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Codilla vs. De Venecia [DECISION]

EUFROCINO M. CODILLA, SR., PETITIONER, VS. HON. JOSE DE VENECIA, ROBERTO P. NAZARENO, IN THEIR OFFICIAL CAPACITIES AS SPEAKER AND SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, RESPECTIVELY, AND MA. VICTORIA L. LOCSIN, RESPONDENTS.

G.R. No. 150605 | 2002-12-10

D E C I S I O N
 
PUNO, J.:
 
In a democracy, the first self-evident principle is that he who has been rejected by the people cannot represent the people. Respondent Ma. Victoria L. Locsin lost to petitioner Eufrocino M. Codilla, Sr. by 17,903 votes in the May 14, 2001 elections as Representative of the 4th legislative district of Leyte. The most sophisticated legal alchemy cannot justify her insistence that she should continue governing the people of Leyte against their will. The enforcement of the sovereign will of the people is not subject to the discretion of any official of the land.
 
This is a Petition for Mandamus and Quo...