c












c    

   
 
 

People of the Philippines vs Guillermo Manatan

FACTS:
1. Guillermo Manantan was charged with violation of the section 54 of the Revised Election Code;
2. During the trial, Manantan pleaded not guilty and moved to dismiss the case on the contention
that justice of peace are not included in those officials who are prohibited in the participating in
the political partisan;
3. The Lower Court denied the motion to dismiss the case on the ground that justice of peace are
within the purview of Section 54 of the Revised Election Code;
4. Second motion was submitted by the defendant, citing the case between People and Macaraeg,
in that the justice of peace are not included in the said Section 54 of the Revised Election Code;
5. The court dismissed the information using the case decision;
6. The Solicitor General appealed with the Supreme Court;

ISSUE:
Whether or not justice of peace is covered in Section 54 of the Revised Election Code

RULINGS:
1. The court ruled that the order of dismissal made by the lower court should be set aside and that
the case be remanded on the merit of the case
2. The court found that the law did not omit the word justice but rather adopted a more generic
and broader term that is judges.
3. The statutory construction c






 

, an object, thing or person
which has been omitted in the enumeration is held to have been intentionally omitted, cannot
be applicable on this case since the law did not intentionally omit but rather adopted another
term;
4. ºence, it was not the intention of the legislature to exclude the justice of peace in the
participation of the political partisan