Case Digest (G.R. No. 191299-191302)
Facts:
Bascon and Villamor v. Negre, Jr., et al., G.R. Nos. 191299-191302, March 14, 2023, the Supreme Court En Banc, Hernando, J., writing for the Court. Petitioners Herman Antonio M. Bascon and Antonio Villamor filed petitions on December 4, 2009 before the 3rd Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC), Medellin‑Daanbantayan‑San Remigio, Cebu (Spec. Proc. Nos. 520‑SR to 523‑SR), seeking exclusion of 153 respondents from the voters’ list of Barangay Punta, San Remigio, Cebu, on the ground that they were transient employees of a fishing business who only used their employer’s bunkhouse as temporary sleeping quarters and therefore were not bona fide residents.The respondents submitted certificates of employment, community tax certificates, a December 14, 2009 certification by Punong Barangay Alfredo C. Hilari, Sr., and the Election Registration Board’s (ERB) Minutes of July 20–21, 2009 to support their voter registration. Petitioners alleged respondents were actually residents of other nearby municipalities and pointed to testimony and sworn statements claiming respondent‑workers did not have houses in Barangay Punta; petitioners also raised possible partiality because an ERB member’s son was running for office allied with the employer’s family.
On December 18, 2009 the MCTC denied petitioners’ exclusion petitions, affirmed the ERB’s registration of respondents, and allowed them to vote in their assigned precincts. The Regional Trial Court, Branch 61, Bogo, Cebu, affirmed the MCTC decision in full in its January 15, 2010 decision (SP. Proc. Case Nos. BOGO‑02233 to 02236). Petitioners elevated the case to the Supreme Court by a pe...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Under Rule 45 review, and on the record, may respondents who are employees and who allegedly temporarily use their employer’s bunkhouse be registered as qualified voters of Barangay Punta, San Remi...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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