PACIFICO DELA SERNA AND DATU ISHAK AMPATUAN, PETITIONERS, VS. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, PROVINCIAL BOARD OF CANVASSERS OF COTABATO, JOSE V. TORRES, AND ALFONSO ANGELES, RESPONDENTS.

This proceeding for mandamus with restraining order was
instituted by petitioners in March of 1972 to compel respondent Commission on
Elections^[1]
to call for new elections in certain precincts of Ampatuan, Maganoy, Lutayan,
and Datu Piang in the province of Cotabato, the allegation being that there was
violence or terrorism employed in such places. 
The respective answers of the respondents were not filed until April of
the same year.  Thereafter, the parties
were required to file memoranda.  The
memorandum for petitioners was not submitted until August 10, 1972. 
Thereafter, respondent Commission on Elections under the 1935
Constitution went out of existence in view of the present Constitution which
took effect on January 17, 1973.  As of that date then, the case presented a
moot and academic character.  It was not
surprising, therefore, that on August
13, 1977, a manifestation came from petitioners.  It is worded thus:  “[Come now] petitioners, thru their
undersigned counsel, in compliance with the resolution of this Court dated
April 15, 1977, to this Honorable Court, most respectfully manifest that they
have no objection to the dismissal of this case, for being moot and
academic.”^[2]
Earlier, as far back as April 29, 1977,
private respondent J. Torres was quite categorical in his affirmation
“that the instant case has become moot and academic and should accordingly
be dismissed.”^[3]

WHEREFORE, the case is dismissed for being moot and
academic.

Barredo, (Acting Chairman), Antonio, Aquino, Concepcion, Jr., and Santos,
JJ., concur.

^[1]
The other respondents are the Provincial Board of Canvassers of Cotabato, Jose
V. Torres and Alfonso Angeles.

^[2]
Manifestation dated August 13, 1977.

^[3]
Compliance of respondent J. Torres dated April 29, 1977.