Question

Maria and Juan are candidates running for the position of Mayor in a certain municipality. After the election, the Municipal Board of Canvassers (MBOC) proclaimed Juan as the winning candidate. However, Maria disputes the proclamation and files a Petition for Certiorari before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) alleging that there were irregularities and fraud during the canvassing process.

Discuss the available remedies and legal procedures that Maria can pursue in challenging the proclamation of Juan as the winning candidate. Explain the applicable laws and court decisions that govern pre-proclamation controversies.

• What is the nature and purpose of a Pre-Proclamation Controversy?
• What specific legal remedies can Maria avail of to challenge the proclamation?
• What are the procedural requirements and timelines that Maria needs to comply with when filing her petition?
• Discuss any relevant court decisions or jurisprudence that have shaped the guidelines for resolving pre-proclamation controversies.