Comelec eyes 2 citizens’ groups in 2013 polls
More than one citizens’ group may be helping out the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the coming May 2013 elections.
Comelec Commissioner Rene Sarmiento yesterday said that aside from the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible voting (PPCRV), they may also accredit the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel) as another citizens’ arm. “Tasks have to be delineated to avoid duplication,” he said. Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes earlier reported that the poll body has been discussing with Namfrel and PPCRV the tasks that they want to take on in case they get the necessary accreditation.
“I talked to them to find out what is the task that they prefer in case we accredit them both,” Brillantes said.
According to Brillantes, PPCRV requested to conduct or at least participate in the random manual audit just like in the May 2010 polls.
Last Friday, the Comelec accredited the PPCRV as their citizens’ arm in next year’s polls.
Comelec said PPCRV has established a good track record as one of the commission’s staunch allies in ensuring hones, orderly, and peaceful elections.
The Comelec tasked the PPCRV to conduct poll watching in various precincts; provide assistance to voters on election day, most especially to the senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, detainees, indigenous peoples and other members of vulnerable sectors; and to assist the commission in voters’ information
and education drive in every municipality, city and province, most especially in far-flung areas and to sectors which experience inaccessibil- ity in getting information from the commission.
The Comelec agreed to provide PPCRV with electronic copies of the computerized voters’ list and the project of precincts for the effective discharge of its responsibility.
The fourth copy of the election returns printed by the precinct count optical scan (PCOS) machines prior to transmission for the conduct of an unofficial count shall also be furnished to the PPCRV.