MIRIAM DEFENSOR – SANTIAGO versus FIDEL RAMOS (253 SCRA 559)
Facts:
The protestant, Miriam Defensor-Santiago ran for presidency
and lost in the May 1992 election. In her Motion on the 16th day of August in
the year 1995, reiterated in her comment of the 29th of August of the same
year, protestant Defensor-Santiago prayed that the revision in the remaining
precincts of the pilot areas be dispensed with and the revision process in the
pilot areas be deemed computed.
The Court deferred action on the motion and required,
instead, the protestant and protestee to submit their respective memoranda.
Hence, this petition.
Issue:
Whether or not the election protest filed by
Defensor-Santiago is moot and academic by her election as a Senator in the May
1995 election and her assumption of office as such on the 30th of June in the
year 1995.
Held:
YES. The Court held that the election protest filed by
Santiago has been abandoned or considered withdrawn as a consequence of her
election and assumption of office as Senator and her discharge of the duties
and functions thereof.
The protestant abandoned her “determination to protest and
pursue the public interest involved in the matter of who is the real choice of
the electorate.
Moreover, the dismissal of this protest would serve public
interest as it would dissipate the aura of uncertainty as to the results of the
1992 presidential elections, thereby enhancing the all too crucial political stability
of the nation during this period of national recovery.
Also, the PET issued a resolution ordering the protestant to
inform the PET within 10 days if after the completion of the revision of the
ballots from her pilot areas, she still wishes to present evidence. Since DS
has not informed the Tribunal of any such intention, such is a manifest
indication that she no longer intends to do so.