ELECTION LAWS

BY ATTY. RAUL B. MARIFOSQUE

*Suffrage
-It means the right to vote in an election of all officers chosen by the
people and in the determination of all questions submitted to the people.

*The Governing Election Law in the Philippines

Ans. Sources:
(A) Pre- Commonwealth Election Law covering period from 1907- 1935.
(B) R.A. 180 (Revised Election Code as amended by R.A. 599, 867 etc.
(C) Election Law after martial law.
(D) Various Resolution passed by the COMELEC implementing the
election laws during their respective times.
(E) Decisions and legal jurisprudence by the Supreme Court.

*COMELEC
Powers and Functions
As provided in the Constitution
(A) Admin and Supervision of elections
(B) Promulgate rules and regulations

*Kinds of Elections
(A) General or Regular
(B) Special Election

*System of Voting under Election Law

-Australian ballot system
*Voting of En Banc COMELEC Members
-Majority of all its members
*Has the COMELEC the power to annul illegal registry lists of voters?
-Yes. (Prudente vs.Genium Nov. 6, 1951) as this is within the constitution
power of the COMELEC.

*Does COMELEC have the power to cancel the canvass of election returns
of the Board of Canvassers?
-Yes. (Abante vs. Relato GR No. L6813/1953)

*Has the COMELEC the power to decide questions involving the right to
vote?
-This is expressly withheld from the COMELEC. (Nacionalista Party vs.
COMELEC).

*Does the COMELEC have the power to investigate and prosecute election
officers?
-Yes. A. Pimentel vs. COMELEC 98 SCAD 37 (1998)

*How will the COMELEC deliberate in election cases?

-It may sit En Banc or in two divisions and shall promulgate its own rules
and regulations to expedite the disposition of cases including pre- proclamation
cases.

*When may the Supreme Court Review orders of COMELEC?

-Illegal or constitute gross abuse of discretion. (SUMULONG vs.
COMELEC)

*When can an election take place?

-If it is expressly provided by law.
(Garchitorena vs. Cresine 39 Phil. 258)

*Who has the power to declare a failure of election.

 -COMELEC
(Loong vs. COMELEC 70 SCAD 626)

*May a Political Party participate in the party- list election?

-Yes. Under the Constitution and R.A. 7941
(Bayan Muna vs. COMELEC)
June 26, 2001

*What is the effect of filing a certificate of candidacy by a person holding

public appointive office or position?
-Any person holding a public appointive office or position, including active
members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and officers and employees in
government owned or controlled corporations, shall be considered ipso facto
resigned from his office upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy. (Sec. 66
Art. IX, B.P. Blg. 881)

*What is the effect of the filing of a certificate of candidacy by an elective

provincial, municipal or city officials?
-Any elective official, whether national or local, who has filed a certificate
of candidacy for the same or any other office shall no be considered resigned
from office. (Sec. 23, COMELEC Resolution No. 3636, Rules and Regulations
Implementing R.A. No. 9006 otherwise known as Fair Election Act for the
May 14, 2001 National and Local Elections).

*Does the fact that a person is registered as a voter in one district prove
that he is not domiciled in another district? Why?
-No. The fact that a person is registered as a voter in one district is not
proof that he is not domiciled in another voter in a place other that his residence
of origin is not sufficient to consider him to have abandoned or lost his residence.
(Marcita Mamba Perez vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 133944, October 28, 1999
citing Faypon vs. Quirino, 96 Phil. 294). Well- settled is the rule that residence
is synonymous with domicile.

*Is there a constitutional right to run for or hold public office? Explain.
-None. What is recognized is merely a privilege subject to limitations
imposed by law. Section 26, Article II of the Constitution neither bestows such a
right nor elevates the privilege to the level of an enforceable right. There is
nothing in the plain language of the provision which suggests such a thrust of
justifies an interpretation of the sort.
-The equal access provision is not self- executing, and there is no
plausible reason for according a different treatment to the equal access
provision. Like the rest of the policies enumerated in Article II, the provision does
not contain any judicially enforceable Constitutional right but merely specifies a
guideline for legislative or executive action. The disregard of the provision does
not give rise to any cause of action before the courts. (Rev. Elly Pamatong vs.
COMELEC, G.R. No. 161872, April 13, 2004)

*Why does the law reserve the right to run for public office only to citizens
of the Philippines?
-This is so because the assumption is that those who are resident aliens
of a foreign country are incapable of such entire devotion to the interest and
welfare of their homeland for with one eye on their duties here, they must keep
another eye on their duties under the laws of the foreign country of their choice in
order to preserve their status as permanent residents thereof. (Caasi vs. CA,
G.R. No. 88831; COMELEC vs. Miguel, G.R. No. 84508, November 8, 1990).

*Who is a substitute candidate?

-A substitute candidate is one who takes the place of another who is no
longer a candidate, otherwise, the former would be an additional, not a substitute
candidate. (Pontawe vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 59343, April 24, 1985).
*If a candidate is disqualified after the last day of filing certificates of
candidacy, what could be the remedy?
-There may be a substitute candidate. The substitution may be on or
before mid- day of the day of the election. (Pontawe vs. COMELEC, G.R. No.
59343, April 24, 1985).

*Who can be a substitute candidate in case a candidate dies, or is

disqualified or withdraws after the last day for filing of the certificate of
candidacy?
-Only a person belonging to and certified by the same political party may
file a certificate of candidacy to replace the candidate who died, withdrew or was
disqualified. The substitute candidate nominated by the political party concerned
may file his certificate of candidacy for the office affecter not later than mid- day
of the day of the election. If the death, withdrawal or disqualification should occur
between the day before the election and mid- day of election day, said certificate
may be filed with any board of election inspectors in the political subdivision
where he is a candidate, or, in the case of candidates to be voted for by the
entire electorate of the country, with the Commission. (Domingo vs. City Board
of Canvassers, G.R. No. 105365, June 2, 1992).

*What is the nature of the order of the COMELEC disqualifying a

candidate? Why?
-It is immediately executory, otherwise, there would be no need to
nominate a substitute. (Pontawe vs. COMELEC, supra).

*What are the prohibited means of collection of funds for election

purposes?
-It shall be unlawful for any person to hold dances, lotteries, cockfights,
games, boxing bouts, bingo, beauty contests, entertainments, or
cinematographic theatrical or other performances for the purpose of raising funds
for an election campaign or for the support of any candidate from the
commencement of the election period up to and including election day; or for any
person or organization, whether civic or religious, directly or indirectly, to solicit
and/ or accept from any candidate for public office, or from his campaign
manager, agent or representative, or any person acting in their behalf, any gift,
food, transportation, contribution or donation in cash or in kind from the
commencement of the election period up to and including election day; provided,
that normal and customary religious stipends, tithes, or collections on Sundays
and/ or designated collection days, are excluded from this prohibition. (Sec. 97,
Art. XI, B.P. Blg. 881)

*What shall constitute the permanent list of voters?

-Any provision of P.D. No. 1896 to the contrary notwithstanding, the list of
voters prepared and used in the election of Members of the Batasang Pambansa
on May 14, 1984, with such additions, cancellations and corrections as may
hereafter be made in accordance with the provisions of this Code, shall constitute
the permanent list of voters in each city or municipality, as the case may be until
1996.
-For the purposes of the next following election, the Commission, through
the election registrars, shall assign the proper precincts and polling places to the
registered voters in said list. Written notice of any such change shall be made to
the affected voters within two weeks therefrom. (Sec. 113, Art. XII, B.P. Blg. 881)

*Who may be registered in the list of voters?

-All persons having complied with the requisites herein prescribed for the
registration of voters shall be registered in the list, provided they possess all the
qualifications and none of the disqualifications of a voter. Those who failed to
register in the election of 1984, for any reason whatsoever, may register in
accordance with the provisions of this Code. Any person who may not have on
the date of registration the age or period of residence may also be registered
upon proof that on the date of the election, plebiscite or referendum, he shall
have such qualifications. (Sec. 4, P.D. No. 1896, as amended; Sec. 116, Art XII,
B.P. Blg. 881)
*What are the qualifications prescribed for a voter?
-Every citizen of the Philippines, not otherwise disqualified by law,
eighteen years of age or over, who shall have resided in the Philippines for one
year and in the city or municipality wherein he proposes to vote for at least six
months immediately preceding the election, may be registered as a voter.

*What constitutes residence for purposes of the election law?

-The term residence, as used in constitutional and statutory provisions
relating to the qualifications of electors, is synonymous with home or domicile,
denoting a permanent dwelling place, to which the party when absent, intends to
return. While one cannot by intention alone fix his dwelling place, yet the fact of
residence for the purpose of voting depends largely on the intention of making it
a permanent home, will now qualify the sojourner as an elector, unless it is
otherwise provided by the Constitution or statute. Hence, the two things must
concur the act of residing coupled with the intention to do so. (20 C.J., p. 68;
Romualdez vs. COMELEC)

*Give the criterion in determining ones residence.

-While there is no absolute criterion to determine ones place of residence,
yet the following rules seem to be established:
1) That a man must have a residence somewhere;
2) That once established, the old residence is presumed to
continue until a new one is established; and
3) That a man can have but one domicile of citizenship at a time.
-When circumstances are such that a man may claim a domicile at either
one or two places, the place which he regards as his home or domicile will
be his residence for the purpose of voting. (20 C.J., p. 69).

*Who may challenge the right of a person to register?

 -Any person applying for registration may be challenged before the Board
of Election Inspectors on any member, voter, candidate, or watcher. The board
shall then examine the challenged person and shall receive such other evidence
as it may deem pertinent, after which it shall decide whether the voter shall be
included in or excluded from the list as may be proper. All challenges shall be
heard and decided without delay, and in no case beyond three (3) days from the
date the challenge was made.
-After the question has been decided, the Board of Election Inspectors
shall give to each party a brief certified statement setting forth to the challenge
and the decision thereon. (Sec. 32, P.D. No. 1896, as amended; Sec. 136, Art.
XII, B.P. Blg. 881).

*When and by whom may the registry list of voters be annulled?

-Any book of voters not prepared in accordance with the provisions of this
Code or the preparation of which has been effected with fraud, bribery, forgery,
impersonation, intimidation, force, or any other similar irregularity or which list is
statistically improbable may, upon verified petition of any voter or election
registrar, or duly registered political party, and after notice and hearing, be
annulled by the Commission: Provided, that no order, ruling or decision annulling
a book of voters shall be executed within sixty days before an election. (Sec.
145, Art. XII, B.P. Blg. 881).

*How are election inspectors and poll clerks appointed?

-At least thirty days before the date when the voters list is to be prepared
in accordance with the Code, in the case of a regular election or fifteen days
before a special election, the Commission shall directly or through its duly
authorized representatives, constitute a board of election inspectors for each
precinct to be composed of a chairman and a poll clerk who must be public
school teachers, priority to be given to civil service eligibles, and two members,
each representing the two accredited political parties. The appointment shall
state the precinct to which they are assigned and the date of the appointment.
(Sec. 164, Art. XIV, B.P. Blg. 881).

*What are qualifications of members of the Board of Election Inspectors?

-No person shall be appointed chairman, member or substitute member of
the board of election inspectors unless he is of good moral character and
irreproachable reputation, a registered voter of the city or municipality, has
never been convicted of any election offense or of any other crime
punishable by more than six moths of imprisonment, or if he has pending
against him an information for any election offense. He must be able to
speak and write English or the local dialect. (Sec. 166, Art. XIV, B.P. Blg.
881).

*Who are ineligible for appointment as members of the Board of Inspectors.

-No person shall serve as chairman or member of the Board of Election
Inspectors if he is related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or
affinity to any member of the board of election inspectors or to any
candidate to be voter for in the polling place or his spouse. (Sec. 167, Art.
XIV, B.P. Blg. 881).

*How may a member of the Board be relieved of his duties?

-Public school teachers who are members of the board of election
inspectors shall not be relieved nor disqualified from acting as such
members, except for cause and after due hearing.
-Any member of the Board of Election Inspectors, nominated by a political
party, as well as his substitute may at any time be relieved from office and
substituted with another having the legal qualifications upon petition of the
authorized representatives of the party upon whose nomination the
appointment was made, and it shall be unlawful to prevent said person
from, or disturb him in, the performance of duties of the said office. A
record of each case of substitution shall be made, setting forth therein the
 hour in which the replaced member has ceased in the office and the status
or the work of the Board of Election Inspectors. Said record shall be
signed by each member of the board of election inspectors including the
incoming and outgoing officers. (Sec. 171, Art. XIV, B.P. Blg. 881)

*Can the election inspectors (Election Committee) pass upon the eligibility
of candidates during the counting of the votes?
-No. The duties of election inspectors are confined to the conduct of the
election, the counting of the votes, and the certification of the results in so far as
it relates to the properly certified candidates. The question as to the eligibility of a
candidate of office is one with which they have no authority to decide. (See
Caesar vs. Garrido , 53 Phil. 97).

*What are marked ballots?

-Marked ballots containing distinguishing marks, the purpose of which is to
identify them.

*What is the cardinal rule in the appreciation of ballots? Explain.

-The cardinal objective of ballot appreciation is to discover and give effect
to, rather than frustrate the intention of the voters, thus, every ballot shall be
presumed valid unless clear and good reasons justify its rejection. Extreme
caution should be observed before any ballot is invalidated and doubts in the
appreciation of ballots are resolved in favor of their validity. (Sec. 211, B.P. 881;
Torres vs. HRET, 351 SCRA 312 [2001]). Thus, it is a well- founded rule
ensconced in our jurisprudence that laws and statutes governing election
contests especially appreciation of ballots must be liberally construed to the end
that the will of the electorate in the choice of public officials may not be defeated
by technical infirmities. (De Guzman vs. COMELEC, et al., G.R. No. 159713,
March 31, 2004 citing Bince, Jr. vs. COMELEC 242 SCRA 273 [1995]; Benito
vs. COMELEC, 235 SCRA 436 [1994]; Pahilan vs. Tabalba, 230 SCRA 205
[1994]; Aruelo, Jr. vs. Court of Appeals, 227 SCRA 311 [1993]; Tatlonghari
vs. COMELEC, 199 SCRA 849 [1991]; Unda vs. COMELEC, 190 SCRA 827
[1990]; and, De Leon vs. Guadiz, Jr., 104 SCRA 891 [1981]).
*What are the issues raised in a pre- proclamation controversy?
-The following issues are raised in a pre- proclamation controversy:
(a) Illegal composition or proceedings of the board of canvassers.
(b) The canvassed election returns are incomplete, contain material
defects, appear to be tampered with or falsified, or contain
discrepancies in the same returns or in other authentic copies thereof
as mentioned in Sections 233, 2343, 235 and 236 of this Code.
(c) The election returns were prepared under duress, threats, coercion, or
intimidation, or they are obviously manufactured or not authentic; and
(d) When substitute or fraudulent returns in controverted polling places
were canvassed, the results of which materially affected the standing
of the aggrieved candidate or candidates. (Sec. 243, Omnibus
Election Code).
-The enumeration is restrictive and exclusive. (Dagloc vs. COMELEC, et
al., G.R. No. 15442-47, December 10, 2003)

*What are the matters covered in pre- proclamation controversies? Explain.

-Pre- proclamation controversies are limited to: (1) challenges directed
against the composition or proceedings of the board of canvassers (not the board
of election inspectors), or (2) challenges related to election returns to which a
party must have made specific objection. Hence, if the objection to the election
returns are that the election returns are manufactured, fabricated or not
authentic, considering that the election returns includes votes on ballots which
are spurious, marked and invalid ballots, the objections are not proper in a
proclamation controversy since the objection as worded, do not challenge the
returns, but are directed primarily at the ballots reflected in the returns. Thus, it is
settled that issues relative to the appreciation of ballots cannot be raised in a
proclamation controversy.
 -Appreciation of ballots is the task of the board of election inspectors, not
the board of canvassers, and questions related thereto are proper only in election
protests. (Dagloc vs. COMELEC, et al., G.R. No. 154442-47, December 10,
2003)

*After proclamation, is a pre- proclamation controversy still viable? Is the

rule absolute? Why?
-No. After a proclamation has been made, a pre- proclamation case before
the COMELEC is no longer viable. (Gallardo vs. Rimando, 187 SCRA 463;
Casimiro vs. COMELEC, 171 SCRA 468; Salvacion vs. COMELEC, 170 SCRA
513; Padilla vs. COMELEC, 137 SCRA 424). In Sison vs. COMELEC, 104
SCAD 129, 304 SCRA 170, it was said that the more appropriate remedy is
election protest or quo warranto. (Laodenio vs. COMELEC, 85 SCAD 441, 276
SCRA 705; Torres vs. COMELEC, 81 SCAD 228, 270 SCRA 583).
-There are exceptions like:
a) where the board of canvassers was improperly constituted;
b) where a quo warranto was not properly filed;
c) where what was filed was not really a petition for quo warranto or an
election protest but a petition to annul a proclamation;
d) where the filing of a quo warranto petition or an election protest was
expressly made without prejudice to the pre- proclamation controversy
or was made ad cautelam; and
e) where the proclamation was null and void. (Laodenio vs. COMELEC,
et al., supra).

*What is the neighborhood rule? Illustrate it.

-Under the neighborhood rule, if the name of a candidate was written on
the wrong space, it should be counted in his favor if the intention to vote for him
for the correct position can be determined. In the case of Lerias vs. COMELEC,
it was observed that the ballot in which the first name and the surname with the
initial of the first name of Rosette Yniguez Lerias, who was a candidate for
representative, was written in the space for senators, should be counted in her
favor, where the space for the House of Representatives was left blank. (Lerias
vs. COMELEC).

*What should be alleged in the election protest?

1) That the protestant is a candidate voted for in the last election and that
he has presented a certificate of candidacy;
2) That the protestee has been proclaimed in the said election; and
3) The date of the proclamation in order to determine the period within
which the protest should be filed.
-The above facts are jurisdictional. The Court of First Instance (now RTC)
being a court of special and limited jurisdiction, cannot try an election
protest until the special facts upon it may take jurisdiction are expressly
shown in the motion of protest. (Tengco vs. Jocson, 43 Phi. 715).

*What is the remedy of an aggrieved party after the proclamation of a

candidate? Is the rule absolute? Explain.
-As a general rule, the proper remedy after the proclamation of the
winning candidate for the position contested would be to file a regular election
protest or a petition for quo warranto. This rule, however, admits of exceptions, to
wit: (1) where the board of canvassers was improperly constituted; (2) where quo
warranto was not the proper remedy; (3) where what was filed was not really a
petition for quo warranto or an election protest but a petition to annul the
proclamation; (4) where the filing of a quo warranto petition or an election protest
was expressly made without prejudice to the pre- proclamation controversy or
was made ad cautelam; and (5) where the proclamation was null and void.
(Lorenzo vs. COMELEC, et al., G.R. No. 158371, December 11, 2003 citing
Ibasco vs. Ilao, 110 Phil. 553, [1960]).
*May a party in an election contest dispense with the filing of a motion for
reconsideration from a decision of the Division of the COMELEC to the en
banc? Explain.
-No. Under the existing Constitutional scheme, a party to an election case
within the jurisdiction of the COMELEC in division cannot dispense with the filing
of a motion for reconsideration having been filed. (Ambil, Jr. vs. COMELEC, 344
SCRA 358 [2000]). Failure to abide by this procedural requirement constitutes a
ground for dismissal of the petition.

*When may judicial counting of votes in election contests be ordered?

-Where allegations in a protest or counter- protest so warrant, or
whenever in the opinion of the court the interests of justice so require, it shall
immediately order the book of voters, ballot boxes and their keys, ballots and
other documents used in the election to be brought before it and that the ballots
be examined and the votes recounted (Sec. 225, Art. XXI, B.P. Blg. 881; Garcia
vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 88158; Uy vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 97108, May 5,
1992).

*Under what circumstances may the election in a political unit be annulled?

Why?
-In order to annul the election in a political unit, two (2) conditions must
concur:
a) The illegality must affect more than 50% of the votes cast; and
b) It must be impossible to distinguish the good votes from the bad.
-When more than 50% of the total number of votes are illegal, the
annulment is justified for the reason that the remainder did not constitute a
valid constituency. (Espaldon vs. Bandon, HRET Case No. 14,
November 26, 1990).

*When may a proclaimed candidate be unseated?

-A proclaimed candidate may be unseated if:
1) The opponent is adjudged the true winner of the election by final
judgement (Sec. 251);
2) The prevailing party is declared ineligible or disqualified by final
judgment in a quo warranto case (Sec. 253, OEC);
3) The incumbent is removed from office for cause (Sec. 264, OEC;
Secs. 18, 9, & 12, R.A. No. 3019; Gallardo vs. Rimando, G.R. No.
91718, July 13, 1990).