IN THE MATTER OF DOCUMENTATION OF CLAIMS OF VOTERS' DISENFRANCHISEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE AUGUST 11, 2008 ELECTIONS IN THE AUTONOMOUS REGION IN MUSLIM MINDANAO (ARMM)
WHEREAS, every election, there is a deluge of complaints of alleged registered voters who are not able to vote for various reasons;
WHEREAS, while some claims could be meritorious, some could also be a ploy designed to discredit the election process;
WHEREAS, there is a need to adopt a system of documentation to check the veracity of these claims, to identify the cause and extent of the problem, address the same and prosecute those responsible, if any;
NOW, THEREFORE, the Commission, by virtue of the powers vested in it by the Constitution of the Republic of the Philippines, the Omnibus Election Code and other election laws, RESOLVED, as it hereby RESOLVES, to promulgate the following procedures for documentation of claims of disenfranchisement:
Section 1. Who may report. - Any person who claims to be registered voter who was not able to vote for whatever reason may report the incident by himself or with the assistance of another to the Election Officer or Board of Election Inspectors or accredited citizens arm or media entities. In order to provide a system of verification, anyone who receives the report shall interview the complaining person to obtain the information needed in the attached format (Annex "A").
Sec. 2. When and where to submit the report. - The report shall be submitted not later than August 31, 2008 through fax to (02) 5273137 or e-mail to ebad@comelec.gov.ph or through any means of communication to the Registration Division, Election and Barangay Affairs Department (EBAD), 7th Floor Palacio del Gobernador Building, Commission on Elections, Intramuros, Manila.
Sec. 3. Action on the report. - Immediately upon receipt of the reports, EBAD shall:
- verify from the Information Technology Department (ITD) wheteher the name of the complaining person is in the list of voters;
- verify from the Election Day Computerized Voters List (EDCVL) submitted to the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD) or from the Election Officer whether or not the concerned voter was able to vote. For this purpose, ERSD shall furnish EBAD with the authenticated copy of the EDCVL used in the August 11, 2008 ARMM Elections of the Election Officer shall issue a certification whether or not a voter was able to vote in the election; and
- prepare a consolidated report of its findings to be submitted to the COmmission En Banc.
Sec. 4. Publication and dissemination. - The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this resolution in two (2) newspapers of general circulation in the Philippines; and, furnish copies of this Resolution to the Regional Election Director, Provincial Election Supervisors, Election Officers in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), accredited citizens' arms and tri-media.
SO ORDERED.