Citizens Arm of the Commission on Elections

Provisions of the Omnibus Election Code on Accredited Citizens Arm of the Commission on Elections

Section 52 (k) of the Omnibus Election Code

Enlist non-partisan group or organizations of citizens from the civic, youth, professional, educational, business or labor sectors known for their probity, impartiality and integrity with the membership and capability to undertake a coordinated operation and activity to assist it in the implementation of the provisions of this Code and the resolutions, orders and instructions of the Commission for the purpose of ensuring free, orderly and honest elections in any constituency. Such groups or organizations shall function under the direct and immediate control and supervision of the Commission on Elections.

SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OF ACCREDITED CITIZENS ARM

BEFORE ELECTION DAY

ON ELECTION DAY

BEFORE ELECTION DAY:

Undertake

an information campaign on salient features of this Code and help in the dissemination of the orders, decisions and resolutions of the Commission relative to the forthcoming election. a registration drive in their respective areas so that all citizens of voting age, not otherwise disqualified by law may be registered.

Wage

BEFORE ELECTION DAY:

Help

cleanse the list of voters of illegal registrants, conduct house-to-house canvass if necessary, and take the appropriate legal steps towards this end. to the Commission violations of the provisions of this Code on the conduct of the political campaign, election propaganda and electoral expenditures. (Section 52 (k), (A), OEC)

Report

ON ELECTION DAY:

Exhort all registered voters in their respective areas to go to their polling places and cast their votes. Nominate one watcher for accreditation in each polling place and each place of canvass who shall have the same duties, functions and rights as the other watchers of political parties and candidates. Members or units of any citizen group or organization so designated by the Commission except its lone duly accredited watcher, shall not be allowed to enter any polling place except to vote, and shall, if they so desire, stay in an area at least fifty meters away from the polling place.

ON ELECTION DAY:

Report to the peace authorities and other appropriate agencies all instances of terrorism, intimidation of voters, and other similar attempts to frustrate the free and orderly casting of votes. Perform such other functions as may be entrusted to such group or organization by the Commission. (Section 52 (k), (B), OEC)

In addition to the foregoing duties, the accreditation given is also subject to:

Compliance with all lawful orders of the Commission in the performance of the specific functions and activities assigned by the Commission;
Observance of non-partisanship and impartiality during the election period;

In addition to the foregoing duties, the accreditation given is also subject to:

Undertaking to police petitioners ranks and prevent infiltration by persons or group of persons who may, directly or indirectly, destroy its character or impartiality; Observance of the condition that it should not derive any support from, or be under the influence of, any foreign government or its agencies or instrumentalities, or any foreign person, whether natural or juridical;

In addition to the foregoing duties, the accreditation given is also subject to:

Making available to the Commission, petitioners personnel, facilities, equipment, papers and effects when so required by the Commission for purposes of monitoring or checking the work of the petitioner; Submission to the Commission of a weekly written report of their operations for the electoral exercise being actively participated upon.

Power of the COMELEC to revoke the Accreditation given to Citizens Arm Organizations

The designation of any group or organization made in accordance with the Omnibus Election Code may be revoked by the Commission upon notice and hearing whenever by its actuations such group or organization has shown partiality to any political party or candidate, or has performed acts in excess or in contravention of the functions and duties herein provided and such others which may be granted by the Commission.

Accredited Citizens Arm of the Commission on Elections

National Movement for Free Elections

BRIEF HISTORY:

Namfrel is the pioneer in election monitoring. It started with the establishment of the operations registration committee in 1957. In the 60s and early 70s, the Citizens National Electoral Assembly (CNEA) was organized by then Comelec chairman Jaime Ferrer with bishop Mariano Gaviola as chairman together with Jose Concepcion, Jr. of Namfrel and Charito Planas as secretary general.

Namfrels commitment to clean elections was best shown during the 1986 snap presidential elections with over 500,000 volunteers who offered their time, energy and even their lives, to preserve the sanctity of the ballot. Since 1984, namfrel has been accredited by the Comelec to conduct the Operation Quick Count (OQC). Namfrel was accredited in 21 electoral exercises.

Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting

BRIEF HISTORY:

PPCRV is a national parish-based political citizen's movement for promoting honest and peaceful elections. It is geared towards the promotion of good leadership, true meaning of freedom, and the welfare of the people.

It started in 1991 and has developed into a well-supported movement in transforming the electoral system in the Philippines.

BRIEF HISTORY:

It has been accredited as a COMELEC Citizens arm on May 14, 2001 and has been part of the following electoral processes: 1 May 1992 Synchronized Elections; 1993 Special Elections for Governor of Bataan; 1994 Special Elections for Congressman Second District of Rizal; 1995 National and Local Elections; 1996 Sangguniang Kabataan Elections; 1997 Recall Elections Caloocan City; General and Continuing Registration under R.A. 8189; 1998 National and Local Elections; 1999 ARMM Regional Elections; 1999 Plebiscite on creation of City of Novaliches; 2000 Recall Elections of Mayor of Pasay City; 2001 National and Local Elections; 2004 National and Local Elections; 2005 August ARMM Elections.

GOAL AND ADVOCACY:

With almost 500,000 pastoral agents who campaign nationwide to promote voter's education and at times of election, safeguard the sanctity and secrecy of ballots, the PPCRV continues its work in attaining its goal of becoming an effective instrument in the attainment of a renewed and transformed society. In its advocacy to promote truthful elections, the PPCRV is now working to include voter's education in the college curriculum in universities in the Philippines starting with the Catholic colleges.

Henrietta de Villa

Chairperson of PPCRV who is also Former Philippine ambassador to the Vatican has been appointed and confirmed on July 4, 2008 as the new chairperson of the National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel).

Another accredited Citizens Arm is the One Vote Movement. It was accredited for the 2010 elections and for the 2013 elections.

Aside from the accredited citizens arms of COMELEC, civil society organizations exist in the Philippines that actively advocate electoral reforms.

Poll Watchers

Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines states:

Candidates may appoint two watchers each, to serve alternately, in every polling place within the barangay, who shall be furnished with a signed copy of the results of the election, in such form as the Commission may prescribe, immediately after the completion of the canvass. (Section 48)

Every registered political party, coalition of political parties and every independent candidate shall each be entitled to one watcher in every polling place. (Section 178, 1st paragraph)

Qualifications of a Poll Watcher:

Qualified voter of the city or municipality where he seeks appointment as a watcher; Of good reputation; Shall not have been convicted by final judgment of any election offense; Must know how to read and write Pilipino, English, Spanish or any of the prevailing local dialects; and Not related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to the chairman or any member of the board of election inspectors in the polling place where he seeks appointment as a watcher. (Section 178, 2nd paragraph, OEC)

Rights and Duties of Poll Watchers:

Right to stay in the space reserved for them inside the polling place ; right to witness and inform themselves of the proceedings of the board of election inspectors, including its proceedings during the registration of voters; to take notes of what they may see or hear; to take photographs of the proceedings and incidents, if any, during the counting of votes, as well as of election returns, tally boards and ballot boxes;

Rights and Duties of Poll Watchers:

to file a protest against any irregularity or violation of law which they believe may have been committed by the board of election inspectors or by any of its members or by any persons; to obtain from the board of election inspectors a certificate as to the filing of such protest and/or of the resolution thereon; to read the ballots after they shall have been read by the chairman, as well as the election returns after they shall have been completed and signed by the members of the board of election inspectors without touching them;

Rights and Duties of Poll Watchers:

they shall not speak to any member of the board of election inspectors, or to any voter, or among themselves, in such a manner as would distract the proceedings; and

to be furnished with a certificate of the number of votes in words and figures cast for each candidate, duly signed and thumbmarked by the chairman and all the members of the board of election inspectors. (Section 179, OEC)

Other Poll Watchers:

The duly accredited citizens arm of the Commission shall be entitled to appoint a watcher in every polling place. Other civic, religious, professional, business, service, youth and any other similar organizations, with prior authority of the Commission, shall be entitled collectively to appoint one watcher in every polling place. (Section 180, OEC)

Refusal of the chairman and the members of the board of election inspectors to sign and furnish such certificate of the number of votes in words and figures cast for each candidate shall constitute an election offense and shall be penalized under the OEC. (Section 179, last paragraph, OEC)

Thank you very much!