Commission on Election
The Commission on Elections is
mandated to give life and
meaning to the basic principle
that sovereignty resides in the
people and all government
authority emanates from them. It
is an independent constitutional
body created by a 1940
amendment to the 1935
Constitution. Since then, its
membership was enlarged and
its powers expanded by the 1973
and 1987 Constitutions. The
Commission exercises not only
administrative and quasi-judicial
powers, but judicial power as
well.
Mandated Functions
The Commission on Elections
shall exercise the following
powers and functions:
Enforce and administer all laws
and regulations relative to the
conduct of an election, plebiscite,
initiative, referendum, and recall.
Exercise exclusive original
jurisdiction over all contests
relating to the elections, returns,
and qualifications of all elective
regional, provincial, and city
officials, and appellate
jurisdiction over all contests
involving elective municipal
officials decided by trial courts of
general jurisdiction, or involving
elective barangay officials
decided by trial courts of limited
jurisdiction.
Decisions, final orders, or rulings
of the Commission on election
contests involving elective
municipal and barangay offices
shall be final, executory, and not
appealable.
Decide, except those involving
the right to vote, all questions
affecting elections, including
determination of the number and
location of polling places,
appointment of election officials
and inspectors, and registration
of voters.
Deputize, with the concurrence
of the President, law
enforcement agencies and
instrumentalities of the
Government, including the
Armed Forces of the Philippines,
for the exclusive purpose of
ensuring free, orderly, honest,
peaceful, and credible elections.
Register, after sufficient
publication,
political parties, organizations, or
coalitions which, in addition to
other requirements, must present
their platform or program of
government; and accredit
citizens' arms of the Commission
on Elections. Religious
denominations and sects shall
not be registered. Those which
seek to achieve their goals
through violence or unlawful
means, or refuse to uphold and
adhere to this Constitution, or
which are supported by any
foreign government shall likewise
be refused registration.
Financial contributions from
foreign governments and their
agencies to political parties,
organizations, coalitions, or
candidates related to elections,
constitute interference in national
affairs, and, when accepted,
shall be an additional ground for
the
cancellation of their registration
with the Commission, in addition
to other penalties that may be
prescribed by law.
File, upon a verified complaint, or
on its own initiative, petitions in
court for inclusion or exclusion of
voters; investigate and, where
appropriate, prosecute cases of
violations of election laws,
including acts or omissions
constituting election frauds,
offenses, and malpractices.
Recommend to the Congress
effective measures to minimize
election spending, including
limitation of places where
propaganda materials shall be
posted, and to prevent and
penalize all forms of election
frauds, offenses, malpractices,
and nuisance candidacies.
Recommend to the President the
removal of any officer or
employee it has deputized, or the
imposition of any other
disciplinary action, for violation or
disregard of, or disobedience to,
its directive, order, or decision.
Submit to the President and the
Congress, a comprehensive
report on the conduct of each
election, plebiscite, initiative,
referendum, or recall.
