ELECTION LAW: MIRIAM DEFENSOR–SANTIAGO

versus FIDEL RAMOS (253 SCRA 559)

MIRIAM DEFENSOR – SANTIAGO versus FIDEL RAMOS (253 SCRA 559)

Facts:
The protestant, Miriam Defensor-Santiago ran for presidency and lost in the May 1992
election. In her Motion on the 16th day of August in the year 1995, reiterated in her
comment of the 29th of August of the same year, protestant Defensor-Santiago prayed
that the revision in the remaining precincts of the pilot areas be dispensed with and
the revision process in the pilot areas be deemed computed.

The Court deferred action on the motion and required, instead, the protestant and
protestee to submit their respective memoranda. Hence, this petition.

Issue:
Whether or not the election protest filed by Defensor-Santiago is moot and academic
by her election as a Senator in the May 1995 election and her assumption of office as
such on the 30th of June in the year 1995.

Held:
YES. The Court held that the election protest filed by Santiago has been abandoned or
considered withdrawn as a consequence of her election and assumption of office as
Senator and her discharge of the duties and functions thereof.

The protestant abandoned her “determination to protest and pursue the public
interest involved in the matter of who is the real choice of the electorate.

Moreover, the dismissal of this protest would serve public interest as it would
dissipate the aura of uncertainty as to the results of the 1992 presidential elections,
thereby enhancing the all too crucial political stability of the nation during this period
of national recovery.

Also, the PET issued a resolution ordering the protestant to inform the PET within 10
days if after the completion of the revision of the ballots from her pilot areas, she
still wishes to present evidence. Since DS has not informed the Tribunal of any such
intention, such is a manifest indication that she no longer intends to do so.