Facts:

• The case involves an electoral contest for the position of Mayor of the Municipality of Alfonso, Cavite in the May 14, 2007 elections.
• Petitioner Virgilio "Ver" Varias was proclaimed the winner after the elections.
• Respondent Jose "Joy" D. Pe ano filed an election protest alleging irregularities in the counting of votes.
• The Regional Trial Court (RTC) conducted a revision of the ballots and found that Pe ano garnered the most number of votes.
• The RTC ordered a technical examination of the ballots by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), which found evidence of tampering and irregularities.
• Based on these findings, the RTC ruled in favor of Pe ano.
• Varias appealed to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), but the First Division of the COMELEC affirmed the RTC's decision.
• Varias filed a Rule 65 certiorari petition with the Supreme Court.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Varias and nullified the dec...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The COMELEC erred in not considering the evidence of tampering and irregularities in the contested ballots.
• The integrity of the ballots in electoral contests is of utmost importance.
• The bu...continue reading