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Victoria V Comelec Digest

1) The case involved the ranking of Sanggunian members in Albay province to determine who would assume the vacant position of vice-governor. 2) COMELEC ranked the members based on the number of votes obtained in relation to the total registered voters in each district. Petitioner argued ranking should also consider the number of actual voters. 3) The Supreme Court held that under the law, ranking is determined based on the proportion of votes to registered voters, as stated clearly in the law. The court cannot interpret or change the law.

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476 views

Victoria V Comelec Digest

1) The case involved the ranking of Sanggunian members in Albay province to determine who would assume the vacant position of vice-governor. 2) COMELEC ranked the members based on the number of votes obtained in relation to the total registered voters in each district. Petitioner argued ranking should also consider the number of actual voters. 3) The Supreme Court held that under the law, ranking is determined based on the proportion of votes to registered voters, as stated clearly in the law. The court cannot interpret or change the law.

Uploaded by

Ralph Veloso
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Victoria v Comelec

Facts:

Due to the suspension of Governor Romeo Salalima of the Province of Albay, Vice-Governor Danilo Azana
automatically assumed the powers and functions of the governor, leaving vacant his post as vice-governor.

On February 15, 1993, DILG Secretary Rafael M. Alunan III designated private respondent Jesus James Calisin
as acting Vice-Governor of the province pursuant to the COMELEC resolution dated January 22, 1993,
certifying Calisin of District 1 as first ranking member with petitioner Juan Victoria of District 2 as second
ranking member. The COMELEC based its certification on the number of votes obtained by the Sanggunian
members in relation to the number of registered voters in the district.

Petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration which was denied on February 22, 1993. Hence, petitioner filed a
petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court.

Petitioner claims that the ranking of the Sanggunian members should not only be based on the number of votes
obtained in relation to the total number of registered voters, but also on the number of voters in the district who
actually voted therein. He further argues that a district may have a large number of registered voters but only a
few actually voted, in which case the winning candidate would register a low percentage of the number of votes
obtained. Conversely, a district may have a smaller number of registered voters but may have a big voters' turn-
out, in which case the winning candidate would get a higher percentage of the votes. Applying his formula,
petitioner would come out to be the highest ranking Sanggunian member.

Issue:

Whether or not the proportion of the votes obtained to the number of registered voters of each district shall be
factored to the number of voters who actually voted in determining the ranking in the Sanggunian.

Held:

No. The law is clear that the ranking in the Sanggunian shall be determined on the basis of the proportion of the
votes obtained by each winning candidate of the total number of registered voters who actually voted. In such a
case, the Court has no recourse but to merely apply the law. The courts may not speculate as to the probable
intent of the legislature apart from the words.

Under the principles of statutory construction, if a statue is clear, plain and free from ambiguity, it must be
given it literal meaning and applied without attempted interpretation. This plain-meaning rule or verba legis
derived from the maxim, index animi sermo est (speech is the index of intention) rests on the valid presumption
that the words employed by the legislature in a statute correctly express its intent or will and preclude the court
from construing it differently. The legislature is presumed to know the meaning of the words, to have used
words advisely, and to have expressed its intent by the use of such words as are found in the statute. Verba legis
non est recedendum, or from the words of a statute there should be no departure.

Petitioner's contention is therefore untenable considering the clear mandate of the law, which leaves no room
for other interpretation but it must very well be addressed to the legislative branch and not to this Court which
has no power to change the law. (Victoria vs. Comelec, G.R. No. 109005, January 10, 1994)

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