Brillantes Jr. vows to eradicate election fraud as new COMELEC chairman

Sixto Brillantes Jr takes oath

Newly sworn in Commission on Elections chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. on Sunday said he aims to “perfect" automated elections during his term to totally eradicate election fraud in the country.

The veteran election lawyer took his oath of office at 4:19 p.m. Sunday before Associate Justice Antonio Eduardo Nachura at the Supreme Court.

“During the first national automated elections, the Comelec resolved a number of election problems.  We just need to perfect the automated election system to see that election fraud is absolutely obliterated," Brillantes said in an interview Sunday.

At a press briefing after his oath-taking, Brillantes said he will implement "structural and organizational" changes within the Comelec.  He said the Comelec needs to improve its internal functions.

"Ang bagal gumawa ng desisyon ng Comelec," Brillantes said, citing some setbacks in terms of accrediting political parties during last year's automated elections.

He is confident he can wipe out electoral fraud and corruption as he is "familiar with various poll problems" plaguing the country, he said in the interview.

He will report to the Comelec office in Intramuros, Manila, on Monday to meet with the poll body's commissioners and employees.  "I will go around the office [Monday] to talk with them individually."

Justice Secretary Leila de Lima said that Brillantes opted to take his oath as the new Comelec chief before Nachura because "they worked in the same law office, went to the same school, and are good friends."

Both of them were with the Brillantes Nachura Navarro Jumamil Arcilla Escolin Martinez Law Offices.

“ Alam ko ang mga problema at ang mga tao sa Comelec.  Change of status lang ito," Brillantes said, referring to his experience as an election lawyer, which he intends to bring into his post.

With Brillantes at the helm, the poll body can reach "full and permanent modernization" and be transformed into a more competent institution, De Lima, for her part, said in a text message to reporters.

"He is already well versed with its problems and has established personal and professional linkages with its senior staff.  He has moral ascendancy over them," De Lima said.

He will give Comelec a "fresh infusion of energy and perspective," added De Lima, herself an election lawyer.

Brillantes' expertise in election law will make Comelec running without any need for introductions or warm ups.  "He had been warming up for this post since he started his election law practice," De Lima said.

Automated polls, ‘new problems’

On Sunday, militant group Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan) said that as the new Comelec chair, Brillantes should look into the ghosts of election fraud over the past decade.

“For the longest time, Comelec has been perceived as one of the most corrupt government agencies because of the conduct of its officials.  Now is a good time to begin the process of cleaning up Comelec," Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr. said in a statement.

According to Reyes, the new Comelec chairman should look into the involvement of the poll body's officials in the rigging of the 2004 elections, as well as various irregularities and anomalies in the approval of contracts for election paraphernalia.

The problems that beleaguered last year's automated polls and the questionable groups and nominees that participated in the party-list elections should also be looked into, he added.

Reyes pointed out that the automated polls have not stamped out election problems.  "New problems arose even as many old problems persisted," he said.

"Attorney Brillantes is known for his expertise on election laws.  Malaking bagay para sa Comelec ang knowledge niya.  We will guide him how to work in the government," Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento, the most senior official in the poll body, said in a separate interview.

To assume post Monday

On Saturday night, Brillantes disclosed that he was named as Comelec's new chief. Brillantes expects to formally assume his new post Monday replacing Jose Melo, who resigned from his post effective Saturday.

Radio dzBB reported that his apparent closest rival to the post had even backed out of the race; Romulo Macalintal, had asked to remove his name from the list of prospects.

Macalintal wrote President Benigno Aquino III a letter, saying he decided not to seek the top Comelec post because of his family, dzBB said.

But Macalintal stressed he is still ready to help in election-related matters.

Last week, Macalintal and Brillantes both expressed readiness to take the post, even as they downplayed speculations they are pawns of two factions in Malacañang.

Macalintal was perceived to have the backing of the "Balay" group of former Sen. Manuel Roxas II while Brillantes was said to be backed by the rival "Samar" group.

Still, presidential deputy spokesperson Abigail Valte pointed out in a separate interview on dzBB that Malacañang has not made any formal announcement on the new Comelec chair's appointment.

A Philippine Daily Inquirer report quoted Brillantes as saying that President Benigno Aquino III signed his appointment papers Saturday night.– With Sophia Dedace/MRT/VS/KBK, GMANews.TV

COMELEC Chairman Melo quits post effective end of January

COMELEC Chairman Jose Melo

Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Jose Melo has resigned from the poll body, four years before his term of office is scheduled to end.  He reportedly wants to "move on" after the country's first automated elections last May and the barangay elections last October. 

A former Supreme Court justice, Melo is 78 and has been in the government service for much of his career. 

Despite dire predictions by many experts and numerous glitches in the preparations, last May's elections were generally considered a success. 

Comelec Commissioner Gregorio Larrazabal confirmed Melo's resignation in a text message to GMANews.TV. 

Larrazabal said Melo submitted his resignation letter to the poll body and the en banc accepted it on Tuesday. 

“I know that it [the letter] will be submitted to the Office of the President soon," he said.

In a separate interview, Comelec Commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer said that the resignation will “tentatively" take effect on January 31, 2011.

“We have been talking about it [the resignation] for quite some time now. That is why hindi naman kami na-surprise talaga [we were not really surprised by it]," he said.

For the latest Philippine news stories and videos, visit GMANews.TV

Melo was appointed by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Comelec chairperson in 2008.  His term of office was for seven years, or until 2015.

Larrazabal did not state the reason behind Melo’s early resignation, although he said that “the Comelec chairman’s main focus was the May 2010 elections when he was appointed to the post."

Ferrer, for his part, said that the Comelec chairperson resigned because “he wants to move on."

Malacañang has yet to comment on Melo's resignation. 

As Comelec chairman, Melo oversaw the conduct of the Philippines’ first ever nationwide automated elections last May 10. 

Amid a barrage of criticism about the automation glitches, Melo had said in February he would resign should the May elections fail due to the Comelec's fault. (See: Comelec chair to resign if automated elections fail)

However, despite the various technical glitches encountered before and during the polls, the country was able to elect its national and local leaders for the first time using automated counting machines.

Prior to his stint at the Comelec, Melo was appointed in 2006 by then President Arroyo to head a body to probe the various cases of extrajudicial and political killings in the country, which targeted mostly militant activists and members of the media. 

The investigating body, known as the Melo Commission, concluded that most of the killings can be attributed to the military. (See: Melo Commission: Palparan could be held liable for killings)-  Andreo Calonzo/KBK/JV/HS, GMANews.TV

COMELEC seeks public support identify flying voters

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has called on the public to help them identify flying voters who applied for registration during the recently concluded voters’ registration period in connection with the October 25, 2010 Barangay elections.
In a statement, COMELEC spokesman James Jimenez announced that COMELEC Offices nationwide is set to post on Monday, August 16, 2010, a list of voters who applied for registration.

“We are calling on the public to help us identify flying voters by looking at the list of registrants that will be posted outside the Office of the Election Officer in your area on Monday. If you see people who are not residents in your Barangay, report it to your Election Officer so that they may be excluded from the voters list, if necessary,” said Jimenez.

Republic Act 8189 or the Voters Registration Act of 1996 states that any voter, candidate, or representative of a registered political party may challenge, in writing and under oath, any application for registration.

Opposition to contest a registrant’s application, said Jimenez, will be heard by the Election Registration Boards (ERB) for approval or disapproval.

According to COMELEC Resolution 9007, the last day to file opposition to the applications for registration/transfer of registration records is on August 18, 2010. Election Registration Boards (ERBs) will be hearing all applications on August 20, 2010.

Who May Bear Arms During the Election Period?

Republic of the Philippines
COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS
Manila

RESOLUTION No. 8714

RULES AND REGULATIONS ON THE: (1) BEARING, CARRYING OR TRANSPORTING OF FIREARMS OR OTHER DEADLY WEAPONS, AVAILMENT OR ENGAGEMENT OF THE SERVICES OF SECURITY PERSONNEL OR BODYGUARDS, DURING THE ELECTION PERIOD FOR THE MAY 10, 2010 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS

   
WHEREAS, Section 32 of Republic Act No. 7166 provides:

    “SEC. 32.  Who May Bear Firearms. – During the election period, no person shall bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places, including any building, street, park, private vehicle or public conveyance, even if licensed to possess or carry the same, unless authorized in writing by the Commission.  The issuance of firearms licenses shall be suspended during the election period.

    “Only regular members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and other law enforcement agencies of the Government who are duly deputized in writing by the Commission for election duty may be authorized to carry and possess firearms during the election period; Provided, That, when in the possession of firearms, the deputized law enforcement officer must be: (a) in full uniform showing clearly and legibly his name, rank and serial number, which shall remain visible at all times, and (b) in the actual performance of his election duty in the specific area designated by the Commission.”

WHEREAS, Section 33 of the same Act provides:

    SEC. 33.  Security Personnel and Bodyguards. – During the election period, no candidate for public office, including incumbent public officers seeking election to any public office, shall employ, avail himself of or engage the services of security personnel or bodyguards, whether or not such bodyguards are regular members or officers of the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines or other law agency of the Government: Provided, That when circumstances warrant, including but not limited to threats to life and security of a candidate, he may be assigned by the Commission, upon due application, regular members of the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines or other law enforcement agency who shall provide him security for the duration of the election period.  The officers assigned for security duty to a candidate shall be subject to the same requirement as to wearing of uniforms prescribed in the immediately preceding section unless exempted in writing by the Commission.

    “If at any time during the election period, the ground for which the authority to engage the services of security personnel has been granted shall cease to exist or for any other valid cause, the Commission shall revoke the said authority.”

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the Commission to strictly enforce Sections 32 and 33 of Republic Act No. 7166;

NOW, THEREFORE, 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 RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to promulgate the following rules and regulations to implement Sections 32 and 33 of Republic Act No. 7166 in connection with the conduct of the May 10, 2010 national and local elections:

SECTION 1.  General Guiding Principles –- During the election period: (a) no person shall bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons in public places including all public buildings, streets, parks, and private vehicles or public conveyances, even if licensed to possess or carry the same; and (b) no candidate for public office, including incumbent public officers seeking election to any public office, shall employ, avail himself of or engage the services of security personnel or bodyguards, whether or not such bodyguards are regular members or officers of the Philippine National Police (PNP), the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or other law enforcement agency of the Government.

    The transport of firearms of those who are engaged in the manufacture, importation, exportation, purchase, sale of firearms, explosives and their spare parts or those involving the transportation of firearms, explosives and their spare parts, may, with prior notice to the Commission, be authorized by the Director General of the PNP provided that the firearms, explosives and their spare parts are immediately transported to the Firearms and Explosives Division, CSG, PNP.

SEC. 2.  Definition of Terms. –- As used in this Resolution:

(a)     Election Period refers to the election period prescribed in COMELEC Resolution No. 8646 dated 14 July 2009 which is from 10 January 2010 to 09 June 2010;

(b)    Firearm shall refer to the “firearm” as defined in existing laws, rules and regulations.  The term also includes airgun, airsoft guns, and their replica/imitation in whatever form that can cause an ordinary person to believe that they are real;

(c)    Dead weapon includes bladed instrument, hand grenades or other explosives, except pyrotechnics.

A bladed instrument is not covered by the prohibition when possession of the bladed instrument is necessary to the occupation of the possessor or when it is used as a tool for legitimate activity.

SEC. 3.  Suspension of Issuance of Firearms Licenses. –- The PNP is hereby directed to suspend the issuance of firearms licenses during the election period.

The processing and approval of new firearms license, including renewal of license, may continue on condition that the new license and firearm shall be kept in deposit with the Firearms and Explosives Division of the PNP until after the election period.

Firearms licenses issued in violation of this Section are null and void, without prejudice to the filing of the appropriate administrative and/or criminal charges against the holder or those responsible for the issuance of the license.

SEC. 4.  Who May Bear Firearms. –- Only the following persons who are in the regular plantilla of the PNP or AFP or other law enforcement agencies are authorized to bear, carry or transport firearms or other deadly weapons during the election period:

(a)     Regular member or officer of the PNP, the AFP and other law enforcement agencies of the Government, provided that when in the possession of firearm, he is:

(1) in the regular plantilla of the said agencies and is receiving regular compensation for the services rendered in said agencies; and

(2) in the agency-prescribed uniform showing clearly and legibly his name, rank and serial number or, in case rank and serial number are inapplicable, his agency-issued identification card showing clearly his name and position, which identification card shall remain visible at all times;

(3) duly licensed to possess firearm and to carry the same outside of residence by means of a valid mission order or letter order; and

(4) in the actual performance of official law enforcement duty, or in going to or returning from his residence/barracks or official station.

Other law enforcement agencies of the government shall enter to:

1. Guards of the National Bureau of Prisons, Provincial, and City Jails;
2. Members of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology;
3. Members of the Custom Enforcement and Security and Customs Intelligence and Investigation Service of the Bureau of Customs;
4. Port Police Department, Philippine Port Authority;
5. Philippine Economic Zone Authority Police Force;
6. Government guard forces;
7. Law Enforcement Agents and Investigation Agents of the Bureau of Immigration;
8. Members of the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) Police Force;
9. Members of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) Police Force;
10. Personnel of the Law Enforcement Service of the Land Transportation Office (LTO);
11. Members of the Philippine Cost Guard, Department of Transportation and Communication;
12. Members of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) Police Force;
13. Agents of ISOG of the Witness Protection Program;
14. Members of the Videogram Regulatory Board performing law enforcement functions;
15. Members of the Security Investigation and Transport Department (STTD), Cash Department (CD), including members of the Office of Special Investigation (OSI), Branch Operations and Department of General Services of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas;
16. Personnel of the Office of the Sergeant-At-Arms (OSAA) of the Senate or the House of Representatives and the OSAA-certified designated senators/congressmen’s security escorts;
17. Postal Inspectors, Investigators, Intelligence Officers and Members of the Inspection Service of the Philippine Postal Corporation;
18. Election Officers, Provincial Election Supervisors, Regional Attorneys, Assistant Regional Election Directors, Regional Election Directors, Directors III and IV, Lawyers in the Main Office of the Commission on Elections and the Members of the Commission;
19. Members of the Law Enforcement Section of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources;
20. Members of the Tourist Security Division of the Department of Tourism;
21. Personnel of the Intelligence Division of the Central Management Information Office, Department of Finance;
22. Personnel of the Inspection and Monitoring Service of the National Police Commission;
23. Personnel of the Special Action and Investigation Division, Forest Officers defined under PD 705 and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) DAO No. 1997-32, Forest/Park Rangers, Wildlife Officers and all forest protection and law enforcement officers of the DENR;
24. Personnel of the Intelligence and Security, Office of the Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs;
25. Personnel of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency;
26. Personnel of the Philippine Center for Transnational Crime (PCTC);
27. Personnel of the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency;
28. Personnel of the National Bureau of Investigation;
29. Personnel of the Presidential Anti-Smuggling Group (PASG); and
30. Field officers of the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, Department of Agriculture.

(b)    Member of privately owned or operated security, investigative, protective or intelligence agencies duly authorized by the PNP, provided that when in the possession of firearm, he is:

(1) in the agency-prescribed uniform with his agency-issued identification card prominently displayed and visible at all times, showing clearly his name and position; and
(2) in the actual performance of duty at his specified place/area of duty.

The heads of other law enforcement agencies and Protective Agents of Private Detective Agencies enumerated above shall, not later than 29 December 2009, submit a colored 4” x 5” picture, with description, of the authorized uniform of the office, to the Committee on the Ban on Firearms and Security Personnel (CBFSP) herein established.

SEC. 5.  Submission of Certified List of Names of AFP, PNP and Other Law Enforcement Personnel With Description of Firearms (Kind, Caliber, Make and Serial No., License No./Certificate of Registration, and Permit to Carry No.) –- Heads of offices of agencies mentioned above shall, not later than 29 December 2009, submit to the CBFSP, the list of the names of the personnel of the agency, together with a description of their firearms, who are authorized to bear, carry or transport firearms under this Resolution.  The list shall bear a certification that the persons named therein are in the regular plantilla of the Agency performing law enforcement functions and are receiving regular compensation for the services rendered in the said agency and that the firearms are duly registered firearms.

Personnel of agencies mentioned in Section 4 hereof shall be considered authorized to bear, carry or transport firearms only upon receipt by the CBFSP of the certified list referred to in this Section.

SEC. 6.  Who may be assigned security personnel or bodyguards. –- When circumstances warrant, including but not limited to threats to life and security, a candidate to public office, including incumbent public officer, and private individual, may, upon application, be assigned regular members of the PNP or the AFP or the National Bureau of Investigation, and as augmentation, duly licensed/authorized Protective Agents of Private Detective Agencies, to provide security, for the duration of the election period.

All existing authority granting security personnel or bodyguards are hereby revoked at the start of the election period.  The affected officials or individuals who want to continue to avail of or engage the services of security personnel or bodyguard, shall apply for the employment, availment or engagement of security personnel or bodyguard as provided in Section 7 hereof.

SEC. 7.  Procedure In Applying for Employment, Availment or Engagement of Security Personnel and Bodyguard. – Any candidate for public office, including incumbent public officer seeking election to any public office, or any public officer or private individual, who wants to employ, avail of or engage the services of security personnel or bodyguard, shall file a written application under oath, in three (3) copies, stating his full name, the public office he seeks to be elected, his residence and the reasons or circumstances for the application, in accordance with the following procedures:

A filing fee of PhP5,000.00 shall be charged for each application.

(a)     Candidates for Member, House of Representatives and local elective positions, as well as public officers or private individuals, shall file their applications with the Regional Joint Security Control Desks (R-JSCD) in their respective regions, to be chaired by the COMELEC Regional Election Director.

Candidates for national elective positions shall file their applications with the CBFSP, at the Main Office of the Commission on Elections, Intramuros, Manila.

(b)    Within five (5) days from receipt of the application, the JSCD shall refer the application with threat assessment and recommendations to the CBFSP.

In the case of applications filed with the CBFSP, the CBFSP shall refer the matter to the AFP and PNP which shall immediately conduct a threat or security assessment.  Within five (5) days from referral, the AFP and PNP shall submit to the CBFSP its assessment with a recommendation on whether to grant or not to grant the request.

(c)    Based on the assessment and recommendation submitted to it, the CBFSP shall grant or deny the request or may request for a reassessment.

If the decision is to grant the request, the CBFSP may authorize the Director General of the PNP or the Chief of Staff of the AFP or the Director of the National Bureau of Investigation to assign not more than two (2) of its regular members as security personnel.

Upon request and when the threat assessment warrants, the CBFSP may authorize the assignment of additional two (2) Protective Agents as close-in security.

In exceptionally meritorious circumstances, candidates for national elective positions may request for additional security personnel subject to such conditions and restrictions that the CBFSP may impose.

(d)    The authority shall be in writing and in three (3) copies.  The original shall be given to the office which shall provide the security personnel.  The second shall be retained by the CBFSP.  The third shall be given to the applicant.

(e)    In case of disapproval of the request, the CBFSP shall notify the applicant.  The notice shall be in writing.

As far as practicable, the security personnel to be assigned to candidates in the same city, municipality, district, province, shall come from the same unit or office.

(f)    The officers assigned for security duty to a candidate shall be subject to the same requirements as to the wearing of uniforms and the other conditions imposed in Section 4 (a) hereof.

(g)    If at any time the ground for which the authority to engage the services of security personnel ceases to exist, or for any valid cause, the CBFSP shall revoke the authority granted.

SEC. 8.  Enforcement – Any person who, not wearing the authorized uniform mentioned herein, bears, carries or transports firearm or other deadly weapon, shall be presumed unauthorized to carry firearms and subject to arrest.

SEC. 9.  Establishment and Composition of the CBFSP. – To ensure the attainment of the objective of the ban on firearms and security personnel, the CBFSP is hereby established, with Commissioner Lucenito N. Tagle as Chairman, and one (1) star rank officer or equivalent, from the AFP and PNP, as members.  The CBFSP shall be assisted by a Secretariat composed of representatives from the Commission, the AFP and the PNP.  The Secretariat shall be headed by a senior lawyer from the Law Department of the Commission.

The CBFSP shall be responsible for the implementation of the ban on the bearing, carrying or transporting of firearms and the employment, availment or engagement of security personnel.

SEC. 10.  Reporting Requirements. --  The CBFSP submit to the Commission a monthly report on the implementation of this Resolution, which shall include the following:

(a)    Current status of the enforcement (i.e. number of arrests, names of persons involved, number of confiscated firearms, categorized into licensed or unlicensed) of the ban on firearms and security personnel; and

(b)    The peace and order situation in various parts of the country, including insurgency, the existence and size of private armies, the intensity of political rivalries and other circumstances, that may affect the conduct of the elections.

The first monthly report shall be submitted to the Commission on the 1st Monday of February 2010 and every 1st Monday of the succeeding months thereafter and a final report on 30 June 2010.

SEC. 11.  Effectivity and Dissemination. --  This Resolution shall take effect on the seventh (7th) day after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution and shall furnish copies thereof to all Regional Election Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors, Election Officers, the PNP, the AFP and all other law enforcement agencies.

SO ORDERED.

    (Sgd)  JOSE A.R. MELO

           Chairman

         
(Sgd) RENE V. SARMIENTO                            (Sgd)  NICODEMO T. FERRER
                Commissioner                                                          Commissioner
     
(Sgd) LUCENITO N. TAGLE
Commissioner                                                                (Sgd)  ARMANDO C. VELASCO
                                                                                                        Commissioner
     
(Sgd) ELIAS R. YUSOPH
Commissioner                                                               (Sgd) GREGORIO Y. LARRAZABAL
                                                                                                       Commissioner  

VOTER REGISTRATION in the ARMM for the August 8 ARMM Elections - Part 6

SEC. 22. Approval or disapproval of applications. - The ERB of the city/municipality shall hear the applications and, by majority vote, approve or disapprove the same in accordance with the schedule provided in Section 2 hereof.  Should one day be insufficient for the proceeding of all accepted applications, the ERB shall meet daily until all applications shall have been processed, but not beyond three (3) days, and subject to the following guidelines:

Number of Applications	Number of day(s) ERB Hearing
Less 1,000	One (1)
1,000 up to 2,000	Two (2)
Above 2,000	Three (3)

If the ERB disapproves the application, the applicant shall be furnished with a certificate of disapproval stating the ground(s) therefor.

After meeting, the ERB shall prepare in Six (6) copies the Minutes of the Proceedings which include, among others, the following:

1. Number of all applicants submitted to the Board for consideration;
2. List of applicants whose application for registration/transfer (within and from outside)/deactivation/correction of entries/ change of name/reactivation/inclusion/reinstatement of record, was approved or disapproved by the Board indicating the application number opposite their names.

The EO concerned shall, within five (5) days from the last day of hearing of the ERB, distribute copies of the Minutes to the following:

1. Two (2) copies to the Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES), which shall retain one copy and send the other copy to the Registration Division, EBAD;
2. One (1) copy each to the representatives of the Dominant Majority Party and the Dominant Minority Party;
3. One (1) copy shall be posted in the Bulletin Board of his Office; and
4. Retain copy for his file

Failure to comply with the requirements of the two (2) preceding paragraphs shall be ground for disciplinary action and withholding of benefits granted by the Commission.

SEC. 23. Publication of Action on Application. – Immediately within five (5) days from approval or disapproval of applications, the ERB shall post notices in the bulletin boards of the municipal/city hall and in the office of the EO, stating the names and addresses of the applicants, the dates of the applications and the actions taken thereon.  The EO shall serve a copy of the notice either personally or by registered mail or special delivery, to the local heads or representatives of registered political parties in the city/ municipality.

SEC. 24. Petition for Inclusion of Voters in the List. – Any person whose application for registration has been disapproved by the ERB or whose name has been stricken out from the list may file with the court a petition to include his name in the permanent list of voters in his precinct at any time but not later than April 29, 2011. It shall be supported by a certificate of disapproval of his application and proof of service of notice of his petition upon the ERB. The petition shall be decided within fifteen (15) days after its filing.

If the decision is for the inclusion of the voters’ name in the permanent list of voters, the ERB shall place the application for registration previously disapproved in the corresponding book of voters and indicate in the application for registration the date of the order of inclusion and the court which issued the same.

SEC. 25. Petition for Exclusion of Voters from the List. – Any registered voter, representative of a political party or the EO, may file with the court a sworn petition for the exclusion of a voter from the permanent list of voters giving the name, address and the precinct of the challenged voter at any time but not later than May 4, 2011.  The petition shall be accompanied by proof of notice to the ERB and to the challenged voter and shall be decided within ten (10) days from its filing.

If the decision is for the exclusion of the voter’s name from the list, the ERB shall upon receipt of the final decision and remove the voter’s registration record from the corresponding book of voters, enter the order of exclusion therein and place the record in the inactive file.

SEC. 26. Disposition of applications for registration, transfer of registration records, reactivation, inclusion/reinstatement or record, change of name, correction of entry/entries and the compact discs (VRS). -

a) On a daily basis, the EO shall:

1.   Gather all accomplished application forms and compact discs (CDs) from the VRM Operator.

2.   Compile all accomplished forms per barangay and by precinct, arrange the application forms alphabetically by surname;

3.   Generate a list of those who applied for registration or transfer of registration for the day, and other applications using the VRS Program. Said list shall be posted in the bulletin board of the city/municipality and in the Office of the Election Officer.

4.   Prepare a report regarding the occurrence of any untoward incident during the day and action taken thereon. For this purpose, each EO shall indicate in his journal any important occurrence and incident during the registration days; and

5.   Store the application forms, CDs, other forms and supplies in a safe and secure place. CDs that are not yet full or not have been finalized shall be used in the succeeding registration day.

b) At the end of the registration period, the EO shall:

1.   Generate Statistical Report on the number of applicants per application type.

2.   Submit to the ERB all applications received including the list of applicants and Statistical Report for action.

3.   Segregate all approved applications as follows:

a.   The first copy shall remain with the Election Officer;

b.   The second copy together with the Minutes of the Proceedings to the OPES; and

c.   The third copy to the National Central File Division.

All disapproved applications shall remain in the custody of the Election Officer.

4.   Finalize CD and back-up file document.mdb or comelec.(myi, myd and frm). The back-up of the document.mdb or comelec.(myi, myd and frm) shall contain only records approved by the ERB.

5.   Execute the CONSOLIDATION function.

6.   Extract records of all approved applications filed during the registration period.

7.   Transmit electronically the extracted records to ITD within five (5) days after the ERB hearing.

SEC. 27. Role of the Regional and Assistant Regional Election Director and Provincial Election Supervisor. – The RED, ARED and PES shall ensure compliance of the EO’s timely submission of all the required reports and shall be held directly responsible for non-compliance within the period herein provided.

SEC. 28. Off-site Verification Teams. - The Election and Barangay Affairs Department and Information Technology Department shall deploy personnel in the Five (5) provinces of ARMM, from April 14 to 16, 2011, who shall be responsible for the checking and gathering of the following reports:

1. Consolidated Quarterly Progress Report;
2. Project of Precincts for the August 8, 2011 ARMM Elections;
3. List of applicants whose applications were approved or disapproved by the ERB, indicating the application number opposite their names;
4. Report on the number of deleted double/multiple registrants based on AFIS results; and
5. SNPDAT or soft copy of the voters’ database.

SEC. 29. Applicability of other resolutions of the Commission. – The provisions of Res. No. 2904 (Rules and Regulations Governing the General Registration of Voters and the System of Continuing Registration of Voters) and other Resolutions of the Commission insofar as applicable and when not inconsistent herewith, shall apply in the registration of voters.

SEC. 30. Effectivity. – This Resolution shall take effect seven (7) days after its publication. The Education and Information Department (EID) is hereby directed to cause the widest dissemination of this Resolution and its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines and two (2) local newspapers of circulation within the ARMM area.

Let the Office of the Executive Director implement this Resolution.

SO ORDERED.

(Sgd.) SIXTO S. BRILLANTES, JR. Chairman
(Sgd.) RENE V. SARMIENTO Commissioner	(Sgd.) LUCENITO N. TAGLE Commissioner
(Sgd.) ARMANDO C. VELASCO Commissioner	(Sgd.) ELIAS R. YUSOPH Commissioner