Resolution No. 10443

The Commission on Elections, pursuant to the powers vested in it by the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code, Executive Order No. 157, Republic Act No. 7166, Republic Act No. 10380, and other pertinent election laws, RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to promulgate the following rules and regulations on local absentee voting:

SECTION 1. Definition of terms. - the following terms are hereby defined as follows:

1. Local absentee voting - refers to a system of voting whereby government officials and employees, including members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and the Philippine National Police (PNP) as well as members of the media, media practitioners including their technical and support staff (media voters) who are duly registered voters, are allowed to vote for national positions; i.e., President, Vice-President, Senators and PartyList Representatives, in places where they are not registered voters but where they are temporarily assigned to perform election duties on election day, or in case of media voters, they will not be able to vote due to the performance of their functions in covering and reporting on the elections;
2. Media - refers to those who are engaged in news reporting on a nationwide or local scale, including correspondents of national, regional, provincial, city, or municipal publications or broadcast entities, or those engaged in other forms of journalism and their technical and support staff.

SEC. 2. Who are entitled to avail of local absentee voting. - Local absentee voting may be availed of by the following:

1. government officials and employees;
2. members of the PNP;
3. members of the AFP; and
4. members of the media, media practitioners including their technical and support staff who are actively engaged in the pursuit of information gathering and reporting or distribution, in any manner or form, including, but not limited to the following:
   1. Print Journalists;
   2. Television Journalists;
   3. Photo Journalists;
   4. Online Journalists;
   5. Radio Journalists;
   6. Documentary makers;
   7. Television/Radio Production;

provided that a) they are duly registered voters and whose registration records are not deactivated, and b) on election day, in case of government officials, members of the PNP and AFP, they are assigned temporarily to perform election duties in places where they are not registered voters; or in case of media voters, they will not be able to vote due to the performance of their functions in covering and reporting on the conduct of elections.

Government officials and employees who will be posted abroad to perform election duties on election day may also avail of local absentee voting, provided, that they are registered voters under Republic Act No. 8189, otherwise known as "The Voter's Registration Act of 1996" and that they are not registered overseas absentee voters under Republic Act No. 9189, otherwise known as "The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003".

SEC. 3. Where and when to file the application forms to avail of the local absentee voting. - Applicants who will avail of the local absentee voting shall file their duly accomplished Application Forms (LAV Form No. 01) at and on the following:

APPLICANT/S	WHEN TO FILE	WHERE TO FILE
For government officials and employees, members of the AFP, and members of the PNP	Not later than March 11, 2019	Before their heads of offices/supervisors/commanders/officer next-in-ranks
For media voters	Not later than March 11, 2019	Office of the Regional Election Director (ORED) of the National Capital Region (NCR) ID case of highly urbanized cities in the NCR including Pateros Office of the City Election Officer (OCEO) in case of highly urbanized or independent cities outside the NCR Offices of the Provincial Election Supervisor (OPES) for areas not mentioned above. * The application form for media voters must be accompanied by a certification accomplished by the heads of media entities to whom the applicants belong attesting that they are bona fide members of the media and tbat they may not be able to vote due to the performance of their functions in covering and reporting the conduct of elections. (LAV Form No. 02)

 

Highly Urbanized Cities in NCR (with RED-NCR)	Highly Urbanized Cities outside NCR (with City EO)	Independent Cities (with City EO)
Caloocan City Las Pinñas City Makati City Malabon City Mandaluyong City Manila City Marikina City Muntinlupa City Navotas City Parañaque City Pasay City Pasig City Quezon City San Juan City Taguig City Valenzuela City Including Pateros	Angeles City Bacolod City Baguio City Butuan City Cagayan de Oro City Cebu City Davao City Gen. Santos City Iligan City Iloilo City Lapu-Lapu City Lucena City Mandaue City Olongapo City Puerto Princesa City Tacloban City Zamboanga City	Cotabato City Naga City Ormoc City Santiago City

In cities outside NCR where there are more than one (1) Offices of City Election Officers (OCEO), the Regional Election Director (RED) shall immediately designate not later than January 21, 2019 the OCEO which shall receive the applications to avail of the local absentee voting. For this purpose, the RED concerned shall submit to the Committee on Loca] Absentee Voting (CLAV), through the Director IV, Electoral Contests Adjudication Department (ECAD), the list of designated OCEO/s.

SEC. 4. Date and Place of Voting. - Local absentee voters shall vote on any day from April 29, 30 and May 1, 2019 from 8:oo o'clock in the morning until 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon.

In case of voting of government officials and employees, members of the AFP and PNP, the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank shall designate, not later than April 9, 2019, the place of voting where the voters shall converge to vote, with written notice upon the Municipal/City/District Election Officer who or whose representative will supervise the conduct of voting thereat. Copy of said written notice shall be furnished the CLAV.

In case of media voters, voting shall be at the COMELEC Office where they filed their applications to avail of the local absentee voting under the supervision of the City Election Officer (CEO), Provincial Election Supervisor (PES) or Regional Election Director (RED) as the case may be.

SEC. 5. Positions to be voted for. - For the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections, only the positions of Senators and Party-List Representative shall be voted for under the local absentee voting.

SEC. 6. Committee on Local Absentee Voting. - There shall be created a Committee on Local Absentee Voting ("CLAV") composed of the following;

Chairperson	-	Hon. Socorro B. Inting Commissioner, Commission on Elections
Vice-Chairperson	-	Dir. Allen Francis B. Abaya Electoral Contests Adjudication Department (ECAD)
Members	-	Dir. Roseller B. Abad Electoral Contests Adjudication Department (ECAD) Dir. Jeannie V. Flororita Information Technology Department (ITD)

To effectively carcy out the mandate of the CLAV, Local Absentee Voting Groups (LAV Groups), shall be constituted by the Committee to process the applications corning from different regions and from the media.

The ITD shall provide the CLAY with the updated National List of Registered Voters (NLRV) and other technical assistance in the verification of registered voters.

SEC. 7. Powers and Functions of the CLAV. - The CL.AV, through the LAV Groups, shall supervise the implementation of the local absentee voting, and shall have the following powers and functions;

1. Distribute copies of Application Forms (LAV Form No. 01) to all government agencies, AFP, PNP, media entities, corporations or members of the media concerned;
2. Receive accomplished Application Forms (LAV Form No. 01) together with Certified Lists of Applicants (LAV Form No. 02) for local absentee voting not later than March 14, 2019;
3. Verify whether the applicants are eligible for local absentee voting not later than April 12, 2019;
4. Prepare the List of Approved Applicants for Local Absentee Voting with Minutes of Voting (LAV Form No. 04) per office/unit/battalion/OCEOs/OPES/ORED-NCR;
5. Send Notices (LAV Form No. 08) before elections, but not later than April 17, 2019, to all Municipal/City/District EOs concerned and copy furnished their respective PES and the REDs, of the list of voters who are registered in their respective Municipality/City/District and who will avail of local absentee voting. Upon receipt of the List the EO concerned shall annotate in the Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL) that said voters are voting through the Local Absentee Voting System;
   
   For this purpose, the concerned Municipal/City/District EOs shall submit within five (5) days from receipt of the above notice a report to the CLAV, copy furnished their respective PES and the REDs of their compliance thereto.
6. Transmit the following to all concerned heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank/CEOs/PES/RED-NCR, not later than April 25, 2019;
   1. List of Approved Applicants for Local Absentee Voting with Minutes ofVoting (LAV Form No. 04); and
   2. The exact number of local absentee ballots, inner and outer envelopes and paper seals corresponding to the number of approved applications.
7. Receive under proper receipt and take custody through the Reception and Custody Unit (RCU), the envelopes containing the accomplished local absentee ballots and other related documents from the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank, the CEOs, PES, or the RED-NCR, as the case may be, on or before 5:00 o'clock in the evening of May 13, 2019;
8. Verify whether the number of envelopes containing the accomplished ballots is equal to the number of signatures affixed in the list submitted by the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank/the CEO/PES concerned or the RED-NCR, as the case may be.
   
   If there are more envelopes containing the accomplished ballot than the signatures affixed on the list, set aside the envelope of the voter whose signature does not appear in the list and place the same in a separate ballot box intended for the purpose. Such fact shall be indicated in a report to be prepared by the LAV Group concerned which shall be submitted to the CLAV. Said ballots shall not be counted;
   
   If there are more signatures affixed in the list than the number of envelopes received, such fact shall likewise be indicated in the report to be prepared by the LAV Group which shall be submitted to the CLAV. The report shall indicate the names of the voters whose signatures appear in the list, but without corresponding envelopes. In this case, the CLAV, through the Head of the LAV Group concerned, shall direct the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank, the CEO/PES concerned or the RED-NCR, as the case may be, to transmit the envelopes of said voters;
   
   After receipt and verification thereof, tum-over the same including other election documents to the RCU;
9. Supervise the counting of ballots and canvassing of votes;
10. Receive for safekeeping all ballot boxes containing the counted ballots and related election documents from the SBEis and Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) for local absentee voting;
11. Send Notices (LAV Form No. 08-A) after elections, but not later than June 30, 2019, to all Municipal/City/District EOs concerned, copy furnished their respective PES and REDs of the List of voters who actually voted under the local absentee voting for updating of their voting records;
    
    For this pm-pose, teh concerned Municipal/City/ District EOs shall submit within five (5) days from receipt of the above notice a report to the CLAV, copy furnished their respective PES and REDs of their compliance thereto; and
12. Perform and exercise such other functions and powers as may be necessary for the proper implementation of the local absentee voting law.

SEC. 8. Procedures for filing of applications to avail of local absentee voting. -

1. All persons who may avail of the local absentee voting as provided under Sec. 2 hereof shall file their duly accomplished Application Forms (LAV Form No. 01) as provided for under Sec. 3 hereof.
   
   All application forms shall be under oath. For this purpose, the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank may administer oaths free of charge for government officials and employees/members of AFP/PNP, pursuant to Executive Order No. 292 (Administrative Code of 1987).
   
   For media, their application forms shall be sworn to before:
   1. any notary public; or
   2. the Regional Election Director-NCR for highly urbanized cities of NCR including Pateros; or
   3. the City Election Officer concerned for highly urbanized cities outside NCR; or
   4. the Provincial Election Supervisor for areas other than those mentioned above.
   
   The application forms may be reproduced or downloaded from the official COMELEC website at www.comelec.gov.ph.
2. The heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-inrank, shall receive all accomplished and subscribed application forms from their respective personnel.
   
   In case of media voters, the CEO or PES concerned, or the RED-NCR, shall receive all accomplished and subscribed application forms together with Certified List of Applicants (LAV Form No. 02) accomplished by the heads of the media entities to whom the applicants belong;
3. The heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank shall prepare a Certified List of Applicants (LAV Form No. 02) under their supervision or command who submitted their accomplished application forms for local absentee voting indicating therein the Municipality/City /District, barangay and precinct number where they are registered and the place of their assignment on election day, with a certification that the applicants will be re-assigned on election day to perform election-related duties; or in case of media voters, that they may not be able to vote due to the performance of their functions of covering and reporting the conduct of elections;
4. Not later than March 14, 2019, the heads of offices/supervisors/ commanders/officers next-in-rank, the CEO or PES concerned or RED-NCR as the case may be, shall submit directly to the CLAV either by personal service or private courier, the following:
   1. A Certified List of Applicants (LAV Form No. 02) under their supervision or command who submitted their accomplished application forms for local absentee voting indicating therein the Municipality /City /District, barangay and precinct number where they are registered and the place of their assignment on election day, with a certification that the applicant/swill be re-assigned on election day to perform election-related duties; or in case of media voters, that they may not be able to vote due to the performance of their functions of covering and reporting the conduct of elections.
   2. The accomplished Application Forms (LAV Form No. 01) for local absentee voting.
   The foregoing documents shall be transmitted directly to the CLAV, c/o The Electoral Contests Adjudication Department (ECAD), 8th Floor, Palacio Del Gobernador Building, Intramuros, Manila, immediately upon receipt thereof but not later than March 14, 2019. The date of mailing shall be considered as the date of filing.
   
   Any queries on the foregoing may be made at telephone numbers: 527-2986, 529-2212 and 536-0419 or thru fax no. 527-0830 and email address at ecad@comelec.gov.ph.

SEC. 9. Verification of registrations of applicants for local absentee voting. - Upon receipt of the Certified List of Applicants (LAV Form No. 02) and the accomplished Application Forms (LAV Form No. 01), the CLAV shall verify from the National List of Registered Voters (NLRV) provided by the Information and Technology Department (ITD), COMELEC whether the applicants are registered voters, and generate a Report thereon (LAV Form No. 03).

Only the applications of individuals whose names are in the NLRV shall be approved by the CLAV.

The CLAV shall prepare a List of Approved Applicants for Local Absentee Voting with Minutes of Voting (LAV Form No. 04).

Once approved, applicants should ensure that they will vote on any day from April 29, 30 and May 1, 2019 as they are already included in the certified list of local absentee voters and that in the Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL), they are indicated as voting through local absentee voting system.

In case of double or multiple voting, the applicant shall be charged with an election offense as defined under paragraph z, subparagraph 2 of Sec. 261 of the Omnibus Election Code and shall be recommended to be administratively charged, if applicable.

SEC. 10. Disapproval of the application to avail of local absentee voting. - The application to avail of local absentee voting shall be disapproved on the grounds that:

1. the names of the applicants are not found in the NLRV;
2. the application was filed out of time;
3. the application is not under oath;
4. the application is only a photocopy /facsimile copy; or
5. the Certification portion of the certified list is not duly accomplished.

For this purpose, the CLAV shall notify the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank, the CEO or PES or the RED NCR who shall in turn notify the concerned applicants on the disapproval of their application to avail of the local absentee voting (LAV Form No. 05) provided however, that for items c, d and e above, the application forms of those found to be registered voters may be comp1etedjcomplied with and submitted back to CLAV on or before the deadline of preparation of the list of qualified local absentee voters on April 12, 2019.

SEC. 11. Transmittal of list of qualified local absentee voters, local absentee ballots and other election paraphernalia from the CIAV. - The CLAV, through its members, shall personally transmit to the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders, CEO, PES or RED-NCR, the List of Approved Applicants for Local Absentee Voting with Minutes of Voting (LAV Form No. 04), the exact number of local absentee ballots, inner and outer envelopes and paper seals corresponding to the number of approved applications and thumbprint takers (LAV Form No. 06) not later than Thursday, April 25, 2019 to ensure that the abovementioned election forms and paraphernalia will be received by the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders, CEO, PES or RED-NCR before the voting period.

SEC. 12. Security envelopes for local absentee ballots. - There shall be two (2) security envelopes for each local absentee ballot, namely; an outer envelope and an inner envelope.

The inner envelope shall contain the accomplished official ballot and shall not bear any other mark except an indication that it is a special envelope for a local absentee ballot.

The outer envelope shall bear a serial number and a space for the name of the voter. The detached coupon and the inner envelope shall be placed inside the outer envelope.

SEC. 13. Distribution of local absentee ballots, envelopes and paper seals. - On any day from April 29, 30, and May 1, 2019 from 8:oo o'clock in the morning until 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon, the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders concerned, under the direct supervision and presence of the Municipal/City/District EOs or their representatives, or in case of media voters, the CEOs/PES or RED-NCR or their representatives, shall distribute the local absentee ballots, inner and outer envelopes, and paper seals to the qualified local absentee voters. During the distribution, they shall:

1. Require the voters to affix their signatures opposite their names in the List of Approved Applicants for Local Absentee Voting with Minutes of Voting (LAV Form No. 04) prepared by the CLAV under Section 9 hereof;
2. Detach one (1) ballot from the pad of ballots and retain the stubs where the serial number of each ballot appears;
3. Write the serial numbers of the ballot, outer envelope, and of the two (2) paper seals opposite the names of the voters in the spaces provided in the list;
4. Give to the voters the ba llot, inner and outer envelopes and the two (2) paper seals; and
5. Instruct the voters to immediately accomplish the ballot in accordance with Section 14 hereof.

SEC. 14. Manner of Voting. - The local absentee voters shall:

1. Fill up the ballot secretly;
2. Imprint their thumb marks on the proper space in the detachable coupon of the ballot;
3. Detach the coupon from the ballot and place the same inside the outer envelope;
4. Place the accomplished ballot inside the inner envelope and close and seal the envelope with a paper seal;
5. Place the sealed inner envelope inside the outer envelope, which shall likewise be sealed with a paper seal;
6. Write their names on the space provided for in the outer envelope; and
7. Submit the sealed envelope to the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank, Municipal/City/District EOs, the PES concerned or RED-NCR, as the case maybe.

The heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank, Municipal/City/District EOs, the PES concerned or RED-NCR, shall ensure that the sanctity of the voting process is preserved.

SEC. 15. Transmittal of local absentee ballots and other election documents to the CLAV. After the voting, the heads of offices/supervisors/commanders or officers next-in-rank, the CEO or PES concerned or the RED-NCR, as the case may be, shall:

1. Gather all the sealed envelopes containing the ballots submitted to them by the local absentee voters;
2. Prepare, in two (2) copies, a Transmittal Letter (LAV Form No. 07) with a certification on the number of accomplished ballots collected by them. They shall submit one (1) copy thereof to the CLAV and retain the other copy for their file;
3. Transmit the sealed envelopes, together with a) List of Approved Applicants for Local Absentee Voting with Minutes of Voting (LAV Form No. 04) with signatures referred to in Section 13 (a); and b) unused official ballots torn in half, to the CLAV by the fastest means available c/o the Electoral Contests Adjudication Department (ECAD), COMELEC, 8th Floor, Palacio del Gobernador Building, Intramuros, Manila, ensuring that the ballots are received by the CLAV not later than 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon of May 13, 2019.

After the local absentee voting period, the CLAV, through the LAV Groups, shall send to all Municipal/City/District EOs concerned a written Notice as to who were the voters who actually voted (LAV Form. No. 08-A) under the system of local absentee voting with a directive to indicate in the list of voters with voting records on the space opposite the names of the absentee voters, the following annotation: "voted through local absentee voting," to prevent the deactivation of their registration records.

SEC. 16. Reception and Custody Unit (RCU), duties and functions. - The CLAV shall constitute an RCU, which shall:

1. Receive the security envelopes containing the accomplished ballots and the List of Approved Applicants for Local Absentee Voting with Minutes of Voting (LAV Form. No. 04) with their signatures;
2. Forward the same to the LAV group concerned for verification;
3. Place the verified envelopes containing the accomplished ballots inside the ballot boxes at the rate of four hundred (400) envelopes per ballot box;
   
   The ballot boxes, prior to the distribution to the SBEis, shall be stored in a safe and secured place; and
4. Deliver the ballot box immediately at 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon of May 13, 2019 to the Special Boards of Election Inspectors (SBEIs) for counting;
   
   Should there be a ballot box containing less than four hundred (400) envelopes, the RCU shall equitably distribute said envelopes to the SBEIs.

SEC. 17. Special Boards of Election Inspectors (SBEIs). - The CLAV may constitute as many SBEis for local absentee voting as may be deemed necessary, to count the local absentee ballots. The members thereof shall be chosen from among the personnel of the Electoral Contests Adjudication Department (ECAD). In case of lack of ECAD personnel, the CLAV shall constitute additional SBEIs from among the personnel of other departments/offices in the Main Office, Manila, not later than April 25, 2019 (LAV Form.No. 09).

To determine the number of SBEis to be constituted, the CLAV shall use as basis the total number of approved applications at a ratio of four hundred (400) ballots per SBEI. The order of numbering of SBEI shall be determined through a raffle. In case the CLAV constituted more SBEis than what is required, the SBEis last in the order of numbering may be deactivated.

For every ten (10) SBEls, the chairperson of the CLAY shall designate one (1) supervisor who shall supervise the counting, tabulation, preparation of Election Returns (ER) and other documents.

SEC. 18. Oath of Members of SBEI. - Before assuming their office, the chairperson and members of the SBEI shall take and sign an Oath (LAV Form No. 10) before any officer authorized to administer oaths. Copies of the oath shall immediately be submitted to the CLAV.

SEC. 19. Notice of Counting. - For the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections, the CLAV shall give notice to all senatorial candidates, duly registered political parties or coalition of political parties which has nominated national candidates, sectors and organizations participating under the party list system, and accredited citizen's arm of the date, time and place of counting, at least five (5) days before the day of the election.

SEC. 20. Proceedings of the SBEI. - The SBEI shall meet at the place designated by the CLAV at 5:00 o'clock in the afternoon of May 13, 2019 to count the votes cast by the local absentee voters and shall not adjourn until the counting is completed All proceedings of the SBEI shall be done in public. It shall act through its chairperson and all questions presented before it shall be decided without delay by a majority vote of the members. During its meetings, not more than one (1) member shall be absent at the same time, and in no case shall such absence be for more than twenty (20) minutes.

SEC. 21. Manner of counting local absentee ballots. - Upon receipt of the ballot box containing the security envelopes for local absentee ballots, the SBEI shall proceed with the counting as follows:

Before the counting:

1. Retrieve the security envelopes from the ballot box;
2. Open all the outer envelopes, retrieve the inner envelopes and the detached coupons;
3. Place the coupons in the ballot box compartment for spoiled ballots;
4. Bundle the emptied outer enve1opes and deposit the same inside the ballot box compartment for valid ballots;
5. Open the inner envelopes and retrieve the ballots found therein;
6. Bundle the emptied inner envelopes and deposit the same inside the ballot box compartment for valid ballots;
7. Pile the ballots in bundles of one hundred (100) each;
8. The Chairperson of the SBEI shall take the ballots of the first pile one by one and read the names of the candidates voted for and the offices for which they were voted, as well as the name of the party, organization or coalition voted for under the party-list system, in the order in which they appear thereon.

During the counting:

9. The Chairperson, the Poll Clerk and the Third Member shall position themselves in such a way as to give the watchers and the public an unimpeded view of the ballot being read by the Chairperson, as well as of the election returns and tally board being simultaneously accomplished by the Poll Clerk and the Third Member, respectively;
10. The watchers and the public shall not touch any of the said election documents. The table shall be cleared of all unnecessary writing paraphernalia. Any violation hereof shall constitute an election offense;
11. The Poll Clerk and the Third Member shall record simultaneously in the election returns and in the tally board, respectively, each vote as it is read. Each vote shall be recorded by a vertical line, except every fifth vote which shall be recorded by a diagonal line crossing the previous four vertical lines;
12. The same procedure shall be followed with the succeeding piles of ballots; and
13. The sub-total of votes in figures obtained by each candidate and party list candidate shall be recorded in the election returns and tally board after each pile of one hundred (100) ballots is read.

After all the ballots have been read:

14. Record, in words and in figures, the total number of votes obtained by each candidate and by each party, organization or coalition participating under the party-list system, both in the election returns and in the tally board;
15. Ensure that the entries on the first copy of the election returns are clearly impressed on the other copies; and
16. Close the entries by affixing their initials immediately after the last vote recorded or immediately after the name of the candidate and party-list candidates who did not receive any vote;
17. The Poll Clerk and the Third Member shall record in the election returns and in the tally board, respectively, the total number of votes obtained by each candidate and party-list candidate, in words and figures;
18. Accomplish the certification portion of the election returns and tally board;
19. Require the watchers, if any, to affix their signatures and imprint their thumb marks on the right hand portion of the election returns and the tally board;
20. Deposit the tally board in the ballot box compartment for valid ballots. The tally board, as accomplished and certified by the SBEI, shall not be changed or destroyed.

The proceedings of the SBEI shall be recorded in the Minutes of Counting of Votes (LAV Form No. 11) to be accomplished in two (2) copies which shall be placed in separate sealed envelopes to be distributed as follows:

1. The first copy, to the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD), this Commission; and
2. The second copy, to be deposited inside the ballot box compartment for valid ballots.

SEC. 22. Election Returns. - The election returns shall be prepared in seven (7) copies to be distributed as follows:

1. The first copy, to be submitted to the Special Board of Canvassers for local absentee voting;
2. The second copy, to be posted on a wall within the premises of the counting center;
3. The third copy, to the Commission through the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD);
4. The fourth copy, to the dominant majority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law;
5. The fifth copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law;
6. The sixth copy, to the accredited citizens' arm of the Commission; and
7. The seventh copy, to be deposited inside the ballot box compartment for valid ballots.

The copy of the election returns posted on the wall shall be open for public viewing at any time of the day for forty-eight (48) hours following its posting. Within the said period of time, any person may view or capture an image of the election returns.

After the prescribed period for posting, the Chairpersons of the SBEI shall collect the posted election returns and keep the same in their custody to be produced for image or data capturing as may be requested by any voter or for any lawful purpose as may be ordered by competent authority.

SEC. 23. Post counting procedures. - Upon termination of the counting of votes, the members of the SBEI shall:

1. Place the counted official ballots in the envelope for counted ballots;
2. Seal the envelope with paper seal and affix their signatures on the said paper seal;
3. Deposit the envelope properly sealed inside the ballot box compartment for valid ballots;
4. Place the eighth copy of the election returns inside the ballot box compartment for valid ballots;
5. Close the inner compartments of the ballot box, lock with one (1) Comelec padlock and seal the same with one (1) fixed-length security seal;
6. Close the ballot box cover, lock with three (3) Comelec padlocks and seal the same with one (1) fixed-length security seal;
7. Deliver the locked ballot box to the RCU of the CLAV for custody and safekeeping; and
8. Distribute the election returns in accordance with Section 22 hereof.

SEC. 24. Special Board of canvassers. - A Special Board of Canvassers (SBOC) for local absentee voting shall be constituted to be composed of ranking lawyers of ECAD and whose appointment shall be issued by the Chairperson of the CLAV not later than May 3, 2019.

SEC. 25. Notice of Canvass. - For the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections, the Chairperson of the SBOC shall give notice to its members, all senatorial candidates, duly registered political party or coalition of political parties which has nominated national candidates, sectors and organizations participating under the party list system, and accredited citizen's arm of the date, time and place of canvass, at least five (5) days before the day of the election.

SEC. 26. Tabulation Group. - The SBOC shall constitute a Tabulation Group, composed of two (2) members, which shall be under its direct supervision and control

The Tabulation Group shall compute the sub-total of the Statement of Votes prepared by the SBOC. The name of each tabulator and the serial number of the Statement of Votes assigned to them for tabulation shall be properly recorded in the minutes of the proceedings.

The tabulators shall affix their signatures above their printed names and imprint their thumb marks on the certification portion of the Statement of Votes.

SEC. 27. Convening of SBOC. - The SBOC shall convene at 5:00 o'clock in the aftenioon of May 13, 2019 in a place designated by the Chairman of the CLAV and proceed with the canvass of the elections returns submitted to it by the SBEIs. It shall not adjourn until the canvass is completed.

SEC. 28. Certificate of Canvass of Votes (COCV). - The SBOC shall prepare the Certificate of Canvass of Votes (COCV) in six ( 6) copies for distribution as follows:

1. The first copy, with attached copy of the SOVP/SSOV to the Commission en bane sitting as the National Board of Canvasses for use in the canvass of election results for Senators and Party-list representatives;
2. The second copy, to be posted on a wall within the premises of the canvassing center;
3. The third copy, with attached copy of the SOVP/SSOV to the Chairperson of the Special Board of Canvassers;
4. The fourth copy, to the accredited citizen's arm; and
5. The fifth copy, to the dominant majority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law; and
6. The sixth copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law.

The copy of the COCV posted on the wall shall be open for public viewing at any time of the day for forty-eight (48) hours following its posting. Any person may view or capture an image of the COCV. After the prescribed period of posting, the Chairperson of the SBOC shall collect the posted COCV and keep the same in custody to be produced for image or data capturing as may be requested by any voter or for any lawful purpose as may be ordered by competent authority.

SEC. 29. Watchers. - During the counting and canvassing, each national candidate, duly registered political party or coalition of political parties which has nominated national candidates, sectors and organizations participating under the party list system, and accredited citizen's arm, shall be entitled to appoint, in writing, two (2) watchers serving alternately.

Civic, religious, professional, business, youth and any other similar organizations with prior authority from the Commission, shall collectively be entitled to appoint two (2) common watchers serving alternately.

SEC. 30. Applicability of Other Comelec Rules. - Rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission in connection with the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections are, as far as applicable, hereby adopted, incorporated and made integral parts of this resolution.

SEC. 31. Repealing Clause. - Comelec Resolution No. 10003, entitled, Rules and Regulations on Local Absentee Voting in Connection with the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections dated October 14, 2015 and all other Rules and Regulations inconsistent with tbe provisions hereof are hereby superseded.

SEC. 32. Effectivity. - This Resolution shall take effect on

SEC. 33. Publication and Dissemination. - Let the Education and Information Department (EID), this Commission, cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines.

The CLAV shall immediately furnish copies hereof to the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Education, the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Director General of the Philippine National Police and all departments and agencies or instrumentalities of the national government, National Press Club (NPC), Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) and other media organizations or entities and all Regional Election Directors, Provincial Election Supervisors of the Commission, who shall in turn furnish copies thereof to their respective Election Officers.

SO ORDERED.

SIGNED:

• ABAS, SHERIFF M., Chairman
• PARREÑO, AL A., Commissioner
• GUIA, LUIE TITO F., Commissioner
• GUANZON, MA. ROWENA AMELIA V., Commissioner
• INTING, SOCORRO B., Commissioner
• CASQUEJO, MARLON S., Commissioner

ON OFFICIAL BUSINESS:

• KHO, ANTONIO JR. T., Commissioner