[ SC ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 7-94, April 25, 1994 ]

[ SC ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 7-94, April 25, 1994 ]

[ SC ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 7-94, April 25, 1994 ]

T O :

ALL JUDGES OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS IN CITIES, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS

SUBJECT : COMELEC RESOLUTION NO. 2699, PROMULGATED MARCH 29, 1994, RE: INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION OF VOTERS

Resolution No. 2699 of the Commission on Elections, promulgated on March 29, 1994, requested "the Honorable Supreme Court through the Judicial Administrator to direct the Metropolitan and Municipal Trial Courts to keep their respective salas open and available to receive, hear and decide petitions for inclusion and exclusion of voters and other cases; and Regional Trial Courts, to receive, try and decide cases of appeals in inclusion/exclusion proceedings and for violations of the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code, and if possible, to require as follows:

1. Decision of the Metropolitan/Municipal Trial Courts on all inclusion and exclusion cases should be rendered on or before May 2, 1994, and all appeals be resolved by the Regional Trial Courts on or before May 7, 1994;

2. All cases involving violations of the Election Code be tried, heard and decided as expeditiously as possible; and

3. All Regional Trial Courts, City/Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts be open (sic) on May 8 and 9, 1994 from 8:00 to 12:00 noon and 1:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M.

The Honorable Supreme Court is likewise requested to warn Judges of Metropolitan and Municipal Trial Courts against hasty grant or denial of petitions for inclusion or exclusion of voters without sufficient legal basis."

Pursuant to such request, and conformably to Executive Order No. 50 and Omnibus Election Code, you are hereby directed to keep regular office hours for purposes of inclusion and exclusion of cases of voters, except when the last day of filing thereof falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or holiday, in which case, the courts concerned shall be opened to receive said cases.

You are further reminded to decide inclusion and exclusion cases of voters with appropriate caution and dispatch.

Strict compliance hereof is hereby enjoined.

April 25, 1994.

(Sgd.) ANDRES R. NARVASA

Chief Justice