e Comelec en banc, w"ose =nal decision is w"at is reviewable via
certiorari before t"e -u*reme Court.vJ)%K 4ence, t"e *etition at bar must be dismissed for
*rematurity. M1ailure to e0"aust administrative remedies is fatal to a *artyDs cause of action
and a dismissal based on t"at !round is tantamount to a dismissal based on lacB of cause of
action.NviJH)K .42R21&R2, t"e Court "ereby 75-65--2- t"e *etition for *rematurity.
A;--C;N vs. C&62L2C
1AC/-< C&62L2C en banc issued a Resolution in $99% a**rovin! t"e issuance of a
restrainin! order sto**in! A;--C;N or any ot"er !rou*s, its a!entsOre*resentative from
conductin! suc" e0it survey durin! t"e 6ay $$ elections. C&62L2C believed it mi!"t conPict
wit" t"e oAcial count, as well as t"e unoAcial ,uicB count of NA61R2L. /"e Court t"en
issued t"e /R& *rayed for by A;--C;N.
5--:2< .&N t"e act of C&62L2C in restrainin! t"e conduct of t"e e0it *olls violates t"e
ri!"t to freedom of e0*ression
42L7< No. &ur Constitution mandates t"at no law s"all be *assed abrid!in! t"e freedom of
s*eec" or of t"e *ress . /"e freedom of e0*ression is a fundamental *rinci*le of our
democratic !overnment. 5t Cis a D*referredD ri!"t and stands on a "i!"er level t"an
substantive economic or ot"er liberties. 5n t"e landmarB case 9onzales v. Comelec, t"is
Court enunciated t"at at t"e very least, free s*eec" and a free *ress consist of t"e liberty to
discuss *ublicly and trut"fully any matter of *ublic interest wit"out *rior restraint
Funin"ibited, robust, and wide o*enG. 4owever, t"e freedoms of s*eec" and of t"e *ress are
not immune to re!ulation by t"e -tate in t"e e0ercise of its *olice *ower. ."ile t"e liberty to
t"inB is absolute, t"e *ower to e0*ress suc" t"ou!"t in words and deeds "as limitations .
/"e "oldin! and t"e re*ortin! of t"e results of e0it *olls cannot undermine t"ose of t"e
elections, since t"e former is only *art of t"e latter. 20it *olls *ro*erly conducted and
*ublicized can be vital tools for t"e "oldin! of "onest, orderly, *eaceful and credible
electionsI and for t"e elimination of election-=0in!, fraud and ot"er electoral ills. /"ere can
be no free and "onest elections if t"e freedom to s*eaB and t"e ri!"t to Bnow are unduly
curtailed. .42R21&R2, t"e Petition is 9RAN/27, and t"e /R& by issued is made
P2R6AN2N/. C&62L2C resolution is "ereby N:LL51527 and -2/ A-572. N&/2-<
9&'2RN&R -A75Q:L A. -A4AL5 AN7 '5C2-9&'2RN&R R:;3 6. -A4AL5, P2/5/5&N2R-, '.
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8. :-6AN, R2-P&N72N/-.
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9RAN/27 /42 6&/5&N 1&R /2C4N5CAL 2?A65NA/5&N
15L27 ;3 6A/;A AN7 :-6AN .5/4&:/ 95'5N9 /426 /42 &PP&R/:N5/3 /& &PP&-2 /42
-A57 6&/5&NR
42L7< P2/5/5&N 5- 72N527.
P&L5/5CAL LA.< -2C/5&N >, AR/. 5? &1 /42 $9%> C&N-/5/:/5&NI 7:2 PR&C2--
15R-/ 5--:2< /42 P&.2R &1 /42 -:PR262 C&:R/ /& R2'52. 2L2C/5&N CA-2- 1ALL5N9
.5/45N /42 &R595NAL 2?CL:-5'2 8:R5-75C/5&N &1 /42
C&62L2C &NL3 2?/2N7- /& 15NAL 72C5-5&N- &R R2-&L:/5&N- &1 /42 C&62L2C 2N
;ANC, N&/ /& 5N/2RL&C:/&R3 &R72R- 5--:27 ;3 A 75'5-5&N
/42R2&1.
5N A6;5L, 8R. '. C&62L2C, -:PR262 C&:R/ 2L:C57A/27 &N /42 56P&R/ &1 -2C/5&N >, AR/
5? &1 /42 C&N-/5/:/5&N 5N /45- .5-2< M.2 4A'2
5N/2RPR2/27 /45- PR&'5-5&N /& 62AN 15NAL &R72R-, R:L5N9- AN7 72C5-5&N- &1 /42
C&62L2C R2N72R27 5N /42 2?2RC5-2 &1 5/- A78:75CA/&R3
&R S:A-5-8:75C5AL P&.2R-.N /45- 72C5-5&N 6:-/ ;2 A 15NAL 72C5-5&N &R R2-&L:/5&N
&1 /42 C&62L2C 2N ;ANC, N&/ &1 A 75'5-5&N, C2R/A5NL3 N&/
AN 5N/2RL&C:/&R3 &R72R &1 A 75'5-5&N. /42 -:PR262 C&:R/ 4A- N& P&.2R /&
R2'52. '5A C2R/5&RAR5, AN 5N/2RL&C:/&R3 &R72R &R 2'2N A
15NAL R2-&L:/5&N &1 A 75'5-5&N &1 /42 C&665--5&N &N 2L2C/5&N-.
42R2, /42 &R72R- 5--:27 ;3 /42 15R-/ 75'5-5&N &1 /42 C&62L2C .2R2 62R2L3
5N/2RL&C:/&R3 &R72R- -5NC2 /423 &NL3 75-P&-27 &1 AN
5NC572N/ 5N /42 6A5N CA-2 5.2. /42 PR&PR52/3 &1 /42 /2C4N5CAL 2?A65NA/5&N &1 /42
-A57 2L2C/5&N PARAP42RNAL5A. /4:-, /42 PR&P2R
R2C&:R-2 1&R -A75Q:L AN7 R:;3 5- /& A.A5/ /42 72C5-5&N &1 /42 C&62L2C 15R-/
75'5-5&N 5N /42 2L2C/5&N PR&/2-/- 15L27 ;3 6A/;A AN7
:-6AN, AN7 -4&:L7 /423 ;2 A99R52'27 /42R2;3, /& APP2AL /42 -A62 /& /42
C&62L2C 2N ;ANC ;3 15L5N9 A 6&/5&N 1&R R2C&N-572RA/5&N.
-2C&N7 5--:2< /42 -:PR262 C&:R/ CANN&/ -22 4&. 7:2 PR&C2-- .A- 72N527 /&
/42 P2/5/5&N2R- 5N /42 5--:ANC2 &1 /42 C&62L2C 15R-/
75'5-5&NL- &R72R.
5/ ;2AR- -/R2--5N9 /4A/ /42 C&62L2C, 5N 2L2C/5&N 75-P:/2-, 5- N&/ 7:/3-;&:N7 /&
N&/513 AN7 75R2C/ A PAR/3 /42R25N /& 15L2 AN
&PP&-5/5&N /& A 6&/5&N 15L27 ;3 /42 &/42R PAR/3. 5/ 5- 5NC:6;2N/ :P&N /42 PAR/3
C&NC2RN27, 51 42O-42 7226- 5/ N2C2--AR3, /& 15L2 AN
&PP&-5/5&N /& A 6&/5&N .5/45N 15'2 7A3- 1R&6 R2C25P/ &1 A C&P3 &1 /42 -A62
.5/4&:/ A.A5/5N9 1&R /42 C&62L2CL- 75R2C/5'2 /& 7& -&.
-A75Q:L AN7 R:;3 .2R2 A;L2 /& PR2-2N/ /425R &PP&-5/5&N /& /42 -A57 6&/5&N 1&R
/2C4N5CAL 2?A65NA/5&N 5N /425R 6AN512-/A/5&N AN7
6&/5&N 1&R R2C&N-572RA/5&N .45C4 /423 15L27 .5/4 /42 C&62L2C 15R-/ 75'5-5&N.
5N7227, /425R &;82C/5&N- /& /42 /2C4N5CAL
2?A65NA/5&N &1 /42 -A57 2L2C/5&N PARAP42RNAL5A .2R2 2?4A:-/5'2L3 75-C:--27 ;3
/42 C&62L2C 15R-/ 75'5-5&NL- R2-&L:/5&N. 4A'5N9
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CLA56 &1 72N5AL &1 7:2 PR&C2-- 5- CL2ARL3
:N1&:N727.
Pa!e 2 of 2
/42 P2/5/5&N2R- -4&:L7 ;2 R265N727 /4A/ 7:2 PR&C2-- 7&2- N&/ N2C2--AR5L3
62AN &R R2S:5R2 A 42AR5N9, ;:/ -56PL3 AN &PP&R/:N5/3 &R
R594/ /& ;2 42AR7.
P2/5/5&N 72N527. C&62L2C 15R-/ 75'5-5&N A115R627.
/an, t"e *etitioner, was desi!nated by t"e C&62L2C as t"e 'ice-C"airman of t"e City ;oard
of Canvassers of 7avao City. -enforiano ;. Alterado, one of t"e *rivate res*ondents and a
candidate, =led a case ,uestionin! t"e validity of t"e *roclamation of 6anuel 9arcia and
accusin! t"e members of t"e City ;oard of Canvassers of Cunlawful, erroneous, incom*lete
and irre!ular canvass.C 6eanw"ile, t"e electoral *rotest of *rivate res*ondent Alterado was
dismissed by t"e 4ouse of Re*resentatives 2lectoral /ribunal FC4R2/CG. /"e criminal
com*laint for C1alsi=cation of Public 7ocuments and 'iolation of t"e Anti-9raft and Corru*t
Practices ActC before t"e &Ace of t"e &mbudsman was liBewise dismissed on t"e !round of
lacB of criminal intent on t"e *art of t"erein res*ondents. -till
5--:2O-< .42/42R or N&/ t"e C&62L2C may relieve any oAcer or em*loyee *ara!ra*"
from t"e *erformance of "is duties relatin! to electoral *rocesses w"o violates t"e election
law or fails to com*ly wit" its instructions, orders, decisions or rulin!s, and a**oint "is
substituteR
R2A-&N5N9O4&L75N9< /"e Commission may relieve any oAcer or em*loyee, e0ercise direct
and immediate su*ervision and control over national and local oAcials or em*loyees,
includin! members of any national or local law enforcement a!ency and instrumentality of
t"e !overnment re,uired by law to *erform duties relative to t"e conduct of elections. 5n
addition, it may aut"orize C6P Cadets ei!"teen years of a!e and above to act as its
de*uties for t"e *ur*ose of enforcin! its orders, from t"e *erformance of "is duties relatin!
to electoral *rocesses w"o violates t"e election law or fails to com*ly wit" its instructions,
orders, decisions or rulin!s, and a**oint "is substitute. :*on recommendation of t"e
Commission, t"e corres*ondin! *ro*er aut"ority s"all sus*end or remove from oAce any or
all of suc" oAcers or em*loyees w"o may, after due *rocess, be found !uilty of suc"
violation or failure. /"e C&62L2CDs mandate includes its aut"ority to e0ercise direct and
immediate su*ervision and control over national and local oAcials or em*loyees, includin!
members of any national or local law enforcement a!ency and instrumentality of t"e
!overnment, re,uired by law to *erform duties relative to t"e conduct of elections. 5n order
to "el* ensure t"at suc" duly de*utized oAcials and em*loyees of !overnment carry out
t"eir res*ective assi!ned tasBs, t"e law "as also *rovided t"an u*on t"e C&62L2CDs
recommendation, t"e corres*ondin! *ro*er aut"ority Ft"e -ecretary of t"e 7e*artment of
8ustice in t"e case at barG s"all taBe a**ro*riate action, eit"er to sus*end or remove from
oAce t"e oAcer or em*loyee w"o may, after due *rocess, be found !uilty of violation of
election laws or failure to com*ly wit" instructions, orders, decision or rulin!s of t"e
C&62L2C.
MACALINTAL VS. COMELEC
G.R. No. 157013, July 10 2003
FACTS:
Before the Court is !etitio" for #ertiorri "$ !rohi%itio" file$ %y Ro&ulo B. '#li"tl, &e&%er of
the (hili!!i"e Br, see)i"* $e#lrtio" tht #erti" !ro+isio"s of Re!u%li# A#t No. ,1-, .The /+erses
A%se"tee 0oti"* A#t of 20031 suffer fro& #o"stitutio"l i"fir&ity. Cli&i"* tht he hs #tul "$
&teril le*l i"terest i" the su%2e#t &tter of this #se i" seei"* to it tht !u%li# fu"$s re !ro!erly
"$ l3fully use$ "$ !!ro!rite$, !etitio"er file$ the i"st"t !etitio" s t4!yer "$ s l3yer.
5SS67S:
.11 8hether or "ot Se#tio" 5.$1 of Re!u%li# A#t No. ,1-, +ioltes the resi$e"#y re9uire&e"t i" Se#tio"
1 of Arti#le 0 of the Co"stitutio".
.21 8hether or "ot Se#tio" 1-.5 of the s&e l3 +ioltes the #o"stitutio"l &"$te u"$er Se#tio" :,
Arti#le 055 of the Co"stitutio" tht the 3i""i"* #"$i$tes for (resi$e"t "$ the 0i#e;(resi$e"t shll %e
!ro#li&e$ s 3i""ers %y Co"*ress.
.31 8hether or "ot Co"*ress &y, throu*h the Joi"t Co"*ressio"l /+ersi*ht Co&&ittee #rete$ i"
Se#tio" 25 of Re!. A#t No. ,1-,, e4er#ise the !o3er to re+ie3, re+ise, &e"$, "$ !!ro+e the
5&!le&e"ti"* Rules "$ Re*ultio"s tht the Co&&issio" o" 7le#tio"s, !ro&ul*te 3ithout +iolti"*
the i"$e!e"$e"#e of the C/'7<7C u"$er Se#tio" 1, Arti#le 5=;A of the Co"stitutio".
>7<?:
.11 No. Se#tio" 5 of RA No. ,1-, e"u&ertes those 3ho re $is9ulifie$ +oti"* u"$er this A#t. 5t
$is9ulifies " i&&i*r"t or !er&"e"t resi$e"t 3ho is re#o*"i@e$ s su#h i" the host #ou"try.
>o3e+er, " e4#e!tio" is !ro+i$e$ i.e. u"less heAshe e4e#utes, u!o" re*istrtio", " ffi$+it !re!re$
for the !ur!ose %y the Co&&issio" $e#lri"* tht heAshe shll resu&e #tul !hysi#l !er&"e"t
resi$e"#e i" the (hili!!i"es "ot lter th" 3 yers fro& !!ro+l of re*istrtio". Su#h ffi$+it shll
lso stte tht heAshe hs "ot !!lie$ for #iti@e"shi! i" "other #ou"try. Filure to retur" shll %e
#use for the re&o+l of the "&e of the i&&i*r"t or !er&"e"t resi$e"t fro& the Ntio"l Re*istry
of A%se"tee 0oters "$ hisAher !er&"e"t $is9ulifi#tio" to +ote i" %se"ti.
(etitio"er #li&s tht this is +iolti+e of the resi$e"#y re9uire&e"t i" Se#tio" 1 Arti#le 0 of the
Co"stitutio" 3hi#h re9uires the +oter &ust %e resi$e"t i" the (hili!!i"es for t lest o"e yr, "$
resi$e"t i" the !l#e 3here he !ro!oses to +ote for t lest B &o"ths i&&e$itely !re#e$i"* "
ele#tio".
>o3e+er, /SG hel$ tht ruli"* i" si$ #se $oes "ot hol$ 3ter t !rese"t, "$ tht the Court &y h+e
to $is#r$ tht !rti#ulr ruli"*. ("#e of the #o"tro+ersy: Affi$+it for 3ithout it, the !resu&!tio"
of %"$o"&e"t of (hil $o&i#ile shll re&i". The 9ulifie$ Fili!i"o %ro$ 3ho e4e#ute$ " ffi$+it
is $ee&e$ to h+e reti"e$ his $o&i#ile i" the (hili!!i"es "$ !resu&e$ "ot to h+e lost his $o&i#ile
%y his !hysi#l %se"#e fro& this #ou"try. Se#tio" 5 of RA No. ,1-, $oes "ot o"ly re9uire the !ro&ise to
resu&e #tul !hysi#l !er&"e"t resi$e"#e i" the (hili!!i"es "ot lter th" 3 yers fter !!ro+l of
re*istrtio" %ut it lso re9uires the Fili!i"o %ro$, 8/N he is *ree" #r$ hol$er, te&!orry +isitor
or e+e" o" %usi"ess tri!, &ust $e#lre tht heAshe hs "ot !!lie$ for #iti@e"shi! i" "other #ou"try.
Thus, heAshe &ust retur" to the (hili!!i"es other3ise #o"se9ue"#es 3ill %e &et ##or$i"* to RA No.
,1-,.
Althou*h there is !ossi%ility tht the Fili!i"o 3ill "ot retur" fter he hs e4er#ise$ his ri*ht to +ote,
the Court is "ot i" !ositio" to rule o" the 3is$o& of the l3 or to re!el or &o$ify it if su#h l3 is
fou"$ to %e i&!r#ti#l. >o3e+er, it #" %e si$ tht the Co"*ress itself 3s #o"s#ious of this
!ro%%ility "$ !ro+i$e$ for $eterre"#e 3hi#h is tht the Fili!i"o 3ho fils to retur" s !ro&ise$
st"$s to lose his ri*ht of suffr*e. A##or$i"*ly, the +otes he #st shll "ot %e i"+li$te$ %e#use he
3s 9ulifie$ to +ote o" the $te of the ele#tio"s.
Expressum facit cessare tacitum: 3here l3 sets $o3" !li"ly its 3hole &e"i"*, the Court is
!re+e"te$ fro& &)i"* it &e" 3ht the Court !leses. 5" fi"e, #o"si$eri"* tht u"$erlyi"* i"te"t of
the Co"stitutio", s is e+i$e"t i" its sttutory #o"stru#tio" "$ i"te"t of the fr&ers, 3hi#h is to *r"t
Fili!i"o i&&i*r"ts "$ !er&"e"t resi$e"ts %ro$ the u"9uestio"%le ri*ht to e4er#ise the ri*ht of
suffr*e .Se#tio" 1 Arti#le 01 the Court fi"$s tht Se#tio" 5 of RA No. ,1-, is "ot #o"stitutio"lly
$efe#ti+e.
.21 Ces. Co"*ress shoul$ "ot h+e llo3e$ C/'7<7C to usur! !o3er tht #o"stitutio"lly %elo"*s to
it. The #"+ssi"* of the +otes "$ the !ro#l&tio" of the 3i""i"* #"$i$tes for (resi$e"t "$ 0i#e
(resi$e"t for the e"tire "tio" &ust re&i" i" the h"$s of Co"*ress s its $uty "$ !o3er u"$er
Se#tio" : of Arti#le 055 of the Co"stitutio". C/'7<7C hs the uthority to !ro#li& the 3i""i"*
#"$i$tes o"ly for Se"tors "$ (rty;list Re!s.
.31 No. By +esti"* itself 3ith the !o3ers to !!ro+e, re+ie3, &e"$ "$ re+ise the 5&!le&e"ti"* Rules
D Re*ultio"s for RA No. ,1-,, Co"*ress 3e"t %eyo"$ the s#o!e of its #o"stitutio"l uthority. Co"*ress
tr&!le$ u!o" the #o"stitutio"l &"$te of i"$e!e"$e"#e of the C/'7<7C. 6"$er su#h situtio",
the Court is left 3ith "o o!tio" %ut to 3ith$r3 fro& its usul sile"#e i" $e#lri"* !ro+isio" of l3
u"#o"stitutio"l
B+D)L .S C)M+L+C Leave a comment
LINTANG BEDOL v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS,
G.R. No. 179830/ December 3, 009
!ACTS: As Chair of the Provincial Board of Canvassers (PBOC) for the province of
Maguindanao, the respondent [petitioner] discharged his official functions and was ale to
ensure the PBOC!s perfor"ance of its "inisterial dut# to canvass the Certificates of Canvass
co"ing fro" the twent# two ($$) cit# and "unicipalities in the province%
At that ti"e, respondent [petitioner] also was charged with the urdenso"e and
gargantuan dut# of eing the concurrent Provincial &lections 'upervisor for the Province of
'hariff (aunsuan a neighoring province of Maguindanao%
)espondent [petitioner] Bedol failed to attend the scheduled canvassing of the Provincial
Certificates of Canvass (PCOC) of Maguindanao of which he is the Provincial &lection
'upervisor which was slated on Ma# $$, $**+%
On Ma# $,, $**+, respondent appeared efore the Co""ission, en anc sitting as the
-ational Board of Canvassers (-BOC) for the election of senators to su"it the provincial
certificate of canvass for Maguindanao, pursuant to his functions as Provincial &lections
'upervisor and chair of the PBOC for Maguindanao% .ue to certain /oservations! on the
provincial certificates of canvass # certain parties, canvassing of the certificate was held in
ae#ance and respondent was 0ueried on the alleged fraud which attended the conduct of
elections in his area%
1e was alread# infor"ed of the resetting of the canvassing for Ma# 2*, $**+, ut failed to
appear despite prior 3nowledge%
)espondent!s [petitioner] contention:
Bedol e4plained efore the 5as3 6orce during its 7une 88, $**+ fact finding activit# that,
while in his custod# and possession, the election paraphernalia were stolen so"eti"e on
Ma# $9, $**+, or so"e fifteen (8,) da#s after the elections% 5his was the first ti"e such an
e4cuse was given # the respondent [petitioner] and no written report was ever filed with
the Co""ission regarding the alleged loss%
.ue to asences in the ne4t scheduled investigative proceedings and due to failure and
refusal to su"it a written e4planation of his asences, respondent [petitioner] was issued a
conte"pt charge # COM&:&C%
Petitioner was later arrested # "e"ers of the Philippine -ational Police on the asis of an
Order of Arrest issued on 7une $9, $**+ # the COM&:&C after petitioner repeatedl# failed
to appear during the fact;finding proceedings efore 5as3 6orce Maguindanao%
Petitioner 0uestioned the COM&:&C!s legal asis for issuing the warrant of arrest and its
assu"ption of <urisdiction over the conte"pt charges% -evertheless, he was declared in
conte"pt # COM&:&C%
Petitioner, then, filed a "otion for reconsideration which was denied # the COM&:&C in the
other assailed )esolution dated August 28, $**+%
ISS"E: =hether or not the initiation and issuance of conte"pt order is within the
constitutional powers of the COM&:&C%
R"LING:
Powers of COM&:&C
5he COM&:&C possesses the power to conduct investigations as an ad<unct to its
constitutional dut# to enforce and ad"inister all election laws, # virtue of the e4plicit
provisions of paragraph >, 'ection $, Article ?@ of the 89A+ Constitution, which reads:
Article ?@;C, 'ection $% 444
(>) 444B investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute cases of violations of election laws,
including acts or o"issions constituting election frauds, offenses, and "alpractices%
5he powers and functions of the COM&:&C, conferred upon it # the 89A+ Constitution and
the O"nius &lection Code, "a# e classified into ad"inistrative, 0uasi;legislative, and
0uasi;<udicial% 5he 0uasi;<udicial power of the COM&:&C e"races the power to resolve
controversies arising fro" the enforce"ent of election laws, and to e the sole <udge of all
pre;procla"ation controversiesB and of all contests relating to the elections, returns, and
0ualifications% ?ts 0uasi;legislative power refers to the issuance of rules and regulations to
i"ple"ent the election laws and to e4ercise such legislative functions as "a# e4pressl# e
delegated to it # Congress% ?ts ad"inistrative function refers to the enforce"ent and
ad"inistration of election laws% ?n the e4ercise of such power, the Constitution ('ection >,
Article ?@;A) and the O"nius &lection Code ('ection ,$ [c]) authoriCe the COM&:&C to
issue rules and regulations to i"ple"ent the provisions of the 89A+ Constitution and the
O"nius &lection Code%
5he 0uasi;<udicial or ad"inistrative ad<udicator# power is the power to hear and deter"ine
0uestions of fact to which the legislative polic# is to appl#, and to decide in accordance with
the standards laid down # the law itself in enforcing and ad"inistering the sa"e law%
5he e4ercise of <udicial functions "a# involve the perfor"ance of legislative or
ad"inistrative duties, and the perfor"ance of and ad"inistrative or "inisterial duties, "a#,
in a "easure, involve the e4ercise of <udicial functions% ?t "a# e said generall# that the
e4ercise of <udicial functions is to deter"ine what the law is, and what the legal rights of
parties are, with respect to a "atter in controvers#B and whenever an officer is clothed with
that authorit#, and underta3es to deter"ine those 0uestions, he acts <udiciall#%
5he language of the O"nius &lection Code and the COM&:&C )ules of Procedure is road
enough to allow the initiation of indirect conte"pt proceedings # the COM&:&C "otu
proprio% 6urther"ore, the aove;0uoted provision of 'ection ,$(e), Article D?? of the
O"nius &lection Code e4plicitl# adopts the procedure and penalties provided # the )ules
of Court%
6indings of guilt of indirect conte"pt
Petitioner was found guilt# of conte"pt on four (E) grounds%
6irst, he repeatedl# failed to attend, despite notice of the scheduled[8$] canvassing of the
Provincial Certificates of Canvass, the hearing of the 5as3 6orce MaguindanaoB and refused
to su"it his e4planation for such asences, which he had underta3en to su"it, in
violation of paragraphs () and (f) of 'ection $, )ule $9 of the COM&:&C )ules of Procedure%
'econd, he unlawfull# assu"ed custod# of accountale election docu"ents, which were lost
while in his possession, and conse0uentl# failed to deliver the sa"e, in violation of
paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) 'ection $, )ule $9 of sa"e )ules%
5hird and fourth, he pulicl# displa#ed disrespect for the authorit# of the COM&:&C through
the "edia (interviews on national television channels, and in newspapers and radios) #
flaunting an ar"or# of long firear"s and side ar"s in pulic, and posing for the front page
of a national roadsheet, with a shin# pistol tuc3ed in a holster, in violation of paragraphs
(a) and (d), 'ection $, )ule $9 of sa"e )ules%
=1&)&6O)&, the petition is here# .?'M?''&. and the pra#er for a 5e"porar# )estraining
Order andFor a =rit of Preli"inar# ?n<unction is here# .&-?&.% -o costs%