Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials
Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 96-13, issued on May 9, 2013, designates specific Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) across various judicial regions in the Philippines to exclusively handle election contests involving elective municipal officials, particularly following the May 13, 2013 elections. These designated courts will prioritize election-related cases over all others, except for habeas corpus and writs of amparo and habeas data. The order stipulates that in stations with multiple branches, cases will be raffled among the designated special courts, while single-sala courts will automatically handle election contests. It also outlines procedures for disqualification and voluntary inhibition of judges, ensuring cases remain within the designated courts. This order supersedes a previous directive from 2007 and is effective immediately.
Quick Answers
- What is Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials about?
- Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 96-13, issued on May 9, 2013, designates specific Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) across various judicial regions in the Philippines to exclusively handle election contests involving elective municipal officials, particularly following the May 13, 2013 elections. These designated courts will prioritize election-related cases over all others, except for habeas corpus and writs of amparo and habeas data. The order stipulates that in stations with multiple branches, cases will be raffled among the designated special courts, while single-sala courts will automatically handle election contests. It also outlines procedures for disqualification and voluntary inhibition of judges, ensuring cases remain within the designated courts. This order supersedes a previous directive from 2007 and is effective immediately.
- What type of law is Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 96-13?
- Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials (Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 96-13) is a Philippine Supreme Court Issuances enacted by the Congress of the Philippines.
- When was Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials enacted?
- Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials (Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 96-13) was enacted on May 9, 2013.
- What is the citation for Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials?
- Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials, Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 96-13, May 9, 2013 (Philippines)
Law Information
- Reference Number
- Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 96-13
- Date Enacted
- Category
- Supreme Court Issuances
- Subcategory
- Administrative Orders
- Jurisdiction
- Philippines
- Enacting Body
- Congress of the Philippines
Full Law Text
May 9, 2013
SUPREME COURT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 96-13
RE : Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials
WHEREAS, local and national elections will be held on May 13, 2013;
WHEREAS, it is expected that election cases will be filed in courts as a result of said elections;
WHEREAS, election cases should be given preference over all other cases except petitions for habeas corpus and for the writs of amparo and habeas data;
WHEREAS, the Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) have exclusive original jurisdiction over all election contests involving elective municipal officials;
WHEREAS, under Section 11 of Rule 2 of the 2010 Rules of Procedure for Municipal Election Contests,the Supreme Court shall designate the RTCs within a judicial region that shall take cognizance of election protests and petitions for quo warranto.
NOW, THEREFORE, in the interest of a speedy and efficient administration of justice and pursuant to Section 11 of Rule 2 of the 2010 Rules of Procedure for Municipal Election Contests,the following branches of the RTCs are hereby designated to exclusively and speedily hear, try and decide election protests and petitions for quo warranto involving elective municipal officials within their respective territorial jurisdictions:
|
Station/Branch
|
Name of Judge
|
|
|
National Capital Judicial Region
|
||
| Pasig City | ||
| Branch 262 | HON. DANILO S. CRUZ | |
| (PAIRING JUDGE) | ||
| (for cases originating from Pateros) | ||
|
First Judicial Region
|
||
| BENGUET | ||
| La Trinidad | ||
| Branch 62 | HON. DANILO P. CAMACHO | |
| Branch 63 | HON. JENNIFER PALAGUITANG HUMIDING | |
| ILOCOS NORTE | ||
| Laoag City | ||
| Branch 14 | HON. FRANCISCO ROBERTO D. QUILALA | |
| Branch 65 | HON. MANUEL L. ARGEL, JR. | |
| LA UNION | ||
| San Fernando City | ||
| Branch 27 | HON. CARLITO A. CORPUZ | |
| Branch 66 | HON. VICTOR O. CONCEPCION | |
| PANGASINAN | ||
| Lingayen | ||
| Branch 38 | HON. TEODORO C. FERNANDEZ | |
| Branch 69 | HON. CARIDAD V. GALVEZ (APJ) | |
| Dagupan City | ||
| Branch 40 | HON. MERVIN JOVITO S. SAMADAN | |
| Branch 41 | HON. EMMA MANUEL TRIO | |
| Urdaneta City | ||
| Branch 46 | HON. TITA RODRIGUEZ VILLARIN | |
| Branch 48 | HON. GONZALO P. MARATA | |
|
Second Judicial Region
|
||
| CAGAYAN | ||
| Tuguegarao City | ||
| Branch 3 | HON. MARIVIC C. BELTRAN | |
| Branch 10 | HON. PABLO M. AGUSTIN | |
| Aparri | ||
| Branch 7 | HON. OSCAR T. ZALDIVAR | |
| ISABELA | ||
| Ilagan | ||
| Branch 18 | HON. RODOLFO B. DIZON | |
| Santiago City | ||
| Branch 36 | HON. ANASTACIO D. ANGHAD | |
| NUEVA VIZCAYA | ||
| Bayombong | ||
| Branch 27 | HON. ROGELIO P. CORPUZ | |
|
Third Judicial Region
|
||
| BATAAN | ||
| Balanga City | ||
| Branch 3 | HON. REMIGIO M. ESCALADA, JR. (APJ) | |
| BULACAN | ||
| Malolos City | ||
| Branch 11 | HON. BASILIO R. GABO, JR. | |
| Branch 15 | HON. ALEXANDER P. TAMAYO | |
| Branch 84 | HON. WILFREDO T. NIEVES | |
| NUEVA ECIJA | ||
| Cabanatuan City | ||
| Branch 25 | HON. TERESITA N. CATIVO | |
| Branch 30 | HON. VIRGILIO G. CABALLERO | |
| Guimba | ||
| Branch 31 | HON. BRIGADO P. SALDIVAR | |
| Gapan City | ||
| Branch 34 | HON. CELSO O. BAGUIO | |
| Sto. Domingo | ||
| Branch 89 | HON. ELEANOR TEODORA M. VIZCARRA | |
| PAMPANGA | ||
| City of San Fernando | ||
| Branch 41 | HON. DIVINA LUZ P. AQUINO SIMBULAN | |
| Branch 47 | HON. EDGAR Y. CHUA | |
| Guagua | ||
| Branch 49 | HON. JESUSA MYLENE S. ISIP | |
| Branch 52 | HON. JONEL S. MERCADO | |
| Angeles City | ||
| Branch 58 | HON. PHILBERT I. ITURRALDE | |
| Branch 59 | HON. MA. ANGELICA PARAS QUIAMBAO | |
| TARLAC | ||
| Tarlac City | ||
| Branch 64 | HON. LILY DE VERA VALLO | |
| ZAMBALES | ||
| Iba | ||
| Branch 71 | HON. CONSUELO D. BOCAR | |
| Olongapo City | ||
| Branch 74 | HON. ROLINE GINEZ JABALDE | |
|
Fourth Judicial Region
|
||
| Region 4-A | ||
| BATANGAS | ||
| Batangas City | ||
| Branch 3 | HON. RUBEN A. GALVEZ | |
| Branch 8 | HON. ERNESTO L. MARAJAS | |
| Balayan | ||
| Branch 10 | HON. CRISTINO E. JUDIT | |
| Lipa City | ||
| Branch 12 | HON. DANILO S. SANDOVAL | |
| CAVITE | ||
| Cavite City | ||
| Branch 16 | HON. MANUEL A. MAYO | |
| Imus City | ||
| Branch 22 | HON. GLORIA B. AGLUGUB (APJ) | |
| LAGUNA | ||
| Sta. Cruz | ||
| Branch 91 | HON. DIVINAGRACIA B. ONGKEKO | |
| San Pablo City | ||
| Branch 29 | HON. LUVINA PADOLINA ROQUE | |
| Calamba City | ||
| Branch 35 | HON. GREGORIO M. VELASQUEZ | |
| Branch 92 | HON. ALBERTO F. SERRANO | |
| QUEZON | ||
| Lucena City | ||
| Branch 57 | HON. ADOLFO V. ENCOMIENDA | |
| Branch 58 | HON. ELOIDA R. DE LEON-DIAZ | |
| RIZAL | ||
| Antipolo City | ||
| Branch 95 | HON. MARIE CLAIRE VICTORIA M. SORDAN | |
| Branch 98 | HON. MA. CONSEJO M. GENGOS-IGNALAGA | |
| San Mateo | ||
| Branch 76 | HON. JOSEPHINE ZARATE FERNANDEZ | |
| Morong | ||
| Branch 80 | HON. SHEILA MARIE G.A. IGNACIO | |
| Binangonan | ||
| Branch 67 | HON. DENNIS PATRICK Z. PEREZ CcSTHI | |
| Region 4-B | ||
| PALAWAN | ||
| Puerto Princesa City | ||
| Branch 49 | HON. LEOPOLDO MARIO P. LEGAZPI | |
| Branch 52 | HON. ANGELO A. ARIZALA | |
|
Fifth Judicial Region
|
||
| ALBAY | ||
| Legaspi City | ||
| Branch 2 | HON. IGNACIO N. ALMODOVAR, JR. | |
| Branch 10 | HON. MARIA THERESA S. LOQUILLANO | |
| Ligao City | ||
| Branch 11 | HON. AMY ANA DE VILLA ROSERO | |
| Tabaco City | ||
| Branch 18 | HON. MAMERTO M. BUBAN, JR. | |
| CAMARINES SUR | ||
| Naga City | ||
| Branch 19 | HON. ZAIDA AURORA B. GARFIN | |
| Branch 61 | HON. MARIA EDEN H. ALTEA | |
| Branch 62 | HON. ANTONIO CAMILLUS A. AYO, JR. | |
| Libmanan | ||
| Branch 29 | HON. CECILIA B. SOLER | |
| Pili | ||
| Branch 31 | HON. JOSE C. SARCILLA | |
| Iriga City | ||
| Branch 37 | HON. ROGELIO L. DACARA | |
| Branch 60 | HON. TIMOTEO A. PANGA, JR. | |
| CAMARINES NORTE | ||
| Daet | ||
| Branch 39 | HON. WINSTON S. RACOMA | |
| MASBATE | ||
| Masbate City | ||
| Branch 45 | HON. MANUEL L. SESE | |
| Branch 47 | HON. MAXIMINO R. ABLES | |
| SORSOGON | ||
| Sorsogon City | ||
| Branch 53 | HON. ROFEBAR F. GERONA | |
|
Sixth Judicial Region
|
||
| AKLAN | ||
| Kalibo | ||
| Branch 5 | HON. ELMO F. DEL ROSARIO | |
| Branch 9 | HON. MONTALID P. PATNUBAY, JR. | |
| ANTIQUE | ||
| San Jose | ||
| Branch 12 | HON. ADRIANO S. SAVILLO (APJ) | |
| CAPIZ | ||
| Roxas City | ||
| Branch 15 | HON. JEFFREY D. ALMALBIS | |
| (PAIRING JUDGE) | ||
| Branch 17 | HON. DELANO F. VILLARUZ | |
| (PAIRING JUDGE) | ||
| ILOILO | ||
| Iloilo City | ||
| Branch 22 | HON. GUILLJIE DIVA DELFIN-LIM | |
| Branch 24 | HON. DANILO P. GALVEZ | |
| Branch 35 | HON. FE GALLON-GAYANILLO | |
| NEGROS OCCIDENTAL | ||
| Bacolod City | ||
| Branch 42 | HON. FERNANDO R. ELUMBA | |
| Branch 49 | HON. MANUEL O. CARDINAL, JR. | |
| Branch 50 | HON. ESTEFANIO S. LIBUTAN, JR. | |
| San Carlos City | ||
| Branch 59 | HON. KATHERINE A. GO | |
|
Seventh Judicial Region
|
||
| BOHOL | ||
| Tagbilaran City | ||
| Branch 47 | HON. SUCESO A. ARCAMO | |
| Branch 49 | HON. FERNANDO G. FUENTES III | |
| CEBU | ||
| Cebu City | ||
| Branch 14 | HON. RAPHAEL B. YRASTORZA, SR. | |
| Branch 17 | HON. SILVESTRE A. MAAMO, JR. | |
| Branch 18 | HON. GILBERT P. MOISES SCaDAE | |
| Lapu-Lapu City | ||
| Branch 27 | HON. TORIBIO S. QUIWAG | |
| Mandaue City | ||
| Branch 56 | HON. TERESITA A. GALANIDA | |
| NEGROS ORIENTAL | ||
| Dumaguete City | ||
| Branch 33 | HON. FE LUALHATI D. BUSTAMANTE | |
| Branch 39 | HON. ARLENE CATHERINE A. DATO | |
| Branch 42 | HON. MARIE ROSE I. PARAS | |
|
Eighth Judicial Region
|
||
| LEYTE | ||
| Tacloban City | ||
| Branch 6 | HON. ALPHINOR C. SERRANO | |
| Branch 34 | HON. FRISCO T. LILAGAN | |
| SAMAR | ||
| Catbalogan City | ||
| Branch 29 | HON. AGERICO A. AVILA | |
|
Ninth Judicial Region
|
||
| ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE | ||
| Dipolog City | ||
| Branch 6 | HON. ROGELIO D. LAQUIHON | |
| (PAIRING JUDGE) | ||
| Branch 9 | HON. VICTORIANO D. LACAYA, JR. | |
| ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR | ||
| Pagadian City | ||
| Branch 19 | HON. ROMEO T. DESCALLAR | |
| Branch 21 | HON. ROLANDO L. GOAN | |
|
Tenth Judicial Region
|
||
| AGUSAN DEL NORTE | ||
| Butuan City | ||
| Branch 2 | HON. EMMANUEL E. ESCATRON | |
| Branch 3 | HON. FRANCISCO F. MACLANG | |
| BUKIDNON | ||
| Malaybalay City | ||
| Branch 8 | HON. ISOBEL GALENZOGA BARROSO | |
| MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL | ||
| Oroquieta City | ||
| Branch 13 | HON. EDMUNDO P. PINTAC (APJ) | |
| MISAMIS ORIENTAL | ||
| Cagayan de Oro City | ||
| Branch 17 | HON. FLORENCIA SEALANA ABBU | |
| Branch 21 | HON. GIL G. BOLLOZOS | |
| Branch 41 | HON. JEOFFRE W. ACEBIDO | |
|
Eleventh Judicial Region
|
||
| DAVAO DEL NORTE | ||
| Tagum City | ||
| Branch 30 | HON. ROWENA A. ADLAWAN | |
| DAVAO DEL SUR | ||
| Digos City | ||
| Branch 19 | HON. CARMELITA S. DAVIN | |
|
Twelfth Judicial Region
|
||
| LANAO DEL NORTE | ||
| Iligan City | ||
| Branch 3 | HON. ALBERT B. ABRAGAN | |
| Branch 6 | HON. LEONOR S. QUIÑONES | |
| LANAO DEL SUR | ||
| Marawi City | ||
| Branch 10 | HON. WENIDA M. PAPANDAYAN |
For purposes of this Administrative Order, the cases referred herein shall be limited to election protests and petitions for quo warranto involving elective municipal officials. All other election related cases shall be raffled among the regular courts in the station.
In stations where there is only one (1) branch designated as Special Court, the election contest shall be automatically assigned to the said branch. If there are two (2) or more branches designated as Special Courts in a station, the election contest/s shall be raffled among the designated branches. All single-sala courts are considered Special Courts for the above purpose and for this reason shall give priority to these cases in their trial calendars. In multiple-sala stations where there are no Special Courts designated for the purpose, the cases shall be raffled among the regular courts therein.
The Special Courts herein designated, all single-sala courts, and the branches where the election contests are raffled in case of multiple-sala stations where there is no designated special court, shall try and decide the election contests in accordance with The 2010 Rules of Procedure for Municipal Election Contests.
The Special Courts herein designated shall continue to be included in the raffle of cases, criminal and civil, provided that the Executive Judges of the RTCs concerned shall exclude the designated Special Courts from such raffle whenever in their judgment the caseload of these courts shall prevent them from conducting the continuous trial of the election contests.
The Branches thus designated as Special Courts shall continue to perform the functions as such within the purview of this Administrative Order even after the retirement, promotion, transfer or detail of the judges appointed/designated thereat. Election contests filed after the Special Courts became vacant due to retirement, promotion, transfer or detail of the presiding/acting judge shall still be raffled/assigned to the said Special Courts. The judge designated to preside over the vacant Special Court shall take cognizance of the cases unless the Supreme Court designates another judge.
In the event of disqualification and voluntary inhibition of the judge of the designated Special Court, the following guidelines shall be observed:
(1) Where there is only one Special Court in the station, the pairing system for multiple-sala stations subject of Circular No. 7 dated September 23, 1974, as amended, shall apply; and TcSICH
(2) Where there are more than two Special Courts in the station, the Executive Judge shall immediately assign the case by raffle to the other or another Special Court. In case the Presiding Judge of the other special court is also disqualified or inhibits himself/herself, the case shall be forwarded to the pairing judge of the Special Court which originally handled the said case. If the pairing judge is also disqualified or inhibits himself/herself, the case shall be raffled to the other regular courts. At the next raffle, an additional case shall be assigned to the disqualified or inhibiting judge/s to replace the case so removed from his/her/their court.
If the judge in a single-branch court voluntary inhibits himself/herself, the Order of Inhibition shall be transmitted to the pairing judge who shall then hear and decide the case in the court of origin. The determination of the pairing judge shall be in accordance with Annex "A" of A.M. No. 03-8-02-SC dated February 15, 2004 (Guidelines on the Selection and Appointment of Executive Judges and Defining their Powers, Prerogatives and Duties). Where the pairing judge who sits in a single-branch RTC is also disqualified or voluntarily inhibits himself/herself, the matter shall be referred by the Clerk of Court to the Executive Judge of the nearest multiple-branch RTC also in accordance with Annex "A", or in his/her absence, to the Vice Executive Judge thereof for assignment by raffle among the judges in the station. However, the case shall remain in the court of origin. TDCaSE
This Administrative Order supersedes Administrative Order No. 54-2007 dated May 11, 2007 and shall take effect immediately.
(SGD.) MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENOChief Justice
(SGD.) ANTONIO T. CARPIOAssociate JusticeChairperson, Second Division
(SGD.) PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.Associate JusticeChairperson, Third Division
Cite This Law
Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials, Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 96-13, May 9, 2013 (Philippines)
Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials, Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 96-13 (Phil. 2013)
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