SC to revise rules on election protests

Chief Justice Leonardo-de Castro

PADRE FAURA, Manila - Outgoing Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro has created a special committee that will revise the Rules of Procedure in election contests before the courts involving elective municipal and barangay (village) officials.


She appointed Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta as the special committee's chairman and Associate Justice Alexander Gesmundo as its vice chairman.

Appointed as members were Judge Leilani Mari Dacanay-Grimares, Metropolitan Trial Court, Branch 87, Paranaque City; Judge Belen Carasig, MeTC, Branch 88, Paranaque; Judge Christian Emmanuel Pimentel, MeTC, Pasig City, Branch 69; and lawyer Camille Leelin Ting, Office of the Court Administrator.

The SC designated lawyer Ralph Jerome Salvador and Anna Katrina Martinez of the Office of Justice Peralta as the special committee's secretary and assistant secretary, respectively.

According to the High Court, the committee shall "assess the nationwide impact of the Rules of Procedure in election contests before the courts involving elective municipal and barangay officials."

"It shall survey and compile the best practices employed by the trial court judges in relation to election contests procedure," the court said.

The committee shall propose, among others, amendments to the existing rules and formulate guidelines for nationwide implementation of approved amendments to the same.

It shall look into special issues and invite resource persons who are experts on election laws and procedure.

"The chair[man], vice chair[man], members and members of the secretariat of the committee shall receive the usual expense allowances," the SC said. [Jomar Canlas, The Manila Times]