HON. JOSE A. R. MELO Chairman, Commission on Elections

ATTY. FERDINAND T. RAFANAN Director IV, CEO VI, CESO III Law Department

Government Links:

	Commission on Elections
	Official Portal of the Republic of the Philippines
	Supreme Court of the Philippines
	Senate of the Philippines
	House of Representatives
	Office of the Solicitor General
	Department of Justice

Staff of the Law Department (1960s) under the stewardship of Atty. Ramon Barrios (fifth from left, front row), Comelec Law Department's first Manager (now, Director IV).

The Law Department performs consultative and legal services to the Commission in quasi-judicial cases; plans and coordinates with the administration and enforcement of all laws relative to the conduct of elections; prepares pleadings and briefs in cases involving the Commission; represents the Commission in cases before the courts and other tribunals; investigates complaints relative to the conduct of election and prosecutes, on its own or in collaboration with government prosecutors, cases of election offenses; processes and recommends final action on application of political parties for registration and accreditation; prepares rulings and opinions on legal questions involving other departments or offices of the Commission; studies and recommends pardon or parole of prisoners convicted of or violating election laws, rules and regulations; drafts proposed legislative measures to improve and update election laws and practices for submission by the Commission to Congress or to the President of the Philippines; digests, compiles and analyzes election and constitutional cases decided by courts ; conducts researches on legal queries propounded by the Commission; and performs other related functions.

     The Law Department has two divisions, namely: the Investigation and Prosecution Division (IPD) and the Legal Opinion and Research Division (LORD).

Honest Commission Holding Clean Elections!