montescarlos et. al vs COMELEC

7/26/2019 montescarlos et. al vs COMELEC

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Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURTManila

EN BANCG.R. No. 15!5 "ul# !$ %%

ANTON&ETTE '.C. MONTESC(AROS$ MAR&CE(

CARAN)O$ "OSEP*&NE ATANGAN$ RONA(+ATANGAN an, C(AR&)A +ECENA$ an, OT*ER -OUT*

O T*E (AN+ S&M&(AR(- S&TUATE+$ petitione/s$

0s.

COMM&SS&ON ON E(ECT&ONS$ +EPARTMENT O&NTER&OR AN+ (OCA( GO'ERNMENT$ +EPARTMENT

O BU+GET AN+ MANAGEMENT$ EECUT&'ESECRETAR- of the O&CE O T*E PRES&+ENT$

SENATOR RAN2(&N +R&(ON in his capacit# as SenateP/esi,ent an, SENATOR A3U&(&NO P&MENTE( in his

capacit# as Mino/it# (ea,e/ of the Senate of the Philippines$CONGRESSMAN "OSE +E 'ENEC&A in his capacit# as

Spea4e/$ CONGRESSMAN AGUSTO (. S-"OCO in hiscapacit# as Chai/an of the Coittee on Suff/a6e an,

Electo/al Refo/s$ an, CONGRESSMAN EM&(&O C.MAC&AS && in his capacit# as Chai/an of the Coittee on

(ocal Go0e/nent of the *ouse of Rep/esentati0es$ T*EPRES&+ENT O T*E PAMBANSANG 2AT&PUNAN NG

MGA SANGGUN&ANG 2ABATAAN$ AN+ A(( T*E&RAGENTS AN+ REPRESENTAT&'ES$/espon,ents.


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CARP&O$ ".7

The Case

Befo/e us is a petition fo/ ce/tio/a/i$ p/ohibition an,

an,aus 8ith p/a#e/ fo/ a tepo/a/# /est/ainin6 o/,e/ o/p/eliina/# in9unction. The petition see4s to p/e0ent the

postponeent of the San66unian6 2abataan :;S2; fo/b/e0it#< elections o/i6inall# sche,ule, last Ma# =$ %%. The

petition also see4s to p/e0ent the /e,uction of the a6e

/e>ui/eent fo/ ebe/ship in the S2.Petitione/s$ 8ho a/e all % #ea/s ol,$ file, this petition as ata?pa#e/@s an, class suit$ on thei/ o8n behalf an, on behalf of

othe/ #ouths siila/l# situate,. Petitione/s clai that the# a/ein ,an6e/ of bein6 ,is>ualifie, to 0ote an, be 0ote, fo/ in the

S2 elections shoul, the S2 elections on Ma# =$ %% bepostpone, to a late/ ,ate. Un,e/ the (ocal Go0e/nent Co,e

of 1!!1 :R.A. No. 1=%ualifie, f/o the S2 o/6aniation.;1Thus$ petitione/s p/a# fo/ the issuance of a tepo/a/#


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/est/ainin6 o/,e/ o/ p/eliina/# in9unction D

;a< To p/e0ent$ annul o/ ,ecla/e unconstitutional an# la8$,ec/ee$ Coelec /esolution,i/ecti0e an, othe/

/espon,ents@ issuances$ o/,e/s an, actions an, the li4e inpostponin6 the Ma# =$ %% S2 elections.

b< To coan, the /espon,ents to continue the Ma# =$%% S2 elections set b# the p/esent la8 an, in

acco/,ance 8ith Coelec Resolutions No. F1 an,F1F an, to e?pe,ite the fun,in6 of the S2 elections.

c< &n the alte/nati0e$ if the S2 elections 8ill be postpone,

fo/ 8hate0e/ /eason$ the/e ust be a ,efinite ,ate fo/ sai,elections$ fo/ e?aple$ "ul# 15$ %%$ an, the p/esent S2ebe/ship$ e?cept those incubent S2 office/s 8ho

8e/e electe, on Ma# =$ 1!!=$ shall be allo8e, to /un fo/an# S2 electi0e position e0en if the# a/e o/e than 1

#ea/s ol,.,< To ,i/ect the incubent S2 office/s 8ho a/e p/esentl#

/ep/esentin6 the S2 in e0e/# san66unian an, the N-C to0acate thei/ post afte/ the ba/an6a# elections.;

The acts

The S2 is a #outh o/6aniation o/i6inall# establishe, b#

P/esi,ential +ec/ee No. =F as the 2abataan6Ba/an6a#:;2B; fo/ b/e0it#


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The (ocal Go0e/nent Co,e of 1!!1 /enae, the 2B to S2

an, liite, S2 ebe/ship to those #ouths ;at least 15 butnot o/e than 1 #ea/s of a6e.;FThe S2 /eains as a #outh

o/6aniation in e0e/# ba/an6a# tas4e, to initiate p/o6/as ;toenhance the social$ political$ econoic$ cultu/al$ intellectual$

o/al$ spi/itual$ an, ph#sical ,e0elopent of the#outh.;5 The S2 in e0e/# ba/an6a# is copose, of a

chai/pe/son an, se0en ebe/s$ all electe, b# the2atipunann6 2abataan. The 2atipunan n6 2abataan in e0e/# ba/an6a#

is copose, of all citiens actuall# /esi,in6 in the ba/an6a#

fo/ at least si? onths an, 8ho eet the ebe/ship a6e/e>ui/eent.The fi/st S2 elections too4 place on +ecebe/ F$ 1!!. RA

No. % /eset the S2 elections to the fi/st Mon,a# of Ma# of1!!= an, e0e/# th/ee #ea/s the/eafte/. RA No. % an,ate,

the Coelec to supe/0ise the con,uct of the S2 electionsun,e/ /ules the Coelec shall p/oul6ate. Acco/,in6l#$ the

Coelec on +ecebe/ F$ %%1 issue, Resolution Nos.F1= an, F1F to 6o0e/n the S2 elections on Ma# =$ %%.

On eb/ua/# 1$ %%$ petitione/ Antoniette '.C.Montescla/os :;Montescla/os; fo/ b/e0it#< sent a lette/ to the

Coelec$ ,ean,in6 that the S2 elections be hel, assche,ule, on Ma# =$ %%. Montescla/os also u/6e, the

Coelec to /espon, to he/ lette/ 8ithin 1% ,a#s upon /eceiptof the lette/$ othe/8ise$ she 8ill see4 9u,icial /elief.

On eb/ua/# %$ %%$ Alf/e,o (. Benipa#o :;Chai/anBenipa#o; fo/ b/e0it#


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Ba/an6a# elections. &n his lette/s$ the Coelec Chai/an

intiate, that it 8as ;ope/ationall# 0e/# ,ifficult; to hol,both elections siultaneousl# in Ma# %%. &nstea,$ the

Coelec Chai/an e?p/esse, suppo/t fo/ the bill of Senato//an4lin +/ilon that p/opose, to hol, the Ba/an6a# elections

in Ma# %% an, postpone the S2 elections to No0ebe/%%.

Ten ,a#s lapse, 8ithout the Coelec /espon,in6 to the lette/of Montescla/os. Subse>uentl#$ petitione/s /ecei0e, a cop# of

Coelec En Banc Resolution No. F=11 ,ate, eb/ua/# 5$

%% /ecoen,in6 to Con6/ess the postponeent of the S2elections to No0ebe/ %% but hol,in6 the Ba/an6a#elections in Ma# %% as sche,ule,.1

On Ma/ch =$ %%$ the Senate an, the *ouse ofRep/esentati0es passe, thei/ /especti0e bills postponin6 the

S2 elections. On Ma/ch 11$ %%$ the Bicae/al Confe/enceCoittee :;Bicae/al Coittee; fo/ b/e0it#< of the

Senate an, the *ouse cae out 8ith aRepo/t1 /ecoen,in6 app/o0al of the /econcile, bill

consoli,atin6 Senate Bill No. %5%1F an, *ouse Bill No.FF5=.15 The Bicae/al Coittee@s consoli,ate, bill /eset

the S2 an, Ba/an6a# elections to "ul# 15$ %% an, lo8e/e,the ebe/ship a6e in the S2 to at least 15 but not o/e than

1 #ea/s of a6e.On Ma/ch 11$ %%$ petitione/s file, the instant petition.

On Ma/ch 11$ %%$ the Senate app/o0e, the Bicae/alCoittee@s consoli,ate, bill an, on Ma/ch 1$ %%$ the

*ouse of Rep/esentati0es app/o0e, the sae. The P/esi,entsi6ne, the app/o0e, bill into la8 on Ma/ch 1!$ %%.


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The &ssues

Petitione/s1= /aise the follo8in6 6/oun,s in suppo/t of thei/petition7

;&.

RESPON+ENTS ACTE+ H*&MS&CA((-$

&((EGA((- AN+ UNCONST&TUT&ONA((- T*US

CONST&TUTE+ :S&C< H&T* GRA'E ABUSE O+&SCRET&ON$ AMOUNT&NG TO (AC2 OR ECESS

O "UR&S+&CT&ON H*EN T*E- &NTEN+E+ TO

POSTPONE T*E S2 E(ECT&ONS.

&&.

RESPON+ENTS ACTE+ H*&MS&CA((-$&((EGA((- AN+ UNCONST&TUT&ONA((- T*US


O "UR&S+&CT&ON H*EN T*E- &NTEN+E+ TO+&SCR&M&NATE$ +&SENRANC*&SE$ S&NG(E OUT

AN+ +&SMEMBER T*E S2 MEMBERS H*O ARE1 BUT NOT (ESS1 :S&C< T*AN 1 -EARS O(+

COMPOSE+ O ABOUT M&((&ON -OUT*.&&&.

RESPON+ENTS ACTE+ H*&MS&CA((-$&((EGA((- AN+ UNCONST&TUT&ONA((- T*US


O "UR&S+&CT&ON H*EN T*E- H&((U((-A&(E+ TO UN+ T*E S2 E(ECT&ON


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PURPORTE+(- TO POSTPONE T*E SAME &N

OR+ER TO &MP(EMENT T*E&R &((EGA( SC*EMEAN+ MAC*&NAT&ON &N SP&TE O T*E ACT T*AT

T*ERE ARE A'A&(AB(E UN+S OR T*EPURPOSE.

&'.T*E &NCUMBENT S2 O&CERS HANTE+ TO

PERPETUA((- S&T ON T*E&R RESPECT&'EO&CES CONTRAR- TO T*E EN'&S&ON :S&C< O

T*E CREAT&ON O T*E S2 ORGAN&)AT&ON$

*ENCE$ &N '&O(AT&ON O (AH AN+CONST&TUT&ON.;1The Cou/t@s Rulin6

The petition is be/eft of e/it.At the outset$ the Cou/t ta4es 9u,icial notice of the follo8in6

e0ents that ha0e t/anspi/e, since petitione/s file, this petition71. The Ma# =$ %% S2 elections an, Ma# 1$ %%

Ba/an6a# elections 8e/e not hel, as sche,ule,.. Con6/ess enacte, RA No. !1=F1! 8hich p/o0i,es that

0ote/s an, can,i,ates fo/ the S2 elections ust be ;atleast 15 but less than 1 #ea/s of a6e on the ,a# of the

election.;% RA No. !1=F also p/o0i,es that the/e shallbe a s#nch/onie, S2 an, Ba/an6a# elections on "ul# 15$

%%.. The Coelec p/oul6ate, Resolution No. FF=$ the

/ules an, /e6ulations fo/ the con,uct of the "ul# 15$ %%s#nch/onie, S2 an, Ba/an6a# elections.

Petitione/s$ 8ho all clai to be % #ea/s ol,$ a/6ue that thepostponeent of the Ma# =$ %% S2 elections


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,isenf/anchises the$ p/e0entin6 the f/o 0otin6 an, bein6

0ote, fo/ in the S2 elections. Petitione/s@ theo/# is that if theS2 elections 8e/e postpone, to a ,ate late/ than Ma# =$ %%$

the postponeent 8oul, ,is>ualif# f/o S2 ebe/ship#ouths 8ho 8ill tu/n 1 #ea/s ol, bet8een Ma# =$ %% an,

the ,ate of the ne8 S2 elections. Petitione/s clai that a/e,uction in the S2 ebe/ship a6e to 15 but less than 1

#ea/s of a6e f/o the then ebe/ship a6e of 15 but noto/e than 1 #ea/s of a6e 8oul, ,is>ualif# about se0en

illion #ouths. The public /espon,ents@ failu/e to hol, the

elections on Ma# =$ %% 8oul, p/e9u,ice petitione/s an,othe/ #ouths siila/l# situate,.Thus$ petitione/s institute, this petition to7 :1< copel public

/espon,ents to hol, the S2 elections on Ma# =$ %% an,shoul, it be postpone,$ the S2 elections shoul, be hel, not

late/ than "ul# 15$ %%I :< p/e0ent public /espon,ents f/opassin6 la8s an, issuin6 /esolutions an, o/,e/s that 8oul,

lo8e/ the ebe/ship a6e in the S2I an, :< copel public/espon,ents to allo8 petitione/s an, those 8ho ha0e tu/ne,

o/e than 1 #ea/s ol, on Ma# =$ %% to pa/ticipate in an#/eDsche,ule, S2 elections.

The Cou/t@s po8e/ of 9u,icial /e0ie8 a# be e?e/cise, inconstitutional cases onl# if all the follo8in6 /e>uisites a/e

coplie, 8ith$ nael#7 :1< the e?istence of an actual an,app/op/iate case o/ cont/o0e/s#I :< a pe/sonal an, substantial

inte/est of the pa/t# /aisin6 the constitutional >uestionI :< thee?e/cise of 9u,icial /e0ie8 is plea,e, at the ea/liest

oppo/tunit#I an, :F< the constitutional >uestion is the lisota of the case.1


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&n the instant case$ the/e is no actual cont/o0e/s# /e>ui/in6 the

e?e/cise of the po8e/ of 9u,icial /e0ie8. Hhile see4in6 top/e0ent a postponeent of the Ma# =$ %% S2 elections$

petitione/s a/e ne0e/theless aenable to a /esettin6 of the S2elections to an# ,ate not late/ than "ul# 15$ %%. RA No.

!1=F has /eset the S2 elections to "ul# 15$ %%$ a ,ateacceptable to petitione/s. Hith /espect to the ,ate of the S2

elections$ the/e is the/efo/e no actual cont/o0e/s# /e>ui/in69u,icial inte/0ention.

Petitione/s@ p/a#e/ to p/e0ent Con6/ess f/o enactin6 into la8

a p/opose, bill lo8e/in6 the ebe/ship a6e in the S2 ,oesnot p/esent an actual 9usticiable cont/o0e/s#. A p/opose, billis not sub9ect to 9u,icial /e0ie8 because it is not a la8. A

p/opose, bill c/eates no /i6ht an, iposes no ,ut# le6all#enfo/ceable b# the Cou/t. A p/opose, bill$ ha0in6 no le6al

effect$ 0iolates no constitutional /i6ht o/ ,ut#. The Cou/t hasno po8e/ to ,ecla/e a p/opose, bill constitutional o/

unconstitutional because that 8oul, be in the natu/e of/en,e/in6 an a,0iso/# opinion on a p/opose, act of Con6/ess.

The po8e/ of 9u,icial /e0ie8 cannot bee?e/cise, in 0acuo. The secon, pa/a6/aph of Section 1$

A/ticle '&&& of the Constitution states J;"u,icial po8e/ inclu,es the ,ut# of the cou/ts of 9ustice

to settle actual cont/o0e/sies in0ol0in6 /i6hts 8hich a/ele6all# ,ean,able an, enfo/ceable$ an, to ,ete/ine

8hethe/ o/ not the/e has been a 6/a0e abuse of ,isc/etionaountin6 to lac4 o/ e?cess of 9u/is,iction on the pa/t of

an# b/anch o/ inst/uentalit# of the Go0e/nent.;:Ephasis supplie,


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Thus$ the/e can be no 9usticiable cont/o0e/s# in0ol0in6 the

constitutionalit# of a p/opose, bill. The Cou/t can e?e/cise itspo8e/ of 9u,icial /e0ie8 onl# afte/ a la8 is enacte,$ not

befo/e.Un,e/ the sepa/ation of po8e/s$ the Cou/t cannot /est/ain

Con6/ess f/o passin6 an# la8$ o/ f/o settin6 into otionthe le6islati0e ill acco/,in6 to its inte/nal /ules. Thus$ the

follo8in6 acts of Con6/ess in the e?e/cise of its le6islati0epo8e/s a/e not sub9ect to 9u,icial /est/aint7 the filin6 of bills

b# ebe/s of Con6/ess$ the app/o0al of bills b# each

chabe/ of Con6/ess$ the /econciliation b# the Bicae/alCoittee of app/o0e, bills$ an, the e0entual app/o0al intola8 of the /econcile, bills b# each chabe/ of Con6/ess.

Absent a clea/ 0iolation of specific constitutional liitationso/ of constitutional /i6hts of p/i0ate pa/ties$ the Cou/t cannot

e?e/cise its po8e/ of 9u,icial /e0ie8 o0e/ the inte/nalp/ocesses o/ p/oce,u/es of Con6/ess.

The Cou/t has also no po8e/ to ,ictate to Con6/ess the ob9ecto/ sub9ect of bills that Con6/ess shoul, enact into la8. The

9u,icial po8e/ to /e0ie8 the constitutionalit# of la8s ,oes notinclu,e the po8e/ to p/esc/ibe to Con6/ess 8hat la8s to

enact. The Cou/t has no po8e/ to copel Con6/ess b#an,aus to enact a la8 allo8in6 petitione/s$ /e6a/,less of

thei/ a6e$ to 0ote an, be 0ote, fo/ in the "ul# 15$ %% S2elections. To ,o so 8oul, ,est/o# the ,elicate s#ste of

chec4s an, balances finel# c/afte, b# the Constitution fo/ theth/ee coDe>ual$ coo/,inate an, in,epen,ent b/anches of

6o0e/nent.Un,e/ RA No. !1=F$ Con6/ess e/el# /esto/e, the a6e


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/e>ui/eent in P+ No. =F$ the o/i6inal cha/te/ of the S2$

8hich fi?e, the a?iu a6e fo/ ebe/ship in the S2 to#ouths less than 1 #ea/s ol,. Petitione/s ,o not ha0e a 0este,

/i6ht to the pe/anence of the a6e /e>ui/eent un,e/ SectionFF of the (ocal Go0e/nent Co,e of 1!!1. E0e/# la8

passe, b# Con6/ess is al8a#s sub9ect to aen,ent o/ /epealb# Con6/ess. The Cou/t cannot /est/ain Con6/ess f/o

aen,in6 o/ /epealin6 la8s$ fo/ the po8e/ to a4e la8sinclu,es the po8e/ to chan6e the la8s.F

The Cou/t cannot also ,i/ect the Coelec to allo8 o0e/Da6e,

0ote/s to 0ote o/ be 0ote, fo/ in an election that is liite,un,e/ RA No. !1=F to #ouths at least 15 but less than 1#ea/s ol,. A la8 is nee,e, to allo8 all those 8ho ha0e tu/ne,

o/e than 1 #ea/s ol, on o/ afte/ Ma# =$ %% to pa/ticipatein the "ul# 15$ %% S2 elections. -ouths f/o 1 to 1 #ea/s

ol, as of Ma# =$ %% a/e also no lon6e/ S2 ebe/s$ an,cannot pa/ticipate in the "ul# 15$ %% S2 elections. Con6/ess

8ill ha0e to ,eci,e 8hethe/ to enact an aen,ato/# la8.Petitione/s@ /ee,# is le6islation$ not 9u,icial inte/0ention.

Petitione/s ha0e no pe/sonal an, substantial inte/est inaintainin6 this suit. A pa/t# ust sho8 that he has been$ o/

is about to be ,enie, soe pe/sonal /i6ht o/ p/i0ile6e to8hich he is la8full# entitle,.5 A pa/t# ust also sho8 that

he has a /eal inte/est in the suit. B# ;/eal inte/est; is eant ap/esent substantial inte/est$ as ,istin6uishe, f/o a e/e

e?pectanc# o/ futu/e$ contin6ent$ subo/,inate$ o/inconse>uential inte/est.=

&n the instant case$ petitione/s see4 to enfo/ce a /i6hto/i6inall# confe//e, b# la8 on those 8ho 8e/e at least 15 but


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not o/e than 1 #ea/s ol,. No8$ 8ith the passa6e of RA No.

!1=F$ this /i6ht is liite, to those 8ho on the ,ate of the S2elections a/e at least 15 but less than 1 #ea/s ol,. The ne8

la8 /est/icts ebe/ship in the S2 to this specific a6e 6/oup.Not fallin6 8ithin this classification$ petitione/s ha0e cease,

to be ebe/s of the S2 an, a/e no lon6e/ >ualifie, topa/ticipate in the "ul# 15$ %% S2 elections. Plainl#$

petitione/s no lon6e/ ha0e a pe/sonal an, substantial inte/estin the S2 elections.

This petition ,oes not /aise an# constitutional issue. At the

tie petitione/s file, this petition$ RA No. !1=F$ 8hich /esetthe S2 elections an, /e,uce, the a6e /e>ui/eent fo/ S2ebe/ship$ 8as not #et enacte, into la8. Afte/ the passa6e

of RA No. !1=F$ petitione/s faile, to assail an# p/o0ision inRA No. !1=F that coul, be unconstitutional. To 6/ant

petitione/s@ p/a#e/ to be allo8e, to 0ote an, be 0ote, fo/ inthe "ul# 15$ %% S2 elections necessitates assailin6 the

constitutionalit# of RA No. !1=F. This$ petitione/s ha0e not,one. The Cou/t 8ill not st/i4e ,o8n a la8 unless its

constitutionalit# is p/ope/l# /aise, in an app/op/iate actionan, a,e>uatel# a/6ue,.

The onl# seblance of a constitutional issue$ albeite//oneous$ that petitione/s /aise is thei/ clai that S2

ebe/ship is a ;p/ope/t# /i6ht 8ithin the eanin6 of theConstitution.; Since ce/tain public offices a/e ;/ese/0e,;

fo/ S2 office/s$ petitione/s also clai a constitutionall#p/otecte, ;oppo/tunit#; to occup# these public offices. &n

petitione/s@ o8n 8o/,s$ the# an, othe/s siila/l# situate,stan, to ;lose thei/ oppo/tunit# to 8o/4 in the 6o0e/nent


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positions /ese/0e, fo/ S2 ebe/s o/ office/s.;! Un,e/ the

(ocal Go0e/nent Co,e of 1!!1$ the p/esi,ent of thefe,e/ation of S2 o/6aniations in a unicipalit#$ cit# o/

p/o0ince is an e?Dofficio ebe/ of the unicipal council$cit# council o/ p/o0incial boa/,$ /especti0el#.% The

chai/pe/son of the S2 in the ba/an6a# is an e?Dofficio ebe/ of the San66unian6 Ba/an6a#.1 The

p/esi,ent of the national fe,e/ation of S2 o/6aniations isan e?Dofficio ebe/ of the National -outh Coission$

8ith /an4 of a +epa/tent Assistant Sec/eta/#.

Con6/ess e?e/cises the po8e/ to p/esc/ibe the >ualificationsfo/ S2 ebe/ship. One 8ho is no lon6e/ >ualifie, becauseof an aen,ent in the la8 cannot coplain of bein6

,ep/i0e, of a p/op/ieta/# /i6ht to S2 ebe/ship. Onl# those8ho >ualif# as S2 ebe/s can contest$ base, on a statuto/#

/i6ht$ an# act ,is>ualif#in6 the f/o S2 ebe/ship o/f/o 0otin6 in the S2 elections. S2 ebe/ship is not a

p/ope/t# /i6ht p/otecte, b# the Constitution because it is ae/e statuto/# /i6ht confe//e, b# la8. Con6/ess a# aen, at

an# tie the la8 to chan6e o/ e0en 8ith,/a8 the statuto/#/i6ht.

A public office is not a p/ope/t# /i6ht. As the Constitutione?p/essl# states$ a ;KPLublic office is a public t/ust.; No one

has a 0este, /i6ht to an# public office$ uch less a 0este,/i6ht to an e?pectanc# of hol,in6 a public office. &nCo/ne9o 0.

Gab/iel$F ,eci,e, in 1!%$ the Cou/t al/ea,# /ule,7;A6ain$ fo/ this petition to coe un,e/ the ,ue p/ocess of

la8 p/ohibition$ it 8oul, be necessa/# to consi,e/ anoffice a ;p/ope/t#.; &t is$ ho8e0e/$ 8ell settle, ? ? ? that a


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public office is not p/ope/t# 8ithin the sense of the

constitutional 6ua/anties of ,ue p/ocess of la8$ but is apublic t/ust o/ a6enc#. ? ? ? The basic i,ea of the

6o0e/nent ? ? ? is that of a popula/ /ep/esentati0e6o0e/nent$ the office/s bein6 e/e a6ents an, not /ule/s

of the people$ one 8he/e no one an o/ set of en has ap/op/ieta/# o/ cont/actual /i6ht to an office$ but 8he/e

e0e/# office/ accepts office pu/suant to the p/o0isions ofthe la8 an, hol,s the office as a t/ust fo/ the people he

/ep/esents.; :Ephasis supplie,ual access to

oppo/tunities fo/ public se/0ice;5 cannot besto8 onpetitione/s a p/op/ieta/# /i6ht to S2 ebe/ship o/ a

p/op/ieta/# e?pectanc# to e?Dofficio public offices.Mo/eo0e/$ 8hile the State polic# is to encou/a6e the #outh@s

in0ol0eent in public affai/s$= this polic# /efe/s to those8ho belon6 to the class of people ,efine, as the #outh.

Con6/ess has the po8e/ to ,efine 8ho a/e the #outh >ualifie,to 9oin the S2$ 8hich itself is a c/eation of Con6/ess. Those

8ho ,o not >ualif# because the# a/e past the a6e 6/oup,efine, as the #outh cannot insist on bein6 pa/t of the #outh.


15/21

&n 6o0e/nent se/0ice$ once an eplo#ee /eaches an,ato/#

/eti/eent a6e$ he cannot in0o4e an# p/ope/t# /i6ht to clin6 tohis office. &n the sae anne/$ since petitione/s a/e no8 past

the a?iu a6e fo/ ebe/ship in the S2$ the# cannotin0o4e an# p/ope/t# /i6ht to clin6 to thei/ S2 ebe/ship.

The petition ust also fail because no 6/a0e abuse of,isc/etion atten,e, the postponeent of the S2 elections. RA

No. !1=F is no8 the la8 that p/esc/ibes the >ualifications ofcan,i,ates an, 0ote/s fo/ the S2 elections. This la8 also fi?es

the ,ate of the S2 elections. Petitione/s a/e not e0en assailin6

the constitutionalit# of RA No. !1=F. RA No. !1=F en9o#s thep/esuption of constitutionalit# an, 8ill appl# to the "ul# 15$%% S2 elections.

Petitione/s ha0e not sho8n that the Coelec acte, ille6all# o/8ith 6/a0e abuse of ,isc/etion in /ecoen,in6 to Con6/ess

the postponeent of the S2 elections. The 0e/# e0i,ence/elie, upon b# petitione/s cont/a,ict thei/ alle6ation of

ille6alit#. The e0i,ence consist of the follo8in67 :1ualifie,. On "ul# 15$ %%$ 8hen the S2 elections a/e hel,$

the hol,Do0e/ pe/io, e?pi/es an, all incubent S2 officialsautoaticall# cease to hol, thei/ S2 offices an, thei/ e?D

officio public offices.

&n su$ petitione/s ha0e no pe/sonal an, substantial inte/estin aintainin6 this suit. This petition p/esents no actual9usticiable cont/o0e/s#. Petitione/s ,o not cite an# p/o0ision

of la8 that is alle6e, to be unconstitutional. (astl#$ 8e fin,no 6/a0e abuse of ,isc/etion on the pa/t of public /espon,ents.

H*EREORE$ the petition is +&SM&SSE+ fo/ utte/ lac4 ofe/it.

SO OR+ERE+.+a0i,e$ "/.$ C.".$ Bellosillo$ Puno$ 'itu6$ 2apunan$ Men,oa$

Pan6aniban$ 3uisubin6$ -na/esDSantia6o$ San,o0alDGutie//e$ Aust/iaDMa/tine$ an, Co/ona$ "".$ concu/.

ootnotes

1 Rollo$ pp. FD5. &bi,.$ pp. 1FD15.

Secon, Hhe/eas Clause of P+ No. =FI See alsoMe/ca,o 0s. Boa/, of Election Supe/0iso/s of &baan$

Batan6as$ F SCRA F :1!!5ualification in Section


18/21

11= of the (ocal Go0e/nent Co,e of 1!. Ea/lie/$ P+

No. 11%$ issue, on eb/ua/# $ 1!$ ha, inc/ease, thea6e /e>ui/eent to ;t8ent#Done #ea/s of a6e o/ less.;

5 Section F= of the (ocal Go0e/nent Co,e enue/atesthe po8e/s an, functions of the San66unia6 2abataan as

follo8s7 ;Section F=.Po8e/s an, unctions of theSan66unian6 2abataan. The San66unian6

2abataan shall7 :a< P/oul6ate /esolutions necessa/# toca//# out the ob9ecti0es of the #outh in the ba/an6a# in

acco/,ance 8ith the applicable p/o0isions of this Co,eI

:b< &nitiate p/o6/as ,esi6ne, to enhance the social$political$ econoic$ cultu/al$ intellectual$ o/al$ spi/itual$an, ph#sical ,e0elopent of the ebe/sI :c< *ol,

fun,D/aisin6 acti0ities$ the p/ocee,s of 8hich shall beta?De?ept an, shall acc/ue to the 6ene/al fun, of

the san66unian6 4abataan7 P/o0i,e,$ ho8e0e/$ That inthe app/op/iation the/eof$ the specific pu/pose fo/ 8hich

such acti0it# has been hel, shall be fi/st satisfie,I :,

montescarlos et. al vs COMELEC

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