Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/293605229/Adiong-vs-Comelec
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 02:45:14+00:00

Document:
the posting of decals and stickers on "mobile"
provided in paragraph (f) of Section 21 hereof.
Code and Section 11(a) of Republic Act No. 6646.
enshrined in the Constitution (Sec. 4, Article III).
our own Bill of Rights provision on this basic freedom.
preferred freedom. (Thomas v. Collins, 323 US 516, 89 L. Ed.
of nearly every other freedom. (Palko v. Connecticut, 302 U.S.
meaningful the equally vital right of suffrage. (Mutuc v.
supervise the conduct of free, honest, and orderly elections.
it includes the right to acquire. but by clear and present danger. the restriction as to where the decals and stickers should be posted is so broad that it encompasses even the citizen's private property. the court noted that where legislative abridgment of fundamental personal rights and liberties is asserted. That priority gives these liberties a sanctity and a sanction not permitting dubious intrusions and it is the character of the right. Only the greatest abuses. In holding the ordinances invalid. 391. primarily his own and not of anybody else. 790. 308 US 147. Justice Feliciano. The Constitution protects these essential attributes of property. There were a variety of opinions expressed in the National Press Club v. 900.status of freedom of expression even as it validated COMELEC regulation of campaigns through political advertisements. and if the regulatory measure bears no clear and reasonable nexus with the constitutionally sanctioned objective. Taxpayers For Vincent. 60 S Ct. In consequence of this prohibition." but pointed out that in each case "the power to regulate must be so exercised as not. Griffin. (City Council v. enjoyment. 41 L. is perhaps more so where the usual presumption supporting legislation is balanced by the preferred place given in our scheme to the great. the freedom of expression curtailed by the questioned prohibition is not so much that of the candidate or the political party. In a series of decisions this Court has held that. Warley 245 US 60 ) As earlier stated. another cardinal rule prescribed by the Constitution would be violated. 80 L Ed 2d 772. that purpose cannot be pursued by means that broadly stifle fundamental personal liberties when the end can be more narrowly achieved. if the governmental interest is unrelated to the suppression of free expression. Property is more than the mere thing which a person owns. 128 ALR 1352. The promotion of a substantial Government interest is not clearly shown. Considering that the period of legitimate campaign activity is fairly limited and. it becomes obvious that unduly restrictive regulations may prove unfair to affected parties and the electorate. even though the governmental purpose be legitimate and substantial. The regulation strikes at the freedom of an individual to express his preference and. 466 US 789. by its very nature. we find the regulation in the present case of a different category. which determines what standard governs the choice . The breadth of legislative abridgment must be viewed in the light of less drastic means for achieving the same basic purpose. if it furthers an important or substantial governmental interest. in the 14th Amendment. The danger of distribution can so easily be controlled by traditional legal methods leaving to each . through Mr. 366. . the Court dealt with ordinances of four different municipalities which either banned or imposed prior restraints upon the distribution of handbills. It is elementary that it includes the right to acquire. at 161. shows that regulation of election campaign activity may not pass the test of validity if it is too general in its terms or not limited in time and scope in its application. the prohibition would not only deprive the owner who consents to such posting of the decals and stickers the use of his property but more important. There is no clear public interest threatened by such activity so as to justify the curtailment of the cherished citizen's right of free speech and expression. too short. When faced with border line situations where freedom to speak by a candidate or party and freedom to know on the part of the electorate are invoked against actions intended for maintaining clean and free elections. at appropriate time and place. it must be fully preserved. 303 US 444. but be insufficient to justify such as diminishes the exercise of rights so vital to the maintenance of democratic institutions. in the opinion of some. The judicial process. Com. Under the clear and present danger rule not only must the danger be patently clear and pressingly present but the evil sought to be avoided must be so substantive as to justify a clamp over one's mouth or a writing instrument to be stilled: The case confronts us again with the duty our system places on the Court to say where the individual's freedom ends and the State's power begins. Article III of the Bill of Rights provides that no person shall be deprived of his property without due process of law: Property is more than the mere thing which a person owns. the Court was careful to rule out restrictions on reporting by newspapers or radio and television stations and commentators or columnists as long as these are not correctly paid-for advertisements or purchased opinions with less reason can we sanction the prohibition against a sincere manifestation of support and a proclamation of belief by an individual person who pastes a sticker or decal on his private property. requires time for rebuttal. including mobile places whether public or private except in areas designated by the COMELEC. now as always delicate. 84 L ed 155. . threatened not doubtfully or remotely. pointing out that so broad an interference was unnecessary to accomplish legitimate municipal aims. The gray area is rather wide and we have to go on a case to case basis. it would deprive the citizen of his right to free speech and information : Freedom to distribute information to every citizen wherever he desires to receive it is so clearly vital to the preservation of a free society that. (Buchanan v." 308 US. 58 S Ct 666. . ed. In such a case. which in other context might support legislation against attack on due process grounds. Ct. 88 S Ct 1673. protects these essential attributes. actual or impending. 104 S Ct 2118 ) The posting of decals and stickers in mobile places like cars and other moving vehicles does not endanger any substantial government interest. Hardy. Accordingly. the expression becomes a statement by the owner. We examine the limits of regulation and not the limits of free speech. 364 US 479  The resolution prohibits the posting of decals and stickers not more than eight and one-half (8-1/2) inches in width and fourteen (14) inches in length in any place. In Cantwell v Connecticut. 82 L ed 949. (Thomas V. the freedom to speak and the right to know are unduly curtailed. 169 U. 60 S Ct. 310 US 296. analysis and reflection. give occasion for permissible limitation. we have to consider the fact that in the posting of decals and stickers on cars and other moving vehicles. the police. use. 18 Sup. and the Constitution. not of the limitation. the Court invalidated an ordinance prohibiting all distribution of literature at any time or place in Griffin. 323 US 516 ). and dispose of it.S. will not suffice. to convince others to agree with him. the Court said that "[c]onduct remains subject to regulation for the protection of society." (310 US at 304) (Shelton v. Irvington. 84 L ed 1213. in attaining a permissible end. By the time we revoke an unallowably restrictive regulation or ruling. the candidate needs the consent of the owner of the vehicle. if it cuts off the flow of media reporting. time which is of the essence to a candidate may have lapsed and irredeemable opportunities may have been lost. For in the ultimate analysis. Holden v. with some rather strong dissents. Commission on Elections (supra) case but all of us were unanimous that regulation of election activity has its limits. Choice on that border. There can be no free and honest elections if in the efforts to maintain them. In Lovell v. Property consists of the free use. (Id. If. use. Georgia. "the courts should be astute to examine the effect of the challenged legislation. Collins." (Zwickler v. Tucker. 383. Verily. A sticker may be furnished by a candidate but once the car owner agrees to have it placed on his private vehicle. Mere legislative preferences or beliefs respecting matters of public convenience may well support regulation directed at other personal activities. Even as the Court sustained the regulation of political advertisements. at 377. For these reasons any attempt to restrict those liberties must be justified by clear public interest. in the National Press Club case.. if it restricts one's expression of belief in a candidate or one's opinion of his or her qualifications. . (Emphasis supplied) Significantly. A statute is considered void for overbreadth when "it offends the constitutional principle that a governmental purpose to control or prevent activities constitutionally subject to state regulations may not be achieved by means which sweep unnecessarily broadly and thereby invade the area of protected freedoms. and disposal of a person's acquisitions without control or diminution save by the law of the land. the indispensable democratic freedom secured by the first Amendment . The rational connection between the remedy provided and the evil to be curbed. by displaying it on his car. These rights rest on firmer foundation. Koota. 146. unduly to infringe the protected freedom. without a license. Second — the questioned prohibition premised on the statute and as couched in the resolution is void for overbreadth. 20 L Ed 2d 672. a court case may prove to be a hollow remedy. Rep. in National Press Club. in the process. should lean in favor of freedom. local officials and COMELEC. 19 L ed 2d 444 ). putting aside reasonable police and health regulations of time and manner of distribution. must have clear support in public danger. endangering permanent interests. and dispose of it. Section 1. whatever occasion would restrain orderly discussion and persuasion. For persons who have to resort to judicial action to strike down requirements which they deem inequitable or oppressive. In Schneider v. the freedom of the citizen and the State's power to regulate are not antagonistic. There is another problem involved. A government regulation is sufficiently justified if it is within the constitutional power of the Government. 127. The carefully worded opinion of the Court. 780. and if the incidental restriction on alleged First Amendment freedoms is no greater than is essential to the furtherance of that interest. which in this case is a privately-owned vehicle. 1 Cooley's Bl. We cannot act instantly on knee-jerk impulse.
and political inequalities. corollary of this basic principle that the Constitution is paramount. 1313 ) The right to property may be subject to a greater degree of regulation but when this right is joined by a "liberty" interest. This is delegation running riot. tricycles. The owner can even prepare his own decals or stickers for posting on his personal property. No such plentitude of power is susceptible of transfer. ." (Martin v. with priority accorded to that which occupies the topmost rung in the legal hierarchy. In sum. Congress in the enactment of statutes must ever be on guard lest the restrictions on its authority. The concept of the Constitution as the fundamental law. any financial considerations behind the regulation are of marginal significance. WHEREFORE. therefore. whether public or private. Compared to the paramount interest of the State in guaranteeing freedom of expression. ed. can afford to dole out more decals and stickers or poor and without the means to spread out the same number of decals and stickers is not as important as the right of the owner to freely express his choice and exercise his right of free speech. except in the common poster areas sanctioned by COMELEC. Section 26 and Article XIII. mandated by Article II. Ed." (Emphasis supplied) It is to be reiterated that the posting of decals and stickers on cars. calesas. be transcended. The provisions allowing regulation are so loosely worded that they include the posting of decals or stickers in the privacy of one's living room or bedroom. (Mutuc v. . The three departments of government in the discharge of the functions with which it is entrusted have no choice but to yield obedience to its commands. .S. Under section 26 Article II of the Constitution. (Cf. When a person attaches a sticker with such a candidate's name on his car bumper. It overrides any governmental measure that fails to live up to its mandates. the burden of justification on the part of the Government must be exceptionally convincing and irrefutable. . he is expressing more than the name. .S. Whether the candidate is rich and. is not impaired by posting decals and stickers on cars and other private vehicles. supra) The big number of candidates and elective positions involved has resulted in the peculiar situation where almost all voters cannot name half or even two-thirds of the candidates running for Senator. reduce social. platforms. The Presidency in the execution of the laws cannot ignore or disregard what it ordains. the prohibition on posting of decals and stickers on "mobile" places whether public or private except in the authorized areas designated by the COMELEC becomes censorship which cannot be justified by the Constitution: . he is espousing ideas.householder the full right to decide whether he will receive strangers as visitors. section 1 in relation to Article IX (c) Section 4 of the Constitution. the judiciary is called upon to maintain inviolate what is decreed by the fundamental law. This is delegation running riot. 319 U. 446 [1935). either substantive or formal. Ohio. 388." Third — the constitutional objective to give a rich candidate and a poor candidate equal opportunity to inform the electorate as regards their candidacies. City of Struthers. Our review of the validity of the challenged regulation includes its effects in today's particular circumstances. . The burden is not met in this case. armed with a copy of the statute or regulation. economic. the naked restriction of the dissemination of ideas. To strike down this right and enjoin it is impermissible encroachment of his liberties. "The delegated power is unconfined and vagrant . While the COMELEC will certainly never require the absurd. There are many candidates whose names alone evoke qualifications. Act 6646 is so encompassing and invasive that it prohibits the posting or display of election propaganda in any place. The portion of Section 15 (a) of Resolution No. It is not alone the widest possible dissemination of information on platforms and programs which concern us. Section 11 of Rep. 79 L. . 141. programs and ideologies which the voter may accept or reject. may do. Hence. 87 L. is a postulate of our system of government. while under section 1. 2347 of the Commission on Elections providing that "decals and stickers may be posted only in any of the authorized posting areas provided in paragraph (f) of Section 21 hereof" is DECLARED NULL and VOID. . and remove cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good. supra) The unusual circumstances of this year's national and local elections call for a more liberal interpretation of the freedom to speak and the right to know. Article XIII thereof "The Congress shall give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity. The public does not know who are aspiring to be elected to public office. pedicabs and other moving vehicles needs the consent of the owner of the vehicle. the petition is hereby GRANTED. In its task of applying the law to the facts as found in deciding cases. New York Times v. Sullivan. the preference of the citizen becomes crucial in this kind of election propaganda not the financial resources of the candidate. Thereby there is a recognition of its being the supreme law. That is to manifest fealty to the rule of law. We are constrained to rule against the COMELEC prohibition. Even its power of judicial review to pass upon the validity of the acts of the coordinate branches in the course of adjudication is a logical. As stated by Justice Cardozo in his concurrence in Panama Refining Co. Whatever limits it imposes must be observed. Commission on Elections. setting forth the criterion for the validity of any public act whether proceeding from the highest official or the lowest functionary. that stringent prohibition can serve no purpose but that forbidden by the constitution. This means that a private person cannot post his own crudely prepared personal poster on his own front door or on a post in his yard. "The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service. Nor are we limiting ourselves to protecting the unfettered interchange of ideas to bring about political change. Ryan (293 U. there are no limits to what overzealous and partisan police officers. SO ORDERED. v.

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