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Lambino, et at. vs. COMELEC [DISSENTING OPINION, PUNO, J.]

RAUL L. LAMBINO and ERICO B. AUMENTADO, TOGETHER WITH 6,327,952 REGISTERED VOTERS, Petitioners vs. THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, Respondent. / ALTERNATIVE LAW GROUPS, INC., Intervenor. / ONEVOICE INC., CHRISTIAN S. MONSOD, RENE B. AZURIN, MANUEL L. QUEZON III, BENJAMIN T. TOLOSA, JR., SUSAN V. OPLE and CARLOS P. MEDINA, JR., Intervenors. / ATTY. PETE QUIRINO QUADRA, Intervenor. / BAYAN represented by its Chairperson Dr. Carolina Pagaduan-Araullo, BAYAN MUNA represented by its Chairperson Dr. Reynaldo Lesaca, KILUSANG MAYO UNO represented by its Secretary General Joel Maglunsod, HEAD represented by its Secretary General Dr. Gene Alzona Nisperos, ECUMENICAL BISHOPS FORUM represented by Fr. Dionito Cabillas, MIGRANTE represented by its Chairperson Concepcion Bragas-Regalado, GABRIELA represented by its Secretary General Emerenciana de Jesus, GABRIELA WOMEN'S PARTY represented by Sec. Gen. Cristina Palabay, ANAKBAYAN represented by Chairperson Eleanor de Guzman, LEAGUE OF FILIPINO STUDENTS represented by Chair Vencer Crisostomo Palabay, JOJO PINEDA of the League of Concerned Professionals and Businessmen, DR. DARBY SANTIAGO of the Solidarity of Health Against Charter Change, DR. REGINALD PAMUGAS of Health Action for Human Rights, Intervenors. / LORETA ANN P. ROSALES, MARIO JOYO AGUJA, and ANA THERESA HONTIVEROS-BARAQUEL, Intervenors. / LUWALHATI RIACASA ANTONINO, Intervenor. / ARTURO M. DE CASTRO, Intervenor. / TRADE UNION CONGRESS OF THE PHILIPPINES, Intervenor. / LUWALHATI RICASA ANTONINO, Intervenor. / PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION ASSOCIATION (PHILCONSA), CONRADO F. ESTRELLA, TOMAS C. TOLEDO, MARIANO M. TAJON, FROILAN M. BACUNGAN, JOAQUIN T. VENUS, JR., FORTUNATO P. AGUAS, and AMADO GAT INCIONG, Intervenors. / RONALD L. ADAMAT, ROLANDO MANUEL RIVERA, and RUELO BAYA, Intervenors. / PHILIPPINE TRANSPORT AND GENERAL WORKERS ORGANIZATION (PTGWO) and MR. VICTORINO F. BALAIS, Intervenors. / SENATE OF THE PHILIPPINES, represented by its President, MANUEL VILLAR, JR., Intervenor. / SULONG BAYAN MOVEMENT FOUNDATION, INC., Intervenor. / JOSE ANSELMO I. CADIZ, BYRON D. BOCAR, MA. TANYA KARINA A. LAT, ANTONIO L. SALVADOR, and RANDALL TABAYOYONG, Intervenors. / INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES, CEBU CITY AND CEBU PROVINCE CHAPTERS, Intervenors. / SENATE MINORITY LEADER AQUILINO Q. PIMENTEL, JR. and SENATORS SERGIO R. OSMENA III, JAMBY MADRIGAL, JINGGOY ESTRADA, ALFREDO S. LIM and PANFILO LACSON, Intervenors. / JOSEPH EJERCITO ESTRADA and PWERSA NG MASANG PILIPINO, Intervenors. [DISSENTING OPINION, PUNO, J.]

G.R. No. 174153 | 2006-10-25

"It is a Constitution we are expounding..."[1]
- Chief Justice John Marshall
 
DISSENTING OPINION


PUNO, J.:

 

The petition at bar is not a fight over molehills. At the crux of the controversy is the critical understanding of the first and foremost of our constitutional principles - "the Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all government authority emanates from them."[2] Constitutionalism dictates that this creed must be respected with deeds; our belief in its validity must be backed by behavior. 

 

This is a Petition for Certiorari and Mandamus to set aside...