ILOILO City – Only one watcher per candidate per polling precinct is allowed for Oct. 30’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) clarified.
Jonathan Sayno, Election Assistant II of Iloilo City, said Comelec strictly regulates the appointment of watchers to, among other things, avoid overcrowding in voting precincts.
Hiring more watchers than what is allowed is also considered as vote-buying, he added.
“Many candidates today attempt to increase their watchers. But, in reality, only one is allowed per polling precinct. Having multiple watchers is an election offense; that’s one form of vote-buying because you’re giving them money,” Sayno explained.
The Comelec officer, however, clarified that watcher substitutions are allowed.
“Candidates may appoint a substitute if the designated watcher feels sick or has to attend to personal needs outside the polling precinct,” he said.
Watchers must arrive at the polling place before voting begins at 7 a.m. to present the Comelec-issued appointment to the electoral board.
Without this appointment, they cannot enter the polling place.
Voting will proceed if the watcher isn’t there by 7 a.m.
For barangays with multiple candidates, Sayno noted the Comelec gives discretion to the electoral boards regarding who will be allowed inside the polling precinct.
The essential thing, he stressed, is that each candidate for barangay captain and SK chair has a watcher.
Representatives from citizen’s groups, such as the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections and the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting, should also be present.
Candidates must submit a list of their appointed watchers to the Comelec. Only then will the commission issue a certification bearing the watcher’s name and their assigned polling precinct.
Qualifications for Poll Watchers:
* must be a registered voter of the barangay where assigned
* should have a good reputation
* must not have been convicted by final judgment of any election offense or any other crime
* should be literate in Filipino, English, or any prevailing local dialects
* cannot be related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity to the chairman or any member of the electoral board in the polling place they are appointed to
Rights of Watchers
* witness and be informed of the electoral board’s proceedings
* take note of any observations
* photograph the proceedings, including any incidents during voting, vote counting, the generated election returns, and the ballot boxes
* file a protest against any perceived irregularity or law violation by the electoral board or any of its members
* obtain from the BEI a certificate regarding the filing of such protest and its resolution/PN
