Modes of creation of public offices 1.

It is a public trust; it is merely entrusted to the public officer  

2. It is not a property; 
CREATION OF PUBLIC OFFICE 
3. it is not protected or guaranteed by the due process clause 

A. By the Constitution
4.  It is not a heritable possession 

B. By statute or law
5.  It is outside the commerce of man. It cannot be the subject of a

C. By a tribunal or body to which the power to create the office valid contract; otherwise, the contract is void 

has been delegated 
Commission on Appointments 

HOW A PUBLIC OFFICE IS CREATED

General Rule: The creation of a public office is primarily a legislative COMELEC appeals procedure 
function. 

1. From such resolution rendered by Prosecutor through delegated
Exception: Where the office is created by the Constitution itself. 
powers, appeal to the COMELEC lies, and the COMELEC’s

The Sandiganbayan is not a constitutional court (or public office) but a ruling on the appeal would be immediately final and executory.
2. If the preliminary investigation is conducted by the COMELEC
constitutionally­mandated court. It was created by statute and not the
itself,   appeal   to   the   COMELEC   is   unavailing,   but   the
Constitution, hence Congress may limit its  powers  and jurisdiction.
respondent   may   file   a   motion   for   reconsideration   of   the
[Garcia v. Sandiganbayan, G.R. No. 114135 (1994)] 
resolution of the COMELEC en banc finding probable cause.
(Faelnar v. People, G.R. Nos. 140850‐51. May 4, 2000)

Characteristics of public office

CHARACTERISTICS OF A PUBLIC OFFICE 
Oversees Absentee Voter Law 
Public office can be characterized as follows: 
OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTER  (1) Registration: 

ABSENTEE VOTING  1. Of Political Parties as provided in Sec. 60, BP 881 

Process by which qualified citizens of the Philippines abroad exercise 2. Of party­lists as provided in Secs. 5­7, R.A. 7941 
their right to vote. [Sec. 3a, R.A. 9189, The Overseas Absentee Voting
(2) (Party­List System Act,). Resolution of Intra­Party Disputes: 
Act] 
“[T]he COMELEC’s  powers and functions  under Section 2, Article
OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTER, DEFINITION 
IX­C of the Constitution, "include the ascertainment of the identity of

Citizen of the Philippines who is qualified to register and vote under the political party and its legitimate officers responsible for its acts."

this Act, not otherwise disqualified by law, who is abroad on the day [T]he   COMELEC’s   power   to   register   political   parties   necessarily

involved the determination of the persons who must act on its behalf.
of elections. [Sec. 3f, R.A. 9189] 
Thus, the COMELEC may resolve an intra­party leadership dispute, in
a proper case brought before it, as an incident of its power to register
political parties.” [Atienza v. COMELEC, (2010)]. 
COVERAGE OF THE RIGHT TO VOTE 

Elections   for   president,   vice­president,   senators   and   party­list

representatives [Sec. 3f, R.A. 9189] 

Note:  Registration   as   an   overseas   absentee   voter   shall   be   done   in ENTITIES   WHICH   CANNOT   BE   REGISTERED   AS
person in the Philippine Consulate of Embassy nearest to the place of POLITICAL PARTIES 
residence of the voter. [Sec.5, R.A. 9189] 
1. Religious denominations and sects 

2. Groups which seek to achieve their goals through violence or
COMELEC jurisdiction over political parties 
unlawful means 
JURISDICTION   OF   THE   COMELEC   OVER   POLITICAL
3.  Entities which refuse to uphold and adhere to the Constitution 
PARTIES 
 4. Associations   supported   by   foreign   governments  [Art.   IX­C,
Sec. 2 (5), Constitution]  Qualifications and disqualifications of candidates

PURPOSE OF REGISTRATION  QUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES 

1. To acquire juridical personality  Qualifications prescribed by law are continuing requirements and must
be possessed for the duration of the officer's active tenure [Labo v.
2. To entitle it to rights and privileges granted to political parties 
COMELEC (1989)]. 

3. To participate in the party­list system
QUALIFICATIONS   TO   RUN   FOR   PRESIDENT   AND   VICE­
PRESIDENT 

Inclusion and non­inclusion proceedings 
1. Natural­born citizen of the Philippines

2. Registered voter
Pre­proclamation cases
3. Able to read and writer

4. At least 40 years of age at the day of election
Sandiganbayan jurisdiction 
5. Resident   of   the   Philippines   for   at   least   10   years
immediately   preceding   such   election  (Sec.   63,   Omnibus
Election Code) 
Constitutional provisions on constitutional commissions 

QUALIFICATIONS TO RUN FOR SENATOR 

1. Natural­born citizen of the Philippines

2. Registered voter

3. Able to read and write
 4. At least 35 years of age at the day of election  4. On the day of the election must at least be: 

5. Resident of the Philippines for at least 2 years immediately a. 23   years   of   age   for   Governors,   Vice   Governors,

preceding such election  Members   of   the  Sangguniang   Panlalawigan,
mayor, vice mayor and member of the sangguniang
QUALIFICATIONS   TO   RUN   TO   BE   A   MEMBER   OF   THE panglungsod ng Highly Urbanized City 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
b. 21 years of age for mayors or vice mayors of ICC,
1. Natural­born citizen of the Philippines  CC or municipalities 

2. Registered Voter  c. 18   years   of   age   for   members   of   the   sangguniang

panlungsod,   or   bayan   or   punong   baranggay   or
3. Able to read and write 
members of the sangguniang 

4. At least 25 years of age at the day of the election 
d. 15   but   not   more   than   18   years   of   age   for
Sangguniang Kabataan 
5. Resident of the same district for a period of not less than 1
year immediately preceding such election. 
5. Resident therein for at least 1 year immediately preceding
the day of election. 
QUALIFICATIONS   TO   RUN   TO   BE   A   LOCAL   ELECTIVE
OFFICIAL 

1. Must be a citizen of the Philippines 

2. A registered voter in the  barangay, municipality, city, or
province, or in the case of a member of the  sangguniang
panlalawigan, panglungsod or bayan, the district where he DISQUALIFICATIONS OF CANDIDATES 
intends to be elected 
The following shall be disqualified from registering: 
3. Able to read and write Filipino or any other local language
or dialect (Sec. 39, R.A. No. 7160 Local Government Code)
1.  Sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment for not
less   than   1   year   (unless   granted   a   plenary   pardon   or   an De jure v. de facto officers 
amnesty) shall automatically reacquire right to vote upon the
expiration of 5 years after the service of sentence; 

2. Adjudged by final judgment for having committed any crime
involving disloyalty to the duly constituted government (e.g.
rebellion, sedition, violation of the firearms law) or any crime
against   national   security   (unless   restored   to   full   civil   and
political   rights   in   accordance   with   law)   shall   automatically
reacquire the right to vote upon the expiration of 5 years after
the service of sentence; or  

3. Insane   or   incompetent   persons   as   declared   by   competent

authority.   [Sec.   11,   R.A.   8189,   Voter’s   Registration   Act   of
1996]  
 A   method   of   national   inquest   into   the   conduct   of   public   men.
It is  the power of Congress  to remove a public official for serious
crimes   or   misconduct   as   provided   in   the   Constitution   (Corona   v.
Senate, 2012). 

Purpose 

To protect the people from official delinquencies or malfeasances. It is
primarily   intended   for   the   protection   of   the   State,   not   for   the
punishment of the offender. 

Impeachable Officers 

1. (1)  President 

2. (2)  Vice President 

3. (3)  Members of the Supreme Court 

4. (4)  Members of the Constitutional Commissions 

5. (5)  Ombudsman 

All other public officers and employees may be removed from office
as   provided   by   law   but   not   by   impeachment   (Sec.   2,   Art.   XI,
Constitution). 

NOTE:   Impeachment   is   not   an   exclusive   remedy   by   which   an

invalidly appointed or invalidly elected impeachable official may be
IMPEACHMENT removed   from   office.   The   language   of   Sec.   2,   Art.   XI,   1987
Constitution   does   not   foreclose   a  quo   warranto  action   against 5. (5)  Other high crimes, or 
impeachable officers. The provision uses the permissive term “may”
which   denotes   discretion   and   cannot   be   construed   as   having   a 6. (6)  Betrayal of public trust 

mandatory effect, indicative of a mere possibility, an opportunity, or
an option. 

Quo warranto as a remedy to oust an ineligible public official may be
availed of when the subject act or omission was committed prior to or
at   the   time   of   appointment   or   election   relating   to   an   official’s
qualifications to hold office as to render such appointment or election
invalid acts. 

Quo   warranto  proceedings   are   essentially   judicial   in   character   –   it

calls for the exercise of the Supreme Court’s constitutional duty and
power   to   decide   cases   and   settle   actual   controversies.   This
constitutional duty cannot be abdicated or transferred in favor of, or in
deference   to,   any   other   branch   of   the   government   including   the
Congress, even as it acts as an impeachment court through the Senate.
[Republic v. Sereno, G.R. No. 237428 (2018)]  COMELEC jurisdiction 

Grounds for Impeachment   Enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the
conduct of an election, plebiscite, initiative, referendum, and
1. (1)  Culpable violation of the Constitution  recall.

2. (2)  Treason   Exercise   exclusive   original   jurisdiction   over   all   contests

relating   to   the   elections,   returns,   and   qualifications   of   all
3. (3)  Bribery 
elective regional, provincial, and city officials, and appellate

4. (4)  Graft and corruption  jurisdiction   over   all   contests   involving   elective   municipal

officials   decided   by   trial   courts   of   general   jurisdiction,   or
 involving elective barangay officials decided by trial courts of
limited jurisdiction.

o Decisions, final orders, or rulings of the Commission on
election   contests   involving   elective   municipal   and
barangay   offices   shall   be   final,   executory,   and   not
appealable.

 Decide, except those involving the right to vote, all questions
affecting elections, including determination of the number and
location of polling places, appointment of election officials and
inspectors, and registration of voters.