[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 143-2010, October 19, 2010 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 143-2010, October 19, 2010 ]

[ OCA CIRCULAR NO. 143-2010, October 19, 2010 ]

TO:

ALL EXECUTIVE JUDGES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES; AND JUDGES AND CLERKS OF COURT OF THE SINGLE SALA REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS.

SUBJECT:

DUTY ON ELECTION DAY, 25 OCTOBER 2010

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 25 October 2010 to act on all election matters within your jurisdiction and to resolve the same with utmost caution and dispatch.

In the Regional Trial Court multiple-sala stations, the Executive Judge shall assign another Presiding Judge of a branch to report for duty on 25 October 2010.

In multiple-sala first level courts, the Presiding Judge of the designated special court to try and decide election contests involving elective barangay officials pursuant to Administrative Order No. 129-2007 dated 15 August 2007 shall likewise report for duty. Should the Executive Judge in a station and the Presiding Judge of the designated special court be the same person, or if there are two or more special courts in a station, the Executive Judge shall assign by raffle the other Presiding Judge who shall report for duty.

In case the Executive Judge of a multiple-sala station would not be able to report for duty on 25 October 2010, the Vice Executive Judge or any of the judges in the station may be designated in his/her stead.

In vacant single sala Regional Trial Courts where the court of the acting presiding judge is very far from the court concerned, any urgent election matter shall be referred for appropriate action by the clerk of court to the Executive Judge of the nearest court or station. In the case of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, to the Presiding Judge of the nearest court or to the Executive Judge, whichever is nearer.

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 any election offenses.

For strict compliance.

19 October 2010.

(SGD.)JOSE MIDAS P. MARQUEZ Court Administrator