PHILIPPINES
	COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS
CHIEF	Honorable Mr. Jose A.R. Melo, Chairman
WEBSITE	http://www.comelec.gov.ph (English)
ADDRESS	Postigo Street, Intramuros Manila, Philippines 1002
TYPE	Permanent, Independent Election Management Body
NUMBER OF MEMBERS	Seven (07)
	The Chairman and the Commissioners shall be appointed by the President with the consent of the Commission on appointments for a term of seven years without reappointment. Appointment to any vacancy shall be only for the unexpired term of predecessor in no case shall any member be appointed or designated in a temporary or acting capacity.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES	The Commission on Elections of the Philippines – more commonly referred to as the COMELEC – is the independent body, created by the 1987 Constitution, responsible for the enforcement and administration of all laws and regulations relating to the conduct of elections, plebiscites, initiatives, referenda and recalls. To effectively fulfill this mandate, the Constitution grants the COMELEC the authority to decide on practically all matters involving elections, including the determination of the number and location of polling places; the appointment of election officials and inspectors, and the registration of voters. The single exception to this sweeping Constitutional grant of authority is that the COMELEC has no authority to decide on matters involving the right to vote. However, the COMELEC is empowered to file petitions in court for inclusion or exclusion of voters, and to investigate and prosecute cases of violations of election laws. Apart from the administration of elections and the enforcement of election laws, the COMELEC also performs judicial functions. It decides all contests relating to elections, election returns, and the qualifications of all elective regional, provincial, and city officials. Appeals from decisions of trial courts involving elective municipal and barangay officials are likewise entertained by the COMELEC.