SC’s panel to propose changes in rules on election cases in courts

The Supreme Court has created a sub-committee, which will be tasked to propose amendments, until April 20 this year, to existing rules on election cases that fall under the jurisdiction of first and second-level courts.

Chief Justice Renato Puno commissioned the creation of this SC sub-committee because of alleged "corruption committed by certain trial courts in election protest cases assigned in their salas."

Election lawyers Romulo Macalintal, Sixto Brillantes Jr., Pete Quadra, and Leila De Lima were the ones who raised this concern to Chief Justice Puno, saying there is "a need to review the rules in deciding election protests in the trial courts to make them fairer and faster."

The three lawyers themselves form part of the sub-committee with lawyers Douglas Anama and Ma. Emelita De Guzman as sub-committee secretary and assistant secretary, respectively.

"It is imperative to create and organize a sub committee, under the Committee on Revision of the Rules of Courts, which shall propose remedial measures" to review and update the rules on election cases," the SC said in its memorandum.

The SC, in its Memorandum Order No. 13, 2007, designated retired SC justice and former Comelec chairman, Bernardo Pardo, as sub-committee chairman. Retire Court of Appeals justice, Oscar Herrera Sr. and CA Justice Remedios Salazar Fernando, as members.

The SC said "there is a necessity to insure that any dispute related to...May 2007 polls, as well as all election protests that may be filed by losing candidates, will be resolved strictly in accordance with our laws, and without necessary delay." — Joeberth M. Ocao/RAE