G.R. No. L-19260 - JANUARY 1962 - PHILIPPINE JURISPRUDENCE CASE NUMBERCASE TITLE G.R. No. L-19260January 31, 1962 Delfin Albano vs. Manuel Arranz, et al. G.R. No. L-17807January 31, 1962 Valeriano Ulep, et al. vs. Javier Pabalan G.R. No. L-17746January 31, 1962 Alejandro Facundo vs. Javier Pabalan G.R. No. L-17564January 31, 1962 Arturo de Santos, et al. vs. Petronilo Acosta, et al. G.R. No. L-17533January 31, 1962 Philippine Engineer's Syndicate, Inc. vs. Flora S. Martin, et al. G.R. No. L-17451January 31, 1962 Dominador S. Asis vs. Melquiades G. Ilao, et al. G.R. No. L-17436January 31, 1962 Equitable Insurance and Casualty Company, Inc. vs. Rural Insurance and Surety Co., Inc. G.R. No. L-17335January 31, 1962 Raul H. Tanpinco vs. Antonio T. Lozada, et al. G.R. No. L-17250January 31, 1962 Jose de Luna Gonzales, et al. vs. Generosa de Leon, et al. G.R. No. L-17240January 31, 1962 Clemencia B. Vda. de Villongco, et al. vs. Florencio Moreno, et al. G.R. No. L-16926January 31, 1962 Felipe Tanchoco vs. Government Service Insurance System, et al. G.R. No. L-16897January 31, 1962 Gregorio M. Matas vs. Honorio Romero, et al. G.R. No. L-16872January 31, 1962 Theodore Lewin vs. Deportation Board G.R. No. L-16809January 31, 1962 Union Garment Co., Inc. vs. Court of Tax Appeals, et al. G.R. No. L-16741January 31, 1962 Florencia Q. de Abraham, et al. vs. Intestate Estate of Juan C. Ysmael Priscilla Recto-Kasten G.R. No. L-16714January 31, 1962 People of the Philippines vs. Maxencio Morado G.R. Nos. L-16696 and L-16702January 31, 1962 Luciano Escosura, et al. vs. San Miguel Brewery, Inc. G.R. No. L-16683January 31, 1962 Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cebu vs. Collector of Internal Revenue G.R. No. L-16668January 31, 1962 J.M. Tuason & Co., Inc., etc. vs. Bienvenido de Leon G.R. No. L-16662January 31, 1962 Vet Bros and Co., Inc. vs. Jose S. Movido, et al. G.R. No. L-16661January 31, 1962 Clara Diluangco Palanca, et al. vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, et al. G.R. No. L-16629January 31, 1962 Southern Lines, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals, et al. G.R. No. L-16558January 31, 1962 Casiano Magistrado vs. Court of Appeals, et al. G.R. No. L-16550January 31, 1962 Allen McConn vs. Paul Haragan, et al. G.R. No. L-16513January 31, 1962 Republic of the Philippines vs. vs. Paz Arguelles Vda. de Lao, et al. G.R. No. L-16480January 31, 1962 Artemio Katigbak vs. Court of Appeals, et al. G.R. No. L-16474January 31, 1962 Tomas B. Tadeo vs. Provincial Fiscal of Pangasinan, et al. G.R. No. L-16460January 31, 1962 Adela Silpao, et al. vs. Lope Paglomotan G.R. No. L-16386January 31, 1962 Ramon Velez vs. Gabino Saavedra, et al. G.R. No. L-15976January 31, 1962 Apolonio de los Santos vs. Benjamin V. Limbaga G.R. Nos. L-15447-48January 31, 1962 Allied Workers' Association of the Philippines (AWA) San Carlos Chapter vs. Philippine Land-Air-Sea Labor Union, et al. G.R. No. L-15079January 31, 1962 People of the Philippines vs. Guillermo I. Ventura G.R. No. L-14891January 31, 1962 Republic of the Philippines vs. Filadelfo S. Rojas G.R. No. L-14834January 31, 1962 Tomas Alvarez, et al. vs. Board of Liquidators, et al. G.R. No. L-14106January 31, 1962 Emiliana Empamano, et al. vs. Director of Lands G.R. No. L-13924January 31, 1962 Jacobo Divino vs. Ramona Fabie de Marcos, et al. G.R. No. L-13656January 31, 1962 Collector of Internal Revenue vs. Alberto D. Benipayo G.R. No. L-13439January 31, 1962 Domestic Insurance Company of the Phil. vs. Manila Port Service, et al. G.R. No. L-13374January 31, 1962 Francisco Bautista vs. Gerardo Murillo G.R. No. L-12996January 31, 1962 Republic of the Philippinesvs. Antonio Albert G.R. No. L-12960January 31, 1962 Cirilo Ventura, et al. vs. Anastacia Baysa, et al. G.R. No. L-12396January 31, 1962 Ker & Company, Ltd. vs. Court of Tax Appeals, et al. G.R. No. L-17936January 30, 1962 City of Legaspi vs. Mateo L. Alcasid, et al. G.R. No. L-17689January 30, 1962 Jose Beley vs. Genaro Tan Torres, et al. G.R. No. L-17398January 30, 1962 Arsenio H. Lacson, et al. vs. Santos Villafranca, et al. G.R. No. L-17384January 30, 1962 Nestora Rigor Vda. de Quiambao, et al. vs. Manila Motor Company, Inc., et al. G.R. No. L-16970January 30, 1962 Eloy B. Bello, et al. vs. Valentin A. Fernando G.R. No. L-16959January 30, 1962 Intestate Estate of Odualdo Vitug Donata Montemayor vs. Heirs of Eduardo D. Gutierrez G.R. No. L-16956January 30, 1962 Salvacion Feria Vda. de Potenciano vs. William Gruenberg, et al. G.R. No. L-16836January 30, 1962 J.M. Tuason & Co., Inc., et al. vs. Bienvenido Sanvictores G.R. No. L-16796January 30, 1962 Alejandro Abao, et al. vs. J.M. Tuason & Co., Inc., et al. G.R. Nos. L-16693-4-5January 30, 1962 Godofredo I. Mosuela, et al. vs. Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company G.R. No. L-16667January 30, 1962 Republic of the Philippines vs. Melquiades G. Ilao, et al. G.R. No. L-16020January 30, 1962 Vicente Fragante vs. People's Homesite and Housing Corp. G.R. No. L-15974January 30, 1962 People of the Philippines vs. Pascual Silva G.R. No. L-15964January 30, 1962 Ezequiel S. Consulta vs. Nicasio Yatco, et al. G.R. No. L-15539January 30, 1962 J. M. Tuason and Co., Inc., et al. vs. Adolfo Magdangal G.R. No. L-15047January 30, 1962 In re: Dionisio Palaran Dionisio Palaran vs. Republic of the Philippines G.R. No. L-14913January 30, 1962 Manila Railroad Co., et al. vs. Zoilo Hilario, et al. G.R. No. L-14715January 30, 1962 Marcela Julian, et al. vs. Marta Gonzales, et al. G.R. No. L-14662January 30, 1962 Genoveva Beltran, et al. vs. Corazon Ayson, et al. G.R. No. L-12487January 30, 1962 Castor Custodio vs. Pedro T. Cristobal, et al. G.R. No. L-12141January 30, 1962 People of the Philippines vs. Miguel Lasala G.R. No. L-11037January 30, 1962 Edgardo Cariaga, et al. vs. Laguna Tayabas Bus Co., et al. G.R. No. L-17248January 29, 1962 Beatriz Galang vs. Court of Appeals, et al. G.R. No. L-17079January 29, 1962 Braulio Castillo, et al. vs. Simplicia Nagtalon, et al. Simplicia Nagtalon vs. Desiderio Segundo, et al. G.R. No. L-17078January 29, 1962 Philippine National Bank vs. Francisco Buenaseda G.R. No. L-17076January 29, 1962 Augusto G. Gamboa vs. Bienvenido A. Tan G.R. No. L-19313January 19, 1962 Dominador R. Aytona vs. Andres V. Castillo, et al. The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation, Inc. Delfin Albano vs. Manuel Arranz, et al. Valeriano Ulep, et al. vs. Javier Pabalan Alejandro Facundo vs. Javier Pabalan Arturo de Santos, et al. vs. Petronilo Acosta, et al. Philippine Engineer's Syndicate, Inc. vs. Flora S. Martin, et al. Dominador S. Asis vs. Melquiades G. Ilao, et al. Equitable Insurance and Casualty Company, Inc. vs. Rural Insurance and Surety Co., Inc. Raul H. Tanpinco vs. Antonio T. Lozada, et al. Jose de Luna Gonzales, et al. vs. Generosa de Leon, et al. Clemencia B. Vda. de Villongco, et al. vs. Florencio Moreno, et al. Felipe Tanchoco vs. Government Service Insurance System, et al. Gregorio M. Matas vs. Honorio Romero, et al. Theodore Lewin vs. Deportation Board Union Garment Co., Inc. vs. Court of Tax Appeals, et al. Florencia Q. de Abraham, et al. vs. Intestate Estate of Juan C. Ysmael Priscilla Recto-Kasten People of the Philippines vs. Maxencio Morado Luciano Escosura, et al. vs. San Miguel Brewery, Inc. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cebu vs. Collector of Internal Revenue J.M. Tuason & Co., Inc., etc. vs. Bienvenido de Leon Vet Bros and Co., Inc. vs. Jose S. Movido, et al. Clara Diluangco Palanca, et al. vs. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, et al. Southern Lines, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals, et al. Casiano Magistrado vs. Court of Appeals, et al. Allen McConn vs. Paul Haragan, et al. Republic of the Philippines vs. vs. Paz Arguelles Vda. de Lao, et al. Artemio Katigbak vs. Court of Appeals, et al. Tomas B. Tadeo vs. Provincial Fiscal of Pangasinan, et al. Adela Silpao, et al. vs. Lope Paglomotan Ramon Velez vs. Gabino Saavedra, et al. Apolonio de los Santos vs. Benjamin V. Limbaga Allied Workers' Association of the Philippines (AWA) San Carlos Chapter vs. Philippine Land-Air-Sea Labor Union, et al. People of the Philippines vs. Guillermo I. Ventura Republic of the Philippines vs. Filadelfo S. Rojas Tomas Alvarez, et al. vs. Board of Liquidators, et al. Emiliana Empamano, et al. vs. Director of Lands Jacobo Divino vs. Ramona Fabie de Marcos, et al. Collector of Internal Revenue vs. Alberto D. Benipayo Domestic Insurance Company of the Phil. vs. Manila Port Service, et al. Francisco Bautista vs. Gerardo Murillo Republic of the Philippinesvs. Antonio Albert Cirilo Ventura, et al. vs. Anastacia Baysa, et al. Ker & Company, Ltd. vs. Court of Tax Appeals, et al. City of Legaspi vs. Mateo L. Alcasid, et al. Jose Beley vs. Genaro Tan Torres, et al. Arsenio H. Lacson, et al. vs. Santos Villafranca, et al. Nestora Rigor Vda. de Quiambao, et al. vs. Manila Motor Company, Inc., et al. Eloy B. Bello, et al. vs. Valentin A. Fernando Intestate Estate of Odualdo Vitug Donata Montemayor vs. Heirs of Eduardo D. Gutierrez Salvacion Feria Vda. de Potenciano vs. William Gruenberg, et al. J.M. Tuason & Co., Inc., et al. vs. Bienvenido Sanvictores Alejandro Abao, et al. vs. J.M. Tuason & Co., Inc., et al. Godofredo I. Mosuela, et al. vs. Philippines Long Distance Telephone Company Republic of the Philippines vs. Melquiades G. Ilao, et al. Vicente Fragante vs. People's Homesite and Housing Corp. People of the Philippines vs. Pascual Silva Ezequiel S. Consulta vs. Nicasio Yatco, et al. J. M. Tuason and Co., Inc., et al. vs. Adolfo Magdangal In re: Dionisio Palaran Dionisio Palaran vs. Republic of the Philippines Manila Railroad Co., et al. vs. Zoilo Hilario, et al. Marcela Julian, et al. vs. Marta Gonzales, et al. Genoveva Beltran, et al. vs. Corazon Ayson, et al. Castor Custodio vs. Pedro T. Cristobal, et al. People of the Philippines vs. Miguel Lasala Edgardo Cariaga, et al. vs. Laguna Tayabas Bus Co., et al. Beatriz Galang vs. Court of Appeals, et al. Braulio Castillo, et al. vs. Simplicia Nagtalon, et al. Simplicia Nagtalon vs. Desiderio Segundo, et al. Philippine National Bank vs. Francisco Buenaseda Augusto G. Gamboa vs. Bienvenido A. Tan Dominador R. Aytona vs. Andres V. Castillo, et al. The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation, Inc.
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
G.R. No. L-19260 January 31, 1962
DELFIN ALBANO,petitioner,
vs.
HON. MANUEL ARRANZ, as Judge of the Court of First Instance of Isabela, Branch I, and SAMUEL REYES,respondents.
Lorenzo Sumulong for petitioner.
Jose A. Unson for respondents.
REYES, J.B.L.,J.:
Petitioner Delfin Albano has applied for a writ of prohibition against the Honorable Manuel Arranz, Judge of the Court of First Instance of Isabela, Branch I, praying for an order commanding said respondent to permanently desist from entertaining or taking any step or proceeding in connection with Case No. 365 formandamus, instituted by respondent Samuel F. Reyes against the Provincial Board of Canvassers of the Province of Isabela. Upon application and filing of the corresponding bond for P2,000, we issued a writ of preliminary injunction on December 11, 1961.
For a background, the following facts can be gleaned from the record:.
That in the last national elections held on November 14, 1961, petitioner Albano was the official candidate of the Nacionalista Party for the office of Representative for the lone congressional district of Isabela. His opponent was respondent Samuel Reyes, official candidate of the Liberal Party for the same position.
During the canvass of November 28, 1961 by the Provincial Board of Canvassers of the votes cast at the election, the representative of petitioner Albano questioned the returns produced by the Provincial Treasurer for Precincts 1, 4, 5-A, 8, 8-A, 13, 14, 15 and 16 of Cabagan, Isabela; and for Precincts Nos. 4, 6, 6-A, and 7 of Reina Mercedes, Isabela, on the ground that the said returns appeared with erasures on their face and showed a different number of votes cast for the contending candidates for Congressman, as compared with the carbon copies that had been furnished the representatives of the Nacionalista Party at the aforesaid precincts, pursuant to instructions of the Commission on Elections, and that in the copies submitted to the Treasurer, the alterations operated to the detriment of petitioner herein.
Discussions and altercations having ensued, with charges and counter-charges, the canvassing of non-contested returns continued, but the controversy as to returns from the precincts heretofore mentioned was reported to the Commission on Elections; and the latter, by telegraphic order of December 6, 1961, ordered the suspension of the proclamation of the winning candidate until further orders. Complying with the order received, the provincial board of canvassers suspended the canvass of the votes in the questioned precincts, as well as of those cast in Precinct No. 10-A of Santo Tomas, Isabela, the return of which had been contested by respondent Reyes. The latter thereupon filed a petition for a writ ofmandamusin the Court of First Instance of Isabela, Branch I, presided over by Judge Manuel Arranz, with the Provincial Board of Canvassers as lone respondent, praying that after immediate hearing, the Board of Canvassers be directed to forthwith canvass the disputed votes cast in the precincts referred to, and proclaim the winner, it being averred that the suspension orders of the Commission on Elections were null and void. Acting upon the complaint, the respondent Judge, on December 9, 1961, ordered the case set for hearing within five days, and on the same day, upon motion of Reyes, issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Board of Canvassers and the Provincial Treasurer to refrain from bringing the questioned returns to Manila, as instructed by the Commission on Elections.
We must agree with the petitioner that the actuations of the respondent court are highly irregular and void for lack of jurisdiction. The suspension of the proclamation of the winning candidate pending an injury into irregularities brought to the attention of the Commission on Elections was well within its administrative jurisdiction, in view of the exclusive authority conferred upon it by the Constitution, (Art. X), for the administration and enforcement of all laws relative to elections. The Commission certainly had the right to inquire whether or not discrepancies existed between the various copies of election returns for the precincts in question, and suspend the canvass in the meantime, so the parties could ask for a recount in case of variance. Moreover, the Court below could not properly pass upon the validity of the Commission's orders without giving it a hearing, and the Commission had not been impleaded.1äwphï1.ñët
Even assuming that the order to suspend the proclamation of the winner was in any way defective, the correction thereof did not lie within the authority of the statutory Courts of First Instance, since Article X, section 2 (in fine) expressly prescribes "that the decisions, orders, and rulings of the Commission shall be subject to review by the Supreme Court" and by no other tribunal (Luison vs. Garcia, G.R. No. L-10916, May 20, 1957). It is easy to realize the chaos that would ensue if the Court of First Instance of each and every province were to arrogate itself the power to disregard, suspend, or contradict any order of the Commission on Elections: that constitutional body would be speedily reduced to impotence.
WHEREFORE, and without prejudice to the right of any proper party to petition for a recount of the votes in the precincts involved, the writ of prohibition prayed for is granted, and the respondent court is ordered to permanently refrain from proceeding in any way with Civil Case No. 365, now pending therein, and from taking any action in relation thereto. Costs against respondent Samuel F. Reyes.
Bengzon, C.J., Bautista Angelo, Labrador, Concepcion, Barrera, Paredes, Dizon and De Leon, JJ., concur.
Padilla, J., took no part.