Designation of Special Courts to Hear, Try and Decide Election Contests Involving Elective Municipal Officials
Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 54-07, issued on May 11, 2007, designates specific Regional Trial Court branches to hear and decide election contests involving elective municipal officials, in light of the upcoming local and national elections. The order emphasizes that election cases should be prioritized over other cases, except for habeas corpus petitions. It outlines the exclusive jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Courts for such cases and mandates that these designated courts follow the established Rules of Procedure for election contests. Additionally, provisions are made for case assignment in instances of judge disqualification or court vacancies. The order aims to ensure a swift and efficient resolution of election-related disputes.
May 11, 2007
SUPREME COURT ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 54-07
| 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 14, 2007;
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;
WHEREAS, the Regional Trial Courts have the exclusive original jurisdiction to try and decide election protests and petitions for quo warranto involving elective municipal officials;
WHEREAS, under Section 12 of Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure in Election Contests Before the Courts Involving Elective Municipal and Barangay Officials, the Supreme Court shall designate the courts which 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 12 of Rule 2 of the Rules of Procedure in Election Contests Before the Courts Involving Elective Municipal and Barangay Officials, the following branches of the Regional Trial Courts 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 jurisdiction:
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NATIONAL CAPITAL JUDICIAL REGION
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| STATION/BRANCH |
NAME OF JUDGE
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| PASIG CITY | ||
| Branch 68 | HON. SANTIAGO G. ESTRELLA | |
| (for cases originating from San Juan) | ||
| Branch 262 | HON. ISAGANI A. GERONIMO | |
| (for cases originating from Pateros) | ||
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FIRST JUDICIAL REGION
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| BENGUET | ||
| LA TRINIDAD | ||
| Branch 63 | HON. BENIGNO M. GALACGAC | |
| ILOCOS NORTE | ||
| LAOAG CITY | ||
| Branch 14 | HON. FRANCISCO ROBERTO O. QUILALA | |
| Branch 65 | HON. MANUEL L. ARGEL, JR. | |
| LA UNION | ||
| SAN FERNANDO CITY | ||
| Branch 27 | HON. ANTONIO CARBONELL | |
| Branch 30 | HON. ROBERTO T. CAWED | |
| PANGASINAN | ||
| LINGAYEN | ||
| Branch 38 | HON. TEODORO C. FERNANDEZ | |
| Branch 69 | HON. MA. SUSANA T. BAUA | |
| DAGUPAN CITY | ||
| Branch 40 | HON. ROBERTO O. RUDIO | |
| Branch 44 | HON. GENOVEVA COCHING MARAMBA | |
| URDANETA CITY | ||
| Branch 45 | HON. TITA RODRIGUEZ VILLARIN | |
| Branch 48 | HON. AURELIO R. RALAR, JR. | |
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SECOND JUDICIAL REGION
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| CAGAYAN | ||
| TUGUEGARAO CITY | ||
| Branch 2 | HON. VILMA TUMALIUAN PAUIG | |
| Branch 3 | HON. MARIVIC C. BELTRAN | |
| APARRI | ||
| Branch 7 | HON. OSCAR T. ZALDIVAR | |
| Branch 10 | HON. PABLO M. AGUSTIN | |
| ISABELA | ||
| ILAGAN | ||
| Branch 18 | HON. JOSEFINO H. PIAMONTE | |
| SANTIAGO CITY | ||
| Branch 36 | HON. ANASTACIO D. ANGHAD | |
| NUEVA VIZCAYA | ||
| BAYOMBONG | ||
| Branch 27 | HON. MENRADO V. CORPUZ (APJ) | |
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THIRD JUDICIAL REGION
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| BATAAN | ||
| BALANGA CITY | ||
| Branch 2 | HON. MANUEL M. TAN | |
| BULACAN | ||
| MALOLOS CITY | ||
| Branch 11 | HON. BASILIO R. GABO, JR. | |
| Branch 20 | HON. OSCAR C. HERRERA, JR. | |
| Branch 21 | HON. JAIME V. SAMONTE | |
| NUEVA ECIJA | ||
| CABANATUAN CITY | ||
| Branch 29 | HON. RACQUELEN ABARY-VASQUEZ | |
| Branch 30 | HON. VIRGILIO G. CABALLERO | |
| GUIMBA | ||
| Branch 33 | HON. NAPOLEON R. STA. ROMANA | |
| GAPAN CITY | ||
| Branch 36 | HON. CELSO O. BAGUIO | |
| STO. DOMINGO | ||
| Branch 89 | HON. SANTIAGO M. ARENAS | |
| PAMPANGA | ||
| CITY OF SAN FERNANDO | ||
| Branch 41 | HON. DIVINA LUZ P. AQUINO SIMBULAN | |
| Branch 48 | HON. SERAFIN B. DAVID | |
| GUAGUA | ||
| Branch 49 | HON. JESUSA MYLENE S. ISIP | |
| RANCH 52 | HON. JONEL S. MERCADO | |
| MACABEBE | ||
| Branch 54 | HON. LUCINA A. DAYAON | |
| ANGELES CITY | ||
| Branch 56 | HON. IRIN ZENAIDA S. BUAN | |
| Branch 59 | HON. MA. ANGELICA PARAS QUIAMBAO | |
| TARLAC | ||
| TARLAC CITY | ||
| Branch 64 | HON. DOMINGO C. SAN JOSE, JR. | |
| ZAMBALES | ||
| IBA | ||
| Branch 71 | HON. CONSUELO D. BOCAR | |
| OLONGAPO CITY | ||
| Branch 74 | HON. RAMON S. CAGUIOA | |
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FOURTH JUDICIAL REGION
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REGION 4-A
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| BATANGAS | ||
| BATANGAS CITY | ||
| Branch 8 | HON. ERNESTO L. MARAJAS | |
| BALAYAN | ||
| Branch 11 | HON. MA. CECILIA AUSTRIA CHUA | |
| LIPA CITY | ||
| Branch 12 | HON. DANILO S. SANDOVAL | |
| CAVITE | ||
| CAVITE CITY | ||
| Branch 88 | HON. AGAPITO S. LU | |
| IMUS | ||
| Branch 22 | HON. CESAR A. MANGROBANG | |
| LAGUNA | ||
| STA. CRUZ | ||
| Branch 91 | HON. DIVINAGRACIA B. ONGKEKO | |
| SAN PABLO CITY | ||
| Branch 29 | HON. HONORIO E. GUANLAO, JR. | |
| CALAMBA CITY | ||
| Branch 37 | HON. ANTONIO T. MANZANO | |
| Branch 92 | HON. ALBERTO F. SERRANO | |
| QUEZON | ||
| LUCENA CITY | ||
| Branch 57 | HON. ADOLFO ENCOMIENDA | |
| Branch 58 | HON. ELOIDA R. DE LEON-DIAZ | |
| RIZAL | ||
| ANTIPOLO CITY | ||
| Branch 73 | HON. BAYANI ISAMU Y. ILANO | |
| SAN MATEO | ||
| Branch 76 | HON. JOSEPHINE ZARATE FERNANDEZ | |
| MORONG | ||
| Branch 79 | HON. CANDIDO O. DELOS SANTOS | |
| BINANGONAN | ||
| Branch 67 | HON. DENNIS PATRICK Z. PEREZ | |
| PALAWAN | ||
| PUERTO PRINCESA CITY | ||
| Branch 51 | HON. CHITO S. MEREGILLANO | |
| Branch 95 | HON. BIENVENIDO C. BLANCAFLOR | |
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FIFTH JUDICIAL REGION
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| ALBAY | ||
| LEGASPI CITY | ||
| Branch 2 | HON. AVELINO V. RODENAS, JR. | |
| Branch 7 | HON. JOSE G. DY | |
| LIGAO CITY | ||
| Branch 11 | HON. AMY ANA DE VILLA ROSERO | |
| TABACO CITY | ||
| Branch 16 | HON. WILLIAM B. VOLANTE | |
| CAMARINES SUR | ||
| NAGA CITY | ||
| Branch 19 | HON. ZAIDA AURORA B. GARFIN | |
| Branch 27 | HON. LEO L. INTIA | |
| Branch 62 | HON. ANTONIO CAMILLUS A. AYO, JR. | |
| LIBMANAN | ||
| Branch 56 | HON. LORE V. BAGALACSA | |
| PILI | ||
| Branch 32 | HON. NILO A. MALANYAON | |
| IRIGA CITY | ||
| Branch 35 | HON. ALFREDO D. AGAWA | |
| Branch 37 | HON. ROGELIO LL. DACARA | |
| CAMARINES NORTE | ||
| DAET | ||
| Branch 40 | HON. WINSTON S. RACOMA | |
| MASBATE | ||
| MASBATE CITY | ||
| Branch 44 | HON. PAZLINDA A. VILLAMOR-JOAQUIN | |
| Branch 46 | HON. NILO B. BARSAGA | |
| SORSOGON | ||
| SORSOGON CITY | ||
| Branch 51 | HON. JOSE L. MADRID | |
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SIXTH JUDICIAL REGION
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| AKLAN | ||
| KALIBO | ||
| Branch 1 | HON. MARIETTA H VALENCIA | |
| Branch 2 | HON. LEDELIA ARAGONA BILIRAN | |
| ANTIQUE | ||
| SAN JOSE | ||
| Branch 12 | HON. RUDY P. CASTROJAS | |
| CAPIZ | ||
| ROXAS CITY | ||
| Branch 15 | HON. JULIANA DE CASTRO AZZARAGA | |
| Branch 17 | HON. EDWARD B. CONTRERAS | |
| ILOILO | ||
| ILOILO CITY | ||
| Branch 22 | HON. GUILLJIE DIVA DELFIN-LIM | |
| Branch 24 | HON. DANILO P. GALVEZ | |
| Branch 39 | HON. JOSEPH CEDRICK O. RUIZ | |
| NEGROS OCCIDENTAL | ||
| BACOLOD CITY | ||
| Branch 42 | HON. FERNANDO R. ELUMBA | |
| Branch 50 | HON. ROBERTO S. CHIONGSON | |
| Branch 51 | HON. ANITA GUANZON CHUA | |
| SAN CARLOS CITY | ||
| Branch 59 | HON. KATHERINE A. GO | |
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SEVENTH JUDICIAL REGION
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| BOHOL | ||
| TAGBILARAN CITY | ||
| Branch 47 | HON. SUCEMO A. ARCAMO | |
| Branch 48 | HON. PABLO R. MAGDOZA | |
| CEBU | ||
| CEBU CITY | ||
| Branch 11 | HON. RAMON B. DAOMILAS, JR. | |
| Branch 18 | HON. GILBERT P. MOISES | |
| Branch 19 | HON. RAMON J. CODILLA, JR. | |
| LAPU-LAPU CITY | ||
| Branch 27 | HON. TORIBIO S. QUIWAG | |
| MANDAUE CITY | ||
| Branch 55 | HON. MARILYN LAGURA-YAP | |
| NEGROS ORIENTAL | ||
| DUMAGUETE CITY | ||
| Branch 33 | HON. FE LUALHATI D. BUSTAMANTE | |
| Branch 40 | HON. GERARDO A. PAGUIO, JR. | |
| Branch 42 | HON. MARIE ROSE I. PARAS | |
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EIGHTH JUDICIAL REGION
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| LEYTE | ||
| TACLOBAN CITY | ||
| Branch 6 | HON. SANTOS T. GIL | |
| CATBALOGAN SAMAR | ||
| Branch 27 | HON. ROGELIO JOBOCO | |
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NINTH JUDICIAL REGION
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| ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE | ||
| DIPOLOG CITY | ||
| Branch 6 | HON. HIPOLITO P. BAEL | |
| ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR | ||
| PAGADIAN CITY | ||
| Branch 20 | HON. ANICETO B. GALON, JR. | |
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TENTH JUDICIAL REGION
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| AGUSAN DEL NORTE | ||
| BUTUAN CITY | ||
| Branch 3 | HON. FRANCISCO F. MACLANG | |
| BUKIDNON | ||
| MALAYBALAY CITY | ||
| Branch 8 | HON. PELAGIO B. ESTOPIA | |
| MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL | ||
| OROQUIETA CITY | ||
| Branch 13 | HON. NIMFA P. SITACA | |
| MISAMIS ORIENTAL | ||
| CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY | ||
| Branch 21 | HON. GEL G. BOLLOZOS | |
| Branch 37 | HON. JOSE L. ESCOBIDO | |
| Branch 41 | HON. JEOFFRE W. ACEBIDO | |
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ELEVENTH JUDICIAL REGION
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| DAVAO DEL NORTE | ||
| TAGUM CITY | ||
| Branch 31 | HON. DANILO C. BELO | |
| DAVAO DEL SUR | ||
| DAVAO CITY | ||
| Branch 16 | HON. EMMANUEL C. CARPIO | |
| Branch 23 | HON. ISAAC G. ROBILLO, JR. | |
| DIGOS CITY | ||
| Branch 19 | HON. ALBERT S. AXALAN | |
| SOUTH COTABATO | ||
| GENERAL SANTOS CITY | ||
| Branch 36 | HON. ISAAC ALVERO V. MORAN | |
| Branch 37 | HON. ANDRES N. LORENZO, JR. | |
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TWELFTH JUDICIAL REGION
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| LANAO DEL NORTE | ||
| ILIGAN CITY | ||
| Branch 3 | HON. VALERIO M. SALAZAR | |
| LANAO DEL SUR | ||
| MARAWI CITY | ||
| Branch 10 | HON. MOSLEMAN T. MACARAMBON (APJ) |
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. 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 elections contests are raffled in case of multi sala stations where there is no designated special court, shall try and decide the election contests in accordance with the Rules of Procedure in Election Contests Before The Courts Involving Elective Municipal and Barangay Officials. IcCDAS
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 their functions as such within the purview of this Administrative Order even after the retirement, promotion, transfer or detail of the judges appointed/designated to preside over them. 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 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 inhibition of the judge of the designated Special Court, the pairing system for multiple-branch stations subject of Circular No. 7 dated September 23, 1974, as amended, shall apply. 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, a newly filed case shall be assigned to the disqualified or inhibiting judge to replace the case so removed from his/her court. If the judge in a single-branch 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.
This Administrative Order shall take effect immediately.
May 11, 2007
(SGD.) REYNATO S. PUNOChief Justice
(SGD.) LEONARDO A. QUISUMBINGAssociate JusticeChairperson, Second DivisionSupreme Court of the Philippines
(SGD.) CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGOAssociate JusticeChairperson, Third DivisionSupreme Court of the Philippines
Published in The Philippine Star on May 12, 2007.