Peralta vs. COMELEC GR No. L-47771 March 11, 1978 Facts: Petitio ers !

!"estio the co stit"tio alit# o$ %ectio 4 o$ the 1978 Electio Co&e 'hich states that the COMELEC shall $i( the electio )erio& i accor&a ce 'ith *rticle 1+C, %ectio , o$ the Co stit"tio , a & that the )erio& o$ ca-)ai. shall ot /e -ore tha 40 &a#s i--e&iatel# )rece&i . the electio , e(cl"&i . the &a# o$ the electio , a & )rovi&i . $or a &i$$ere t electio )erio& $or the re)rese tatives to the i teri- 1atasa . Pa-/a sa. Petitio ers rel# o the sai& Co stit"tio al )rovisio that states that the electio )erio& sho"l& co--e ce at least 92 &a#s /e$ore electio &a# a & e &s thirt# &a#s a$ter. 3ss"e: 4hether or ot the $ort#-$ive-&a# )erio& o$ ca-)ai. )rescri/e& i the 1978 Electio Co&e violates the Co stit"tio /eca"se. 5a6 it 'as &ecree& /# the Presi&e t a & ot /# the Co--issio o Electio s as )rovi&e& /# %ectio , o$ *rticle 733-C8 a & 5/6 the )erio& sho"l& cover at least i et# 5926 &a#s. 9el&: :he 40-&a# ca-)ai. )erio& is co stit"tio al. *ltho".h the ca-)ai. )erio& )rescri/e& i the 1978 Electio Co&e $or the electio o$ the re)rese tatives to the i teri- 1atasa . Pa-/a sa is less tha 92 &a#s a & 'as &ecree& /# the Presi&e t a & ot /# the Co--issio o Electio s as )rovi&e& /# %ectio , o$ *rticle 733-C o$ the Co stit"tio , the sa-e &oes ot violate the Co stit"tio , /eca"se " &er *-e &-e t 1, the -a er o$ electio o$ -e-/ers o$ the i teri- 1atasa . Pa-/a sa shall /e )rescri/e& a & re."late& /# la', a & the i c"-/e t Presi&e t " &er *-e &-e t No. 0, shall co ti "e to e(ercise le.islative )o'er " til -artial la' shall have /ee li$te&. :he electio $or -e-/ers i the i teri- 1atasa . Pa-/a sa is a election in a state of emergency requiring special rules , a & o l# the i c"-/e t Presi&e t has the a"thorit# a & -ea s o$ o/tai i . i $or-atio o the )eace a & or&er co &itio o$ the co" tr# 'ithi 'hich a electoral ca-)ai. -a# /e a&e!"atel# co &"cte& i all re.io s o$ the atio . 1"t eve ass"-i . that it sho"l& /e the Co--issio o Electio s that sho"l& $i( the )erio& o$ ca-)ai. , the co stit"tio al -a &ate is co-)lie& 'ith /# the $act that the Co--issio has a&o)te& a & is e $orci . the )erio& $i(e& i %ectio 4, *rticle 1, o$ the 1978 Electio Co&e.