Rules of Procedure in Election Contests before the Courts Involving Elective Municipal and Barangay Officials

Section 1

Costs shall be allowed to the prevailing party as a matter of course. The court shall have the power, for special reasons, to apportion the costs, as may be equitable. The court may render judgment for costs if a protest, a counter-protest or a petition for quo warranto is dismissed. When a protest, a counter-protest or a petition for quo warranto is found to be frivolous, double or treble costs may be imposed on the protestant, the counter-protestant or the petitioner.

Sec 2

In all election contests, the court may adjudicate damages and attorney's fees, as it may deem just and as established by the evidence, if the aggrieved party has included such claims in the pleadings.