GONZALES VS. COMELEC [27 SCRA 835; G.R. L-27833; 18 APR 1969] Sunday, February 08, 2009 Posted by Coffeeholic Writes Labels:Case Digests, Political LaFacts: RA 4880 which took effect on June 17, 1967, prohibiting the too ear ly nomination of ca n i ate! an limitin g the perio of ele ction campaign or parti!an political act i"ity wa! challenge on con!titutional groun!# $ore preci!ely, the ba!ic libertie! of free !peech anfree pre!!, freeom of a!!embly anfreeom of a!!ociation are in"oketo nullify the act# %e tit ioner &abi ga o wa !, at the time of the filin g the petition, an incumbent councilor in the 4th 'i!trict of $anila anthe (acionali!ta %arty off icial can iate for )ice*$ay or of $anila to which he wa! !ub !e+ uen tly electeon (o"ember 11, 1967petitioner -on.ale!, on the other han, i! a pri"ate ini"iual, a regi!tere "oterin the &ity of $anila ana political le ae r of hi ! co *p eti ti oner# /he re wa! th e fu rth er all ega tion tha t the nomina tion of a cani ate an th e fi ing of perio of election camp ai gn ar e matter! of political epei ency an con"enience which only politi cal partie! can regulate or cur tail by anamong the m!el"e! through !elf*re!traint or mutual uner!taning or agreement anthat the regulation anlimitation of the!e political matter! in"oking the police power, in the ab!ence of clear anpre!ent anger to the !tate, woulrener the con!titutional right! of petitioner! meaningle!! anwithout effect# enator 2oren.o $# /a3aa wa! a!keto appear a! amicu! curiae, aneluciatethat Act (o# 4880 coul ineebe lookeupon a! a limitation on the preferreright! of !peech anpre!!, of a!!embly anof a!!ociation# e i5u!tify it! enactment howe"er uner the clear anpre!ent anger octrine, there being the !ub!tanti"e e"il of election!, whether for national or local official!, being eba!eanegraeby unre!trictecampaigning, ece!! of parti!an!hip anunue concentration in politic! with the lo!! not only ofefficiency in go"ernment but of li"e! a! well# /he %hilippine ar A!!ociation, the &i"il 2ibertie! nion, the #%# 2aw &enter anthe #%# omen 2awyer!&ircle were re+ue!teto gi"e their opinion!# Re!ponent! contenthat the act wa! ba!eon the police power of the !tate#
