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Information Technology Foundation of the Philippines vs Comelec [SEPARATE OPINION, VITUG]

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, MA. CORAZON M. AKOL, MIGUEL UY, EDUARDO H. LOPEZ, AUGUSTO C. LAGMAN, REX C. DRILON, MIGUEL HILADO, LEY SALCEDO, and MANUEL ALCUAZ JR., petitioners, vs. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS; COMELEC CHAIRMAN BENJAMIN ABALOS SR.; COMELEC BIDDING and AWARD COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN EDUARDO D. MEJOS and MEMBERS GIDEON DE GUZMAN, JOSE F. BALBUENA, LAMBERTO P. LLAMAS, and BARTOLOME SINOCRUZ JR.; MEGA PACIFIC eSOLUTIONS, INC.; and MEGA PACIFIC CONSORTIUM, respondents.

G.R. No. 159139 | 2004-01-13

SEPARATE OPINION

VITUG, J.:

While the Supreme Court exercises original jurisdiction over petitions for certiorari and prohibition (along with petitions for prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, habeas corpus and injunction), that jurisdiction, however, is not exclusive.[1] A direct recourse to the Supreme Court, for the issuance of these writs, in disregard of the rule on hierarchy, should be appropriate only when, besides the attendance of clearly exceptional and compelling reasons clearly set out in the petition,[2] there are no contentious factual assertions of the parties that need to be threshed out before any objective and definitive...