G.R. No.

120265 September 18, 1995

AGAPITO A. AQUINO, petitioner,
vs.
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, MOVE MAKATI, MATEO BEDON and JUANITO
ICARO, respondents.

KAPUNAN, J.:

The sanctity of the people's will must be observed at all times if our nascent democracy is to be
preserved. In any challenge having the effect of reversing a democratic choice, expressed through
the ballot, this Court should be ever so vigilant in finding solutions which would give effect to the will
of the majority, for sound public policy dictates that all elective offices are filled by those who have
received the highest number of votes cast in an election. When a challenge to a winning candidate's
qualifications however becomes inevitable, the ineligibility ought to be so noxious to the Constitution
that giving effect to the apparent will of the people would ultimately do harm to our democratic
institutions.

On March 20, 1995, petitioner Agapito A. Aquino filed his Certificate of Candidacy for the position of
Representative for the new Second Legislative District of Makati City. Among others, Aquino
provided the following information in his certificate of candidacy, viz:.

(7) RESIDENCE (Complete Address): 284 AMAPOLA COR. ADALLA STS., PALM
VILLAGE, MAKATI.

xxx xxx xxx

(8) RESIDENCE IN THE CONSTITUENCY WHERE I SEEK TO BE ELECTED

IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE ELECTION: ______ Years and 10 Months.

xxx xxx xxx

THAT I AM ELIGIBLE for said Office; That I will support and defend the Constitution
of the Republic of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto;
That I will obey the law, rules and decrees promulgated by the duly constituted
authorities; That the obligation imposed to such is assumed voluntarily, without
mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that the facts therein are true to the
best of my knowledge. 1

On April 24, 1995, Move Makati, a duly registered political party, and Mateo Bedon, Chairman of the
LAKAS-NUCD-UMDP of Barangay Cembo, Makati City, filed a petition to disqualify Agapito A.
Aquino  on the ground that the latter lacked the residence qualification as a candidate for
2

congressman which, under Section 6, Art. VI of the 1987 the Constitution, should be for a period not
less than one (1) year immediately preceding the May 8, 1995 elections. The petition was docketed
as SPA No. 95-113 and was assigned to the Second Division of the Commission on Elections
(COMELEC).

On April 25, 1995, a day after said petition for disqualification was filed, petitioner filed another
certificate of candidacy amending the certificate dated March 20, 1995. This time, petitioner stated in
Item 8 of his certificate that he had resided in the constituency where he sought to be elected for one
(l) year and thirteen (13) days.3

On May 2, 1995, petitioner filed his Answer dated April 29, 1995 praying for the dismissal of the
disqualification case.4

On the same day, May 2, 1995, a hearing was conducted by the COMELEC wherein petitioner
testified and presented in evidence, among others, his Affidavit dated May 2, 1995,  lease contract
5

between petitioner and Leonor Feliciano dated April 1, 1994,  Affidavit of Leonor Feliciano dated
6

April 28,1995  and Affidavit of Daniel Galamay dated April 28, 1995.
7 8

After hearing of the petition for disqualification, the Second Division of the COMELEC promulgated a
Resolution dated May 6, 1995, the decretal portion of which reads:

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, this Commission (Second Division)

RESOLVES to DISMISS the instant: petition for Disqualification against respondent
AGAPITO AQUINO and declares him ELIGIBLE to run for the Office of
Representative in the Second Legislative District of Makati City.

SO ORDERED. 9

On May 7, 1995, Move Makati and Mateo Bedon filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the May 6,
1995 resolution with the COMELEC en banc.

Meanwhile, on May 8, 1995, elections were held. In Makati City where three (3) candidates vied for
the congressional seat in the Second District, petitioner garnered thirty eight thousand five hundred
forty seven (38,547) votes as against another candidate, Agusto Syjuco, who obtained thirty five
thousand nine hundred ten (35,910) votes. 10

On May 10, 1995, private respondents Move Makati and Bedon filed an Urgent Motion Ad
Cautelum to Suspend Proclamation of petitioner. Thereafter, they filed an Omnibus Motion for
Reconsideration of the COMELEC's Second Division resolution dated May 6, 1995 and a 2nd Urgent
Motion Ad Cautelum to Suspend Proclamation of petitioner.

On May 15, 1995, COMELEC en banc issued an Order suspending petitioner's proclamation. The
dispositive portion of the order reads:

WHEREFORE, pursuant to the provisions of Section 6 of Republic Act No. 6646, the
Board of Canvassers of the City of Makati is hereby directed to complete the
canvassing of election returns of the Second District of Makati, but to suspend the
proclamation of respondent Agapito A. Aquino should he obtain the winning number
of votes for the position of Representative of the Second District of the City of Makati,
until the motion for reconsideration filed by the petitioners on May 7, 1995, shall have
been resolved by the Commission.

The Executive Director, this Commission, is directed to cause the immediate

implementation of this Order. The Clerk of Court of the Commission is likewise
directed to inform the parties by the fastest means available of this Order, and to
calendar the hearing of the Motion for Reconsideration on May 17, 1995, at 10:00 in
the morning, PICC Press Center, Pasay City.
 SO ORDERED. 11

On May 16, 1995, petitioner filed his Comment/Opposition with urgent motion to lift order of
suspension of proclamation.

On June 1, 1995, petitioner filed a "Motion to File Supplemental Memorandum and Motion to
Resolve Urgent Motion to Resolve Motion to Lift Suspension of Proclamation" wherein he
manifested his intention to raise, among others, the issue of whether of not the determination of the
qualifications of petitioner after the elections is lodged exclusively in the House of Representatives
Electoral Tribunal pursuant to Section 17, Article VI of the 1987 Constitution.

Resolving petitioner's motion to lift suspension of his proclamation, the COMELEC en banc issued
an Order on June 2, 1995, the decretal portion thereof residing:

Pursuant to the said provisions and considering the attendant circumstances of the
case, the Commission RESOLVED to proceed with the promulgation but to suspend
its rules, to accept the filing of the aforesaid motion, and to allow the parties to be
heard thereon because the issue of jurisdiction now before the Commission has to
be studied with more reflection and judiciousness.  12

On the same day, June 2, 1995, the COMELEC en banc issued a Resolution reversing the
resolution of the Second Division dated May 6, 1995. The fallo reads as follows:

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, petitioners' Motion for Reconsideration of

the Resolution of the Second Division, promulgated on May 6, 1995, is GRANTED.
Respondent Agapito A. Aquino is declared ineligible and thus disqualified as a
candidate for the Office of Representative of the Second Legislative District of Makati
City in the May 8, 1995 elections, for lack of the constitutional qualification of
residence. Consequently, the order of suspension of proclamation of the respondent
should he obtain the winning number of votes, issued by this Commission on May
15, 1995 is now made permanent.

Upon the finality of this Resolution, the Board of Canvassers of the City of Makati
shall immediately reconvene and, on the basis of the completed canvass of election
returns, determine the winner out of the remaining qualified candidates, who shall be
immediately be proclaimed.

SO ORDERED.  13

Hence, the instant Petition for Certiorari   assailing the orders dated May 15, 1995 and June 2,
14

1995, as well as the resolution dated June 2, 1995 issued by the COMELEC en banc. Petitioner's
raises the following errors for consideration, to wit:

THE COMELEC HAS NO JURISDICTION TO DETERMINE AND ADJUDGE THE

DISQUALIFICATION ISSUE INVOLVING CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES AFTER
THE MAY 8, 1995 ELECTIONS, SUCH DETERMINATION BEING RESERVED TO
AND LODGE EXCLUSIVELY WITH THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE
ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL
 B

ASSUMING ARGUENDO THAT THE COMELEC HAS JURISDICTION, SAID

JURISDICTION CEASED IN THE INSTANT CASE AFTER THE ELECTIONS, AND
THE REMEDY/IES AVAILABLE TO THE ADVERSE PARTIES LIE/S IN ANOTHER
FORUM WHICH, IT IS SUBMITTED, IS THE HRET CONSISTENT WITH SECTION
17, ARTICLE VI OF THE 1987 CONSTITUTION

THE COMELEC COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION WHEN IT

PROCEEDED TO PROMULGATE ITS QUESTIONED DECISION (ANNEX "C",
PETITION) DESPITE IT OWN RECOGNITION THAT A THRESHOLD ISSUE OF
JURISDICTION HAS TO BE JUDICIOUSLY REVIEWED AGAIN,
ASSUMING ARGUENDO THAT THE COMELEC HAS JURISDICTION, THE
COMELEC COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION, AND SERIOUS
ERROR IN DIRECTING WITHOUT NOTICE THE SUSPENSION OF THE
PROCLAMATION OF THE PETITIONER AS THE WINNING CONGRESSIONAL
CANDIDATE AND DESPITE THE MINISTERIAL NATURE OF SUCH DUTY TO
PROCLAIM (PENDING THE FINALITY OF THE DISQUALIFICATION CASE
AGAINST THE PETITIONER) IF ONLY NOT TO THWART THE PEOPLE'S WILL.

THE COMELEC'S FINDING OF NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE RESIDENCY

REQUIREMENT OF ONE YEAR AGAINST THE PETITIONER IS CONTRARY TO
EVIDENCE AND TO APPLICABLE LAWS AND JURISPRUDENCE.

IN ANY CASE, THE COMELEC CRITICALLY ERRED IN FAILING TO APPRECIATE

THE LEGAL IMPOSSIBILITY OF ENFORCING THE ONE YEAR RESIDENCY
REQUIREMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATES IN NEWLY CREATED
POLITICAL DISTRICTS WHICH WERE ONLY EXISTING FOR LESS THAN A
YEAR AT THE TIME OF THE ELECTION AND BARELY FOUR MONTHS IN THE
CASE OF PETITIONER'S DISTRICT IN MAKATI OF CONGRESSIONAL.

THE COMELEC COMMITTED SERIOUS ERROR AMOUNTING TO LACK OF

JURISDICTION WHEN IT ORDERED THE BOARD OF CANVASSERS TO
"DETERMINE AND PROCLAIM THE WINNER OUT OF THE REMAINING
QUALIFIED CANDIDATES" AFTER THE ERRONEOUS DISQUALIFICATION OF
YOUR PETITIONER IN THAT SUCH DIRECTIVE IS IN TOTAL DISREGARD OF
THE WELL SETTLED DOCTRINE THAT A SECOND PLACE CANDIDATE OR
PERSON WHO WAS REPUDIATED BY THE ELECTORATE IS A LOSER AND
CANNOT BE PROCLAIMED AS SUBSTITUTE
WINNER.15
 I

In his first three assignments of error, petitioner vigorously contends that after the May 8, 1995
elections, the COMELEC lost its jurisdiction over the question of petitioner's qualifications to run for
member of the House of Representatives. He claims that jurisdiction over the petition for
disqualification is exclusively lodged with the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET).
Given the yet unresolved question of jurisdiction, petitioner avers that the COMELEC committed
serious error and grave abuse of discretion in directing the suspension of his proclamation as the
winning candidate in the Second Congressional District of Makati City. We disagree.

Petitioner conveniently confuses the distinction between an unproclaimed candidate to the House of
Representatives and a member of the same. Obtaining the highest number of votes in an election
does not automatically vest the position in the winning candidate. Section 17 of Article VI of the 1987
Constitution reads:

The Senate and the House of Representatives shall have an Electoral Tribunal which
shall be the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns and
qualifications of their respective Members.

Under the above-stated provision, the electoral tribunal clearly assumes jurisdiction over all contests
relative to the election, returns and qualifications of candidates for either the Senate or the House
only when the latter become members of either the Senate or the House of Representatives. A
candidate who has not been proclaimed   and who has not taken his oath of office cannot be said to
16

be a member of the House of Representatives subject to Section. 17 of the Constitution. While the
proclamation of a winning candidate in an election is ministerial, B.P. 881 in conjunction with Sec 6
of R.A. 6646 allows suspension of proclamation under circumstances mentioned therein. Thus,
petitioner's contention that "after the conduct of the election and (petitioner) has been established
the winner of the electoral exercise from the moment of election, the COMELEC is automatically
divested of authority to pass upon the question of qualification" finds no basis, because
even after the elections the COMELEC is empowered by Section 6 (in relation to Section 7) of R.A.
6646 to continue to hear and decide questions relating to qualifications of candidates Section 6
states:

Sec. 6. Effect of Disqualification Case. — Any candidate, who has been declared by
final judgment to be disqualified shall not be voted for, and the votes cast for him
shall not be counted. If for any reason a candidate is not declared by final judgment
before an election to be disqualified and he is voted for and receives the winning
number of votes in such election, the Court or Commission shall continue with the
trial and hearing of the action, inquiry or protest and, upon motion of the complainant
or any intervenor, may during the pendency thereof order the suspension of the
proclamation of such candidate whenever the evidence of guilt is strong.

Under the above-quoted provision, not only is a disqualification case against a candidate allowed to
continue after the election (and does not oust the COMELEC of its jurisdiction), but his obtaining the
highest number of votes will not result in the suspension or termination of the proceedings against
him when the evidence of guilt is strong. While the phrase "when the evidence of guilt is strong"
seems to suggest that the provisions of Section 6 ought to be applicable only to disqualification
cases under Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code, Section 7 of R.A. 6646 allows the application
of the provisions of Section 6 to cases involving disqualification based on ineligibility under Section
78 of B.P. 881. Section 7 states:
 Sec. 7. Petition to Deny Due Course or to Cancel a Certificate of Candidacy. — The
procedure hereinabove provided shall apply to petition to deny due course to or
cancel a certificate of candidacy based on Sec. 78 of Batas Pambansa 881.

II

We agree with COMELEC's contention that in order that petitioner could qualify as a candidate for
Representative of the Second District of Makati City the latter "must prove that he has established
not just residence but domicile of choice.  17

The Constitution requires that a person seeking election to the House of Representatives should be
a resident of the district in which he seeks election for a period of not less than one (l) year prior to
the elections.   Residence, for election law purposes, has a settled meaning in our jurisdiction.
18

In Co v. Electoral Tribunal of the House of Representatives   this Court held that the term
19

"residence" has always been understood as synonymous with "domicile" not only under the previous
Constitutions but also under the 1987 Constitution. The Court there held:  20

The deliberations of the Constitutional Commission reveal that the meaning of

residence vis-a-vis the qualifications of a candidate for Congress continues to remain
the same as that of domicile, to wit:

Mr. Nolledo: With respect to Section 5, I remember that in the 1971

Constitutional Convention, there was an attempt to require residence
in the place not less than one year immediately preceding the day of
elections. So my question is: What is the Committee's concept of
domicile or constructive residence?

Mr. Davide: Madame President, insofar as the regular members of

the National Assembly are concerned, the proposed section merely
provides, among others, and a resident thereof', that is, in the district,
for a period of not less than one year preceding the day of the
election. This was in effect lifted from the 1973 Constitution, the
interpretation given to it was domicile (emphasis ours) Records of the
1987 Constitutional Convention, Vol. II, July 22, 1986, p. 87).

xxx xxx xxx

Mrs. Rosario Braid: The next question is on section 7, page 2. I think

Commissioner Nolledo has raised the same point that "resident" has
been interpreted at times as a matter of intention rather than actual
residence.

Mr. De Los Reyes: Domicile.

Ms. Rosario Braid: Yes, So, would the gentlemen consider at the

proper time to go back to actual residence rather than mere intention
to reside?

Mr. De los Reyes: But We might encounter some difficulty especially

considering that the provision in the Constitution in the Article on
 Suffrage says that Filipinos living abroad may vote as enacted by law.
So, we have to stick to the original concept that it should be by
domicile and not physical and actual residence. (Records of the 1987
Constitutional Commission, Vol. II, July 22, 1986, p. 110).

The framers of the Constitution adhered to the earlier definition given to the word
"residence" which regarded it as having the same meaning as domicile.

Clearly, the place "where a party actually or constructively has his permanent home,"   where he, no
21

matter where he may be found at any given time, eventually intends to return and remain, i.e., his
domicile, is that to which the Constitution refers when it speaks of residence for the purposes of
election law. The manifest purpose of this deviation from the usual conceptions of residency in law
as explained in Gallego vs. Vera at   is "to exclude strangers or newcomers unfamiliar with the
22

conditions and needs of the community" from taking advantage of favorable circumstances existing
in that community for electoral gain. While there is nothing wrong with the practice of establishing
residence in a given area for meeting election law requirements, this nonetheless defeats the
essence of representation, which is to place through the assent of voters those most cognizant and
sensitive to the needs of a particular district, if a candidate falls short of the period of residency
mandated by law for him to qualify. That purpose could be obviously best met by individuals who
have either had actual residence in the area for a given period or who have been domiciled in the
same area either by origin or by choice. It would, therefore, be imperative for this Court to inquire
into the threshold question as to whether or not petitioner actually was a resident for a period of one
year in the area now encompassed by the Second Legislative District of Makati at the time of his
election or whether or not he was domiciled in the same.

As found by the COMELEC en banc petitioner in his Certificate of Candidacy for the May 11, 1992
elections, indicated not only that he was a resident of San Jose, Concepcion, Tarlac in 1992 but that
he was a resident of the same for 52 years immediately preceding that election.   At the time, his
23

certificate indicated that he was also a registered voter of the same district.   His birth certificate
24

places Concepcion, Tarlac as the birthplace of both of his parents Benigno and Aurora.   Thus, from 25

data furnished by petitioner himself to the COMELEC at various times during his political career,
what stands consistently clear and unassailable is that this domicile of origin of record up to the time
of filing of his most recent certificate of candidacy for the 1995 elections was Concepcion, Tarlac.

Petitioner's alleged connection with the Second District of Makati City is an alleged lease agreement
of condominium unit in the area. As the COMELEC, in its disputed Resolution noted:

The intention not to establish a permanent home in Makati City is evident in his
leasing a condominium unit instead of buying one. While a lease contract maybe
indicative of respondent's intention to reside in Makati City it does not engender the
kind of permanency required to prove abandonment of one's
original domicile especially since, by its terms, it is only for a period of two (2) years,
and respondent Aquino himself testified that his intention was really for only one (l)
year because he has other "residences" in Manila or Quezon City.  26

While property ownership is not and should never be an indicia of the right to vote or to be voted
upon, the fact that petitioner himself claims that he has other residences in Metro Manila coupled
with the short length of time he claims to be a resident of the condominium unit in Makati (and the
fact, of his stated domicile in Tarlac) "indicate that the sole purpose of (petitioner) in transferring his
physical residence"   is not to acquire's new residence or domicile "but only to qualify as a candidate
27

for Representative of the Second District of Makati City."   The absence of clear and positive proof
28

showing a successful abandonment of domicile under the conditions stated above, the lack of
identification — sentimental, actual or otherwise — with the area, and the suspicious circumstances
under which the lease agreement was effected all belie petitioner's claim of residency for the period
required by the Constitution, in the Second District of Makati. As the COMELEC en
banc emphatically pointed out:

[T]he lease agreement was executed mainly to support the one year residence
requirement as a qualification for a candidate of Representative, by establishing a
commencement date of his residence. If a perfectly valid lease agreement cannot, by
itself establish; a domicile of choice, this particular lease agreement cannot do
better. 
29

Moreover, his assertion that he has transferred his domicile from Tarlac to Makati is a bare assertion
which is hardly supported by the facts in the case at bench. Domicile of origin is not easily lost. To
successfully effect a change of domicile, petitioner must prove an actual removal or an actual
change of domicile; a bona fide intention of abandoning the former place of residence and
establishing a new one and definite acts which correspond with the purpose.  These requirements
30

are hardly met by the evidence adduced in support of petitioner's claims of a change
of domicile from Tarlac to the Second District of Makati. In the absence of clear and positive proof,
the domicile of origin be deemed to continue requirements are hardly met by the evidence adduced
in support of petitioner's claims of a change of domicile from Tarlac to the Second District of Makati.
In the absence of clear and positive proof, the domicile of origin should be deemed to continue.

Finally, petitioner's submission that it would be legally impossible to impose the one year residency
requirement in a newly created political district is specious and lacks basis in logic. A new political
district is not created out of thin air. It is carved out from part of a real and existing geographic area,
in this case the old Municipality of Makati. That people actually lived or were domiciled in the area
encompassed by the new Second District cannot be denied. Modern-day carpetbaggers cannot be
allowed take advantage of the creation of new political districts by suddenly transplanting
themselves in such new districts, prejudicing their genuine residents in the process of taking
advantage of existing conditions in these areas. It will be noted, as COMELEC did in its assailed
resolution, that petitioner was disqualified from running in the Senate because of the constitutional
two-term limit, and had to shop around for a place where he could run for public office. Nothing
wrong with that, but he must first prove with reasonable certainty that he has effected a change of
residence for election law purposes for the period required by law. This he has not effectively done.

III

The next issue here is whether or not the COMELEC erred in issuing it Order instructing the Board
of Canvassers of Makati City to proclaim as winner the candidate receiving the next higher number
of votes. The answer must be in the negative.

To contend that Syjuco should be proclaimed because he was the "first" among the qualified
candidates in the May 8, 1995 elections is to misconstrue the nature of the democratic electoral
process and the sociological and psychological underpinnings behind voters' preferences. The result
suggested by private respondent would lead not only to our reversing the doctrines firmly entrenched
in the two cases of Labo vs. Comelec   but also to a massive disenfranchisement of the thousands
31

of voters who cast their vote in favor of a candidate they believed could be validly voted for during
the elections. Had petitioner been disqualified before the elections, the choice, moreover, would
have been different. The votes for Aquino given the acrimony which attended the campaign, would
not have automatically gone to second placer Syjuco. The nature of the playing field would have
substantially changed. To simplistically assume that the second placer would have received the
other votes would be to substitute our judgment for the mind of the voter. The second placer is just
that, a second placer. He lost the elections. He was repudiated by either a majority or plurality of
voters. He could not be considered the first among qualified candidates because in a field which
excludes the disqualified candidate, the conditions would have substantially changed. We are not
prepared to extrapolate the results under such circumstances.

In these cases, the pendulum of judicial opinion in our country has swung from one end to the other.
In the early case of Topacio v. Paredes.   we declared as valid, votes cast in favor of a disqualified,
32

ineligilble or dead candidate provided the people who voted for such candidate believed in good faith
that at the time of the elections said candidate was either qualified, eligible or alive. The votes cast in
favor of a disqualified, ineligible or dead candidate who obtained the next higher number of votes
cannot be proclaimed as winner. According to this Court in the said case, "there is not, strictly
speaking, a contest, that wreath of victory cannot be transferred from an ineligible candidate to any
other candidate when the sole question is the eligibility of the one receiving the plurality of the legally
cast ballots."

Then in Ticson v. Comelec,   this Court held that votes cast in favor of a non-candidate in view of his
33

unlawful change of party affiliation (which was then a ground for disqualification) cannot be
considered in the canvassing of election returns and the votes fall into the category of invalid and
nonexistent votes because a disqualified candidate is no candidate at all and is not a candidate in
the eyes of the law. As a result, this Court upheld the proclamation of the only candidate left in the
disputed position.

In Geronimo v. Ramos   we reiterated our ruling in Topacio v. Paredes that the candidate who lost
34

in an election cannot be proclaimed the winner in the event the candidate who ran for the portion is
ineligible. We held in Geronimo:

[I]t would be extremely repugnant to the basic concept of the constitutionally

guaranteed right to suffrage if a candidate who has not acquired the majority or
plurality of votes is proclaimed a winner and imposed as the representative of a
constituency, the majority of which have positively declared through their ballots that
they do not choose him.

Sound policy dictates that public elective offices are filled by those who have
received the highest number of votes cast in the election for that office, and it is
fundamental idea in all republican forms of government that no one can be declared
elected and no measure can be declared carried unless he or it receives a majority
or plurality of the legal votes cast in the elections. (20 Corpus Juris 2nd, S 243, p.
676.)

However, in Santos v. Comelec   we made a turnabout from our previous ruling in Geronimo
35

v. Ramos and pronounced that "votes cast for a disqualified candidate fall within the category of
invalid or non-existent votes because a disqualified candidate is no candidate at all in the eyes of the
law," reverting to our earlier ruling in Ticson v. Comelec.

In the more recent cases of Labo, Jr. v. Comelec   Abella v. Comelec;   and Benito

36 37

v. Comelec,   this Court reiterated and upheld the ruling in Topacio v. Paredes and Geronimo
38

v. Ramos to the effect that the ineligibility of a candidate receiving the next higher number of votes to
be declared elected, and that a minority or defeated candidate cannot be declared elected to the
office. In these cases, we put emphasis on our pronouncement in Geronimo v. Ramos that:

The fact that a candidate who obtained the highest number of votes is later declared
to be disqualified or not eligible for the office to which he was elected does not
 necessarily entitle the candidate who obtained the second highest number of votes to
be declared the winner of the elective office. The votes cast for a dead, disqualified,
or non-eligible person may be valid to vote the winner into office or maintain him
there. However, in the absence of a statute which clearly asserts a contrary political
and legislative policy on the matter, if the votes were cast in sincere belief that
candidate was alive, qualified, or eligible; they should not be treated as stray, void or
meaningless.

Synthesizing these rulings we declared in the latest case of Labo, Jr. v. COMELEC that:  39

While Ortega may have garnered the second highest number of votes for the office
of city mayor, the fact remains that he was not the choice of the sovereign will.
Petitioner Labo was overwhelmingly voted by the electorate for the office of mayor in
the belief that he was then qualified to serve the people of Baguio City and his
subsequent disqualification does not make respondent Ortega the mayor-elect. This
is the import of the recent case of Abella v. Comelec (201 SCRA 253 [1991]),
wherein we held that:

While it is true that SPC No. 88-546 was originally a petition to deny

due course to the certificate of candidacy of Larrazabal and was filed
before Larrazabal could be proclaimed the fact remains that the local
elections of Feb. 1, 1988 in the province of Leyte proceeded with
Larrazabal considered as a bona fide candidate. The voters of the
province voted for her in the sincere belief that she was a qualified
candidate for the position of governor. Her votes was counted and
she obtained the highest number of votes. The net effect is that
petitioner lost in the election. He was repudiated by the electorate. . .
What matters is that in the event a candidate for an elected position
who is voted for and who obtains the highest number of votes is
disqualified for not possessing the eligibility, requirements at the time
of the election as provided by law, the candidate who obtains the
second highest number of votes for the same position cannot
assume the vacated position. (Emphasis supplied).

Our ruling in Abella applies squarely to the case at bar and we see no compelling
reason to depart therefrom. Like Abella, petitioner Ortega lost in the election. He was
repudiated by the electorate. He was obviously not the choice of the people of
Baguio City.

Thus, while respondent Ortega (G.R. No. 105111) originally filed a disqualification
case with the Comelec (docketed as SPA-92-029) seeking to deny due course to
petitioner's (Labo's) candidacy, the same did not deter the people of Baguio City from
voting for petitioner Labo, who, by then, was allowed by the respondent Comelec to
be voted upon, the resolution for his disqualification having yet to attain the degree of
finality (Sec. 78, Omnibus Election Code).

And in the earlier case of Labo v. Comelec. (supra), We held:

Finally, there is the question of whether or not the private respondent,

who filed the quo warranto petition, can replace the petitioner as
mayor. He cannot. The simple reason is that as he obtained only the
 second highest number of votes in the election, he was obviously not
the choice of the people of Baguio City.

The latest ruling of the Court in this issue is Santos v. Commission

on Election, (137 SCRA 740) decided in 1985. In that case, the
candidate who placed second was proclaimed elected after the votes
for his winning rival, who was disqualified as a turncoat and
considered a non-candidate, were all disregarded as stray. In effect,
the second placer won by default. That decision was supported by
eight members of the Court then (Cuevas J., ponente, with Makasiar,
Concepcion, Jr., Escolin, Relova, De la Fuente, Alampay, and
Aquino, JJ., concurring) with three dissenting (Teehankee,
acting C.J., Abad Santos and Melencio-Herrera) and another two
reserving their votes (Plana and Gutierrez, Jr.). One was on official
leave (Fernando, C.J.)

Re-examining that decision, the Court finds, and so holds, that it should be reversed
in favor of the earlier case of Geronimo v. Santos (136 SCRA 435), which represents
the more logical and democratic rule. That case, which reiterated the doctrine first
announced in 1912 in Topacio vs. Paredes (23 Phil. 238) was supported by ten
members of the Court. . . .

The rule, therefore, is: the ineligibility of a candidate receiving majority votes does not
entitle the eligible candidate receiving the next highest number of votes to be
declared elected. A minority or defeated candidate cannot be deemed elected to the
office.

Indeed, this has been the rule in the United States since 1849 (State ex rel. Dunning
v. Giles, 52 Am. Dec. 149).

It is therefore incorrect to argue that since a candidate has been disqualified, the
votes intended for the disqualified candidate should, in effect, be considered null and
void. This would amount to disenfranchising the electorate in whom, sovereignty
resides. At the risk of being repetitious, the people of Baguio City opted to elect
petitioner Labo bona fide without any intention to missapply their franchise, and in
the honest belief that Labo was then qualified to be the person to whom they would
entrust the exercise of the powers of the government. Unfortunately, petitioner Labo
turned out to be disqualified and cannot assume the office.

Whether or not the candidate whom the majority voted for can or cannot be installed,
under no circumstances can a minority or defeated candidate be deemed elected to
the office. Surely, the 12,602 votes cast for petitioner Ortega is not a larger number
than the 27,471 votes cast for petitioner Labo (as certified by the Election Registrar
of Baguio City; rollo, p. 109; G.R. No. 105111).

This, it bears repeating, expresses the more logical and democratic view. We cannot, in another shift
of the pendulum, subscribe to the contention that the runner-up in an election in which the winner
has been disqualified is actually the winner among the remaining qualified candidates because this
clearly represents a minority view supported only by a scattered number of obscure American state
and English court decisions.   These decisions neglect the possibility that the runner-up, though
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obviously qualified, could receive votes so measly and insignificant in number that the votes they
receive would be tantamount to rejection. Theoretically, the "second placer" could receive just one
vote. In such a case, it is absurd to proclaim the totally repudiated candidate as the voters' "choice."
Moreover, even in instances where the votes received by the second placer may not be considered
numerically insignificant, voters preferences are nonetheless so volatile and unpredictable that the
result among qualified candidates, should the equation change because of the disqualification of an
ineligible candidate, would not be self-evident. Absence of the apparent though ineligible winner
among the choices could lead to a shifting of votes to candidates other than the second placer. By
any mathematical formulation, the runner-up in an election cannot be construed to have obtained a
majority or plurality of votes cast where an "ineligible" candidate has garnered either a majority or
plurality of the votes.

In fine, we are left with no choice but to affirm the COMELEC's conclusion declaring herein petitioner
ineligible for the elective position of Representative of Makati City's Second District on the basis of
respondent commission's finding that petitioner lacks the one year residence in the district mandated
by the 1987 Constitution. A democratic government is necessarily a government of laws. In a
republican government those laws are themselves ordained by the people. Through their
representatives, they dictate the qualifications necessary for service in government positions. And as
petitioner clearly lacks one of the essential qualifications for running for membership in the House of
Representatives, not even the will of a majority or plurality of the voters of the Second District of
Makati City would substitute for a requirement mandated by the fundamental law itself.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant petition is hereby DISMISSED. Our Order
restraining respondent COMELEC from proclaiming the candidate garnering the next highest
number of votes in the congressional elections for the Second District of Makati City is made
PERMANENT.

SO ORDERED.

Regalado, Melo, Puno and Hermosisima, Jr., JJ., concur.

Feliciano, J., is on leave.