To ensure speedy and effective investigation and prosecution of election offenses essential to the peaceful, orderly and credible of the May 10, 2010 polls, the Commission on Elections (Comelec)has requested Justice Secretary Agnes Devanadera to designate 10 prosecutors of her department as members of the Comelec-DoJ Special Task Force that will assist the Comelec and DoJ in the exercise of their concurrent powers to conduct preliminary investigation of election offenses committed in the Natonal Capital Region (NCR).

In each of the country’s 80 provinces, Comelec asked Devanadera to designate two DoJ prosecutors as members of similar Task Force duly authorized to conduct inquest on persons apprehended in flagrante delicto for violation of election laws committed a day before and on Election Day, and file the proper information in court, if warranted.

The Special Task Force is likewise empowered to assist the officials and deputies of Comelec and the DoJ in the investigation and prosecution of election cases, and perform such other functions that may be assigned by the DoJ and the Comelec.

The Comelec Law Department headed by Director Ferdinand T. Rafanan and the Office of Chief State Procecutor Jovencito Zunio are required to jointly supervise the investigatory and prosecutory functions of the Comelec – DoJ Special Task Force.

In the enforcement of the ban on firearms and security personnel and other election law violations, the Chief of Police of cities/municipalities, after conducting the investigation of complainants and witnesses, is required to order all officers and men under his jurisdiction to turn over to the Comelec-DoJ all documents and evidence in connection with the arrests made for violation of election laws during the elections, it was pointed out.

The Comelec-DoJ Special Task Force in the NCR will hold office at the Comelec Project Management Office, while in the province, it shall hold office at the Provincial Election Supervisor. It is required to submit to the Comelec and DoJ periodic progress reports of investigations and prosecutions handled by it.