Under the direction of the Commission

1. Plan, direct and coordinate all the activities of the Department related to the constitutional function of the Commission on Elections as sole judge of all contests relating to the elections, returns, and qualifications of all elective provincial and city officials;
   
   
2. Provide legal and technical services to the Commission, whether sitting en banc or in division, as sole judge of such electoral contests;
   
   
3. Control, direct and coordinate the functions of the three (3) divisions of the Department;
   
   
4. Coordinate with the Office of the Solicitor General in the defense of cases where the Commission is named public respondent in relation to protests and qou warranto proceedings, and for the purpose, provide said office with legal opinions, researches and studies relevant thereto;
   
   
5. Represent and appear for the Commission in the Supreme Court in coordination with the Office of the Solicitor General in cases where the Commission is a party litigant;
   
   
6. Formulate legal opinions for the Commission to adopt, and for that purpose, to conduct continuing legal researches and studies;
   
   
7. Prepare rules to govern the procedures and other matters relating to election contests pertaining to national, provincial, city, municipal and barangay offices;
   
   
8. Prepare rules of procedure to the Commission in connection with its functions as sole judge of electoral contests;
   
   
9. Direct revision of ballots as an implementing arm of the Commission sitting en banc or in Division as a judicial Tribunal in the trial and hearing of electoral contest;
   
   
10. Provide legal and technical assistance to the Commission in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction on election cases originating from the Regional Trial Courts and Metropolitan/Municipal Trial Courts; and
    
    
11. Perform other related functions.

First and Second Division

Under the direction of the Department Director:

1. Provide legal, stenographic, clerical and other services to a Division of the Commission on Elections acting as sole judge of all contests relating to the elections, returns, and qualifications of elective provincial and city officials; and
   
   
2. Perform other related functions.

Judicial Records Division

Under the direction of the Department Director:

1. Provide for the custody, maintenance and control of the records of the Commission as sole judge in electoral contests;
   
   
2. Receive and file all pleadings and other papers in all electoral contests;
   
   
3. Keep and maintain the docket book, the calendar book, the judgement book and such other books required in electoral contests;
   
   
4. Keep custody of all ballot boxes and their contests and keys, list of voters and other election paraphernalia involved in the electoral contests and produce them when required by the Commission en banc or in division; and
   
   
5. Perform other related functions.