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, Petitioners,
vs.
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, Respondent.
G.R. No. 221318
PONENTE: Perlas-Bernabe
TOPIC: Biometrics validation
FACTS:
RA 10367 mandates the COMELEC to implement a mandatory biometrics
registration system for new voters in order to establish a clean, complete, permanent,
and updated list of voters through the adoption of biometric technology.
RA 10367 likewise directs that registered voters whose biometrics have not
been captured shall submit themselves for validation. Voters who fail to submit for
validation on or before the last day of filing of application for registration for
purposes of the May 2016 elections shall be deactivated x x x.
COMELEC issued Resolution No. 9721 as amended by Resolutions No. 9863
and 10013. Among others, the said Resolution provides that: the registration
records of voters without biometrics data who failed to submit for validation on or
before the last day of filing of applications for registration for the purpose of the May
9, 2016 National and Local Elections shall be deactivated.
Herein petitioners filed the instant petition with application for temporary
restraining order (TRO) and/or writ of preliminary mandatory injunction (WPI)
assailing the constitutionality of the biometrics validation requirement imposed
under RA 10367, as well as COMELEC Resolution Nos. 9721, 9863, and 10013, all
related thereto.
ISSUES:
1.
2.
3.
Whether or not Resolution No. 9863 which fixed the deadline for validation
on October 31, 2015 violates Section 8 of RA 8189.
HELD:
In the instant case, the petitioners, Kabataan Party-List, seeks to extend the voters registration for the
May 10, 2010 national and local elections from October 31, 2009, as fixed by COMELEC Resolution
No. 8514, to January 9, 2010 which is the day before the 120-day prohibitive period starting on
January 10, 2010.
The petitioners anchor its ground on the provision of Section 8 of R.A. 8189 which reads: "The
personal filing of application of registration of voters shall be conducted daily in the office of the
Election Officer during regular office hours. No registration shall, however, be conducted during the
period starting one hundred twenty (120) days before a regular election and ninety (90) days before a
special election."
On the other hand, COMELEC maintains that the Constitution and the Omnibus Election Code confer
upon it the power to promulgate rules and regulations in order to ensure free, orderly and honest
elections; that Section 29 of R.A. 6646 and Section 28 of R.A. 8436 authorize it to fix other dates for
pre-election acts which include voters registration; and that the October 31, 2009 deadline was
impelled by operational and pragmatic considerations, citing Akbayan-Youth v. COMELEC.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the COMELEC has the authority to fix the voter's registration beyond the prohibitive
period set forth by R.A. 8189.
RULING:
It held that the right of every Filipino to choose its leaders and participate to the fullest extent in every
national or local election is so zealously guarded by Article V of the 1987 Constitution.
The Court explained that Section 8 of R.A. 8189 decrees that voters be allowed to register daily
during office hours, except during the period starting 120 days before a regular election and 90 days
before a special election. The Court is bound to respect the determination of Congress that the 120
day or 90 day period, as the case may be, was enough to make the necessary preparations with
respect to the coming elections and COMELEC's rule making power should be exercised in
accordance with the prevailing law.
R.A. 6646 and R.A. 8436 is not in conflict with the mandate of continuing voter's registration under
R.A. 8189. R.A. 6646 and R.A. 8436 both grant COMELEC the power to fix other period for preelection activities only if the same cannot be reasonable held within the period provided by law.
However, this grant of power, is for the purpose of enabling the people to exercise the right of suffrage
-- the common underlying policy under R.A. 8189, R.A. 6646 and R.A. 8436.
In the case at bar, the Court did not find any ground to hold that continuing voter's registration cannot
be reasonably held within the period provided by R.A. 8189.
With regard to the Court's ruling in Akbayan-Youth v. COMELEC, The court explained that if the
petitioners had only filed their petition, and sought extension, before the 120 day prohibitive period,
the prayer would have been granted pursuant to the mandate of R.A. 8189.
As a result, the petition was granted and the COMELEC resolution fixing voters registration for the
May 10, 2010 national and local elections on October 31, 2009 was declared null and void.