ELECTION LAW SYLLABUS (2015-16)

I. Importance of Subject
II. Election and Suffrage
1. Definition
2. History
3. Readings:
- Moya v. Del Fierro, 69 Phil. 199 (1930)
- Badelles v. Cabili, G.R. No.L-29333, 27 February 1969
- Dissenting Opinion of Justice Puno in Tolentino v. COMELEC, G.R.
No. 148334, 21 January 2004, 465 PHIL 385-476
III. Commission on Elections
1. History
2. Composition
3. Qualifications
4. Powers and Functions (1987 Constitution, Omnibus Election Code)
5. Field Offices
6. Readings: - The Omnibus Election Code;
- Purisima v. Salanga, 15 SCRA 704 (1965)
- Cauton v. COMELEC, 19 SCRA 911
- Roque v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 188456, 10 September 2009 (see
ponencia and separate concurring opinion of CJ Puno) and 10
February 2010 (Motion for Reconsideration)
- Arroyo v. DOJ and Comelec, G.R. No. 199082, 18 September 2012
and 23 July 2013
- Ongsioko Reyes v. Comelec, G.R. No. 207264, 25 June 2013 and
22 October 2013
IV. Voters
1. Qualifications for suffrage
2. Disqualifications
3. Local Absentee Voters
4. Overseas Absentee Voters
5. Detainee, PWDs, IPs, Media
6. Readings:
- The Omnibus Election Code (Sec. 118)
- E.O. No. 157 (Local Absentee Voting Law)
- R.A. No. 7166 (Sec. 12)
- R.A. No. 9189 (Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003)
- People v. Corral, 62 Phil. 945 (1936)
V. Registration of Voters
1. Qualification of Voters
2. Disqualifications
3. Election Registration Board
4. Deactivation, Reactivation, Cancellation
5. Inclusion and Exclusion Proceedings ; Jurisdiction
6. Readings: - Omnibus Election Code
- R.A. No. 8189 (The Voters Registration Act of 1996)
- Yra v. Abano, G.R. No. 30187, 15 November 1928
- Akbayan Youth v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 147066, 26 March 2001
VI. Candidates
1. Qualifications
2. Disqualifications
3. Certificate of Candidacy

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4. Nuisance Candidate
5. Readings: Article XI (Secs. 63-78), Omnibus Election Code
Section 40, R.A. No. 7160
- Frivaldo v. Comelec, G.R. No. 120295, 28 June 1996
- Mercado v. Manzano, G.R. No. 135083, 26 May 1999
- Villaber v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 148326, 15 November 2001
- Lonzanida v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 135150, 28 July 1999
- Abundo v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 201716, 08 January 2013
- Marquez v. COMELEC, 243 SCRA 538
- Dela Cruz v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 192221, 13 November 2012
- Atty. Risos-Vidal v. Comelec and Estrada, G.R. No. 206666,
January 21, 2015)
Maquiling v. Comelec (G.R. No. 195649, April 16, 2013)
Miranda v. Abaya, G.R. No. 136351, 28 July 1999 370 PHIL 642690)
Aratea vs. COMELEC, 683 SCRA 1 (2012)
Jalosjos vs. COMELEC, 683 SCRA 1 (2012)
Quinto vs. COMELEC, 606 SCRA 258, December 1, 2009
Quinto vs. COMELEC, 613 SCRA 385, Feb. 22, 2010
Mendoza vs. COMELEC, G.R. No. 191084, March 25, 2010
Socrates vs. COMELEC, 391 SCRA 457, Nov. 12, 2002

VII.

Campaign, Election Propaganda, etc.

1. Concept, Campaign
2. Campaign Period; Election Period
3. Lawful election propaganda (4)
4. Prohibited election propaganda (4)
5. Prohibited contributions (8)
6. Lawful expenditures; Limitations on Expenses
7. Statement of Contributions and Expenses
8. Readings: - Fair Elections Act of 2007 (R.A. No. 9006)
- R.A. No. 7166, Secs. 13 & 14
- Chavez v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 162777, 31 August 2007
- Penera v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 181614, 11 September 2009 and
25 November 2009
- SWS v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 147571, 05 May 2001
- GMA Network Inc. v. Comelec, G.R. No. 205357, 02 September
2014
- Emilio Ramon E.R. P. Ejercito v. Comelec, G.R. No. 212398, 25
November 2014
- The Diocese of Bacolod v. Comelec, G.R. No. 205728, 21 January
2015
- 1-UTAK v. Comelec, G.R. No. 206020, 14 April 2015

VIII.

Political Party; Party-List Organization

1. Definitions: PP, PLO
2. Groups which cannot be registered as political parties
3. Grounds for cancellation of registration
4. Registration; Manifestation to participate in the party-list system
5. Refusal and/or cancellation of registration
6. Nomination of party-list nominees
7. Qualifications of party-list nominees

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8. Manner of Voting; Number; Raffle
9. Readings: - Veterans Federation Party v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 136781, 06
October 2000
- Ang Bagong Bayani v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 147589, 26 June 2001
- Atong Paglaum v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 203766, 02 April 2013
- Palparan v. HRET, G.R. No. 189506, 11 February 2012
IX. Automated Elections
1. History
2. Automated Election System
3. Paper-based Election System
4. Minimum System Capabilities
5. Continuity Plan
6. Advisory Council; Joint Congressional Oversight Committee
7. National Board of Canvassers
8. Readings: R.A. No. 9369
- Roque v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 188456, 10 September 2009
- Capalla v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 201112, 13 June 2012
X. Recall
1. Grounds
2. Procedure
3. Readings:

R.A. No 7160, Secs. 69-74

COMELEC Resolution No. 7505
Garcia v. COMELEC, 227 SCRA 100
Claudio v. COMELEC, 331 SCRA 388

XI. Failure of Elections, Special Elections

1. Grounds
2. Call of Special Elections
3. Readings: OEC, Article I, Secs. 6-7
Sison v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 134096, 03 March 1999
Ampatuan v. COMELEC, 375 SCRA 503
XII.

Election Offenses
1. Vote-buying, vote-selling, electoral sabotage, etc.
2. Persons criminally liable
3. Penalties
4. Prosecution
5. Prescription
6. Jurisdiction
7. Readings: OEC, Article CCII, Secs. 261-268
R.A. No. 9369
People v. Ferrer, 54 O.G. 1348
Mappala v. Nunez, 240 SCRA 600
People v. Bayona, 181 Phil. 186
Lozano v. Yorac, G.R. No. 94521, 94626, 28 October 1991
Ong v. Martinez, G.R. No. 87743, 21 August 1990
Regalado v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 115962, 15 February 2000
COMELEC v. Tagle, 397 SCRA 618 (2003)

XIII.

Election Adjudication System

1. Jurisdiction of Municipal Trial Courts

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2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

XIV.

Jurisdiction of Regional Trial Courts

Jurisdiction of COMELEC
Procedure in election contests: Courts, COMELEC
Procedure in HRET, SET, PET
Readings: Article IX (c), Sec. 2, 1987 Constitution
Article XXI, Secs. 249-252, OEC
2010 Rules of Procedure in Election Contests
Rules of Procedure in Election Contests Before the Courts Involving
Elective Municipal and Barangay Officials;
COMELEC Resolution No. 8804
COMELEC Resolution No.9164
Jalosjos v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 192474, 26 June 2012
Lokin v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 179431-321, 22 June 2010

Appeal and Other Election Issues

1. Quo Warranto
2. Substitution
3. Withdrawal of COC
4. Execution of Pending Appeal
5. Appeal fee/Filing fee
6. Readings: Secs. 73, 76, 253, OEC
COMELEC Resolution No. 9518
Dumayas v. COMELEC v. 357 SCRA 358
Luna v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 165983, 24 April 2007
Loreto-Go v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 147741, 10 May 2001
Divinagracia v. COMELEC, G.R. Nos. 186007 & 186016, 27 July 2009
Santos v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 155618, 26 March 2003
Navarosa v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 157957, 18 September 2003