This is a petition for accreditation filed by PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL FOR RESPONSIBLE VOTING (PPCRV) on 19 January 2003 seeking for nationwide accreditation as citizen's arm of the Commission in connection with the 10 May 2004 national and local elections.

The pertinent portion of the Petition states that:

1. Petitioner is a bona-fide non-partisan parish-based association duly organized by and composed of civic-minded citizens drawn from the various sectors of the Philippine society, with offices at Room 301, Pius XII Catholic Center, 1175 United Nation Avenue, Manila, where it may be served with summons and other processes of this Honorable Commission.


2. Petitioner has a national constituency, with chapters based in the various parishes, which are all operational, in provinces, cities and municipalities throughout the country, which carry out all orders, instructions and/or directives/promulgated by the PPCRV's National Executive Board (NEB).


3. In the past elections since the synchronized National and Local Elections on May 11, 1992, and subsequent electoral exercises, as follows: Barangay elections of 1994, 1997 and 2002, the 1993 Special Elections for Governor of Bataan, the 1994 special elections for Congressman of the Second District of Rizal, the 1995, 1998 and 2001 National and Local Elections, the 1996 and 2002 Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Election, the 1997 Recall Election in Kalookand City, the 1999 Regional Elections in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), the plebiscite on the creation of the City of Novaliches in October 1999, and the Recall Elections for the City Mayor of Pasay City on April 15, 2000, Petitioner consistenly applied for and was granted due accreditation as citizen's arm.


4. Petitioner was likewise accredited as citizen's arm in connection with the General Registration and Continuing Registration, and other related activities under Republic Act No. 8189.


5. Petitioner's performance as an accredited citizen's arm is now a matter of public record, and it is upon this record that Petitioner seeks to be accredited anew as citizen's arm for purposes of forthcoming National and Local Elections set on 10 May 2004 to perform, among others, voter's education, voter's assistance and pollwatching functions, and such other related activities that the Honorable Commission may direct.


6. In connection with this instant petition for accreditation as citizen's arm, Petitioner reiterates its previous commitments as follows:



6.1.	It is not supporting any candidate, political party, organization or coalition of political parties involved on the 10 May 2004 National and Local Elections;
6.2	It shall remain strictly non-partisan and impartial during the entire electoral exercises;
6.3	It is not supported by or under the influence of any foreign government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or of any foreign, whether natural or juridical;
6.4	It shall not solicit or receive, direct or indirectly, any contribution or aid of whatever form or nature from any foreign government or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, or from any foreign, whether natural or juridical;
6.5	It does not seek to achieve its objectives, goals or programs through violence or other unlawful means, nor aim to propagate any ideology opposed to the principles of a republican and democratic government, and that it will undertake to police its ranks and prevent infiltration by persons or groups of persons who may, directly or indirectly, destroy its character of non-partisanship and impartiality."

On 28 August 2003, the Commission en banc issued an order directing Petitioner to cause the publication of its petition in a newspaper of general circulation together with the notice of hearing scheduled on 09 September 2003 at 10:00 A.M. at the COMELEC Session Hall, Intramuros, Manila, which hearing was reset to 14 October 2003 upon motion of the Petitioner.

During the hearing, Atty. Ernesto L. Mendoza, counsel for the Petitioner, appeared. No oppositor surfaced. Counsel presented for markings the following exhibits:

Per Order dated 14 October 2003, the case was deemed submitted for resolution.

The Commission has gone over the records of the case. The participation of PPCRV during the past electoral exercises and its commitment towards clean, honest and orderly elections has been noted. Considering that the Petitioner has met the quantum of evidence required for accreditation as prescribed in Rule 33 of the COMELEC Rules of Procedure, the Commission RESOLVES to ACCREDIT the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible voting (PPCRV) as citizen's arm of the Commission nationwide pursuant to Section 2(5) of Article IX (C) of the Constitution's direct and immediate control and supervision, in connection with the national and local elections on 10 May 2004 charged with the following duties, responsibilities and functions:

1. Conduct poll watching functions in the precincts, including assistance to voters, and in the canvassing of the votes; and


2. Assist the Commission in voter's education campaign in every municipality, province and city including highly urbanized cities.

subject to the following conditions:

1. That is shall be subject to the direct and immediate control of the Commission and shall comply with all lawful orders of the Commission in the performance of its specific functions and activities as provided in Section 52 (k), Omnibus Election Code, and such other functions and activities which the Commission may assign to it;


2. That it shall be non-partisan and impartial during the election period;


3. That it shall not be under the influence whatsoever of any foreign government corporation, or entity and shall not solicit or receive, directly or indirectly, any contribution or aid of whatever form or nature from any foreign government, corporation or entity, and that neither shall said organization nor any of its members seek to achieve its objectives or programs through violence, or aim to propagate any ideology opposed to the principles of a republican and democratic government;


4. That is shall undertake to police its ranks and prevent infiltration by persons or group of persons who may, directly or indirectly, destroy its character of impartiality;


5. That it shall submit to the Commission a list of its responsible officials and other officers constituting its board and there shall be no changes therein without the approval of the Commission;


6. That is shall make available to the Commission its personnel, facilities, equipment, papers and effects and coordinate its activity with other accredited citizen's arm of the Commission;


7. That is shall submit a weekly written report of its operations during the period of the 10 May 2004 elections; and


8. That this accreditation shall be deemed automatically revoked in case it violates any of the conditions herein set forth.

The Executive Director of this Commission in coordination with the Clerk of Court of the Commission shall implement this Resolution immediately upon its promulgation, furnishing copies thereof to all field officers nationwide including the candidates and the political parties or coalition of political parties.

The Education and Information Department shall cause the publication of this Resolution in two (2) daily newspapers of general circulation.

SO ORDERED.

Updated: 01.19.12 LGA