Ysip v. Municipality of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija (Construction of Election Laws)
Ysip v. Municipality of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija (Construction of Election Laws)
At the last general election in 1919, two parties, the Partido Democrata
and the Partido Nacionalista, contested for supremacy in the municipality of
Cabiao, Nueva Ecija. The highest number of votes was cast for the
Partido Nacionalista, and the second highest number for the Partido
Democrata.
Subsequently, Partido Nacionalista was however divided into two
parties, the Partido Nacionalista, commonly known as Unipersonalista, and
the Partido Nacionalista Colectivista.
The Partido Nacionalista Colectivista was inaugurated in the
municipality of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, on February 28, 1922.
portion of section 11 of Act No. 3030 of the Philippine Legislature, reads:
Should there be in such municipality one or more political parties or
branches or fractions thereof, or political groups, then two of said
inspectors and two substitutes for the same shall belong to the
party which polled the largest number of votes in said municipality
at such preceding election and the other inspector and his substitute
shall belong to the party, branch or fraction thereof, or political
group which polled the next largest number of votes at said election;
and the inspectors so appointed shall be persons proposed by the legitimate
representative or representatives of such political parties, branches or
fractions thereof, or political group.
(important)
If we must choose between a strict and literal interpretation of the law and a liberal
and reasonable interpretation of the law, if we must choose between the letter of
the law which "killeth" and the spirit of the law which "giveth life", can any one
doubt what our decision will be? WE ADOPT THAT CONSTRUCTION
WHICH WILL PRODUCE THE MOST BENEFICIAL RESULTS.
Where in such municipalities, in addition to the Partido Nacionalista there has been
duly organized a new party known as the Partido Nacionalista Colectivista, one
election inspector and one substitute shall belong each to the Partido
Nacionalista, the Partido Nacionalista Colectivista and the Partido
Democrata.