COMELEC Rules of Procedure - Part III TOC

Part III

INITIATION OF ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RULE	DESCRIPTION
5	PARTIES TO ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS
6	COMMENCEMENT OF ACTION OR PROCEEDINGS
7	PLEADINGS
8	INTERVENTION
9	AMENDED AND SUPPLEMENTAL PLEADINGS
10	PERIOD OF PLEADINGS
11	MOTIONS
12	SERVICE AND FILING OF PLEADINGS AND OTHER PAPERS
13	PROHIBITED PLEADINGS

Part II	RULES OF PROCEDURE	Part III
Rule 4	Table of Contents	Rule 5

COMELEC Rules of Procedure - Part II TOC

PART II

POWERS OF THE COMMISSION AND TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS

TABLE OF CONTENTS

RULE	DESCRIPTION
2	POWERS OF THE COMMISSION
3	HOW THE COMMISSION TRANSACTS BUSINESS
4	DISQUALIFICATION AND INHIBITION

Part I	RULES OF PROCEDURE	Part II
Rule 1	Table of Contents	Rule 2

COMELEC Rules of Procedure - Rule 10

Part III

INITIATION OF ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION

Rule 10

Periods for Pleading

Section 1. Title to Answer. - Unless otherwise provide in these Rules,

a.  In ordinary actions, special reliefs, and special proceedings, the answer must be filed within five (5) days from service of summons and a copy of the petition; and 

b. In special actions and special cases, the answer must be filed within three (3) days from service of summon and a copy of the petition.

Sec. 2. Answer to Amended Protest or Petition. - If the protest or petition is amended, the time foxed for the filing and service of the answer shall, unless otherwise ordered, run from receipt of the notice of the order admitting the amended protest or petition or from service of such amended protest or petition.  An answer filed before the amendment shall stand as an answer to the amended protest or petition, unless a new one is filed within five (5) days from notice or service as herein provided.

Sec. 3. Answer to Counter-Protest or Counterclaim. - A counter-protest, or a counterclaim when appropriate, must be filed within five (5) days from the date of service thereof upon the protestant or petitioner.

Sec. 4. Period to Intervene and Time to Answer Intervention. - Whenever intervention is allowed the same must be filed within five (5) days from receipt of the order permitting the intervention, unless a different period is fixed by the Commission or Division.

Sec. 5. Reply. - Unless otherwise provided in these Rules, a reply may be filed within five (5) days from receipt of the answer.

Sec. 6. Extension of Time to Plead. - Unless otherwise provided in these Rules, the time to plead may be extended by the Commission upon motion and on such terms as it may deem just.

Part III	RULES OF PROCEDURE	Part III
Rule 9	Table of Contents	Rule 11

COMELEC Rules of Procedure - Rule 9

Part III

INITIATION OF ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION

Rule 9

Amended and Supplemental Pleadings

Section 1. When Amendments Allowed as a Matter of Right. - A party may amend his pleadings once as a matter of course at any time before a responsive pleading is served, or, if the pleading is one to which no responsive pleading is permitted and the action has not been placed upon the trial calendar, he may so amend it at any time within five days after it is served.

Sec. 2. Amendments Only by Leave. - After the case is set for hearing, substantial amendments may be made only upon leave of the Commission or the Division, as the case may be.  Such leave may be refused if it appears to the Commission or the Division that the motion was made with intent to delay the action or that the cause of action or defense is substantially altered.  Orders of the Commission or the Division upon the matters provided in this section shall be made upon motion duly filed, and after the adverse party has been notified and afforded an opportunity to be heard.

Sec. 3. Matters Subject of Supplemental Pleadings. - Upon motion of a party the Commission or a Division, as the case may be, may, upon notice and upon such terms as are just, permit him to serve a supplemental pleading setting forth transactions, occurrences or events which have happened since the date of the pleading sought to be supplemented.  If the Commission or the Division deems it advisable that the adverse party should plead thereto, it shall so order, specifying the time therefor.

Part III	RULES OF PROCEDURE	Part III
Rule 8	Table of Contents	Rule 10

COMELEC Rules of Procedure - Rule 4

PART II

POWERS OF THE COMMISSION AND TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS

Rule 4

Disqualification and Inhibition

Section 1.  Disqualification or Inhibition of Members. -

a.  No Member shall sit in any case in which he or his spouse or child is related to any party within the sixth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity, or to the counsel of any of the parties within the fourth civil degree of consaguinity or affinity, or in which he has publicly expressed prejudgment as may be shown by convincing proof, or in which the subject thereof is a decision promulgated by him while previously serving as presiding judge of an inferior court, without the written consent of all the parties, signed by them and entered in the records of the case; Provided, that no Member shall be the "ponente" of an en banc decision/resolution on a motion to reconsider a decision/resolution written by him in a Division. 

b.  If it be claimed that a Member is disqualified from sitting as above provided, the party raising the issue may, in writing, file his objection with the Commission, stating the grounds therefor.  The member concerned shall either continue to participate in the hearing or withdraw therefrom, in accordance with his determination of the question of his disqualification.  His decision thereon shall forthwith be made in writing and filed with the Commission for proper notation and with the records of the case.  No appeal or stay shall be allowed from, or by reason of, his decision in favor of his own competency until after final judgment in the case. 

c.  A Member may, in the exercise of his sound discretion, inhibit himself from sitting in a case for just or valid reasons other than those mentioned above.

Sec. 2.  Disqualification Resulting in Lack of Quorum. - If the disqualification o inhibition of a Member should result in a lack of quorum in the Commission sitting en banc, the Presiding Justice of the Court of Appeals, upon request of the Commission, shall designate a Justice of said Court to sit in said case for the purpose of hearing and rendering a decision thereon.

Part II	RULES OF PROCEDURE	Part III
Rule 3	Table of Contents	Rule 5