Comelec: Election protest a costly exercise

Contesting an election result even in the barangay level is an expensive exercise, according to Commission on Elections provincial supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano.

Castillano said that a protester has to put up a cash deposit of P25,000 and has to shoulder P1,000 for each precinct involved in the protest or counter-protest.

The filing of fees and cash deposits is based on the Rules of Procedure in Election Contests provided by the Supreme Court dated May 2007.

Section 1 of the said rules also states that “no protest, counter-protest or petition for quo warranto shall be accepted for filing without the payment of a filing fee in the amount of P3,000 for each interest. If claims for damages and attorney’s fees are set forth in a protest or counter-protest, additional filing fees shall also be paid.”

“In a way, mogasto gyod ni sila kay ang mokiha ug gikiha mo-hire man gyod pod na’g lawyers,” Castillano said, adding that his office has already received several calls asking on the proper procedure in filing election protests.

Castillano explained that the cash deposit will be used for the compensation of revisors and other expenses involving incidental revision, but not limited to supplies and miscellaneous expenses of the revision committee.

It is also stated in the Rules of Procedure in Election Contests that failure to make cash deposits within the prescribed time limit shall result to the automatic dismissal of the protest or counter-protest.

Castillano assured that cases with regards to election protests docketed in court will be given high priority.

“Kung naa’y kaso sa korte kabahin og election protest, tagaan man gyod na’g high priority sa korte,” he said. – Garry B. Lao/MEEV