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Urgent Petition For Certiorari and Mandamus PDF
Urgent Petition For Certiorari and Mandamus PDF
- versus -
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS,
Respondent.
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PREFATORY STATEMENT
The right of suffrage lies at the heart of our constitutional democracy. The
right of every Filipino to choose the leaders who will lead the country and
participate, to the fullest extent possible, in every national and local election is so
zealously guarded by the fundamental law that it devoted an entire article solely
therefor:
ARTICLE V
SUFFRAGE
SECTION 1. Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of
the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at
least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in
the Philippines for at least one year and in the place
wherein they propose to vote for at least six months
immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property or
other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the
exercise of suffrage.
Preserving the sanctity of the right of suffrage ensures that the State
derives its power from the consent of the governed. The paramount importance
of this right is also a function of the State policy of people empowerment
articulated in the constitutional declaration that sovereignty resides in the people
and all government authority emanates from them, bolstered by the recognition
of the vital role of the youth in nation-building and directive to the State to
encourage their involvement in public and civic affairs.1
1. This Petition is about the exercise of a basic right upon which the
fabric of any democracy is founded – the right of suffrage. Petitioners seek the
1
Palatino v. COMELEC, G.R. No.189868, December 15, 2009.
2
nullification of respondent Commission on Elections Resolution Nos. 9149 and
9542 fixing the deadline of application of registration of voters on 31 October
2012.2
2. This deadline is more than two (2) months earlier than is prescribed
by Republic Act No. 8189 or The Voters Registration Act of 1996.
4. The start of the 120-day prohibitive period before the May 13, 2013
elections is on January 13, 2013. Thus, the deadline of application of registration
of voters should be on January 12, 2013, not on October 31, 2012, which is at
least seventy (70) days earlier than is prescribed by the statute.
2
Annexes A-1 and A-2.
3
7. Second, the assailed Resolution Nos. 9149 and 9542 are patent
violations of the provision on the system of continuing registration of voters under
Section 8 of The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996, thus:
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appropriate courts or where exceptional and
compelling circumstances justify such invocation.
(Emphasis supplied)
11. At the core of the issues raised in the instant Petition is a precious
and cherished right imbued with public interest – the right of suffrage.
12. It should be noted further that the issue of the respondent’s illegal
premature setting of the election registration deadline has already been resolved
by the Court in the Palatino v. COMELEC, with regard the 2010 national
elections.
16. Petitioners thus humbly pray that the Honorable Court issue a
judgment:
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a. Declaring the Resolution Nos. 9149 and 9542 as
unconstitutional and void;
b. Commanding the respondent to extend the system of
continuing registration of voters until January 12, 2013
c. Commanding the respondent, as a continuing
constitutional body, to strictly comply with the statutory
period in the system of continuing registration of voters from
hereinafter.
17. The Petitioners are likewise praying for the issuance of a Preliminary
Mandatory Injunction due to the seriousness and extreme urgency of the matters
involved, as well as the grave and irreparable injuries that are sustained and will
continue to be sustained by Petitioners due to the unconstitutionality of
Resolution Nos. 9149 and 9542, its patent violation of Section 8 of The Voter’s
Registration Act of 1996, and the imminent lapse of the October 31, 2012
deadline in a few days, thus:
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Petition, otherwise the instant Petition may be rendered
ineffectual;
e. The non-extension of deadline of application of
registration of voters during the pendency of the present
Petition would work injustice to Petitioners and millions of
first-time youth registrants and voters who cannot be
accommodated by respondent as of October 31, 2012 for
purposes of the May 13, 2013 elections, as it would cause
the disenfranchisement of millions of first-time registrants
and voters;
f. That respondent is very adamant in its refusal to extend
the filing of application of registration of voters beyond the
October 31, 2012 deadline, in violation of the rights of
Petitioners and of millions of first-time youth registrants and
voters who cannot be accommodated by respondent as of
October 31, 2012 for purposes of the May 13, 2013
elections. Thus, there is a necessity for a preliminary
mandatory injunction in order not to render the judgment
ineffectual; and
g. There is no other plain, speedy, and adequate remedy to
address these pervasive injuries to the Petitioners and to
the millions of first-time youth registrants and voters who
cannot be accommodated by respondent as of October 31,
2012 for purposes of the May 13, 2013 elections, before
this Petition could be heard by the Honorable Court.
THE PARTIES
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the National Union of Students of the Philippines, the College Editors Guild of the
Philippines, the Office of the UP Student Regent, and the Philippine Collegian.
Their office address is at 89 K-7 St., Kamias, Quezon City.
20. The Petitioners may be served with summons and other legal
processes through their counsel of record, Atty. James Mark Terry L. Ridon, at
89 K-7 St. Kamias, Quezon City.
STATEMENT OF FACTS
23. The regular election in 2012 shall be conducted on May 13, 2013.
24. In 1996, the Philippine Congress enacted Republic Act No. 8189 or
The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 which provided for a system of continuing
registration of voters that shall be conducted daily but no registration shall be
conducted during the period starting one hundred twenty (120) days before a
regular election.
3
COMELEC Resolution No. 9149, RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE
RESUMPTION OF THE SYSTEM OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION OF VOTERS
AND VALIDATION OF REGISTRATION RECORDS IN THE NON-ARMM AREAS,
11 February 2011.
4
COMELEC Resolution No. 9542, IN THE MATTER OF ADOPTING GUIDELINES
FOR THE CONDUCT OF REGISTRATION OF VOTERS AND VALIDATION OF
REGISTRATION RECORDS IN THE NON-ARMM AREAS ON THE LAST DAY,
OCTOBER 31,2012, 25 October 2012.
8
25. The start of the 120-day prohibitive period for the 2013 national
elections is on January 13, 2013 and until May 12, 2013. Thus, the deadline for
the filing of application of registration of voters should be on January 12, 2013,
not October 31, 2012.
26. For purposes of the May 13, 2013 elections, the projected voting
population for the age group 18-22, those who are 18-22 years of age on May 13,
2013, is no more than 9,694,781, if the National Statistics Office (NSO) data on
the 2000 Census of Population is used as the baseline data.
27. Those who are 18 or 19 years of age at the time of the May 13, 2013
elections are necessarily first time registrants and voters in the May 13, 2013
elections.
28. Those who are only 17 years of age in 2010, and thereby ineligible to
register and vote for the May 2010 elections, shall turn 20 years of age in 2013
and are therefore first-time registrants and voters in the May 13, 2013 elections.
Those who are only 17 years of age at the time of the May 2010 elections, and
thereby ineligible to register and vote for the May 2010 elections, but shall turn 18
in 2010 but after the May 2010 elections shall turn 21 years of age in 2013, and
are therefore first-time registrants and voters in the May 13, 2013 elections.
29. However, petitioners have not knowledge that a public report on the
status of registration of first-time voter registrants has been done by the
COMELEC.
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b. According to media releases issued by respondent, the
number of processed first-time registrants and voters for
purposes of the May 10, 2010 elections may reach around
3 million or 3.1 million at the end of the October 31, 2009
deadline set by respondent.
c. The said figure – 3 million or 3.1 million – is almost one
(1) million short of respondent’s own estimate of four (4)
million first-time registrants and voters, and several millions
short of the NSO’s foregoing projected voting population
and estimated registered voters for purposes of the May 10,
2010 elections.
31. With the high volume of first-time registrants and voters expected for
the May 13, 2013 elections, the October 31, 2013 deadline set by respondent for
the filing of application of registration of voters provides is utterly insufficient to
accommodate first-time youth registrants and voters highly eager to participate in
the May 13, 2013 elections.
33. Thus, Resolution Nos. 9194 and 9542 have effectively deprived
millions of the voting population at least seventy (70) days of opportunity to
register provided to them by The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996, thereby
causing their disenfranchisement come May 13, 2013 elections.
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35. This went unheeded and the COMELEC appears keen on proceeding
with implementing its 31 October 2012 deadline.
DISCUSSION
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OF THE VOTER’S REGISTRATION ACT OF 1996 ON THE
SYSTEM OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION OF VOTERS IN
USURPATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER OF
CONGRESS.
36. The Resolution Nos. 9194 and 9542 are unconstitutional as the same
amended Section 8 of The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 on the system of
continuing registration of voters in usurpation of the legislative power of
Congress.
38. The foregoing provision is unequivocal and definite that “the filing of
application of registration of voters shall be conducted daily but no registration
shall be conducted during the period starting one hundred twenty (120) days
before a regular election and ninety (90) days before a special election.”
39. The start of the 120-day prohibitive period is on January 13, 2013 and
until May 12, 2013.
40. Thus, the last day for the filing of application of registration should
have been January 12, 2013 instead of October 31, 2013 laid down in the
assailed Resolutions, which is at least seventy (70) days less than that
prescribed by the statute.
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41. The prevailing case of Palatino vs. COMELEC provides clear guidance
to the respondent. The clear text of the law thus decrees that voters be allowed
to register daily during regular offices hours, except during the period starting 120
days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election.5
42. By the above provision, Congress itself has determined that the period
of 120 days before a regular election and 90 days before a special election is
enough time for the COMELEC to make ALL the necessary preparations with
respect to the coming elections including: (1) completion of project precincts,
which is necessary for the proper allocation of official ballots, election returns and
other election forms and paraphernalia; (2) constitution of the Board of Election
Inspectors, including the determination of the precincts to which they shall be
assigned; (3) finalizing the Computerized Voters List; (4) supervision of the
campaign period; and (5) preparation, bidding, printing and distribution of Voter’s
Information Sheet. Such determination of Congress is well within the ambit of its
legislative power, which this Court is bound to respect. And the COMELEC’s
rule-making power should be exercised in accordance with the prevailing law.6
43. On the other hand, respondent Comelec has issued the assailed
Resolutions based on its power to issue rules and regulations in the
implementation of election laws. Petitioners do not deny that respondent
Comelec has the power to issue rules and regulations for the filing of the
application of registration of voters.
44. However, the same prevailing case answers the stubborn position of
COMELEC on its power to issue rules and regulations in defiance of statute, to
wit –
5
Palatino v. COMELEC, G.R. No.189868, December 15, 2009.
6
Ibid.
13
Congress is presumed to know the existing laws on the
subject and not to enact inconsistent or conflicting
statutes.[10]
7
The Public Schools District Supervisors Association v. Hon. Edilberto C. De
Jesus, G.R. No. 157286, June 16, 2006.
14
45.2.The implementing rules cannot add to or detract from
the provisions of the law it is designed to implement.8
47. The line that delineates Legislative and Executive power is not
indistinct. Legislative power is “the authority, under the Constitution, to make
laws, and to alter and repeal them.” The Constitution, as the will of the people in
their original, sovereign and unlimited capacity, has vested this power in the
Congress of the Philippines. The grant of legislative power to Congress is broad,
general and comprehensive. The legislative body possesses plenary power for all
purposes of civil government. Any power, deemed to be legislative by usage and
tradition, is necessarily possessed by Congress, unless the Constitution has
lodged it elsewhere. In fine, except as limited by the Constitution, either expressly
or impliedly, legislative power embraces all subjects and extends to matters of
general concern or common interest. 9
8
The Honorable Secretary of Finance v. The Honorable Ricardo M. Ilarde, G.R.
No. 121782, May 9, 2005.
9
Ople v. Torres, G.R. No. 127685, July 23, 1998.
15
50. Indeed, if respondent Comelec were to be allowed to simply invoke
their “rule-making power” governing the filing of application of registration of
voters in the issuance and implementation of the assailed Resolution, the fate of
several millions of first-time youth registrants and voters in the May 10, 2010
elections who shall be disenfranchised of their basic right of suffrage shall be at
the mercy of respondent Comelec.
52. Thus, in view of the foregoing premises, it is clear that the assailed
Resolution is unconstitutional as the same has amended Section 8 of The Voter’s
Registration Act of 1996 on the system of continuing registration of voters in
usurpation of the legislative power of Congress.
10
Ibid.
16
53. The Resolution Nos. 9194 and 9542 fixing the deadline for the filing
of application of registration of voters on October 31, 2013 violated Section 8 of
The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996 prescribing that the filing of application of
registration of voters shall be conducted daily but prohibited during one hundred
twenty (120) days before a regular election, as October 31, 2013 is at least
seventy (70) days short of that prescribed by said statute, thereby causing the
disenfranchisement of millions of first-time registrants and voters that cannot be
accommodated by respondent Comelec as of October 31, 2012 for purposes of
the May 13, 2013 elections.
55. It has already been established that the period of one hundred
twenty (120) days starts from January 13, 2013 and ends on May 12, 2013, as
the regular election is on May 13, 2013.
56. Therefore, the deadline for the filing of the application of registration
should have been January 12, 2013, not the October 31, 2012 fixed in the
assailed Resolution.
57. Likewise, it has already been shown that the difference in the
number of days between October 31, 2013 and January 12, 2013 is at least
seventy (70) days taken away by respondent Comelec from several millions of
first-time youth registrants and voters that cannot be accommodated by
respondent Comelec as of October 31, 2013 for purposes of the May 13, 2013
elections.
58. There is no doubt that, indeed, the assailed Resolution violates the
foregoing Section 8 of The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996. The assailed
Resolution indubitably does not provide for the proper and correct
implementation of the system of continuing registration of voters, as it prescribes
a period different and way earlier than is commanded under the statute.
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59. Verily, the assailed Resolutions have effectively deprived millions of
the voting population at least seventy (70) days of opportunity to register
provided to them by The Voter’s Registration Act of 1996, thereby causing their
disenfranchisement come May 13, 2013 elections.
PRAYER
Petitioners likewise pray for such other reliefs as are just and equitable
under the circumstances.
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RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.
Quezon City for Manila, 31 October 2012.
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