II. Watchers

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II. WatchersWritten by AdministratorTuesday, 27 April 2010 - Last Updated on April 27, 2010

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20. Who are entitled to appoint poll watchers?

The following are entitled to appoint two watchers, to serve alternately, in every polling

place:

a. each candidate and registered political party or coalition of political parties duly

registered with the COMELEC and elding candidates in the election; and

b. duly accredited citizens’ arms.

Candidates for Senator, candidates for Member, Sangguniang Panlalawigan or Sangguniang

Panlungsod, or Sangguniang Bayan, belonging to the same ticket or slate, shall collectively

be entitled to one watcher.

Duly accredited citizens arms of the COMELEC shall be entitled to appoint a watcher in

every polling place. Other civil, professional, business, service, youth, and any other similar

organizations, with prior authority of the COMELEC, shall be entitled collectively to appoint

one watcher in every polling place.

21. Will all these watchers be allowed in the polling place?

Yes. However, if all watchers cannot be accommodated because of limited space,

preference shall be given to watchers of:

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a. citizens’ arm;

b. dominant majority party, as determined by the COMELEC; and

c. dominant minority party, as determined by the COMELEC.

In case there are two or more citizen’s arm preference shall be given to the one authorized

by the COMELEC to conduct an unocial count.

22. Who may be appointed as a watcher?

No person shall be appointed watcher unless he:

a. is a registered voter of the city or municipality comprising the precinct where he isassigned;

b. is of good reputation;

c. has not been convicted by nal judgment of any election oense or of any other

crime;

d. knows how to read and write Filipino, English or any of the prevailing local dialects;

and

e. is not related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or anity to the

Chairman or to any other member of the BEI in the polling place where he seeks

appointment as watcher.

23. What are formalities that must be observed by watchers before they can perform their

duties?

WHAT TO DO WHO DOES IT WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE DONE

Provide the Election

Ocers with the names and

signatures of their

representatives authorized

to appoint watchers in the

city or municipality46

Independent candidates,

registered parties/

organizations, or coalitions

authorized by the COMELEC to

appoint watchers

At least fteen (15) days before

election day

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Note: The appointments of

the watchers shall bear the

signature of the candidate

or duly authorized

representative of the party,

organization or coalition

that appointed them.

Deliver to the BEI Chairman

their appointments as

watchers

Poll Watchers Upon entering the polling place

Record Pollwatchers’

names in the Minutes with a

notation under their

signatures that they are not

disqualied to serve as such

BEI Chairman Upon delivery of the watchers of

their appointments

24. What are the rights and duties of watchers?

Key Points For Watchers:

Watchers shall have the following rights

Witness and inform themselves of the proceedings of the BEI;

Take note of what they may see or hear;

Take photographs of the proceedings and incidents, if any, during the

voting, counting of votes, as well as of the generated ER and ballot

boxes;

File a protest against any irregularity or violation of law which they believe may have been

committed by the BEI or by any of its members or by any person;

Obtain from the BEI a certicate as to the ling of such protest and the resolution thereof;

and

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Ax their signatures and thumb marks in the ER if they are representing the dominant

majority and dominant minority parties elding candidates.

Watchers shall have the right to guard the room where ballot boxes shall be kept

after canvassing.

25. How should watchers conduct themselves in the performance of their duties?

Watchers shall not speak to any member of the BEI, or to any voter or among themselves,

in such a manner as would disturb the proceedings of the BEI.

No watcher shall enter the place reserved for the voters and the BEI, nor mingle and talk

with the voters.

Watchers must stay only in the space reserved for them.

26. On what grounds may a watcher challenge a prospective voter?

A watcher may challenge any person oering to vote on the ground that he:

a. is not registered;

b. is using the name of another;

c. is suering from an existing disqualication;

d. received or expects to receive, paid, oered or promised to pay, contributed,

oered, or promised to contribute money or anything of value as consideration for his

vote or for the vote of another;

e. made or received a promise to inuence the giving or withholding of any such vote;

or

f. made a bet or is interested directly or indirectly in a bet that depends upon the

results of the election.

27. Aside from discharging their duties during the voting proper, what else should

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watchers do to help safeguard the sanctity of the elections?

Watchers should be present at the following period and must perform the following tasks:

WHEN TASK

BEFORE

the

voting

record the serial number of the seal(s) on the PCOS box(es)

observe whether the PCOS box is sealed and check if the serial number of the seal is the

same as the serial number recorded during the

testing and sealing

observe the initialization of the PCOS and sign the Initialization Report

AFTER

the

voting

observe the counting of votes and transmission and printing of ERs

ax their signatures on the printed ERs

observe the disposition of the PCOS, ballot boxes, keys, ERs, and other documents even

after the termination of the counting of votes and the announcement of the results in the

precinct

accompany the BEI as it delivers the ballot box to the city or municipal treasurer

Key Points For Watchers:

The ballot box shall NEVER be reopened to place therein or to take

out therefrom any document or article except in proper cases and

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Administrator (18317 Posts)

with prior written authority of the COMELEC to retrieve copies of the

election returns which will be needed in any canvass.

In such situation, the BEI members and the watchers shall be notied

of the time and place of the opening of said ballot box.59 Watchers

should make sure they are present when the ballot box is opened.

43 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 15.



46 Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 (1985), Section 179; COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 17.




50 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 27 (b).





55 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 34 (f).

56 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 34 (w).

57 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 40 (m).

58 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 43 (e).

59 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 45 (2).

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