Duty on Election Day, 09 May 2022

March 28, 2022

OCA CIRCULAR NO. 70-2022

 

In the interest of the efficient administration of justice and to ensure the speedy disposition of election-related cases, you are hereby DIRECTED to report to your respective courts on 09 May 2022 to act on all election matters within your jurisdiction and to resolve the same with utmost caution and dispatch.

In case the Executive Judge of a multiple sala station would not be able to report for duty, he or she may designate the Vice-Executive Judge or any of the Judges in the station.

In case of vacant single sala Regional Trial Courts, or the Presiding/Acting Presiding Judge would not be able to report for duty, any urgent election matter shall be referred for appropriate action by the Clerk of Court to the Executive Judge of the pairing multiple branch RTC or pairing single branch RTC. The determination of the pairing courts shall be in accordance with Annex "A" of A.M. No. 03-8-02-SC dated 27 January 2004 (Guidelines on the Selection and Appointment of Executive Judges and Defining their Powers, Prerogatives and Duties), as amended.

In the case of vacant single sala Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, or the Presiding/Acting Presiding Judge would not be able to report for duty, any urgent election matter shall be referred to the Presiding Judge of the nearest first level single sala court or the Executive Judge of the nearest first level multiple sala court, whichever is nearest.

The Clerk of Court in the Office of the Clerk of Court shall maintain a skeletal force in the office to attend to the collection of court fees and to receive cash bonds or any other bonds that may be posted for election offenses.

For strict compliance.

(SGD.) RAUL BAUTISTA VILLANUEVACourt Administrator