Citizens' Arm and Poll Watchers

7/28/2019 Citizens' Arm and Poll Watchers

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Citizens Arm of theCommission on Elections


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Provisions of the OmnibusElection Code on Accredited

Citizens Arm of the

Commission on Elections


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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 andactivity to assist it in the implementation of theprovisions of this Code and the resolutions, ordersand instructions of the Commission for the purposeof ensuring free, orderly and honest elections in any

constituency.

Such groups or organizations shall function underthe direct and immediate control and supervision ofthe Commission on Elections.


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SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES OFACCREDITED CITIZENS ARM

BEFORE ELECTION DAY

ON ELECTION DAY


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BEFORE ELECTION DAY:

Undertake an information campaignon salient features of this Code andhelp in the dissemination of theorders, decisions and resolutions ofthe Commission relative to theforthcoming election.

Wage a registration drive in theirrespective areas so that all citizens ofvoting age, not otherwise disqualifiedby law may be registered.


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BEFORE ELECTION DAY:

Help cleanse the list of voters of illegalregistrants, conduct house-to-housecanvass if necessary, and take the

appropriate legal steps towards this end.

Report to the Commission violations of theprovisions of this Code on the conduct ofthe political campaign, electionpropaganda and electoral expenditures.(Section 52 (k), (A), OEC)


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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 thesame 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.


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ON ELECTION DAY:

Report to the peace authorities and otherappropriate agencies all instances of terrorism,intimidation of voters, and other similarattempts to frustrate the free and orderlycasting of votes.

Perform such other functions as may be

entrusted to such group or organization by theCommission.(Section 52 (k), (B), OEC)


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

Compliance with all lawful orders of theCommission in the performance of the

specific functions and activities assigned bythe Commission;

Observance of non-partisanship and

impartiality during the election period;


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Undertaking to police petitioners ranks andprevent infiltration by persons or group ofpersons who may, directly or indirectly, destroy

its character or impartiality;

Observance of the condition that it should notderive any support from, or be under the

influence of, any foreign government or itsagencies or instrumentalities, or any foreignperson, whether natural or juridical;


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Making available to the Commission, petitionerspersonnel, facilities, equipment, papers andeffects when so required by the Commission for

purposes of monitoring or checking the work ofthe petitioner;

Submission to the Commission of a weeklywritten report of their operations for theelectoral exercise being actively participatedupon.


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Power of the COMELEC to revoke theAccreditation given to Citizens Arm

Organizations

The designation of any group or organizationmade in accordance with the Omnibus Election

Code may be revoked by the Commission uponnotice and hearing whenever by its actuationssuch group or organization has shown

partiality to any political party or candidate, orhas performed acts in excess or incontravention of the functions and duties hereinprovided and such others which may be grantedby the Commission.


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Accredited Citizens Arm

of the Commission on Elections


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National Movementfor Free Elections


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BRIEF HISTORY:

Namfrel is the pioneer in election monitoring. It started withthe establishment of the operations registration committee in1957. In the 60s and early 70s, the Citizens NationalElectoral Assembly (CNEA) was organized by then Comelecchairman Jaime Ferrer with bishop Mariano Gaviola aschairman together with Jose Concepcion, Jr. of Namfrel and

Charito Planas as secretary general.

Namfrels commitment to clean elections was best shownduring the 1986 snap presidential elections with over500,000 volunteers who offered their time, energy and eventheir lives, to preserve the sanctity of the ballot.

Since 1984, namfrel has been accredited by the Comelec toconduct the Operation Quick Count (OQC). Namfrel wasaccredited in 21 electoral exercises.
http://www.namfrel.com.ph/activities/quickcount.htmhttp://www.namfrel.com.ph/activities/quickcount.htmhttp://www.namfrel.com.ph/activities/quickcount.htm


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Parish PastoralCouncil for

Responsible Voting


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BRIEF HISTORY:

PPCRV is a national parish-based politicalcitizen's movement for promoting honest andpeaceful elections. It is geared towards thepromotion of good leadership, true meaning offreedom, and the welfare of the people.

It started in 1991 and has developed into awell-supported movement in transforming theelectoral system in the Philippines.


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BRIEF HISTORY:

It has been accredited as a COMELEC Citizensarm onMay 14, 2001 and has been part of the followingelectoral processes: 1 May 1992 Synchronized Elections;1993 Special Elections for Governor of Bataan; 1994Special Elections for Congressman Second District of

Rizal; 1995 National and Local Elections; 1996Sangguniang Kabataan Elections; 1997 Recall ElectionsCaloocan City; General and Continuing Registrationunder R.A. 8189; 1998 National and Local Elections;1999 ARMM Regional Elections; 1999 Plebiscite on

creation of City of Novaliches; 2000 Recall Elections ofMayor of Pasay City; 2001 National and Local Elections;2004 National and Local Elections; 2005 August ARMMElections.


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GOAL AND ADVOCACY:

With almost 500,000 pastoral agents whocampaign nationwide to promote voter'seducation and at times of election, safeguardthe sanctity and secrecy of ballots, the PPCRVcontinues its work in attaining its goal of

becoming an effective instrument in theattainment of a renewed and transformedsociety.

In its advocacy to promote truthful elections,

the PPCRV is now working to include voter'seducation in the college curriculum inuniversities in the Philippines starting with theCatholic colleges.


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Henrietta deVilla

Chairperson of PPCRV who is also FormerPhilippine ambassador to the Vatican has

been appointed and confirmed on July 4,2008 as the new chairperson of the NationalMovement for Free Elections (Namfrel).


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Another accredited Citizens Arm is

the One Vote Movement. It was

accredited for the 2010 elections

and for the 2013 elections.


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Aside from the accreditedcitizensarms of COMELEC, civil

society organizations exist inthe Philippines that actively

advocate electoral reforms.


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Poll Watchers


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Omnibus Election Code

of the Philippines states:

Candidates may appoint two watchers each, toserve alternately, in every polling place within

the barangay, who shall be furnished with asigned copy of the results of the election, in suchform as the Commission may prescribe,immediately after the completion of the canvass.(Section 48)

Every registered political party, coalition ofpolitical parties and every independent candidateshall each be entitled to one watcher in everypolling place. (Section 178, 1st paragraph)


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Qualifications of a Poll Watcher:

Qualified voter of the city or municipality where heseeks 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 anymember of the board of election inspectors in thepolling place where he seeks appointment as awatcher. (Section 178, 2nd paragraph, OEC)


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Rights and Duties of Poll Watchers:

Right to stay in the space reserved for theminside the polling place ;

right to witness and inform themselves of theproceedings of the board of election inspectors,including its proceedings during the registrationof voters;

to take notes of what they may see or hear;

to take photographs of the proceedings andincidents, if any, during the counting of votes, aswell as of election returns, tally boards and ballot

boxes;


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to file a protest against any irregularity or violation oflaw which they believe may have been committed bythe board of election inspectors or by any of itsmembers or by any persons;

to obtain from the board of election inspectors acertificate as to the filing of such protest and/or of theresolution thereon;

to read the ballots after they shall have been read by

the chairman, as well as the election returns after theyshall have been completed and signed by the membersof the board of election inspectors without touchingthem;


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they shall not speak to any member of theboard of election inspectors, or to any voter, oramong themselves, in such a manner as woulddistract the proceedings; and

to be furnished with a certificate of the numberof votes in words and figures cast for eachcandidate, duly signed and thumbmarked by

the chairman and all the members of the boardof election inspectors. (Section 179, OEC)


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Other Poll Watchers:

The duly accredited citizens arm of theCommission shall be entitled to appoint awatcher in every polling place.

Other civic, religious, professional, business,service, youth and any other similarorganizations, with prior authority of theCommission, shall be entitled collectively to

appoint one watcher in every polling place.(Section 180, OEC)


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Refusal of the chairman and themembers of the board of electioninspectors to sign and furnish such

certificate of the number of votes inwords and figures cast for eachcandidate shall constitute an electionoffenseand shall be penalized under the

OEC. (Section 179, last paragraph, OEC)


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Thank you very much!

Documents

Citizens' Arm and Poll Watchers