Resolution No. 10160

WHEREAS, the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections has been widely perceived as the most transparent and credible electoral exercise in the recent memory, with high voter participation of 81.62 % nationwide and with electronic transmission results coming in at an unprecedented rate of 95.15%, 17 hours after the close of polls, surpassing the transmission rates of the 2010 and 2013 automated elections;

WHEREAS, the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police have reported a significant decrease in the occurrence of election related violent incidents in the country, making it the most peaceful and orderly electoral exercise compared to previous automated elections;

WHEREAS, the national candidates' gesture of conceding defeat even at the early stage of the canvassing of results is indicative of the public's high regard and acceptance of the credibility of the process;

WHEREAS, the success of the recently concluded elections has become possible with the invaluable support of various government agencies, private groups and institutions, namely:

1. The Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police for providing security and assistance during the election period, campaign period and election day itself and for their selfless service as members of the COMELEC's Committee on the Ban of Fire Arms and Security Personnel;
2. The Bureau of Customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue for their assistance concerning the COMELEC's imported election paraphernalia;
3. The Bureau of Jail Management and Penelogy, the National Bilibid Prison, the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on Prison Pastoral Care, the Philippine Jesuit Prison Service Inc. and the Prisoner's Rehabilitation and Empowerment Service Organization, partners of the COMELEC in safeguarding the right of suffrage of detainees;
4. The Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine Institute of Public Accountants, and the National Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) for their time, effort and significant contributions in the conduct of the Random Manual Audit;
5. The Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority as partners of the COMELEC for the Operation Baklas;
6. The Department of Foreign Affairs for its support and assistance in the execution of Overseas Voting;
7. The Department of Transportation and Communication, National Grid Corporation of the Philippines, and the Department of Energy for ensuring that the elections if free from nationwide power interruption and signal jamming;
8. The Department of Science and Technology, Advanced Science and Technology Institute, and its Information and Communication Technology Office for their technical assistance to the COMELEC in the implementation of the Automated Election System;
9. The National Commission for Disability Affairs, National Commission for Indigenous Peoples, and the Mangyan Peoples Organization of Mindoro Province for their significant involvement in ensuring that the vulnerable sectors will be given priority and accommodation in the exercise of their right of suffrage;
10. The Commission on Human Rights , Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, Movie and Television Review and Classification Board, and the Securities and Exchange Commission for their expressed commitment to the COMELEC under their respective Memorandum of Agreements;
11. The Department of Justice, Public Attorney's Office, Philippine Association of Law Schools, and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines for extending legal services to the COMELEC and to the voters during the elections free of charge;
12. The Intramuros Administration for its generosity in allowing COMELEC to use its facilities for its activities free of charge;
13. The Ayala Malls, Robinsons Malls, SM Supermalls, Gaisano Grand Malls, Gaisano Capital Malls, NE Pacific Mall, and Walter Mart Malls for lending their facilities to the COMELEC for the conduct of voter registration in connections with the 2016 National, Local and ARMM Elections at no cost to the Commission;
14. The Kapisanan ng mga Broadkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP), Global Media Arts (GMA) Network, TV5 Network Inc., Alto Broadcasting System - Chronicle Broadcasting Network (ABS-CBN), CNN Philippines (CNN PH), Philippine Daily Inquirer (Inquirer), The Philippine Star, The Manila Bulletin, Business Mirror, Rappler, Capitol University-Cagayan de Oro City, University of the Philippines-Cebu, University of Pangasinan-Dagupan and University of Santo Tomas (UST) for sharing their time , efforts, resource, facilities and expertise in launching the Pili Pinas 2016 Debates free of charge for an informed electorate.
15. The Parish Pastoral Council for responsible voting (PPCRV), Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE), NAMFREL, and Democracy Watch (Dem Watch) for their unwavering support to the COMELEC and commitment to the public to ensure that the elections is free, honest, peaceful and credible.

WHEREAS, the COMELEC recognizes the efforts and contributions of these government agencies and private groups and institutions in the conduct of free, honest, peaceful and credible elections;

WHEREAS, the COMELEC is thankful for the generosity of the De La Salle University for lending a space to the COMELEC as venue for the conduct of the local source code review and at the same time, appreciates the vigilance of various groups and political parties that participated in the conduct of the local source code review, namely, PPCRV, Philippine Linux Users Group, Bagumbayan Volunteers for a New Philippines (Bagumbayan-VNP), Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD), Liberal Party (LP), Nationalist People's Coalition (NPC), Unang Sigaw Party, and United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).

WHEREAS, the COMELEC extends its sincerest gratitude to the Department of Education and for the selfless service rendered by the public school teachers as members of the Board of Election Inspectors and volunteers;

WHEREAS, the COMELEC pays tribute to the persons who have dedicated and sacrificed their lives in the service of our country and in safeguarding our democracy.

NOW, THEREFORE, the COMELEC, RESOLVED as it hereby RESOLVES, to express its most profound appreciation and gratitude to the agencies and institutions listed above that have greatly and immensely contributed to the success of the May 9, 2016 Automated National and Local Elections.

SO ORDERED.

SIGNED:

• BAUTISTA, J. ANDRES D., Chairman
• LIM, CHRISTIAN ROBERT S., Commissioner
• PARREÑO, AL A., Commissioner
• GUIA, LUIE TITO F., Commissioner
• LIM, ARTHUR D., Commissioner
• GUANZON, MA. ROWENA AMELIA V., Commissioner
• ABAS, SHERIFF M., Commissioner