Orceo v.

COMELEC- GR 190779, 26 March 2010

FACTS: Petitioner Atty. Reynante B. Orceo questions the validity of Resolution No. 8714 insofar as it
provides that the ter !firear" includes airsoft #uns and their replicas$iitations% &hich results in their
covera#e 'y the #un 'an durin# the election period this year. Petitioer a!!ert! that "#a$i% air!o&t
"rovi'e! (o'i% )o)et! a)o% &a)i#$ )e)(er!. (ailies are entitled to the freedo to choose and
en)oy their recreational activities. *hese li'erties% petitioner contends% cannot 'e a'rid#ed 'y the
+O,-.-+. *hus% petitioner contends that Resolution No. 8714 is not in accordance &ith the /tate
policies under Art. 00% /ec. 11. *he /tate reco#ni2es the sanctity of faily life and shall protect and
stren#then the faily as a 'asic autonoous social institution.
+O,-.-+% ho&ever% contends that they adhere to the aforeentioned state policies% 'ut even
constitutional freedos are not a'solute% and they ay 'e a'rid#ed to soe e3tent to serve appropriate
and iportant interests.
*SS+E: 4hether the +O,-.-+ #ravely a'used its discretion in includin# airsoft #uns and their
replicas$iitations in the ter !firear" in /ection 1 5'6 of R.A. No. 8714.
,EL-: .O. The COMELEC/! itet i the ic#0!io o& air!o&t %0! i the ter) 1&irear)2 a'
their re!0#tat covera%e ($ the e#ectio %0 (a i! to avoi' the "o!!i(#e 0!e o& recreatioa# %0! i
!o3i% &ear, iti)i'atio or terror '0ri% the e#ectio "erio'. *he +ourt holds that the +O,-.-+
did not #ravely a'use its discretion in includin# airsoft #uns and air#uns in the ter !firear" in
Resolution No. 8714 for purposes of the #un 'an durin# the election period. An ordinary citi2en ay not
'e a'le to distin#uish 'et&een a real #un and an airsoft #un. 0t is fear su'vertin# the &ill of a voter%
&hether 'rou#ht a'out 'y the use of a real #un or a recreational #un% &hich is sou#ht to 'e averted.
7ltiately% the o')ective is to ensure the holdin# of free. ,o3ever, the re"#ica! a' i)itatio! o&
air!o&t %0! a' air%0! are e4c#0'e' &ro) the ter) 1&irear)2 i Re!o#0tio .o. 5716.