SC orders judges to report on election day

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court ordered all judges and clerks of court nationwide to report for work on election day, Monday, May 9.

In a circular, Supreme Court Administrator Jose Midas P. Marquez said the judges and court clerks have to attend to all election-related cases.

The Office of the Court Administrator (OCA) circular no. 17-2016, dated January 20, reads: “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 9 May 2016 to act on all election matters within your jurisdiction and to resolve the same with utmost caution and dispatch.”

It also indicates that in cases where the executive judge is unable to report for duty, the vice executive judge “or any of the judges in the station” can be designated in his or her place.

More than 18,000 elective positions are up for grabs on May 9, with a total of 44,000 national and local candidates running for these posts. (READ: Guide to 2016 Philippine elections)

Over 54.4 million registered voters will troop to a total of 92,509 clustered precincts nationwide.

Clerks of court can refer “any urgent election matter […] to the executive judge of the nearest court or station” when a vacant single sala Regional Trial Court is far from the court of the acting judge, the circular said.

For first-tier courts – Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts – election cases may be handled by the judge of the nearest court or the executive judge, “whichever is nearer.”

The Office of the Clerk of Court should also “maintain a skeletal force” as they must collect court fees and receive cash bonds “that may be posted for election offenses.” –Rappler.com