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II. Watchers | The Philippine Online Chronicles

II. Watchers
Written by Administrator

Tuesday, 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.43
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 citizens arm preference shall be given to the one authorized
by the COMELEC to conduct an uno cial count. 44

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 is
assigned;
b. is of good reputation;
c. has not been convicted by nal judgment of any election o ense 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 a nity to the
Chairman or to any other member of the BEI in the polling place where he seeks
appointment as watcher.45

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

Independent candidates,

At least fteen (15) days before

O cers with the names and

registered parties/

election day

signatures of their

organizations, or coalitions

representatives authorized

authorized by the COMELEC to

to appoint watchers in the

appoint watchers

city or municipality46
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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

Poll Watchers

Upon entering the polling place

BEI Chairman

Upon delivery of the watchers of

their appointments as
watchers
Record Pollwatchers
names in the Minutes with a

their appointments

notation under their

signatures that they are not
disquali ed to serve as such

24. What are the rights and duties of watchers?

Key Points For Watchers:

Watchers shall have the following rights47
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 certi cate as to the ling of such protest and the resolution thereof;
and

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A x 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.48

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.49
No watcher shall enter the place reserved for the voters and the BEI, nor mingle and talk
with the voters. 50
Watchers must stay only in the space reserved for them.51

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

A watcher may challenge any person o ering to vote on the ground that he:
a. is not registered;
b. is using the name of another;
c. is su ering from an existing disquali cation;52
d. received or expects to receive, paid, o ered or promised to pay, contributed,
o ered, 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 in uence 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.53
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 record the serial number of the seal(s) on the PCOS box(es)54
the
voting

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 sealing55

observe the initialization of the PCOS and sign the Initialization Report56
AFTER

observe the counting of votes and transmission and printing of ERs

the
voting
a x their signatures on the printed ERs57

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 treasurer58

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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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 noti ed
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.

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

45 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 16.

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

47 Batas Pambansa Blg. 881 (1985), Section 179; COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 17.
48 COMELEC Resolution No. 8809 (30 March 2010), Section 31.
49 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).
51 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 28 (b).

52 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 24.

53 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 25.
54 COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 (4 March 2010), Section 34 (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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