MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT __ day of May 2022 at the City of Manila, by and between: N & i a The COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS (COMELEC), an independent Constitutional Commission of the Republic of the Philippines mandated to enforce and administer all laws and regulations relative to the conduct of elections, with principal address at the 8" Floor of the Palacio Del Gobernador Building, Gen. Luna St, Intramuros, Manila, _ herein represented by its Chairman, SAIDAMEN B. PANGARUNGAN, hereinafter referred to as “COMELEC’; The INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES, the official organization of all the Philippine lawyers which is non-partisan and non-supportive of any candidate, political party or organization, with principal address at IBP Building, Dona Julia Vargas Avenue, Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines, represented in this MOA by its National President, BURT M. ESTRADA, and hereinafter referred to as “IBP”, -and - The LEGAL NETWORK FOR TRUTHFUL ELECTIONS (LENTE), is an organization that is non-stock, non-profit, non-partisan and non- supportive of any candidate, political party or organization duly organized under Philippine laws, with office address at Ground Floor, Jenkinsen Tower, Timog Avenue, Quezon City, herein represented by its Executive Director, RONA ANN V. CARITOS, and hereinafter referred to as “LENTE”; COMELEC, IBP, and LENTE shall be collectively referred to as “the Parties.” SSETH THAT: This MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT is entered into this Page 1 of 6wil Sf) WHEREAS, the cooperation of the Parties is indispensable in protecting the sanctity of the ballot; WHEREAS, the collaboration of the Parties is indispensable in informing the voters of their rights and remedies under election laws and regulations for their protection; WHEREAS, the Parties are cognizant of the need to monitor Election Day conduct and to provide free legal assistance to voters who will report election irregularities and election offenses for the upcoming 2022 National and Local Elections on May 9; NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the foregoing premises, the Parties hereby agree as follows: I. GENERAL OBJECTIVES The Parties agree that the performance of their respective obligations under this MOA shall be guided by the following general objectives: Pre-Election Day 1. To educate the public on the most committed offenses; 2. To monitor election irregularities and election offenses; 3. To provide legal assistance to electoral board members and voters encountering problems or reporting election offenses Election Day 1. To monitor in voting centers, where IBP and LENTE volunteers will be deployed; 2. To provide legal assistance to voters who experience election irregularities and report election offenses; 3. To provide the public and voters with relevant and timely information as to the proper election conduct during a pandemic; Post-Election Day 1. To provide electoral board members, voters, and the public with free and ready access to legal assistance Page 2 of 6Il. MUTUAL RESPONSIBILITIES The Parties agree to work with and among each other in utmost cooperation to ensure the successful performance of their respective obligations under this MOA, keeping in mind the abovementioned general objectives Ill. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE IBP- 1. IBP shall set up one (1) election desk in all its chapters for the 2022 National and Local Elections. 2. Each election desk shall be manned by at least (1) lawyer who shall provide free legal assistance to teachers, voters, and citizens pre- election, election day, and post-election. The said free legal assistance shall include, but is not limited to, the following: a. Answering legal queries and provision of informed legal opinions regarding voters’ rights and remedies; b. Assistance in the drafting and notarization of complaints, affidavits, and other election-related legal documents and pleadings; and c. Coordination with the Electoral Board Members and the Department of Education Supervising Official (DESO) of the voting centers in maintaining the orderly conduct of elections. 3. Lawyers manning IBP’s free election desks shall supervise all law student volunteers/paralegals assigned by LENTE and/or its member schools serving with them on Election Day, in accordance with all relevant laws, rules, and regulations. 4. Each IBP election desk may coordinate and/or consolidate its activities with COMELEC, LENTE, other accredited citizen’s arms, and other election-related volunteer groups to improve the provision of legal assistance to voters and citizens on Election Day. 5. Each IBP election desk should work closely with COMELEC’'s Task Force Kontra Bigay. 6. The IBP shall perform their obligations under this Memorandum of Agreement at no cost to the COMELEC. IV. RESPONSIBILITIES OF LENTE Page 3 of 61. LENTE, through its local law school chapters, shall work closely with IBP’s election desks in all areas possible; vn . LENTE volunteers shall monitor the whole duration of the May 9 election; 3. LENTE law school chapters shall be the ones to provide training for its own law student members and to requesting partner groups 4. LENTE shall coordinate, cooperate, and consult with COMELEC and IBP for the conduct of a nationwide campaign for voters’ education and dissemination of election-related information, such as but not limited to basic voter rights and remedies available under relevant election laws, the guidelines on election day conduct, and other prohibited acts through online and offline discussions, workshops, and other similar programs. 5. LENTE shall perform its obligations under this Memorandum of Agreement at no cost to the COMELEC. V. RESPONSIBILITIES OF COMELEC 1, COMELEC shall inform its field offices of the provisions of this MOA and shall instruct them accordingly to cooperate with IBP, LENTE to accomplish the objectives of this MOA. VI. EFFECTIVITY This MOA shall take effect upon its signing and shall remain effective until the completion of the Parties’ respective responsibilities in connection with the 2022 National and Local Elections. IN WITNESS HEREOF, the Parties have set their hands on the date and place abovementioned. Page 4 of 6COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS. INTEGRATED BAR OF THE PHILIPPINES By: By: SS ae SAIDAMEN B. PANGARUNGAN ANTONIO ¢ PIDO Chairman, COMELEC IBP Executive Vice President LEGAL NETWORK FOR TRUTHFUL ELECTIONS By: RONA ANN V. CARITOS ‘xecutive Director Signed in the presence of: AIMEE i Bos Commissioner, COMELEC Page 5 of 6ACKNOWLEDGMENT Republic of the Philippines ) ») S.S. 5 WA BEFORE ME, a Notary Public, for and in the City of Manila, on this 9 day of May 2022, personally appeared the following: ISSUED NAME IDNO. tse? | oN/Valid until SAIDAMEN B. Do008252A DFA 07 Aug 2023 PANGARUNGAN Manila | ANTONIO C. PIDO | SSS 03- SSS n/a '283848-9 RONA ANN V. DI2-03-003323 | LTO August 10, 2022 — | caRITOS & %& iS ‘ SH Both known to me to be the same persons who signed and executed the foregoing instrument consisting of six (6) pages including this Acknowledgment, and who acknowledged to me that the same is executed on their own free will and deed. IN WITNESS THEREOF, I have hereunto affixed my signature and notarial seal at the place and on the date mentioned above. Doc. No. _$ac Page No. _ 2/ Book No. _£xx¥ Series of 2022. . Page 6 of 6