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Case Digest: Mariano v. Commission on Elections

Posted: August 16, 2010 in Case Digests

Tags: case, comelec, congress, constitution, digest, law, legislative, Pili!!ines, !olitical0

".#. $o. 11%62& 0& Marc 1''(

Ponente: Puno, ).

*ACT+:

)uanito Mariano, a resident o Ma-ati, along wit residents o Taguig suing asta!a/ers, assail +ections 2, (1 and (2 o #.A. $o. &%( An Act Converting teMunici!alit/ o Ma-ati into a 3igl/ 4r5anied Cit/ to 5e -nown as te Cit/ o Ma-ati78.

Anoter !etition wic contends te unconstitutionalit/ o #.A. $o. &%( was also iled5/ )on 3. 9smena as a senator, ta!a/er and concerned citien.

++4E+:

;eter +ection 2 o #.A. $o. &%( delineated te land areas o te !ro!osed cit/ o Ma-ati violating sections & and (0 o te <ocal "overnment Code on s!eci/ing metesand 5ounds wit tecnical descri!tions

;eter +ection (1, Article = o #.A. $o. &%( collides wit +ection %, Article = and+ection &, Article > o te Constitution stressing tat te/ new cit/?s ac@uisition o anew cor!orate eistence will allow te incum5ent ma/or to etend is term to more tantwo eecutive terms as allowed 5/ te Constitution

;eter te addition o anoter legislative district in Ma-ati is unconstitutional as terea!!ortionment cannot 5e made 5/ a s!ecial law

3E<D#4<$":

+ection 2 o #.A. $o. &%( states tat:



+ec. 2. Te Cit/ o Ma-ati. B Te Munici!alit/ o Ma-ati sall 5e converted into a igl/ur5anied cit/ to 5e -nown as te Cit/ o Ma-ati, ereinater reerred to as te Cit/,wic sall com!rise te !resent territor/ o te Munici!alit/ o Ma-ati in Metro!olitanManila Area over wic it as urisdiction 5ounded on te norteast 5/ Pasig #iver and5e/ond 5/ te Cit/ o Mandalu/ong and te Munici!alit/ o Pasig on te souteast 5/

te munici!alities o Pateros and Taguig on te soutwest 5/ te Cit/ o Pasa/ and teMunici!alit/ o Taguig and, on te nortwest, 5/ te Cit/ o Manila.

Em!asis as 5een !rovided in te !rovision under dis!ute. +aid delineation did notcange even 5/ an inc te land area !reviousl/ covered 5/ Ma-ati as a munici!alit/. tmust 5e noted tat te re@uirement o metes and 5ounds was meant merel/ as a tool inte esta5lisment o <"4s. t is not an end in itsel.

*urtermore, at te time o consideration or #.A. $o. &%(, te territorial dis!ute5etween te munici!alities o Ma-ati and Taguig over *ort oniacio was under courtlitigation. 9ut o 5ecoming a sense o res!ect to coFe@ual de!artment o government,legislators elt tat te dis!ute sould 5e let to te courts to decide.

+ection (1 o #.A. $o. &%( !rovides tat:

+ec. (1. 9icials o te Cit/ o Ma-ati. B Te re!resent elective oicials o teMunici!alit/ o Ma-ati sall continue as te oicials o te Cit/ o Ma-ati and salleercise teir !owers and unctions until suc time tat a new election is eld and te

dul/ elected oicials sall ave alread/ @ualiied and assume teir oices: Provided,Te new cit/ will ac@uire a new cor!orate eistence. Te a!!ointive oicials andem!lo/ees o te Cit/ sall li-ewise continues eercising teir unctions and duties andte/ sall 5e automaticall/ a5sor5ed 5/ te cit/ government o te Cit/ o Ma-ati.

+ection %, Article = and section &, Article > o te Constitution !rovide te ollowing:

+ec. %. Te term o oice o elective local oicials, ece!t 5aranga/ oicials, wic sall5e determined 5/ law, sall 5e tree /ears and no suc oicial sall serve or more tantree consecutive terms. >oluntar/ renunciation o te oice or an/ lengt o time sallnot 5e considered as an interru!tion in te continuit/ o is service or te ull term or wic e was elected.



+ec. &. Te Mem5ers o te 3ouse o #e!resentatives sall 5e elected or a term o tree /ears wic sall 5egin, unless oterwise !rovided 5/ law, at noon on te tirtietda/ o )une net ollowing teir election.

$o Mem5er o te 3ouse o #e!resentatives sall serve or more tan treeconsecutive terms. >oluntar/ renunciation o te oice or an/ lengt o time sall not 5econsidered as an interru!tion in te continuit/ o is service or te ull term or wic ewas elected.

Tis callenge on te controvers/ cannot 5e entertained as te !remise on te issue ison te occurrence o man/ contingent events. Considering tat tese events ma/ or ma/ not a!!en, !etitioners merel/ !ose a /!otetical issue wic as /et to ri!en to

an actual case or controvers/. Moreover, onl/ Mariano among te !etitioners is aresident o Taguig and are not te !ro!er !arties to raise tis a5stract issue.

+ection (18, Article > o te Constitution clearl/ !rovides tat te Congress ma/ 5ecom!rised o not more tan two undred it/ mem5ers, unless oterwise !rovided 5/law. As tus worded, te Constitution did not !reclude Congress rom increasing itsmem5ersi! 5/ !assing a law, oter tan a general rea!!ortionment o te law.



#omualdeFMarcos vs C9ME<EC

TT<E: #omualdeFMarcos vs. C9ME<EC

CTAT9$: 2% +C#A G00

*ACT+:

melda, a little over % /ears old, in or a5out 1'G%, esta5lised er domicile in Taclo5an,<e/te were se studied and graduated ig scool in te 3ol/ nant Academ/ rom1'G% to 1''. +e ten !ursued er college degree, education, in +t. Paul?s Collegenow Divine ;ord 4niversit/ also in Taclo5an. +u5se@uentl/, se taugt in <e/teCinese +cool still in Taclo5an. +e went to manila during 1'(2 to wor- wit er cousin, te late s!ea-er Daniel #omualde in is oice in te 3ouse o

#e!resentatives. n 1'(, se married late President *erdinand Marcos wen e wasstill a Congressman o locos $orte and was registered tere as a voter. ;en Pres.Marcos was elected as +enator in 1'(', te/ lived togeter in +an )uan, #ial werese registered as a voter. n 1'6(, wen Marcos won !residenc/, te/ lived inMalacanang Palace and registered as a voter in +an Miguel Manila. +e served asmem5er o te atasang Pam5ansa and "overnor o Metro Manila during 1'&%.

melda #omualdeFMarcos was running or te !osition o #e!resentative o te *irstDistrict o <e/te or te 1''( Elections. Cirilo #o/ Monteo, te incum5ent#e!resentative o te *irst District o <e/te and also a candidate or te same !osition,iled a Petition or Cancellation and Dis@ualiicationH wit te Commission on Electionsalleging tat !etitioner did not meet te constitutional re@uirement or residenc/. Te!etitioner, in an onest misre!resentation, wrote seven monts under residenc/, wicse sougt to recti/ 5/ adding te words Hsince cildoodH in er AmendedCorrectedCertiicate o Candidac/ iled on Marc 2', 1''( and tat Hse as alwa/s maintainedTaclo5an Cit/ as er domicile or residence. +e arrived at te seven monts residenc/due to te act tat se 5ecame a resident o te Munici!alit/ o Tolosa in said monts.

++4E: ;eter !etitioner as satisied te 1/ear residenc/ re@uirement to 5e eligi5le

in running as re!resentative o te *irst District o <e/te.

3E<D:



#esidence is used s/non/mousl/ wit domicile or election !ur!oses. Te court are inavor o a conclusion su!!orting !etitoner?s claim o legal residence or domicile in te*irst District o <e/te des!ite er own declaration o & monts residenc/ in te districtor te ollowing reasons:

1. A minor ollows domicile o er !arents. Taclo5an 5ecame melda?s domicile o origin5/ o!eration o law wen er ater 5rougt tem to <e/te

2. Domicile o origin is onl/ lost wen tere is actual removal or cange o domicile, a5ona ide intention o a5andoning te ormer residence and esta5lising a new one, andacts wic corres!ond wit te !ur!ose. n te a5sence and concurrence o all tese,domicile o origin sould 5e deemed to continue.

G. A wie does not automaticall/ gain te us5and?s domicile 5ecause te termresidence7 in Civil <aw does not mean te same ting in Political <aw. ;en meldamarried late President Marcos in 1'(, se -e!t er domicile o origin and merel/gained a new ome and not domicilium necessarium.

. Assuming tat melda gained a new domicile ater er marriage and ac@uired rigt tocoose a new one onl/ ater te deat o Pres. Marcos, er actions u!on returning tote countr/ clearl/ indicated tat se cose Taclo5an, er domicile o origin, as er domicile o coice. To add, !etitioner even o5tained er residence certiicate in 1''2 inTaclo5an, <e/te wile living in er 5roter?s ouse, an act, wic su!!orts tedomiciliar/ intention clearl/ maniested. +e even -e!t close ties 5/ esta5lisingresidences in Taclo5an, cele5rating er 5irtda/s and oter im!ortant milestones.

;3E#E*9#E, aving determined tat !etitioner !ossesses te necessar/ residence@ualiications to run or a seat in te 3ouse o #e!resentatives in te *irst District o <e/te, te C9ME<ECIs @uestioned #esolutions dated A!ril 2, Ma/ &, Ma/ 11, and Ma/2(, 1''( are ere5/ +ET A+DE. #es!ondent C9ME<EC is ere5/ directed to order te Provincial oard o Canvassers to !roclaim !etitioner as te dul/ elected

#e!resentative o te *irst District o <e/te.





Co v. Electoral Tri5unal o te 3ouse o #e!resentative

A$T9$9 J. C9, !etitioner, vs. E<ECT9#A< T#4$A< 9* T3E 394+E 9*#EP#E+E$TAT>E+ A$D )9+E 9$", )#., res!ondents.

En anc

Doctrine: citiensi!

Date: )ul/ G0, 1''1

Ponente: )ustice "utierre )r.

*acts:

Te !etitioners come to tis Court as-ing or te setting aside and reversal o a decisiono te 3ouse o #e!resentatives Electoral Tri5unal 3#ET8.

Te 3#ET declared tat res!ondent )ose 9ng, )r. is a natural 5orn *ili!ino citien anda resident o <aoang, $ortern +amar or voting !ur!oses.

9n Ma/ 11, 1'%&, te congressional election or te second district o $ortern +amar was eld.

Among te candidates wo vied or te !osition o re!resentative in te secondlegislative district o $ortern +amar are te !etitioners, +ito alin@uit and Antonio Coand te !rivate res!ondent, )ose 9ng, )r.

#es!ondent 9ng was !roclaimed te dul/ elected re!resentative o te second district

o $ortern +amar.

Te !etitioners iled election !rotests against te !rivate res!ondent !remised on teollowing grounds:

18)ose 9ng, )r. is not a natural 5orn citien o te Pili!!ines and

28)ose 9ng, )r. is not a resident o te second district o $ortern +amar.

Te 3#ET in its decision dated $ovem5er 6, 1'%', ound or te !rivate res!ondent.

A motion or reconsideration was iled 5/ te !etitioners on $ovem5er 12, 1'%'. Tis

was, owever, denied 5/ te 3#ET in its resolution dated *e5ruar/ 22, 1'%'.

3ence, tese !etitions or certiorari.

ssue:

;9$ )ose 9ng, )r. is a natural 5orn citien o te Pili!!ines.



3eld: Jes. Petitions are dismissed.

#atio:

Te records sow tat in te /ear 1%'(, 9ng Te )ose 9ngIs grandater8, arrived in tePili!!ines rom Cina. 9ng Te esta5lised is residence in te munici!alit/ o <aoang,+amar on land wic e 5ougt rom te ruits o ard wor-.

As a resident o <aoang, 9ng Te was a5le to o5tain a certiicate o residence rom teten +!anis colonial administration.

Te ater o te !rivate res!ondent, )ose 9ng Cuan was 5orn in Cina in 1'0(. 3ewas 5rougt 5/ 9ng Te to +amar in te /ear 1'1(. )ose 9ng Cuan s!ent is cildoodin te !rovince o +amar.

As )ose 9ng Cuan grew older in te rural and seaside communit/ o <aoang, ea5sor5ed *ili!ino cultural values and !ractices. 3e was 5a!tied into Cristianit/. As te/ears !assed, )ose 9ng Cuan met a natural 5ornF*ili!ino, Agri!ina <ao. Te two ell inlove and, tereater, got married in 1'G2 according to Catolic ait and !ractice.

Te cou!le 5ore eigt cildren, one o wom is te )ose 9ng wo was 5orn in 1'%.

)ose 9ng Cuan never emigrated rom tis countr/. 3e decided to !ut u! a ardwarestore and sared and survived te vicissitudes o lie in +amar.

Te 5usiness !ros!ered. E!ansion 5ecame inevita5le. As a result, a 5ranc was setF

u! in inondo, Manila. n te meantime, )ose 9ng Cuan, unsure o is legal status andin an une@uivocal airmation o were e cast is lie and amil/, iled wit te Court o *irst nstance o +amar an a!!lication or naturaliation on *e5ruar/ 1(, 1'(.

9n A!ril 2%, 1'((, te C* o +amar, ater trial, declared )ose 9ng Cuan a *ili!inocitien. 9n Ma/ 1(, 1'(&, te Court o *irst nstance o +amar issued an order declaringte decision o A!ril 2%, 1'(( as inal and eecutor/ and tat )ose 9ng Cuan ma/alread/ ta-e is 9at o Allegiance.

Pursuant to said order, )ose 9ng Cuan too- is 9at o Allegiance corres!ondingl/, acertiicate o naturaliation was issued to im. During tis time, )ose 9ng !rivateres!ondent8 was ' /ears old, inising is elementar/ education in te !rovince o

+amar.

Tere is noting in te records to dierentiate im rom oter *ili!inos insoar as tecustoms and !ractices o te local !o!ulace were concerned.

Ater com!leting is elementar/ education, te !rivate res!ondent, in searc or 5etter education, went to Manila in order to ac@uire is secondar/ and college education.



)ose 9ng graduated rom college, and tereater too- and !assed te CPA oardEaminations. +ince em!lo/ment o!!ortunities were 5etter in Manila, te res!ondentloo-ed or wor- ere. 3e ound a o5 in te Central an- o te Pili!!ines as aneaminer. <ater, owever, e wor-ed in te ardware 5usiness o is amil/ in Manila.

n 1'&1, is elder 5roter, Emil, was elected as a delegate to te 1'&1 ConstitutionalConvention. 3is status as a natural 5orn citien was callenged. Parenteticall/, teConvention wic in drating te Constitution removed te une@ual treatment given toderived citiensi! on te 5asis o te moterIs citiensi! ormall/ and solemnl/declared Emil 9ng, res!ondentIs ull 5roter, as a natural 5orn *ili!ino. TeConstitutional Convention ad to 5e aware o te meaning o natural 5orn citiensi!since it was !recisel/ amending te article on tis su5ect.

Te !ertinent !ortions o te Constitution ound in Article > read:

+ECT9$ 1, te ollowing are citiens o te Pili!!ines:

1. Tose wo are citiens o te Pili!!ines at te time o te ado!tion o teConstitution

2. Tose wose aters or moters are citiens o te Pili!!ines

G. Tose 5orn 5eore )anuar/ 1&, 1'&G, o *ili!ino moters, wo elect Pili!!inecitiensi! u!on reacing te age o maorit/ and

. Tose wo are naturalied in accordance wit law.

+ECT9$ 2, $aturalF5orn Citiens are tose wo are citiens o te Pili!!ines rom

5irt witout aving to !erorm an/ act to ac@uire or !erect teir citiensi!. Tose woelect Pili!!ine citiensi! in accordance wit !aragra! G ereo sall 5e deemednaturalF5orn citiens.

Te Court inter!rets +ection 1, Paragra! G a5ove as a!!l/ing not onl/ to tose woelect Pili!!ine citiensi! ater *e5ruar/ 2, 1'%& 5ut also to tose wo, aving 5een5orn o *ili!ino moters, elected citiensi! 5eore tat date. Te !rovision in @uestionwas enacted to correct te anomalous situation were one 5orn o a *ili!ino ater andan alien moter was automaticall/ granted te status o a naturalF5orn citien wile one5orn o a *ili!ino moter and an alien ater would still ave to elect Pili!!inecitiensi!. one so elected, e was not, under earlier laws, conerred te status o anaturalF5orn

Election 5ecomes material 5ecause +ection 2 o Article > o te Constitution accordsnatural 5orn status to cildren 5orn o *ili!ino moters 5eore )anuar/ 1&, 1'&G, i te/elect citiensi! u!on reacing te age o maorit/.



To e!ect te res!ondent to ave ormall/ or in writing elected citiensi! wen ecame o age is to as- or te unnatural and unnecessar/. 3e was alread/ a citien. $otonl/ was is moter a natural 5orn citien 5ut is ater ad 5een naturalied wen teres!ondent was onl/ nine '8 /ears old.

3e could not ave divined wen e came o age tat in 1'&G and 1'%& te Constitutionwould 5e amended to re@uire im to ave iled a sworn statement in 1'6' electingcitiensi! ins!ite o is alread/ aving 5een a citien since 1'(&.

n 1'6', election troug a sworn statement would ave 5een an unusual andunnecessar/ !rocedure or one wo ad 5een a citien since e was nine /ears old

n #e: *lorencio Mallare: te Court eld tat te eercise o te rigt o surage and te!artici!ation in election eercises constitute a !ositive act o election o Pili!!inecitiensi!

Te !rivate res!ondent did more tan merel/ eercise is rigt o surage. 3e asesta5lised is lie ere in te Pili!!ines.

Petitioners alleged tat )ose 9ng Cuan was not validl/ a naturalied citien 5ecauseo is !remature ta-ing o te oat o citiensi!.

+C: Te Court cannot go into te collateral !rocedure o stri!!ing res!ondent?s ater o is citiensi! ater is deat. An attac- on a !erson?s citiensi! ma/ onl/ 5e donetroug a direct action or its nullit/, tereore, to as- te Court to declare te grant o Pili!!ine citiensi! to res!ondent?s ater as null and void would run against te!rinci!le o due !rocess 5ecause e as alread/ 5een laid to rest



<onanida vs C9ME<EC KG11 +C#A 602L

Posted 5/ Pius Morados on $ovem5er 6, 2011

<ocal "overnment, Dis@ualiication: Ece!tion to te G term limit rule8

*acts: Petitioner <onanida was dul/ elected and served two consecutive terms asmunici!al ma/or o +an Antonio, am5ales !rior to te Ma/ 1''( elections. n te Ma/1''( elections <onanida ran or ma/or o +an Antonio, am5ales and was again!roclaimed winner. 3e assumed oice and discarged te duties tereo. 3is!roclamation in 1''( was contested 5/ is o!!onent wo iled an election !rotest. Tecourt rendered a udgment declaring te results o te said election last Ma/ %, 1''(, asnull and void on te ground tat tere was a ailure o election.

n te Ma/ 11, 1''% elections <onanida again iled is certiicate o candidac/ or ma/or o +an Antonio and was !roclaimed winner. Prior !roclamation, 3is o!!onenttimel/ iled a !etition to dis@uali/ im rom running on te ground tat e ad servedtree consecutive terms in te same !ost.

Te C9ME<EC ound tat <onanida?s assum!tion o oice 5/ virtue o is!roclamation in Ma/ 1''(, altoug e was later unseated 5eore te e!iration o teterm, sould 5e counted as service or one ull term in com!uting te tree term limitunder te Constitution and te <ocal "overnment Code. 3ence, C9ME<EC issued aresolution granting te !etition or dis@ualiication

Petitioner <onanida callenges te validit/ o te C9ME<EC resolutions maintainingtat e was dul/ elected ma/or or onl/ two consecutive terms and tat is assum!tiono oice in 1''( cannot 5e counted as service o a term or te !ur!ose o a!!l/ing tetree term limit or local government oicials, 5ecause e was not te dul/ electedma/or o +an Antonio in te Ma/ 1''( elections.

Te !rivate res!ondent maintains tat te !etitioner?s assum!tion o oice in 1''(

sould 5e considered as service o one ull term 5ecause e discarged te duties o ma/or or almost tree /ears until Marc 1, 1''% or 5arel/ a ew monts 5eore te netma/oral elections.



ssue: ;9$ !etitioner?s assum!tion o oice as ma/or o +an Antonio am5ales romMa/ 1''( to 1''% ma/ 5e considered as service o one ull term or te !ur!ose o a!!l/ing te treeFterm limit or elective local government oicials.

3eld: $o. +ection %, Art. = o te Constitution !rovides tat, te term o oice o elective local oicials, ece!t 5aranga/ oicials, wic sall 5e determined 5/ law sall5e tree /ears and no suc oicials sall serve or more tan tree consecutive terms.>oluntar/ renunciation o te oice or an/ lengt o time sall not 5e considered as aninterru!tion in te continuit/ o is service or te ull term or wic e was elected.7

+ection G o te <ocal "overnment Code #.A. $o. &1608 restates te same rule, tat:$o local elective oicial sall serve or more tan tree consecutive terms in te same!osition. >oluntar/ renunciation o te oice or an/ lengt o time sall not 5econsidered as an interru!tion in te continuit/ o service or te ull term or wic teelective oicial concerned was elected.7

Te !etitioner cannot 5e deemed to ave served te Ma/ 1''( to 1''% term 5ecausee was ordered to vacate is !ost 5eore te e!iration o te term.

Pursuant to te constitutional !rovision a5ove, voluntar/ renunciation o a term does notcancel te renounced term in te com!utation o te tree term limit conversel/,involuntar/ severance rom oice or an/ lengt o time sort o te ull term !rovided 5/law amounts to an interru!tion o continuit/ o service. Te !etitioner vacated is !ost aew monts 5eore te net ma/oral elections, not 5/ voluntar/ renunciation 5ut incom!liance wit te legal !rocess o writ o eecution issued 5/ te C9ME<EC to tateect. +uc involuntar/ severance rom oice is an interru!tion o continuit/ o serviceand tus, te !etitioner did not ull/ serve te 1''(F1''% ma/oral term.



)imene v. Ca5ang5ang

".#. $o. <F1('0( August G, 1'66

Conce!cion, C.).

*acts:

Tis is an ordinar/ civil action or te recover/, 5/ !laintis $icanor T.)imene, Carlos ). Al5ert and )ose <. <u-5an, o several sums o mone/, 5/ wa/ o damages or te !u5lication o an allegedl/ li5elous letter o deendant artolomeCa5ang5ang. At te time o said !u5lication, deendant was a mem5er o te 3ouse o #e!resentatives and Cairman o its Committee on $ational Deense.

ssue:

weter te !u5lication in @uestion is a !rivileged communication weter teaorementioned !u5lication alls witin te !urview o te !rase s!eec or de5ateterein7 o Article >, +ection ( o te 1'G( Constitution wic !rovides tat KtLe+enators and Mem5ers o te 3ouse o #e!resentatives sall in all cases ece!ttreason, elon/, and 5reac o te !eace, 5e !rivileged rom arrest during teir attendance at te sessions o te Congress, and in going to and returning rom te

same and or an/ s!eec or de5ate terein, te/ sall not 5e @uestioned in an/ oter !lace7

3eld:

$o. Te !rase s!eec or de5ate terein7 reers to utterances made 5/Congressmen in te !erormance o teir oicial unctions, suc as s!eeces delivered,statements made, or votes cast in te alls o Congress, wile te same is in session,

as well as 5ills introduced in Congress, weter te same is in session or not, and oter acts !erormed 5/ Congressmen, eiter in Congress or outside te !remises ousing itsoices, in te oicial discarge o teir duties as mem5ers o Congress and o Congressional Committees dul/ autoried to !erorm its unctions as suc, at te timeo te !erormance o te acts in @uestion.



Te !u5lication involved in tis case does not 5elong to tis categor/. According to te com!laint erein, it was an o!en letter to te President o tePili!!ines, dated $ovem5er 1, 1'(%, wen Congress !resuma5l/ was not in session,and deendant caused said letter to 5e !u5lised in several news!a!ers o generalcirculation in te Pili!!ines, on or a5out said date. t is o5vious tat, in tus causing te

communication to 5e so !u5lised, e was not !erorming is oicial dut/, eiter as amem5er o Congress or as oicer or an/ Committee tereo. 3ence, saidcommunication is not a5solutel/ !rivileged.



Case Digest on Peo!le v. )alosos

$ovem5er 10, 2010

G2 +C#A 6%'

*ACT+: ;ile is a!!eal rom a conviction o ra!e is !ending, te accused, aCongressman was conined at te national !enitentiar/. +ince e was reelected to is!osition, e argued tat e sould 5e allowed to attend te legislative sessions andcommittee earings, 5ecause is coninement was de!riving is constituents o teir voice in Congress.

3E<D: Election to ig government oice does ree accused rom te commonrestraints o general law. 4nder +ection , Article > o te Constitution, a mem5er o te 3ouse o #e! is !rivileged rom arrest onl/ i oense is !unisa5le 5/ not more tan6 /ears im!risonment. Coninement o a congressman carged wit a crime !unisa5le

5/ more tan 6 /ears as constitutional oundations. allowed to attend tecongressional sessions, te accused would 5e virtuall/ made a ree man. ;en e waselected into oice, te voters were aware o is limitations on is reedom o action.Congress can continue to unction even witout all its mem5ers 5eing !resent. Electionto te !osition o Congressman is not a reasona5le classiication in criminal lawenorcement.





Pu/at vs De "uman

on )anuar/ , 2012

Political <aw N A!!earance in Court

9n 1 Ma/ 1'&', Pu/at and is grou! were elected as directors o te nternationalPi!e ndustries. Te election was su5se@uentl/ @uestioned 5/ Acero Pu/at?s rival8claiming tat te votes were not !ro!erl/ counted N ence e iled a @uo warranto!roceeding 5eore te +ecurities and Ecange Commission on 2( Ma/ 1'&'. Prior to

Acero?s iling o te case, Estanislao *ernande, ten a mem5er o te nterim atasangPam5ansa !urcased ten sares o stoc- o P rom a mem5er o Acero?s grou!. Andduring a conerence eld 5/ +EC Commissioner de "uman rom Ma/ 2(FG1 ?&'8 toave te !arties coner wit eac oter, Estanislao *ernande entered is a!!earanceas counsel or Acero. Pu/at o5ected arguing tat it is unconstitutional or anassem5l/man to a!!ear as counsel to an/one8 5eore an/ administrative 5od/ sucas te +EC8. Tis 5eing cleared, *ernande ini5ited imsel rom a!!earing as counselor Acero. 3e instead iled an 4rgent Motion or ntervention in tis said +EC case or im to intervene not as a counsel 5ut as a legal owner o P sares and as a !ersonwo as a legal interest in te matter in litigation. Te +EC Commissioner granted temotion in eect granting *ernande leave to intervene. Pu/at ten moved to @uestionte Commissioner?s action.

++4E: ;eter or not *ernande, acting as a stoc-older o P, can a!!ear andintervene in te +EC case witout violating te constitutional !rovision tat an

assem5l/man must not a!!ear as counsel in suc courts or 5odiesO

3E<D: $o, *ernande cannot a!!ear 5eore te +EC 5od/ under te guise tat e isnot a!!earing as a counsel. Even toug e is a stoc-older and tat e as a legalinterest in te matter in litigation e is still 5arred rom a!!earing. 3e 5ougt te stoc-s5eore te litigation too- !lace. During te conerence e !resented imsel as counsel5ut 5ecause it is clearl/ stated tat e cannot do so under te constitution e instead!resented imsel as a !art/ o interest N wic is clearl/ a wor- around and is clearl/an act ater te act. A mere wor- around to get imsel involved in te litigation. ;atcould not 5e done directl/ could not li-ewise 5e done indirectl/.



DE*E$+9#F+A$TA"9 vs. "4$"9$A

".#. $o. 1G(&&, $ovem5er 1%, 1''%

*ACT+:

During te irst regular session o te elevent Congress +en. Marcelo . *ernan wasdeclared te dul/ elected President o te +enate. Te ollowing were li-ewise elected:+enator 9!le as !resident !ro tem!ore, and +en. *ran-lin M. Drilon as maorit/ leader.

+enator Tatad tereater maniested tat, wit te agreement o +enator +antiago,allegedl/ te onl/ oter mem5er o te minorit/, e was assuming te !osition o minorit/ leader. 3e e!lained tat tose wo ad voted or +enator *ernan com!risedte Hmaorit/,H wile onl/ tose wo ad voted or im, te losing nominee, 5elonged to

te Hminorit/.H

During te discussion on wo sould constitute te +enate Hminorit/,H +en. )uan M.*lavier maniested tat te senators 5elonging to te <a-asF$4CDF4MDP Part/ Bnum5ering seven &8 and, tus, also a minorit/ B ad cosen +enator "uingona as teminorit/ leader. $o consensus on te matter was arrived at. Te ollowing session da/,te de5ate on te @uestion continued, wit +enators +antiago and Tatad delivering!rivilege s!eeces. 9n te tird session da/, te +enate met in caucus, 5ut still ailed toresolve te issue.

9n )ul/ G0, 1''%, te maorit/ leader inormed te 5od/ cat e was in recei!t o aletter signed 5/ te seven <a-asF$4CDF4MDP senators, stating tat te/ ad elected+enator "uingona as te minorit/ leader. / virtue tereo, te +enate Presidentormall/ recognied +enator "uingona as te minorit/ leader o te +enate.

Te ollowing da/, +enators +antiago and Tatad iled 5eore tis Court te su5ect!etition or @uo warranto, alleging in te main tat +enator "uingona ad 5eenusur!ing, unlawull/ olding and eercising te !osition o +enate minorit/ leader, a

!osition tat, according to tem, rigtull/ 5elonged to +enator Tatad.

++4E+:

1. Does te Court ave urisdiction over te !etitionO

2. ;as tere an actual violation o te ConstitutionO



G. ;as #es!ondent "uingona usur!ing, unlawull/ olding and eercising te !ositiono +enate minorit/ leader

. Did #es!ondent *ernan act wit grave a5use o discretion in recogniing #es!ondent"uingona as te minorit/ leaderO

3E<D:

*#+T ++4E

Te Court initiall/ declined to resolve te @uestion o wo was te rigtul +enatePresident, since it was deemed a !olitical controvers/ alling eclusivel/ witin tedomain o te +enate. 4!on a motion or reconsideration, owever, te Court ultimatel/assumed urisdiction 18 Hin te ligt o su5se@uent events wic usti/ its interventionHand 28 5ecause te resolution o te issue inged on te inter!retation o teconstitutional !rovision on te !resence o a @uorum to old a session and terein elect

a +enate President read Avelino vs. Cuenco a5out te sco!e o te CourtIs !ower o udicial review8.

Te Court ruled tat te validit/ o te selection o mem5ers o te +enate ElectoralTri5unal 5/ te senators was not a !olitical @uestion. Te coice o tese mem5ers didnot de!end on te +enateIs Hull discretionar/ autorit/,H 5ut was su5ect to mandator/constitutional limitations. Tus, te Court eld tat not onl/ was it clearl/ witin its

urisdiction to !ass u!on te validit/ o te selection !roceedings, 5ut it was also its dut/to consider and determine te issue.

+EC9$D ++4E

Tere was no violation. Te Court inds tat te inter!retation !ro!osed 5/ !etitionersinds no clear su!!ort rom te Constitution, te laws, te #ules o te +enate or evenrom !ractices o te 4!!er 3ouse. Te Constitution mandates tat te President o te+enate must 5e elected 5/ a num5er constituting more tan one al o all te mem5erstereo, it owever does not !rovide tat te mem5ers wo will not vote or im salli!so acto constitute te Hminorit/,H wo could tere5/ elect te minorit/ leader. >eril/,no law or regulation states tat te deeated candidate sall automaticall/ 5ecome teminorit/ leader. ;ile te Constitution is e!licit on te manner o electing a +enatePresident and a 3ouse +!ea-er, it is, owever, dead silent on te manner o selectingte oter oicers in 5ot cam5ers o Congress. All tat te Carter sa/s is tat HKeLac3ouse sall coose suc oter oicers as it ma/ deem necessar/.H Te metod o coosing wo will 5e suc oter oicers is merel/ a derivative o te eercise o te



!rerogative conerred 5/ te aore@uoted constitutional !rovision. Tereore, sucmetod must 5e !rescri5ed 5/ te +enate itsel, not 5/ tis Court.

T3#D ++4E

4sur!ation generall/ reers to unautoried ar5itrar/ assum!tion and eercise o !ower 5/ one witout color o title or wo is not entitled 5/ law tereto. A @uo warranto!roceeding is te !ro!er legal remed/ to determine te rigt or title to te contested!u5lic oice and to oust te older rom its eno/ment. Te action ma/ 5e 5rougt 5/te solicitor general or a !u5lic !rosecutor or an/ !erson claiming to 5e entitled to te

!u5lic oice or !osition usur!ed or unlawull/ eld or eercise 5/ anoter.

n order or a @uo warranto !roceeding to 5e successul, te !erson suing must sowtat e or se as a clearrigt to te contested oice or to use or eercise te unctionso te oice allegedl/ usur!ed or unlawull/ eld 5/ te res!ondent. n tis case,!etitioners !resent not suicient !roo o a clear and indu5ita5le rancise to te oice o te +enate minorit/ leader. *urtermore, no grave a5use o discretion as 5een sownto caracterie an/ o is s!eciic acts as minorit/ leader.

*94#T3 ++4E

"rave a5use o discretion F suc ca!ricious or wimsical eercise o udgment as ise@uivalent to lac- o urisdiction. Te a5use o discretion must 5e !atent and gross as toamount to an evasion o !ositive dut/ or a virtual reusal to !erorm a dut/ enoined 5/law, or to act at all in contem!lation o law as were te !ower is eercised in anar5itrar/ and des!otic manner 5/ reason o !assion and ostilit/.

/ te a5ove standard, we old tat #es!ondent *ernan did not gravel/ a5use isdiscretion as +enate President in recogniing #es!ondent "uingona as te minorit/leader. To recall, te latter 5elongs to one o te minorit/ !arties in te +enate, te

<a-asF$4CDF4MDP. / unanimous resolution o te mem5ers o tis !art/ tat e 5ete minorit/ leader, e was recognied as suc 5/ te +enate President. +uc ormalrecognition 5/ #es!ondent *ernan came onl/ ater at least two +enate sessions and acaucus, werein 5ot sides were li5erall/ allowed to articulate teir stand!oints.



Tereore, te +enate President cannot 5e accused o Hca!ricious or wimsical eerciseo udgmentH or o Han ar5itrar/ and des!otic manner 5/ reason o !assion or ostilit/.H;ere no !rovision o te Constitution, te laws or even te rules o te +enate as5een clearl/ sown to ave 5een violated, disregarded or overloo-ed, grave a5use o discretion cannot 5e im!uted to +enate oicials or acts done witin teir com!etence

and autorit/.



Avelino vs Cuenco

"# $o. <F2%21

Marc 1''

*acts:

+enator Avelino was te +enate President. +enator Tanada and +enator +anidad iled aresolution against +enator Avelino and wanted an investigation against te +enatePresident. eore +enator Tanada delivered is !rivilege s!eec, te senate !residentincluding 12 oter senators wal-ed out and let te 12 oter senators to te meeting.Te 12 remaining senators elected Marciano Cuenco as acting President . +enatePresident Avelino iled a @uo warranto !roceedings against Cuenco, contending tat telatter ad not 5een validl/ elected 5ecause te 12 senators wo were let does notconstitute a @uorum.

ssue:

;eter or not te 12 senators constituted a @uorum to elect Cuenco as te +enatePresident

#uling:

Tere is no controvers/tat at te session in @uestion tere were !resent inte session all, onl/ twelve senators. Te constitution !rovides tat a maorit/ o eacouse sall constitute a @uorum to do 5usiness. Te total num5er o senators in tesenate is 2, tereore its maorit/ sould not 5e less tan 1G. Te mem5ers o tesenate are ree to elect anoter +enate President and teir reedom to ma-e succange is to te dictates o teir own conscience and to anuverdict tat te !eo!le,troug electorate ma/ render at te !olls. ut in ma-ing suc canges o leadersi!,te senate and te senators are 5ound to ollow wat is outlined 5/ te constitution.



9smea vs Pendatun

on )anuar/ 2, 2012

Political <aw N mmunit/

Ten Congressman 9smea )r iled a veriied !etition or declarator/ relie, !roi5itionand certiorari wit !reliminar/ inunction against Congressman Pendatun and oters inteir ca!acit/ as mem5ers o te +!ecial Committee created 5/ 3ouse #esolution ('.3e as-ed or te annulment o te resolution on te ground o inringement u!on is!arliamentar/ immunit/. 3e urter as-ed tat te res!ondents sould not re@uire im tosu5stantiate is carges against te !resident wit te admonition tat i e ailed to doso e must sow cause w/ te 3ouse sould not !unis im. +aid carges emanatedrom is oneFour !rivileged s!eec entitled A Message to "arcia7, wic constituted aserious assault u!on te dignit/ o "arcia as te ten President.

++4E: ;eter or not 9smea?s immunit/ as 5een violatedO

3E<D: +ection 1(, Article 6 o te 1'G( Constitution ensrines !arliamentar/ immunit/u!on mem5er s o te legislature wic is a undamental !rivilege cerised in ever/!arliament in a democratic world. t guarantees te legislator com!lete reedom o e!ression witout ear o 5eing made res!onsi5le in criminal or civil actions 5eore tecourts or an/ oter orum outside te 3all o Congress. 3owever, it does not !rotect imrom res!onsi5ilit/ 5eore te legislative 5od/ wenever is words and conduct areconsidered disorderl/ or un5ecoming o a mem5er terein. Tereore, 9smea?s!etition is dismissed.



4nited +tates vs )uan Pons

on )anuar/ , 2012

Political <aw N )ournal N Conclusiveness o te )ournals

Pons and "a5ino eliso were trading !artners. 9n ( A!r 1'1, te steamer <o!e /<o!e arrived at Manila rom +!ain and it contained 2( 5arrels o wine. Te said 5arrelso wine were delivered to eliso. eliso su5se@uentl/ delivered ( 5arrels to Pons?ouse. 9n te oter and, te customs autorities noticed tat te said 2( 5arrels listedas wine on record were not delivered to an/ listed mercant eliso not 5eing one8. Andso te customs oicers conducted an investigation tere5/ discovering tat te 2(5arrels o wine actuall/ contained tins o o!ium. +ince te ct o trading and dealingo!ium is against Act 2G%1, Pons and eliso were carged or illegall/ and raudulentl/im!orting and introducing suc contra5and material to te Pili!!ines. Pons a!!ealedte sentence arguing tat Act 2G%1 was not a!!roved wile te Pili!!ine CommissionCongress8 was not in session. 3e said tat is witnesses claim tat te said law was!asseda!!roved on 01 Marc 1'1 wile te s!ecial session o te Commission wasadourned at 12M$ on 2% *e5 1'1. +ince tis is te case, Act 2G%1 sould 5e null andvoid.

++4E: ;eter or not te +C must go 5e/ond te recitals o te )ournals to determinei Act 2G%1 was indeed made a as law on 2% *e5 1'1.

3E<D: Te +C loo-ed into te )ournals to ascertain te date o adournment 5ut te +Creused to go 5e/ond te recitals in te legislative )ournals. Te said )ournals areconclusive on te Court and to in@uire into te veracit/ o te ournals o te Pili!!ine<egislature, wen te/ are, as te +C ave said, clear and e!licit, would 5e to violate5ot te letter and te s!irit o te organic laws 5/ wic te Pili!!ine "overnmentwas 5rougt into eistence, to invade a coordinate and inde!endent de!artment o te"overnment, and to interere wit te legitimate !owers and unctions o te<egislature. Pons? witnesses cannot 5e given due weigt against te conclusiveness o te )ournals wic is an act o te legislature. Te ournals sa/ tat te <egislatureadourned at 12 midnigt on *e5ruar/ 2%, 1'1. Tis settles te @uestion, and te courtdid not err in declining to go 5eind tese ournals. Te +C !assed u!on te

conclusiveness o te enrolled 5ill in tis !articular case.

Documents

Legislative Consti