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Lerias vs. House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET)

ROSETTE YNIGUEZ LERIAS, petitioner, vs. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTORAL TRIBUNAL and ROGER G. MERCADO, respondent.

G.R. No. 97105 | 1991-10-15

DECISION

PARAS, J.:

Politicians who are members of electoral tribunals, must think and act like judges, accordingly, they must resolve election controversies with judicial, not political, integrity.

The independence of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, (HRET, for brevity) as a constitutional body has time and again been upheld by this Court in many cases. (Lazatin v. House Electoral Tribunal, 168 SCRA 391; Robles v. House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, 181 SCRA 780). The power of the HRET, as the "sole judge" of all contests relating to the election returns and qualifications of its members is beyond dispute. (Art....