secu tt ANIM 6, IMISSIONON ELECTION. funanetanane Republic of the Philippines ECEIVED Y 614 Aus INFLORA HON DEPART MENG COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS. Ww sae ete EEN PTE. be TIME RULES AND REGULATIONS Chairman J. Andres D. Bautista ON PILOT INDIGENOUS PEOPLES VOTING IN SELECTED VOTING CENTERS IN OCCIDENTAL AND ORIENTAL MINDORO Commissioner Christian Robert S. Lim Commissioner Al A. Parreiio Commissioner Luie Tito F. Guia Commissioner Arthur D. Lim IN CONNECTION WITH THE Commissioner Ma. Rowena Amelia V. Guanzon MAY 9, 2016 NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS : AND SUBSEQUENT ELECTIONS THEREAFTER Mareh th, 2016 Ba Promulgated: """* nfs RESOLUTION NO. __ WHEREAS, on 18 February 2014 the Commission on Elections (COMELEC created the Committee on Empowering Indigenous Peoples (IP) in the electoral Process (Committee on IP) which seeks to streamline in the workplan/preparation for the elections programs geared towards ensdring the right to suffrage and participation of IPs in the electoral process; WHEREAS, on 6 October 2015, the Commission on Elections in Minute Resolution No. 15-0718 approved the establishment of pilot Separate Polling Places (SPP) and Accessible Voting Centers (AVC) in Orierital and Occidental Mindoro for the 2016 Elections in line with the request of the communities to address their issues on access and discrimination on election day; WHEREAS, on 3 February 2016, the final areas in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro where SPPs and AVCs are to be established were approved by the Commission on Elections in Minute Resolution No. 16-0047 NOW THEREFORE, pursuant to its authority under Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code and other election laws, the Commission on Elections HEREBY RESOLVES to promulgate the following General Instructions on the Process of Pilot Indigenous Peoples Voting in selected voting centers in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro in connection with the May 9, 2016 National and Local Elections and subsequent elections thereafter. vSECTION 1. De! RULE 1 INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS ion of Terms. - As used in this Resolution, the following terms shall mean: a Qualified IP Voter - refers to any IP voter from the selected pilot areas in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro whose registration record has undergone validation and who has submitted Annex “E” (Supplementary Data Form of Resolution No. 9853!) and Sanaysay ng Pahintulot” (SNP) with the Election Officers (EOs) of the selected municipalities in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro that are part of the pilot IP voting project; Special Board of Election Inspectors (SBEI) - refers to the body which shall conduct the election in the special polling place (SPP) or designated polling place in the accessible voting center (AVC) as.herein defined; Separate Polling Place (SPP) - refers to the polling places established in existing voting centers where qualified IP voters shall cast their votes; Support Staff ~ refers to those designated to retrieve, at the start of the voting hour, the ballots for qualified IP voters {rom the regular polling places to be brought to the SPP or designated polling place in the AVC; and to return said ballots from the SPP or designated polling place in the AVC to the regular polling place after the close of the voting in the former; Accessible Voting Center (AVC) - refers to iewly established voting centers located nearer to the communities of the qualified IP voters where they shall cast their votes; Regular Polling Places - refers to the place’ where the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) conducts its procee: \gs and where the voters cast their votes; Election Day Computerized Voters List for IP (FDCVL-IP) - refers to the final list (containing the voters photographs, signatures, and thumb prints) of qualified 1P voters who are voting in the SPP or AVC. The EDCVL - IP, duly certified by the SBEI, is where the qualified IP voters shall affix their signature or imprint their thumb marks before casting their votes; Rules and Regulations on the Resumption of the System of Continuing Registration of Voters, Validation and Updating of Registration Records for the May 9, 2016 Synchronized National, Local and ARMM Regional Elections and other Registration Policies, 19 February 2014. 4A. Posted Computerized Voters List for IP (PCVL-IP) - refers to the final list (containing the voters names, addresses and precinct numbers) of qualified IP voters posted in the SPP or designated polling place in the AVC; and i. Vote Counting Machine (VCM) -refers to a machine that uses optical mark reader (OMR) technology for counting the votes. RULE 2 SPECIAL POLLING PLACES AND ACCESSIBLE VOTING PLACE FOR IP VOTING SECTION 1. Preparation of the EDCVL-IP and PCVL-IP. - EDCVL-IP and PCVL- IP shall be prepared by the Election Officer, wherein the names of all qualified 1P voters who are voting in the SPP or AVC shall be highlighted and annotated with "IP voter”. The Election Officers shall affix his/her signature beside the annotation. SECTION 2. Who May Be Allowed to Vote in the SPP or AVC. - Only qualified IP voters whose names appear in the EDCVL-IP and PCVL-IP may vote in the SPP or AVC. SECTION 3. Persons Allowed Inside SPP or Designated Polling Place in the AVC. - Only the following shall be allowed to enter the SPP or the designated polling place in the AVC: a. Members and support staff of the SBEI; b. Official Watchers of candidates and political parties; . Watchers of accredited citizens’ arms and other monitoring organziations, as authorized by the Commission; d. Representatives of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP); e. Representatives of the Commission; f. Qualified IP voters accomplishing their ballots; 9. Qualified IP Voters waiting for their turn to accomplish their ballots; and h. Other persons who maybe specifically authorized by the Commission. 6SECTION 4. Persons Not Allowed Inside SPP or Designated Polling Place in the AVC. - The following shall not be allowed to entet the SPP or designated polling place in the AVC: a. Any officer or member of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) or the Philippine National Police (PNP); b. Any peace officer or any armed person belonging to any extra-legal police agency, special forces, reaction forces, strike forces, Civilian Armed Force Geographical Units, barangay tanods or other similar forces or paramilitary forces, including special forces, security guards, special policemen; ¢. All other kinds of armed or unarmed extra-legal police forces; and d. Any candidate or barangay official, whether elected or appointed, except if they are among the qualified IP voter assigned to vote in the SPP or AVC. However the SBEI, by a majority vote, if it deems necessary, may order in writing the detail of a policeman or any peace officer for its protection or for the protection of the election document and paraphernalia. Such order shall be entered in the Minutes. Said policeman or peace officer shall stay outside the polling place near enough to be easily called by the SBEI at any time. In no case shall the said policeman or peace officer hold any conversation with any voter or disturb or Prevent or in any manner obstruct the free access of the voters to the polling place. RULE 3 SPECIAL BOARD OF ELECTION INSPECTORS, SUPPORT STAFF, WATCHERS, AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS SECTION 1. Constitution and Appointment of SBFI and Support Staff. - The Commission, through the EOs in cities/ municipalities where SPP or AVC is established, shall constitute the SBEI in accordance with Minute Resolution No. 16- 0047 and the final decision of the Committee on IP on the organization of precincts for SPP and AVC. In addition, the EO shall designate SBEI Support Staff for every SBEI constituted for the SPP and AVC, The SBEI and its Support Staff shall have the same qualifications and shall be appointed in the same manner as the regular BEL SECTION 2. Powers and Functions of the SBFI. - The SBEI shall have the following powers and functions:a. Receive and bring the needed election paraphernalia to the SPP or AVC on election day; b. Receive from the SBEI Support Staff the precinct-specific ballots contained in @ properly sealed and signed envelope; ¢. Conduct only the voting in the SPP or in the designated polling place in the AVC (the scanning of the ballots by the VCM shall be done in the regular polling place where the respective established precincts of the qualified IP voters belong); d. Place the duly accomplished ballots in the envelopes provided for the purpose. Separate envelopes shall be allocated for every clustered precinct subject of the SPP or AVC; . Seal and sign the envelopes containing the filled-up ballots (per clustered precinct) and hand it to the SBEI Support Staff for the purpose of returning said ballots to the respective regular polling places of the qualified IP voters; f. Act as deputies of the Commission in the conduct of the elections; g. Maintain order within the SPP or AVC and its premises; keep access thereto, open and unobstructed; enforce obedience to its lawful orders and prohibit the use of cellular phones and camera by the qualified IP voters. If any Person refuses to obey the lawful orders of the SBEI or conducts himself/herself in a disorderly manner in its presence or within its hearing and thereby interrupts or disturbs its proceedings, the SBEI may issue an order in writing directing any peace officer to take said person into custody until the adjournment of the proceedings, but such order shall not be executed as to prevent the person from voting. A copy of such order shall be attached to the Minutes; and h. Perform such other functions prescribed by law or by the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission. SECTION 3. Duties of the SBEI Support Staff. - here shall be one (1) SBEI Support Staff for every SBEI constituted for SPP and AVC. ‘The SBEI Support Staff shall: @. Collect the ballots of the qualified IP voters from the different regular polling places where their established precincts belong; b. Bring the collected ballots to the SPP or AVC; and fc. Return for scanning by the VCM, the accomplished ballots to the BEI of the regular polling place where said ballots were taken before the close of voting hours. SECTION 4. Duty of the PNP/AFP. - The PNP/AFP escort shall accompany the SBEI Support Staff from the regular polling place to the designated polling place in the AVC and vice versa. The PNP/AFP escort shall not enter the polling place where the ballots are taken and to where the same ballots are returned or any other polling place except to vote if he/she Is a registered voter therein. SECTION 5. Proceedings of the SBEI. - The proceedings of the SBEI shall be public and shall be held in the SPP or in the designated polling place in the AVC. SECTION 6. Voting Privilege of the SBEI. - Members of the SBEI who are not availing of the Local Absentee Voting may, on election day, vote in the polling Dlace/s where they are registered, provided that their absence in the SPP or the designated polling place the AVC shall not be more than thirty (30) minutes and that they schedule their voting so that only one member shall leave at any one time. SECTION 7. Prohibition Against Political Activity. - No member of the SBEI or its Support Staff shall engage in any partisan political activity or take part in the election except to discharge his/her duties as such. SECTION 8. Honoraria of the SBEI and their Support Staff. - The SBEI and the Support Staff shall receive honorarium/allowance and other emoluments as may be authorized by the Commission. SECTION 9, Official Watchers of Candidates, Political Parties, Accredited Citizen's Arms and Other Organizations. - Each candidate and registered political party or coalition of political parties duly registered with the Commission and fielding candidates in the election, as well as duly accredited citizen’s arms may appoint two watchers, to serve alternately, in every SPP or designated polling place in the AVC. However, candidates for Senator, Member, Sangguniang Panlalawigan or Sangguniang Panlungsod, or Sangguniang Bayan, belonging to the same party or coalition, shall collectively be entitled to one watcher Other civil, professional, business, service, youth, aid other similar organizations, with prior authority of the Commission, shall be entitled collectively to appoint one watcher, in every SPP or designated polling place in the AVC. If, because of limited space, all watchers cannot be accommodated in the SPP or designated polling place in the AVC, preference shall be given to the watchers of the dominant majority and dominant minority parties as determined by the) 6Commission. The watchers of the accredited citizens’ arm and other organizations shall be given preferential position closest to the SBEI No person shall be appointed ications of Watchers. SECTION 10. Quali watcher unless he/she: a. Isa registered voter of the city or municipality romprising the precinct where he/she is assigned; b. Is of good reputation; c. Has not been convicted by final judgment of any election offense or of any other crime; d. Knows how to read and write Filipino, English or the prevailing local dialect; and e. IS not related within the fourth (4") civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to any member of the SBEI in the SPP or designated polling place in the AVC where he/she seeks appointment as watcher; SECTION 11. Rights and Duties of Official Watchers of Candidates and Political Parties. - Upon entering the SPP or the designated polling place in the AVC, the watchers shall deliver to the Chairman of the SBEI their appointment as watchers, and their names shall forthwith be recorded in the Minutes with a notation under their signatures that they are not disqualified to serve as such under the immediately preceding Section. 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. For this purpose, at least fifteen (15) days before election day, independent candidates, registered parties or coalitions authorized hy the Commission to appoint watchers shall provide the EOs concerned with the names and signatures of their representatives authorized to appoint watchers in the city or municipality. The watchers shall have the right to @, Stay In the space reserved for them inside the SPP or designated polling place in the AVC; b. Witness and inform themselves of the proceedings of the SBEI; c. Take note of what they may see or hear; d. Take photographs of the proceedings and incidents, if any, during the voting; Provided, that the secrecy of ballots shall be maintained at all times; 4 7e. 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; and f, Obtain from the SBEI a certificate as to the filing of such protest and the resolution thereof. Watchers 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. SECTION 12. Other Monitoring Groups, Observers and Media Representatives. Other monitoring organizations and media representatives, duly accredited by the Commission, including foreign observers, shall be allowed access to the SPP and designated polling place in the AVC to observe the proceedings; Provided, said groups present the necessary identification and authorization to the SBEI. They shall have the same right as that of the watchers as provided in the immediately preceding section SECTION 13. Documentation and Communication Devices Allowed in SPP or AVC.- Members of the SBEI, SBEI Support Staff, Official Watchers of Candidates, and Political Parties, Accredited Citizen’s Arms, other Monitoring Organizations, Media Representatives, and CHR, NCIP and COMELEC representatives shall be allowed to bring cameras and cellular phones in the SPP or AVC; Provided, these devices are to be used exclusively for official documentation and communication Purposes only; Provided further, that the secrecy of the ballots shall be respected at all times. ‘ RULE 4 ELECTION FORMS AND SUPPLIES SECTION 1. Election Forms, Documents and Supplies - Except when authorized to do earlier by the Commission, the SBEI shall get the forms, documents and supplies early in the morning of election day, The City/Municipal Treasurer shall distribute the following forms, documents and supplies to the SBEI. FROM ‘Y / Mi L TREAS| ELECTION FOR! a3 Poster Indicating the Established 1 Piece ae Precinct subject of the SPP or AVC |) os | aan All Minutes of Voting and Counting 2 cea RESET Pieces _A12__| Paper Seal _ i 10 [Pieces || Certificate of Receipt of Forms and | Ala Supplies by the SBEI_ Gaal ES FOR Vi AND a | At most 10 (depen For the ballots from the precincts | the organization of the A145 | with qualified IP voters established precincts for | Pl®ces ‘ a __| the sppyave) eset [_Al7__| For Minutes of Voting 2 Pieces OTHER FORMS Temporary appointment of : nagar A30/A31| Chairman/Poll Clerk/Third 10 |_Member/Support Staff sat Certificate of Challenge or Protest 435 __| and Decision of the SBEI cin Pecey ‘3g | Oath of Voter Challenge for legal | 4 a) Acts | Oath of Identification of A40 | challenged Voter 42. fee. SUPPLIES : Bond Paper (Long) _ aeae/ E20 ____ | Pieces : Ballot Secrecy Folder “12 “[Pieces Thumbprint Taker aes Piece Indelible Stain Ink 2m Bottles |] marking Pens i 570 aa Pieces Ballpen fiat - [Pieces FROM THE ELECTION OFFICER There shall be per SPP and designated polling place in the AVC: a. Two sets of PCVL-IP: 1. One copy for posting outside the polling place; and ii. The other copy for use of the SBEI during‘the voting; b. The EDCVL-IP; and ¢. Copies of Appointment and Oath of Office of tie SBEI and Support Staff (CEF No. AS & CEF No. A5-A); ‘The SBEI shall carefully check the different election forms, documents and supplies and the quantity actually received. The SBEI shall sign a Certificate of Receipt (CEF No. A14) in three copies to be distributed as follows: aa. the original of which shall be delivered to the City/Municipal Treasurer, who shall transmit the same to the Election Records and Statistics Department (ERSD), of this Commission in Manila, immediately after the Election Day; b. The second copy shall be given to the City/Municipal Treasurer who shall keep the same for his/her file; and c. the third copy shall be retained by the SBEI SECTION 2. Forms to be Reproduced When Needed. The following forms may be reproduced when needed: a. Temporary Appointment of Chairman/Poll Clerk/Member (Annex “A” of Resolution No. 10057?) b. Certificate of Challenge or Protest and Decision of the SBEI (Annex "8" of Resolution No. 10057); c. Oath of Voter Challenged for Illegal Acts (Annex “C” of Resolution No. 10057); and d. Oath to identify a challenged Voter (Annex "D” of Resolution No. 10057) RULE 5 PROCEDURES OF VOTING SECTION 1. Date of IP Voting. - Voting for all qualified IP voters shall take place on the same date as the National and Local Elections on 9 May 2016. SECTION 2. Vot 1g Hours. For the SPP, the casting of votes shall be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. For the designated polling place i from 7 a.m, to 2 p.m. The earlier closing of voting hours in the SPP and AVC is to give sufficient time for the SBEI Support Staff to bring the ballots from the SPP or the AVC, the casting of votes shall be designated polling place in the AVC to the regular polling place before the close of voting hours therein on Election Day. Qualified IP voters who have not yet cast their votes but are within thirty (30) meters from the polling place by 3 p.m. for SPP or 2 p.m. for AVC, shall still be * General instruction for the Boards of the Election Inspectors (BE!) on the Testing and Sealing of Vote Counting ‘Machines (CMs), and Voting, Counting and Transmission of Election Rocults in Connection with the 09 May 2016 National and Local Elections, 11 February 2016, y 10allowed to cast their votes. The poll clerk of the SREI shall promptly prepare a complete list in duplicate containing the names of said voters numbered consecutively. The voters so listed shall be called to vote by the poll clerk by announcing near the door of the polling place, in a tone loud enough to be heard throughout the polling place, each name three (3) times in the order in which they are listed. Any voter in the list who is not present or does not respond when called shall no longer be allowed to vote. The said list shall be attached to the Minutes. In case all the expected qualified IP voters have voted before the designated closing time for the casting of votes, the SBEI shall close the voting and dispose all election paraphernalia in accordance with Section 10 of Rule 5. SECTION 3. Prel inaries to the Voting. a. For EOs: i, — The EO shall highlight and annotate the qualified IP voters’ names in the EDCVL and PCVL with “IP voter” and shall affix his/her initial beside the annotation b. For SBEI Support Staff: i. The SBEI Support Staff shall meet the SBEI at the City/Municipal Treasurers Office/ EO's Office on the designated distribution time to get the forms and supplies /,e. envelopes and paper seal for the SPP or designated polling place in the AVC; and ll, The SBEL Support Staff shall then proceed to their designated regular polling place to retrieve ballots for qualified IP voters. c. For BEI: i. BEI Chairperson shall announce that his/her respective clustered Precinct is part of the pilot project on SPP and AVC hence, a number of ballots will be taken out of the polling place and brought to the designated SPP or AVC; that same ballots will also be returned to the Polling place before the close of voting hours for purposes of feeding the ballots to the VCM; li, In the presence of the SBEI Support Staff, the BEI shall segregate the ballots allocated for the qualified IP voters per established precinct. Place the ballots in the expandable envelope, close and seal the same using paper seal. One envelope shall be provided for each clustered “ aprecinct. The envelope and paper seal shall be provided by the SBEI Support Staff; The BEI shall enter in the Minutes the name of the SBEI Support Staff, the number of ballots retrieved per established precinct, the serial number of the paper seal of the envelope and the time the SBEI Support Staff retrieved the ballots. The BEI shall require the SBEI Support Staff to sign the entry; and The BEI shall affix their initial on the paper seal and thereafter, turn- ing the IP ballots to the SBEI Support Staff. over the envelopes cont: d. For SBEI: The SBEI shall meet the SBEI Support Staff at the City/Municipal e on the designated distribution time to turn-over the forms and supplies, i.e. envelopes and paper seal for the SPP or designated polling place in the AVC; ‘Treasurers Of The SBEI shall ensure that the SPP or the designated polling place for AVC Is ready for voting; The SBEI shall post the PCVL-IP near or at the door of the polling place; The SBEI shall ensure that a table shall be provided on which the envelopes per clustered precinct are placed and in which qualified IP voters shall insert their filled-up ballots; and Upon arrival of the SBEI Support Staff, the Chairman of the SBEI, in the presence of the other members, shall open the envelopes and count the number of ballots contained therein. The time of arrival, name of voting centers where the ballots have been obtained (if necessary), the number of ballots and serial numbers of the paper seals of the envelopes shall be entered in the Minutes; SECTION 4. Manner of Obtaining Ballots. a. The qualified IP voter shall: Look for his/her name jn the PCVL-IP posted near the door of the SPP or the designated polling place in the AVC and determine his/her Precinct number and sequence number; and - Approach the SBEI, state his/her name, precinct number and sequence number; 4 Rb. The SBEI shall: i. Verify if the name of the qualified IP voter is in the EDCVL-IP. If the voter's name is not in the EDCVL-IP, the voter shall not be allowed to vote and shall be requested to leave the polling place; fi. If his/her name is found, his/her fingernails shall be checked for any indelible ink stain. If stained, it shall be a conclusive presumption that he/she has already cast his/her vote. As such, the qualified IP voter shall be directed to leave the polling place after informing him/her the reason thereof. This fact, including the name and the precinct of said voter, shall be recorded by the SBEI in the utes; ¢. If the fingernail is not stained, establish the identity of the qualified IP voter through the following; 7 His/her photograph or specimen signature in the EDCVL-IP or any other authentic document, except barangay certificate or community tax certificate; In the absence of any of the above-mentioned proof of identity, any member of the SBEI may identify under oath a qualified IP voter, and such act shall be reflected in the Minutes. d. If satisfied with his/her identity, the name of the qualified IP voter shall be distinctly announced in a tone loud enough to be heard throughout the polling place. Otherwise, said voter shall be directed to leave the polling place after informing him/her of the reason therefor. ¢. If the qualified IP voter is not challenged or having been challenged, the question has been decided in his/her favor, require said voter to sign in the EDCVL-IP. In case, qualified IP voters cannot sign, they shall be required to affix their thumb marks in the EDCVL-IP instead; f. Thereafter, the qualified IP voter shall be directed 1o the SBEI Chairperson who shall Authenticate the ballot by affixing his/her signature at the designated space at the front of the ballot; Failure to authenticate the ballot shall not invalidate the ballot, but shall constitute an election offense; Show to the voter that the ballot being given has not yet been filled up, and place such ballot inside the ballot secrecy folder;3. Give the ballot secrecy folder and the marking pen to the voter with the instruction that the ballot shall be kept clean and free from unnecessary markings (i.e. smudge/stains from the thumb print taker, food stains and the like); Instruct the voter how to fill up the ballot properly; and 5. Direct the voter to fill up the ballot to the designated voting area; Only the Chairman shall issue the official ballots, and not more than one ballot shall be issued at one time. SECTION 5, Manner of Voting. - Voting shall be conducted in the following manner: a. The qualified IP voter shall: Using a ballot secrecy folder and the marking pen provided by the Commission, fill his/her ballot by fully shading the ovals beside the names of the candidates and the party, organization or coalition participating in the party list system of representation of his/her choice; ii, After accomplishing his/her ballot, the voter shall then approach the table where the envelope for his/her established precinct is placed and insert the same into the said envelope; The SBEI, if needed, may assist the qualified IP voter by directing the said voter to the correct envelope designated for his/her established precinct where ballot shall be inserted; and The SBEI shall not look at the contents of the ballots but merely direct the qualified IP voter to the correct envelope. b. The SBEI shall ili, Apply indelible ink to the voters right fore-fingernail or any other nail if there be no fore fingernail; iv. Instruct the voter to return the ballot secrecy folder and the marking pen. SECTION 6. Challenge Ag: inst Illegal Voters.-Any voter or watcher may challenge any person offering to vote for a. Not being registered; of 4b. Using the name of another; or ¢. Suffering from any existing disqualification. In such case, the SBEI shall satisfy itself as to whether the ground for the challenge is true by requiring proof of registration, identity or qualification. The SBEI shall identify the voter through his/her photograph, fingerprint or specimen signatures in the EDCVL-IP. In the absence of any of the above-mentioned proof of identity, any member of the SBEI may identify under oath a voter personally known to him/her, and such act shall be reflected in the Minutes. SECTION 7, Challenge Based on Certain Illegal Acts. - Any voter or watcher may challenge any qualified IP voter offering to vote an the ground that the voter: a. Received or expects to receive, paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed, oF promised to contribute money or anything of value as consideration for his/her vote or for the vote of another; or b. Made or received a promise to influence the giving or withholding of any such vote; or ¢. Made a bet or is interested directly or indirectly in a bet that depends upon the results of the election. In such case, the challenged qualified IP voter shall take an oath before the SBEL that he/she has not committed any of the acts alleged in the challenge. Upon taking Such oath, the challenge shall be dismissed and the voter shall be allowed to vote. In case the voter refuses to take such oath, the challenge shall be sustained and he/she shall not be allowed to vote. SECTION 8. Records of Challenges and Oaths.- Ihe SBEI shall record in the Minutes all challenges and oath taken, and its decision in each case. SECTION 9. Rules to be Observed During the Voting. - During the voting, the SBEI shall see to it that: . Qualified IP voters shall vote in the order of their arrival to the SPP or the designated polling place in the AVC; b. No watcher shall enter the place reserved for the qualified IP voters and the SBEI, nor mingle and talk with the voters; ¢. No person carrying any firearm or any other deadly weapon, except those expressly authorized by this Resolution or by the Commission, shall enter the SPP or the designated polling place in the AVC; and, af 15d. There shall be no crowding of qualified IP voters and disorderly behavior inside SPP or the designated polling place in the AVC. SECTION 10. Prohi to: jon on Voting. It shall be unlawful for a qualified IP voter a. Bring the ballot, ballot secrecy folder or marking pen outside the SPP or the designated polling place in the AVC; b. Speak with anyone other than as herein provided while inside the SPP or the designated polling place in the AVC; €. Prepare his/her ballot without using the ballot secrecy folder or exhibit its contents; d. Accomplish his/her ballot accompanied by another, except in the case of an illiterate or qualified IP voter with disability/disabilities; e. Erase any printing from the ballot, or put any distinguishing mark on the ballot; f. Use of communication devices while voting such as digital cameras, cellular Phones with camera or other means to copy the contents of the ballot, or otherwise make use of any other scheme to identify his/her vote; g. Intentionally tear or deface the ballot; SECTION 11. Preparation of Ballots for Qualified IP Voters who are Illiterate or with Disabilities. - No voter shall be allowed to vote as an illiterate or a PWD unless such fact is indicated in the EDCVL. If so, he/she may be assisted in the preparation of his/her ballot by any: a. Relative within fourth (4") civil degree of consanguinity and affinit b. Any person of his/her confidence who belongs tg the same household; or c. Any member of the SBEI. Allas: fors must be of voting age. No person may assist a qualified IP voter who is. illiterate or with disability/disabilities more than three (3) times, except the members of the SBEL In all cases, the poll clerk shall first verify from the qualified IP voter who is illiterate or with disability/disabilities whether he/she had authorized the assistor to help him/her to cast his/her vote, of 16The assistor shall, in the presence of the illiterate or qualified IP voter with disability/disabilities, prepare the ballot using a ballot secrecy folder. The assistor shall bind himself/herself in writing and under oath to fill the ballot strictly in accordance with the instructions of the voter and not reveal the contents thereof, by affixing his/her signature in the appropriate space in the Minutes. SECTION 12. Prohibition against Premature Announcement of Voting. - The members of the SBEI are prohibited from announcing the following matters during voting period a. Whether certain qualified IP voter has already voted or not; b. Number of voters who have already voted or failed to vote thus far; or . Any other fact tending to show or showing the state of the polls; neither shall he or she make any statement at any time, except as a witness before a court or body as to how a person voted. SECTION 13. Holding Area - Whenever necessary, the SBEI, in coordination with DepEd Supervisor shall designate a room to be used as holding area. The holding area will be used by voters waiting for their turn to vote. The voters shall sit and arrange themselves on a first-come, first-served basis such that they will vote according to the sequence of their arrival. Giving numbers to the voters to determine their sequence of voting is strictly prohibited. SECTION 14. Sealing of the Envelopes Per Precinct - After all the qualified IP voters have already voted, the Chairman of the SBEI in the presence of the other members shall: a. Count the unused ballots, if there are any, and record in the Minutes the quantity and the clustered precincts of the ballots; b. Tear the unused ballots in half lengthwise and insert them in the proper envelope/s containing the accomplished ballots; ©. Close the envelope/s containing the accomplished ballots and seal with paper seal bearing the initials of the SBEI; d. Hand over the sealed envelope/s to the Support Staff for purposes of returning and scanning the ballots in the regular, polling place; and . Record in the Minutes the time, serial number of the paper seal and such other necessary information relevant/attendant to the sealed envelope/s containing the ballots and have it signed by the Support Staff. wf wvSECTION 15. Disposition of Election Documents The SBEI shall deliver to the EO the EDCVL-IP, the PCVL-IP, Minutes of Voting and other election paraphernalia. SECTION 16. Counting of the Qualified IP Voters’ Ballots - The SBEI Support Staff shall ensure that all the ballots of qualified IP voters shall reach the regular polling place before the close of voting hours on election day. When the SBEI Support Staff reaches the regular polling place, the Chairperson of the BEI shall announce, loudly enough to be heard tliroughout the polling place, the receipt of the ballots of the qualified IP voters which were accomplished in the SPP or in the designated polling place in the AVC. The BEI shall enter in the Minutes the receipt of the sealed envelope/s. When all the voters in the clustered precincts have finished voting, the Chairperson of the BEI will announce that the envelopes containing the ballots of the qualified IP voters accomplished in the SPP or in the designated polling place in the AVC will be opened for scanning in the VCM. Thereafter, the Chairman of the BEI, in the Presence of the other members and watchers shall feed the qualified IP voters’ ballots to the VCM. Half of the torn unused ballots shall be inserted in the envelope (CEF No. A15) for submission to the Election Officers and the other half of the torn unused ballots inside the other envelope (CEF No. A15) which will be deposited inside the ballot box. The foregoing shall be entered in the Minutes. RULE 6 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SECTION 1. Effectivity. This Resolution shall take effect immediately after its publication in two (2) daily newspapers of general cifculation in the Philippines. SECTION 2. 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 and furnish copies thereof to the Regional Election Director of Region IV, Provincial Election Supervisors and concerned EOs of Occidental and Oriental Mindoro, AFP and PNP of Region IV, DILG, CHR, and NCIP. SO ORDERED.Reso NO. 10080 8067 J. ANDRE! iP BAUTISTA cilgirman CHIISTIAN ROBES. LIM —~ REA. PARRENO— Commissioner Commissioner Lufé TYTO F. GUIA Corfimissioner ENA AME! ZON SHERIFF M. ABAS Commissioner Commissioner Comelee Resolution no. 10C80 promulented March 1, 2016 Rules and Regulations on Pilot Indigenous Peoples Voting Centers in Oeridental and Oriental Miniore in sonneetion with the May 9, 2016 National end Local Elections and subsequent electione therenft=1 a 19