Villanueva v.

COMELEC
Case No. 170 No. L 54718 (December 4, 1986)

FACTS: On January 25, 1980, Petitioner filed a certificate of candidacy for Vice Mayor of olore! for t"e January #0 election! in !u$!titution for "i! co%&anion Mendo'a ("o (it"dre( candidacy (it"out oat" u&on filin) on January *. Petitioner (on in t"e election $ut +e!&ondent ,oard di!re)arded all "i! vote! and &roclai%ed +e!&ondent Candidate a! t"e (inner on t"e &re!u%&tion t"at Petitioner-! candidacy (a! not duly a&&roved $y +e!&ondent. Petitioner filed a &etition for t"e annul%ent of t"e &rocla%ation $ut (a! di!%i!!ed $y +e!&ondent Co%%i!!ion on t"e )round! t"at Mendo'a-! un!(orn (it"dra(al "ad no le)al effect, and t"at a!!u%in) it (a! effective, Petitioner-! candidacy (a! not valid !ince Mendo'a did not (it"dra( after January *. SS!": ./0 Petitioner !"ould $e di!1ualified on t"e )round of for%al or tec"nical defect!. #"LD: 0o. 2"e fact t"at Mendo'a-! (it"dra(al (a! not !(orn i! a tec"nicality, ("ic" !"ould not $e u!ed to fru!trate t"e &eo&le-! (ill in favor of Petitioner a! t"e !u$!titute candidate. 3l!o, "i! (it"dra(al ri)"t on t"e very !a%e day t"at "e filed "i! candidacy !"ould $e con!idered a! "avin) $een %ade !u$!tantially and in trut" after t"e la!t day, even )oin) $y t"e literal readin) of t"e &rovi!ion $y +e!&ondent Co%%i!!ion. 2"e !&irit of t"e la( rat"er t"an it! literal readin) !"ould "ave )uided +e!&ondent Co%%i!!ion in re!olvin) t"e i!!ue of la!t4%inute (it"dra(al and !u$!titution of ot"er &er!on! a! candidate!.