SC dismisses petition to nullify 2013 senatorial elections

The Supreme Court of the Philippines building in Manila (Photo from Wikipedia/Mike Gonzalez )

MANILA – The Supreme Court (SC) dismissed the petition of political party Bangon Pilipinas to nullify the 2013 senatorial elections, the proclamation of the top 12 senators, and to halt the use of the automated system count of votes.

Petitioner Bishop Leonardo Alconga, in behalf of former senatorial candidate Brother Eddie Villanueva, questioned the proclamation of the 12 winning senators, noting that there were purported discrepancies in the election results.

The High Court, however, junked the motion, claiming that questions on the 2013 elections were already resolved and that new allegations should be brought to the Senate Electoral Tribunal (SET) instead.

“Considering the proclamation of twelve candidates as the winners of the 2013 senatorial elections, their taking of their oaths, and their assumption of office, petitioner’s remedy was an electoral contest before the SET,” the SC resolution read.

“The alleged statistical improbability of the result, irregularities in the conduct of the canvass proceedings, perceived glitches in the automated election process, and all other matters which may affect the result of the election should therefore be brought up in an election contest filed before the SET,” the 7-page resolution further read.

The Supreme Court pointed out that the SET was the proper governing party that had authority to look into the petitioner’s plea.

“The petition is replete with factual allegations that must be threshed out in the proper proceedings before the tribunal (SET) with jurisdiction over the same. This is in line with the fundamental principle that this Court is not a trier of facts and is not equipped to receive evidence and determine the truth of factual allegations,” the resolution continued.