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464 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Evardone vs. Commission on Elections
*
G.R. No. 94010. December 2, 1991.
FELIPE EVARDONE, petitioner, vs. COMMISSION ON
ELECTIONS, ALEXANDER APELADO, VICTORINO E.
ACLAN and NOEL A. NIVAL, respondents.
*
G.R. No. 95063. December 2, 1991.
ALEXANDER R. APELADO, VICTORINO E. ACLAN and
NOEL A. NIVAL, petitioners, vs. COMMISSION ON
ELECTIONS and MAYOR FELIPE EVARDONE,
respondents.
Election Law Local Government Code Since the Local
Government Code of 1991 will take effect only on January 1. 1992,
the Old Local Government Code (B.P. Blg. 337) is still the law
applicable to the present case.Article XVIII, Section 3 of the
1987 Constitution expresely provides that all existing laws not
inconsistent with the 1987 Constitution shall remain operative,
until amended, repealed or revoked. Republic Act No. 7160
providing for the Local Government Code of 1991, approved by the
President on 10 October 1991, specifically repeals B.P. Blg. 337 as
provided in Sec, 534, Title Four of said Act. But the Local
Government Code of 1991 will take effect only on 1 January 1992
and therefore the old Local Government Code (B.P. Blg.
________________
* EN BANC.
465
VOL. 204, DECEMBER 2, 1991 465
Evardone vs. Commission on Elections
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337) is still the law applicable to the present case. Prior to the
enactment of the new Local Government Code, the effectiveness of
B.P. Blg. 337 was expressly recognized in the proceedings of the
1986 Constitutional Commission.
Same Same Recall Chapter 3 of B.P. Blg. 337 provides for
the mechanism for recall of local elective officials.Chapter 3
(Sections 64 to 59) of B.P. Blg. 337 provides for the mechanism for
recall of local elective officials. Section 69 expressly authorizes the
respondent COMELEC to conduct and supervise the process of
and election on recall and in the exercise of such powers,
promulgate the necessary rules and regulations.
Same Same Same Same Election Code contains no special
provisions on the manner of conducting elections for the recall of a
local official.The Election Code contains no special provisions
on the manner of conducting elections for the recall of a local
official. Any such election shall be conducted in the manner and
under the rules on special elections, unless otherwise provided by
law or rule of the COMELEC. Thus, pursuant to the rulemaking
power vested in respondent COMELEC, it promulgated
Resolution No. 2272 on 23 May 1990.
Same Same Same Same Same Court rules that Resolution
No. 2272 promulgated by respondent COMELEC is valid and
constitutional.We therefore rule that Resolution No. 2272
promulgated by respondent COMELEC is valid and
constitutional. Consequently, the respondent COMELEC had the
authority to approve the petition for recall and set the date for the
signing of said petition.
Same Same Same Whether or not the electorate of the
Municipality of Sulat has lost confidence in the incumbent Mayor
is a political question The signing process held last 14 July 1990
in Sulat, Eastern Samar for the recall of Mayor Felipe P.
Evardone of said municipality is valid and has legal effect.
Whether or not the electorate of the Municipality of Sulat has lost
confidence in the incumbent mayor is a political question. It
belongs to the realm of politics where only the people are the
judge. Loss of confidence is the formal withdrawal by an
electorate of their trust in a persons ability to discharge his office
previously bestowed on him by the same electorate. The
constituents have made a judgment and their will to recall the
incumbent mayor (Evardone) has already been ascertained and
must be afforded the highest respect. Thus, the signing process
held last 14 July 1960 in Sulat, Eastern Samar, for the recall of
Mayor Felipe P. Evardone of
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466
466 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Evardone vs. Commission on Elections
said municipality is valid and has legal effect.
Same Same Same Same Recall at this time is no longer
possible because of the limitation provided in Section 55 (2) of B.P.
Blg. 337.However, recall at this time is no longer possible
because of the limitation provided in Sec. 55 (2) of B.P. Blg. 337,
which states: SEC. 55. Who May Be Recalled Ground for Recall
When Recall May not be Held.x x K, (2) No recall shall take
place within two years from the date of the officials assumption of
office or one year immediately preceding a regular local election.
Same Same Same Same Same To hold an election on recall
approximately seven (7) months before the regular local election
will be violative of the applicable Local Government Code.The
Constitution has mandated a synchronized national and local
election prior to 30 June 1992, or more specifically, as provided for
in Article XVIII, Sec. 5on the second Monday of May, 1992.
Thus, to hold an election on recall approximately seven (7)
months before the regular local election will be violative of the
above provisions of the applicable Local Government Code (B.P.
Blg. 337).
PETITIONS for certiorari and prohibition to review the
decision of the Commission on Elections.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
Zosimo G. Alegre for Felipe Evardone.
Elmer C. Solidon for petitioners in G.R. No. 95063.
PADILLA, J.:
These two (2) consolidated petitions have their origin in en
banc Resolution No. 900557 issued by the respondent
Commission on Elections (COMELEC) dated 20 June 1990
which approved the recommendation of the Election
Registrar of Sulat, Eastern Samar to bold and conduct the
signing of the petition for recall of the incumbent Mayor of
Sulat, Eastern Samar, on 14 July 1990.
G.R. No. 94010 is a petition for prohibition with an
urgent prayer for immediate issuance of a restraining order
and/or writ of preliminary injunction to restrain the
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holding of the signing of the petition for recall on 14 July
1990.
G.R. No. 95063 is a petition for review on certiorari
which seeks to set aside en banc Resolution No. 900660 of
the respon
467
VOL. 204, DECEMBER 2, 1991 467
Evardone vs. Commission on Elections
dent COMELEC nullifying the signing process held on 14
July 1990 in Sulat, Eastern Samar for the recall of Mayor
Evardone of said municipality and en banc Resolution No.
900777 denying petitioners motion for reconsideration, on
the basis of the temporary restraining order issued by this
Court on 12 July 1990 in G.R. No. 94010.
Felipe Evardone (hereinafter referred to as Evardone) is
the mayor of the Municipality of Sulat, Eastern Samar,
having been elected to the position during the 1988 local
elections. He assumed office immediately after
proclamation.
On 14 February 1990, Alexander R. Apelado, Victorino
E. Aclan and Noel A. Nival (hereinafter referred to as
Apelado, et al.) filed a petition for the recall of Evardone
with the Office of the Local Election Registrar,
Municipality of Sulat.
In a meeting held on 20 June 1990, the respondent
COMELEC issued Resolution No. 900557, approving the
recommendation of Mr. Vedasto B. Sumbilla, Election
Registrar of Sulat, Eastern Samar, to hold on 14 July 1990
the signing of the petition for recall against incumbent
Mayor Evardone of the said Municipality.
On 10 July 1990, Evardone filed before this Court a
petition for prohibition with urgent prayer for immediate
issuance of restraining order and/or writ of preliminary
injunction, which was docketed as G.R. No. 94010.
On 12 July 1990, this Court resolved to issue a
temporary restraining order (TRO), effective immediately
and continuing until further orders from the Court,
ordering the respondents to cease and desist from holding
the signing of the petition for recall on 14 July 1990,
pursuant to respondent COMELECs Resolution No. 2272
dated 23 May 1990.
On the same day (12 July 1990), the notice of TRO was
received by the Central Office of the respondent
COMELEC. But it was only on 15 July 1990 that the field
agent of the respondent COMELEC received the
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telegraphic notice of the TROa day after the completion
of the signing process sought to be temporarily stopped by
the TRO.
In an en banc resolution (No. 900660) dated 26 July
1990, the respondent COMELEC nullified the signing
process held in Sulat, Eastern Samar for being violative of
the order (the TRO) of this Court in G.R. No. 94010.
Apelado, et al., filed a motion for
468
468 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Evardone vs. Commission on Elections
reconsideration and on 29 August 1990, the respondent
COMELEC denied said motion holding that:
x x x. The critical date to consider is the service or notice of the
Restraining Order on 12 July 1990 upon the principal i.e. 1the
Commission 011 Election, and not upon its agent in the field."
Hence, the present petition for review on certiorari in G.R.
No. 95063 which seeks to set aside en banc Resolution No.
900660 of respondent COMELEC.
In G.R. No. 94010, Evardone contends that:
I. The COMELEC committed grave abuse of discretion in
approving the recommendation of the Election Registrar of
Sulat, Eastern Samar to hold the signing of the petition
for recall without giving petitioner his day in court.
II. The COMELEC likewise committed grave abuse of
discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in
promulgating Resolution No. 2272 on May2 22,1990 which
is null and void for being unconstitutional"
In G.R. No. 95063, Apelado, et al., raises the issue of
whether or not the signing process of the petition for recall
held on 14 July 1990 has been rendered nugatory by the
TRO issued by this court in G.R. No. 94010 dated 12 July
1990 but received by the COMELEC field agent only on 15
July 1990.
The principal issue for resolution by the Court is the
constitutionality of Resolution No. 2272 promulgated by
respondent COMELEC on 23 May 1990 by virtue of its
powers under the Constitution and Batas Pambansa Blg.
337 (Local Government Code). The resolution embodies the
general rules and regulations on the recall of elective
provincial, city and municipal officials.
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Evardone maintains that Article X, Section 3 of the 1987
Constitution repealed Batas Pambansa Blg. 337 in favor of
one to be enacted by Congress. Said Section 3 provides:
________________
1 G.R. No. 95063, Rollo, p. 16.
2 G.R. No. 94010, Rollo, p. 4.
469
VOL. 204, DECEMBER 2, 1991 469
Evardone vs. Commission on Elections
Sec. 3. The Congress shall enact a local government code which
shall provide for a more responsive and accountable local
government structure instituted through a system of
decentralization with effective mechanisms of recall, initiative,
and referendum, allocate among the different local government
units their powers, responsibilities, and resources, and provide for
the qualifications, election, appointment and removal, term,
salaries, powers and functions and duties of local officials, and all
other matters relating to the organization and operation of the
local units.
Since there was, during the period material to this case, no
local government code enacted by Congress after the
effectivity of the 1987 Constitution nor any law for that
matter on the subject of recall of elected government
officials, Evardone contends that there is no basis for
COMELEC Resolution No. 2272 and that the recall
proceedings in the case at bar is premature.
The respondent COMELEC, in its Comment (G.R. No.
94010), avers that:
The constitutional provision does not refer only to a local
government code which is in futurum but also in esse. It merely
sets forth the guidelines which Congress will consider in
amending the provisions of the present Local Government Code.
Pending the enactment of the amendatory law, the existing Local
Government Code remains operative. The adoption of the 1987
Constitution did not abrogate the provisions of BP No. 337, unless
a certain provision thereof is clearly irreconciliable with the
provisions of the 1987 Constitution In this case, Sections 54 to 59
of Batas Pambansa No. 337 are not inconsistent with 3
the
provisions of the Constitution. Hence, they are operative."
We find the contention of the respondent COMELEC
meritorious.
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Article XVIII, Section 3 of the 1987 Constitution
expressly provides that all existing laws not inconsistent
with the 1987 Constitution shall remain operative, until
amended, repealed or revoked. Republic Act No. 7160
providing for the Local Government Code of 1991, approved
by the President on 10 October 1991, specifically repeals
B.P. Blg. 337 as provided in Sec. 534, Title Four of said Act.
But the Local Government Code
________________
3 G.R. No. 94010, Rollo, p. 50.
470
470 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Evardone vs. Commission on Elections
of 1991 will take effect only on 1 January 1992 and
therefore the old Local Government Code (B.P. Blg. 337) is
still the law applicable to the present case. Prior to the
enactment of the new Local Government Code, the
effectiveness of B.P. Blg. 337 was expressly recognized in
the proceedings of the 1986 Constitutional Commission.
Thus
MR. NOLLEDO. Besides, pending the enactment of a new Local
Government Code under the report of the Committee on
Amendments and Transitory Provisions, the former Local
Government Code, which is Batas Pambansa Blg. 337 shall
continue to 4be effective until repealed by the Congress of the
Philippines."
Chapter 3 (Sections 54 to 59) of B.P. Blg. 337 provides for
the mechanism for recall of local elective officials. Section
59 expressly authorizes the respondent COMELEC to
conduct and supervise the process of and election on recall
and in the exercise of such powers, promulgate the
necessary rules and regulations.
The Election Code contains no special provisions on the
manner of conducting elections for the recall of a local
official. Any such election shall be conducted in the manner
and under the rules on special elections, unless
5
otherwise
provided by law or rule of the COMELEC. Thus, pursuant
to the rulemaking power vested in respondent COMELEC,
it promulgated Resolution No. 2272 on 23 May 1990.
We therefore rule that Resolution No. 2272 promulgated
by respondent COMELEC is valid and constitutional.
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Consequently, the respondent COMELEC had the
authority to approve the petition for recall and set the date
for the signing of said petition.
The next issue for resolution is whether or not the TRO
issued by this Court rendered nugatory the signing process
of the petition for recall held pursuant to Resolution No.
2272.
In Governor Zosimo J. Paredes, et al. vs. Executive 6
Secretary to the President of the Philippines, et al., this
Court held:
________________
4 Record of the Constitutional Commission, Vol. III, p. 400.
5 ANTONIO ORENDAIN, PHILIPPINE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
ANNOTATED (1983).
6 G.R. No. 55628, March 2,1984,128 SCRA 6.
471
VOL. 204, DECEMBER 2, 1991 471
Evardone vs. Commission on Elections
x x x, What is sought in this suit is to enjoin respondents
particularly respondent Commission from implementing Batas
Pambansa Blg. 86, specifically from conducting, holding and
undertaking the plebiscite provided for in said act. The petition
was filed on December 5, 1980. There was a plea for a restraining
order, but Proclamation No. 2034 fixing the date for such
plebiscite on December 6,1980 had been issued as far as back as
November 11,1980. Due to this delay in filing this suit,
attributable solely to petitioners, there was no time even to
consider such a plea. The plebiscite was duly held. The certificate
of canvass and proclamation of the result disclosed that out of
2,409 total votes cast in such plebiscite, 2,368 votes were cast in
favor of the creation of the new municipality, which, according to
the statute, will be named municipality of Aguinaldo. There were
only 40 votes cast against. As a result, such municipality was
created. There is no turning back the clock. The moot and
academic character of this petition is thus apparent.
In the present case, the records show that Evardone knew
of the Notice of Recall filed by Apelado, et al. on or about 21
February 1990 as evidenced by the Registry Return
Receipt yet, he was not vigilant in following up and
determining the outcome of such notice. Evardone alleges
that it was only on or about 3 July 1990 that he came to
know about the Resolution of respondent COMELEC
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setting the signing of the petition for recall on 14 July
1990. But despite his urgent prayer for the issuance of a
TRO, Evardone filed the petition for prohibition only on 10
July 1990.
Indeed, this Court issued a TRO on 12 July 1990 but the
signing of the petition for recall took place just the same on
the scheduled date through no fault of the respondent
COMELEC and Apelado, et al. The signing process was
undertaken by the constituents of the Municipality of Sulat
and its Election Registrar in good faith and without
knowledge of the TRO earlier issued by this Court. As
attested by Election Registrar Sumbilla, about 2,050 of the
6,090 registered voters of Sulat, Eastern Samar or about
34% signed the petition
7
for recall. As held in Paredes vs.
Executive Secretary there is no turning back the clock.
________________
7 Supra.
472
472 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Evardone vs. Commission on Elections
The right to recall is complementary to the right to elect or
appoint. It is included in the right of suffrage. It is based on the
theory that the electorate must maintain a direct and elastic
control over public functionaries. It is also predicated upon the
idea that a public office is burdened with public interests and
that the representatives of the people holding public offices are
simply agents or servants of the people with definite powers and
specific duties to perform8
and to follow if they wish to remain in
their respective offices."
Whether or not the electorate of the Municipality of Sulat
has lost confidence in the incumbent mayor is a political
question. It belongs to9 the realm of politics where only the
people are the judge. Loss of confidence is the formal
withdrawal by an electorate of their trust in a persons
ability to discharge his office
10
previously bestowed on him
by the same electorate." The constituents have made a
judgment and their will to recall the incumbent mayor
(Evardone) has already been ascertained and must be
afforded the highest respect. Thus, the signing process held
last 14 July 1990 in Sulat, Eastern Samar, for the recall of
Mayor Felipe P. Evardone of said municipality is valid and
has legal effect.
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However, recall at this time is no longer possible
because of the limitation provided in Sec. 55 (2) of B.P. Blg,
337, which states:
SEC. 55. Who May Be Recalled Ground for Recall When Recall
May not be Held.x x x
(2) No recall shall take place within two years from the date of
the officials assumption of office or one year immediately
preceding a regular local election.
The Constitution has mandated a synchronized national
and local election prior to 30 June 1992, or more
specifically, as provided for in11Article XVIII, Sec. 5on the
second Monday of May, 1992. Thus, to hold an election on
recall approximately
_______________
8 Orendain, supra, p. 87.
9 Lawyers League For A Better Philippines vs. President Corazon C.
Aquino, G.R. Nos. 73748, 73972, 73990, May 22,1986.
10 Orendain, supra, p, 87.
11 Governor Emilio M.R. Osmea, et al. vs. Commission, et al., G.R. No.
100318, 30 July 1991.
473
VOL. 204, DECEMBER 2, 1991 473
Siton vs. Court of Appeals
seven (7) months before the regular local election will be
violative of the above provisions of the applicable Local
Government Code (B.P. Blg. 337)
ACCORDINGLY, both petitions are DISMISSED for
having become moot and academic.
SO ORDERED.
Narvasa, MelencioHerrera, Gutierrez, Jr., Cruz,
Paras, Feliciano, Bidin, GrioAquino, Medialdea,
Regalado, Davide, Jr. and Romero, JJ., concur.
Fernan, (C.J.), on leave.
Petitions dismissed.
o0o
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