oop Republic of the Philippines. J") Ch COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS | 31% la to:AM Manila IN THE MATTER OF ABAS, Sheriff M., Chairman AUTHORIZING THE OPENING —_PARRENO, Al Aw cane Lue Tito F, sminissioner OF BALLOT BOXES USED IN GUANZON, Ma. Rowena Amelia V., Commissioner THE MAY 10, 2016 NATIONAL _INTING,Socono B; Commissioner AND LOCAL ELECTIONS, AND —_CASQUEJO, Marlon, Cimento TRANSFERRING THE — KHO, Antonio, jr, ‘ommissioner CONTENTS THEREOF, FOR USE IN THE MAY 13, 2019 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS. PROMULGATED: March 25, 2019 x es RESOLUTION No. 10515 WHEREAS, the Commission on Elections (Commission) is preparing for the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections; WHEREAS, there is a need to open the ballot boxes currently in the possession of the city /municipal treasurers containing election forms and documents used in the May 10, 2016 National and Local Elections, and transfer the contents thereof in order that said ballot boxes may be utilized for the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections; NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission on Elections, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code and other election laws, RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES to AUTHORIZE the opening of ballot boxes used in the May 10, 2016 National and Local Elections, and transfer the contents thereof in order that the same may be used in the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections, subject to the following procedures and conditions, to wit: 1. The ballot boxes to be opened should not be involved in any election protest or official investigation;Each city/municipality where the ballot boxes are to be opened shall be undertaken by the City/Municipal Treasurer and the City/Municipal Election Officer (BO). At least five (5) days before the scheduled opening of ballot boxes , the City/Municipal Treasurer shall send written notices as to the day, time and place of the opening of ballot boxes to the City /Municipal EO and representative/s from the local government unit concerned, and shall post said notices in the bulletin boards of their respective offices and that of the city/municipal hall; The City/Municipal EO or his/her authorized representative shall be present .during the opening of ballot boxes; Each Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) shall: (@) receive and collect the City/Municipal Inventory Report (Form 1, here attached) from the City/Municipal EOs and Treasurers upon completion of the proceedings; (b) prepare a Provincial Summary Report (Form 2, here attached) on the total number of the ballot boxes opened and submit the same to the Administrative Services Department (ASD), copy furnished their respective REDs, via the fastest means of communication available, or via electronic mail (asd@comelec.gov.ph), within three (3) days after the complete submission of reports; and (Q perform such other duties/functions as may be prescribed by the ‘Commission. The City/Municipal Treasurer and City/Municipal EO shall: (a) Conduct the opening of the ballot boxes within their respective cities / municipalities in accordance with the procedures herein provided; (b)Maintain order within the place where the opening of ballot boxes shall be conducted and its premises; keep access thereto open and unobstructed; and enforce obedience to its lawful orders. If any person shall refuse to obey lawful orders of the City/Municipal Treasurer or EO, or shall conduct himself in a ‘disorderly manner in its presence or within its hearing thereby interrupting or disturbing its proceedings, the City/Municipal Treasurer or EO may issue an order in writing directing any peace officer to take such person in custody until adjournment of the proceedings. Such order shall be executed by any peace officer to whom it may be delivered, but if none is present, by any other person deputized by the City /Municipal Treasurer or EO in writing; and 2(Perform such other functions/duties as may be prescribed by the Commission; 6. In the opening of ballot boxes, the City/Municipal Treasurer and City /Municipal EO shall: (a)Examine, before opening the ballot box, the physical condition of the same, as well a3 those of the locks or locking mechanism thereof. The ballot boxes that are more damaged and appear to be unfit to be reused shalll be used as the Storage Ballot Box; (b)Open the ballot boxes one at a time, For every four (4) ballot boxes, the City/Municipal Treasurer and EO shall select one (1) ballot box from among the four (4) which shalll serve as the Storage Ballot Box. The Storage Ballot Box shall contain the contents of all four (4) ballot boxes; (0)The ballot box shall then be opened and its contents shall be wrapped in Kraft paper or any other appropriate material to ensure that the contents of the ballot boxes are not mingled with one another. Each package shall be labeled properly showing which precinct said package belongs; The official ballots need not be counted individually; (4) When all the contents from the other ballot boxes are placed inside the Storage Ballot Box, the latter shall be secured with two (2) COMELEC padlocks and two (2) serially numbered security seals. In the event padlocks or seais are not available, the Storage Ballot Box may be sealed with a packaging/masking tape, which shall bear the signature of the witnesses present; (@)For purposes of immediate identification, the City/Municipal Treasurer and City/Municipal EO shall likewise label and indicate outside the Storage Ballot Box the corresponding precincts contained therein; (The Inventory Report shall be signed by the City/Municipal Treasurer and City /Muni-ipal EO, and if present by the representatives of political parties and citizens’ arm. The Inventory Report shall be accomplished in four (4) copies, to be distributed as follows: (1) Copy for the City/Municipal Treasurer; (2) Copy for the City/Municipal EO; and (8) Copy for the PES; (g)Interested -parties may reproduce the Inventory Report at their own expense;