08 May 2010

Hon. NESTOR N. PADALHIN
Vice Chairman
Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat
Department of Foreign Affairs

Dear Vice-Chair Padalhin:

Undersigned has observed an apparent oversight in the distribution of the Certificate of Canvass of votes as provided in Section 27 of Comelec Resolution No. 8810 promulgated on 30 March 2010 entitled "General Instructions Governing the Consolidation, Transmission, and Canvassing of Votes for the Special Board of Canvassers in Hong Kong and Singapore in connection with the Overseas Absentee Voting for the May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections", which adopts that used in manual elections instead of the distribution in automated elections.

In order to conform to the distribution of COCs adopted in automated voting, the SBOCs of Hong Kong and Singapore are directed to adopt the following distribution of the COC/SOVP/SSOV as follows:

1. The first copy shall be sent to Congress, directed to the President of the Senate for use in the canvass election results for President and Vice-President;
2. The second copy shall be sent to the Commission for use in the canvass of the election results for senators;
3. The third copy shall be kept by the chairman of the board;
4. The fourth copy shall be given to the citizens' arm designated by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count. It shall be the duty of the citizens' arm to furnish independent candidates copies of the COC at the expense of the requesting party;
5. The fifth copy to Congress, directed to the President of the Senate;
6. The sixth copy to be posted on a wall within the premises of the canvassing center;
7. The seventh and eighth copies to the dominant majority and minority parties;
8. The ninth and tenth copies to two accredited major national parties representing the majority and the minority, excluding the dominant majority and minority parties, to be determined by the Commission on the basis of the criteria provided in Section 26 of Republic Act No. 7166;
9. The eleventh to thirteenth copies to national broadcast media entities as may be equitably determined by the Commission in view of propagating the copies to the widest extent possible;
10. The fourteenth copy to another citizens' arm or in the absence thereof, to a non-partisan group or organization enlisted by the Commission pursuant to Section 52(k) of Batas Pambansa BIg. 881. Such citizens' arm or non-partisan group or organization may use the copy of election return for the conduct of citizens' quick count.

Your usual and prompt action is highly appreciated.

Very truly yours,

Sgd. Armando C. Velasco
Commissioner

POSTED: 05.09.2010 LTO, Updated: 01.21.2012 JJSH