Roces vs HRET

8/9/2019 Roces vs HRET

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EN BANC

[G.R. No. 167499. September 15, 2005.]

MILES ANDREW MARI ROCES , petitioner , vs . HOUSE OFREPRESENTATIVES ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL and MARIA ZENAIDA B.ANG PING ,respondents .

Romulo B. Macalintal for petitioner.

Sixto S. Brillantes, Jr. for private respondent.

SYLLABUS

1.POLITICAL LAW; CONSTITUTIONAL LAW; LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT; HOUSE OFREPRESENTATIVES ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL; EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION. The HRETis the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and qualifications of the

members of the House of Representatives and has the power to promulgate procedural rulesto govern proceedings brought before it. This exclusive jurisdiction includes the power todetermine whether it has the authority to hear and determine the controversy presented, and

the right to decide whether that state of facts exists which confers jurisdiction, as well as all

other matters which arise in the case legitimately before it. Accordingly, it has the power tohear and determine, or inquire into, the question of its own jurisdiction, both as to parties and

as to subject matter, and to decide all questions, whether of law or fact, the decision of whichis necessary to determine the question of jurisdiction. One of the three essential elements of

jurisdiction is that proper parties must be present. Consequently, the HRET merely exercised

its exclusive jurisdiction when it ruled that Mrs. Ang Ping was a proper party to contest theelection of Roces.

2.ID.; ID.; COMMISSION ON ELECTION; RULES OF PROCEDURE; MOTIONS FORRECONSIDERATION OF THE DIVISION'S DECISIONS, RESOLUTIONS, ORDERS ORRULINGS MUST FIRST BE FILED IN THE DIVISION BEFORE THE COMMISSION EN

BANC MAY TAKE COGNIZANCE THEREOF; CASE AT BAR. To make matters worse, theCOMELEC en banc usurped the jurisdiction of the COMELEC First Division when it issued


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that these violated her right to due process. A void judgment or resolution may be impeachedthrough collateral attack. A direct attack on a judgment or resolution is defined as an attempt

to avoid or correct it in some manner provided by law, in a proceeding instituted for that verypurpose, in the same action and in the same tribunal. Conversely, a collateral attack is anattempt to impeach the judgment or resolution by matters dehors the record, before a tribunal

other than the one in which it was rendered, in an action other than that in which it wasrendered; an attempt to avoid, defeat, or evade it, or deny its force and effect, in someincidental proceeding not provided by law for the express purpose of attacking it; any

proceeding which is not instituted for the express purpose of annulling, correcting, ormodifying such decree; an objection, incidentally raised in the course of the proceeding,which presents an issue collateral to the issues made by the pleadings. The rule that a void

judgment or decree is subject to collateral attack at any time is based upon a court's inherentauthority to expunge void acts from its records. The void resolutions of the COMELEC,

especially the April 30, 2004 resolution issued by its First Division, cannot oust the HRET ofits jurisdiction over the case at bar.

5.ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.; JUDGMENTS, ORDERS AND RESOLUTIONS SHOULD ONLY BE

DECLARED VOID IN THE MOST EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES; CASE AT BAR.

We hasten to add that judgments, orders and resolutions should only be declared void in themost exceptional circumstances due to detrimental effects on the doctrine of finality of

judgments. The circumstances of this case, however, are unique in that the private

respondent was denied due process and was forced to seek justice in the HRET. In fact, itwas this Court that referred the private respondent to the HRET when it dismissed the latter's

petition in G.R. No. 163259 on the ground of the pendency of HRET Case No. 04-004. Togrant the petition now would effectively foreclose the private respondent's access to anyremedy despite violation of her right to due process.

AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ , J., dissenting opinion :

1.POLITICAL LAW; CONSTITUTIONAL LAW; LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT; HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL; RULE; ANY FINAL ACTION TAKEN BYTHE TRIBUNAL ON A MATTER WITHIN ITS JURISDICTION SHALL NOT BE REVIEWED. The mandate of the HRET to be the sole judge of all contests relating to the election,returns and qualifications of its members is constitutionally endowed. So long as theConstitution grants the HRET the power to be the sole judge of all contests relating to theelection, returns, and qualifications of members of the House of Representatives, any final


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action taken by the HRET on a matter within its jurisdiction shall, as a rule, not be reviewed bythis Court.

2.ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.; NO JURISDICTION TO REVIEW RESOLUTIONS OR DECISIONS OFTHE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS. More importantly, it is beyond the HRET's

jurisdiction to review, whether as a preliminary matter or not, resolutions or decisions of the

COMELEC, as it rests with this Court by constitutional fiat, to wit: SEC. 7. . . . Unlessotherwise provided by this Constitution or by law, any decision, order, or ruling of each

Commission may be brought to the Supreme Court on certiorari by the aggrieved party withinthirty days from receipt of a copy thereof. In Codilla vs. De Venecia, the Court, citing theHRET case of Puzon vs. Cua, stated that: . . . even the HRET ruled that the "doctrinal ruling

that once a proclamation has been made and a candidate-elect has assumed office, it is thisTribunal that has jurisdiction over an election contest involving members of the House ofRepresentatives, could not have been immediately applicable due to the issue regarding the

validity of the very COMELEC pronouncements themselves." This is because the HRET hasno jurisdiction to review resolutions or decisions of the COMELEC, whether issued by adivision or en banc.

3.ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.; ELECTION PROTEST, WHO MAY FILE. Under Rule 16 of the 1988Rules of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, as amended, "an election protest

shall be filed by any candidate who has duly filed a certificate of candidacy. . . ."Consequently, Zenaida cannot be deemed a proper party to file the election protest, as therewas no valid substitution of candidates given that Harry's certificate of candidacy was already

denied due course by the COMELEC at the time the substitution was made.

4.ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.; DECISION THEREOF MAY BE REVIEWED BY THE SUPREME COURTWHERE THE SAME WAS RENDERED WITHOUT OR IN EXCESS OF ITS JURISDICTION,

OR WITH GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION OR UPON A SHOWING OF CAPRICIOUS,ARBITRARY AND WHIMSICAL EXERCISE OF ITS POWER. In exceptional cases, theCourt had to exercise its power of judicial review, as when the HRET's decision or resolution

was rendered without or in excess of its jurisdiction, or with grave abuse of discretion or upona clear showing of capricious, arbitrary and whimsical exercise of its power. I believe this casefalls under the exception. It should be emphasized that the dismissal of the petition, in effect,

sustains the HRET's finding regarding the invalidity of the COMELEC orders, which virtuallygives authority to the HRET to rule upon the COMELEC's issuances, a matter that isexclusively lodged with this Court.


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5.ID.; ID.; COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS; ORDERS THEREOF ENJOY THEPRESUMPTION OF GOOD FAITH AND REGULARITY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF

OFFICIAL DUTY. It is my opinion that the HRET exceeded its jurisdiction in ruling upon theCOMELEC (First Division) May 5, 2004 Order in SPA No. 04-224, which considered theOrder denying due course to and canceling the Certificate of Candidacy of Harry as having

been promulgated on April 30, 2004, as well as on the COMELEC Resolution No. 6823,which considered the affidavit of withdrawal of Harry as moot and academic and deniedZenaida's bid to be a substitute candidate. In the first place, these COMELEC orders enjoy

the presumption of good faith and regularity in the performance of official duty. Absentpalpable evidence, the HRET cannot impute bad faith, collusion, or irregularity in the issuanceof these COMELEC orders.

6.ID.; ID.; ID.; EXTRAORDINARY POWER OF THE SUPREME COURT TO PASS UPON ANORDER OR DECISION THEREOF SHOULD BE EXERCISED RESTRICTIVELY, WITH

CARE AND CAUTION, WHILE GIVING IT THE HIGHEST REGARD AND RESPECT DUE ACONSTITUTIONAL BODY. It was not necessary for the HRET to make any ruling on thesubstantial merits of the COMELEC orders. It could have resolved the question of Zenaida's

standing to file the election protest simply by applying the rule on finality of COMELECdecisions. In fact, even the Court cannot make any declaration on these COMELECissuances, as these are not properly before the Court in the present petition. It should be

stressed that the extraordinary power of this Court to pass upon an order or decision of the

COMELEC should be exercised restrictively, with care and caution, while giving it the highestregard and respect due a constitutional body.

7.ID.; ID.; ID.; FINALITY OF DECISIONS ON DISQUALIFICATION CASES. TheCOMELEC's jurisdiction over petitions to deny due course to or cancel a certificate of

candidacy is beyond question. Such jurisdiction continues even after the elections, if for anyreason no final judgment of disqualification is rendered before the elections, and thecandidate facing disqualification is voted for and receives the highest number of votes, and

provided further that the winning candidate has not been proclaimed or taken his oath ofoffice. A decision by the COMELEC to disqualify a candidate shall become final andexecutory only after a period of five days: . . . .

8.ID.; ID.; ID.; FILING OF A MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION SUSPENDS THEEXECUTION OR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION THEREOF; CASE AT BAR.

Moreover, Section 2, Rule 19 of the 1988 COMELEC Rules of Procedure explicitly states that

the filing of a motion for reconsideration suspends the execution or implementation of the


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decision, resolution, order, or ruling. In this case, the cancellation of Harry's certificate ofcandidacy and Zenaida's substitution as candidate in his stead, was yet to attain finality at the

time Zenaida filed her ad cautelam election protest before the HRET on May 24, 2004. Whenit was converted into a regular election protest on September 9, 2004, the motion forreconsideration and supplemental motion for reconsideration of the COMELEC (First Division)

Order dated April 30, 2004 was still pending before the COMELEC En Banc. As such, theenforcement of the COMELEC's order denying due course and canceling Harry's certificate ofcandidacy is deemed suspended. While the COMELEC En Banc already denied respondents'

motion for reconsideration in SPA No. 04-224 on April 28, 2005, it is premature to rule that itis a final and executory order of disqualification, considering that respondents may then stillassail the COMELEC's issuances to this Court.

9.ID.; ID.; ID.; PRESUMPTION OF REGULARITY OF THE ORDERS THEREOF PREVAILSUNLESS SHOWN TO BE INVALID. To stress, at the time Zenaida filed the electionprotest, Harry's motion for reconsideration of the COMELEC (First Division) April 30, 2004Order canceling his certificate of candidacy, was yet to be resolved by the COMELEC EnBanc, and Harry's disqualification cannot yet be enforced. Hence, at the time of the filing of

the election protest ad cautelam, Zenaida could have been presumed to be a proper party assubstitute candidate; but her legal personality to file a protest is made clear in the advent ofthe April 28, 2005 Order of the COMELEC En Banc which denied Harry's motion for

reconsideration of the Order dated April 30, 2004. As of even date, records do not show

whether the Ang Pings timely questioned the COMELEC (First Division) Order dated May 5,2004 denying Harry's motion to cancel the scheduled promulgation and to dismiss the petition

to deny due course and cancel his certificate of candidacy and the COMELEC En BancResolution dated April 28, 2005, denying his motion for reconsideration, before this Court.The April 30, 2004 Resolution of the COMELEC (First Division) denied due course and

cancelled Harry's certificate of candidacy. Resolution No. 6823 issued by the COMELEC EnBanc considered as moot and academic Harry's withdrawal of candidacy and deniedZenaida's bid to be the substitute candidate of their political party. Hence, given the

presumption of regularity of these COMELEC orders and until it is shown that these ordersare invalid in the proper forum, the same must prevail.

D E C I S I O N


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PUNO , J p:

If there is a right, there must be a remedy is an old legal adage. The case at bar provides the

perfect setting for the application of this adage which is a demand for simple justice. The factswill show how the respondent's right to run for a public office has been frustrated byunscrupulous officials in charge of the sanctity of our electoral process.

Petitioner Miles Roces (Roces) and former Congressman Harry Ang Ping (Mr. Ang Ping) filedtheir respective certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the position of Representative for the 3rd

Congressional District of Manila in the May 2004 elections.

On January 5, 2004, a registered voter of Manila named Alejandro Gomez questioned Mr.

Ang Ping's candidacy before the COMELEC through a petition to deny due course or cancelhis COC. 1 The petition alleged that Mr. Ang Ping misrepresented himself to be a natural-borncitizen, hence was disqualified for the position.

Acting for the COMELEC First Division, Commissioner Virgilio O. Garcilliano issued anorder on April 30, 2004 scheduling the promulgation of its resolution on May 5, 2004 . 2 Twodays before the scheduled promulgation or on May 3, 2004 , Mr. Ang Ping filed with theCOMELEC a Sworn Declaration of Withdrawal of his COC. 3 The next day, May 4, 2004 , theGeneral Counsel for the Nationalist Peoples Coalition, the political party of Mr. Ang Ping,sought that Mr. Ang Ping's wife, Ma. Zenaida Ang Ping (Mrs. Ang Ping), substitute for

him. 4 Mr. Ang Ping also filed a motion to cancel the scheduled promulgation and dismiss the

petition to deny due course or cancel his COC on the same date. 5 On May 5, 2004Commissioner Resurreccion Z. Borra deferred the promulgation for lack of quorum as hewas the sole Commissioner in attendance . 6

Despite all these developments , the COMELEC First Division, through CommissionersRufino S.B. Javier, Resurreccion Z. Borra, and Virgilio O. Garcilliano , issueda resolution granting the petition to deny due course to Mr. Ang Ping's COC and orderingthe Board of Election Inspectors of Manila not to count any vote cast in his favor. 7 It ruled that

the resolution which was originally scheduled for promulgation by CommissionerGarcilliano on May 5, 2004 was instead promulgated on April 30, 2004, the same datethat the notice of promulgation was issued . 8 The resolution was served on Mr. Ang Ping'scounsel on May 8, 2004 . 9

Compounding the woes of Mr. Ang Ping, and despite the deferment of the promulgationby Commissioner Borra at a hearing on May 5, 2004 , the COMELEC First Divisionissued on the same date an order denying Mr. Ang Ping's motion to dismiss . It held that
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resolution was irregularly promulgated. Roces filed his answer alleging, among others, thatthe HRET has no jurisdiction over the case. 25

On July 16, 2004, the spouses Ang Ping filed their consolidated reply with this Court. 26 OnJuly 27, 2004, we required Mrs. Ang Ping to show cause why the petition in G.R. No. 163259

should not be dismissed in view of the filing and pendency of HRET Case No. 04-004. 27 In

her Compliance filed on July 30, 2004, Mrs. Ang Ping explained that the issue of whether theCOMELEC gravely abused its discretion in issuing the COMELEC Resolution No. 6823 may

be ventilated as one of the issues to be settled in the HRET Election Protest since the non-canvassing of the "Ang Ping votes" and the proclamation of petitioner Roces were founded onCOMELEC Resolution No. 6823 and were raised as the principal issues in the HRET Election

Protest. This notwithstanding, the spouses Ang Ping manifested that they will "submit to anydisposal which this Honorable Court may find appropriate under the above circumstances"and "would defer and will accept any order/resolution of the Honorable Court that wouldresolve to dismiss the instant petition/controversy, but allowing them to pursue andconcentrate their time and effort in the above-mentioned Ad Caute la HRET ElectionProtest Case, which they intend to convert to a REGULAR PROTEST case, in such anevent ." 28

On August 10, 2004, this Court dismissed G.R. No. 163259 in view of the pending HRETprotest filed by Mrs. Ang Ping. 29 The resolution eventually became final andexecutory. 30 Thereafter, Mrs. Ang Ping filed in the HRET a motion to convert the adcautelam protest to a regular protest . The HRET granted the motion on September 9,2004. 31

In the HRET, Roces filed a motion to dismiss the protest, assailing in the mainthe personality of Mrs. Ang Ping to file the protest. It also raised the following issues: (1)

whether the HRET has jurisdiction to review COMELEC Resolution No. 6823; (2) whetherMrs. Ang Ping can validly substitute for Mr. Ang Ping; (3) whether the protest may be resolvedby mere canvass of election returns; (4) whether the proceeding is a "protest" considering that

it questions proceedings held before the Manila City Board of Canvassers; (5) whether Mrs.Ang Ping could claim any right to the ballots cast considering she was not listed in thecertified list of COMELEC candidates; (6) whether the petition is sufficient in form and

substance despite failing to state the specific precincts protested; and (7) whether forumshopping was committed.

After extensive oral arguments, the HRET denied Roces's motion to dismiss on March 3,2005. It ruled that Mrs. Ang Ping was a proper party to file the protest against Roces since:
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(1) there was no final COMELEC resolution disqualifying or denying due course to the COC ofMr. Ang Ping, thus her substitution for the latter was legally permissible under the Omnibus

Election Code; 32 (2) she was one of the candidates voted for during election day in the 3rdDistrict of Manila; 33 and (3) the COMELEC Order of May 5, 2004 was of questionablevalidity for the reason that: (a) it was issued in violation of its April 30, 2004 resolution setting

the promulgation for May 5, 2004 and despite the fact that the records had not yet reachedthe COMELEC en banc ; 34 and (b) there was no prior notice and hearing in violation ofSection 78 of the Omnibus Election Code. 35 Roces's motion for reconsideration of the HRET

order was denied on March 21, 2005.

Roces then filed the present petition for certiorari assailing the two preceding resolutions ofthe HRET. 36 The issues for resolution are: (1) whether or not the HRET committed graveabuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction when it ruled that Mrs. AngPing is a proper party to file the election protest despite the denial in due course and

cancellation of her COC under COMELEC Resolution No. 6823; and (2) whether or not HREThas jurisdiction to review a resolution or order of the COMELEC and/or declare the same asvoid and disregard or set it aside.

After several months or on April 28, 2005 , the COMELEC en banc issued a resolutiondenying Mr. Ang Ping's motion for reconsideration of the COMELEC's April 30, 2004

resolution for being moot and academic due to the petitioner's proclamation, Mr. Ang Ping'swithdrawal of his candidacy and Mrs. Ang Ping's attempt to substitute for her husband. 37

We hold that the HRET did not commit grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack orexcess of jurisdiction when it denied the petitioner's motion to dismiss for the following

reasons:

First . The HRET is the sole judge of all contests relating to the election, returns, and

qualifications of the members of the House of Representatives 38 and has the power to

promulgate procedural rules to govern proceedings brought before it. 39 This exclusive jurisdiction includes the power to determine whether it has the authority to hear and determine

the controversy presented, and the right to decide whether that state of facts exists whichconfers jurisdiction, as well as all other matters which arise in the case legitimately beforeit. 40 Accordingly, it has the power to hear and determine, or inquire into, the question ofits own jurisdiction, both as to parties and as to subject matter, and to decide allquestions, whether of law or fact, the decision of which is necessary to determine thequestion of jurisdiction . 41 One of the three essential elements of jurisdiction is that proper
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parties must be present. 42 Consequently, the HRET merely exercised its exclusivejurisdiction when it ruled that Mrs. Ang Ping was a proper party to contest the electionof Roces . HACaSc

Second . There is no dispute that to support his motion to dismiss, Roces offered asevidence the COMELEC resolutions denying due course to Mrs. Ang Ping's COC . In

doing so, Roces submitted to the HRET the admissibility and validity of these resolutions andthe HRET cannot be faulted in reviewing the said resolutions especially for the purpose of

determining whether Roces was able to discharge his burden of proving that Mrs. Ang Ping isnot the proper party to assail his election. In passing upon the COMELEC resolutionsespecially for that purpose, it cannot be said that the HRET usurped the jurisdiction of the

COMELEC.

On the merits of the HRET ruling, we hold that the HRET did not abuse its discretion in

holding that Mrs. Ang Ping is a proper party to contest the election of Roces.UnderCOMELEC rules, the procedure of promulgation of a decision or resolution is as follows:

SECTION 5. Promulgation . The promulgation of a decision or resolution of the

Commission or a Division shall be made on a date previously fixed, of which notice

shall be served in advance upon the parties or their attorneys personally or by

registered mail or by telegram. 43

Promulgation is important because it determines when the reglementary period begins to

toll . In the case at bar, Commissioner Garcilliano fixed the promulgation of its resolutionwhether to give due course to the candidacy of Mr. Ang Ping on May 5, 2004.

For mysterious reasons , the COMELEC First Division of Commissioner Garcillano didnot promulgate the resolution on May 5, 2004 in accordance with its notice ofpromulgation. In violation of the abovecited rule, and despite the deferment of thepromulgation by Commissioner Borra to a date to be set by the COMELEC FirstDivision , the resolution was deemed "promulgated" by the COMELEC on April 30,

2004 when it was filed with the clerk of court. The April 30, 2004 COMELEC resolution wasreceived by Mr. Ang Ping's counsel only on May 8, 2004 . 44

The mysterious April 30, 2004 resolution was thereafter used to run roughshod overthe rights of the Ang Pings . Thus, on May 5, 2004, the COMELEC First Division of

Commissioner Garcilliano denied Mr. Ang Ping's motion to dismiss. Allegedly, Mr. Ang Ping'smotion was filed after the April 30, 2004 resolution.
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To make matters worse, the COMELEC en banc usurped the jurisdiction of the COMELECFirst Division when it issued Resolution No. 6823 on May 8, 2004 which ordered the

deletion of Mr. Ang Ping's name from the Certified List of Candidates and denied the spousesAng Ping's motions to withdraw and substitute despite the fact that: (1) the reglementaryperiod of Mr. Ang Ping to appeal had not yet expired ; and (2) Mr. Ang Ping had filed a

motion for reconsideration of the preceding order on May 10, 2004 within the five-dayreglementary period. Nowhere is it provided in the law that the COMELEC en banc hasthe power to assume jurisdiction mo tu p r op r io over a petition to deny due coursepending before a division of the Commission . Diametrically opposed thereto are theprovisions of the Constitution and COMELEC Rules of Procedure which provide that motionsfor reconsideration of the COMELEC division's decisions, resolutions, orders or rulings mustfirst be filed in the Divisions before the Commission en banc may take cognizancethereof , viz .:

SECTION 3.The Commission on Elections may sit en banc or in two divisions, and

shall promulgate its rules of procedure in order to expedite disposition of election

cases, including pre-proclamation controversies. All such election cases shall be

heard and decided in division, provided that motions for reconsideration of

decisions shall be decided by the Commission en banc . 45

SECTION 3. The Commission Sitting in Divisions . The Commission shall sit in

two (2) Divisions to hear and decide protests or petitions in ordinary

actions, special actions , special cases, provisional remedies, contempt and special

proceedings except in accreditation of citizens' arms of the Commission. 46

SECTION 5. How Motion for Reconsideration Disposed Of. Upon the filing of a

motion to reconsider a decision, resolution, order or ruling of a Division , the

Clerk of Court concerned shall, within twenty-four (24) hours from the filing thereof,

notify the Presiding Commissioner. The latter shall within two (2) days thereafter

certify the case to the Commission en banc . IAaCST

SECTION 6. Duty of Clerk of Court of Commission to Calendar Motion for Resolution . The Clerk of Court concerned shall calendar the motion for reconsideration

for the resolution of the Commission en banc within ten (10) days from the

certification thereof . (Emphases supplied) 47

This premature COMELEC Resolution No. 6823 was then used on May 12, 2004 , or on theelection day itself, by the Manila City Board of Canvassers as the basis of its resolution not tocanvass the votes for Mr. or Mrs. Ang Ping. It then proclaimed Roces the winner despite
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having counted only 6,347 votes out of the 150,387 registered voters of thedistrict . 48 Following these highly suspect resolutions , Roces was proclaimed winner onMay 15, 2004. All told, it cannot be denied that the effect of COMELEC en banc ResolutionNo. 6823 was to execute the April 30, 2004 resolution of its First Division which, at thattime, had not yet become final and executory . These irregularities cannot be swept away

by the belated COMELEC en banc's April 28, 2005 resolution denying Mr. Ang Ping's motionfor reconsideration dated May 10, 2004. 49

It is argued that Mrs. Ang Ping's motions for reconsideration and appeals " cured " whateverdefects occurred at the COMELEC. Citing T.H. Valderama & Sons, Inc. v. Drilon , 50 Rocespoints to the petition for certiorari filed with this Court on May 11, 2004 by Mrs. Ang Ping

assailing COMELEC Resolution No. 6823 and her acquiescence to any "appropriate actiontaken (by the Court) including the dismissal of the above petition." Contrary to Roces'sposture, Valderama and its kin required that the aggrieved party be given an opportunity tobe heard. In the case at bar , it ought to be emphasized that the private respondentwas systematically denied the opportunity to be heard. The resolution of theCOMELEC's First Division was made before its priorily set date of promulgation,deemed final and executory by the COMELEC en banc in Resolution No. 6823 beforeexpiry of the reglementary period, and executed by the Manila City Board ofCanvassers . The petition for certiorari filed by Mrs. Ang Ping challenged these resolutionsand could not have cured these blatant violations of her right to due process. In truth,

this Court referred the case of Mrs. Ang Ping to the HRET where she has filed aprotest ad caute lam .

There is no iota of doubt that the COMELEC's resolutions are void ab ini t io for violating Mrs.Ang Ping's constitutional right to due process. Judgments entered in a proceeding failing to

comply with procedural due process are void, as is one entered by a court acting in a mannerinconsistent with due process. 51 A void judgment is defined as one that, from its inception,is a complete nullity and without legal effect . A void judgment is not entitled to the respectaccorded to, and is attended by none of the consequences of, a valid adjudication. Indeed, avoid judgment need not be recognized by anyone, but may be entirely disregarded ordeclared inoperative by any tribunal in which effect is sought to be given to it . It has no

legal or binding force or efficacy for any purpose or at any place. It cannot affect, impair, orcreate rights, nor can any rights be based on it. All proceedings founded on the void judgmentare themselves regarded as invalid and ineffective for any purpose. 52 Needless to stress, the

HRET did not commit grave abuse of discretion in assuming jurisdiction over the election
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protest as the COMELEC Resolution dated April 30, 2004, Order of May 5, 2004, andResolution No. 6823 were void ab ini t io .

Third . Petitioner contends that the HRET cannot review decisions of the COMELEC and thatCOMELEC decisions, orders, or rulings may be solely reviewed by the Supreme Courton certiorari by the aggrieved party within thirty days from receipt of a copy thereof. 53 It is true

that generally, the method of assailing a judgment or order of the COMELEC is via petitionfor certiorari . 54 As aforestated, however, it was petitioner who submitted these resolutions tothe HRET as proofs that Mrs. Ang Ping was not a proper party. These same resolutionswere collaterally attacked by Mrs. Ang Ping before the HRET when she alleged thatthese violated her right to due process . 55 A void judgment or resolution may beimpeached through collateral attack . 56 A direct attack on a judgment or resolution isdefined as an attempt to avoid or correct it in some manner provided by law, in a proceedinginstituted for that very purpose, in the same action and in the same tribunal. Conversely,a collateral attack is an attempt to impeach the judgment or resolution by matters dehors therecord, before a tribunal other than the one in which it was rendered, in an action other thanthat in which it was rendered; an attempt to avoid, defeat, or evade it, or deny its forceand effect, in some incidental proceeding not provided by law for the express purposeof attacking it; any proceeding which is not instituted for the express purpose ofannulling, correcting, or modifying such decree ; an objection, incidentally raised in the

course of the proceeding, which presents an issue collateral to the issues made by the

pleadings. 57 The rule that a void judgment or decree is subject to collateral attack at any timeis based upon a court's inherent authority to expunge void acts from its records. 58 The void

resolutions of the COMELEC, especially the April 30, 2004 resolution issued by its FirstDivision, cannot oust the HRET of its jurisdiction over the case at bar. HSTAcI

Fourth . We hasten to add that judgments, orders and resolutions should only be declaredvoid in the most exceptional circumstances due to detrimental effects on the doctrine of

finality of judgments. The circumstances of this case, however, are unique in that the privaterespondent was denied due process and was forced to seek justice in the HRET. In fact, itwas this Court that referred the private respondent to the HRET when it dismissed thelatter's petition in G.R. No. 163259 on the ground of the pendency of HRET Case No. 04-004 . To grant the petition now would effectively foreclose the private respondent's access toany remedy despite violation of her right to due process.
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Roces vs HRET

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