Section 9
SEC. 9. The Tribunal shall have the power to recommend the immediate prosecution of persons, either public officers or private individuals, who in its opinion appear to have participated in any irregularity connected with he canvassing and/or accomplishing of election returns, including but not limited to the forging or falsification of advance report of election returns, tampering in any manner with the election returns, failure to affix the required signatures and thumbmarks by any member or members of the board of election inspectors or board of canvassers, or unnecessary delay in the sending or transmission of any election returns or paraphernalia used in the election, or in the transport and safekeeping of ballot The Tribunal shall be empowered to store or deposit ballot boxes, election returns and all other election paraphernalia in a safe and secure place under guard by. appropriate deputies appointed by the Tribunal, and, upon formal request by the contestants or their attorneys, the latter shall likewise be authorized to post their own guards thereat. The Tribunal or any of its duly authorized members shall have the power to punish for contempt, as provided for in Rule 71 of the Revised Rules of Court, under the same procedure and with the same penalties provided therein and exercised by superior courts. The telegrams, correspondence and other communications of the Tribunal shall be transmitted without delay and free of charge.