G.R. No. 45869 - Campomanes vs. Municipal Council of Sariaya, Tayabas

The petitioner, Ciriaco V. Campomanes, filed an original action for a writ of mandamus.
The petition sought to compel the Municipal Council of Sariaya, Tayabas, to appoint one inspector and one substitute inspector of election for each precinct, in favor of the Frente Popular.

Ciriaco V. Campomanes was affiliated with the Partido Sakdalista and had been its official candidate for Governor in the 1934 elections.
In the 1934 elections, multiple tickets were presented in Tayabas by various parties:

The Partido Sakdalista and the Partido Nacionalista – Democratico Anti presented complete tickets for insular, provincial, and municipal positions.
The Frente Popular, emerging later, fielded candidates for provincial and municipal offices.
The Partido Liberal Reformista, a purely local group in Sariaya active since 1920, consistently presented a complete ticket for municipal positions but did not contest for insular or provincial offices in other municipalities.

The municipal council of Sariaya initially appointed inspectors (as evidenced by Exhibit C) for a local political organization known as the Pula-Puti group, which was identified as a branch of the Partido Nacionalista.
The dispute centers on two competing claims:

The Partido Liberal Reformista, which had already been given an inspector and a substitute inspector by the municipal council.
The Frente Popular, which argued that, as a bona fide political party, it was entitled to such appointments instead.

A mutual stipulation of facts submitted by the parties detailed the history and affiliations of the political organizations involved, including:

The consistent local activity of the Partido Liberal Reformista in Sariaya.
The formation and electoral participation of the Partido Sakdalista only in 1934 in Sariaya.
Electoral performance data (the vote counts of the various tickets) provided in the exhibits.

Proposals for the appointment of inspectors were submitted by authorized representatives of the Frente Popular, Partido Liberal Reformista, and Partido Nacionalista on various dates (October 2 and October 4, 1937).

The parties agreed to admit affidavits regarding whether any confabulacion existed between the Frente Popular and the Partido Liberal Reformista.
There was no dispute over the right of the Partido Nacionalista to its inspectors, nor on the fact that the appointments for that party were made in conformity with the proposals of their duly authorized representatives.

Which political organization, between the Frente Popular and the Partido Liberal Reformista, is entitled to have an inspector and a substitute inspector of election appointed in each precinct of Sariaya?

Whether the Frente Popular qualifies as a political party under the statutory definition (specifically within the meaning of paragraph (h) of Section 417 of the Election Law).
Whether the Partido Liberal Reformista, being a local political group, is entitled to the same rights as a national political party in the context of inspector appointments.

The proper application of Section 417 of the Election Law, as amended by Commonwealth Act No. 233, particularly paragraphs (c) and (f).
Whether the intent of the legislature to promote national political parties for election purposes supports the Frente Popular’s claim over the local group.