2010-03-28
As required by law, registered political parties, coalition of political parties and every candidate, associations or organizations participating in the party-list system representation, accredited citizens’ arms and accredited Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) organizations shall submit to the Philippine Consulate General their corresponding lists of watchers in New York not later than 5 April 2010. They must also furnish a copy of their list of watchers to the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV) of the Commission of Elections (COMELEC) in the Philippines on or before the above date.
They shall be entitled to one (1) watcher during the voting and counting of votes. If there is no sufficient space to accommodate all watchers, preference shall be given to the watchers of the dominant majority and dominant minority parties as determined by COMELEC, one (1) watcher for the accredited citizens’ arm, one (1) common watcher for accredited OFW organizations, and one (1) common watcher for the independent candidates.
No person shall be appointed as watcher unless he is an overseas absentee voter under the Consulate; b) is of good reputation; c) has not been convicted of any election offense or any crime; d) knows how to write and read English or Filipino; and e) is not related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to the chairman or to any member of the Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) in the Consulate.
At the polling place, watchers must show their appointments to the SBEI chairman who shall record their names. The appointments must bear the personal or facsimile signature of the candidate or the duly authorized representative of the political party, organization or coalition of parties who appointed them or of organizations authorized by the Commission. Hence, registered political parties, organizations or coalitions authorized by the Commission, accredited citizens’ arms and OFW organizations, must provide the COAV with the names and signatures of their representatives authorized to appoint watchers in each Post not later than March 26, 2010.
The duly-appointed watchers shall have the right to a) witness and inform themselves of the proceedings of the SBEI; b) take note of what they see or hear; c) take photograph of the proceedings and incidents, if any, during the counting of votes, as well as of the election returns, tally board and ballot boxes/receptacles; d) file a protest against any irregularity or violation of law which they believe may have been committed by the SBEI or by any of its members or by any person; e) obtain from the SBEI a certificate as to the filing of such protest and/or resolution thereon; f) read each ballot after it is read by the chairman, as well as the election returns after it is accomplished and signed by the members of the SBEI without touching such documents; and g) be furnished, upon request, with a Certificate of Votes (OAVF No.13) cast for the candidates, duly signed and thumb marked by the chairman and all members of the SBEI. They shall not speak to any member of the SBEI, or to any voter, or among themselves, in such a manner as would disturb the proceedings of the SBEI.