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9/23/2020 G.R. No. 153945 (7) Recommend to the Congress effective measures to minimize election spending, including limitation of places where propaganda materials shall be posted, and to prevent and penalize all forms of election frauds, offenses, malpractices, and nuisance candidacies. 1a\^/phi1.net (8) Recommend to the President the removal of any officer or employee it has deputized, or the imposition of any other disciplinary action, for violation or disregard of, or disobedience to its directive, order, or decision. (9) Submit to the President and the Congress a comprehensive report on the conduct of each election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, or recall. 22 Commission on Elections vs. Silva, Jr., 286 SCRA 177 (1998); Pimentel vs. Commission on Elections, 289 SCRA 586 (1998); Commission on Elections vs. Noynay, 292 SCRA 254 (1998); Domalanta vs. Commission on Elections, 334 SCRA 555 (2000). 23 Supra, see note 19. The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2003/feb2003/gr_153945_2003.html 7/7

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Baytan v. Commission on Elections

Judgment

Question Presented: Whether petitioner's voluntary disclosure and alleged good faith mistake is sufficient to survive a preliminary hearing requiring only probable cause?

Alleged Acts: The petitioner in the case were residents of the jurisdiction of Barangay 28, however, when the petitioners initially went to vote they were directed by newly elected Barangay Captain, Roberto Ignacio, to vote in Barangay 18. The petitioners voted in Barangay 18, but when they realized the mistake, went ahead and voted in Barangay 28 and sent a letter to Election Commission requesting advice on how to cancel the previous registration and indicated the circumstances under which they voted in Barangay 18. The letter was then forwarded to the Election Supervising Attorney for evaluation and prosecution was recommended.

Procedural history: The recommendation was then affirmed by the Election Commission, the petitioner moved for reconsideration, and the Election Commission denied the motion. The petitioners allege that they had no intention of committing an election offense and the letter could be deemed substantial compliance with election laws.

Summary: The court determined that the preliminary investigation required solely probable cause to hold the petitioners for trial for the offense of double registration. In light of the petitioner’s letter, multiple inconsistencies in statements, and the lack of an intent element to the registration laws, the court determined that probable cause was satisfied.

Conclusion: The court dismissed the petition for lack of merit.

Legal Issue(s)

Civil Procedure
Voter Registration

Region: Asia-Pacific

Country: Phillippines

Language of Decision

English

Court: Supreme Court

Election Type: Review of law

Date of decision: Feb 4, 2003

Geolocation

Latitude: 14.580014966278988

Longitude: 120.86501197177809

: Geolocation

Primary Documents

Baytan v. Commission on Elections.pdf
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Election Judgments - IFES

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Baytan v. Commission on Elections

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