Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2010 > October 2010 Decisions > G.R. No. 191938 : October 19, 2010 ABRAHAM KAHLIL B. MITRA, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, ANTONIO V. GONZALES and ORLANDO R. BALBON, JR., Respondents.cralaw:





 

EN BANC

G.R. No. 191938 : October 19, 2010

ABRAHAM KAHLIL B. MITRA, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, ANTONIO V. GONZALES and ORLANDO R. BALBON, JR., Respondents.cralaw

R E S O L U T I O N

BRION, J.:

We resolve the Motion for Reconsideration1cra1aw filed by public respondent Commission on Elections (COMELEC) and the Motion for Reconsideration with Motion for Oral Arguments2cra1aw filed by private respondents Antonio V. Gonzales and Orlando R. Balbon, Jr. (private respondents), dated July 19, 2010 and July 20, 2010, respectively, addressing our Decision of July 2, 20103cra1aw (July 2, 2010 Decision or Decision). We annulled in this Decision the February 10, 2010 and May 4, 2010 Resolutions of the COMELEC, and denied the private respondents petition to cancel the Certificate of Candidacy (COC) of petitioner Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra (Mitra).

The Assailed Ruling

To recall its highlights, our Decision emphasized that despite our limited certiorari jurisdiction in election cases, we are not only obliged but are constitutionally bound to intervene when the COMELECs action on the appreciation and evaluation of evidence oversteps the limits of its discretion in this case, a situation where resulting errors, arising from the grave abuse committed by the COMELEC, mutated from being errors of judgment to errors of jurisdiction. Based on our evaluation of the evidence presented by both parties, we found that Mitra did not commit any deliberate material misrepresentation in his COC. We noted, too, that the COMELEC gravely abused its discretion in its appreciation of the evidence, leading it to conclude that Mitra is not a resident of Aborlan, Palawan. We also found that the COMELEC failed to critically consider whether Mitra deliberately attempted to mislead, misinform or hide a fact that would otherwise render him ineligible for the position of Governor of Palawan.

On the critical question of whether Mitra deliberately misrepresented his Aborlan residence to deceive and mislead the people of the Province of Palawan, we found that Mitra did not. In fact, Mitra adduced positive evidence of transfer of residence which the private respondents evidence failed to sufficiently controvert. Specifically, the private respondents evidence failed to show that Mitra remained a Puerto Princesa City resident.

In this regard, we took note of the "incremental moves" Mitra undertook to establish his new domicile in Aborlan, as evidenced by the following: (1) his expressed intent to transfer to a residence outside of Puerto Princesa City to make him eligible for a provincial position; (2) his preparatory moves starting in early 2008; (3) the transfer of registration as a voter in March 2009; (4) his initial transfer through a leased dwelling at Maligaya Feedmill; (5) the purchase of a lot for his permanent home; and (6) the construction of a house on the said lot which is adjacent to the premises he was leasing pending the completion of his house. Thus, we found that under the situation prevailing when Mitra filed his COC, there is no reason to infer that Mitra committed any misrepresentation, whether inadvertently or deliberately, in claiming residence in Aborlan. We also emphasized that the COMELEC could not even present any legally acceptable basis (as it used subjective non-legal standards in its analysis) to conclude that Mitras statement in his COC concerning his residence was indeed a misrepresentation. In sum, we concluded that the evidence in the present case, carefully reviewed, showed that Mitra indeed transfered his residence from Puerto Princesa City to Aborlan within the period required by law.

The Motions for Reconsideration

In its Motion for Reconsideration dated July 19, 2010, the COMELEC, through the Office of the Solicitor General, asks us to reconsider our July 2, 2010 Decision on the sole ground that:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

THIS HONORABLE COURT ERRED WHEN IT REVIEWED THE PROBATIVE VALUE OF THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED AND SUBSTITUTED ITS OWN FACTUAL FINDINGS OVER THAT OF [THE] PUBLIC RESPONDENT.4chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The COMELEC argues that we overstepped our review power over its factual findings; as a specialized constitutional body, the findings and conclusions of the COMELEC are generally respected and even given the status of finality. The COMELEC also contends that the Court erred in taking cognizance of the present petition since the issues raised therein are essentially factual in nature. It claims that it is elementary that the extraordinary remedy of certiorari is limited to correcting questions of law and that the factual issues raised in the present petition are not appropriate for a petition for review on certiorari.

On the merits, the COMELEC submits that there is substantial, if not overwhelming, evidence that Mitra is not a resident of Aborlan, Palawan. It argues that it merely took cognizance of Mitras purported dwellings "habitableness," or lack thereof, to determine the fact of residency; while Mitra may have exhibited his intention to transfer his domicile, the fact of actual residency was lacking.

For their part, the private respondents raise the following errors in support of their Motion for Reconsideration with Motion for Oral Arguments dated July 20, 2010, viz:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

I.

THE MAJORITY ERRED IN EXERCISING THIS HONORABLE COURTS LIMITED CERTIORARI JURISDICTION EVEN WHEN THE PETITION, ON ITS FACE, FAILED TO SHOW HOW THE COMELEC COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION.

II.

THE MAJORITY ERRED IN CONCLUDING THAT THE COMELEC COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION BY USING SUBJECTIVE AND NON-LEGAL STANDARDS IN ASSESSING THE EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY MITRA.

III.

GRANTING WITHOUT ADMITTING THAT THE COMELEC COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION IN ONE ASPECT OF ITS RESOLUTION, THE SUPREME COURT SHOULD NONETHELESS CONSIDER WHETHER THE OTHER EVIDENCE SUBMITTED ARE ENOUGH TO SUSTAIN THE RULING OF THE COMELEC.

A.

THE QUANTUM OF EVIDENCE NECESSARY TO OVERTURN THE FINDINGS OF FACTS OF THE COMELEC SHOULD BE CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE. WHEN THE EVIDENCE OF [THE] PETITIONER ARE UNSUBSTANTIATED AND CONTROVERTED, THE SAME FAILS TO REACH THE QUANTUM OF PROOF NECESSARY TO SUBSTITUTE THE FINDINGS OF THE COMELEC.

IV.

THE MAJORITY ERRED IN FOCUSING ON THE COMELECS OPINION REGARDING THE PHOTOGRAPHS SUBMITTED BY MITRA OF HIS SUPPOSED RESIDENCE, WHILE TOTALLY DISREGARDING OTHER EVIDENCE SUBMITTED BY THE PRIVATE RESPONDENTS AND CONSIDERED BY THE COMELEC.

A.

THE MAJORITY ERRED IN DISREGARDING THE EFFECTIVITY OF THE CONTRACT OF LEASE WHICH SHOWS THAT THE SAME IS ONLY UP TO 28 FEBRUARY 2010.

B.

THE MAJORITY ERRED IN DISREGARDING EVIDENCE WHICH SHOW THAT MITRA FAILED TO ABANDON HIS DOMICILE OF ORIGIN.

V.

THE MAJORITY ERRED IN HOLDING THAT MITRA HAD TRANSFERRED HIS RESIDENCE FROM HIS DOMICILE OF ORIGIN IN PUERTO PRINCESA CITY TO HIS DOMICILE OF CHOICE IN ABORLAN, IN AN INCREMENTAL PROCESS.

VI.

THE MAJORITY ERRED IN HOLDING THAT MITRA DID NOT COMMIT ANY DELIBERATE MATERIAL MISREPRESENTATION IN HIS COC.

A.

THE MATERIAL STATEMENT IN PETITIONERS COC RESPECTING HIS RESIDENCE HAS BEEN SHOWN TO BE FALSE. BY MAKING SUCH FALSE STATEMENT, PETITIONER DELIBERATELY TRIED TO MISLEAD AND TO MISINFORM THE ELECTORATE AS TO HIS ACTUAL RESIDENCE. HENCE, HIS COC WAS CORRECTLY DENIED DUE COURSE AND CANCELLED.

B.

THE MAJORITY ERRED IN EXONERATING MITRA FROM THE VIOLATION OF A MANDATORY PROVISION OF LAW WHICH ENTAILS BOTH ADMINISTRATIVE AND CRIMINAL LIABILITIES BY INVOKING THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW WHERE SUCH RESORT IS NOT CALLED FOR IN VIEW OF THE GIVEN FACTS AND EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN THIS CASE.

VII.

JURISPRUDENCE RELIED ON BY THE MAJORITY IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE PRESENT CASE.

A.

THE CASE OF TORAYNO V. COMELEC IS NOT APPLICABLE TO THE PRESENT CASE.

B.

THE CASE OF ASISTIO V. TRINIDAD PE-AGUIRRE IS LIKEWISE NOT APPLICABLE TO THE PRESENT CASE.

C.

THE CASE OF VELASCO SHOULD BE APPLIED STRICTLY TO THE PRESENT CASE.5chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Our Ruling

We resolve to deny, for lack of merit, the motions for reconsideration and for oral arguments.

We note at the outset that the COMELEC and private respondents arguments are mere rehashes of their previous submissions; they are the same arguments addressing the issues we already considered and passed upon in our July 2, 2010 Decision. Thus, both the COMELEC and private respondents failed to raise any new and substantial argument meriting reconsideration. The denial of the motion for oral arguments proceeds from this same reasoning; mere reiterations of the parties original submissions on issues our Decision has sufficiently covered, without more, do not merit the time, effort and attention that an oral argument shall require.

Having said these, we shall still proceed to discuss the aspects of the case the motions touched upon, if only to put an end to lingering doubts on the correctness of our July 2, 2010 Decision.

First, both the COMELEC and the private respondents posit that the Court improperly exercised its limited certiorari jurisdiction; they theorize that Mitras petition failed to allege and show errors of jurisdiction or grave abuse of discretion on the part of the COMELEC. They also stress that the Court should respect and consider the COMELECs findings of fact to be final and non-reviewable.

The COMELECs submission in this regard that the extraordinary remedy of certiorari is limited to corrections of questions of law and that the factual issues raised in the present petition are not appropriate for a petition for review on certiorari is wholly erroneous. This submission appears to have confused the standards of the Courts power of review under Rule 65 and Rule 45 of the Rules of Court, leading the COMELEC to grossly misread the import of Mitras petition before the Court.

To recall, Mitra brought his case before us via a petition for certiorari, pursuant to Section 2, Rule 64, in relation to Rule 65, of the Rules of Court. Thus, in our July 2, 2010 Decision, we emphasized that our review (under the Rule 65 standard of grave abuse of discretion, and not under the Rule 45 question of law standard) is based on a very limited ground, i.e., on the jurisdictional issue of whether the COMELEC acted without or in excess of its jurisdiction, or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction.

The basis for the Courts review of COMELEC rulings under the standards of Rule 65 of the Rules of Court is Section 7, Article IX-A of the Constitution which provides that "[U]nless otherwise provided by [the] Constitution or by law, any decision, order, or ruling of each Commission may be brought to the Supreme Court on certiorari by the aggrieved party within thirty days from receipt of a copy thereof." For this reason, the Rules of Court provide for a separate rule (Rule 64) specifically applicable only to decisions of the COMELEC and the Commission on Audit. This Rule expressly refers to the application of Rule 65 in the filing of a petition for certiorari, subject to the exception clause "except as hereinafter provided."6chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

In Aratuc v. Commission on Elections7cra1aw and Dario v. Mison,8cra1aw the Court construed the above-cited constitutional provision as relating to the special civil action for certiorari under Rule 65 (although with a different reglementary period for filing) and not to an appeal by certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. Thus, Section 2 of Rule 64 of the Rules of Court now clearly specifies that the mode of review is the special civil action of certiorari under Rule 65, except as therein provided. In Ocate v. Commission on Elections,9cra1aw we further held that:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

The purpose of a petition for certiorari is to determine whether the challenged tribunal has acted without or in excess of its jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction. Thus, any resort to a petition for certiorari under Rule 64 in relation to Rule 65 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure is limited to the resolution of jurisdictional issues.

The COMELEC should likewise be aware that the Constitution itself,10cra1aw in defining judicial power, pointedly states that

Judicial power includes the duty of the courts of justice to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and enforceable, and to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentality of the Government.

This provision, more than anything else, identifies the power and duty of this Court in grave abuse of discretion situations, and differentiates this authority from the power of review by appeal that Rule 45 of the Rules of Court defines.

Based on these considerations, we cannot accept the COMELECs position that patently confuses the mode of review in election cases under Rules 64 and 65 of the Rules of Court, with the appellate review that Rule 45 of the same Rules provides.

We likewise reject the COMELEC and the private respondents proposition that the Court erred in exercising its limited certiorari jurisdiction. Although the COMELEC is admittedly the final arbiter of all factual issues as the Constitution11cra1aw and the Rules of Court12cra1aw provide, we stress that in the presence of grave abuse of discretion, our constitutional duty is to intervene and not to shy away from intervention simply because a specialized agency has been given the authority to resolve the factual issues.

As we emphasized in our Decision, we have in the past recognized exceptions to the general rule that the Court ordinarily does not review in a certiorari case the COMELECs appreciation and evaluation of evidence. One such exception is when the COMELECs appreciation and evaluation of evidence go beyond the limits of its discretion to the point of being grossly unreasonable. In this situation, we are duty bound under the Constitution to intervene and correct COMELEC errors that, because of the attendant grave abuse of discretion, have mutated into errors of jurisdiction.

Our Decision clearly pointed out Mitras submissions and arguments on grave abuse of discretion, namely, that the COMELEC failed to appreciate that the case is a cancellation of a COC proceeding and that the critical issue is the presence of deliberate false material representation to deceive the electorate. In fact, Mitras petition plainly argued that the COMELECs grave abuse of discretion was patent when it failed to consider that the ground to deny a COC is deliberate false representation. We completely addressed this issue and, in the process, analyzed the reasoning in the assailed COMELEC decision. At every step, we found that the COMELEC committed grave abuse of discretion in the appreciation of the evidence.

Second, the private respondents contend that the COMELEC did not use subjective non-legal standards (i.e., interior decoration of the room) in arriving at its decision; it merely stated how it perceived Mitras alleged residence. The private respondents additionally claim that the quantum of evidence necessary to overturn the findings of the COMELEC should be clear and convincing evidence, which level of evidence does not obtain in the present case.

The assailed COMELEC ruling speaks for itself on the matter of the standards the COMELEC used. We found that the COMELEC plainly used a subjective non-legal standard in its analysis and thereby, the COMELEC used wrong considerations in arriving at the conclusion that Mitras residence at the Maligaya Feedmill is not the residence contemplated by law.

We reiterate that the COMELEC based its ruling that Mitra did not take up residence in Aborlan largely on the photographs of Mitras Aborlan premises; it concluded that the photographed premises could not have been a residence because of its assessment of the interior design and furnishings of the room. Thus, the COMELEC Second Divisions Resolution (which the COMELEC en banc fully supported) did not merely conclude that Mitra does not live in the photographed premises; more than this, it ruled that these premises cannot be considered a home or a residence, for lack of the qualities of a home that the Second Division wanted to see. To quote:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

The pictures presented by Mitra of his supposed "residence" are telling. The said pictures show a small, sparsely furnished room which is evidently unlived in and which is located on the second floor of a structure that appears like a factory or a warehouse. These pictures likewise show that the "residence" appears hastily set-up, cold, and utterly devoid of any [personality] which would have imprinted Mitras personality thereto such as old family photographs and memorabilia collected through the years. In fact, an appreciation of Mitras supposed "residence" raises doubts whether or not he indeed lives there. Verily, what is lacking therein are the loving attention and details inherent in every home to make it ones residence. Perhaps, at most, and to this Commissions mind, this small room could have served as Mitras resting area whenever he visited the said locality but nothing more.

This observation coupled with the numerous statements from former employees and customers of Maligaya Feed Mill and Farm that Mitras residence is located in an unsavory location, considering the noise and pollution of being in a factory area, and that the same, in fact, had been Maligaya Feed Mills office just a few months back, militates against Mitras claim that the same has been his residence since early 2008. These information make it clear to this Commission that this room is not a home.13chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Thus presented, the COMELECs requirement of what should be considered a "residence" cannot but be a highly subjective one that finds no basis in law, in jurisprudence, or even in fact.

Third, we cannot likewise agree with the private respondents theory that the quantum of evidence necessary to overturn the factual findings of the COMELEC should be clear and convincing evidence, as it misappreciates that we nullified the COMELECs findings because it used the wrong considerations in arriving at its conclusions.

The private respondents fail to realize that the important considerations in the present case relate to questions bearing on the cancellation of the COC that they prayed for; the main critical points are the alleged deliberate misrepresentation by Mitra and the underlying question of his residency in Aborlan, Palawan.

While it is undisputed that Mitras domicile of origin is Puerto Princesa City, Mitra adequately proved by substantial evidence that he transferred by incremental process to Aborlan beginning 2008, and concluded his transfer in early 2009. As our Decision discussed and as repeated elsewhere in this Resolution, the private respondents failed to establish by sufficiently convincing evidence that Mitra did not effectively transfer, while the COMELEC not only grossly misread the evidence but even used the wrong considerations in appreciating the submitted evidence.

To convince us of their point of view, the private respondents point out that we (1) totally disregarded the other evidence they submitted, which the COMELEC, on the other hand, properly considered; (2) disregarded the import of the effectivity of the lease contract, which showed that it was only effective until February 28, 2010; and (3) disregarded the evidence showing that Mitra failed to abandon his domicile of origin.

These issues are not new issues; we extensively and thoroughly considered and resolved them in our July 2, 2010 Decision. At this point, we only need to address some of the private respondents misleading points in order to clear the air.

1. The private respondents reliance on the expiration date of the lease contract, to disprove Mitras claim that the room at the Maligaya Feedmill is his residence, is misplaced. This argument is flimsy since the contract did not provide that it was completely and fully time-barred and was only up to February 28, 2010; it was renewable at the option of the parties. That a lease is fixed for a one-year term is a common practice. What is important is that it is renewable at the option of the parties. In the absence of any objection from the parties, the lease contract simply continues and is deemed renewed.14chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

2. In an attempt to show that Mitra considers himself a resident of Puerto Princesa City, the private respondents submitted in their Motion for Reconsideration a colored certified true copy of Mitras alleged Puerto Princesa City Community Tax Certificate (CTC) dated February 3, 200915cra1aw allegedly showing Mitras signature. To recall, we found that based on the records before us, the purported February 3, 2009 CTC did not bear the signature of Mitra. Although the private respondents have belatedly filed this evidence, we carefully examined the recently submitted colored copy of the February 3, 2009 CTC and saw no reason to reverse our finding; the "alleged signature" appears to us to be a mere hazy "superimposition" that does not bear any resemblance at all to Mitras signature. We, thus, stand by our ruling that the February 3, 2009 CTC, if at all, carries very little evidentiary value. It did it not at all carry Mitras signature; his secretarys positive testimony that she secured the CTC for Mitra, without the latters participation and knowledge, still stands unrefuted.

3. The private respondents likewise belatedly submitted a Certification, dated July 17, 2010,16cra1aw from the Municipal Agriculturist of Aborlan, stating that its office does not have any record of the supposed pineapple plantation in Barangay Isaub, Aborlan, Palawan. This late submission was made to show that Mitra has no established business interests in Aborlan. The Certification pertinently states:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

This is to certify that as of this date, there is no existing records/registration in our office regarding the alleged pineapple plantation in Barangay Isaub, Aborlan, Palawan. However, the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist is on the process of gathering data on the Master list of Farmers engaged in growing High Value Commercial Crops in Aborlan.

This certification is issued to MR. BENJAMIN KATON a resident in Penida Subdivision, Puerto Princesa City for whatever legal purposes may serve him best.

We cannot give any evidentiary value to this submission for two reasons. First, it was filed only on reconsideration stage and was not an evidence before us when the case was submitted for resolution. Second, even if it had not been filed late, the Certification does not prove anything; it is, on its face, contradictory. On the one hand, it categorically states that there are no existing records of any pineapple plantation in Barangay Isaub, Aborlan, Palawan; on the other hand, it also expressly states that its records are not yet complete since it is "on the process of gathering data on the Master list of Farmers engaged in growing High Value Commercial Crops in Aborlan."17cra1aw Under what law or regulation the certifying office has the obligation to prepare a list of agricultural business interests in Aborlan has not even been alleged.

At the risk of repetition, we reiterate that Mitras business interests in Aborlan stand undisputed in the present case. Not only was Mitra able to present photographs of his experimental pineapple plantation; his claim of ownership was also corroborated by the statements of Dr. Carme Caspe, Ricardo Temple and other witnesses.

4. The private respondents also claim that the Court erred in ruling that Mitra did not commit any deliberate material misrepresentation in his COC. We likewise see no merit in this claim. One important point in the present case is that the private respondents failed to prove that there was deliberate material misrepresentation in Mitras statement on his required residency prior to the May 10, 2010 elections. This, as we stressed in our Decision, is a glaring gap in the private respondents case:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

We do not believe that he committed any deliberate misrepresentation given what he knew of his transfer, as shown by the moves he had made to carry it out. From the evidentiary perspective, we hold that the evidence confirming residence in Aborlan decidedly tilts in Mitras favor; even assuming the worst for Mitra, the evidence in his favor cannot go below the level of an equipoise, i.e., when weighed, Mitras evidence of transfer and residence in Aborlan cannot be overcome by the respondents evidence that he remained a Puerto Princesa City resident. Under the situation prevailing when Mitra filed his COC, we cannot conclude that Mitra committed any misrepresentation, much less a deliberate one, about his residence.

The character of Mitras representation before the COMELEC is an aspect of the case that the COMELEC completely failed to consider as it focused mainly on the character of Mitras feedmill residence. For this reason, the COMELEC was led into error one that goes beyond an ordinary error of judgment. By failing to take into account whether there had been a deliberate misrepresentation in Mitras COC, the COMELEC committed the grave abuse of simply assuming that an error in the COC was necessarily a deliberate falsity in a material representation. In this case, it doubly erred because there was no falsity; as the carefully considered evidence shows, Mitra did indeed transfer his residence within the period required by Section 74 of the OEC.

The respondents significantly ask us in this case to adopt the same faulty approach of using subjective norms, as they now argue that given his stature as a member of the prominent Mitra clan of Palawan, and as a three term congressman, it is highly incredible that a small room in a feed mill has served as his residence since 2008.

We reject this suggested approach outright for the same reason we condemned the COMELECs use of subjective non-legal standards. Mitras feed mill dwelling cannot be considered in isolation and separately from the circumstances of his transfer of residence, specifically, his expressed intent to transfer to a residence outside of Puerto Princesa City to make him eligible to run for a provincial position; his preparatory moves starting in early 2008; his initial transfer through a leased dwelling; the purchase of a lot for his permanent home; and the construction of a house in this lot that, parenthetically, is adjacent to the premises he leased pending the completion of his house. These incremental moves do not offend reason at all, in the way that the COMELECs highly subjective non-legal standards do.

Thus, we can only conclude, in the context of the cancellation proceeding before us, that the respondents have not presented a convincing case sufficient to overcome Mitras evidence of effective transfer to and residence in Aborlan and the validity of his representation on this point in his COC, while the COMELEC could not even present any legally acceptable basis to conclude that Mitras statement in his COC regarding his residence was a misrepresentation.18chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

5. The private respondents submit that the Court erred in relying on jurisprudence (Torayno, Sr. v. COMELEC19cra1aw and Asistio v. Hon. Trinidad Pe-Aguirre20cra1aw ) not applicable to the present case. They additionally argue that our ruling in Velasco v. COMELEC21cra1aw should be applied strictly to the present case.

These submissions are wrong, as they do not consider the purposes and the specific points of law for which we cited these cases. Torayno, Asistio and Velasco, read in their proper perspective, fully support our findings and conclusions in this case.

While Torayno does not share the exact factual situation in the present case, we cited the case to illustrate that it is not unknown in this jurisdiction to have a situation where a candidate, due to legal developments (such as reclassification of a component city to a highly urbanized city), is compelled to transfer residence to allow him to continue his or her public service in another political unit that he or she cannot legally access as a candidate, without a change of residence. In the present case, as in Torayno, Mitra would not have had any legal obstacle to his gubernatorial bid were it not for the reclassification of Puerto Princesa City from a component city to a highly urbanized city. The adjustment he had to make was solely in his residence, as he already had, as a Puerto Princesa City resident, knowledge of and sensitivity to the needs of the Palawan electorate.

The factual antecedents of Asistio are likewise not exactly the same as the facts of the present case, but the Courts treatment of the COC inaccuracies in Asistio fully supports our conclusion that Mitra has established his Aborlan domicile. In Asistio, we held that Asistios mistake in his residency statement in his COC "is not sufficient proof that he has abandoned his domicile in Caloocan City, or that he has established residence outside of Caloocan City."22cra1aw In the present case, Mitra did not commit any inaccuracies in his COC. In fact, any inaccuracy there may have been was committed by third persons on documents (such as the building permit, contract of sale of the Temple property, and his CTC) that do not have any bearing on his candidacy. Under these circumstances, we would apply a harsher rule to Mitra if we conclude that he has not established his Aborlan domicile.

Our July 2, 2010 Decision finds commonality with our ruling in Velasco in the recognition, in both cases, of the rule of law. But as we explained in our Decision, the similarity ends there as the facts to which the law was applied differed. We thus ruled:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

These cases are to be distinguished from the case of Velasco v. COMELEC where the COMELEC cancelled the COC of Velasco, a mayoralty candidate, on the basis of his undisputed knowledge, at the time he filed his COC, that his inclusion and registration as a voter had been denied. His failure to register as a voter was a material fact that he had clearly withheld from the COMELEC; he knew of the denial of his application to register and yet concealed his non-voter status when he filed his COC. Thus, we affirmed the COMELECs action in cancelling his COC.

If there is any similarity at all in Velasco and the present case, that similarity is in the recognition in both cases of the rule of law. In Velasco, we recognized based on the law that a basic defect existed prior to his candidacy, leading to his disqualification and the vice-mayor-elects assumption to the office. In the present case, we recognize the validity of Mitras COC, again on the basis of substantive and procedural law, and no occasion arises for the vice-governor-elect to assume the gubernatorial post.23chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

To summarize, both the COMELEC and private respondents have not shown, through their respective motions, sufficient reasons to compel us to modify or reverse our July 2, 2010 Decision.

Other Developments,
Issues and Rulings

In the course of the Courts consideration of this case, a dissent was entered that contained its own arguments on why our Decision of July 2, 2010 should be reversed. For a complete treatment and presentation of the issues raised, the arguments in the dissent and the refutation are discussed below, separately from the arguments the COMELEC and private respondents themselves raised.

First, the dissent asserts that our conclusion that the private respondents evidence failed to show that Mitra remained a Puerto Princesa City resident is "way off point" since the private respondents showed, as the COMELEC has found, that Mitra could not have stayed and resided at the mezzanine portion of the Maligaya Feedmill located at Barangay Isaub, Aborlan, Palawan.24cra1aw In concluding that Mitra remained to be a Puerto Princesa City resident, the dissent points to the certification of the Punong Barangay of Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City attesting that Mitra continued to reside in that barangay. The dissent also argues that the certification of the Punong Barangay of Sta. Monica, supported by the sworn statement of Commodore Hernandez that Mitra resides in that same barangay, deserves equal if not greater weight than the statement of the Punong Barangay of Isaub, Aborlan; the latter supporting statement should provide the "tilting element on the question of Mitras continued residency in his domicile of origin."25chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Second, the dissent faults us for not giving weight to the sworn statements of Maligaya Feed Mills customers and former employees, who testified that Mitra did not reside at the mezzanine portion of the Feed Mill. It emphasizes the undisputed point that the room at the mezzanine neither has the usual comfort room nor a kitchen area. Additionally, it argues that we conveniently failed to cite any statutory standard with respect to the determination of whether Mitras alleged residence constitutes a "residence" as defined by law.26chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Third, the dissent submits that we gravely erred "in giving credence to Mitras gratuitous claims of business interests in Aborlan Palawan" to justify our finding that "Mitras transfer of residence was accomplished not in one single move but, through an incremental process."27cra1aw It notes that Mitra failed to submit material proofs to prove his substantial business interests in Aborlan, Palawan, such as but not limited to - "government issued permits or licenses, tax declarations, or real estate tax payments, property leases and proofs of commercial transactions."28cra1aw The dissent concludes that the suppression of material evidence, which, could directly prove the existence and ownership of the pineapple plantation should be taken against Mitra who claims ownership and existence of these businesses.29chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Fourth, the dissent argues that we erred in unduly relying on the "dubious" lease contract for being ante-dated. It stresses that the ponencia unreasonably gave credence to the lease contract despite "indicators" of its invalidity, which should have forewarned the Court that the same is not what it purports to be.30cra1aw It also adds that our justification that the lease contract by law may be impliedly renewed from month to month lacks factual basis, since Mitra himself, in his Motion for Reconsideration dated February 13, 2010 before the COMELEC en banc, stated that "he had moved to his own new house physically residing in his newly completed home in Aborlan."31chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Fifth, the dissent implores the Court to apply to the present case our June 15, 2010 Decision in G.R. No. 192127, Mario Joel T. Reyes v. Commission on Elections and Antonio V. Gonzales,32cra1aw where we resolved to dismiss Reyes petition via a minute resolution for failure to sufficiently show that the COMELEC gravely abused its discretion in cancelling Reyes COC for his deliberate misrepresentation on his transfer and establishment of a new residence in Aborlan, Palawan.

Finally, the dissent submits that the mere fact that Mitra won in the May 10, 2010 gubernatorial elections cannot disregard the mandatory one-year residency requirement to qualify as a gubernatorial candidate. It cites our ruling in Velasco v. Commission on Elections,33cra1aw where we ruled that the provisions on material qualifications of elected official should always prevail over the will of the electorate in any given locality; to rule otherwise, would be "to slowly gnaw at the rule of law."

These arguments are addressed in the same order they are posed under the topical headings below.

The private respondents failed to establish by sufficiently convincing evidence that Mitra remained a Puerto Princesa City resident.

The evidence before us, properly considered and carefully reviewed, fully supports our conclusion that the private respondents evidence failed to show that Mitra remained a Puerto Princesa City resident. As discussed now and in our Decision of July 2, 2010, Mitra adequately proved by substantial evidence that he transferred by incremental process to Aborlan beginning 2008, concluding his transfer in early 2009. Given this proof, the burden of evidence lies with the private respondents to establish the contrary.

Proof to the contrary is sadly lacking, as the dissents reliance on the Certification of the Punong Barangay of Sta. Monica, Puerto Princesa City is misplaced. The ponencia cannot give full evidentiary weight to the aforementioned Certification which simply stated -

This is to CERTIFY that ABRAHAM KAHLIL B. MITRA, is a bonafide resident of Purok El Rancho this (sic) Barangay.

CERTIFIES FURTHER, that on February 3, 2009, he secure (sic) community tax certificate in this Barangay with CTC No. 16657723.34chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

To be sure, a bare certification in a disputed situation cannot suffice to conclusively establish the existence of what the certification alleged. The purported CTC, on the other hand, was neither signed nor thumb-marked by Mitra and, thus, bore no clear indication that it had been adopted and used by Mitra as his own. In our evaluation, we in fact pointedly emphasized that the Puerto Princesa City CTC dated February 3, 2009, if at all, carries little evidentiary value in light of Lilia Camoras (Mitras secretary) positive declaration that she was the one who procured it, while Mitras Aborlan CTC dated March 18, 2009 carried Mitras own signature. Camora fully explained the circumstances under which she secured the CTC of February 3, 2009 and her statement was never disputed.

On the other hand, Commodore Hernandez declaration on its face did not controvert Carme E. Caspes sworn statement which adequately proved that Mitras transfer to Aborlan was accomplished, not in a single move, but through an incremental process that started in early 2008 and concluded in March 2009. Thus, we emphasized in our Decision:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

A sworn statement that has no counterpart in the respondents evidence in so far as it provides details (particularly when read with the statement of Ricardo Temple) is Carme Caspes statement on how Mitras transfer of residence took place. Read together, these statements attest that the transfer was accomplished, not in one single move but, through an incremental process that started in early 2008 and was in place by March 2009, although the house Mitra intended to be his permanent home was not yet then completed.35chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The COMELEC committed grave abuse of discretion in the appreciation of the evidence and in using wrong considerations which lead it to incorrectly conclude that Mitra is not a resident of Aborlan and that he committed a deliberate misrepresentation in his COC.

Contrary to the dissents view, the sworn statements of Maligaya Feedmills customers and former employees that Mitra did not and could not have resided at the mezzanine portion of the Feedmill cannot be given full evidentiary weight, since these statements are in nature of negative testimonies that do not deserve weight and credence in the face of contrary positive evidence, particularly, Carme E. Caspes testimony, cited above, that Mitra did indeed transfer residence in a process that was accomplished, not in a single move, but through an incremental process that started in early 2008. It is well-settled in the rules of evidence that positive testimony is stronger than negative testimony.36chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Additionally, we noted in our Decision that the COMELEC committed grave abuse of discretion, as it failed to correctly appreciate that the evidence clearly pointed to fact that Mitra effectively transferred his residence to Aborlan, viz:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

Specifically, it was lost on the COMELEC majority (but not on the Dissent) that Mitra made definite, although incremental transfer moves, as shown by the undisputed business interests he has established in Aborlan in 2008; by lease of a dwelling he established his base; by the purchase of a lot for his permanent home; by his transfer of registration as a voter in March 2009; and by the construction of a house all viewed against the backdrop of a bachelor Representative who spent most of his working hours in Manila, who had a whole congressional district to take care of, and who was establishing at the same time his significant presence in the whole Province of Palawan.37chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The dissents observation that the ponencia conveniently failed to cite any statutory standard with respect to the determination of whether Mitras alleged residence constitutes a "residence" as defined by law is simply not true.38cra1aw Our July 2, 2019 Decision was particularly sensitive to the matter of standards, as we noted that the COMELEC used personal and subjective standards in its assessment of Mitras dwelling when, in fact, the law is replete with standards, i.e., the dwelling must be where a person permanently intends to return and to remain. Thus, we held:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

In considering the residency issue, the COMELEC practically focused solely on its consideration of Mitras residence at Maligaya Feedmill, on the basis of mere photographs of the premises. In the COMELECs view (expressly voiced out by the Division and fully concurred in by the En Banc), the Maligaya Feedmill building could not have been Mitras residence because it is cold and utterly devoid of any indication of Mitras personality and that it lacks loving attention and details inherent in every home to make it ones residence. This was the main reason that the COMELEC relied upon for its conclusion.

Such assessment, in our view, based on the interior design and furnishings of a dwelling as shown by and examined only through photographs, is far from reasonable; the COMELEC thereby determined the fitness of a dwelling as a persons residence based solely on very personal and subjective assessment standards when the law is replete with standards that can be used. Where a dwelling qualifies as a residence i.e., the dwelling where a person permanently intends to return to and to remain his or her capacity or inclination to decorate the place, or the lack of it, is immaterial.39chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

To buttress our finding that the COMELEC used personal and subjective assessment standards instead of the standards prescribed by law, we cited Coquilla v. COMELEC,40cra1aw which characterized the term residence as referring to "domicile" or legal residence, that is "the place where a party actually or constructively has his permanent home, where he, no matter where he may be found at any given time, eventually intends to return and remain (animus manendi).

Mitras business interests in Aborlan remain undisputed and are supported by the evidence on record.

The dissents view that Mitras business interests are not supported by the evidence on record is not accurate. As discussed above and in our July 2, 2010 Decision, Mitras business interests in Aborlan stand undisputed in the present case. On the one hand, the private respondents failed to present any iota of evidence to disprove Mitras claims that he had significant investments in Aborlan, such as the expiremental pineapple plantation, farm, farmhouse and cock farm.

On the other hand, Mitra submitted photographs41cra1aw of his experimental pineapple plantation, farm, farmhouse and cock farm to prove his business interests in Aborlan. Carme E. Caspes and Ricardo Temples statements also corroborated Mitras claim that he owns the pineapple plantation which is located in a property near the Maligaya Feedmill. In this regard, Carme E. Caspes sworn statement pertinently declared:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

3. Since 2001, Congressman Mitra has been frequently visiting my farm and we often meet at the Maligaya Feedmill and Farm located along National Hi-way, Sitio Maligaya, Barangay Isaub, Aborlan, Palawan.

4. Sometime in January 2008, Congressman Mitra together with his brother Ramon B. Mitra and his Chief of Staff, Atty. Winston T. Gonzales and some of their friends started an experimental pineapple growing project in a rented farmland located near the Maligaya Feedmill and Farm.

5. At about the time that they started the pineapple project, Congressman Mitra and Ramon Mitra would from time to time stay overnight in the residential portion of Maligaya Feedmill located along National Hi-way, Sitio Maligaya, Barangay Isaub, Aborlan, Palawan.

6. Sometime in February 2008, inasmuch as Congressman Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra and Ramon B. Mitra would want to permanently stay in Aborlan, as Congressman Mitra would want to be nearer and have easier access to the entire 2st Congressional District and as they intend to invest in a chicken layer venture in Aborlan in addition to their pineapple project, we ented onto a contract of lease covering the residential portion of the Maligaya Feedmill as their residence, a chicken layer house and a growing house for chickens. We also agreed that Congressman Mitra has the option to purchase a portion of the Feedmill where he can erect or contruct his own house if he so desires later.

7. Congressman Mitra, pursuant to our agreement, immediately renovated and refurbished the residential part in a portion of the Feedmill and as of March 2008 he started to occupy and reside in the said premises bringing with him some of his personal belongings, clothes and other personal effects.

10. That in January 2009, Congressman Mitra decided to purchase a nearby farmland located behind the Deaf School where he intends to contruct his residential house and farm. However, as he needed time to consummate the sale of the property and to construct his house thereon, we agreed to renew the lease for another year effective February 2, 2009 to February 28, 2010 consisting of, among others, a residential portion of the Maligaya Feedmill.

11. Sometime in May 2009, Congressman Mitra caused the construction of a house and established a game fowl/fighting cock farm in the lot that he purchased but he continued to reside in the Maligaya Feedmill up to the present.42chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The photographs of the experimental pineapple plantation, farm, farmhouse and cock farm, coupled with the sworn statements of Carme E. Caspe and Ricardo Temple, substantially prove the existence of Mitras business interests in Aborlan. Thus, Mitras failure to submit permits or licenses, tax declarations, real estate tax payments and other proofs of commercial transactions does not negate the fact that he has substantial business interests in Aborlan as he claims.

Incidentally, the dissents invocation of the adverse presumption of suppression of evidence43cra1aw is erroneous, since it does not arise when the evidence is at the disposal of both parties. 44cra1aw In the present case, the required proofs of commercial transactions the dissent cites are public documents which are at the disposal of both parties; they are not solely under the custody of Mitra and can be easily obtained from the municipal offices of Aborlan had the private respondents been minded to do so. The bottom line is that no such evidence was ever presented in this case, and none can and should be considered at this point.

The validity or invalidity

of the lease contract is not determinative of question of Mitras residence in Aborlan.

Beyond the arguments raised about the invalidity of the lease contract, what is significant for purposes of this case is the immateriality of the issue to the present case. As we emphasized in our Decision:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

The validity of the lease contract, however, is not the issue before us; what concerns us is the question of whether Mitra did indeed enter into an agreement for the lease, or strictly for the use, of the Maligaya Feedmill as his residence (while his house, on the lot he bought, was under construction) and whether he indeed resided there. The notarys compliance with the notarial law likewise assumes no materiality as it is a defect not imputable to Mitra; what is important is the parties affirmation before a notary public of the contracts genuineness and due execution.45chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The dissents thesis that Mitras allegation in his Motion for Reconsideration (dated February 13, 2010) before the COMELEC en banc that he had already transferred to the newly constructed house in Aborlan negates the proposition that the lease agreement is extendible from month to month - is misleading. The significance of Mitras statement in his Motion for Reconsideration that he had already transferred to his newly constructed house in Aborlan must not be read in isolation; it must be appreciated under the backdrop of Mitras explicit intention to make Aborlan his permanent residence through an incremental transfer of residence, as evidenced by the following:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

(1) his initial transfer through the leased dwelling at the mezzanine portion of the Maligaya Feedmill;

(2) the purchase of a lot for his permanent home; and

(3) the construction of a house on this lot which is adjacent to the premises he was leasing pending the completion of his house.

All these should of course be read with the establishment of Mitras business interest in Aborlan and his transfer of registration as a voter.

Reyes v. Commission on Elections is not applicable in the present case.

In invoking the applicability of our June 15, 2010 ruling in Reyes v. Commission on Elections, the dissent cites the "explanatory note" penned by Justice Conchita Carpio-Morales recommending the dismissal of Reyes petition. The explanatory note states:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

To successfully effect a change of domicile, one must demonstrate (1) actual removal or change of domicile; (2) a bona fide intention of abandoning the former place of residence and establishing a new one; and (3) definite acts which correspond with the purpose.

Public respondent committed no grave abuse of discretion in finding that the petitioner had not sufficiently established a change of his domicile from Coron, Palawan, his domicile of origin, to Aborlan, Palawan, his supposed domicile of choice, for failure to show, among others things, (1) actual presence at Aborlan, Palawan, and (2) abandonment of his residence at Coron, Palawan. It thus correctly relied on the Courts pronouncement in Dumpit-Michelena v. Boado that without clear and positive proof of the concurrence of the requirements for a change of domicile, the domicile of origin continues.

Reading Section 78 of the Omnibus Election Code with the constitutional qualifications for a Member of the House of Representatives, petitioners false representation in his COC regarding his residence, which affects his qualifications, gave cause for the COMELEC to cancel the same.46chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

On June 15, 2010, the Court issued a Minute Resolution dismissing Reyes petition, which states:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

The Court Resolved to DISMISS the petition for failure thereof to sufficiently show that any grave abuse of discretion was committed by the Commission on Elections in rendering the challenged resolutions which, on the contrary, appear to be in accord with the facts and applicable law and jurisprudence.47chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

This Resolution found no grave abuse of discretion and upheld the March 25, 2010 Resolution of the COMELEC Second Division48cra1aw and May 7, 2010 Resolution of the COMELEC en banc.49cra1aw In this March 25, 2010 Resolution, the COMELEC Second Division found:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

An evaluation, however, of the evidence presented by the parties vis-à-vis the three requirements for a successful change of domicile would show that the petitioner is correct.

First, the alleged residence of respondent is a mere beach house or a lodging house with a roof made of pawid as shown in the Declaration of Real Property of Clara Espiritu Reyes, the wife of the respondent. This description of the property is confirmed by two photographs attached to the Memorandum of the petitioner. By its very nature, a beach house is a mere temporary abode, a lodging house where people stay merely as transients. It is not meant to be a permanent place to live in. As the Supreme Court declared in Dumpit Michelena v. Boado, a beach house is at most a place of temporary relaxation and it can hardly be considered a place of residence. With this kind of property, it can scarcely be said that respondent has the intention of remaining there permanently or for an indefinite period of time.

Second, respondent has failed to show actual presence at his domicile of choice. Respondent himself admitted that he goes only to Aborlan whenever he gets reprieves from work as most of the time he stays at Puerto Princesa City, where he also resides with his wife. His witnesses also confirm this saying that all Palaweños know that the office of the governor is at the capitol of Puerto Princesa City, where respondent and his wife stay if there is work at the office. However, considering that Aborlan is only about an hours away from Puerto Princesa, it is odd that respondent and his wife never go home to Aborlan after office hours if he intended to establish his domicile of choice in the said municipality. It is also unusual that respondents wife still stays at Puerto Princesa City while she works as manager of Palawan Agricultural and Animal Husbandy Corporation, which is based in Aborlan. This conduct is not indicative of an intent to establish their domicile at Aborlan.

Third, respondent failed to show that he already cut his ties with Coron, Palawan as his domicle. Although respondent declared that as early as 2008, he has already transferred his domicile at Aborlan, still he secured his Community Tax Certificate (CTC) for the year 2009 at Coron.

Respondent tried to wiggle out from this tight spot by explaining that it was secured by his secretary, who through force of habit inadvertently got it for him. However, such explanation proved futile when respondent was confronted with the fact that he still used the said CTC in establishing his identity when he signed a Special Power of Attorney on January 12, 2009 and when he signed a contract in behalf of the Palawan Provincial Government on August 10, 2009 even when he has supposedly secured another CTC from Aborlan on April 7, 2009.

Thus, even in August of 2009, less than a year prior to the May 10, 2010 election, respondent still portrayed himself as a resident of Coron. The intention then to abandon the said place as his domicile is wanting.

Based on the foregoing discussions alone, it is at once apparent the three-point requirements for the abandonment of a domicile and the establishment of a new one do not concur in the case of the respondent.50chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Contrary to the dissents view, no parallelism can be drawn between this ruling and the present case, so that this ruling cannot apply to the latter.

First, the dissents citation of Justice Carpio-Morales explanatory note recommending the dismissal of Reyes petition cannot be considered a precedent that should be made applicable to the present case. The explanatory note, while reflective of the Courts thinking, is not a decision nor an opinion of the Court. It remains what its description connotes an explanatory note provided by one Justice and approved by the Court and nothing more; what binds the Court is its pronouncement that no grave abuse of discretion transpired in the COMELECs consideration of the case. Under this legal situation, what assumes significance are the COMELEC Resolutions that the Court effectively upheld when it issued the June 15, 2010 Minute Resolution dismissing Reyes petition.

Second, the factual circumstances in Reyes are entirely different from the present case; no parallelism can be drawn so that the application of the ruling in Reyes cannot be bodily lifted and applied to Mitra. In Reyes, the COMELEC ruled that Reyes committed a material misrepresentation in his COC when he declared that his residence is Tigman, Aborlan, Palawan and that he is eligible for the office he seeks to be elected to. The COMELEC so concluded after it found that the evidence showed that Reyes failed to prove that (1) he had the intention to remain permanently in Aborlan since his alleged residence is a mere beach house which by its very nature is a temporary place of residence as held by the Court in Dumpit Michelana v. Boado;51cra1aw 2) he had actual presence at his domicile of choice; and (3) that he had already transferred from his domicile (Coron, Palawan) to Tigman, Aborlan Palawan. The COMELEC even found, on the matter of CTC, that Reyes consistently used his Coron CTC in his transactions, thus negating his explanation that the CTC was procured without his knowledge and consent.

In contrast, we found in the present case that Mitra did not deliberately misrepresent his Aborlan residence to deceive or mislead the Palawan electorate since he in fact adduced positive evidence of transfer of residence which the private respondents failed to sufficiently controvert. In this regard, we noted with emphasis that Mitra undertook "incremental moves" to his new domicile in Aborlan as evidenced by the following: (1) his expressed intent to transfer to a residence outside of Puerto Princesa City to make him eligible for a provincial position; (2) his preparatory moves starting in early 2008; (3) the transfer of registration as a voter in March 2009; (4) his initial transfer through a leased dwelling at Maligaya Feedmill; (5) the purchase of a lot for his permanent home; and (6) the construction of a house on the said lot which is adjacent to the premises he was leasing pending the completion of his house.52cra1aw The issue regarding Mitras CTC, too, was satisfactorily explained and is far different from the obtaining facts in the case of Reyes.

No occasion exists to apply the rule of the primacy of the will of people since Mitra did not commit any deliberate misrepresentation; in fact, he proved that he transferred his residence to Aborlan within the period required by law.

The dissent contends that Mitras election as Governor "did not render the present case moot and academic or lift the statutory one-year residency requirement for him to qualify for the gubernatorial post."53cra1aw The dissent apparently perceives Mitras electoral victory as a major consideration in our Decision of July 2, 2010. Unfortunately, the dissent is mistaken in its appreciation of the thrust of our Decision; we in fact ruled that no reason exists to appeal to the primacy of the electorates will since Mitra did not commit any material misrepresentation in his COC. We said:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

We have applied in past cases the principle that the manifest will of the people as expressed through the ballot must be given fullest effect; in case of doubt, political laws must be interpreted to give life and spirit to the popular mandate. Thus, we have held that while provisions relating to certificates of candidacy are in mandatory terms, it is an established rule of interpretation as regards election laws, that mandatory provisions, requiring certain steps before elections, will be construed as directory after the elections, to give effect to the will of the people.

Quite recently, however, we warned against a blanket and unqualified reading and application of this ruling, as it may carry dangerous significance to the rule of law and the integrity of our elections. For one, such blanket/unqualified reading may provide a way around the law that effectively negates election requirements aimed at providing the electorate with the basic information for an informed choice about a candidates eligibility and fitness for office. Short of adopting a clear cut standard, we thus made the following clarification:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

We distinguish our ruling in this case from others that we have made in the past by the clarification that COC defects beyond matters of form and that involve material misrepresentations cannot avail of the benefit of our ruling that COC mandatory requirements before elections are considered merely directory after the people shall have spoken. A mandatory and material election law requirement involves more than the will of the people in any given locality. Where a material COC misrepresentation under oath is made, thereby violating both our election and criminal laws, we are faced as well with an assault on the will of the people of the Philippines as expressed in our laws. In a choice between provisions on material qualifications of elected officials, on the one hand, and the will of the electorate in any given locality, on the other, we believe and so hold that we cannot choose the electorate will.

Earlier, Frivaldo v. COMELEC provided the following test:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

[T]his Court has repeatedly stressed the importance of giving effect to the sovereign will in order to ensure the survival of our democracy. In any action involving the possibility of a reversal of the popular electoral choice, this Court must exert utmost effort to resolve the issues in a manner that would give effect to the will of the majority, for it is merely sound public policy to cause elective offices to be filled by those who are the choice of the majority. To successfully challenge a winning candidate's qualifications, the petitioner must clearly demonstrate that the ineligibility is so patently antagonistic to constitutional and legal principles that overriding such ineligibility and thereby giving effect to the apparent will of the people would ultimately create greater prejudice to the very democratic institutions and juristic traditions that our Constitution and laws so zealously protect and promote. [Emphasis supplied.]

With the conclusion that Mitra did not commit any material misrepresentation in his COC, we see no reason in this case to appeal to the primacy of the electorates will. We cannot deny, however, that the people of Palawan have spoken in an election where residency qualification had been squarely raised and their voice has erased any doubt about their verdict on Mitras qualifications.54chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Under these terms, we cannot be any clearer.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, we resolve to DENY with FINALITY, for lack of merit, the motions for reconsideration and motion for oral arguments now before us. Let entry of judgment be made in due course.

SO ORDERED.

ARTURO D. BRION
Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

RENATO C. CORONA
Chief Justice

ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Associate Justice
(on leave)
CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES*
Associate Justice
PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.
Associate Justice
ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NACHURA
Associate Justice
TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO
Associate Justice
DIOSDADO M. PERALTA
Associate Justice
LUCAS P. BERSAMIN
Associate Justice
MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO
Associate Justice
(on leave)
ROBERTO A. ABAD*
Associate Justice
MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.
Associate Justice
JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ
Associate Justice
JOSE CATRAL MENDOZA
Associate Justice

MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO
Associate Justice

C E R T I F I C A T I O N

Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, it is hereby certified that the conclusions in the above Resolution had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court.

RENATO C. CORONA
Chief Justice



cralaw Endnotes:

* On leave.

1cra1aw Rollo, pp. 1176-1185.

2cra1aw Id. at 1188-1250.

3cra1aw Id. at 1123-1154.

4cra1aw Id. at 1176.

5cra1aw Id. at 1198-1200.

6cra1aw Pates v. Commission on Elections, G.R. No. 184915, June 30, 2009, 591 SCRA 481. Section 2 of Rule 64 of the Rules of Court provides that "[a] judgment or final order or resolution of the Commission on Elections and the Commission on Audit may be brought by the aggrieved party to the Supreme Court on certiorari under Rule 65, except as hereinafter provided."

7cra1aw Nos. L-49705-09 and L-49717-21, February 8, 1979, 88 SCRA 251.

8cra1aw G.R. No. 81954, August 8, 1989, 176 SCRA 84.

9cra1aw G.R. No. 170522, November 20, 2006, 507 SCRA 426, 437.

10cra1aw CONSTITUTION, Article VIII, Section 1, par. 2.

11cra1aw Article IX(C), Section 2(2), par. 2, of the 1987 CONSTITUTION provides: "Decisions, final orders, or rulings of the Commission on election contests involving elective municipal and barangay offices shall be final, executory, and not appealable."

12cra1aw Section 5, Rule 64 of the Rules of Court provides: "[f]indings of fact of the [COMELEC], supported by substantial evidence, shall be final and non-reviewable."

13cra1aw Rollo, pp. 65-66.

14cra1aw See Article 1670 of the Civil Code.

15cra1aw Annex "1" of the Private Respondents Motion for Reconsideration dated July 20, 2010; rollo, p. 1253.

16cra1aw Annex "2" of the Private Respondents Motion for Reconsideration dated July 20, 2010; id. at 1254.

17cra1aw Ibid.

18cra1aw Id. at 1146-1148.

19cra1aw G.R. No. 137329, August 9, 2000, 337 SCRA 574.

20cra1aw G.R. No. 191124, April 27, 2010.

21cra1aw G.R. No. 180051, December 24, 2008, 575 SCRA 590.

22cra1aw Supra note 20.

23cra1aw Rollo, p. 1150.

24cra1aw Justice Velascos Dissenting Opinion, p. 3.

25cra1aw Id. at 3-4.

26cra1aw Id. at 7.

27cra1aw Id. at 7-8.

28cra1aw Id. at 8-9.

29cra1aw Ibid.

30cra1aw Ibid.

31cra1aw Id. at 11.

32cra1aw In a Resolution dated August 3, 2010, the Court resolved to deny with finality the motion for reconsideration filed by petitioner Mario Joel T. Reyes.

33cra1aw Supra note 21.

34cra1aw Rollo, p. 136.

35cra1aw Id. at 1144-1145.

36cra1aw Batiquin v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 118231, July 5, 1996, 258 SCRA 334.

37cra1aw Rollo, p. 1146.

38cra1aw Justice Velascos Dissenting Opinion, p. 7.

39cra1aw Rollo, pp. 1145-1146.

40cra1aw G.R. No. 151914, July 31, 2002, 385 SCRA 607, 616, citing Aquino v. COMELEC, 248 SCRA 400, 420 (1995).

41cra1aw Mitra also submitted the sworn affidavit dated December 9, 2009 of Ryan A. Natividad (Natividad) who personally took the photographs. Natividad narrated:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

1. On 08 December 2009, I personally went to Sitio Tagpit and Sitio Maligaya, both in Barangay Isaub, Aborlan, Palawan.

2. In particular, I took photographs in the (a) the pineapple and corn farm of Congressman Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra in Sito Tagpit; (2) Maligaya Feedmill and the residential unit within the Feedmill located along National Hi-way, Sitio Maligaya and (3) the gamefowl and/or fighting cock farm and house under construction of Congressman Abraham Kahlil B. Mitra.

3. I caused the printing of the photographs of I (sic) took.

4. There are a total of forty (40) photographs and each photograph bears my signature and the date shown thereon.

5. I am executing this affidavit to prove that the printed photographs attached herewith with my signature and date thereon are faithful and unaltered images of the photographs I personally took and cause to be printed. Rollo, p. 199.

42cra1aw Rollo, p. 730.

43cra1aw Section 3(e), Rule 131 of the Rules of Court states:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary

x x x x

(e) That evidence willfully suppressed would be adverse if produced.

x x x x

44cra1aw People v. Navaja, G.R. No. 104044, March 30, 1993, 220 SCRA 624.

45cra1aw Rollo, p. 1144.

46cra1aw Cited in Justice Velascos Dissenting Opinion, p. 11.

47cra1aw G.R. No. 192127, Mario Joel T. Reyes v. The Commission on Elections and Antonio V. Gonzales, rollo, p. 548.

48cra1aw Id. at 39-56.

49cra1aw Id. at 57-63.

50cra1aw Id. at 48-50.

51cra1aw G.R. Nos. 163619-20, November 17, 2005, 475 SCRA 290.

52cra1aw See p. 3 of this Resolution.

53cra1aw Justice Velascos Dissenting Opinion, p. 12.

54cra1aw Rollo, pp. 1151-1152.




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  • G.R. No. 186166 : October 20, 2010 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. JOSE T. CHING represented by his Attorney-in-fact, ANTONIO V. CHING, Respondent.c

  • G.R. No. 183455 : October 20, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROMY ATADERO, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 174674 : October 20, 2010 NESTLE PHILIPPINES, INC. and NESTLE WATERS PHILIPPINES, INC. (formerly HIDDEN SPRINGS & PERRIER, INC.), Petitioners, v. UNIWIDE SALES, INC., UNIWIDE HOLDINGS, INC., NAIC RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, UNIWIDE SALES REALTY AND RESOURCES CLUB, INC., FIRST PARAGON CORPORATION, and UNIWIDE SALES WAREHOUSE CLUB, INC., Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 173179 : October 11, 2010 MANUEL D. RECTO, CESAR A. DIGNOS, and FRANCISCO S. A�ONUEVO, Petitioners, v. BISHOP FEDERICO O. ESCALER, S.J., JOAQUINA De ARANAZ, FILOMENA BAGAMASBAD, ELADIA BANGUILAN, TEODONIA BANZON, TERESITA BELEN, REMEDIOS CALO, MANSUETA CO, ZENAIDA CRUZ, LINA DATU, AURORA ELORIAGA, MAGDALENA FAJATIN,* LEONARDA FALLARME, CHI GANA, LUTGARDA GARCIA, UBALDO ISAAC, CATHERINE LIM, CORAZON LORENZO, ENRIQUETA MANABAT, GUADALUPE MATADOS, DOMINGA MENOR, EFREN MONJE, PILAR MONJE, POMPEYA NAVAL, WILTECK ONG, ELEODORO PARENTELA, ANTONIA PARENTELA, OLIVIA PEREZ, ALICIA QUIMSON, ELSIE RODRIGUEZ, RAFAELA SANTOS, MELENCIA SESE, VIRGINIA SUGCANG, DIONISIA TRINIDAD, JOSELITO B. FLORO, LOURDES FLORO, ANDREA GUTIERREZ, FENNY ESPINORIO, AND OTHERS SIMILARLY SITUATED, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 172525 : October 20, 2010 SHINRYO (PHILIPPINES) COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. RRN INCORPORATED,* Respondent.

  • BANK OF COMMERCE, Petitioner, v. HON. ESTELA PERLAS-BERNABE, in her capacity as Presiding Judge of the REGIONAL TRIAL OF MAKATI CITY, BRANCH 142; BANCAPITAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION; and EXCHANGE CAPITAL CORPORATION, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 171998 : October 20, 2010 ANAMER SALAZAR, Petitioner, v. J.Y. BROTHERS MARKETING CORPORATION, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 170389 : October 20, 2010 COMMISSION OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. AQUAFRESH SEAFOODS, INC., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 152166 : October 20, 2010 ST. LUKE'S MEDICAL CENTER, INC. and ROBERT KUAN, Chairman, Petitioners, v. ESTRELITO NOTARIO, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. MTJ-10-1754 : October 20, 2010 (Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 08-2090-MTJ) NARCISO BERNARDO, JR., Complainant, v. JUDGE PETER M. MONTOJO, Municipal Trial Court, Romblon, Respondent.cr

  • G.R. No. 187069 : October 20, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ANTONIO MAGPAYO, Defendant and Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 176212 : October 20, 2010 CENTURY SAVINGS BANK, Petitioner, v. SPOUSES DANILO T. SAMONTE and ROSALINDA M. SAMONTE, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 151349 : October 20, 2010 LEANDRO M. ALCANTARA, Petitioner, v. THE PHILIPPINE COMMERCIAL AND INTERNATIONAL BANK, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 191064 : October 20, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROLANDO ARANETA y ABELLA @ BOTONG and MARILOU SANTOS y TANTAY @ MALOU, Accused-Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 186400 : October 20, 2010 CYNTHIA S. BOLOS, Petitioner, v. DANILO T. BOLOS, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 183852 : October 20, 2010 CARMELA BROBIO MANGAHAS, Petitioner, v. EUFROCINA A. BROBIO, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 178618 : October 11, 2010 MINDANAO SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION, INC., represented by its Liquidator, THE PHILIPPINE DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. EDWARD WILLKOM; GILDA GO; REMEDIOS UY; MALAYO BANTUAS, in his capacity as the Deputy Sheriff of Regional Trial Court, Branch 3, Iligan City; and the REGISTER OF DEEDS of Cagayan de Oro City, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 174157 : October 20, 2010 COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. McGEORGE FOOD INDUSTRIES, INC., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 172635 : October 20, 2010 OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, Petitioner, v. PEDRO DELIJERO, JR., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 190179 : October 20, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. EDWARD R. FELICIANO, ANITA G. LAURORA, EDITHA C. MAGLALANG, MAY G. ESTRELLA, and ROMELITO G. RUELO, Accused, EDWARD R. FELICIANO and ANITA G. LAURORA,, Accused-Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 184850 : October 20, 2010 E.Y. INDUSTRIAL SALES, INC. and ENGRACIO YAP, Petitioners, v. SHEN DAR ELECTRICITY AND MACHINERY CO., LTD., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 181900 : October 20, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DEMETRIO SALAZAR, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. Nos. 175806 and 175810: October 20, 2010 MANUEL ALMAGRO joined by his spouse, ELIZABETH ALMAGRO, Petitioners, v. SALVACION C. KWAN, WILLIAM C. KWAN, VICTORIA C. KWAN, assisted by her husband, JOSE A. ARBAS, and CECILIA C. KWAN, Respondents. G.R. No. 175849 : October 20, 2010 MARGARITA PACHORO, DRONICA ORLINA, PIO TUBAT, JR., ANDRES TUBAT, EDUVIGIS KISKIS, ELSA BI�ALBER, NOELA TUBAT, ELSA TUBAT, and ROGELIO DURAN, Petitioners, v. WILLIAM C. KWAN, SALVACION C. KWAN, VICTORIA C. KWAN, assisted by her husband, JOSE A. ARBAS, and CECILIA C. KWAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 175561 : October 20, 2010 SPOUSES IDA aka "MILAGROS" NIEVES BELTRAN and JOSE BELTRAN, Petitioners, v. ANITA R. NIEVES, represented by NELIA G. MORAN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 174329 : October 20, 2010 DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. ENVIRONMENTAL AQUATICS, INC., LAND SERVICES AND MANAGEMENT ENTERPRISES, INC. and MARIO MATUTE Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 174212 : October 20, 2010 HITACHI GLOBAL STORAGE TECHNOLOGIES PHILIPPINES CORP. (formerly HITACHI COMPUTER PRODUCTS (ASIA) CORPORATION), Petitioner v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 173021 : October 20, 2010 DELFIN LAMSIS, MAYNARD MONDIGUING, JOSE VALDEZ, JR. and Heirs of AGUSTIN KITMA, represented by EUGENE KITMA, Petitioners, v. MARGARITA SEMON DONG-E, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 191938 : October 19, 2010 ABRAHAM KAHLIL B. MITRA, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, ANTONIO V. GONZALES and ORLANDO R. BALBON, JR., Respondents.cralaw

  • A.M. No. P-07-2358 : October 19, 2010 (Formerly A.M. No. 06-4-138-MTC) ISABEL D. MARQUEZ, Clerk of Court, Municipal Trial Court, Caba, La Union, Complainant, v. JOCELYN C. FERNANDEZ, Stenographer, Municipal Trial Court, Caba, La Union, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. P-08-2472 : October 19, 2010 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 07-2559-P] JUDGE JENNY LIND R. ALDECOA-A-DELORINO, Complainant, v. JESSICA B. ABELLANOSA, Court Stenographer III, Regional Trial Court, Makati City, Branch 137, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-08-2106 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 07-2737-RTJ] JESSICA B. ABELLANOSA, Court Stenographer III, Regional Trial Court, Makati City, Branch 137, Complainant, v. JUDGE JENNY LIND R. ALDECOA-DELORINO, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. P-08-2420 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 07-2655-P] JESSICA B. ABELLANOSA, Court Stenographer III, Regional Trial Court, Makati City, Branch 137, Complainant, v. ROWENA L. RAMOS, COURT STENOGRAPHER III, Regional Trial Court, Makati City, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. 10-10-4-SC : October 19, 2010 Re: Letter of the UP Law Faculty entitled "Restoring Integrity: A Statement by the Faculty of the University of the Philippines College of Law on the Allegations of Plagiarism and Misrepresentation in the Supreme Court."

  • G.R. No. 190108 : October 19, 2010 DAVID E. SO, on behalf of his daughter MARIA ELENA SO GUISANDE, Petitioner, v. HON. ESTEBAN A. TACLA, JR., Regional Trial Court of Mandaluyong City, Branch 208; and DR. BERNARDO A. VICENTE, National Center for Mental Health, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 166910 : October 19, 2010 ERNESTO B. FRANCISCO, JR. and JOSE MA. O. HIZON, Petitioners, v. TOLL REGULATORY BOARD, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, MANILA NORTH TOLLWAYS CORPORATION, BENPRES HOLDINGS CORPORATION, FIRST PHILIPPINE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, TOLLWAY MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, PNCC SKYWAY CORPORATION, CITRA METRO MANILA TOLLWAYS CORPORATION and HOPEWELL CROWN INFRASTRUCTURE, INC., Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 169917 HON. IMEE R. MARCOS, RONALDO B. ZAMORA, CONSUMERS UNION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC., QUIRINO A. MARQUINEZ, HON. LUIS A. ASISTIO, HON. ERICO BASILIO A. FABIAN, HON. RENATO "KA RENE" B. MAGTUBO, HON. RODOLFO G. PLAZA, HON. ANTONIO M. SERAPIO, HON. EMMANUEL JOEL J. VILLANUEVA, HON. ANIBAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA SA AGRIKULTURA (AMA), INC., ANIBAN NG MGA MAGSASAKA, MANGINGISDA AT MANGGAGAWA SA AGRIKULTURA-KATIPUNAN, INC., KAISAHAN NG MGA MAGSASAKA SA AGRIKULTURA, INC., KILUSAN NG MANGAGAWANG MAKABAYAN, Petitioners, v. The REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, acting by and through the TOLL REGULATORY BOARD, MANILA NORTH TOLLWAYS CORPORATION, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, and FIRST PHILIPPINE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CORP., Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 173630 GISING KABATAAN MOVEMENT, INC., BARANGAY COUNCIL OF SAN ANTONIO, MUNICIPALITY OF SAN PEDRO, LAGUNA [as Represented by COUNCILOR CARLON G. AMBAYEC], and YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS OF SAN PEDRO, LAGUNA Petitioners, v. THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, acting through the TOLL REGULATORY BOARD (TRB), PHILIPPINE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION (PNCC), Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 183599 THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, represented by the TOLL REGULATORY BOARD, Petitioner, v. YOUNG PROFESSIONALS AND ENTREPRENEURS OF SAN PEDRO, LAGUNA, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 187032 : October 18, 2010 EDGARDO M. PANGANIBAN, Petitioner, v. TARA TRADING SHIPMANAGEMENT INC. AND SHINLINE SDN BHD, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 187116 : October 18, 2010 ASSET BUILDERS CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. STRONGHOLD INSURANCE COMPANY, INCORPORATED, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 191394 : October 18, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MARIA POLITICO y TICALA and EWINIE POLITICO y PALMA, Accused-Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 170073 : October 18, 2010 SPOUSES RAMY and ZENAIDA PUDADERA, Petitioners, v. IRENEO MAGALLANES and the late DAISY TERESA CORTEL MAGALLANES substituted by her children, NELLY M. MARQUEZ, ELISEO MAGALLANES and ANGEL MAGALLANES, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 164757 : October 18, 2010 CEBU METRO PHARMACY, INC., Petitioner, v. EURO-MED LABORATORIES, PHILIPPINES, INC., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 159230 : October 18, 2010 B.E. SAN DIEGO, INC., Petitioner, v. COURT OF APPEALS and JOVITA MATIAS, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 189859 : October 18, 2010 PIO MODESTO and CIRILA RIVERA-MODESTO, Petitioners, v. CARLOS URBINA, substituted by the heirs of OLYMPIA MIGUEL VDA. DE URBINA (Surviving Spouse) and children, namely: ESCOLASTICA M. URBINA, ET AL., Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 170375 : October 13, 2010 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. HON. MAMINDIARA P. MANGOTARA, in his capacity as Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 1, Iligan City, Lanao del Norte, and MARIA CRISTINA FERTILIZER CORPORATION, and the PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK, Respondents, G.R. No. 170505 LAND TRADE REALTY CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION and NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION (TRANSCO), Respondents, G.R. Nos. 173355-56 NATIONAL POWER CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. HON. COURT OF APPEALS (Special Twenty-Third Division, Cagayan de Oro City), and LAND TRADE REALTY CORPORATION, Respondents, G.R. No. 173401 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. DEMETRIA CACHO, represented by alleged Heirs DEMETRIA CONFESOR VIDAL and/or TEOFILO CACHO, AZIMUTH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and LAND TRADE REALTY CORPORATION, Respondents.cralaw G.R. Nos. 173563-64 NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. HON. COURT OF APPEALS (Special Twenty-Third Division, Cagayan de Oro City), and LAND TRADE REALTY CORPORATION as represented by Atty. Max C. Tabimina, Respondents, G.R. No. 178779 LAND TRADE REALTY CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. DEMETRIA CONFESOR VIDAL and AZIMUTH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Respondents, G.R. No. 178894 TEOFILO CACHO and/or ATTY. GODOFREDO CABILDO, Petitioner, v. DEMETRIA CONFESOR VIDAL and AZIMUTH INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Respondents.crala

  • G.R. No. 172394 : October 13, 2010 H. TAMBUNTING PAWNSHOP, INC., Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.cra

  • G.R. No. 191254 : October 13, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROEL "RUEL" SALLY, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 184041 : October 13, 2010 ANICETO G. SALUDO, JR., Petitioner, v. SECURITY BANK CORPORATION, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 184036 : October 13, 2010 PACIFIC REHOUSE CORPORATION, PACIFIC CONCORDE CORPORATION, MIZPAH HOLDINGS, INC., FORUM HOLDINGS CORPORATION, and EAST ASIA OIL COMPANY,INC., Petitioners, v. EIB SECURITIES, INC., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 175862 : October 13, 2010 REAL BANK, INC., Petitioner, v. SAMSUNG MABUHAY CORPORATION, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 173342 : October 13, 2010 ZAMBOANGA FOREST MANAGERS CORP., Petitioner, v. NEW PACIFIC TIMBER AND SUPPLY CO., ET AL., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 161431 : October 13, 2010 CALIBRE TRADERS, INC., MARIO SISON SEBASTIAN, and MINDA BLANCO SEBASTIAN, Petitioners, v. BAYER PHILIPPINES, INC., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 185814 : October 13, 2010 SHS PERFORATED MATERIALS, INC., WINFRIED HARTMANNSHENN, and HINRICH JOHANN SCHUMACHER, Petitioners, v. MANUEL F. DIAZ, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 173822 : October 13, 2010 SALVADOR ATIZADO and SALVADOR MONREAL, Petitioners, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 157802 : October 13, 2010 MATLING INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL CORPORATION, RICHARD K. SPENCER, CATHERINE SPENCER, AND ALEX MANCILLA, Petitioners, v. RICARDO R. COROS, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. RTJ-05-1924 : October 13, 2010 (Formerly A.M. No. 04-10-568-RTC) RE: CASES SUBMITTED FOR DECISION BEFORE JUDGE DAMASO A. HERRERA, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 24, BIAN, LAGUNA.

  • G.R. No. 188154 : October 13, 2010 LOURDES A. CERCADO, Petitioner, v. UNIPROM, INC., Respondent.cra

  • G.R. No. 183404 : October 13, 2010 BERRIS AGRICULTURAL CO., INC., Petitioner, v. NORVY ABYADANG, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 180699 : October 13, 2010 BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, Petitioner, v. LABOR ARBITER RODERICK JOSEPH CALANZA, SHERIFF ENRICO Y. PAREDES, AMELIA ENRIQUEZ, and REMO L. SIA, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 177881 : October 13, 2010 EMMANUEL C. VILLANUEVA, Petitioner, v. CHERDAN LENDING INVESTORS CORPORATION, Respondent.cra

  • G.R. No. 173463 : October 13, 2010 GLOBAL BUSINESS HOLDINGS, INC. (formerly Global Business Bank, Inc.), Petitioner, v. SURECOMP SOFTWARE, B.V., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 177279 : October 13, 2010 COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. HON. RAUL M. GONZALEZ, Secretary of Justice, L. M. CAMUS ENGINEERING CORPORATION (represented by LUIS M. CAMUS and LINO D. MENDOZA), Respondents.crala

  • A.M. No. RTJ-07-2076 : October 12, 2010 OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2077 ATTY. LOURDES A. ONA, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2078 JOSE MARI L. DUARTE, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2079 RET. GENERAL MELITON D. GOYENA, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw A.M. No. RTJ-07-2080 OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALBERTO L. LERMA, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. 10-7-17-SC : October 15, 2010 IN THE MATTER OF THE CHARGES OF PLAGIARISM, ETC., AGAINST ASSOCIATE JUSTICE MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO.

  • G.R. No. 174066 : October 12, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ERNESTO NARZABAL y CASTELO, JR., Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 164195 : October 12, 2010 APO FRUITS CORPORATION and HIJO PLANTATION, INC., Petitioners, v. LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. P-09-2735 : October 12, 2010 (Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 07-2614-P) LEVI M. ARGOSO, Complainant, v. ACHILLES ANDREW REGALADO II, Sheriff IV, Regional Trial Court, Office of the Clerk of Court, Naga City, Respondent.cr

  • A.M. No. P-06-2287 : October 12, 2010 [Formerly A.M. No. 06-11391-MTC] OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. MARCELA V. SANTOS, CLERK OF COURT II, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT, SAN LEONARDO, NUEVA ECIJA, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.C. No. 2655 : October 12, 2010 LEONARD W. RICHARDS, Complainant, v. PATRICIO A. ASOY, Respondent.cral

  • G.R. No. 184952 : October 11, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, v. MARIANITO GONZAGA y JOMAYA, Appellant.

  • G.R. NO. 177127 : October 11, 2010 J.R.A. PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 192473 : October 11, 2010 S.I.P. FOOD HOUSE and MR. and MRS. ALEJANDRO PABLO, Petitioners, v. RESTITUTO BATOLINA, ALMER CALUMPISAN, ARIES MALGAPO, ARMANDO MALGAPO, FLORDELIZA MATIAS, PERCIVAL MATIAS, ARWIN MIRANDA, LOPE MATIAS, RAMIL MATIAS, ALLAN STA. INES, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 156038 : October 11, 2010 SPOUSES VICTORIANO CHUNG and DEBBIE CHUNG, Petitioners, v. ULANDAY CONSTRUCTION, INC.,*cra1aw Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 192916 : October 11, 2010 MANUEL A. ECHAVEZ, Petitioner, v. DOZEN CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF CEBU CITY, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 190804 : October 11, 2010 PHILIPPINE TRANSMARINE CARRIERS, INC., GLOBAL NAVIGATION, LTD., Petitioners, v. SILVINO A. NAZAM, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 182953 : October 11, 2010 CORAZON D. SARMIENTA, JOSE DERAMA, CATES RAMA, JOSIE MIWA, TOTO NOLASCO, JESUS OLIQUINO, NORBERTO LOPEZ, RUBEN ESPOSO, BERNARDO FLORESCA, MARINA DIMATALO, ROBLE DIMANDAKO, RICARDO PE�A, EDUARDO ESPINO, ANTONIO GALLEGOS, VICTOR SANDOVAL, FELICITAS ABRANTES, MERCY CRUZ, ROSENDO ORGANO, RICKY BARENO, ANITA TAKSAGON, JOSIE RAMA and PABLO DIMANDAKO, Petitioners, v. MANALITE HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. (MAHA), Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 178551 : October 11, 2010 ATCI OVERSEAS CORPORATION, AMALIA G. IKDAL and MINISTRY OF PUBLIC HEALTH-KUWAIT Petitioners, v. MA. JOSEFA ECHIN, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 171685 : October 11, 2010 LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. GLENN Y. ESCANDOR, GEROME Y. ESCANDOR, EMILIO D. ESCANDOR and VIOLETA YAP, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 171365 : October 6, 2010 ERMELINDA C. MANALOTO, AURORA J. CIFRA, FLORDELIZA J. ARCILLA, LOURDES J. CATALAN, ETHELINDA J. HOLT, BIENVENIDO R. JONGCO, ARTEMIO R. JONGCO, JR. and JOEL JONGCO, Petitioners, v. ISMAEL VELOSO III, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 163091 : October 6, 2010 COCA-COLA BOTTLERS PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner, v. ANGEL U. DEL VILLAR, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 152866 : October 6, 2010 THE HEIRS OF ROMANA SAVES, namely: FIDELA ALMAIDA, EMILIANO ALMAIDA, JESUS ALMAIDA, CATALINA ALMAIDA, ALFREDO RAMOS, GINA RAMOS, LUZ ALMAIDA, ANITA ALMAIDA, PETRA GENERAL, EDNA GENERAL, ESTHER ALMAIDA, DIONISIA ALMAIDA, CORNELIA ALMAIDA, FELIMON ALMAIDA (represented by SINFROSA ALMAIDA); The Heirs of RAFAELA SAVES, namely: JULIANA DIZON, HILARIA DIZON, JOVENCIO DIZON, MAURA DIZON, BABY DIZON & ULDARICO AMISTOSO (represented by ULDARICO AMISTOSO); The Heirs of JANUARIA SAVES, namely: FELICIDAD MARTINEZ, MARLOU MARTINEZ, ROWENA MARTINEZ, BABY LOU MARTINEZ, BOBERT MARTINEZ, JERRY MARTINEZ (represented by FELICIDAD MARTINEZ); The Heirs of MAXIMO SAVES, namely: ELPIDIO AMIGO, CELESTINA DEMETRIA AMIGO, MEREN (daughter of SEVERA SAVES), FRUTO ROSARIO (represented by ELPIDIO AMIGO); The Heirs of BENEDICTA SAVES, namely: AUTEMIA JUCOM, CATALINA JUCOM, DOLORES JUCOM, SERGIA JUCOM, BENEDICTA JUCOM, JOSEFINA JUCOM, FLORDIVIDA REMETILLO, FELINA REMETILLO and ANNA MARIE REMETILLO, (represented by AUTEMIA JUCOM), Petitioners, v. THE HEIRS OF ESCOLASTICO SAVES, namely: REMEDIOS SAVES-ADAMOS, LUZ SAVES-HERNANDEZ and DODONG SAVES, and ENRIQUETA CHAVES-ABELLA, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 186652 : October 6, 2010 ATTY. ALICE ODCHIGUE-BONDOC, Petitioner, v. TAN TIONG BIO A.K.A. HENRY TAN, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 168313 : October 6, 2010 BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, Petitioner, v. HON. COURT OF APPEALS, HON. ROMEO BARZA, in his capacity as the Presiding Judge of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Br. 61, FIRST UNION GROUP ENTERPRISES and LINDA WU HU, Respondents.cralaw

  • A.M. No. P-06-2221 : October 5, 2010 (Formerly A.M. No. 06-7-215-MTCC) OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. RODELIO E. MARCELO and MA. CORAZON D. ESPA�OLA, MTCC, SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, BULACAN, Respondents.cralaw

  • A.M. No. MTJ-05-1580 : October 6, 2010 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 04-1608-MTJ] LOURDES B. FERRER and PROSPERIDAD M. ARANDEZ, Complainants, v. JUDGE ROMEO A. RABACA, Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 25, Manila, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. MTJ-10-1769 : October 6, 2010 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 09-2145-MTJ] EDUARDO B. OLAGUER, Complainant, v. JUDGE ALFREDO D. AMPUAN, Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 33, Quezon City, Respondent.cralaw

  • A.M. No. MTJ-09-1738 : October 6, 2010 (Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 08-2033-MTJ) CIRILA S. RAYMUNDO, Complainant, v. JUDGE TERESITO A. ANDOY, Municipal Trial Court (MTC), Cainta, Rizal, Respondent.cra

  • G.R. No. 188650 : October 6, 2010 OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, Petitioner, v. PRISCILLA S. CORDOVA, Deputy Collector for Assessment, Bureau of Customs, Respondent.cralaw G.R. No. 187166 DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE-REVENUE INTEGRITY PROTECTION SERVICE (DOF-RIPS) AND COMMISSIONER NAPOLEON MORALES, Petitioners, v. PRISCILLA S. CORDOVA, Deputy Collector for Assessment, Bureau of Customs, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 179543 : October 6, 2010 CAMPER REALTY CORP., Petitioner, v. MARIA NENA PAJO-REYES represented by her Attorney-in-Fact Eliseo B. Ballao, AUGUSTO P. BAJADO, RODOLFO PAJO and GODOFREDO PAJO, JR., Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 171980 : October 6, 2010 PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. OLIVE RUBIO MAMARIL, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 185020 : October 6, 2010 FILOMENA R. BENEDICTO, Petitioner, v. ANTONIO VILLAFLORES, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 180687 : October 6, 2010 ESMERALDO C. ROMULLO, PEDRO MANGUNDAYAO, MAXIMO ANES, ELVIRA BONZA, ROBERTO BELARMINO, TELESPORO GARCIA, BETH ZAIDA GIMENEZ, CELSO LIBRANDO, MICHAEL DELA CRUZ, and ROBERTO ARAWAG, Petitioners, v. SAMAHANG MAGKAKAPITBAHAY NG BAYANIHAN COMPOUND HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., represented by its President, PAQUITO QUITALIG, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 153998 : October 6, 2010 JORGE L. TIANGCO, THE HEIRS OF ENRIQUE L. TIANGCO, GLORIA T. BATUNGBACAL, NARCISO L. TIANGCO and SILVINO L. TIANGCO, Petitioners, v. LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 176479 : October 6, 2010 RIZAL COMMERCIAL BANKING CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. PEDRO P. BUENAVENTURA, Respondent.cra

  • G.R. No. 161934 : October 6, 2010 VARORIENT SHIPPING CO., INC., and.,d ARIA MARITIME CO., LTD., Petitioners, v. GIL A. FLORES, Respondent.cr

  • G.R. No. 190381 : October 6, 2010 COCA-COLA BOTTLERS PHILIPPINES, INC., Petitioner, v. RODRIGO MERCADO, ANTONIO VILLERO, LUISITO MANTIBE, MARCELO FABIAN, EDMUNDO YALUNG, EDILBERTO GUEVARRA, MICHAEL GUICO, ANGEL FERNANDO, ERNESTO DELA CRUZ, EFREN FERNANDO, ROBERTO TORRES, JIMMY DUNGO, WILLY OCAMPO, SANDRO DIZON, ALLAN OCAMPO, CARLITO MANABAT, CARLITO SINGIAN, JAY MANABAT, ERIC AQUINO, RODRIGO DAVID, NICOLAS LUQUIAZ,* LUCIO MANTIBE, PRUDENCIO PALALON, RAFAEL CABRERA, ROMMER SINGIAN,** ROGELIO MALIT, ALVIN ANDAYA, EMERITO B. DUNGCA, ALMIRANTE GORAL,*** AND NICOLAS CURA, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 169067 : October 6, 2010 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. ANGELO B. MALABANAN, PABLO B. MALABANAN, GREENTHUMB REALTY AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION and THE REGISTRAR OF DEEDS OF BATANGAS, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 184823 : October 6, 2010 COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. AICHI FORGING COMPANY OF ASIA, INC., Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 175573 : October 5, 2010 OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, Petitioner, v. JOEL S. SAMANIEGO1cra1aw , Respondent.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 184769 : October 5, 2010 MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY, ALEXANDER S. DEYTO and RUBEN A. SAPITULA, Petitioners, v. ROSARIO GOPEZ LIM, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. CA-10-50-J : October 5, 2010 [formerly A.M. OCA IPI No. 09-152-CA-J] 3-D INDUSTRIES, INC. and SMARTNET PHILIPPINES, INC. Complainants, v. JUSTICES VICENTE Q. ROXAS and JUAN Q. ENRIQUEZ, JR., Respondents.cralaw

  • A.M. No. P-06-2221 : October 5, 2010 (Formerly A.M. No. 06-7-215-MTCC) OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. RODELIO E. MARCELO and MA. CORAZON D. ESPA�OLA, MTCC, SAN JOSE DEL MONTE CITY, BULACAN, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 178552 : October 5, 2010 SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE ENGAGEMENT NETWORK, INC., on behalf of the South-South Network (SSN) for Non-State Armed Group Engagement, and ATTY. SOLIMAN M. SANTOS, JR., Petitioners, v. ANTI-TERRORISM COUNCIL, THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, THE SECRETARY OF JUSTICE, THE SECRETARY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THE SECRETARY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE, THE SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, THE SECRETARY OF FINANCE, THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER, THE CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES, AND THE CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE, Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 178554 KILUSANG MAYO UNO (KMU), represented by its Chairperson Elmer Labog, NATIONAL FEDERATION OF LABOR UNIONS-KILUSANG MAYO UNO (NAFLU-KMU), represented by its National President Joselito V. Ustarez and Secretary General Antonio C. Pascual, and CENTER FOR TRADE UNION AND HUMAN RIGHTS, represented by its Executive Director Daisy Arago,Petitioners, v. HON. EDUARDO ERMITA, in his capacity as Executive Secretary, NORBERTO GONZALES, in his capacity as Acting Secretary of National Defense, HON. RAUL GONZALES, in his capacity as Secretary of Justice, HON. RONALDO PUNO, in his capacity as Secretary of the Interior and Local Government, GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON, in his capacity as AFP Chief of Staff, and DIRECTOR GENERAL OSCAR CALDERON, in his capacity as PNP Chief of Staff, Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 178581 BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN (BAYAN), GENERAL ALLIANCE BINDING WOMEN FOR REFORMS, INTEGRITY, EQUALITY, LEADERSHIP AND ACTION (GABRIELA), KILUSANG MAGBUBUKID NG PILIPINAS (KMP), MOVEMENT OF CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES (MCCCL), CONFEDERATION FOR UNITY, RECOGNITION AND ADVANCEMENT OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (COURAGE), KALIPUNAN NG DAMAYANG MAHIHIRAP (KADAMAY), SOLIDARITY OF CAVITE WORKERS, LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS (LFS), ANAKBAYAN, PAMBANSANG LAKAS NG KILUSANG MAMAMALAKAYA (PAMALAKAYA), ALLIANCE OF CONCERNED TEACHERS (ACT), MIGRANTE, HEALTH ALLIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY (HEAD), AGHAM, TEOFISTO GUINGONA, JR., DR. BIENVENIDO LUMBERA, RENATO CONSTANTINO, JR., SISTER MARY JOHN MANANSAN OSB, DEAN CONSUELO PAZ, ATTY. JOSEFINA LICHAUCO, COL. GERRY CUNANAN (ret.), CARLITOS SIGUION-REYNA, DR. CAROLINA PAGADUAN-ARAULLO, RENATO REYES, DANILO RAMOS, EMERENCIANA DE LESUS, RITA BAUA, REY CLARO CASAMBRE, Petitioners, v. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in her capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EDUARDO ERMITA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SECRETARY RAUL GONZALES, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ALBERTO ROMULO, DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE ACTING SECRETARY NORBERTO GONZALES, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARY RONALDO PUNO. DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SECRETARY MARGARITO TEVES, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER NORBERTO GONZALES, THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING AGENCY (NICA), THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI), THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE, THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (ISAFP), THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL (AMLC), THE PHILIPPINE CENTER ON TRANSNATIONAL CRIME, THE CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE GEN. OSCAR CALDERON, THE PNP, including its intelligence and investigative elements, AFP CHIEF GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON, Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 178890 KARAPATAN, ALLIANCE FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF PEOPLE'S RIGHTS, represented herein by Dr. Edelina de la Paz, and representing the following organizations: HUSTISYA, represented by Evangeline Hernandez and also on her own behalf; DESAPARECIDOS, represented by Mary Guy Portajada and also on her own behalf, SAMAHAN NG MGA EX-DETAINEES LABAN SA DETENSYON AT PARA SA AMNESTIYA (SELDA), represented by Donato Continente and also on his own behalf, ECUMENICAL MOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE (EMJP), represented by Bishop Elmer M. Bolocon, UCCP, and PROMOTION OF CHURCH PEOPLE'S RESPONSE, represented by Fr. Gilbert Sabado, OCARM, Petitioners, v. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in her capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief, EXECUTIVE SECRETARTY EDUARDO ERMITA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SECRETARY RAUL GONZALEZ, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ALBERTO ROMULO, DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE ACTING SECRETARY NORBERTO GONZALES, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT SECRETARY RONALDO PUNO, DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE SECRETARY MARGARITO TEVES, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER NORBERTO GONZALES, THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING AGENCY (NICA), THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI), THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE, THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (ISAFP), THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL (AMLC), THE PHILIPPINE CENTER ON TRANSNATIONAL CRIME, THE CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE GEN. OSCAR CALDERON, THE PNP, including its intelligence and investigative elements, AFP CHIEF GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON, Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 179157 THE INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES (IBP), represented by Atty. Feliciano M. Bautista, COUNSELS FOR THE DEFENSE OF LIBERTY (CODAL), SEN. MA. ANA CONSUELO A.S. MADRIGAL and FORMER SENATORS SERGIO OSME�A III and WIGBERTO E. TA�ADA, Petitioners, v. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EDUARDO ERMITA AND THE MEMBERS OF THE ANTI-TERRORISM COUNCIL (ATC), Respondents.cralaw G.R. No. 179461 BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN-SOUTHERN TAGALOG (BAYAN-ST), GABRIELA-ST, KATIPUNAN NG MGA SAMAHYANG MAGSASAKA-TIMOG KATAGALUGAN (KASAMA-TK), MOVEMENT OF CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES (MCCCL), PEOPLES MARTYRS, ANAKBAYAN-ST, PAMALAKAYA-ST, CONFEDERATION FOR UNITY, RECOGNITION AND ADVANCEMENT OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (COURAGE-ST), PAGKAKAISA'T UGNAYAN NG MGA MAGBUBUKID SA LAGUNA (PUMALAG), SAMAHAN NG MGA MAMAMAYAN SA TABING RILES (SMTR-ST), LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS (LFS), BAYAN MUNA-ST, KONGRESO NG MGA MAGBUBUKID PARA SA REPORMANG AGRARYO KOMPRA, BIGKIS AT LAKAS NG MGA KATUTUBO SA TIMOG KATAGALUGAN (BALATIK), SAMAHAN AT UGNAYAN NG MGA MAGSASAKANG KABABAIHAN SA TIMOG KATAGALUGAN (SUMAMAKA-TK), STARTER, LOS�OS RURAL POOR ORGANIZATION FOR PROGRESS & EQUALITY, CHRISTIAN NI�O LAJARA, TEODORO REYES, FRANCESCA B. TOLENTINO, JANNETTE E. BARRIENTOS, OSCAR T. LAPIDA, JR., DELFIN DE CLARO, SALLY P. ASTRERA, ARNEL SEGUNE BELTRAN, Petitioners, v. GLORIA MACAPAGAL-ARROYO, in her capacity as President and Commander-in-Chief, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EDUARDO ERMITA, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SECRETARY RAUL GONZALEZ, DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SECRETARY ALBERTO ROMULO, DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE ACTING SECRETARY NORBERTO GONZALES, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMEN T SECRETARY RONALDO PUNO, DEPARTMENT OF FINCANCE SECRETARY MARGARITO TEVES, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER NORBERTO GONZALES, THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE COORDINATING AGENCY (NICA), THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION (NBI), THE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, THE OFFICE OF CIVIL DEFENSE, THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (ISAFP), THE ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING COUNCIL (AMLC), THE PHILIPPINE CENTER ON TRANSNATIONAL CRIME, THE CHIEF OF THE PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE GEN. OSCAR CALDERON, THE PNP, including its intelligence and investigative elements, AFP CHIEF GEN. HERMOGENES ESPERON, Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 164186 : October 4, 2010 FINANCIAL BUILDING CORPORATION, v. CORPORATION, BLOOMFIELD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC., RODOLFO J. LAGERA, MA. ERLINDA J. LAGERA AND JOSAPHAT R. BRAVANTE, RUDLIN INTERNATIONAL Respondents. G.R. No. 164347 RUDLIN INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, BLOOMFIELD EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION, INC., RODOLFO J. LAGERA, MA. ERLINDA J. LAGERA AND JOSAPHAT R. BRAVANTE, Petitioners, v. FINANCIAL BUILDING CORPORATION, Respondent.cralaw D E C I S I O N

  • G.R. Nos. 158090 : October 4, 2010 GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), Petitioner, v. HEIRS OF FERNANDO F. CABALLERO, represented by his daughter, JOCELYN G. CABALLERO, Respondents.cralaw

  • A.C. No. 3872 : October 4, 2010 TRINIDAD IRORITA, Petitioner, v. ATTY. JIMMY LUCZON, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 175501 : October 4, 2010 MANILA WATER COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. JOSE J. DALUMPINES, EMMANUEL CAPIT, ROMEO B. CASTOLONE, MELITANTE CASTRO, NONITO FERNANDEZ, ARNULFO JAMISON, ARTHUR LAVISTE, ESTEBAN LEGARTO, SUSANO MIRANDA, RAMON C. REYES, JOSE SIERRA, BENJAMIN TALAVERA, MOISES ZAPATERO, EDGAR PAMORAGA, BERNARDO S. MEDINA, MELENCIO M. BAONGUIS, JR., JOSE AGUILAR, ANGEL C. GARCIA, JOSE TEODY P. VELASCO, AUGUSTUS J. TANDOC, ROBERTO DAGDAG, MIGUEL LOPEZ, GEORGE CABRERA, ARMAN BORROMEO, RONITO R. FRIAS, ANTONIO VERGARA, RANDY CORTIGUERRA, and FIRST CLASSIC COURIER SERVICES, INC., Respondents.cralaw

  • G.R. No. 183626 : October 4, 2010 SURIGAO DEL NORTE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC. (SURNECO), Petitioner, v. ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 165876 : October 4, 2010 WESTMONT INVESTMENT CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. FARMIX FERTILIZER CORPORATION, PEARLBANK SECURITIES, INC., MANUEL N. TANKIANSEE and JUANITA U. TAN, Respondents.crala

  • [G. R. No. 3316-Paras : October 26, 2010] JOSE PNCE DE LEON, PLAINTIFF AND APPELLANT, VS. SANTIAGO SYJUCO, INC., DEFENDANT AND APPELLANT, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK, DEFENDANT AND APPELLEE.

  • [A.M. No. RTJ-05-1924 (Formerly A.M. No. 04-10-568-RTC), October 13, 2010] RE: CASES SUBMITTED FOR DECISION BEFORE JUDGE DAMASO A. HERRERA, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 24, BIÑAN, LAGUNA.

  • [G.R. No. 172394, October 13, 2010] H. TAMBUNTING PAWNSHOP, INC., PETITIONER, VS. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, RESPONDENT.