[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 73-2008, July 29, 2008 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 73-2008, July 29, 2008 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 73-2008, July 29, 2008 ]

TO: :ALL JUDGES OF SPECIAL COURTS FOR ELECTION CONTESTS

SUBJECT:

DATA GATHERING AND INTERVIEW TO BE CONDUCTED BY LIBERTAS

In December 2007, Lawyer League for Liberty (Libertas) completed its Baseline Study on the State of Election Adjudicators in the Philippines . The Study, a project in partnership with IFES Philippines and funded by the United States Agency for International Aid, now sought to access the problem areas of election adjudication and determine its systemic, institutional and policy issues.

The success of this Study, as well as the importance of finding means to improve the country's electoral system, has encouraged Libertas to continue this study in the hope of obtaining additional information that could shed light on the issues concerning the various components of election adjudication, particularly the impact of the designation of special election courts by the Supreme Court to handle election contests involving municipal and barangay officials in the 2007 elections and the implementation of new rules concerning election adjudication.

In connection therewith, Libertas is authorized to gather data and interview judges of special election courts, to enable them to delve deeper into the issues and concerns as regards election adjudication.

You are enjoined to give your utmost cooperation to the study being undertaken by Libertas.

July __ 29 __, 2008. Untitled Document

JOSE P. PEREZ

Court Administrator