Source: http://lawlibrary.chanrobles.com/index.php?option=com_content&amp;view=article&amp;id=50170:gr-174668-2007&amp;catid=1496&amp;Itemid=566
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 04:14:03+00:00

Document:
G.R. No. 174668 - Marlon T. Sales v. COMELEC, et al.
MARLON T. SALES, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, HON. CONRADO A. RAGUCOS, In his capacity as the Presiding Judge of Regional Trial Court, Branch 19, Bangui, Ilocos Norte, and THELMA BENEMERITO, Respondents.
This is a Petition for Certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court, challenging the (1) Resolution,1 dated 7 June 2006 of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), which affirmed the Orders dated 27 July 20052 and 16 August 20053 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Bangui, Ilocos Norte, Branch 19; and (2) Resolution,4 dated 18 September 2006, also rendered by the COMELEC, denying herein petitioner Marlon T. Sales's (Sales) motion for reconsideration of its earlier Resolution. The 27 July 2005 Order of the RTC set the holding of a hearing for the reception of evidence to establish that literate voters were allowed to vote as illiterates in the 10 May 2004 local elections; while the 16 August 2005 Order denied the Motion for Reconsideration of the 27 July 2005 Order.
Petitioner Sales and respondent Thelma Benemerito (Benemerito) were both candidates for Mayor in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, in the 10 May 2004 local elections. The Municipal Board of Canvassers proclaimed Sales as the duly elected Mayor of Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. Aggrieved, Benemerito filed an election protest before the RTC questioning the results in 54 precincts in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, on the ground that literate voters were allowed to vote as illiterates. In his Answer to the protest, Sales claimed that Benemerito's allegations were misplaced and unsubstantiated, and he instituted a counter-protest also assailing the results of the 10 May 2004 local elections.
Following the filing of the protest and the counter-protest, the RTC issued an Order creating two revision committees. The RTC declared on 7 April 2005 that the revision of ballots in all the precincts subject of Benemerito's protest and Sales's counter-protest was already terminated.
Subsequently, Benemerito prayed for the verification of the Voter's Registration Record, which Sales opposed. The RTC denied Sales's opposition and proceeded with the verification of the Voter's Registration Record.
On 17 May 2005, Benemerito filed with the RTC a Motion for Matching of Ballots Cast with Lower Detachable Coupons with the prayer that the matching of ballots be conducted within the premises and under the supervision of the court. The Motion was denied by the RTC in an Order,5 dated 22 June 2005, ratiocinating that before the motion could be granted, Benemerito must first show, by competent evidence after due hearing, that literate voters were allowed to vote as illiterates in the contested elections. Furthermore, inasmuch as this would violate the sanctity of the ballots, a waiver on the part of the voters had to be shown.
Benemerito filed a Motion for Partial Reconsideration with the RTC, seeking the following: (1) the setting aside of the 22 June 2005 Order insofar as it required the presentation of waiver of the literate voters; (2) the setting of a hearing for the presentation of evidence to prove that many literate voters were allowed to vote as illiterates; and (3) and the issuance of another Order granting the relief prayed for in her Motion for Matching of Ballots. The RTC granted Benemerito's Motion for Partial Reconsideration on 27 July 2005.
Sales's Motion for Reconsideration of the foregoing was denied in a Resolution7 dated 18 September 2006.
Hence, this Petition8 in which Sales imputes grave abuse of discretion, amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction, on the part of the COMELEC in affirming the questionable Orders of the RTC.
In the meantime, while the Petition at bar was still pending before this Court, national and local elections were held on 14 May 2007, and winners therein assumed office by 1 July 2007.
In light of this development, the Court dismisses the Petition.
It is significant to note that the term of office of the local officials elected in the May, 1992 elections expired on June 30, 1995. This petition, thus, has become moot and academic insofar as it concerns petitioner's right to the mayoralty seat in his municipality because expiration of the term of office contested in the election protest has the effect of rendering the same moot and academic.
In Garcia v. COMELEC,16 this Court held that where the issues have become moot and academic, there is no justiciable controversy, thereby rendering the resolution of the same of no practical use or value.
IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, the Petition is DISMISSED for being MOOT and ACADEMIC.
* Penned by Commissioner Romeo A. Brawner and concurred in by Presiding Commissioner Resurreccion Z. Borra. Rollo, pp. 36-41.
4 COMELEC En Banc Resolution, per curiam. Id. at 42-47.
11 Villarico v. Court of Appeals, 424 Phil. 26, 33-34 (2002).
12 Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. v. Secretary of Labor, 371 Phil. 30, 43 (1999).
13 Lanuza, Jr. v. Yuchengco, G.R. No. 157033, 28 March 2005, 454 SCRA 130, 138.
14 324 Phil. 676, 683 (1996).
15 Philippine National Bank v. Court of Appeals, 353 Phil. 473, 479 (1998), citing Ozaeta v. Oil Industry Commission, G.R. No. L-34574-79, 30 June 1980, 98 SCRA 417, 422 and Philippine Sugar Institute (Philsugin) v. Association of Philippine Sugar Institute Employees (Aspem), 201 Phil. 416, 417 (1982).
16 328 Phil. 288, 392 (1996).
17 337 Phil. 654, 658 (1997).

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