Party-list groups don't have to be marginalized, Supreme Court says

By Kim Arveen Patria
Yahoo! NEWS

MANILA, Philippines (6 Apr 2013) - Party-list organizations need not represent marginalized sectors, Supreme Court said in a decision released Friday.

The ruling might allow previously barred groups to run in the May elections, a move COMELEC objects to.

COMELEC reshuffles field election officers to ensure absolute impartiality

The Commission on Election reshuffles its field election officers effective March 20, 2013 to their respective new places of assignments to ensure absolute impartiality in the forthcoming May 13, 2013 Automated National and Local elections.  

Resolution No. 9640 - General Instructions for BEI on Testing and Sealing, Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Results

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

Intramuros, Manila

RESOLUTION NO. 9640

General Instructions for the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) on the Testing and Sealing, Voting, Counting, and Transmission of Results in Connection with the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections

COMELEC dispenses inspection, verification and sealing of book of voters

The Commission on Elections resolves to dispense with the inspection, verification and the sealing of the Book of Voters, which the "Voter's Registration Act of 1996" mandates the Board of Election Inspectors to be done before the start of the campaign period.  

Poll ballots printed on world's best machine

COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes inspects Smartmatic's Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) with Smartmatic Asia Pacific President Cesar Flores and Atty. Himerio Garcia Committee Secretary during the presentation of the accuracy of the PCOS machines. [Joseph Vidal/Senate Pool/NPPA Images]

By: Kim Arveen Patria
Yahoo News

COMELEC: "Remove prematurely placed election propaganda or else"

 Remove or else

MANILA, Philippines (22 Jan 2013) - The Commission on Elections today told all candidates vying for Senatorial and Partylist seats in the May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections to remove all prohibited election propaganda before the start of the campaign period.

COMELEC scraps metal padlocks

By Jocelyn R. Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer

MANILA, Philippines (19 Jan 2013) - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is shifting from the use of metal padlocks to cheaper plastic seals to secure ballot boxes.

Gun ban starts, public reminded of their rights

MANILA, Philippines (13 Jan 2013, Sunday) – Commission on Elections Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Sunday said the start of the nationwide gun ban “does not suspend” the rights of the people, reminding the public to assert their rights at all times.

The five-month total gun ban covers everyone, except those from government agencies that are given an automatic exemption by the election body.

2 COMELEC execs to study US campaign finance rules

By Jocelyn R. Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer
Nov. 2, 2012, Friday

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections said it was hoping to learn a thing or two about the intricacies of campaign finance and contributions when it observes the US elections next week.

COMELEC chides Mikey's laziness

ABS-CBNnews.com
Nov. 1, 2012

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections criticized the "Ang Galing Pinoy" party-list Rep. Mikey Arroyo for his alleged "sheer laziness" for failing to work hard for the plight of his chosen constituents.

Ako Bicol, 12 other party-list groups axed

COMELEC to disqualify 40 more party-listers
By Gil C. Cabacungan, Jocelyn R. Uy
Philippine Daily Inquirer

CRACKING down on sham organizations seeking congressional seats, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Wednesday dropped Ako Bicol and 12 other party-list groups from the 2013 midterm balloting.

In a six-page resolution, the COMELEC en banc ruled that Ako Bicol, the topnotcher in the 2010 party-list race, could not participate in next year's elections for failure to pass strict scrutiny "through the lens" of existing laws and jurisprudence governing the party-list system.

COMELEC appeals for unity and cooperation of all election stakeholders

THE Commission on Elections (COMELEC) held a dialogue Thursday with various election stakeholders to thresh out any and all concerns with regard to the May 13, 2013 Automated National and Local Elections.

Resolution No. 9385 - Calendar of Activities and Periods of Certain Prohibited Acts in Connection with the May 13, 2012 National and Local Elections

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES AND PERIODS OF CERTAIN PROHIBITED ACTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE MAY 13, 2013 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS	BRILLANTES, Sixto Jr. S. SARMIENTO, Rene V., TAGLE, Lucenito N., VELASCO, Armando C., YUSOPH, Elias R., LIM, Christian Robert S., LAGMAN, Augusto C.,	Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
	Promulgated: 3 April 2012

RESOLUTION No. 9385

PURSUANT to the powers vested in it by the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the Omnibus Election Code (B.P. Blg. 881), Republic Acts No. 6646, 7166, 8189, 8436, 9189, 9369, and other election laws, the Commission on Elections RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to prescribe the following calendar of activities and period of certain prohibited acts in connection with the May 13, 2013 national and local elections.

Resolution No. 9385 - Calendar of Activities (May 13, 2013 National and Local Elections)

PREVIOUS 

CALENDAR OF ACTIVITIES 

(continuation)

December 14, 2012 (Fri)

Last day to publish the National Registry of Overseas Absentee Voters (NROAV) at the Comelec and DFA Websites. (Sec. 19, Resolution No. 9269 dated August 3, 2011).

Resolution No. 9640 - General Instructions for BEI on Testing and Sealing, Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Results

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SEC. 13. Prohibition against political activity. - No member of the BEI or its support staff shall engage in any partisan political activity, or take part in the election except to discharge his duties as such and to vote.

SEC. 14. DepEd Supervisors and their Support Staff; Composition and Functions. - There shall be at least one (1) DepEd Supervisor Official with one (1) support staff for every voting center.  In case of polling centers with more than ten (10) clustered precincts, an additional DepEd supervisor official with one (1) support staff shall be constituted, as follows:

The DepEd Supervisors, in coordination with the EO, shall, among other things:

a)  Plan, organize and supervise the setting-up of a voters' assistance center at the voting center to assist voters in locating their polling places/precinct assignments;

b)  Plan, organize and supervise the crowd management at the entrance areas of polling places;

c)  Maintain a list of technical personnel as well as PNP and AFP personnel in the voting centers for efficient coordination in case of need; and

d)  Serve as the contact and point person of the EO in the voting center.

The Support Staff of the DepEd Supervisor shall assist the latter in undertaking the abovementioned functions.

SEC. 15. Honoraria of the BEI and their support staff; DepEd Supervisor and their suppor staff. - The chairman and members of the BEI shall each receive an honorarium of three thousand pesos (P3,000.00).  In addition, each shall receive P500.00 for the Testing and Sealing of Machines; P500.00 for one-time transportation allowance, and service credits for three days of service (day before the elections, election day, and day after elections).

The BEI Support Staff shall receive an honorarium of P1,500.00 each and, if applicable, service credits, for three (3) days of service (day before the elections, election day, and day after elections.

DepEd Supervisors shall receive an honorarium of P3,000.00 and service credits for three (3) days of service (day before the elections, election day, and day after elections); while their support staff shall receive an honorarium of P1,500.00, and service credits for three (3) days of service (day before the elections, election day, and day after elections).

SEC. 16. Insurance of DepEd and Non-DepEd Personnel. - The Commission shall allocate the amount of Thirty Million Pesos (P30,000,000.00) for election-related death or injuries that may be sustained by DepEd and non-DepEd personnel in the performance of election duties; Provided, that, in case of death while in the performance of election duties, the heirs of the deceased official/employee shall be given the amount of Two Hundred Thousand Pesos (P200,000.00).

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Resolution No. 9640 - General Instructions for BEI on Testing and Sealing, Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Results

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SEC. 6. Arrest of absent members. - The member or members of the BEI present may order the arrest of any member who, in his or their judgment, has absented himself with the intention of obstructing the performance of the duties of the BEI.

SEC. 7. Appointment and oath of members of the BEI. - The EO shall accomplish the form for the Appointment of the Chairman and members of the BEI (CEF No. A5) in three (3) copies, and require the chairman and members of the BEI to affix before him their signatures and imprints of their right thumbs on the Oath of Office (CEF No. A5-A) before assumption of office.

Copies of the Appointment and Oath (CEF No. A5 & CEF No. A5-A) shall be distributed, as follows:

a)  The first and second copies shall be retained by the EO.  One copy shall be for his file and the other shall be attached to the payroll for payment of honorarium of the BEI; and

b)  The third copy shall be issued to the chairman and members of the BEI concerned.

SEC. 8. Minutes of Testing and Sealing; Voting and Counting (Minutes). - The BEI shall enter in the Minutes (CEF No. A11), the act or data therein required as they occur or become available during the testing and sealing, voting, counting, and transmission of results.  Copies thereof shall be sealed in separate envelopes, to be distributed as follows:

a)  First copy, to the EO, who shall transmit it to the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD), COMELEC, Manila; and

b)  Second copy, to be deposited inside the ballot box.

SEC. 9. Support Staff. - There shall be in addition to the regular members of the BEI depending on the number of precincts clustered, a maximum of three (3) support staff, who are registered voters in the precinct/clustered precinct where they are assigned.  They shall be appointed/designated by the EO, subject to the qualifications and conditions provided under Sections 2, 3 and 7 hereof, in such ratio as indicated below:

They can neither participate in any deliberation of the BEI nor vote on any issue or question that may arise during the proceedings.

In case of absence of all or any of the support staff on the day of the election, the BEI, by majority vote, may designate any registered voter in the precinct/clustered precinct as substitute, subject to the provisions of Sections 2, 3 & 7 hereof.  Such fact shall be recorded in the Minutes.

SEC. 10. Powers and functions of the BEI. - The BEI shall have the following powers and functions:

a)  Conduct the voting the polling place and administer the electronic counting of votes, including the testing and sealing of the PCOS machine;
   

b)  Print the election returns and transmit electronically the election results, through the use of the PCOS machine, to the:

i.  City/Municipal Board of Canvassers;

ii.  Central Servers; and

iii.  Transparency Server (Dominant Majority Party/Dominant Minority Party/Accredited Citizens' Arm/KBP server).

c)  Act as deputies of the Commission in the conduct of the elections;

d)  Maintain order within the polling place and its premises; keep access thereto open and unobstructed; enforce obedience to its lawful orders and prohibit the use of cellular phones and camera by the voters.  If any person refuses to obey the lawful orders of the BEI, or conducts himself in a disorderly manner in its presence or within its hearing and thereby interruprts or disturbs its proceedings, the BEI may issue an order in writing directing any peace officer to take said person into custody until the adjournment of the meeting, but such order shall not be executed as to prevent said person from voting.  A copy of such written order shall be attached to the Minutes;

e)  Furnish watchers Certificate of Votes (CEF No. A13) upon request; and

f)  Perform such other functions prescribed by law or by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission.

SEC. 11. Proceedings of the BEI. - The meeting of the BEI shall be public and shall be held in the polling place designated by the Commission.

The BEI shall act through its chairman and shall decide by majority vote, without delay, all questions, which may arise in the performance of its duties.

SEC. 12. Voting Privilege of the Members of BEI. - Members of the BEI who are registered voters in precincts other than where they are assigned, may avail of the Local Absentee Voting, or on the day of the elections, vote in the precincts where they are registered, provided that they do so when the voting in their respective places of assignments is light, and their absence shall not be for more than twenty (20) minutes.  For this purpose, they shall schedule their voting so that only one member of the BEI shall leave at any one time. 

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Last day for filing petitions for registration of political parties

RESOLUTION No. 9294

IN THE MATTER OF THE LAST DAY FOR FILING PETITIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES, AND PETITIONS FOR REGISTRATION OF PARTIES, ORGANIZATIONS AND COALITIONS UNDER THE PARTY-LIST SYSTEM OF REPRESENTATION

(Promulgation:  07 October 2012)

WHEREAS, during the May 10, 2010 automated elections, the Commission experienced administrative problems in the processing of numerous petitions for registration of political parties, and petitions for registration of parties, organizations and coalitions under the party-list system of representation;