Sebastian vs com
EN BANC
[G.R. Nos. 139573-75. March 7, 2000]
JUNE GENEVIEVE R. SEBASTIAN, and DARIO ROMANO, petitioners, vs.
THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, THE MUNICIPAL BOARD OF
CANVASSERS OF STO. TOMAS, DAVAO DEL NORTE (Jandelie B.
Espaola, Liza D. Baco, and Valentin Gador), SALVADOR ROYO, and ERIC
ESTELA, respondents.
DECISION
QUISUMBING, J.:
Before us is a petition for certiorari seeking the annulment of the Resolution
issued by respondent Commission on Elections, in SPC Nos. 98-129, 98-142,
and 98-169, on August 24, 1999, allowing the inclusion in the canvass of
votes in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, of 25 election returns which petitioners
claimed to have been prepared through threats and undue influence. Said
resolution reversed an earlier resolution of the COMELEC Second Division
excluding the questioned election returns from the canvass of votes.
Petitioners likewise seek the issuance of a temporary restraining order to
enjoin the Municipal Board of Canvassers of Sto. Tomas from continuing with
the canvassing of votes and including therein the contested election returns.
The antecedent facts are as follows:
Petitioner June Genevieve Sebastian was the mayoralty candidate of the
Reporma Party in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte, during the May 11, 1998
elections. Petitioner Dario Romano was her running mate. Private respondent
Salvador Royo was the mayoralty candidate of the Lakas-NUCD-UMDP, while
private respondent Eric Estela was his candidate for vice mayor.
On election day, as the Municipal Board of Canvassers was preparing to
canvass the election returns, petitioners sought the exclusion from the
canvass of several election returns from certain precincts in barangays
Kimamon, New Katipunan, Lunga-og, Balagunan, Pantaron, and Tibal-og.
Petitioners claimed that the election returns from these areas were prepared
[1]
under "extreme duress, threat, intimidation and political pressure and
influence." Petitioners also manifested that four election returns were
[2]
missing.
The Municipal Board of Canvassers denied the petition, prompting petitioners
to file three separate appeals with the COMELEC, docketed as SPC No. 98-
129, SPC No. 98-142, and SPC No. 98-169.
The COMELEC First Division dismissed the appeal docketed as SPC No. 98-
129 on July 15, 1998. No motion for reconsideration was filed by petitioners
as appellants therein, thus, the dismissal became final and executory on July
30, 1998.[3]
Meanwhile, the COMELEC Second Division, ruling on the remaining
consolidated appeals in a decision promulgated on August 14, 1998, ruled in
favor of petitioners and ordered the exclusion of 25 election returns from the
canvass of votes in Sto. Tomas.
On August 18, 1998, private respondent Royo filed a motion for
reconsideration of said resolution. The COMELEC en banc, as earlier stated,
reversed the ruling of the COMELEC Second Division.
Hence, this petition, in which petitioners assign the following errors:
THE HONORABLE COMMISSION COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE
OF DISCRETION AMOUNTING TO LACK OR EXCESS OF
JURISDICTION WHEN IT DISREGARDED THE DOCTRINE
ENUNCIATED BY THE HONORABLE SUPREME COURT IN
THE LEADING CASE OF ANTONIO vs. COMELEC, G.R. NO. L-
31604, APRIL 17, 1970 IN THE DISPOSITION OF THE INSTANT
CASE;
THE HONORABLE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS
COMMITTED A GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION AMOUNTING
TO LACK OR EXCESS OF JURISDICTION WHEN IT
UNILATERALLY DISREGARDED THE OVERWHELMING
EVIDENCE OF COERCION, UNDUE INFLUENCE, EXTREME
PRESSURE, THREAT, INTIMIDATION AS WELL AS ALL THE
ENVIRONMENTAL CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ATTENDED THE
PREPARATION, TRANSMISSION, RECEIPT, CUSTODY AND
APPRECIATION OF THE TWENTY-FIVE CONTESTED
RETURNS. [4]
Petitioners concede that, when the election returns appear to be regular,
authentic, and duly accomplished on their face, the COMELEC need not
inquire into allegations of irregularities in the casting or counting of votes.
However, petitioners question the COMELECs alleged failure to consider
[5]
what they claim to be evidence of undue influence, extreme pressure, threat,
and coercion that attended the preparation, transmission, custody and
appreciation by the Board of Election Inspectors of the contested election
returns. These, according to petitioners, affected the regularity, due execution,
and authenticity of the election returns.
[6]
Petitioners also fault the COMELEC for not taking into account the
atmosphere prevailing during the elections at Sto. Tomas, which they claim to
be similar to the circumstances obtaining in the case of Antonio v. COMELEC,
(32 SCRA 319 [1970]). In that case, returns prepared by election inspectors
under threats from armed men were excluded from the canvass of votes in
Batanes.
For its part, the COMELEC pointed out that it could not justifiably exclude from
the canvass of votes, in a pre-proclamation controversy, election returns that
on their face appear regular. A pre-proclamation controversy is limited to the
examination of incomplete, falsified, or materially defective returns, which
appear as such on their face. Where the issues raised would require the
COMELEC to look beyond the face of the return, the proper remedy is a
regular election protest.
[7]
It is worth noting that petitioners do not claim that the returns themselves are
not regular, genuine or authentic. Petitioners admit that the alleged fraud,
deceit, and intimidation came from external sources, and, therefore, not
manifest on the face of the returns. The alleged fraudulent scheme was
designed, according to petitioners, precisely to avoid detection on the face of
the returns.
[8]
What petitioners assert is that the preparation of the returns had been marred
by undue influence and intimidation, thus affecting their regularity, due
execution and authenticity. Petitioners argue that this justifies the examination
of circumstances beyond the face of the returns.
We find this argument untenable.
This petition stemmed from a pre-proclamation controversy. In a long line of
cases, we have consistently held that a pre-proclamation controversy is
limited to an examination of the election returns on their face. The COMELEC
[9]
as a general rule need not go beyond the face of the returns and investigate
alleged election irregularities. We see no reason to depart from this rule in
[10]
this petition. In our view, there is no exceptional circumstance present in this
controversy similar to that proved in the Antonio case, aforecited, where the
COMELEC as well as the Court found "precipitate canvassing, terrorism, lack
of sufficient notice to the Board, and disregard of manifest irregularities in the
face of the questioned returns" to justify the summary annulment of the
[11]
canvass and the annulment of petitioner Antonios proclamation. Rather, we
are guided here by the holding of the Court in the case of Matalam, in
Maguindanao, where it is said:
"...Because what [petitioner] is asking for necessarily postulates a
full reception of evidence aliunde and the meticulous examination
of voluminous election documents, it is clearly anathema to a pre-
proclamation controversy which, by its very nature, is to be heard
summarily and decided on as promptly as possible." [12]
To require the COMELEC to examine the circumstances surrounding the
preparation of election returns would run counter to the rule that a pre-
proclamation controversy should be summarily decided. [13]
In Sison v. COMELEC, we ruled that:
[14]
"The reason underlying the delimination both of substantive
ground and procedure is the policy of the election law that pre-
proclamation controversies should be summarily decided,
consistent with the laws desire that the canvass and proclamation
be delayed as little as possible. That is why such questions which
require more deliberate and necessarily longer consideration, are
left for examination in the corresponding election protest."
Where the resolution of the issues raised would require the COMELEC to
"pierce the veil" of election returns that appear prima facie regular, the remedy
is a regular election protest, [15]
"...wherein the parties may litigate all the legal and factual issues
raised by them in as much detail as they may deem necessary or
appropriate." [16]
Here, we note favorably the position taken by the Office of the Solicitor
General. Petitioners have not demonstrated precisely how the preparation and
appreciation of election returns were adversely affected by, as alleged by
petitioners, "harassments of petitioners supporters," "midnight convoys of
armed men riding in motorcycles," and "raids by the military in different
houses" in Sto. Tomas. We are constrained to agree with the OSGs
submission that on the basis of our holding in Salih v. COMELEC, 279 SCRA
19, respondent COMELEC herein "could not justifiably exclude said returns on
the occasion of a pre-proclamation controversy whose office is limited to
incomplete, falsified or materially defective returns which appear as such on
their face."
[17]
Nor could we fault public respondents herein for grave abuse of discretion in
refusing petitioners call to exclude election returns they claim as the product
of coercion and falsification, even if they appear clean on their face. For
respondent COMELEC had conducted hearings on the matter, where
petitioners and other parties concerned had submitted affidavits and
presented witnesses. The COMELEC found, however, that the evidence
presented by petitioners failed to prove convincingly that the assailed returns
were tainted by duress. Contrary to petitioners claim, NAMFREL volunteers
and the Poll Watchers in the area attested that the election activities therein
were generally peaceful. Even the Board of Election Inspectors themselves
swore nobody threatened or coerced them in the performance of their duties,
and that the elections in their area were peaceful, honest and orderly. Given
these factual circumstances, which could not be deemed evidently self-
serving on its part, respondent COMELEC could not have prudently and fairly
excluded the assailed returns. The better part of discretion in so delicate a
matter is to await the filing of the appropriate action, like a regular election
protest, if the petitioners were so minded to pursue the proper remedy, rather
than delay the determination of the popular will.
WHEREFORE, the petition is DISMISSED, and the resolution of the
COMELEC en banc in SPC No. 98-129, SPC No. 98-142, and SPC No. 98-
169 is hereby AFFIRMED.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., C.J., Bellosillo, Melo, Puno, Vitug, Kapunan, Mendoza,
Panganiban, Purisima, Buena, Gonzaga-Reyes, Ynares-Santiago, and De
Leon, Jr., JJ. concur.
