EN BANC
[ G.R. No. 187428, October 16, 2009 ]EUGENIO T. REVILLA v. COMELEC +
EUGENIO T. REVILLA, SR., PETITIONER, VS. THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS AND GERARDO L. LANOY, RESPONDENTS.
RESOLUTION
EUGENIO T. REVILLA v. COMELEC +
EUGENIO T. REVILLA, SR., PETITIONER, VS. THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS AND GERARDO L. LANOY, RESPONDENTS.
RESOLUTION
NACHURA, J.:
This is a petition for certiorari under Rule 64 of the Rules of Court ascribing grave abuse of discretion to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Second Division in EAC (BRGY) No. 148-2008 for issuing its Order dated March 9, 2009, denying
petitioner's motion for reconsideration as violative of the 1987 Constitution and the COMELEC Rules of Procedure both mandating that a motion for reconsideration can be disposed only by the COMELEC en banc.
The factual background is as follows
Petitioner Eugenio T. Revilla, Sr. (Revilla) and private respondent Gerardo L. Lanoy (Lanoy) were candidates for Punong Barangay of Barangay Cabligan, Matanao, Davao del Sur during the October 29, 2007 barangay elections. When the votes were counted, the results showed that Revilla garnered 309 votes as against the 307 votes garnered by Lanoy. The Barangay Board of Canvassers thus proclaimed Revilla as the duly elected Punong Barangay of Barangay Cabligan.
Lanoy then filed an election protest before the Second Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Hagonoy-Matanao, Davao del Sur against Revilla, on the ground that the Board of Election Tellers failed to credit in his favor at most 13 votes in the three precincts despite the absence and failure of the watchers of the precincts to object orally and cause their objections to be recorded.
After revision, it appeared that Lanoy garnered 312 votes while Revilla got only 311. Consequently, the MCTC decided in favor of Lanoy.
On March 31, 2008, Revilla filed a notice of appeal from the MCTC decision and paid P1,000.00, the assessed appeal fee. The MCTC gave due course to the notice of appeal in its Order dated March 31, 2008 and ordered the transmittal of the records to the COMELEC for appropriate action.
On December 18, 2008, the COMELEC Second Division issued an Order dismissing the appeal for failure to pay the appeal fee of P3,200.00 in accordance with COMELEC Resolution No. 8486.
On January 23, 2009, Revilla paid the appeal fee and filed a motion for reconsideration of the December 18, 2008 Order.
On February 4, 2009, the COMELEC Second Division denied the motion for reconsideration because only P300.00 was paid as motion fee, not the full P500.00 as required by COMELEC Resolution No. 02-0130.
On February 19, 2009, Revilla paid the P200.00 differential amount of the motion fee and filed a second motion for reconsideration. Upon learning about it, Lanoy filed a motion for execution before the MCTC. Revilla opposed the motion.
On March 9, 2009, the COMELEC Second Division issued its Order denying Revilla's motion, being a second motion for reconsideration; hence, this petition.
The petition should be granted.
It is worthy to note that this case has the same factual backdrop as in Jerry B. Aguilar v. The Commission on Elections and Romulo R. Insoy.[1] In that case, petitioner Aguilar won as barangay chairperson of Barangay Bansarvil 1, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte over private respondent Insoy by a one-vote margin and was duly proclaimed. Insoy protested before the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) of Kapatagan, which, after revision, decided in his favor. On April 21, 2008, Aguilar filed his notice of appeal and paid the MTC the appeal fee of P1,000.00. When the COMELEC received the records of the case, the First Division ordered the dismissal of the appeal for failure to pay the proper appeal fee. Aguilar moved for reconsideration, but the COMELEC First Division denied his motion for failure to pay the complete motion fee of P700.00. Aguilar filed another motion for reconsideration, arguing that the COMELEC en banc should have ruled upon his motion for reconsideration. The same COMELEC division, however, issued an Order denying the motion, being a second motion for reconsideration which is a prohibited pleading.
We find that Aguilar is squarely applicable in this case. We, therefore, hold that the COMELEC Second Division acted with grave abuse of discretion in denying petitioner's motions for reconsideration and dismissing his appeal.
Indeed, the February 4 and March 9, 2009 Orders are null and void as they were issued by a division of the COMELEC, instead of the COMELEC en banc, pursuant to Article IX-C, Section 3,[2] of the 1987 Constitution and to Rule 19, Sections 5[3] and 6,[4] of the COMELEC Rules of Procedure. This rule should apply whether the motion fee has been paid or not. It is the COMELEC en banc, not the division, which has the discretion either to refuse to take action until the motion fee is paid, or to dismiss the action or proceeding.[5]
Considering the urgent need to resolve election cases and since the issue was raised in this petition, we likewise rule that the dismissal of Revilla's appeal was improper. His payment of the appeal fee of P1,000.00 before the MCTC on March 31, 2008[6] already perfected his appeal pursuant to A.M. No. 07-4-15-SC (Rules of Procedure in Election Contests Before the Courts Involving Elective Municipal and Barangay Officials). The non-payment or the insufficient payment of the additional appeal fee of P3,200.00 to the COMELEC Cash Division[7] does not affect the perfection of the appeal and does not result in the outright or ipso facto dismissal of the appeal. Under Rule 22, Section 9(a), of the COMELEC Rules, the appeal may be dismissed. And under Rule 40, Section 18 of the same rules, if the fees are not paid, the COMELEC may refuse to take action thereon until they are paid and may dismiss the action or the proceeding. Considering that the payment of the appeal fee was made three and a half months before the issuance of the clarificatory COMELEC Resolution No. 8486 and after the perfection of the appeal, we find the dismissal of the appeal by the COMELEC Second Division as grave abuse of its discretion.
WHEREFORE, the petition for certiorari is GRANTED. The December 18, 2008, February 4, 2009 and March 9, 2009 Orders issued by the COMELEC Second Division in EAC (BRGY) No. 148-2008 are ANNULLED and SET ASIDE. The case is REMANDED to the COMELEC Second Division for disposition in accordance with this Resolution.
SO ORDERED.
Quisumbing, Carpio, Corona, Carpio Morales, Chico-Nazario, Leonardo-De Castro, Brion, Peralta, Bersamin, and Abad, JJ., concur.
Puno, C.J., and Velasco, Jr., JJ., on official leave.
Del Castillo, J., on leave.
[1] G.R. No. 185140, June 30, 2009.
[2] Sec. 3. The Commission on Elections may sit en banc or in two divisions, and shall promulgate its rules of procedure in order to expedite disposition of election cases, including pre-proclamation controversies. All such election cases shall be heard and decided in division, provided that motions for reconsideration of decisions shall be decided by the Commission en banc. (Underscoring supplied.)
[3] Sec. 5. How Motion for Reconsideration Disposed Of. -Upon the filing of a motion to reconsider a decision, resolution, order or ruling of a Division, the Clerk of Court concerned shall, within twenty-four (24) hours from the filing thereof, notify the Presiding Commissioner. The latter shall within two (2) days thereafter certify the case to the Commission en banc. (Underscoring supplied.)
[4] Sec. 6. Duty of Clerk of Court of Commission to Calendar Motion for Reconsideration. The Clerk of Court concerned shall calendar the motion for reconsideration for the resolution of the Commission en banc within ten (10) days from the certification thereof. (Underscoring supplied.)
[5] Olanolan v. Commission on Elections¸ G.R. No. 165491, March 31, 2005, 454 SCRA 807, 812, 815-816.
[6] Around three and a half months prior to the issuance of the COMELEC Resolution No. 8486 on July 15, 2008 pegging the appeal fee at P3,200.00.
[7] Pursuant to Rule 40, Section 3, of the COMELEC Rules of Procedure, as amended.
The factual background is as follows
Petitioner Eugenio T. Revilla, Sr. (Revilla) and private respondent Gerardo L. Lanoy (Lanoy) were candidates for Punong Barangay of Barangay Cabligan, Matanao, Davao del Sur during the October 29, 2007 barangay elections. When the votes were counted, the results showed that Revilla garnered 309 votes as against the 307 votes garnered by Lanoy. The Barangay Board of Canvassers thus proclaimed Revilla as the duly elected Punong Barangay of Barangay Cabligan.
Lanoy then filed an election protest before the Second Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Hagonoy-Matanao, Davao del Sur against Revilla, on the ground that the Board of Election Tellers failed to credit in his favor at most 13 votes in the three precincts despite the absence and failure of the watchers of the precincts to object orally and cause their objections to be recorded.
After revision, it appeared that Lanoy garnered 312 votes while Revilla got only 311. Consequently, the MCTC decided in favor of Lanoy.
On March 31, 2008, Revilla filed a notice of appeal from the MCTC decision and paid P1,000.00, the assessed appeal fee. The MCTC gave due course to the notice of appeal in its Order dated March 31, 2008 and ordered the transmittal of the records to the COMELEC for appropriate action.
On December 18, 2008, the COMELEC Second Division issued an Order dismissing the appeal for failure to pay the appeal fee of P3,200.00 in accordance with COMELEC Resolution No. 8486.
On January 23, 2009, Revilla paid the appeal fee and filed a motion for reconsideration of the December 18, 2008 Order.
On February 4, 2009, the COMELEC Second Division denied the motion for reconsideration because only P300.00 was paid as motion fee, not the full P500.00 as required by COMELEC Resolution No. 02-0130.
On February 19, 2009, Revilla paid the P200.00 differential amount of the motion fee and filed a second motion for reconsideration. Upon learning about it, Lanoy filed a motion for execution before the MCTC. Revilla opposed the motion.
On March 9, 2009, the COMELEC Second Division issued its Order denying Revilla's motion, being a second motion for reconsideration; hence, this petition.
The petition should be granted.
It is worthy to note that this case has the same factual backdrop as in Jerry B. Aguilar v. The Commission on Elections and Romulo R. Insoy.[1] In that case, petitioner Aguilar won as barangay chairperson of Barangay Bansarvil 1, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte over private respondent Insoy by a one-vote margin and was duly proclaimed. Insoy protested before the Municipal Trial Court (MTC) of Kapatagan, which, after revision, decided in his favor. On April 21, 2008, Aguilar filed his notice of appeal and paid the MTC the appeal fee of P1,000.00. When the COMELEC received the records of the case, the First Division ordered the dismissal of the appeal for failure to pay the proper appeal fee. Aguilar moved for reconsideration, but the COMELEC First Division denied his motion for failure to pay the complete motion fee of P700.00. Aguilar filed another motion for reconsideration, arguing that the COMELEC en banc should have ruled upon his motion for reconsideration. The same COMELEC division, however, issued an Order denying the motion, being a second motion for reconsideration which is a prohibited pleading.
We find that Aguilar is squarely applicable in this case. We, therefore, hold that the COMELEC Second Division acted with grave abuse of discretion in denying petitioner's motions for reconsideration and dismissing his appeal.
Indeed, the February 4 and March 9, 2009 Orders are null and void as they were issued by a division of the COMELEC, instead of the COMELEC en banc, pursuant to Article IX-C, Section 3,[2] of the 1987 Constitution and to Rule 19, Sections 5[3] and 6,[4] of the COMELEC Rules of Procedure. This rule should apply whether the motion fee has been paid or not. It is the COMELEC en banc, not the division, which has the discretion either to refuse to take action until the motion fee is paid, or to dismiss the action or proceeding.[5]
Considering the urgent need to resolve election cases and since the issue was raised in this petition, we likewise rule that the dismissal of Revilla's appeal was improper. His payment of the appeal fee of P1,000.00 before the MCTC on March 31, 2008[6] already perfected his appeal pursuant to A.M. No. 07-4-15-SC (Rules of Procedure in Election Contests Before the Courts Involving Elective Municipal and Barangay Officials). The non-payment or the insufficient payment of the additional appeal fee of P3,200.00 to the COMELEC Cash Division[7] does not affect the perfection of the appeal and does not result in the outright or ipso facto dismissal of the appeal. Under Rule 22, Section 9(a), of the COMELEC Rules, the appeal may be dismissed. And under Rule 40, Section 18 of the same rules, if the fees are not paid, the COMELEC may refuse to take action thereon until they are paid and may dismiss the action or the proceeding. Considering that the payment of the appeal fee was made three and a half months before the issuance of the clarificatory COMELEC Resolution No. 8486 and after the perfection of the appeal, we find the dismissal of the appeal by the COMELEC Second Division as grave abuse of its discretion.
WHEREFORE, the petition for certiorari is GRANTED. The December 18, 2008, February 4, 2009 and March 9, 2009 Orders issued by the COMELEC Second Division in EAC (BRGY) No. 148-2008 are ANNULLED and SET ASIDE. The case is REMANDED to the COMELEC Second Division for disposition in accordance with this Resolution.
SO ORDERED.
Quisumbing, Carpio, Corona, Carpio Morales, Chico-Nazario, Leonardo-De Castro, Brion, Peralta, Bersamin, and Abad, JJ., concur.
Puno, C.J., and Velasco, Jr., JJ., on official leave.
Del Castillo, J., on leave.
[1] G.R. No. 185140, June 30, 2009.
[2] Sec. 3. The Commission on Elections may sit en banc or in two divisions, and shall promulgate its rules of procedure in order to expedite disposition of election cases, including pre-proclamation controversies. All such election cases shall be heard and decided in division, provided that motions for reconsideration of decisions shall be decided by the Commission en banc. (Underscoring supplied.)
[3] Sec. 5. How Motion for Reconsideration Disposed Of. -Upon the filing of a motion to reconsider a decision, resolution, order or ruling of a Division, the Clerk of Court concerned shall, within twenty-four (24) hours from the filing thereof, notify the Presiding Commissioner. The latter shall within two (2) days thereafter certify the case to the Commission en banc. (Underscoring supplied.)
[4] Sec. 6. Duty of Clerk of Court of Commission to Calendar Motion for Reconsideration. The Clerk of Court concerned shall calendar the motion for reconsideration for the resolution of the Commission en banc within ten (10) days from the certification thereof. (Underscoring supplied.)
[5] Olanolan v. Commission on Elections¸ G.R. No. 165491, March 31, 2005, 454 SCRA 807, 812, 815-816.
[6] Around three and a half months prior to the issuance of the COMELEC Resolution No. 8486 on July 15, 2008 pegging the appeal fee at P3,200.00.
[7] Pursuant to Rule 40, Section 3, of the COMELEC Rules of Procedure, as amended.