AMADO S. BAGATSING, ERNESTO M. MACEDA, and JAIME LOPEZ, petitioners, vs.

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS and JOSE L. ATIENZA, respondents.

In tis petition !or "ertiorari petitioners see# to ann$% and set aside te Reso%$tion
dated J$ne &, '(() o! te Co**ission on E%e"tions +COMELEC, -irst Division
dire"tin. te pro"%a*ation o! private respondent as Ma/or o! te Cit/ o! Mani%a !or
avin. 0een iss$ed 1it .rave a0$se o! dis"retion a*o$ntin. to %a"#, or e2"ess, o!
3$risdi"tion.
Te 0a"#drop o! te instant "ase revea%s te !o%%o1in. ante"edent !a"ts4
Petitioners A*ado S. Ba.atsin., Ernesto M. Ma"eda and Jai*e Lope5 and erein
private respondent Jose L. Atien5a 1ere "andidates !or te position o! Ma/or o!
Mani%a in te Ma/ '', '(() e%e"tions.
On Ma/ '), '((), seven +6, da/s a!ter te e%e"tions, petitioners 7%ed 1it te
COMELEC a "o*p%aint !or dis8$a%i7"ation a.ainst private respondent, do"#eted as
SPA No. ()9:'(, on te .ro$nd tat te %atter a%%e.ed%/ "a$sed te dis0$rse*ent o!
p$0%i" !$nds in te a*o$nt o! Tree Mi%%ion Tree ;$ndred Sevent/9-ive To$sand
+P:,:6<,===.==, Pesos, *ore or %ess, 1itin te proi0ited !ort/97ve9da/ period
0e!ore te e%e"tions in vio%ation o! Arti"%e >>, Se"tion >?' +., +>, ' o! Batas
Pa*0ansa B%.. ))', oter1ise #no1n as te O*ni0$s E%e"tion Code o! te
Pi%ippines. Te a%%e.ed dis0$rse*ent 1as intended to 0e distri0$ted in te !or* o!
7nan"ia% assistan"e to te p$0%i" s"oo% tea"ers o! te Cit/ o! Mani%a 1o *anned
te pre"in"t po%%s in tat "it/ d$rin. te e%e"tions.
On Ma/ >=, '((), te COMELEC +-irst Division, @ iss$ed an order 1i" dispositive%/
reads as !o%%o1s4
PREMISES CONSIDERED, it appearin. tat te eviden"e presented "onsistin. o!
dis0$rse*ent vo$"er and te .enera% pa/ro%% eviden"in. pa/*ent to te tea"ers
in te !or* o! 7nan"ia% assistan"e dated Ma/ <, '((), in vio%ation o! Se"tion ?) o!
te O*ni0$s E%e"tion Code, 1i" provides4
Se". ?) Dis8$a%i7"ations. A An/ "andidate 1o in an a"tion or protest in 1i" e
is a part/ is de"%ared 0/ 7na% de"ision o! a "o*petent "o$rt .$i%t/ o!, or !o$nd 0/
te Co**ission o! avin. +a, .iven *one/ or oter *ateria% "onsideration to
inB$en"e, ind$"e or "orr$pt te voters or p$0%i" oC"ia%s per!or*in. e%e"tora%
!$n"tionsD +0, "o**itted a"ts o! terroris* to enan"e is "andida"/, +", spent in is
e%e"tion "a*pai.n an a*o$nt in e2"ess o! tat a%%o1ed 0/ tis CodeD +d, so%i"ited,
re"eived or *ade an/ "ontri0$tion proi0ited $nder Se"tion )(, (<, (?, (6 and '=&D
or +e, vio%ated an/ Se"tion )=, ):, )<, )? and >?', para.raps d, e, #, v and "",
s$09para.rap ?, sa%% 0e dis8$a%i7ed !ro* "ontin$in. as a "andidate, or i! e as
0een e%e"ted !ro* o%din. te oC"e. An/ person 1o is a per*anent resident o! or
an i**i.rant to a !orei.n "o$ntr/ sa%% not 0e 8$a%i7ed to r$n !or an/ e%e"tive oC"e
$nder tis Code, $n%ess said person as 1aived i +si", stat$es +si", as per*anent
resident or i**i.rant o! !orei.n "o$ntr/ in a""ordan"e 1it te residen"e
re8$ire*ent provided !or in te e%e"tion %a1s +Se". ><, '(6' EC, +e*pasis o$rs,.
so1 a pro0a0%e "a$se o! "o**ission o! e%e"tion oEenses 1i" are .ro$nds !or
dis8$a%i7"ation, and te eviden"e in s$pport o! dis8$a%i7"ation is stron., te Cit/
Board o! Canvassers o! Mani%a is ere0/ dire"ted to "o*p%ete te "anvassin. o!
e%e"tion ret$rns o! te Cit/ o! Mani%a, 0$t to s$spend pro"%a*ation o! respondent
Jose L. Atien5a, Jr. so$%d e o0tain te 1innin. n$*0er o! votes !or te position o!
Cit/ Ma/or o! Mani%a, $nti% s$" ti*e 1en te petition !or dis8$a%i7"ation a.ainst
i* sa%% ave 0een reso%ved.
Te E2e"$tive Dire"tor o! tis Co**ission is dire"ted to "a$se te i**ediate
i*p%e*entation o! tis Order.
SO ORDERED. >
On Ma/ >', '((), private respondent 7%ed a Motion !or Re"onsideration and so$.t
to set aside te a!ore98$oted order dire"tin. is pro"%a*ation as *a/or.
On J$ne &, '((), te COMELEC +-irst Division, @ rendered a reso%$tion ratio"inatin.
t$s%/4
Te Co**ission En Ban" 7nds "orre"t respondentFs re%ian"e on COMELEC
Reso%$tion No. >=<= !or is "a$se. Te Reso%$tion, pro*$%.ated 0/ te Co**ission
in order to !or*$%ate te r$%es .overnin. te disposition o! "ases o! dis8$a%i7"ation
7%ed 0/ virt$e o! Se"tion ?) o! te O*ni0$s E%e"tion Code in re%ation to Se"tion ? o!
Rep$0%i" A"t ??&? oter1ise #no1n as te E%e"tora% Re!or* La1 o! '()6,
pertinent%/ provides4
>. An/ "o*p%aint !or dis8$a%i7"ation 0ased on Se"tion ?) o! te O*ni0$s E%e"tion
Code, 7%ed a!ter te e%e"tions a.ainst a "andidate 1o as a%read/ 0een pro"%ai*ed
as 1inner sa%% 0e dis*issed as a dis8$a%i7"ation "ase. ;o1ever, te "o*p%aint
sa%% 0e re!erred !or pre%i*inar/ investi.ation to te La1 Depart*ent o! te
Co**ission.
Gere a si*i%ar "o*p%aint is 7%ed a!ter te e%e"tions 0$t 0e!ore pro"%a*ation o! te
respondent "andidate, te "o*p%aint sa%% neverte%ess, 0e dis*issed as a or
dis8$a%i7"ation "ase. ;o1ever, te "o*p%aint sa%% 0e re!erred !or pre%i*inar/
investi.ation to te La1 Depart*ent. I!, 0e!ore pro"%a*ation, te La1 Depart*ent
*a#es a pri*a !a"ie 7ndin. o! .$i%t and te "orrespondin. in!or*ation ad 0een
7%ed 1it te appropriate tria% "o$rt, te "o*p%ainant *a/ 7%e a petition !or
s$spension o! te pro"%a*ation o! te respondent 1it te Co$rt 0e!ore 1i" te
"ri*ina% "ase is pendin. and te said Co$rt *a/ order te s$spension o! te
pro"%a*ation, i! te eviden"e o! .$i%t is stron..
Te app%i"a0i%it/ o! COMELEC Reso%$tion No. >=<= on "ases o! s$" nat$re as te
one at 0en", ad 0een $pe%d 0/ te S$pre*e Co$rt in Lo5ano vs. Co**ission on
E%e"tions, G.R. (&?>), O"to0er >), '((', 1en it de"%ared4
Reso%$tion No. >=<= spe"i7"a%%/ *andates a de7nite po%i"/ and pro"ed$re !or
dis8$a%i7"ation "ases. Te COMELEC R$%es o! Pro"ed$re spea# o! spe"ia% a"tions,
1i" in"%$de dis8$a%i7"ation "ases, in .enera%. ;en"e, as 0et1een a spe"i7" and a
.enera% r$%e, te !or*er sa%% ne"essari%/ prevai%.
It is t$s, a .ood %a1 1i" "o$%d .overn tis "ase.
Considerin. tere!ore, tat te petition !or dis8$a%i7"ation 1as 7%ed a!ter te
e%e"tion 0$t 0e!ore respondentFs pro"%a*ation, te Co**ission En Ban",
"on!or*a0%/ 1it Reso%$tion No. >=<=, ere0/ dis*isses te sa*e as a
dis8$a%i7"ation "ase 0$t re!ers PetitionersF "ar.es o! e%e"tion oEense a.ainst
respondent to te La1 Depart*ent !or appropriate a"tion. :
Te de"reta% portion o! te reso%$tion reads4
G;ERE-ORE, in vie1 o! te !ore.oin., te Co**ission -IRST DIHISION ere0/
GRANTS te Motion to %i!t te order o! s$spension o! respondents pro"%a*ation. Te
Order o! te -irst Division s$spendin. respondentFs pro"%a*ation as Cit/ Ma/or o!
Mani%a is SET ASIDE. Te Cit/ Board o! Canvassers o! Mani%a is ere0/ DIRECTED to
CONHENE, COMPLETE te CANHASS and PROCLAIM te "andidate o0tainin. te
i.est n$*0er o! votes !or said position. PetitionersF "o*p%aints a.ainst
respondent !or vio%ation o! te O*ni0$s E%e"tion Code is ere0/ re!erred to te La1
Depart*ent !or pre%i*inar/ investi.ation.
SO ORDERED. &
Tat sa*e da/ at aro$nd e%even oF"%o"# in te *ornin., petitioners 7%ed a Motion to
S$spend I**ediate Intended Pro"%a*ation o! Respondent. In te a!ternoon o! te
sa*e da/, petitioners %i#e1ise 7%ed a Motion !or Re"onsideration and a Se"ond
Motion to S$spend I**ediate Intended Pro"%a*ation o! Respondent 0e!ore
COMELEC en 0an".
Mean1i%e, te Cit/ Board o! Canvassers o! Mani%a re"onvened at tree oF"%o"# in
te a!ternoon o! te sa*e da/, J$ne &, '((), and pro"%ai*ed private respondent as
te d$%/ e%e"ted Ma/or o! te Cit/ o! Mani%a. <
On J$ne ><, '(((, 1ito$t 1aitin. !or te reso%$tion o! teir *otion !or
re"onsideration pendin. 0e!ore te COMELEC en 0an", petitioners 7%ed te instant
petition to set aside te J$ne &, '(() Reso%$tion o! te COMELECFs -irst Division.
Re"ords revea%, o1ever, tat said *otion !or re"onsideration 1as denied !or
re"onsideration pendin. 0e!ore te COMELEC en 0an" 1as denied in its Order o!
J$%/ >, '(() at te instan"e o! erein petitioners te*se%ves !or te reason tat
te/ ad a%read/ 7%ed a petition 0e!ore tis Co$rt do"#eted as G.R. No. ':&=&6. ?
Te .ro$nd !or te petition at 0ar, as terein pro*$%.ated, is as !o%%o1s4
?.' Respondent a"ted 1i*si"a%%/, "apri"io$s%/ and ar0itrari%/ 1en it dis*issed
o$tri.t te Petition !or Dis8$a%i7"ation do"#eted SPA No. ()9:'( a.ainst
respondent Atien5a on te 0asis o! Co*e%e" Reso%$tion >=<= 1i" ad a%read/
0een *odi7ed 0/ tis ;onora0%e Co$rt in te "ase o! S$n.a vs. Co*e%e" +s$pra,.
Tere!ore te dis*issa% 0/ te Co*e%e" *$st 0e str$"# do1n as avin. 0een iss$ed
in e2"ess o! 3$risdi"tion or 1it .rave a0$se o! dis"retion a*o$ntin. to %a"# o!
3$risdi"tion. 6
Te on%/ iss$e !or o$r "onsideration is 1eter or not te COMELEC -irst Division
"o**itted .rave a0$se o! dis"retion in iss$in. te Reso%$tion dated J$ne &, '(()
dis*issin. te dis8$a%i7"ation "ase a.ainst private respondent and re!errin. te
sa*e to its La1 Depart*ent !or pre%i*inar/ investi.ation.
COMELEC Reso%$tion No. >=<=, adopted on Nove*0er :, '()), reads4
G;EREAS, tere re*ain pendin. 0e!ore te Co**ission, a n$*0er o! "ases o!
dis8$a%i7"ation 7%ed 0/ virt$e o! te provisions o! Se"tion ?) o! te O*ni0$s
E%e"tion Code in re%ation to Se"tion ? o! R.A. ??&?, oter1ise #no1n as te E%e"tora%
Re!or*s La1 o! '()6D
G;EREAS, opinions o! te *e*0ers o! te Co**ission on *atters o! pro"ed$re in
dea%in. 1it "ases o! tis nat$re and te *anner o! disposin. o! te sa*e ave not
0een $ni!or*D
G;EREAS, in order to avoid "onBi"ts o! opinion in te disposition or dis8$a%i7"ation
"ases "onte*p%ated $nder Se"tion ?) o! te O*ni0$s E%e"tion Code in re%ation to
Se"tion ? o! Rep. A"t ??&?, tere is a stron.%/ !e%t need to %a/ do1n a de7nite po%i"/
in te disposition o! tis spe"i7" "%ass o! dis8$a%i7"ation "asesD
NOG, T;ERE-ORE, on *otion d$%/ se"onded, te Co**ission en 0an"4
RESOLHED, as it ere0/ reso%ves, to !or*$%ate te !o%%o1in. r$%es .overnin. te
disposition o! "ases o! dis8$a%i7"ation 7%ed 0/ virt$e o! Se"tion ?) o! te O*ni0$s
E%e"tion Code in re%ation to Se"tion ? o! R.A. No. ??&?, oter1ise #no1n as te
E%e"tora% Re!or*s La1 o! '()64
'. An/ "o*p%aint !or te dis8$a%i7"ation o! a d$%/ re.istered "andidate 0ased $pon
an/ o! te .ro$nds spe"i7"a%%/ en$*erated $nder Se"tion ?) o! te O*ni0$s
E%e"tion Code, 7%ed dire"t%/ 1it te Co**ission 0e!ore an e%e"tion in 1i" te
respondent is a "andidate, sa%% 0e in8$ired into 0/ te Co**ission !or te p$rpose
o! deter*inin. 1eter te a"ts "o*p%ained o! ave in !a"t 0een "o**itted. Gere
te in8$ir/ 0/ te Co**ission res$%ts in a 7ndin. 0e!ore e%e"tion, tat te
respondent "andidate did in !a"t "o**it te a"ts "o*p%ained, te Co**ission sa%%
order te dis8$a%i7"ation o! te respondent "andidate !ro* "ontin$in. as s$"
"andidate.
In "ase s$" "o*p%aint 1as not reso%ved 0e!ore te e%e"tion, te Co**ission
*a/ *ot$ proprio, or an +si", *otion o! an/ o! te parties, re!er te "o*p%aint to
te %a1 Depart*ent o! te Co**ission as te instr$*ent o! te %atter in te
e2er"ise o! its e2"%$sive po1er to "ond$"t a pre%i*inar/ investi.ation o! a%% "ases
invo%vin. "ri*ina% in!ra"tions o! te e%e"tion %a1s. S$" re"o$rse *a/ 0e avai%ed o!
irrespe"tive o! 1eter te respondent as 0een e%e"ted or as %ost in te e%e"tion.
>. An/ "o*p%aint !or dis8$a%i7"ation 0ased on Se"tion ?) o! te O*ni0$s E%e"tion
Code in re%ation to Se"tion ? o! Rep. A"t No. ??&? 7%ed a!ter te e%e"tion a.ainst a
"andidate 1o as a%read/ 0een pro"%ai*ed as 1inner sa%% 0e dis*issed as a
dis8$a%i7"ation "ase. ;o1ever, te "o*p%aint sa%% 0e re!erred !or pre%i*inar/
investi.ation to te La1 Depart*ent o! te Co**ission.
Gere a si*i%ar "o*p%aint is 7%ed a!ter e%e"tion 0$t 0e!ore pro"%a*ation o! te
respondent "andidate, te "o*p%aint sa%%, neverte%ess, 0e dis*issed as a
dis8$a%i7"ation "ase. ;o1ever, te "o*p%aint sa%% 0e re!erred !or pre%i*inar/
investi.ation to te La1 Depart*ent. I!, 0e!ore pro"%a*ation, te La1 Depart*ent
*a#es a pri*a !a"ie 7ndin. o! .$i%t and te "orrespondin. in!or*ation as 0een
7%ed 1it te appropriate tria% "o$rt, te "o*p%ainant *a/ 7%e a petition !or
s$spension o! te pro"%a*ation o! te respondent 1it te "o$rt 0e!ore 1i" te
"ri*ina% "ase is pendin. and te said "o$rt *a/ order te s$spension o! te
pro"%a*ation i! te eviden"e o! .$i%t is stron..
:. Te La1 Depart*ent sa%% ter*inate te pre%i*inar/ investi.ation 1itin tirt/
+:=, da/s !ro* re"eipt o! te re!erra% and sa%% s$0*it its st$d/, report and
re"o**endation to te Co**ission en 0an" 1itin 7ve +<, da/s !ro* te
"on"%$sion o! te pre%i*inar/ investi.ation. I! it *a#es a pri*a !a"ie7ndin. o! .$i%t,
it sa%% s$0*it 1it s$" st$d/ te In!or*ation !or 7%in. 1it te appropriate "o$rt.
Te a0ove98$oted reso%$tion "overs t1o +>, diEerent aspe"ts4
-irst, as "onte*p%ated in para.rap ', a "o*p%aint !or dis8$a%i7"ation 7%ed 0e!ore
te e%e"tion *$st 0e in8$ired into 0/ te COMELEC !or te p$rpose o! deter*inin.
1eter te a"ts "o*p%ained o! ave in !a"t 0een "o**itted. Gere te in8$ir/
res$%ts in 7ndin. 0e!ore te e%e"tion, te COMELEC sa%% order te "andidateFs
dis8$a%i7"ation. In "ase te "o*p%aint 1as not reso%ved 0e!ore te e%e"tion, te
COMELEC *a/ *ot$ propio or on *otion o! an/ te parties, re!er te said "o*p%aint
to te La1 Depart*ent o! te COMELEC !or pre%i*inar/ investi.ation.
Se"ond, para.rap > re!ers to a "o*p%aint !or dis8$a%i7"ation 7%ed a!ter te
e%e"tion a.ainst a "andidate 1o as not /et 0een pro"%ai*ed or 1o as a%read/
0een pro"%ai*ed as a 1inner. In 0ot "ases, te "o*p%aint sa%% 0e dis*issed as a
dis8$a%i7"ation "ase 0$t sa%% re!erred to te La1 Depart*ent o! te COMELEC !or
pre%i*inar/ investi.ation. ;o1ever, i! 0e!ore pro"%a*ation, te La1 Depart*ent
*a#es a pri*a !a"ie 7ndin. o! .$i%t and te "orrespondin. in!or*ation as 0een
7%ed 1it te appropriate tria% "o$rt, te "o*p%ainant *a/ 7%e a petition !or
s$spension o! te pro"%a*ation o! te respondent 1it te "o$rt 0e!ore 1i" te
"ri*ina% "ase is pendin. and te said "o$rt *a/ order te s$spension o! te
pro"%a*ation o! te eviden"e o! .$i%t is stron..
Petitioners "ontend tat said reso%$tion is no %on.er a .ood %a1 sin"e it as 0een
n$%%i7ed in toto 0/ tis Co$rt inS$n.a v. COMELEC. )
Contrar/ to petitionersF "ontention, te Co$rt not n$%%i!/ in toto COMELEC Reso%$tion
No. >=<= in te re"ent "ase o! S$n.a v. COMELEC. Tere 1e e%d tat4
. . . Ge dis"ern notin. in COMELEC Reso%$tion No. >=<= de"%arin., orderin. or
dire"tin. te dis*issa% o! a dis8$a%i7"ation "ase 7%ed 0e!ore te e%e"tion 0$t 1i"
re*ained $nreso%ved a!ter te e%e"tion. Gat te Reso%$tion *andates in s$" a
"ase is !or te Co**ission to re!er te "o*p%aint to its La1 Depart*ent !or
investi.ation to deter*ine 1eter te a"ts "o*p%ained o! ave in !a"t 0een
"o**itted 0/ te "andidate so$.t to 0e dis8$a%i7ed. Te 7ndin.s o! te La1
Depart*ent ten 0e"o*e te 0asis !or dis8$a%i!/in. te errin. "andidate. Tis is
tota%%/ diEerent !ro* te oter t1o sit$ations "onte*p%ated 0/ Reso%$tion No.
>=<= i.e., a dis8$a%i7"ation "ase 7%ed a!ter te e%e"tion 0$t 0e!ore te pro"%a*ation
o! 1inners and tat 7%ed a!ter te e%e"tion and te pro"%a*ation o! 1inners,
1erein it 1as spe"i7"a%%/ dire"ted 0/ te sa*e Reso%$tion to 0e dis*issed as a
dis8$a%i7"ation "ase.
Moreover, Reso%$tion No. >=<= as interpreted in Si%vestre v. Da$vit in!rin.es on Se".
? o! RA No. ??&?, 1i" provides4
Se". ?. EEe"ts o! Dis8$a%i7"ation Case. A An/ "andidate 1o as 0een de"%ared 0/
7na% 3$d.*ent to 0e dis8$a%i7ed sa%% not 0e voted !or, and te votes "ast !or i*
sa%% not 0e "o$nted. I! !or an/ reason a "andidate is not de"%ared 0/ 7na% 3$d.*ent
0e!ore and e%e"tion to 0e dis8$a%i7ed and e is voted !or and re"eives te 1innin.
n$*0er o! votes in s$" e%e"tion, te Co$rt or Co**ission sa%% "ontin$e 1it te
tria% and earin. o! te a"tion, in8$ir/ or protest and, $pon *otion o! te
"o*p%ainant or an/ intervenor, *a/ d$rin. te penden"/ tereo! order te
s$spension o! te pro"%a*ation o! s$" "andidate 1enever te eviden"e o! is
.$i%t is stron. +e*pasis s$pp%ied,.
C%ear%/, te %e.is%ative intent is tat te COMELEC so$%d "ontin$e te tria% and
earin. o! te dis8$a%i7"ation "ase to its "on"%$sion, i.e., $nti% 3$d.*ent is rendered
tereon. Te 1ord Isa%%I si.ni7es tat tis re8$ire*ent o! te %a1 is *andator/,
operatin. to i*pose a positive d$t/ 1i" *$st 0e en!or"ed. Te i*p%i"ation is tat
te COMELEC is %e!t 1it no dis"retion 0$t to pro"eed 1it te dis8$a%i7"ation "ase
even a!ter te e%e"tion. T$s, in providin. !or te o$tri.t dis*issa% o! te
dis8$a%i7"ation "ase 1i" re*ains $nreso%ved a!ter te e%e"tion, Si%vestre v.
D$avit in eEe"t disa%%o1s 1at RA No. ??&? i*perative%/ re8$ires. . . . (
Gat te Co$rt !o$nd o03e"tiona0%e terein 1as te se"ond para.rap o! para.rap
' o! Reso%$tion No. >=<= as said provision "%ear%/ in!rin.es on Se"tion ? o! R.A. No.
??&? 1i" *andates tat so$%d a dis8$a%i7"ation "ase 0e not reso%ved 0e!ore an
e%e"tion, te COMELEC sa%% "ontin$e 1it te tria% and earin. o! te "ase. It
so$%d not 0e re!erred to te La1 Depart*ent as te reso%$tion provides. Te
COMELECFs !ai%$re to distin.$is 0et1een a "o*p%aint !or dis8$a%i7"ation 7%ed
0e!ore an e%e"tion and one 7%ed a!ter an e%e"tion res$%ted in te "ontrovers/. Tere,
te COMELEC *isapp%ied te r$%es pertainin. to "o*p%aints 7%ed a!ter te e%e"tion
to a "ase "%ear%/ 7%ed prior to te Ma/ ), '((< e%e"tions. As 1e ave a%read/
*entioned a0ove, te r$%es on disposition and reso%$tion o! "ases 7%ed 0e!ore or
a!ter an e%e"tion var/. '= Conse8$ent%/, te S$n.a "ase "annot app%/ to te instant
"ase 0e"a$se ere, te dis8$a%i7"ation "ase 1as 7%ed on Ma/ '), '((), seven +6,
da/s a!ter te Ma/ '', '(() e%e"tions. Tere!ore, te provisions o! para.rap > o!
Reso%$tion No. >=<= *$st app%/, in tat, te "o*p%aint sa%% 0e dis*issed as a
dis8$a%i7"ation "ase, 0$t re!erred to te La1 Depart*ent o! te COMELEC !or
pre%i*inar/ investi.ation. Tis is e2a"t%/ 1at te COMELEC r$%ed in its assai%ed
reso%$tion o! J$ne &, '((), and ri.t%/ so.
Petitioners %i#e1ise !a$%t te COMELEC !or not orderin. te s$spension o!
respondentFs pro"%a*ation as *a/or despite teir ti*e%/97%ed IMotion to S$spend
I**ediate Intended Pro"%a*ation o! RespondentI and 1i" *otion 1as reiterated
in a se"ond *otion.
COMELEC did not err in not orderin. te s$spension o! respondentFs pro"%a*ation.
Te se"ond para.rap o! para.rap > o! Reso%$tion No. >=<= provides tat 1ere a
"o*p%aint is 7%ed a!ter te e%e"tions 0$t 0e!ore pro"%a*ation, as in tis "ase, te
"o*p%aint *$st 0e dis*issed as a dis8$a%i7ed "ase 0$t sa%% 0e re!erred to te La1
Depart*ent !or pre%i*inar/ investi.ation. I! 0e!ore te pro"%a*ation, te La1
Depart*ent *a#es a pri*a !a"ie7ndin. o! .$i%t and te "orrespondin. in!or*ation
as 0een 7%ed 1it te appropriate tria% "o$rt, te "o*p%ainant *a/ 7%e a petition
!or s$spension o! te pro"%a*ation o! respondent 1it te "o$rt 0e!ore 1i" te
"ri*ina% "ase is pendin. and tat "o$rt *a/ order te s$spension o! te
pro"%a*ation i! te eviden"e o! .$i%t is stron.. '' It appearin. tat none o! te
!ore.oin. "ir"$*stan"es o0tain erein as tere is no pri*a !a"ie 7ndin. o! .$i%t /et,
a s$spension o! respondentFs pro"%a*ation is not 1arranted. Te *ere penden"/ o!
a dis8$a%i7"ation "ase a.ainst a "andidate, and a 1innin. "andidate at tat, does
not 3$sti!/ te s$spension o! is pro"%a*ation a!ter 1innin. in te e%e"tion. To o%d
oter1ise 1o$%d $nd$%/ en"o$ra.e te 7%in. o! 0ase%ess and *a%i"io$s petitions !or
dis8$a%i7"ation i! on%/ to eEe"t te s$spension o! te pro"%a*ation o! te 1innin.
"andidate, not on%/ to is da*a.e and pre3$di"e 0$t a%so to te de!eat o! te
soverei.n 1i%% o! te e%e"torate, and !or te $nd$e 0ene7t o! $ndeservin. tird
parties. '>
Be!ore 1e end, a 1ord o! "a$tion to erein petitioners and to !$t$re %iti.ants and
"o$nse%s predisposed to invo#e tis Co$rtFs 3$risdi"tion 1ito$t 1aitin. !or te
reso%$tion o! 1atever pendin. *otions and *otions !or re"onsideration te/ ave
0e!ore tria% "o$rts and tri0$na%s e2er"isin. spe"ia%i5ed 3$risdi"tion4 Te Co$rt 1i%%
not "o$ntenan"e te pra"ti"e o! ta#in. an/ sort"$ts o! te esta0%ised r$%es o!
po"ed$re pertainin. to te ierar"/ o! "o$rts and re*edies o! %ast resort. Gen
te petitioners 7%ed te instant petition !or "ertiorari on J$ne ><, '(((, te/ #ne1
prett/ 1e%% tat te *otion !or re"onsideration te/ 7%ed to assai% te J$ne &, '(()
reso%$tion o! te -irst Division o! te Co**ission 1as sti%% pendin. 1it te
COMELEC en 0an". Not1itstandin. tat #no1%ed.e, te/ 1ent to tis Co$rt to see#
anoter re*ed/ 1i" 1as not e2a"t%/ avai%a0%e to te* at tat ti*e. Tis pra"ti"e
!a%%s sort o! !or$*9soppin. in te te"ni"a% sense and 1i%% not 0e a%%o1ed.
G;ERE-ORE, te instant petition is ere0/ DISMISSED.
SO ORDERED.