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Frivaldo vs COMELEC [CONCURRING OPINION, PUNO, J.]

JUAN G. FRIVALDO, petitioner, vs. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, and RAUL R. LEE, respondents.

G.R. No. 120295 | 1996-06-28

PUNO, J., Concurring:

I concur with the path-breaking ponencia of Mr. Justice Panganiban which is pro-people and pierces the myopia of legalism. Upholding the sovereign will of the people which is the be-all and the end-all of republicanism, it rests on a foundation that will endure time and its tempest.

The sovereignty of our people is the primary postulate of the 1987 Constitution. For this reason, it appears as the first in our declaration of principles and state policies. Thus, Section 1 of Article II of our fundamental law proclaims that "[t]he Philippines is a democratic and republican State. Sovereignty resides in the people and all...