Reference: Annual Audit Report on the Senate Electoral Tribunal

For the Calendar Year 31 December 2006

At the start of year 2006, the members of the Tribunal were composed of:

  1. Hon. Justice Reynato S. Puno, Chairman
  2. Hon. Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Member
  3. Hon. Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Member
  4. Hon. Senator Juan M. Flavier, Member
  5. Hon. Senator Manuel B. Villar, Jr., Member
  6. Hon. Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid, Member
  7. Hon. Senator Richard J. Gordon, Member
  8. Hon. Senator Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada, Member
  9. Hon. Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., Member

In year 2006, there was no change in the judicial component of the Tribunal, unlike in the senatorial membership, which underwent several changes. On 31 January 2006, the Senate of the Philippines elected Senators Mar Roxas and Compañera Pia S. Cayetano as members of the Tribunal vice Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid and Senator Richard J. Gordon, respectively, effective 01 February 2006.

Thereafter, on 29 August 2006, the Senate of the Philippines elected Senators Francis N. Pangilinan, Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid and Ramon B. Magsaysay, Jr. as members of the Tribunal. However, several weeks later, on 04 September 2006, Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon was elected member of the Tribunal vice Sen. Francis N. Pangilinan.

Thus, at the end of year 2006, the members of the Tribunal were composed of:

  1. Hon. Justice Reynato S. Puno, Chairman
  2. Hon. Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago, Member
  3. Hon. Justice Antonio T. Carpio, Member
  4. Hon. Senator Juan M. Flavier, Member
  5. Hon. Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid, Member
  6. Hon. Senator Ramon B. Magsaysay, Jr., Member
  7. Hon. Senator Rodolfo G. Biazon, Member
  8. Hon. Senator Luisa “Loi” Ejercito Estrada, Member
  9. Hon. Senator Aquilino Q. Pimentel, Jr., Member

Accomplishment Report / Significant Highlights in CY 2006

On 03 April 2006, Protestant Osmeña filed his “Withdrawal of Protest”. This was granted by the Tribunal in its Resolution No. 06-03 dated 18 May 2006. The Protest filed by Protestant Osmeña as well as the Counter Protest filed by Protestee Rodolfo G. Biazon were considered CLOSED and TERMINATED.

Return of the ballot boxes and the corresponding election documents and paraphernalia collected from the 1st and 2nd districts of Cebu City was undertaken from 19 August to 30 August 2006, after it had been ascertained that the COMELEC would not be granting the request of Protestant Osmeña to return the said ballot boxes to the Comelec Main Office in Intramuros, Manila.

With the withdrawal of the protest, the Tribunal in effect recorded a 100% accomplishment with respect to the election protest vis-à-vis its target for year 2006.