The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday ruled that there was unreasonable delay in the Commission on Elections’ (Comelec) investigation of an election offense case involving a mayoral candidate in Bohol.
In its decision, the SC En Banc said the right to the speedy disposition of cases was violated.
The High Tribunal nullified the Comelec resolution that found probable cause to charge Petronilo Solomon Sarigumba for violating the Omnibus Election Code.
The Court cited Article III, Section 16 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to the speedy disposition of cases before judicial, quasi-judicial, and administrative bodies.
It noted that Comelec failed to resolve the preliminary investigation within its own time limits and offered no justification for the delay. Sarigumba lost the mayoral race in Loboc, Bohol, during the May 2010 polls.
