As a follow-up to the Baseline Study, Libertás conducted a review of the rules of procedure adopted by the Supreme Court relative to election contests filed before the trial courts involving elective municipal and barangay elective officials (A.M. No. 07-4-15-SC).
The study focused on the effectiveness of these new rules and the performance of the election courts designated by the Supreme Court, in the context of a manual system of elections. Nevertheless, the study also identified certain areas of concern as regards the possible changes in the dynamics of election adjudication on the onset of fully-automated elections in 2010.
Judges were surveyed as to their views, readiness, and level of training on remedies under an automated system. The results of the survey are incorporated in the study, which can be accessed at : http://www.libertasphilippines.org/
Atty. Vincent Pepito F. yambao, Jr. presented the study in a Round Table Discussion held on February 24, 2009 at the Balay Kalinaw in UP Diliman, Quezon City.
Atty. Sixto Brillantes shared his views on the new rules both as a practicing election lawyer and a member of the Sub-Committee which drafted A.M. No. 07-4-15-SC.
On the other hand, Judge Maria Gracia Casaclang of Pasig City imparted her experiences in handling an election contest under the new rules.
