8/12/2019 Digest of Election Cases

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RAFAEL FLAUTA, JR., et. al., - versus COMELEC , July 22, 2009,G.R. No. 184586 , EN BANC

FACTS: Manganaan was a mayoral y !an"#"a e "ur#ng $e May 15, 200%lo!al ele! #ons &or $e mun#!#'al# yo& (en. N#noy )*u#no #n (ul an +u"ara .

e # #oner Ra&ael lau a, Jr. was 'ro!la#me" mayor o& sa#" mun#!#'al# y,w$#le $e o $er 'e # #oners were 'ro!la#me" w#nn#ng !an"#"a es &or #!eMayor an" Mem/ers o& $e (anggun#ang ayan, res'e! #vely.

$e 3M en /an! &oun" ou $e &ollow#ng &a! s $e !anvass#ng'ro!ee"#ngs o& $e sa#" own was "#sru' e" /y e7'los#ons an" gun res.

ur#ng sa#" #n erru' #on, ernan an" ollan es, $e !$a#rman an"se!re ary o& $e Mun#!#'al oar" o& anvassers snea e" ou o& $e(anggun#ang ayan :all an" !ar e" away !om'le ely lle" u' an"

a/ula e" ( a emen s o& o es /y re!#n! ;(3 , &or /rev# y< (a#"(3 s !over e#g$ y-one ;81< o& $e one $un"re" an" s#7 ;106< 're!#n! so& $e mun#!#'al# y.

e!ause o& $#s #n!#"en , Manganaan wro e o $e 3M re*ues #ng&or $e null#!a #on o& (3 s s olen /y ernan an" ollan es. =nres'onse, $e omm#ss#oner #ssue" a Memoran"um null#&y#ng $e sa#"(3 s, "#re! e" $e ('e!#al oar" o& anvassers ;( 3 < o !on"u! are-!anvass#ng>re- ally#ng o& all $e le! #on Re urns, e7!e' $ose &or $e25 're!#n! s w$#!$ $ey $a" alrea"y 'rev#ously !anvasse", an" "#re! e"( 3 no o ma e any 'ro!lama #on 'r#or o $e !om'le #on o& $e re-!anvass#ng>re- ally#ng 'ro!e"ure.

Meanw$#le, #n $e morn#ng o& $e same "ay, $e 3&!e o& $e rov#n!#al

le! #on (u'erv#sor ;3 (< re!e#ve" a le er &rom ernan an" a seale"/allo /o7 /el#eve" o /e !on a#n#ng $e m#ss#ng (3 s an" $e o $erm#ss#ng "o!umen s. ?n#n&orme" o& $e or"er, $e ( 3 !onvene" an"'ro!la#me" $e w#nn#ng !an"#"a es ;'e # #onersor Re!ons#"era #on o&$e Resolu #on ma"e /y 3M en /an!. e # #oner also le" $e#r

o''os# #on. (u!$ mo #on was $en se &or a $ear#ng.

$e 3M #ssue" a resolu #on "eny#ng Manganaan@s 'e # #on onull#&y $e su/Ae! (3 s ; $e ( !ase< an" rea e" $e #ns an 'e # #on

o /e a 'e # #on o !orre! $e man#&es errors 'resen #n $e sa#" (3 s.

$e ( 3 was also =R o a< Re!onvene o annul $e

'ro!lama #on o& $e 'e # #oners/< Re!onvene o re! #&y $e errors $e

&ormer mem/ers o& $e Mun#!#'al oar" o&anvassers !omm# e" #n $e !o'y#ng o& vo esB an"

!< ro!la#m $e w#nn#ng !an"#"a es

/ase" on $e !orre! e" en r#es as "e a#le" a/oveB

ur $er, $e aw e'ar men o& $eomm#ss#on #s l# ew#se "#re! e" o !on"u! $oroug$

#nves #ga #on on $e !ul'a/#l# y o& Mel#!ano ernanan" Jul#o ollan es #n ma #ng erroneous en r#es #n

$e a/ove-men #one" (3 s.

:en!e $#s #ns an 'e # #on.

ur#ng $e 'en"en!y o& $e #ns an 'e # #on, $e ( 3 !om'l#e"w# $ $e or"ers o& $e 3M an" la er 'ro!la#me" res'on"enManganaan as $e "uly ele! e" mayor w$o $en oo $#s oa $ o&o&!e. e # #oner lau a, Jr., on $e o $er $an", le" an ele! #on 'ro esargu#ng, among o $ers, $a $e 'ro!e"ure a"o' e" /y $e 3M#nmotu propio !onver #ng Manganaan@s 'e # #on o annul 'ro!lama #on#n o one &or !orre! #on o& man#&es errors, #s #rregular an" !on rary o $erule s#n!e 'e # #oners $ave alrea"y /een 'ro!la#me". e # #oners rely u'on

$e rule $a no 'e # #on &or !orre! #on o& man#&es errors may /een er a#ne" a& er $e !an"#"a es $ave /een 'ro!la#me".

=n v#ew o& $ese "evelo'men s, Manganaan le" aMan#&es a #on see #ng "#sm#ssal o& $e #ns an 'e # #on on $e groun" $a# $as /e!ome moo . 3M resolve" o "#sm#ss $e sa#" 'e # #on.

)SSUE * +! re " the r ced#ral as ect - the case : C$e $er or no$e 3M !omm# e" grave a/use o& "#s!re #on amoun #ng o la! o&

or #n e7!ess o& Aur#s"#! #on #n a #ng !ogn#Dan!e o& $e Mo #on &Re!ons#"era #on o& an en /an! resolu #on w$#!$ "#sm#sse" ( ase No.0%-201B

RUL)N/: ?n"er $e 3M Rules o& ro!e"ure, a mo #on &orre!ons#"era #on o& an en banc resolu #on o& $e omm#ss#on #s no

allowe". :owever, an e7!e' #on e7#s s as w$en $e !ase #nvolves anele! #on o&&ense. $us

(e! #on 1. C$a lea"#ngs are no )llowe". $e &ollow#ng 'lea"#ngsare no allowe"

7 7 7 7 "< mo #on &or re!ons#"era #on o& an en

banc rul#ng, resolu #on, or"er or "e!#s#on e0ce t i"electi " --e"se cases B

7 7 7 7. ; m'$as#s su''l#e"re!ons#"era #oallege" ernan an" ollan es@ unau $or#De" removal o& (3 s &rom $e!anvass#ng venue, as well as 'oss#/le am'er#ng>#n!reas#ng>"e!reas#ngo& vo es. ?n"er our ele! #on laws, any mem/er o& $e /oar" o& ele! #on#ns'e! ors or /oar" o& !anvassers w$o am'ers, #n!reases, or "e!reases

$e vo es re!e#ve" /y a !an"#"a e #n any ele! #on or any mem/er o& $e/oar" w$o re&uses, a& er 'ro'er ver#!a #on an" $ear#ng, o !re"# $e!orre! vo es or "e"u! su!$ am'ere" vo es s$all /e gu#l y o& an ele! #ono&&ense. # ew#se, any 'erson w$o, $roug$ any a! , means or "ev#!e,v#ola es $e #n egr# y o& any o&!#al /allo or ele! #on re urns /e&ore or a&

$ey are use" #n $e ele! #on, an" any 'u/l#! o&!#al w$o negle! s or &a#lso 'ro'erly 'reserve or a!!oun &or any /allo /o7, "o!umen s an" &orms

re!e#ve" /y $#m an" e' un"er $#s !us o"y s$all /e gu#l y o& an ele! #ono&&ense. )s su!$, sa#" allega #ons o& !omm#ss#on o& ele! #on o&&ense "#"no ma e Manganaan@s mo #on &or !lar#!a #on>re!ons#"era #on a'ro$#/# e" 'lea"#ng.

)SSUE & +M re " the s#bsta"ti1e as ect - the case : C$e $er or no$e 3M !omm# e" grave a/use o& "#s!re #on amoun #ng o la! o&

or #n e7!ess o& Aur#s"#! #on #n rea #ng or !onver #ng $e 'e # #on o ann

'ro!lama #on or as a 'e # #on o !orre! man#&es errors. ;No.or o annul ele! #on resul s mus s$ow on# s &a!e $a $e !on"# #ons ne!essary o "e!lare a &a#lure o ele! are'resen . =n $e#r a/sen!e, $e 'e # #on mus /e "en#e" ou r#g$ . u/l#!res'on"en $a" no re!ourse /u o "#sm#ss 'e # #on. Nor may 'e # #onernow !om'la#n o& "en#al o& "ue 'ro!ess, on $#s s!ore, &or $#s &a#lure o'ro'erly le an ele! #on 'ro es . $e 3M !an only rule on w$awas le" /e&ore # . = !omm# e" no grave a/use o& "#s!re #on #n"#sm#ss#ng $#s 'e # #on F o "e!lare &a#lure o& ele! #ons an">or &or annulmeno& ele! #onsF &or /e#ng groun"less, $en!e w# $ou mer# .

/.R. N . *%D$ J#ly $*, * '

RAFAEL M. ALUNAN ))) vs. ROBERT M)RASOL

"ection #$% of the &'C of ())( provides for a "* in every barangay+ tobe composed of a chairman+ seven ,- members+ a secretary+ and a

treasurer. "ection %$,a provides that the first elections for the "* shallbe held thirty ,%0 days after the ne1t local elections. 2he Code too3

effect on 4anuary (+ ())$.

Facts: $e rs lo!al ele! #ons un"er $e o"e were $el" on May1992. )!!or"#ngly, on )ugus 1992, $e 3M #ssue" Resolu #onNo. 2499, 'rov#"#ng gu#"el#nes &or $e $ol"#ng o& $e general ele! #ons &or

$e (+ on (e' em/er 1992. $e gu#"el#nes 'la!e" $e (+ ele! #onsun"er $e "#re! !on rol an" su'erv#s#on o& $e = G, w# $ $e e!$n#!alass#s an!e o& $e 3M . )& er wo 'os 'onemen s, $e ele! #onswere nally s!$e"ule" on e!em/er 1992.

) o al o& 152, 6 youngs ers, age" 15 o 21 years ol", reg#s ere",15,%49 o& $em l#ng !er #!a es o& !an"#"a!#es. :owever, $e = G(e!re ary )lunan ===, #ssue" a le er-resolu #on Fe7em' #onF $e # y o&Man#la &rom $ol"#ng (+ ele! #on on $e groun" $a $e ele! #ons'rev#ously $el" on May 1990 were o /e !ons#"ere" $e rs un"er $enewly-ena! e" o!al Governmen o"e. $e = G a! e" on a le er o&Jos$ue R. (an #ago, a! #ng 'res#"en o& $e + # y e"era #on o& Man#laan" a mem/er o& # y oun!#l o& Man#la, w$#!$ !alle" a en #on o $e &a!

$a #n $e # y o& Man#la ele! #ons &or $e +a/a aang arangay ; $e're!ursor o& $e (anggun#ang +a/a aan< $a" 'rev#ously /een $el" on1990

r#va e res'on"en s, !la#m#ng o re'resen $e 24,000

mem/ers o& $e +a #'unan ng +a/a aan, le" a 'e # #on &or certiorari an"man"amus #n $e R o& Man#la o se as#"e $e resolu #on o& $e = G.$ey argue" $a 'e # #oner = G(e!. $a" no 'ower o amen" $e

resolu #ons o& $e 3M !all#ng &or general ele! #ons &or (+s an"$a $e = G resolu #on #n *ues #on "en#e" $em $e e*ual 'ro e! #on o&$e laws.

$e r#al !our #ssue" an #nAun! #on, or"er#ng 'e # #oners F o"es#s &rom #m'lemen #ng $e or"er o& $e res'on"en (e!re ary. 3n $esame "ay, $e or"ere" 3M 'rov#"#ng &or $e $ol"#ng o& a generalele! #on o& $e (anggun#ang +a/a aan on e!em/er 1992s#mul aneously #n every /arangay $roug$ou $e !oun ry.

$e !our rule" $a +* $e = G $a" no 'ower o Fe7em' F$e # y o& Man#la &rom $ol"#ng (+ ele! #ons on e!em/er 4, 1992

/e!ause un"er )r . =L, , 2;1< o& $e ons # u #on $e 'ower o en&or!ean" a"m#n#s er Fall laws an" regula #ons rela #ve o $e !on"u! o& anele! #on, 'le/#s!# e, #n# #a #ve, re&eren"um, an" re!allF #s ves e" solely #n

$e 3M B +& $e 3M $a" alrea"y #n e&&e! "e erm#ne" $a

$ere $a" /een no 'rev#ous ele! #ons &or + /y !all#ng &or generalele! #ons &or (+ o&!ers #n every /arangay w# $ou e7!e' #onB an" +$ $Fe7em' #onF o& $e # y o& Man#la was v#ola #ve o& $e e*ual 'ro e! #o!lause o& $e ons # u #on /e!ause, a!!or"#ng o $e = GIs re!or"s, #n5,000 /arangays + ele! #ons were $el" /e ween January 1, 1988 an"January 1, 1992 /u only #n $e # y o& Man#la, w$ere $ere were 89%/arangays, was $ere no ele! #ons $el" on e!em/er 4, 1992.

e # #oners soug$ $#s rev#ew on certiorari . $ey #ns#s $a$e # y o& Man#la, $av#ng alrea"y !on"u! e" ele! #ons &or $e + on May

1990, was e7em' e" &rom $ol"#ng ele! #ons on e!em/er 1992. =nsu''or o& $e#r !on en #on, $ey !# e 5 2;"< o& $e o!al Governmen

o"e o& 1991, w$#!$ 'rov#"es $a )ll sea s reserve" &or $e 'e"erasyonng mga sanggun#ang a/a aan #n $e "#&&eren sanggun#ang s$all /e"eeme" va!an un #l su!$ #me $a $e sanggun#ang a/a aan !$a#rmens$all $ave /een ele! e" an" $e res'e! #ve 'e"erasyon 'res#"en s $ave/een sele! e" Provided , 2hat+ elections for the 3abataang barangay conducted under 5atas Pambansa 5lg . %%- at any time bet6een 4anuary(+ ()77 and 4anuary (+ ())$ shall be considered as the first elections

provided for in this Code . 2he term of office of the 3abataang barangayofficials elected 6ithin the said period shall be e1tended correspondinglyto coincide 6ith the term of office of those elected under this Code;em'$as#s a""e"