July 26, 2010 ATTY. ATTY. ALLAN S. MONTAÑO MONTAÑO vs. ATTY. ATTY. ERNESTO C. VERCELES DEL CASTILLO, J p: SUMMARY SUMMARY:: Atty. Montaño, unon !"#s$#nt an$ %#$#"aton #&!loy##, 'as no&nat#$ %o" (() Natonal V*# +"#s$#nt. (()
COMELEC $sual%#$ -& !u"suant to (() Consttuton an$ y La's S#*. /6 '-*- !"o-ts %#$#"aton #&!loy##s %"o& sttn n ts ov#"nn oa"$. Stll, -# 'as allo'#$ to "un y Conv#nton $#l#at#s $u"n t-# natonal #l#*ton $#s!t# !"ot#sts o% Atty. V#"*#l#s an$ -# sus#u#ntly 'on. V#"*#l#s '"ot# to (() COMELEC t-#n %l#$ a !#tton %o" null%*aton o% Montano3s #l#*ton. LR "ul#$ t-at t-#"# '#"# no "oun$s to -ol$ Atty. Montaño unual%#$ to "un %o" Natonal V*#4+"#s$#nt o% (() un$#" S#*. 26 '5* #nu&#"at#s t-# ual%*atons. CA "#v#"s#$ an$ -#l$ t-at Atty. Montaño $$ not !oss#ss t-# ual%*aton "#u"#&#nt un$#" !a". $7 o% S#*ton 26 t-at *an$$at#s &ust # an o%%*#" o" &#&#" o% a l#t&at# lao" o"an8aton '-#n (() Sta%% Asso*. s not7. Held: (() Consttuton an$ y4la's a"# *l#a" t-at no &#&#" o% t-# ov#"nn oa"$ s-all at t-# sa&# t&# !#"%o"& %un*tons o% t-# "an94an$4%l# sta%%. T-us, Atty. Montaño s $sual%#$ to "un %o" t-# !oston o% Natonal V*#4+"#s$#nt n v#' o% su*- !"os*"!ton. At t-# t&# o% -s no&naton an$ #l#*ton %o" t-# !oston n t-# ov#"nn oa"$, -# 'as t-# -#a$ o% (() L#al C#nt#" an$ t-# +"#s$#nt o% (() Sta%% Asso*aton. Ev#n a%t#" -# 'as #l#*t#$, -# *ontnu#$ to !#"%o"& -s %un*tons as sta%% &#&#" o% (() an$ no #v$#n*# 'as !"#s#nt#$ to s-o' t-at -# t#n$#"#$ -s "#snaton. A**o"$nly, -s #l#*ton as (() V*#4+"#s$#nt s null an$ v o$. FACTS: •
•
•
O*t. 1, :;<= Atty. Montaño 'o"9#$ as l#al assstant o% (() L#al C#nt#" an$ sus#u#ntly >on#$ t-# (() Sta%% Asso*aton, t-# unon o% "an94an$4%l# #&!loy##s, an$ #v#ntually #*a&# t-# #&!loy##s? unon !"#s$#nt n July 1;;/. @# #*a&# t-# OC o% (() L#al C#nt#" n Nov. 1;;B. u"n t-# 21st Natonal Conv#nton an$ El#*ton o% Natonal O%%*#"s o% ((), Atty. Montaño 'as no&nat#$ %o" t-# !oston o% Natonal V+. @o'#v#", (() COMELEC n%o"&#$ -& t-at -# s not ual%#$ %o" t-# !oston as -s *an$$a*y volat#s t-# 1;;B (() Consttuton an$ y4La's, !a"t*ula"ly S#*. /6 o% A"t*l# DD an$ S#*. 2 a7 o% A"t*l# V, ot- n C-a!t#" t-#"#o%. o
o
• •
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sec. 76. Except as otherwise provided in this Constittion, no Member of the Governing Board shall at the same time be an employee in the staff of the Federation. Federation . Sec. !". A Candidate#$o%inee &or the position o& 'overnin( )oard *e%+er, whether Titar or Dept- sha, except as otherwise provided in this Constittion, possess the &oowin( ai&ications: a. he#she %st +e a bonafide member of the Federation for at least 2 consecutive years and years and a member of an affiliated organization which organization which is p to date with its %onth- des to the /ederation.
Atty. Montaño %l#$ an F"#nt MR !"ayn t-at -s na&# # n*lu$#$ n t-# o%%*al lst o% *an$$at#s. May 2642/, 2001= El#*ton #nsu#$ n t-# Natonal Conv#nton -#l$ at Su* nt3l @ot#l. Conv#nton $#l#at#s allo'#$ Atty. Montaño?s Montaño?s *an$$a*y $#s!t# t-# !#n$n !#n$n MR, an$ st"on o!!oston o!!oston an$ !"ot#st o% Atty. E"n#sto C. V#"*#l#s V#"*#l#s,, a $#l#at# $#l#at# to t-# *onv#nton an$ !"#s$#nt o% FE E&!loy##s? Asso*. FEEA4(()7 '-*- s an a%%lat# unon o% (() an$ a &#&#" o% latt#"3s ov#"nn oa"$ Atty. Montaño #&#"#$ v*to"ous an$ 'as !"o*la&#$ as t-# Natonal V+. o Atty. V#"*#l#s '"ot# to C-a"&an o% (() COMELEC "#t#"atn -s !"ot#st ov#" Atty. Montaño?s *an$$a*y an$ also s#nt s #nt a %ollo'4 u! l#tt#" to t-# +"#s$#nt o% (() "#u#stn %o" &&#$at# a*ton on -s !"ot#st. Atty. V#"*#l#s t-#n %l#$ #%o"# #% o"# t-# t -# BLR a petition for the nullification of the election o% Atty. Montaño as (() Natonal V*#4 +"#s$#nt '5 !"ay#" %o" n>un*tv# "#l#% As al"#a$y "ul#$ y t-# (() COMELEC, Atty. Montaño s not ual%#$ to "un %o" t-# !oston #*aus# (() Consttuton o an$ y4La's !"o-ts %#$#"aton #&!loy##s %"o& sttn n ts ov#"nn oa"$. Atty. Montaño?s !"#&atu"# assu&!ton o% $ut#s an$ %o"&al n$u*ton as V+ 'll *aus# s#"ous $a&a#. o Atty. Montaño %l#$ -s Comment with Motion to Dimi on t-# "oun$s t-at= R#onal "#*to" o% OLE an$ not t-# LR -as >u"s$*ton ov#" t-# *as# o (ln o% t-# !#tton 'as !"#&atu"# $u# to t-# !#n$n an$ un"#solv#$ !"ot#st #%o"# t-# (() COMELEC o Atty. V#"*#l#s V#"*#l#s -as no l#al stan$n to ntat# t-# !#tton not #n t-# "#al !a"ty n nt#"#st. o M#an'-l#, (() COMELEC s#nt a l#tt#" to (() Natonal +"#s$#nt, "o. Jaa", n "#%#"#n*# to t-# #l#*ton !"ot#st %l#$ #%o"# t y Atty. V#"*#l#s V#"*#l#s an$ nt&at#$ ts %"& stan$ t-at Atty. Montaño?s *an$$a*y *ont"av#n#s t-# (()?s Consttuton. T-# $#*son o% t-# *onv#nton o$y n allo'n Atty. Montaño?s *an$$a*y s not val$ n v#' o% t-# %a*t t-at t "uns o *ount#" to t-# (() Consttuton an$ t-# o$y at t-at t&# 'as not a*tn as a Consttutonal Conv#nton o$y #&!o'#"#$ to a&#n$ t-# (() Consttuton on t-# s!ot. Con$u*tn t-# #l#*ton $o#s not $#!a"t %"o& t-# %a*t t-at (() COMELEC $$ not *-an# ts $#*son $sual%yn o *an$$at#s su*- as Atty. Allan Allan S. Montaño. T-# Natonal Conv#nton as a *o4#ual *onsttutonal o$y o% t-# COMELEC 'as not v#n t-# l*#ns# no" t-# aut-o"ty to o volat# t-# Consttuton. t *annot "#v#"s# t-# %nal $#*son o% t-# COMELEC 't- "#a"$ to t-# *an$$a*y o% Atty. Montaño. BLR: $ not v# $u# *ou"s# to Atty. Montaño?s Moton to s&ss ut o"$#"#$ t-# latt#" to su&t -s ans'#" to t-# !#tton !u"suant to t-# "ul#s. T-# !a"t#s t-#"#a%t#" su&tt#$ t-#" "#s!#*tv# !l#a$ns an$ !oston !a!#"s. BLR: s&ss#$ !#tton. )-l# t u!-#l$ ts >u"s$*ton ov#" t-# nt"a4unon $s!ut# *as# an$ a%%"&#$, as '#ll, Atty. V#"*#l#s? l#al !#"sonalty to nsttut# t-# a*ton as !"#s$#nt o% an a%%lat# unon o% (() ! there were no "round to hold Att#$ Monta%o un&ualified to run for 'ational (ice)*reident of FF+$ o
o
T-# a!!l*al# !"ovson n t-# (() Consttuton an$ y4La's to $#t#"&n# '-#t-#" on# s ual%#$ to "un %o" o%%*# s not S#*. /6 o% A"t*l# DD ut Sec$ ,- of Article (... ,/ t-#"#o%. S#*. 26. A *an$$at# %o" t-# !oston o% Natonal +"#s$#nt, Natonal V*#4+"#s$#nt, an$ Natonal T"#asu"#" s-all !oss#ss t-# followin" &ualification =
a. a *an$$at# &ust # a ona%$# &#&#" o% t-# (#$#"aton %o" at l#ast 2 *ons#*utv# y#a"sG . a *an$$at# &ust # o% oo$ &o"al *-a"a*t#" an$ -as not ##n *onv*t#$ y a %nal >u$&#nt o% a *"&# nvolvn &o"al tu"!tu$# #%o"# a *an$$at#?s #l#*ton to o%%*# o" $u"n a *an$$at#?s n*u&#n*yG *. #H*#!t t-# T"#asu"#", a *an$$at# &ust s#"v# t-# (#$#"aton %ull t&# %o" t-# !#"o$ o% -s5-#" n*u&#n*yG $. a *an$$at# %o" Natonal +"#s$#nt an$ Natonal V*#4+"#s$#nt &ust # o" &ust -av# ##n an o%%*#" o" &#&#" o% a l#t&at# lao" o"an8aton n t-# (() %o" at l#ast I y#a"s. A l#t&at# lao" o"an8aton s-all &#an a $uly "#st#"#$ lao" unon as $#%n#$ y t-# Lao" Co$# as A&#n$#$. T-#"# 'as ufficient compliance 't- t-# "#u"#&#nts la$ $o'n y t-s a!!l*al# !"ovson an$, #s$#s, t-# o *onv#nton $#l#at#s unan&ously $#*$#$ t-at Att y. Montaño 'as ual%#$ to "un %o" t-# !oston o% Natonal V+. Atty. V#"*#l#s %l#$ MR ut t 'as $#n#$ y t-# LR. Atty. V#"*#l#s t-us #l#vat#$ t-# &att#" to t-# CA va a !#tton %o" *#"to"a" a"un t-at t-# Conv#nton -a$ no aut-o"ty un$#" t-# (() Consttuton an$ y4La's to ov#""ul# an$ s#t as$# t-# (() COMELEC?s #*son "#n$#"#$ !u"suant to t-# latt#"?s !o'#" to s*"##n *an$$at#s. CA Deciion: S#t as$# t-# LR?s #*son. "ant#$ t-# !#tton an$ nullified the election of Att#$ Monta%o a FF+ 'ational
• •
•
(ice)*reident$ o
o
o
t a"##$ t-at >u"s$*ton 'as !"o!#"ly lo$#$ 't- t-# LR, t-at Atty. V#"*#l#s -as l#al stan$n to nsttut# t-# !#tton, an$ t-at t-# a!!l*al# !"ovson o% (() Consttuton an$ y4La's s S#*. 26 o% A"t*l# V an$ not S#*. /6 o% A"t*l# DD. Howe0er! Att#$ Monta%o did not poe the &ualification re&uirement under par$ 1d2 of Section ,- that candidate mut 3e an officer or mem3er of a le"itimate la3or or"ani4ation$
Sn*# Atty. Montaño, as l#al assstant #&!loy#$ y ((), s *ons$#"#$ as *on%$#ntal #&!loy##, *ons#u#ntly, -# s ineli"i3le to 5oin FF+ Staff Aociation! the ran6)and)file union of FF+$
Atty. Montaño %l#$ MR *la&n t-at t-# CA s#"ously #""#$ n "antn Atty. V#"*#l#s? !#tton on t-# "oun$ t-at (() Sta%% Asso*aton, o% '-*- -# s an o%%*#" an$ &#&#", s not a l#t&at# lao" o"an8aton. T-# l#t&a*y o% t-# unon 'as n#v#" "as#$ as an ssu#. o T-# $#*la"aton o% t-# CA t-at (() Sta%% Asso*aton s not a l#t&at# lao" o"an8aton a&ounts to a *ollat#"al atta*9 o u!on ts l#al !#"sonalty, '-*- s !"os*"#$ y la '. T-#"# s la*9 o% >u"s$*ton an$ la*9 o% *aus# o% a*ton $u# to a !#n$n !"ot#st. o T-#"# s volaton o% t-# &an$ato"y "#u"#&#nt on *#"t%*aton aanst %o"u& s-o!!n an$ &ootn#ss o% t-# *as# $u# to o t-# a!!ont&#nt o% Atty. V#"*#l#s as Co&&sson#" o% NLRC, t-#"#y $v#stn -&s#l% o% nt#"#st n any &att#"s "#latn to -s a%%laton 't- ((). (() Sta%% Asso*aton, t-"ou- ts !"#s$#nt, anlo A. Las#"na, sou-t nt#"v#nton #l#vn t-at t 'll # !"#>u$*#$ y t-# CA #*son sn*# ts l#al #Hst#n*# 'as !ut at sta9#. CA Reolution: #n#$ ot- Atty. Montaño?s MR an$ (() Sta%% Asso*aton?s &oton %o" nt#"v#nton5*la"%*aton. @#n*# t-s !#tton %o" "#v#' on C#"to"a"G CA #""#$ n= n "antn t-# !#tton to annul -s #l#*ton as (() Natonal V+ on t-# "oun$ t-at (() Sta%% Asso*aton s not a o l#t&at# lao" o"an8aton )-#n t-s 'as not #v#n "as#$ y Atty. Montano )-#n (() 'as not v#n a :$ay n *ou"t3 F!-ol$n t-# #H#"*s# o% >u"s$*ton y LR, $#s!t# #H!"#ss !"ovson o% la' "antn sa$ >u"s$*ton ov#" *as#s o nvolvn !"ot#sts an$ !#ttons %o" annul&#nt o% "#sults o% #l#*tons to t-# R#onal "#*to"s o% OLE Not $s&ssn t-# !#tton a uo, n t-at= o T-# %ln o% t-# !#tton %o" null%*aton o% t-# "#sult o% #l#*ton s !"#&atu"#, n v#' o% !#n$#n*y o% Atty V#"*#l#s3 !"ot#st #%o"# (() COMELEC at t-# t&# o% t-# %ln o% sa$ !#tton, -#n*#, -# -as no *aus# o% a*ton Atty V#"*#l#s -as no *#"t%*aton aanst %o"u& s-o!!n n not o"$#"n t-# $s&ssal o% t-# *as# %o" -avn ##n "#n$#"#$ &oot an$ a*a$#&* y a su!#"v#nn #v#nt t-at 'as, o '-#n Atty. V#"*#l#s sou-t a!!ont&#nt an$ 'as a!!ont#$ Co&&sson#" o% NLRC, -# $v#st#$ -&s#l% 't- any nt#"#st 't- &att#"s "#latn to -s %o"&#" &#&#"s-! an$ a%%laton 't- ((), -#n*#, -# s no lon#" a "#al !a"ty nt#"#st as -# $o#s not stan$ to # n>u"#$ o" #n#%t#$ y t-# >u$&#nt n t-# nstant *as# .SSU7: )-#t-#" Atty. Montano s not ual%#$ to "un as (() Natonal V*#4+"#s$#nt n v#' o% t-# !"o-ton #stals-#$ n t-# 1;;B (() Consttuton an$ y4La'sK YES7 •
•
• •
RAT.8: Reolution of Cae Depite Mootne •
•
•
u"n t-# !#n$#n*y o% t-s *as#, t-# *-all#n#$ t#"& o% o%%*# -#l$ an$ s#"v#$ y Atty. Montaño #H!"#$ n 2006, t-#"#y "#n$#"n t-# ssu#s o% t-# *as# &oot. Also, Atty. V#"*#l#s? a!!ont&#nt n 200I as NLRC Co&&sson#" "#n$#"#$ t-# *as# &oot. @o'#v#", n a nu&#" o% *as#s, SC stll $#lv#$ nto t-# &#"ts not't-stan$n su!#"v#nn #v#nts t-at 'oul$ o"$na"ly "#n$#" t-# *as# &oot, % t-# iue are capa3le of repetition! #et e0adin" re0iew$ CAB: Atty. Montaño "an an$ 'on as (() Natonal +"#s. a%t#" -s *-all#n#$ t#"& as (() Natonal V+ -a$ #H!"#$. @o'#v#", t-# only ssu# %o" "#soluton s -s ual%*aton to "un as (() Natonal V+ $u"n t-# May 2642/, 2001 #l#*tons. t s n#*#ssa"y an$ &!#"atv# to "#solv# t-s ssu# not only to !"#v#nt %u"t-#" "#!#tton ut also to *l#a" any $out%ul nt#"!"#taton an$ a!!l*aton o% t-# !"ovsons o% (() Consttuton y4la's n o"$#" to enure credi3le future election in the interet and welfare of affiliate
union of FF+$ Att#$ Monta%o: Di&ualified •
Atty. Montaño s not ual%#$ to "un as (() Natonal V+ n v#' o% t-# !"o-ton #stals-#$ n S#*. /6, A"t*l# DD o% t-# 1;;B (() Consttuton an$ y4La's. S#*. /6 !"ov$#s t-at no &#&#" o% t-# ov#"nn oa"$ s-all at t-# sa&# t&# # an #&!loy## n t-# sta%% o% t-# %#$#"aton. Atty. Montaño, at t-# t&# o% -s no&naton an$ #l#*ton %o" t-# !oston n t-# ov#"nn oa"$, s t-# -#a$ o% (() L#al o
• •
•
•
•
•
C#nt#" an$ t-# +"#s$#nt o% (() Sta%% Asso*aton. Ev#n a%t#" -# 'as #l#*t#$, -# *ontnu#$ to !#"%o"& -s %un*tons as sta%% &#&#" o% (() an$ no #v$#n*# 'as !"#s#nt#$ to s-o' t-at -# t#n$#"#$ -s "#snaton. LR an$ CA #""#$ n t-#" %n$ns t-at S#*. 26 s t-# a!!l*al# !"ovson '-#n (() COMELEC as#$ ts $#*son on S#*. /6. (() COMELEC s v#st#$ 't- aut-o"ty an$ !o'#", un$#" t-# (() Consttuton an$ y4La's, to s*"##n *an$$at#s an$ $#t#"&n# t-#" ual%*atons an$ #llty to "un n t-# #l#*ton an$ to a$o!t an$ !"o&ulat# "ul#s *on*#"nn t-# *on$u*t o% #l#*tons. Fn$#" t-# Rul#s &!l#&#ntn t-# Lao" Co$# oo9 V, Rul# DV, S#*ton 2 7 an$ 77, t-# Co&&tt## s-all -av# t-# !o'#" to !"#s*"# "ul#s on t-# ual%*aton an$ #llty o% *an$$at#s an$ su*- ot-#" "ul#s as &ay %a*ltat# t-# o"$#"ly *on$u*t o% #l#*tons. T-# Co&&tt## s also "#a"$#$ as t-# %nal a"t#" o% all #l#*ton !"ot#sts oo9 V, Rul# DV, S#*ton 2 77. FF+ C8M7L7C ha ufficient authorit# to adopt it own interpretation of the e9plicit pro0iion of the federation contitution and 3#)law and unle it i hown to ha0e committed "ra0e a3ue of dicretion! it deciion and rulin" will not 3e interfered with$ Atty. Montaño s not &ualified to run for the poition 3ut not for failure to meet the re&uirement s!#*%#$ un$#" S#*. 26 $7 o%
A"t*l# V o% (() Consttuton an$ y4La's. @o'#v#", CA?s $#*la"aton o% t-# ll#t&at# status o% (() Sta%% Asso*aton s !"os*"#$ y la', o'n to t-# !"#*luson o% *ollat#"al atta*9 SMC v. San Mu#l +a*9an +"o$u*ts E&!loy##s Fnon7. Non#t-#l#ss, CA?s %n$n t-at Att#$ Monta%o i
di&ualified to run for the poition of 'ational (* in 0iew of the procription in the FF+ Contitution and B#)Law on federation emplo#ee from ittin" in it ;o0ernin" Board s a%%"&#$. A**o"$nly, t-# #l#*ton o% Atty. Montaño as (() V*#4 +"#s$#nt s null and 0oid$ BLR u"s$*ton ov#" #l#*ton !"ot#sts. SC: LR -as >u"s$*ton ov#" t-# nstant $s!ut# nvolvn &#&#"4unons o% a %#$#"aton a"sn %"o& $sa"##&#nt ov#" t-# !"ovsons o% t-# %#$#"aton?s *onsttuton an$ y4la's. S#*. 226 o% t-# Lao" Co$# *l#a"ly !"ov$#s t-at t-# BLR and the Re"ional Director of D8L7 ha0e concurrent 5uridiction ov#" nt#"4unon an$ nt"a4unon $s!ut#s. Su*- $s!ut#s n*lu$# t-# *on$u*t o" • •
•
null%*aton o% #l#*ton o% unon an$ 'o"9#"s? asso*aton o%%*#"s oo9 V, Rul# D, S#*. 17. Rul# DV lays $o'n t-# $#*#nt"al8#$ nt"a4unon $s!ut# s#ttl#&#nt &#*-ans&. S#*. 1 stat#s t-at any *o&!lant n t-s "#a"$ ?s-all # %l#$ n t-# R#onal O%%*# '-#"# t-# unon s do%icied .? T-# *on*#!t o% $o&*l# n lao" "#latons "#ulaton s #uval#nt to t-# pace where the nion see0s to operate or has esta+ished a (eo(raphica presence &or prposes o& coective +ar(ainin( or &or deain( with e%po-ers concernin( ter%s and conditions o& e%po-%ent.
•
•
T-# &att#" o% v#nu# #*o&#s !"ol#&at* '-#n t-# nt"a4unon $s!ut# nvolv#s a %#$#"aton, #*aus# t-# #o"a!-*al !"#s#n*# o% a %#$#"aton &ay #n*o&!ass &o"# t-an on# a$&nst"atv# "#on. +u"suant to ts aut-o"ty un$#" A"t*l# 226, LR #H#"*s#s o"nal >u"s$*ton ov#" nt"a4unon $s!ut#s nvolvn %#$#"atons. ((), -avn lo*al unons all ov#" t-# *ount"y, o!#"at#s n &o"# t-an on# a$&nst"atv# "#on. T-#"#%o"#, LR &antans o"nal an$ #H*lusv# >u"s$*ton ov#" $s!ut#s a"sn %"o& any volaton o% o" $sa"##&#nt ov#" any !"ovson o% ts *onsttuton an$ y4 la's.
*etition: 'ot *remature Montano: +#tton s-oul$ -av# ##n &&#$at#ly $s&ss#$ $u# to a !#n$n an$ un"#solv#$ !"ot#st #%o"# t-# (() COMELEC. SC: t s t"u# t-at un$#" t-# &!l#&#ntn Rul#s, "#$"#ss &ust %"st # sou-t 't-n t-# o"an8aton ts#l% n a**o"$an*# 't- ts • •
*onsttuton an$ y4la's. @o'#v#", t-s "#u"#&#nt s not asolut# ut y#l$s to #H*#!ton un$#" va"yn *"*u&stan*#s Vlla" v. @on. n*on7. CAB: Atty. V#"*#l#s &a$# -s !"ot#st ov#" Atty. Montaño?s *an$$a*y $u"n t-# !l#na"y s#sson #%o"# t-# -ol$n o% t-# #l#*ton !"o*##$ns. (() COMELEC, $#s!t# !"ot#sts, allo'#$ Atty. Montaño?s *an$$a*y an$ !"o*la&#$ -& 'nn#" %o" t-# !oston. Fn$#" t-# "ul#s, COMELEC s-all #n$#avo" to s#ttl# o" "#solv# all !"ot#sts $u"n o" &&#$at#ly a%t#" t-# *los# o% #l#*ton !"o*##$ns an$ any !"ot#st l#%t un"#solv#$ s-all # "#solv#$ y t-# *o&&tt## 't-n %v# $ays a%t#" t-# *los# o% t-# #l#*ton !"o*##$ns. A $ay o" t'o a%t#" t-# #l#*ton, Atty. V#"*#l#s &a$# -s '"tt#n5%o"&al !"ot#st ov#" Atty. Montaño?s *an$$a*y5!"o*la&aton 't- t-# (() COMELEC. @# #H-aust#$ t-# "#&#$#s un$#" t-# *onsttuton an$ y4la's to -av# -s !"ot#st a*t#$ u!on y t-# !"o!#" %o"u& an$ #v#n as9#$ %o" a %o"&al -#a"n on t-# &att#". Stll, t-# (() COMELEC %al#$ to t&#ly a*t t-#"#on. Atty. V#"*#l#s -a$ no ot-#" "#*ou"s# ut to ta9# t-# n#Ht avalal# "#&#$y to !"ot#*t t-# nt#"#st o% t-# unon -# "#!"#s#nts as '#ll as t-# '-ol# %#$#"aton, #s!#*ally so t-at Atty. Montaño, &&#$at#ly a%t#" #n !"o*la&#$, al"#a$y assu&#$ an$ sta"t#$ to !#"%o"& t-# $ut#s o% t-# !oston. Cons#u#ntly, Atty. V#"*#l#s !"o!#"ly sou-t "#$"#ss %"o& t-# LR so t-at t-# "-t to $u# !"o*#ss 'll not # volat#$. To nsst on t-# *ont"a"y s to "#n$#" t-# #H-auston o% "#&#$#s 't-n t-# unon as lluso"y an$ van o9no v. Ca*$a*7. Certification a"aint forum hoppin" = T-s ssu# 'as only "as#$ %o" t-# %"st t&# n Atty. Montaño?s MR o% CA #*son, -#n*#, t $#s#"v#s no &#"t. N#' ssu#s *annot # "as#$ %o" t-# %"st t&# on a!!#al o" on MR A"*#ño v. SS7. D.S*8S.T.(7: +#tton ENE. CA #*son null%yn t-# #l#*ton o% Atty. Allan S. Montaño as (() Natonal V*#4+"#s$#nt an$ R#soluton $#nyn MR A((RME •
•
•
•
•
