Election Laws and Jurisprudence Compendium

Mendoza vs Familara and COMELEC

2011-11-22T19:49:00.001-08:00

EN BANC

CONSTANCIO F. MENDOZA,

Petitioner,

- versus -

SENEN C. FAMILARA and COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS,

Respondents.

G.R. No. 191017

Present:

CORONA, C.J.,

CARPIO,

VELASCO, JR.,

LEONARDO-DE CASTRO,*

BRION,

PERALTA,

BERSAMIN,

DEL CASTILLO,

ABAD,

VILLARAMA, JR.,

PEREZ,

MENDOZA,

SERENO,

REYES, and

PERLAS-BERNABE, JJ.

Promulgated:

November 15, 2011

x------------------------------------------------------------------------------x

RESOLUTION

PEREZ, J.:

This petition raises a far from novel issue, i.e., the constitutionality of Section 2[1] of Republic Act No. 9164 (entitled "An Act Providing for SynchronizedBarangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, amending RA No. 7160, as amended, otherwise known as the Local Government Code of 1991"). As other barangay officials had done in previous cases,[2] petitioner Constancio F. Mendoza (Mendoza) likewise questions the retroactive application of the three-consecutive term limit imposed on barangay elective officials beginning from the 1994 barangay elections.

We here have a special civil action, designated by Mendoza as a “petition for review on certiorari under Rule 64 in relation to Rule 65 of the Rules of Court,” seeking to annul and set aside the Resolution[3] of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) En Banc.

Mendoza was a candidate for Barangay Captain of Barangay Balatasan, Oriental Mindoro in the 29 October 2007 Barangay Elections. As required by law,Mendoza filed a certificate of candidacy. Prior thereto, Mendoza had been elected as Barangay Captain of Barangay Balatasan for three (3) consecutive terms, on 9 May 1994, 12 May 1997 and 15 July 2002.

On 26 October 2007, respondent Senen C. Familara (Familara) filed a Petition to Disqualify Mendoza averring that Mendoza, under Section 2 of RA No. 9164, is ineligible to run again for Barangay Captain of Barangay Balatasan, having been elected and having served, in the same position for three (3) consecutive terms immediately prior to the 2007 Barangay Elections.

Posthaste, Mendoza filed his Answer[4] refuting Familara’s allegations and asseverating the following:

1. That he has the qualifications and none of the disqualification to vote and be voted for in the October 29, 2007 Barangay Elections for Barangay Balatasan, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro;

2. [He] further AFFIRMS that he has duly-filed his Certificate of Candidacy for Punong Barangay of Barangay Balatasan, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro;

3. [He] RAISES THE QUESTION of the legal personality of [respondent Senen] Familara because:

a. He is not a party in interest in the Barangay Elections for Punong Barangay at Barangay Balatasan;

b. He is not a resident nor registered voter of Barangay Balatasan;

c. He is not a candidate to any elective position for Barangay Balatasan in the scheduled October 29, 2007 Barangay Elections;

4. That while the proper party in interest to file a petition for disqualification is any registered voter of Barangay Balatasan, the instant petition is intended to benefit the only other candidate for Punong Barangay for Balatasan in the forthcoming elections, TOMAS PAJANEL, but said person is a permanent resident not only of a Barangay different from Barangay Balatasan but worse, said person is a permanent resident of Bulalacao’s adjoining town, Mansalay;

xxx

6. The petition suffers from legal infirmities;

xxx

The present petition is premature. It should be filed within ten (10) days from proclamation of election results.

Further, [Senen] Familara is not a proper party to file the petition. It must be filed by a candidate who has duly filed a certificate of candidacy and has been voted for the same office.

Finally, the petition was filed before the wrong forum. It must be filed before the Municipal Trial Court. The COMELEC has the exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all contests x x x involving elective barangay officials decided by trial courts of limited jurisdiction.

On 13 November 2007, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Assistant Regional Election Director of Region IV, Atty. Jocelyn V. Postrado, issued a Resolution[5] recommending that necessary action be filed against Mendoza for misrepresenting himself as a qualified candidate for the position of Barangay Captain of Balatasan:

RESOLUTION/RECOMMENDATION

Pursuant to the delegated authority vested to the undersigned by the Omnibus Election Law and other election laws and after issuing the necessary summons to MR. CONSTANCIO F. MENDOZA on the above Petition for Disqualification filed by Mr. Senen C, Familara, which to no avail this office until now has not yet received the required affidavits from Mr. Mendoza, and wherein by said act and under our COMELEC Rules of Procedure, he is deemed to have expressly waived his right to present evidence in his defense. xxx

Ruling on the submitted petition and supporting evidence, we find Mr. Mendoza to have completed the three (3) term-limit and yet, still ran for office knowing that he was prohibited. Please find a copy of the Certification issued by the Office of the Election Officer, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro verifying that Mr. Mendoza filed a Certificate of Candidacy for the position ofPunong Barangay. His act of misrepresenting himself as qualified to run for the said position of Punong Barangay at Balatasan, Municipality of Bulalacao, Province of Oriental Mindoro in the 29 October 2007 Barangay Elections, is in violation of Section 2 of Republic Act No. 9164, the Omnibus election Law and other election laws.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the undersigned hereby recommends that necessary action be filed against MR. CONSTANCIO F. MENDOZA.

Undaunted, Mendoza filed a flurry of motions: (1) an Ex-Parte Motion to Recall;[6] (2) Ex-Parte Motion to Dismiss;[7] and (3) Ex-Parte Motion to Resolve,[8]all aiming to forestall the implementation of the 13 November 2007 Resolution of the COMELEC Assistant Regional Election Director of Region IV, Atty. Postrado, and the continuation of the Petition for Disqualification filed by Familara against Mendoza.

In another turn of events, Mendoza won in the elections; he was proclaimed Barangay Captain of Balatasan.

Consequently, Mendoza’s rival, Thomas Pajanel, filed a petition for quo warranto and mandamus against Mendoza before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) of Mansalay-Bulalacao docketed as Election Case No. 407-B. Pajanel contended that Mendoza is ineligible to occupy the position of Barangay Captain of Balatasan, having been elected and having already served as such for three (3) consecutive terms.

In yet another setback, the MCTC promulgated its Decision and disqualified Mendoza in accordance with the three-consecutive term rule provided in Section 2 of RA No. 9164. Not unexpectedly, Mendoza appealed the MCTC Decision before the COMELEC. The appeal is docketed as EAC (BRGY) No. 101-2008 and is pending before the COMELEC Second Division.

On the other litigation front concerning the Petition for Disqualification filed by Familara against Mendoza, the COMELEC First Division issued a Resolution[9]agreeing with the recommendation of the COMELEC Assistant Regional Election Director of Region IV that Mendoza is disqualified from running as BarangayCaptain of Balatasan under the three-consecutive term limit rule. The COMELEC shot down Mendoza’s technical objections to the Petition for Disqualification, to wit:

[Mendoza’s] contentions that the petition [for disqualification] should be dismissed as [Familara] lacks the personality to file the said petition since the latter is neither a candidate nor a registered voter of Barangay Balatasan, Municipality of Bulalacao, that it was prematurely filed and was filed before a wrong forum are untenable.

It is undisputed that the instant case is a Petition for Disqualification involving barangay officials, hence, Section 11 in relation to Section 10 of COMELEC Resolution No. 8297 issued on September 6, 2007 is the applicable rule with respect to the qualifications of [Mendoza], period of filing and the tribunal to file the same.

Section 11 in relation to Section 10 of COMELEC Resolution No. 8297 provides that:

Sec. 10. Petition to deny due course to or cancellation of a certificate of candidacy. – A verified petition to deny due course to or cancel a certificate of candidacy pursuant to Sec. 69 (nuisance candidate) or Sec. 78 (material misrepresentation in the certificate of candidacy) of the Omnibus Election Code shall be filed directly with the office of Provincial Election Supervisor concerned by any registered candidate for the same office personally or through a duly-authorized representative within five (5) days from the last day for filing of certificate of candidacy. In the National Capital Region, the same be filed directly with the Office of the Regional Election Director.

In the Provinces where the designated Provincial Election Supervisor is not a lawyer the petition shall be filed with the Regional Election Director concerned.

Filing by mail is not allowed.

Within twenty four (24) hours from receipt of the petition, the Provincial Election Supervisor or the Regional Election Director of the National Capital Region, as the case may be, shall issue the corresponding summons requiring the respondent candidate to answer the petition within three (3) days from receipt. Immediately upon receipt of the answer, the petition shall be set for hearing for the reception of evidence of the parties but not later than five (5) days from the service of summons. The Resolution of the Hearing Officer shall be submitted to the Commission through the Clerk of the Commission within fifteen (15) days from receipt of the petition.

Sec. 11. Petition for Disqualification. – A verified petition to disqualify a candidate on the ground of ineligibility or under Section 68 of the Omnibus Election Code may be filed at anytime before proclamation of the winning candidate by any registered voter or any candidate for the same office. The procedure prescribed in the preceding section shall be applicable herein.

xxx

All disqualification cases filed on the ground of ineligibility shall continue although the candidate has already been proclaimed.

Applying the above-cited provisions in the case at bar, it only requires the petitioner to be a registered voter for him to acquire locus standi to file the instant petition. Further, it provides that a petition for disqualification must be filed at any time before the proclamation of the winning candidate. Furthermore, it also requires that the said petition must be filed with the Provincial Election Supervisor or Regional Election Director, as the case may be. It is clear that in the present case these requirements under the above-cited provisions of the law have been complied.

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the Commission (First Division) GRANTS the Petition. [Petitioner], Constancio Farol Mendoza, having already served as Punong Barangay of Barangay Balatasan, Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro for three consecutive terms is hereby DISQUALIFIED from being a candidate for the same office in the October 29, 2007 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections. Considering that [Mendoza] had already been proclaimed, said proclamation is hereby ANNULLED. Succession to said office shall be governed by the provisions of Section 44 of the Local Government Code.[10]

Mendoza filed a Motion to Recall Resolution, to Dismiss the Case and to Conduct Appropriate Investigation to Determine Criminal and Administrative Liability[11] before the COMELEC En Banc, seeking the reversal of the Resolution of the COMELEC First Division.

In a Resolution[12] dated 23 December 2009, the COMELEC En Banc denied the Motion to Recall for lack of merit. It dismissed Mendoza’s arguments, thus:

It appears from Section 10 of Resolution No. 8297 that the [COMELEC] has indeed jurisdiction to entertain this petition in the first place. The petition was filed on September 23, 2007, or less than five days from the last day of filing the certificates of candidacy for the position of Punong Barangay. The assistant Regional Director proceeded to issue subpoena, and thereafter, submitted her Resolution/Recommendation which was forwarded to the [COMELEC] for appropriate action through the Clerk of the [COMELEC].

The records of the case would reveal that this petition has run its normal course. The allegation of Mendoza that he was allegedly deprived of due process is of no avail. It appears from the registry return receipt attached to the records of the case that summons were duly received by Mendoza on October 24, 2007, as such, he is bound to answer the allegations of the petition within three days from receipt. Failing in this respect, Mendoza is said to have waived his right to file his answer within the time given by the Rules.

Furthermore, we cannot subscribe to the argument of Mendoza that the pendency of the proceedings before the Second Division docketed as EAC (Brgy) 101-2008 would merit the dismissal of this petition.

xxx

The Supreme Court held in the case of Sunga vs. COMELEC, and Lonzanida v. COMELEC, that:

“This court has held that the clear legislative intent is that the COMELEC should continue the trial and hearing of the disqualification case to its conclusion, i.e., until judgment is rendered. The outright dismissal of the petition for disqualification filed before the election but which remained unresolved after the proclamation of the candidate sought to be disqualified will unduly reward the said candidate and may encourage him to employ delaying tactics to impede the resolution of the petition until after he has been proclaimed.”

Considering that [the COMELEC] is tasked with the duty to continue with the trial and hearing of the disqualification case of Mendoza to its conclusion despite the pendency of EAC (Brgy) No. 101-2008, then there is no cogent reason to disturb the Resolution of the First Division dated September 18, 2008.[13]

Unperturbed, Mendoza filed the instant petition alleging grave abuse of discretion in the 23 December 2009 Resolution of the COMELEC En Banc. Mendozainsists that the disqualification case should have been dismissed, or, at the least, consolidated with the quo warranto case on appeal before the COMELEC Second Division because the latter case stems from a judicial proceeding which “followed strictly the requirements of law and the rules.” Mendoza then blithely puts in issue the constitutionality of the retroactive application to the 1994 Barangay Elections of the three-consecutive term limit rule. For good measure, Mendoza asserts denial of due process as would invalidate the disqualification proceedings against him and his resulting disqualification from the race for Barangay Captain of Balatasan.

The jettisoning of the petition is inevitable: the holding of the October 2010 Barangay Elections makes the issues posed by petitioner moot and academic.

Before anything else, we note the apparent mix-up in Mendoza’s designation of the present petition. He alleged grave abuse of discretion, but incorrectly specified in the prefatory statement of the petition that it is a “petition for review on certiorari.”

For clarity and to obviate confusion, we treat the instant petition as one filed under Rule 64 in relation to Rule 65 of the Rules of Court since the totality of the allegations contained therein seek to annul and set aside the Resolution of the COMELEC en banc because it is tainted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction. As we have also noted in Mendoza v. Mayor Villas,[14] another case filed by Mendoza before us where Mendoza did not specify under which Rule (45 or 65) his petition was being filed, this Court has the discretion to determine whether a petition was filed under Rule 45 or 65 of the Rules of Court.

Even without going into Mendoza’s penchant for filing confused petitions, the supervening event that is the conduct of the 2010 Barangay Elections renders this case moot and academic. The term of office for Barangay Captain of Balatasan for the 2007 Barangay Elections had long expired in 2010 following the last elections held on October 25 of the same year.

A moot and academic case is one that ceases to present a justiciable controversy by virtue of supervening events, so that a declaration thereon would be of no practical value. As a rule, courts decline jurisdiction over such case, or dismiss it on ground of mootness.[15]

Certainly, the rule is not set in stone and permits exceptions. Thus, we may choose to decide cases otherwise moot and academic if: first, there is a grave violation of the Constitution; second, the exceptional character of the situation and the paramount public interest involved; third, the constitutional issue raised requires formulation of controlling principles to guide the bench, the bar and the public; or fourth, the case is capable of repetition yet evasive of review.[16] None of the foregoing exceptions calling for this Court to exercise jurisdiction obtains in this instance.

The justiciability of the present petition is further decimated by our recent ruling in Mendoza v. Mayor Villas:[17]

With the conduct of the 2010 barangay elections, a supervening event has transpired that has rendered this case moot and academic and subject to dismissal. This is because, as stated in Fernandez v. Commission on Elections, "whatever judgment is reached, the same can no longer have any practical legal effect or, in the nature of things, can no longer be enforced." Mendoza's term of office has expired with the conduct of last year's local elections. As such, Special Civil Action No. 08-10, where the assailed Orders were issued, can no longer prosper. Mendoza no longer has any legal standing to further pursue the case, rendering the instant petition moot and academic. (emphasis supplied)

In any event, upon a perusal of the merits or lack thereof, the petition is clearly dismissible.

Our decision in COMELEC v. Cruz[18] settles, once and for all, the constitutionality of the three-consecutive term limit rule reckoned from the 1994 Barangay Elections. We unequivocally declared, thus:

The Retroactive Application Issue

xxx

Our first point of disagreement with the respondents and with the RTC is on their position that a retroactive application of the term limitation was made under RA No. 9164. Our own reading shows that no retroactive application was made because the three-term limit has been there all along as early as the second barangay law (RA No. 6679) after the 1987 Constitution took effect; it was continued under the [Local Government Code] and can still be found in the current law. We find this obvious from a reading of the historical development of the law.

The first law that provided a term limitation for barangay officials was RA No. 6653 (1988); it imposed a two-consecutive term limit. After only six months, Congress, under RA No. 6679 (1988), changed the two-term limit by providing for a three-consecutive term limit. This consistent imposition of the term limit gives no hint of any equivocation in the congressional intent to provide a term limitation. Thereafter, RA No. 7160 - the LGC - followed, bringing with it the issue of whether it provided, as originally worded, for a three-term limit for barangayofficials. We differ with the RTC analysis of this issue.

Section 43 is a provision under Title II of the LGC on Elective Officials. Title II is divided into several chapters dealing with a wide range of subject matters, all relating to local elective officials, as follows: a. Qualifications and Election (Chapter I); b. Vacancies and Succession (Chapter II); c. Disciplinary Actions (Chapter IV) and d. Recall (Chapter V). Title II likewise contains a chapter on Local Legislation (Chapter III).

            These Title II provisions are intended to apply to all local elective officials, unless the contrary is clearly provided. A contrary application is provided with respect to the length of the term of office under Section 43(a); while it applies to all local elective officials, it does not apply to barangay officials whose length of term is specifically provided by Section 43(c). In contrast to this clear case of an exception to a general rule, the three-term limit under Section 43(b) does not contain any exception; it applies to all local elective officials who must perforce includebarangay officials.

            An alternative perspective is to view [Section] 43(a), (b) and (c) separately from one another as independently standing and self-contained provisions, except to the extent that they expressly relate to one another. Thus, [Section] 43(a) relates to the term of local elective officials, except barangay officials whose term of office is separately provided under Sec. 43(c). [Section] 43(b), by its express terms, relates to all local elective officials without any exception. Thus, the term limitation applies to all local elective officials without any exclusion or qualification.

            Either perspective, both of which speak of the same resulting interpretation, is the correct legal import of Section 43 in the context in which it is found in Title II of the LGC.

xxx

All these inevitably lead to the conclusion that the challenged proviso has been there all along and does not simply retroact the application of the three-term limit to the barangayelections of 1994. Congress merely integrated the past statutory changes into a seamless whole by coming up with the challenged proviso.

With this conclusion, the respondents’ constitutional challenge to the proviso—based on retroactivity—must fail.[19]

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the petition is hereby DISMISSED. The COMELEC Resolutions dated 18 September 2008 and 23 December 2009 in SPA (Brgy.) 07-243 are AFFIRMED.

SO ORDERED.

JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ

Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

RENATO C. CORONA

Chief Justice

ANTONIO T. CARPIO Associate Justice	PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR. Associate Justice
(on official leave) TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO Associate Justice	ARTURO D. BRION Associate Justice
DIOSDADO M. PERALTA Associate Justice	LUCAS P. BERSAMIN Associate Justice
MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO Associate Justice	ROBERTO A. ABAD Associate Justice
MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR. Associate Justice	JOSE CATRAL MENDOZA Associate Justice

MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO BIENVENIDO L. REYES

Associate Justice Associate Justice

ESTELA M. PERLAS-BERNABE

Associate Justice

C E R T I F I C A T I O N

Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, I certify that the conclusions in the above decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court.

RENATO C. CORONA

Chief Justice

* On official leave.

[1] Sec. 2. Term of Office. –The term of office of all barangay and sangguniang kabataan officials after the effectivity of this Act shall be three (3) years.

No barangay elective official shall serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms in the same position: Provided, however, That the term of office shall be reckoned from the 1994 barangay elections.Voluntary renunciation of office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of service for the full term for which the elective official was elected. (Emphasis supplied)

[2] See COMELEC v. Cruz, G.R. No. 186616, 20 November 2009, 605 SCRA 167; Monreal v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 184935, 21 December 2009, 608 SCRA 717.

[3] Dated 23 December 2009, rollo pp. 34-39.

[4] Id. at 40-44.

[5] Id. at 46.

[6] Id. at 47-49.

[7] Id. at 50-51.

[8] Id. at 52-56.

[9] Dated 18 September 2008, rollo, pp. 28-33.

[10] Id. at 31-33.

[11] Id. at 57-63.

[12] Id. at 34-39.

[13] Id. at 36-38.

[14] G.R. No. 187256, 23 February 2011.

[15] Gunsi v. COMELEC, G.R. No. 168792, 23 February 2009, 580 SCRA 70, 76.

[16] David v. Macapagal-Arroyo, G.R. Nos. 171396, 171409, 171485, 171483, 171400, 171489, 171424, 3 May 2006, 489 SCRA 160, 214-215.

[17] Supra note 14.

[18] G.R. No. 186616, 20 November 2009, 605 SCRA 167.

[19] Id. at 183-185, 189.

COMELEC presents high profile witnesses in 2007 Maguindanao poll fraud

2011-10-03T04:42:00.000-07:00

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) today presented fourteen (14) Election Officers and one (1) Computerized Voters List Technician (CVL Tech) from the Province of Maguindanao who were witnesses to large-scale election fraud perpetrated in the Province during the 2007 Senatorial Elections.

Also presented today is former Maguindanao Provincial Administrator Norie K. Unas, said to be former Governor Datu Andal Sr.’s right hand man.

According to COMELEC Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Unas was “the person who stage-managed” the election fraud in the Province “upon instruction from the highest official of the land” at that time.

“The 2007 elections in Maguindanao was marred by an absolute commission of fraud and irregularity,” said Brillantes, who, with Department of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima and COMELEC Commissioner Elias R. Yusoph, led the press conference this morning at the poll body’s Main Office.

Unas and the fifteen Election Officials and personnel submitted their respective Affidavits before the COMELEC, detailing their knowledge in election irregularities in the 2007 polls.

In his Affidavit, Unas directly linked former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her spouse former First Gentleman Atty. Mike Arroyo in 2007 Maguindanao election fraud.

Unas, in his affidavit, said President Arroyo’s instruction to Datu Andal during a dinner meeting held at Malacañang Palace days before the 2007 elections was: “Dapat 12-0 sa Maguindanao, kahit pa ayusin o palitan niyo ang resulta.”

Unas also said that he was told by Gov. Datu Andal Ampatuan that, “Utos ni FG, kelangang 12-0 ang result sa Mguindanao… at kailangan walang makuhang boto si Cayetano.”

He said this came after Ampatuan met with the former First Gentleman at the LTA Building in Makati. Unas accompanied Ampatuan during that meeting.

DOJ Secretary de Lima, for her part, cited the significance of Unas’ testimony, saying that “this is the first time that a witness has direct personal knowledge pointing to the first couple” as alleged perpetrators of election fraud.

Resolution No. 9279 - Reception of Multi-Type Voter Applications

2011-09-10T16:54:00.000-07:00

Resolution No. 9279

RECEPTION OF MULTI-TYPE OF APPLICATIONS SUCH AS:

(1) TRANSFER WITH REACTIVATION AND CORRECTION OF ENTRIES;

(2) REACTIVATION WITH CORRECTION OF ENTRIES; AND (3) TRANSFER WITH CORRECTION OF ENTRIES, IN CONNECTION WITH THE RESUMPTION OF THE SYSTEM OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION OF VOTERS IN THE NON-ARMM AREAS

WHEREAS, in Resolution No. 9149 dated February 22, 2011, the Commission on Elections promulgated Rules and Regulations for the Resumption of the System of Continuing Registration of Voters and Validation of Registration in the Non-ARMM Areas;

WHEREAS, said Resolution covers the reception of applications for registration, transfer from another district/city and municipality, transfer within the same city/municipality, reactivation, reactivation with transfer, reinstatement in the list of voters, inclusion of registration record in the Book of Voters, correction of entries and validation;

WHEREAS, in the first quarter of registration period it was observed that various applicants filed more than one or multi-type of applications with the Office of the Election Officers such as (1) transfer with reactivation and correction of entries, (2) reactivation with correction of entries, (3) and transfer with correction of entries. The said nature of applications is not covered in the existing rules and regulations and current Voter Registration System (VRS) installed in the voter Registration Machines (VRMs);

WHEREAS, in view of the absence of the rules and regulations and the applicable system to serve the multi-type of applications, the applicants were required to return back to the Office of the Election Officers on the next quarter of registration period to complete the other transaction, thereby causing inconvenience to the voters;

NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 8189 and other related laws, the Commission on Elections has RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to adopt the following guidelines, by way of supplemental to the existing rules and regulations in Resolution No. 9149, in order to accommodate multi-type of applications and to avoid inconvenience to the applicant-voters in connection with the continuing registration of voters in Non-ARMM areas:

A. During the registration period, the Election Officers/Acting Election Officers/Election Assistants shall:

Accept and process applications for transfer with reactivation and correction of entries, reactivation with correction of entries; and transfer with correction of entries. The procedures embodied in Resolution No. 9149 in so far as the manner of the reception, verification of the applications filed and the taking of demographics and biometrics data if necessary shall be strictly observed;
The voter-applicants shall accomplish the prescribed forms corresponding to the types of transaction applied for; and
The total number of multi-type of applications filed in the Office of the Election Officer shall be reflected in the Quarterly Progress Report.

B. The Information Technology Department shall facilitate the necessary changes in the program/system to incorporate the above multi-type of applications in the VRM.

Let the Election and Barangay Affairs Department and Information Technology Department implement this Resolution.

SO ORDERED.

	SIXTO S. BRILLANTES, JR. Chairman


RENE V. SARMIENTO Commissioner		LUCENITO N. TAGLE Commissioner


ARMANDO C. VELASCO Commissioner		ELIAS R. YUSOPH Commissioner


CHRISTIAN ROBERT S. LIM Commissioner		AUGUSTO C. LAGMAN Commissioner

Poll workers stage nationwide streamer hanging to demand salary adjustment

2011-09-08T08:25:00.000-07:00

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) employees in the central and field offices will be putting up posters and streamers calling for the adjustment on their salaries during their lunch break on Friday, September, 2011.

Under the auspices of the COMELEC Wage Fight! Alliance, a coalition of poll workers united in pushing for wage increase, the activity aims to “highlight the growing clamour of COMELEC employees for a substantial increase in our salaries.”

“Through the participation of COMELEC rank and file employees in all corners of the country (in the nationally coordinated streamer/poster hanging) we hope to be able to send a strong message that our call has reached the national level,” the group said.

Main Office

Palacio del Gobernad

According to the COMELEC Wage Fight! The calls for tomorrow’s activity include:

EQUAL WORK, EQUAL PAY!
ITAMA ANG SAHOD SA COMELEC!
CORRECT THE UNJUST WAGE DISPARITY!
3-5 SALARY GRADE INCREASE NOW!

OEO Daraga, Albay

Mac Ramirez, convenor of the COMELEC Wage Fight Alliance, explains that there is a “glaring disparity” in the salary schedule of COMELEC employees as compared to employees in their government agencies.

“The salary that we receive here in the COMELEC is not at par with those received by workers in other government agencies corporations, financial institutions and constitutional bodies. The disparity ranges from three to five salary grade levels,” he said.

Legazpi City

Ramirez cited for example that a Clerk I position in the COMELEC only has a Salary Grade (SG) level 3, while in other government agencies the lowest SG level for Clerks is SG7.

Election Officers, which holds the sacred responsibility of supervising the conduct of elections at the ground level, are likewise victimized by this glaring wage gap according to Ramirez.

Camarines Sur

“They only hold an SG level 12 (for small electoral municipality) and SG 21 (for capital towns and cities); yet, considering their workload and actual responsibilities, the position of Election Officer is equivalent to that of a Division Chief level which has SG 24.”

POLL WORKERS TO SENATE: “RAISE OUR APPEAL FOR WAGE INCREASE TO BRILLANTES ON CA HEARING”

COMELEC Wage Fight Convenor Armando Mallorca, on September 8, 2011, presents to Chairman Sixto Brillantes the Alliance's position paper on the proposed salary adjustment of COMELEC personnel. Prior to this, COMELEC Wage Fight leaders (Mallorca, Mac Ramirez, Gel Gerardino) discussed our position with the Chairman. The Chairman was open to our proposal and has agreed to set a series of meetings to iron out our salary increase before 2012.

“The imminent increases in petroleum, transportation, toll and water costs more than justifies our appeal for a substantial increase in our salaries. We hope that the COMELEC, under the leadership of Chairman Sixto Brillantes, would look into the deplorable plight of the COMELEC rank and file and grant our appeal,” Ramirez said.

In support for Nanay & Tatay

Concludes Ramirez: “As the Honourable Chairman is set to appear before the powerful Committee on Appointments next week, we appeal to the Senators to take on the cudgels for the COMELEC rank and file, and raise our demand for a substantial wage increase with Chairman Brillantes as he takes the hot seat for his confirmation hearing.”

House OKs allocation of P8 billion for 2013 poll automation

2011-09-05T03:39:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - The House appropriations committee has endorsed the allocation of nearly P8 billion for the automation of the May 2013 congressional and local elections.

The amount is 80 percent of the P10-billion 2012 budget of the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

The money will be for the purchase or lease of computer machines to be used in the casting of ballots and counting of votes.

They would be similar to the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines used in the May 2010 elections.

To save on cost, Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez urged Comelec officials to study whether the PCOS units they leased from Smartmatic, the poll body’s automation contractor, could still be used in 2013 with some safeguards.

He said the Comelec has already paid Smartmatic more than P6 billion and has the option under its contract to purchase the PCOS machines at a discounted price of P1.8 billion.

“If we can use those machines for 2013 and one more national election, we will be saving taxpayers at least P6.2 billion,” he said.

Comelec Commissioner Gus Lagman, who was against the use of PCOS in 2010 when he was a private information technology consultant, said it was not practical for the poll body to buy PCOS machines.

He said warehousing would be a problem, plus the fact that technology changes fast.

He added it would be better for the Comelec to lease instead of buying the machines it would use in 2013.

Rodriguez, a member of the House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal (HRET), said he, like Lagman, did not believe in PCOS when the Comelec was trying to convince lawmakers and the public about the technology.

“But now I am a believer. I saw how accurate the PCOS results were when we matched them with the actual count of votes in resolving election protest cases in the HRET. Because of their accuracy, we are now about to resolve all cases,” he said.

Because PCOS tabulation results were available at the municipal, city and provincial levels, Rodriguez said the nation knew in a few days that then Sen. Benigno Aquino III won the 2010 presidential election.

“Long before the official congressional canvass started, we knew President Aquino won. The Filipino people and foreign governments were already congratulating him. Election operators could not tamper with the PCOS. It would have been a different story if the old manual, cheating-prone system were used,” he stressed.

The lawmaker said that if the Comelec decides to use the PCOS, it should put in place additional safeguards since election operators and cheaters might have already studied how the technology works.

Besides the P8 billion in automation funds, the 2012 Comelec budget includes P123.2 million for the resumption of the system of continuing registration.

The poll body sought an additional P51.5 million for preparations for overseas absentee voting, but the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) gave the money to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The Comelec intends to use the bulk of the funds for travel expenses since it would have to send teams to countries where there are large numbers of Filipinos.

The DBM transferred the money to the DFA apparently to save on cost.

COMELEC rushes preps for 2013 polls

To avoid further delay in the preparations for the 2013 elections, the Comelec pushed for the immediate convening of the poll body’s advisory council.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said there is a need for the newly created Information and Communications Technology Office (ICTO) to immediately convene the Comelec Advisory Council and initiate the first step in election preparations.

“We need to move fast because we are already late (in our preparations) for the 2013 polls. We cannot move without the CAC,” Brillantes said.

Last June, President Aquino issued an order dissolving the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) and reorganizing it into ICTO under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Malacañang named Louis Casambre as the executive director of ICTO. He will sit as chairman of the CAC with members coming one each from the DOST and the Department of Education, and another from academe, three from the IT industry, and two from poll reform groups.

The CAC shall have the function of recommending to the Comelec the “most appropriate, secure, applicable and cost-effective technology” to be used as the automated election system (AES).

“We want to start early and we already have a plan, the CAC should recommend the approval,” Brillantes said. – By: Mayen Jaymalin

COMELEC Chairman Brillantes promotes early voter registration at LRT

2011-07-31T01:25:00.000-07:00

Commission on Elections (COMELEC) Chairman Sixto S. Brillantes Jr. this morning rode the Light Rail Transit (LRT) to drive home the poll body’s call for the Filipino public to register as voters.

Brillantes was at the Recto Station of the LRT Line 2 Friday, 29 July 2011, to inspect the installation of COMELEC posters and streamers at LRT stations and terminals.

Saying that he wanted to personally talk to the commuting public, the 72 year old poll chief asked representatives from the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) if he could ride the LRT to return to his office in Intramuros Manila.

LRTA officials told the COMELEC Chairman that if he wanted to ride a train to the LRT Line 1 Central Terminal in Arroceros, Manila, which is the LRT station nearest the COMELEC Office, he would have to walk for about five minutes to reach the Doroteo Jose Station of the LRT line 1.

Brillantes gamely obliged, saying that he doesn’t mind the long walk as he misses riding the train.

Upon reaching the Doroteo Jose Station, Brillantes boarded a coach meant for females, children, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens. He refused offers from people for the Chairman to take their seats.

“I wanted to personally tell the LRT commuters to register and register early. People should not wait for the deadline before they go to COMELEC offices to register,” Brillantes said.

“This is also a call for the public to patronize the LRT, not only because riding its trains are good for the environment, the LRT is also strong supporter of the Filipino people’s right to suffrage.”

Brillantes said that the LRTA allowed the COMELEC to post voter registration posters and streamers at all LRT stations and terminals.

COMELEC eyes own poll technology for 2013 elections

2011-07-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

COMELEC COMMISSIONER AUGUSTO LAGMAN

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will develop its own canvassing and consolidation system for automated 2013 mid-term polls as part of a five-year program that it will put in place under the Aquino administration.

Comelec Commissioner Augusto Lagman said the agency intends to tap “Filipino-developed” technology for the canvassing and consolidation of ballots when it holds the 2013 polls.

“We like Filipino-developed technology to be used. We want the Comelec to be more involved in the implementation of election and so one very important aspect is to upgrade the information technology (IT) competence of the in-house personnel,” Lagman said.

Under the Comelec Strategic Plan 2011-2016 (Comstrat), the poll body will “enhance the IT capability of Comelec to support the conduct of modernized, efficient, transparent and credible elections and election adjudication.”

The poll body intends to strengthen the capability of election personnel for information and communication technology. This will be done by hiring IT experts and by submitting personnel from the main and field offices to IT proficiency training.

Comstrat serves as the blueprint of Comelec’s efforts to modernize, reform and redeem the integrity of the agency.

“One very important step is to upgrade the IT competence of the in-house personnel. That’s number one in our list,” said Lagman

“We are lining up a list of training courses that they (employees) would undergo so that they could upgrade their (IT) competence and capability,” he added.

Lagman, however, clarified that their initial plan will be to develop their own “back-end” system but not the “front-end” yet.

He noted that the back-end is composed of the consolidation and canvassing part while the front-end are the voting, counting and transmission.

“(It is) because canvassing and consolidation does not change no matter what front-end system we adopt. Whether it is Optical Mark Reader, Precinct Count Optical Scan, Direct Recording Electronic, even manual… no matter what front-end we use, we’ll all use the same canvassing and consolidation system,” explained Lagman, who was an IT expert prior to his appointment to the commission.

Lagman noted that canvassing and consolidation – the “back-end” aspect of the election – “do not change no matter what technology for front-end system we adopt.”

“Whether it is optical mark reader (OMR), precinct count optical scan (PCOS) and direct recording electronic (DRE). No matter what (front-end) system we use, even manual, we’ll all use the same canvassing and consolidation system,” he said, referring to technologies that were leased by the Comelec for use in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) in 2008 and in the May 2010 presidential

“We’d like the Comelec to develop that part of the system. And we want to own it because it can be used from one election to the other election. It’s the Comelec which will master the running part of that,” Lagman maintained.

Law to postpone August 8 ARMM Elections

2011-07-05T09:02:00.000-07:00

Republic of the Philippines

Congress of the Philippines

Metro Manila

Fifteenth Congress

First Regular Session

Begun and held in Metro Manila, on Monday, the twenty-sixth day of July, two thousand ten.

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10153

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF THE ELECTIONS IN THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (ARMM) WITH THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. — In accordance with the intent and mandate of the Constitution and Republic Act No. 7166, entitled: “An Act Providing for Synchronized National and Local Elections and for Electoral Reforms, Authorizing Appropriations Therefor, and for Other Purposes”, it is hereby declared the policy of the State to synchronize national and local elections. Pursuant thereto, the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) is hereby synchronized with the national and local elections as hereinafter provided.

SEC. 2. Regular Elections.—The regular elections for the Regional Governor, Regional Vice Governor and Members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) shall be held on the second (2^nd) Monday of May 2013. Succeeding regular elections shall be held on the same date every three (3) years thereafter.

SEC. 3. Appointment of Officers-in-Charge.—The President shall appoint officers-in-charge for the Office of the Regional Governor, Regional Vice Governor and Members of the Regional Legislative Assembly who shall perform the functions pertaining to the said offices until the officials duly elected in the May 2013 elections shall have qualified and assumed office.

SEC. 4. Manner and Procedure of Appointing Officers-in-Charge.—There shall be created a screening committee, whose members shall be appointed by the President, which shall screen and recommend, in consultation with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Senate President, the persons who will be appointed as Officers-in-Charge.

SEC. 5. Qualifications.—No person shall be appointed officer-in-charge unless he or she complies with the qualifications for Regional Governor, Regional Vice Governor or Members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the ARMM, as provided in Republic Act No. 6734, entitled: “An Act Providing for an Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao”, as amended by Republic Act No. 9054, entitled: “As Act to Strengthen and Expand the Organic Act for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 6734″.

SEC. 6. Study and Review of the Organic Act.—The appointed Members of the Regional Legislative Assembly of the ARMM shall conduct a study and review of Republic Act No. 9054 and submit recommendations to the Congress of the Philippines within six (6) months from their assumption into office.

SEC. 7. Separability Clause.—In the event any part or provision of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions not affected thereby shall remain in force and effect.

SEC. 8. Repealing Clause.—Republic Act No. 9333 is hereby repealed. All laws, decrees, orders, rules and regulations and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed, amended or modified accordingly.

SEC. 9. Effectivity Clause.—This Act shall take effect immediately upon the completion, of its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,

(Sgd.) JUAN PONCE ENRILE

President of the Senate

(Sgd.) FELICIANO BELMONTE JR.

Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which originated in the House of Representatives was finally passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate on June 7, 2011 and June 6,2011, respectively.

(Sgd.) EMMA LIRIO-REYES

Secretary of the Senate

(Sgd.) MARILYN B. BARUA-YAP

Secretary General

House of Representatives

Approved: June 30, 2011

( Sgd.) BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III

President of the Philippines

Campaign for August 8 ARMM polls begins Friday, since no law mandates to postpone it

2011-06-24T06:53:00.000-07:00

MAKATI CITY (MindaNews/23 June) – The campaign period for the August 8 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) begins Friday, June 24 with former Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Mangudadatu and Margarita “Tingting” Cojuangco, the PDP’s candidates for governor and vice governor, firing their opening salvo with a “leaders’ forum” in Datu Odin Sinsuat town in Maguindanao, Cojuangco’s poll advisor, Annie Andanar said.

Congress in early June passed a bill resetting the August 8 elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) to synchronize it with the May 13, 2013 national mid-term elections and to allow President Aquino to appoint officers-in-charge in the interim but the bill he earlier certified as urgent, has yet to be signed into law.

Mr. Aquino is scheduled to sign it on June 30, a full year after he took his oath of office as President.

Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process Teresita Quintos-Deles told MindaNews the signing has been scheduled for June 30 to allow the bill’s sponsors to witness the signing.

House Minority Leader Edcel Lagman said President Aquino is deliberately delaying the signing to deny the Supreme Court time to rule on the expected petitions questioning the new law.

The law presently governing the ARMM mandates a 45-day campaign period for the elections that are supposed to be held every three years.

In force

James Jimenez, spokesperson of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) told MindaNews immediately after the approval of the bill that Comelec will “stop preparations as soon as it is signed into law. The law should be considered sound until overturned.”

On June 23, he told MindaNews that because the bill has not been signed into law, they have not issued a notice stopping all election activities “so technically, the calendar of activities (in relation to the August 8 polls) will still be in force. Hence, the campaign period will start as scheduled.”

Andanar told MindaNews, “we are embarking on an alternative campaign beginning tomorrow, June 24.” She said they will hold a “leaders’ forum” at 6 p.m. tomorrow in Datu Odin Sinsuat town, Maguindanao, where Cojuangco has a house and where her voter’s registration was transferred.

Cojuangco is an aunt of President Benigno Simeon Aquino.

Andanar said the “leaders’ forum” will be held after the celebration of Mangudadatu’s birthday also tomorrow in Sultan Kudarat province. Mangudadatu, former governor and representative of Sultan Kudarat province transferred his voter’s registration to Buluan town in Maguindanao early last year. Sultan Kudarat province is not part of the ARMM.

She said there will be “no big rallies,” adding there will be “maximum interaction with the community formal and informal leaders, dialogues to engage the voters to participate in the exercise of their right to elect their regional officials under the organic law RA 9054.”

To the Supreme Court

Earlier, groups against the postponement of the August 8 polls had signified they would go to the Supreme Court to question the validity of the new law but no petition can be filed as yet because the bill has not been signed into law.

“The PDP-Laban, Pax Mangudadatu and I are definitely going to the Supreme Court to convince the high tribunal that pushing through with the August 8, 2011 elections was what the Constitution mandates,” the Manila Standard quoted Cojuangco as saying in its June 8 report.

Cojuangco said they were confident the Supreme Court will rule in their favor. “The Supreme Court will see in our petition that the Constitution grants the people of ARMM the freedom to choose their own leaders and the naming of OICs by the President is contrary to what is mandated by the Constitution,” she said.

Fourteen candidates for governor and 16 for vice governor filed their certificates of candidacy as of the deadline midnight of May 25.

Only two political parties fielded candidates: PDP-Laban’s Mangudadatu-Cojuangco and the Kilusang Bagong Lipunan (KBL).

Candidates

The Comelec’s list of candidates for governor: Ashmaira Mayasa Abdullah, incumbent Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Alonto Adiong, Saad Ibrahim Amate, Pangalian Macaorao Balindong, Ephraim Baldomero Defino, former Anak Mindanaw partylist Rep. Mujiv Sabbihi Hataman, former OIC ARMM Governor Alvarez Silal Isnaji, Ansaroden Magangcong Sani Banuas Luman Moner, former Sultan Kudarat governor and representative Pax Pakung Sandigan Mangudadatu, Kadra Asani Masihul (KBL), Datu Habib Sarifuddin Samanodi Maulana, Elsie New Orejudos, former OIC Lanao del Sur Governor Saidamen Balt Pangarungan and Sahiron Dulah Salim.

Acting ARMM Governor Ansaruddin-Abdul Malik Alonto Adiong, brother of Mamintal, won the vice gubernatorial post in 2005 and 2008, as Zaldy Ampatuan’s running mate. He filed his certificate of candidacy for governor last Monday but slid down to vice governor after his elder brother, the Lanao del Sur governor, filed a COC for ARMM governor.

The candidates for vice governor are: Fatani Sultan Abdul Malik, Ansaruddin Abdul Malik Alonto Adiong, Mikunug Pangcatan Ampao, Arab Dimasimpun Ampasao, Shariffa Ziola Anding Bago, Datu Pelaez Alo Carudin, former Tarlac GovernorMargarita “Tingting” Delos Reyes Cojuangco, Bobby Manangaran Datimbang, Alikhan Awar Dimaro, Gani Usman Gaddung, Abdulbasit Ampaso Hadjinor, Omar Tani Hassiman, former Lanao del Sur governor Basher Dimalaang Manalao, Kano Pasandalan Nor, Marconi Curso Paiso Al Haj and Abdusakur II Abubakar Tan.

Based on Comelec records, 81 filed their COCs for 24 seats in the Regional Legislative Assembly. In Sulu, six candidates filed their COCs for assemblyman; nine in the second district; in Lanao del Sur, 12 filed in the first district, 12 also in the second district; in Maguindanao, five filed in the first district, 15 in the second; in Tawi-tawi, nine filed while 13 filed for three seats in the RLA representing Basilan.

Maguindanao Governor Esmael “Toto” Mangudadatu’s brother, Khadafy, an incumbent assemblyman, earlier filed a COC for vice governor but later opted for a reelection as assemblyman of the second district of Maguindanao.

Hataman, whose name has repeatedly been mentioned for appointment as OIC Governor, filed his COC for governor with no political party listed. (Carolyn O. Arguillas/MindaNews)

COMELEC junks proposal for manual ARMM polls

2011-05-16T04:33:00.000-07:00

By: Mayen Jaymalin

MANILA, Philippines - The Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections will definitely be automated, a source at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said yesterday.

The poll body, according to the source, has already junked a proposal to go to manual in the ARMM polls.

The poll official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Comelec rejected the appeal of newly appointed Commissioner Augusto Lagman for manual elections.

“He (Lagman) really raised the issue of having manual elections but the commission en banc has decided to honor the earlier decision,” the source said.

“It is already official therefore that the ARMM elections will be automated, if ever (the polls will) push through,” the source added.

The source said the deliberation was “healthy” and “cordial” although it began with Lagman strongly pushing for the manual system.

In the end, the source said, Lagman conceded defeat to his six fellow commissioners.

“The (commission) en banc ultimately decided to go automated in these ARMM elections pursuant to the election automation law,” the source said.

Lagman was the foremost critic of the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines used in the 2010 national and local elections, citing the technology’s insufficient transparency as required under Republic Act 9369 or the Poll Automation Law.

Upon his appointment, Lagman said he would exert all efforts to convince his fellow commissioners to revert to the manual system since the ARMM elections only involve a small number of candidates and winners.

The Comelec is set to use some 5,000 PCOS machines in the regional polls. It already has 900 units and is looking at buying 4,000 more.

Comelec is now negotiating with service provider Smartmatic International Corp. for an “option to purchase” the PCOS machines used in the May 10, 2010 elections.

Security measures

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is preparing security measures for the special congressional election in the first district of Ilocos Sur and for the ARMM polls as well.

PNP chief Director General Raul Bacalzo has met with the heads of the national support units and the regional police directors to assess the prevailing situation in the country, especially in Ilocos Sur and the ARMM.

“We are preparing for the elections in Ilocos Sur and ARMM, although nothing is final in the ARMM elections. We need to prepare for that,” said Bacalzo after presiding over the PNP’s second quarter conference last week.

The special election in the first district of Ilocos Sur was called to find a replacement for former congressman Ronald Singson who was convicted of drug trafficking by a court in Hong Kong last February.

Bacalzo said they are also readying security plans for the ARMM polls, which are initially set on Aug. 8.

The Senate has yet to pass a Palace-backed measure postponing the ARMM elections and synchronizing the exercise with the May 2013 national elections

The House of Representatives earlier had passed its own postponement bill. Two petitions questioning the move are pending before the Supreme Court.

Former senator Aquilino Pimentel yesterday said the move to postpone the ARMM polls is already “dead” due to lack of time.

“Malacañang’s position is not tenable. They are pushing hard for poll postponement and the appointment of OICs (officers-in-charge), but they have to follow legal processes,” Pimentel said.

“They need to first amend the ARMM Organic Law and subject it to a plebiscite.

That is the process and the ARMM Organic Law was adopted only after it was subjected to a plebiscite. That would be difficult for them since they cannot hold a plebiscite before the elections. There’s no time,” he added. – With Cecille Suerte Felipe, Edith Regalado

COMELEC sets early voter's registration for 2013 polls

2011-05-06T19:19:00.000-07:00

MANILA CITY, METRO MANILA — Starting May 3, new and eligible voters for the upcoming 2013 elections can start filing their applications, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

“We are urging all eligible first-time voters who will turn at least 18 years old on May 2013 to file their voter's registration this early. Let us avoid last-minute registrations so we can take part in electing our nation's leaders,” said Comelec spokesman James Jimenez.

Deadline of registration is October 31, 2012 but the Comelec is encouraging early registration so it can prepare better for the conduct of automated polls with the use of special ballots, such as those used in the May 2010 national elections, he added.

Aside from first-time voters, persons who want to transfer registration records to a new residence; change, update or correct entries such as those for newly-wed women who changed surnames; and voters whose records were deactivated for failure to vote in the past two elections can also file their applications within the registration period.

All voter applications must be personally filed at the office of the election officer in the municipal or city office where the applicant resides and wishes to vote.

Voters no longer need to bring photographs because his or her biometrics records composed of a digital photograph, fingerprints, and signature will be entered in data capturing machines during the filing of registration.

The biometrics registration is important to purge the voter's list of duplicate registration records and to update records of voters who were unable to enroll their biometrics information with Comelec, according to Resolution No. 9149 promulgated on February 22.

Applications will be received from Monday to Saturday, inclusive of holidays during regular office hours from 8am to 5pm. There will be no registration on December 22 to January 2 for the Christmas break.

Schedules for satellite registration in highly-populated areas will be announced after coordination with Comelec municipal and town offices.

Applicants must bring any valid school or government ID to register. Community tax certificates (Cedula) and certifications from the barangay will not be honored as valid identification documents.

For inquiries, contact the Comelec education and information department at (02) 525-9294. - By: Anna Valmero

SC orders Palace, COMELEC, Congress to answer ARMM petitions

2011-05-03T21:01:00.000-07:00

MANILA, Philippines - The Supreme Court (SC) yesterday ordered the executive and legislative branches to answer petitions opposing the proposal to postpone the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) set in August this year to 2013.

In a two-page resolution, the SC gave the Palace, Commission on Elections (Comelec), Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and Speaker Feliciano Belmonte Jr. to submit their respective comments to the petitions of groups led by Datu Michael Kida of the Maguindanao Federation of Autonomous Irrigators Association and lawyer Alex Macalawi of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Marawi City.

The respondents were given a non-extendible period of 10 days to comply with the order issued by Chief Justice Renato Corona in behalf of the SC full court that is on decision-writing recess until the third week of this month.

In separate petitions filed last month, the two groups composed of barangay officials and concerned voters in the ARMM questioned before the SC the legality of House Bill 4146 and Senate Bill 2756, which both intend to synchronize the ARMM polls with the mid-term national elections in 2013.

Kida and Macalawi both sought the issuance of a temporary restraining order enjoining Congress from further proceeding with both bills, which they argued are unconstitutional as they violate Republic Act 9054 (the ARMM’s Organic Act) that sets regional elections on the second Monday of September this year.

In his group’s petition, Kida argued that the proposed postponement also “violates the principles of a democratic and republican state mandated by the Constitution, and the right of Muslims in the region to local autonomy.”

The proposed postponement “would deny the voters in ARMM their right to elect their officials for a period of two years, in violation of their right to equal protection of the law, which guarantees the right of all qualified citizens to participate in local government on an equal footing,” Kida’s group further argued.

Macalawi’s group, on the other hand, argued in its 35-page petition that HB 4146, if enacted to law, would be the eighth postponement of the ARMM polls within the region’s 21-year existence.

“And this time Congress should be enjoined from this corrupt customary practice of repeatedly postponing ARMM polls and to stick to the prescribed regular ARMM elections provided in RA 9054,” the group said.

But the two groups differed as to when the ARMM polls should exactly be held. The first one believes that the polls should be held on Sept. 12 pursuant to RA 9054, and the second group, on Aug. 8 as set in RA 9333.

The administration of President Aquino supports the proposed postponement of the ARMM polls, saying many local officials in the autonomous region support it.

Meanwhile, the Comelec has rescheduled the filing of certificates of candidacy (COCs) for the ARMM polls.

In Resolution No. 9211, the Comelec said candidates can file their COCs from May 14 to 18. The original schedule was May 9 to 13.

There are some two million registered voters in the ARMM provinces of Basilan (except for Isabela City), Maguindanao (except for Cotabato City), Sulu, Lanao del Sur, and Tawi-Tawi.

They will elect their regional governor and vice governor, and members of the regional legislative assembly.

“The COC shall be filed by the candidate personally or by his duly authorized representative. No COC shall be filed or accepted by mail, telegram or facsimile,” the Comelec said.

The poll body asked candidates not to use titles in their names when they file their COCs.

“Titles such as don, datu, doctor, ginoo or words of similar imports shall not be allowed,” it said. – Edu Punay, with Sheila Crisostomo, PhilStar.com

Voter registration and validation of registration records resumes today

2011-05-02T22:59:00.000-07:00

Voter registration and validation of registration records in areas not within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) resumed on Tuesday, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said.

The continuing registration in non-ARMM areas was supposed to resume on April 1, 2011 but was moved to May 3, 2011. It will end on Oct. 31, 2012.

However, the Comelec said voter registration will take a short break from Dec. 22, 2011 to Jan. 3, 2012. The next national elections will be conducted in May 2013.

In Comelec Resolution 9168, the poll body said voter registration was reset because their regional election directors needed more time to procure and deliver voter application forms to the offices of provincial election supervisors.

Comelec Resolution 9149 says that voters not yet registered are required to personally file at the Office of the Election Officer in the city or municipality where the applicant resides their applications for:

 registration;

 transfer of registration records;

 change or correction of entries in the registration records;

 reactivation of registration records;

 inclusion of registration records, or

 reinstatement of name in the list of voters.

Registration hours

The Comelec said applications will be received from Monday to Saturday, including holidays, during regular office hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

However, it said satellite registrations for detainee voters in detention centers shall also be conducted beginning January 12, 2012 to "ensure wider voter participation."

However, the Comelec announced in a separate resolution that resumption of voter registration in 10 municipalities in the 1st district of Ilocos Sur will be moved to July 1, 2011 since the poll body still has to conduct special elections in the area on May 28.

The 10 municipalities are: Bantay, Cabugao, Caoayan, Magsingal, San Ildefonso, San Juan, San Vicente, Sta. Catalina, Sinait, and Vigan City.

On the other hand, the 10-day voter registration for the August 2011 ARMM polls ended last March 31.

Requirements

The poll body said any Filipino citizen who is at least 18 years old, a resident for at least one year in the place where he intends to vote – for at least six months immediately preceding the election day – may file an application for registration.

Applicants need only bring any valid ID when they register, such as but not limited to:

 Current employee’s ID, with the signature of the employer or authorized representative;

 Postal ID;

 Student’s ID or library card, signed by the school authority;

 Senior citizen’s ID;

 Driver’s license;

 NBI/PNP clearance;

 Passport;

 SSS/GSIS ID;

 Integrated Bar of the Philippine (IBP) ID, and

 License issued by the Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC).

The Comelec reminded applicants that community tax certificates (cedula) and barangay certifications will not be honored as valid identification documents. - VVP, GMA News

Guidelines in Filing COCs and Nomination for Aug 8, 2011 ARMM Elections

2011-04-28T08:46:00.000-07:00

Republic of the Philippines

COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS

M a n i l a

GUIDELINES ON THE FILING OF CERTIFICATES OF CANDIDACY AND NOMINATION OF OFFICIAL CANDIDATES OF REGISTERED POLITICAL PARTIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE AUGUST 08, 2011 ELECTION OF REGIONAL OFFICIALS IN THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (ARMM). x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x		BRILLANTES, Sixto, Jr. S., SARMIENTO, Rene V., TAGLE, Lucenito N. VELASCO, Armando C., YUSOPH, Elias R., LIM, Christian Robert S.	Chairman Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner Commissioner
		Promulgated: April 28, 2011

RESOLUTION No. 9212

The Commission on Elections, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the Omnibus Election Code, and other election laws, RESOLVED to promulgate, as it hereby RESOLVES to promulgate, the following rules and guidelines on the filing of certificates of candidacy and nomination of official candidates of registered political parties in connection with the August 08, 2011 election of regional officials in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

SECTION 1. Certificate of Candidacy. – a) No person shall be elected Regional Governor, Regional Vice-Governor, or Member, Regional Legislative Assembly unless he files a sworn certificate of candidacy in the form prescribed by the Commission and within the period fixed herein.

b) No person shall be eligible for more than one office to be filed in the same election. If he files a certificate of candidacy for more than one office he shall not be eligible for any of them. However, before the expiration of the period for the filing of certificate of candidacy, the person who has filed more than one certificate of candidacy may declare under oath the office for which he desires to be eligible and cancel the certificate of candidacy for the other office or offices. Said declaration shall be filed personally or through his duly authorized representative with the proper office in accordance with Sec. 3 hereof.

c) A person who has filed a certificate of candidacy may, prior to the election, withdraw the same pursuant to Section 13 hereof.

d) The filing or withdrawal of a certificate of candidacy shall not affect whatever civil, criminal or administrative liabilities which a candidate may have incurred.

SEC. 2. Contents of Certificate of Candidacy. – The certificate of candidacy shall be under oath and shall state that the person filing it is announcing his candidacy for the office and constituency stated therein; that he is eligible for said office, his age, gender, civil status, place and date of birth, his citizenship, whether natural-born or naturalized; the registered political party to which he belongs, if any; if married, the full name of the spouse; his legal residence, giving the exact address, the precinct number, barangay, city or municipality and province where he is a registered voter; his post office address for election purposes; his profession or occupation or employment; that he is not a permanent resident of or an immigrant to a foreign country; that he will support and defend the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; that he will obey the laws, legal orders, decrees, resolutions, rules and regulations promulgated and issued by the duly-constituted authorities; that he assumes the foregoing obligations voluntarily without mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that the facts stated in the certificate are true and correct to the best of his own knowledge.

Unless a candidate has officially changed his name through a court-approved proceeding, a candidate shall use in a certificate of candidacy the name by which he has been baptized or if he has not been baptized in any church or religion, the name registered in the office of the local civil registrar or any other name under the provisions of existing law or, in the case of a Muslim, his Hadji name after performing the prescribed religious pilgrimage; provided, that when there are two or more candidates for an office with the same name and surname, each candidate, upon being made aware of such fact, shall state his paternal and maternal surname, except the incumbent who may continue to use the name and surname stated in his certificate of candidacy when he was elected.

The person filing the certificate of candidacy may include one nickname or stage name by which he is generally or popularly known in the locality; Provided, That no candidate shall use the nickname, stage name or initials of another. In case of several nicknames or stage names, only the nickname or stage name first written shall be considered. He shall affix his signature, thumbmark and his latest passport size photograph (taken not more than three (3) months before the date of filing his certificate of candidacy); and if he so desires, a statement in duplicate containing his bio-data and program of government not exceeding one hundred words.

Titles, such as DON, DATU, DOCTOR, GINOO, or words of similar imports shall not be allowed.

SEC. 3. Where to File Certificate of Candidacy. – The certificate of candidacy shall be filed in FIVE (5) LEGIBLE COPIES with the offices of the Commission specified hereunder:

ELECTIVE OFFICE	COMELEC Office where the certificates shall be filed
Regional Governor Regional Vice-Governor	Office of the Regional Election Director, ARMM
Member, Regional Legislative Assembly	Office of the Provincial Election Supervisor concerned

The certificate of candidacy shall be filed by the candidate personally or by his duly authorized representative. No certificate of candidacy shall be filed or accepted by mail, telegram or facsimile. The authority of the authorized representative shall be in writing and under oath, and attached to the certificate of candidacy.

SEC. 4. Period for Filing Certificate of Candidacy. – The filing of certificate of candidacy shall be from 8:00 o’clock in the morning up to 5:00 o’clock in the afternoon, beginning May 14, 2011 up to May 17, 2011, inclusive of Saturday and Sunday, and from 8:00 o’clock in the morning to 12:00 midnight on May 18, 2011.

No certificate of candidacy and/or party nomination shall be received after 12:00 o’clock midnight of the last day for filing certificates of candidacy, except in cases of proper and valid substitution under Section 14 hereof.

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COMELEC employees welcome appointment of new poll commissioner Lagman

2011-04-28T05:38:00.000-07:00

Members of the Alliance of Commission on Elections Employees in Service (ACES) on Wednesday welcomed the appointment of veteran IT expert Augusto "Gus" Lagman as the new Comelec commissioner.

“Though the ACES earlier hoped for an insider, Mr. Lagman’s appointment to the seven-member collegial body is certainly welcome news," ACES vice president for internal affairs Mac Ramirez said in a statement Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Malacañang announced that Lagman will be replacing retired poll commissioner Nicodemo Ferrer, whose term ended last February.

Ramirez said that Lagman's IT knowledge will be of "tremendous use" for the Comelec while it gears up for the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) elections in August.

“We hope, however, Lagman wouldn’t turn-tail on his advocacy for transparency and credibility of the automated elections in the country now that he is inside the agency he helped keep in check for several years already," he said.

He likewise said he hopes the newly appointed Comelec official will also champion the welfare of the more than 6,000 Comelec rank and file employees nationwide.

“We urge him to also join us in our fight for job security, better working conditions, decent wages and in our democratic right to organize and negotiate with management concerning our welfare," Ramirez said. - Kimberly Jane Tan/KBK, GMA News

Veteran IT expert Gus Lagman is new COMELEC commissioner

2011-04-26T23:59:00.000-07:00

Agusto C. Lagman

MANILA, Philippines - President Noynoy Aquino has appointed IT professional Augusto C. Lagman as Commission on Elections (Comelec) commissioner for a term that will expire until February 2, 2018, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced today.

Lagman is currently chairman of Vinta Systems, Inc, developer of AI-oriented software products. He is also director of STI College Recto and Biometrix Technologies, according to his curriculum vitae.

Valte said it was Lagman’s “competence” that made him clinch the position. Valte said the President has always expressed his intention to appoint an IT expert “given the issues that the commission had faced during the last election.”

Asked why it took the President almost three months to name the appointee for the vacant slot, Valte said, “The President really wanted to find the right persons for the job. And sometimes it really takes quite some time to give over the shortlist and the nominees and you do know that sometimes also the President takes a personal hand in interviewing some nominees for any prospective position.” [By Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News]

COMELEC taste for solid narra beds hit hard

2011-04-26T23:17:00.000-07:00

NARRA tree

MANILA, Philippines — This is one failed bidding the Commission on Elections will not likely rue.

A bidding failure may have helped the COMELEC escape further controversy after the poll body Tuesday came under fire for its choice of Pterocarpus indicus as furniture for its five cottages in Baguio City.

For people allergic to scientific terms, Pterocarpus indicus simply refers to the national tree narra.

Environment lawyer Jose Gerardo Medina, in a letter to COMELEC law department director Ferdinand Rafanan, pointed out that narra is an endangered species. Rafanan also chairs the Comelec’s bids and awards committee (BAC).

Medina particularly protested the project’s specifications — that the 11 living room sets, 36 dining chairs, seven “king-sized beds” and 16 “queen-sized beds” be made of solid narra.

The wooden furniture, worth about P2.56 million, is part of the P9-million project for the supply of furnishings for the COMELEC’s five cottages that the poll body approved last December.

The bids committee certified the project as urgent as the COMELEC plans to hold summer sessions in Baguio.

“For the past three decades, the narra tree has been classified as an endangered species, the cutting and utilization of which is highly regulated and to a certain extent prohibited,” Medina said.

“As such, specifying furniture to be made from solid narra would be encouraging the use of an endangered premium hardwood species and would run contrary to the policy of the national government in protecting the narra species,” he said.

Critically endangered

Medina threw in another bit of advice: “Perhaps it would be best if the Comelec shy away from the use of endangered species and do its part in helping preserve the narra tree.”

The late Environment Secretary Angelo Reyes in 2007 issued an administrative order establishing a “national list of threatened Philippine plants.” Narra, along with yakal and kamagong, falls under the “critically endangered species” category.

Possible changes

Rafanan, in a phone interview, said no individual or company showed up to submit their bids by Tuesday’s 10 a.m. bidding deadline.

He said the bids committee was aware of the restrictions on the use of narra and that he called a high DENR official for advice.

“We were told that finished products of narra are not banned. The assumption is that they were crafted in compliance with our environmental laws,” Rafanan said, adding there were some furniture companies that mass cultivate narra trees for commercial purposes.

“We may ask the en banc to change the specifications,” he said.

Recycled wood

Medina suggested that the COMELEC use pre-fabricated or recycled wood available in the market.

“High-end furniture nowadays are made not of solid wood but rather of engineered wood or laminated boards which are equally as beautiful and functional,” he said.

Rafanan said the COMELEC may simply buy furniture priced at P500,000 and below, or settle for a negotiated contract if a second bidding fails.

The Switzerland-based International Union for Conservation of Nature, in its online “Red List of Threatened Species,” placed the status of narra under the “vulnerable” category. - By Jerome Aning, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 04/27/2011

Commissioner Lim to focus on Electoral Reforms & Training of Election Officers

2011-04-06T00:55:00.000-07:00

COMELEC Commissioner Christian Robert Lim

Newly appointed Commission on Elections (COMELEC) commissioner Christian Robert Lim said he felt "overwhelmed" after his first en banc session but is challenged to do reforms in the electoral system.

In an interview on GMA Network's Unang Balita on Wednesday, Lim said his experience in the last elections showed him the kinds of reforms that he wants to implement in the Comelec, especially in the precinct level.

Aside from crafting resolutions, he said he wants to focus more on implementing what's already there, especially training election personnel and teachers to get them ready for the next automation elections.

He said the teachers and other election officers were not properly trained to handle the last automated elections, which made them panic when something went wrong.

"Mas importante 'yung training (for teachers and board of election inspectors) para wala nang duda kung may nangyayari sa eleksyon (Training teachers and board of election inspectors is more important so there's no more doubt when something happens in the next elections)," he said.

Lim was part of the legal and anti-fraud group of President Benigno Aquino III's Bantay Balota in the May 2010 elections.

But he quickly dismissed speculations that his appointment is a payback for helping out Aquino in the presidential campaign, stressing his new job is actually a "sacrifice."

In the same television interview, Lim admitted he was surprised when he found out he was appointed, jokingly adding that he thought it was an April Fools joke.

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On Monday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte announced that Lim will take the post vacated by Gregorio Larrazabal, who retired in February.

Lim said he submitted a résumé because he wanted to work for government, but he did not have any position in mind. Lim also said he did not know who was behind his endorsement.

He added that he felt sad about having to leave his private law office so soon.

Lim will serve in the poll body until February 2018 if his nomination will be approved by the bicameral Commission on Appointments. — Candice Montenegro/RSJ, GMA News

New poll commissioner denies plot

2011-04-05T03:25:00.000-07:00

Commissioner Christian Robert Lim

MANILA, Philippines - The newest commissioner of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) denied Tuesday his appointment has anything to do with preparations by former Senator Mar Roxas for an election bid in 2016.

Lawyer Christian Robert Lim was asked this question in his 1st press briefing before the Comelec media on Tuesday.

Lim said he only talked to Roxas once, and that was when the former lawmaker called to congratulate him for his appointment.”But besides that he wasn't able to talk to me in terms of plans for 2016. It's all speculative.”

Lim was a lawyer for Roxas and President Aquino, as well as the Villaraza, Cruz, Marcelo and Angangco law firm, which has known close ties to Roxas.

“I used to be an associate employee. I don’t know who pushed my papers if that helped. I'm grateful to those who helped me.”

Lim will serve till February 2, 2018, 2 years after the 2016 presidential elections.

The new commissioner is still surprised at his appointment, saying he feels overwhelmed now that Comelec Chairman Sixto Brilliants has started to give him an orientation on his new job.

“Till now medyo na-overwhelm pa ako to think si chairman brought me up, made me sit in en banc to know dynamics of commission. It's still a learning process.”

Lim said he only submitted a resume, and that he was informed he was being considered. However he didn’t see his name in any shortlist reported by media.

He said he feels now is the time to serve government after turning down previous offers to join government.

Lim is aware of the comparisons between him and his predecessor, lawyer Gregorio Larrazabal. “Mas gwapo siya," he said.

Like his predecessor, Lim said he is also fond of electronics.

Lim is now focusing his energies towards preparing for the regional elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. “Mukhang tutuloy yung ARMM elections. We hope we can refine the automation process (and) use it to further showcase automation," he said.

Lim will serve with the 1st division, led by Commissioner Rene Sarmiento.

SOURCE: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Voter Registration and Validation to Start on May 3, 2011 instead of April 1

2011-03-28T01:58:00.000-07:00

RESOLUTION NO. 9168

IN THE MATTER OF THE RESETTING OF THE RESUMPTION OF THE SYSTEM OF CONTINUING REGISTRATION OF VOTERS IN THE NON-ARMM AREAS, FROM APRIL 1, 2011 TO MAY 3, 2011.

Promulgation: 22 March 2011

WHEREAS, Resolution No. 9149, promulgated on February 22, 2011 entitled “Rules and Regulations For the Resumption of the System of Continuing Registration and Validation of Registration Records in the Non-ARMM Areas”, provides that the system of continuing of registration of voters for non-ARMM areas shall resume on April 1, 2011 and end on October 31, 2012;

WHEREAS, in order to expedite the distribution to the field offices of application forms to be used in connection with the resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters, the Commission promulgated on March 02, 2011, Minute Resolution No. 11-0268, delegating to the Regional Election Directors of the non-ARMM areas the authority to procure said application forms for use in their respective area of jurisdiction;

WHEREAS, to afford the Regional Election Directors with sufficient time to procure the application forms, and deliver the same to the offices of their respective Provincial Election Supervisors, there is a need to reset the commencement of the system of continuing the registration of voters in the non-ARMM areas;

NOW, THEREFORE, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution, Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 8189 and other election laws, the Commission RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to reset the resumption of the system of continuing registration of voters in the non-ARMM areas from April 1, 2011 to May 3, 2011.

Let the Education and Information Department cause the widest dissemination of this Resolution, and its publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation of the Philippines.

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

COMELEC and watchdog gear up voter information in Muslim communities outside ARMM

2011-03-16T00:47:00.000-07:00

QUEZON CITY, Philippines - The Commission on Elections and a citizen watchdog that is operating in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have started a voters’ education partnership program intended for Muslim voters who came from the ARMM, but are residing in Metro Manila and other areas outside of the region.

Amid calls to move the constitutionally-set voting in ARMM in August, the Education and Information Department of the Comelec and Citizens Coalition for ARMM Electoral Reform jointly conducted voters’ education on the continuing registration for the electorates coming from the autonomous region but are residing in Muslim communities in Culiat and Tandang Sora areas in Quezon City.

Director James Jimenez, of the Comelec’s EID and Jumda Sabaani, chairperson of C-CARE, who were among the speakers in a forum Sunday attended by some 200 electorates, mostly Maguindanaon, Tausog and Maranao, took turns in stressing that “every citizen of the country can only register once.”

The emphasis was premised on a finding that many electorates registered in ARMM were also registered in the barangays where they have established residence in Metro Manila and other parts of the country. The Maguindanaons, Tausogs and Maranaos are natives of Maguindanao, Sulu and Lanao del Sur, which are all part of the five-province Muslim autonomous region.

In a phone interview, Sabaani relayed that her group and the Comelec explained to the electorates the election law that prohibits multiple registration. “If you are already registered in Metro Manila, you can no longer register in ARMM,” she said while explaining that the electoral office is continuously accepting registrants.

Sabaani said that with the assistance of Jimenez and Leo Lim, an information officer of the Comelec’s EID department, they explained the details of the continuing registration process by walking the electorates through the filling up of registration forms.

Culiat village chieftain Jaime Garcia, who welcomed the consultation participants, called upon the Muslim electorates in his village to “be responsible in exercising your right to suffrage,” emphasizing further “that your participation in a democratic exercise, such as election, is a manifestation of you freedom.”

Sabaani, a Tausog native, stressed to her fellow Islam believers “the need for us to register as a requisite for us to be able to exercise our right to suffrage.”

“It doesn’t really matter, as far as registration of voters is concern, whether elections in ARMM will push thru as scheduled in August or not,” the C-Care chair said even as she warned the public against dual or multiple registration.

“If you are registered in Culiat, you should no longer file a registration in ARMM, or, if you are already registered in ARMM, you should not register again in Culiat to prevent double registration, since this is against the law,” Sabaani said.

Jimenez said that the voters’ registration in ARMM will be held this coming March 21 to 31, while in all other areas nationwide will be on April 1 to October 31.

“The Comelec will begin its nationwide drive to inform the public on the upcoming voters’ registration. We urge them to be on the lookout for voter education activities that will be conducted in their areas,” he said.

Jimenez also urged the public to visit the Comelec’s website www.comelec.gov.ph and its Education and Information Department’s blog at www.comelec.wordpress.com for updates and related information.

He reported that the poll body has already activated the "COMELEC TV Channel YouTube" and can be accessed on this URL: http://www.youtube.com/user/comelectv), which features voter's education and information videos.

“It will also feature a web news program that will deliver a round-up of the most recent Comelec-related news as well as video-clips of Comelec field officials at work,” he said.

Jimenez said that the public forum for Muslim voters at the Salam Mosque Compound in Culiat, was in preparation for the 10-day voters registration.

Another forum will be conducted Monday at the Legislative Wing of the Quezon City Hall.

The postponement of ARMM polls is being pushed to give way to a synchronized election in 2013. It will also give the President a chance to appoint caretakers in those provinces. (Romy Elusfa)

COMELEC expedites fast-track issuance of voter IDs to Taiwan-bound OFWs

2011-03-10T01:17:00.000-08:00

Good news for overseas Filipino workers bound for Taiwan.

The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has announced that they have instituted measures that shall expedite the issuance of their voter identification cards.

The COMELEC said such measures were implemented after Malacanang requested the poll body to ensure the fast tracking of the issuance of voter IDs for the purpose of processing of Taiwan-bound OFWs’ visa applications.

“We wish to inform all Taiwan-bound OFWs that we have put in place measures that shall ensure the swift release of their voter ID cards to facilitate their visa applications,” said COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez.

He said those who are interested to claim their voter IDs from the COMELEC shall only be required to submit proof such as an employment contract among others, to show that he is indeed a Filipino worker bound for Taiwan.

A processing fee of P75.00 shall also be required from requesting parties, Jimenez said, explaining that such a request for voter ID is a “special case” which requires disruption of the printing of the voter IDs which is usually done in batch.

Jimenez said applications for voter ID issuance shall be filed before the Central File Division of the COMELEC’s Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD) at the poll body’s Main Office in Intramuros, Manila.

“If an OFW filed his request between 8:00 AM and 12:00 noon, his voter ID will be released 4:00 PM on the same day,” said Jimenez.

COMELEC to Congress: Decide early on ARMM polls postponement

2011-02-25T20:55:00.000-08:00

Chairman Sixto Brillantes, Jr.

Saying it is doing a delicate balancing act, the Commission on Elections appealed to Congress Monday to decide early on whether to postpone the elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao scheduled for Aug. 8.

In a radio interview, Comelec chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said they stand either to waste some P2 billion in preparations for an election that will be postponed, or scramble at the last minute for an election that will turn out to proceed as scheduled.

"Siguro mapapakiusapan ni Presidente and I hope mapapakiusapan ang leadership ng House na ma-postpone. Ang hingi lang namin bilisan nang kaunti. Ang Senate is another issue. Tingnan natin kung mabibilisan nila ang pag-postpone," Brillantes told radio dwIZ.

(Perhaps President Benigno Aquino III can persuade the House of Representatives to act early to decide whether to postpone the ARMM polls. We only ask that the process be accelerated. The Senate is another issue. We hope to see the moves to postpone the elections move quicker.)

He cited concerns raised earlier by some lawmakers and officials involved in the peace process that holding the ARMM elections now may negatively affect the negotiations.

Brillantes said peace negotiations between the government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front may touch on the possible expansion of the ARMM.

A conflict may arise if the negotiations lead to changes in the areas covered by the ARMM, but only officials of provinces covered by the present ARMM are elected if the elections push through as originally scheduled on Aug. 8.

Included in the ARMM are the provinces of Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and the Islamic City of Marawi.

House bill

At the House of Representatives, Lanao del Sur Rep. Pangalian. Balindong filed House Bill 3542 that seeks to reschedule the ARMM polls to coincide with the May 2013 mid-term elections.

"There is a chance the area covered by the ARMM may expand because of the peace process. Some sectors have thus proposed that we postpone the ARMM elections and synchronize it with the May 2013 elections. In the meantime, the terms of the incumbent ARMM officials can be extended," Brillantes said in Filipino.

Brillantes said he made a courtesy call on Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile last week, where he asked the Senate to decide early whether to postpone the ARMM elections.

"Pinakiusapan ko lang magkaroon ng postponement sa House, pakiusap namin sa Comelec bilisan lang sa Senado para di tayo mabitin sa preparation. Kung gagastos na tayo, gagastos tayo sa preparation. Pag na-postpone at tumagal ang postponement, baka malaki na rin ang nagastos natin sa preparation. Gusto natin maaga ang announcement na ma-postpone na para di gumastos masyado at ma-minimize natin ang gastos," he said.

(After I asked the House leadership to make its decision early, I asked the Senate to do the same so we can prepare well. If we are to spend for the preparations, we should do so wisely. We need the announcement to come early so we will not waste funds)," he said.

He said Enrile did not make any commitment but will monitor developments on the debates on the matter at the House of Representatives.

"Di siya nag-commit sa akin. Pero sabi niya tingnan natin pag may postponement sa House and it will go up the Senate, pakikiusapan niya na bilisan ang decision kasi kailangan namin malaman (He made no commitment but said that if the House decides to postpone the elections and the issue goes up to the Senate he will fast-track the decision)," he said.

P2B for ARMM polls preparation

In the same radio interview, Brillantes said the Comelec has set aside P2 billion for the ARMM elections. For now, he said it has spent nearly P50 million for the Aug. 8 polls.

"We don’t want to pay millions, billions ang gastos dito. We’re preparing P2 billion ang gastos sa ARMM elections (We don’t want to pay billions. We are preparing P2 billion for the ARMM elections)," he said.

He said the bulk of the P2 billion may go to buying some 5,000 Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines worth P135 million, and their software and other “consumables."

Brillantes said they will likely buy the PCOS machines from Smartmatic, saying that when the Comelec leased 82,000 machines for the 2010 elections, it had the right to exercise an option to purchase.

He said the PCOS machines will cost only about 30 percent of the cost. — RSJ, GMA News