Gonzales v Commission on Elections

21 SCRA 774
November 9, 1967

FACTS: Petitioner challenges the validity of Republic Act 4913, providing amendments to the
Constitution proposed in R.B.H Nos. 1, 2, and 3, approval by the people, at the general elections which
shall be held on November 14, 1967.

ISSUE: Whether the submission of certain proposed constitutional amendments at a plebiscite

scheduled on the same day as the regular elections was valid.

RULING: There is nothing in Article XV of the 1935 Constitution which indicates that the election therein
referred to is a special, and not general. The circumstance that the previous amendment to the
Constitution had been submitted to the people for ratification in special elections merely shows that
Congress deemed it best to do so under the circumstances then obtaining. It does not negate its
authority to submit proposed amendments for ratification in general elections.