Bondoc v Pineda

Petitioner: Dr. Emigdio A. Bondoc Respondents: Rep. Marciano M. Pineda, Rep. Magdaleno M. Palacol, Col. Juanito G. Camasura, Jr., or any other representati e !ho may "e appointed ice representati e Juanito G. Camasura, Jr., and the #ouse o$ Representati es Electoral %ri"unal Date: &eptem"er '(, )**) Ponente: Gri+o,A-uino

Summary: Pineda ./DP0 !on as Representati e $or the 1th District o$ the pro ince o$ Pampanga o er Bondoc .2P0. Bondoc $iled a protest !ith the #ouse o$ Representati es Electoral %ri"unal .#RE%0 !as later declared the !inner. Camasura ./DP0, a mem"er o$ the #RE%, admitted that 3consistent !ith truth and 4ustice and sel$,respect5 he oted in $a or o$ Bondoc. Camasura !as e6pelled $rom /DP $or "etraying /DP. Facts: ). May )*, )*78 9 Marciano M. Pineda !as proclaimed !inner in the May )), )*78 election. :pponent Emigdio A. Bondoc $iled a protest .#RE% Case 2o. ';0 in the #RE%. '. :cto"er )**< 9 the #RE% came to the decision that Bondoc !on o er Pineda "y "y a margin o$ '= otes, the ree6amination and reappreciation o$ the "allots resulted in increasing Bondoc>s lead o er Pineda to )<8 otes. =. March 1, )**), Cong. Camasura re ealed that he oted in $a or o$ Bondoc in the raised case. 1. March ;, )**) 9 Cong. Co4uangco in$ormed Cong. Camasura "y letter that on ?e"ruary '*, )**), "y Resoultion 2o. <=,*), he, along !ith Cong. Ben4amin

Bautista, had already "een e6pelled $rom the /DP $or 3ha ing allegedly helped to organi@e the Partido Pilipino o$ Danding Co4uangco and $or allegedly ha ing in ited /DP mem"ers in Da ao del &ur to 4oin said political party.5 %his !as unanimously con$irmed on March )', )**). ;. March )=, )**) 9 a letter $rom /DP !as sent to the Chairman o$ the tri"unal stating that the party has decided to !ithdra! the nomination and rescind the election o$ Cong. Camasura, Jr. to the #RE%. (. March '), )**) 9 Bondoc, $eeling that the e6pulsion o$ Camasura $rom his position !as to pre ent the Camasura $rom oting in $a or o$ the him, $iled a petition $or certiorari, prohi"ition, and mandamus against respondents praying the Court to: a. Annul the decision o$ the #ouse o$ Reps. dated March )=, )**). ". Prohi"it anyone taAing the place o$ camasura $rom assuming and discharging $unctions as a mem"er o$ the #RE%. c. Brit o$ mandamus $or Camasura to reassume his position. d. Grant such other relie$ as may "e 4ust and e-uita"le.

Issue: ). B:2 the #ouse o$ Representati es, at the re-uest o$ the dominant political party therein, may change that party>s representation in the #RE% to th!art the promulgation o$ a decision $reely reached "y the tri"unal in an election contest pending therein Held: ). 2:. &ection )8 o$ the )*78 Constitution calls $or a creation o$ Electoral %ri"unals $or "oth #ouses that !ill "e the sole judge o$ all election, returns, and -uali$ication contests. %he tri"unals and their mem"ers !ere to "e non,partisan and to act !ith complete detachment $rom all political considerations. %here$ore, the e6pulsion o$ Cong. Camasura on the grounds o$ 3disloyalty to party5 and

35"reach o$ party discipline5 !ould "e a gra e a"use o$ discretion, an in4ustice, and a iolation o$ the Constitution. %he resolution $iled "y the #ouse o$ Representati es also iolates the independence o$ the #RE% as they ha e inter$ered !ith the composition o$ the #RE%. ?urthermore, the resolution $iled "y the #ouse o$ Representati es iolates Cong. Bondoc>s right to security o$ tenure pro ided under &ec. ', Art. CDDD o$ the )*78 Constitution.

Petition for certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus is granted !he decision of the House of Representatives "ithdra"ing the nomination and rescinding the election of #ong #anasura, $r is declared null and void ab initio HR%! Res &o '()**(+ cancelling the promulgation of the decision in HR%! #ase &o ,- is set aside