G.R. NO. 174392 - NELSON CUNDANGAN, VS.THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS AND CELESTINO V. CHUA. DECISION - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

accordingly declared Chua as the duly elected Punong Barangay of Barangay Sumilang, Pasig City. On November 2, 2005, Cundangan moved for a reconsideration of the said Resolution. However, the COMELEC En Banc , in its Resolution dated August 18, 2006, denied Cundangan's Motion for Reconsideration and affirmed the challenged Resolution of the COMELEC First Division. Hence, the instant petition raising issues on the following grounds: I. THE PUBLIC RESPONDENT COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION AMOUNTING TO LACK OF AND EXCESS OF JURISDICTION IN PROMULGATING ITS ASSAILED RESOLUTION ( EN BANC ) WHEN THE TOTAL NUMBER OF VOTES FROM UNCONTESTED BALLOTS IS ENTIRELY DIFFERENT AND CONTRARY TO THE DECISION OF THE TRIAL COURT AND IN THE RESOLUTION OF THE FIRST DIVISION ITSELF. II. THE PUBLIC RESPONDENT COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION AMOUNTING TO LACK OF AND EXCESS OF JURISDICTION IN PROMULGATING ITS ASSAILED RESOLUTION [ (EN BANC) ] WHEN THE COMELEC INVALIDATED VALID BALLOTS OF CUNDANGAN AS FOLLOWS: GROUPS/SETS OF BALLOTS TOTALLING EIGHTY SEVEN (87) VALID BALLOTS OF CUNDANGAN ALLEGEDLY AS WRITTEN BY ONE PERSON (WBOP) IN THE FOLLOWING PRECINCTS AND EXHIBITS NUMBERS, TO WIT: a.1. Precinct No. 499A/499A-1 -- C-1 to C-3 (2 ballots); a.2. Precinct No. 503A/504A -- C-15 to C-16, C-30 to C-33 (4 ballots); a.3. Precinct 504A-1/508A -- C-4 to C-7 (4 ballots); a.4. Precinct No. 505A/506A -- C-1 to C-15 (15 ballots); a.5. Precinct No. 507A/507A-1 -- C-1 to C-13 (13 ballots); a.6. Precinct No. 510A -- C-1 to C-25 (25 ballots); a.7. Precinct No. 510A-1/512A -- C-1 to C-16 (16 ballots); a.8. Precinct No. 514A-1/515A -- C-1 to C-4, C-13 to C-14 (6 ballots); a.9. Precinct No. 518A/518A-1 -- E and F (2 ballots). SINGLE BALLOTS TOTALLING NINETEEN (19) VALID BALLOTS OF CUNDANGAN ALLEGEDLY AS WRITTEN BY TWO PERSONS (WBTP) IN THE FOLLOWING PRECINCTS AND EXHIBITS NUMBERS, TO WIT: b.1. Precinct No. 498A/500A -- C-3 to C-15, C-17 to C-19 (16 ballots); b.2. Precinct No. 504A/508A -- C-1 (1 ballot); b.3. Precinct No. 510A -- C-45 and C-46 (2 ballots). THREE (3) VALID BALLOTS OF CUNDANGAN ALLEGEDLY AS MARKED BALLOTS (MB) IN THE FOLLOWING PRECINCTS AND EXHIBITS [NUMBERS], TO WIT: c.1. Precinct No. 510A -- C-47 (1 ballot); c.2. Precinct No. 510A-1/512A -- C-24 and C-25 (2 ballots). III. THE PUBLIC RESPONDENT COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION AMOUNTING TO LACK OF AND EXCESS OF JURISDICTION IN PROMULGATING ITS ASSAILED RESOLUTION (EN BANC) WHEN IT VALIDATED INVALID BALLOTS OF CHUA AS FOLLOWS: GROUPS/SETS OF BALLOTS [TOTALLING] EIGHTY-NINE (89) INVALID BALLOTS OF CHUA AS WRITTEN BY ONE PERSON (WBOP) , IN THE FOLLOWING PRECINCTS AND EXHIBIT [NUMBERS]: a.1. Precinct No. 498A/500A -- N-1 & N-2, N-3 & N-4, N-6 & N-7, N-14 & N-15, N-26 to N-28, N-31 to N-34, N-36 & N-37, N-45, N-46, N-50 & N-51 (21 ballots); a.2. Precinct No. 499A/499A-1 -- N-1 to N-4, N-9, N-10, N-13, N-14, N-21 and N-22 (10 ballots); a.3. [Precinct No.] 503A/504A -- N-55 and N-56 (2 ballots); a.4. [Precinct No.] 504A-1/