Pollwatchers: qualifications, rights and duties

Appointment of Pollwatchers

(a) Political Party and Candidate Pollwatchers

Each candidate and registered political party or coalition of political parties duly registered with the
Commission on Elections (Comelec) and fielding candidates in the election, may point two watchers, to
serve alternately, in every polling place.

However, candidates for Senator, candidates for Member, Sangguniang Panlalawigan or Sangguniang
Panlungsod, or Sangguniang Bayan, belonging to the same ticket or slate, shall collectively be entitled to
one watcher.

(b) Non-Partisan Pollwatchers

Duly accredited citizens arms of the Commission (Comelec) shall be entitled to appoint a watcher in
every polling place. Other civil, professional, business, service, youth, and any other similar
organizations with prior authority of the Commission, shall collectively be entitled to one watcher.

[see Sec. 15, Article II of COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 dated March 4, 2010]

Preference

If, because of limited space, all watchers cannot be accommodated in the polling place, preference shall
be given to the watchers of the dominant majority and dominant minority parties as determined by the
Commission and the watcher of the citizens' arm, with the latter being given preferential position closest
to the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI). In case there are two or more citizen's arm, the one authorized
by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count shall be given preference.

[see Sec. 15, Article II of COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 dated March 4, 2010]

| Page 1 of 4
Qualifications

No person shall be appointed watcher unless he/she:

(1) is a registered voter of the city or municipality comprising the precinct where he is assigned;

(2) is of good reputation;

(3) has not been convicted by final judgment of any election offense or of any other crime;

(4) knows how to read and write Pilipino, English or of the prevailing local dialect; and

(5) is not related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to the chairman or to any other
member of the BEI in the polling place where he seeks appointment as watcher.

[see Sec. 16, Article II of COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 dated March 4, 2010]

Duties and Prohibiitons

(a) Upon entering the polling place, the watchers shall deliver to the chairman their appointments 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. 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, organizations, or coalitions authorized by the Commission to appoint watchers shall
provide the Election Officers concerned with the names and signatures of their representatives
authorized appoint watchers in the city or municipality.

(b) Watchers shall not speak to any member of the BEI, in such a manner as would disturb the
proceedings of the BEI.

(c) Watchers shall not speak to any voter, in such a manner as would disturb the proceedings of the BEI.

(d) Watchers shall not speak among themselves, in such a manner as would disturb the proceedings of
the BEI.
| Page 2 of 4
(e) Watchers representing the dominant majority and dominant minority parties fielding candidates and
the watcher of the citizens arm shall, if available, affix their signatures and thumbmarks in the election
returns.

(f) Watchers shall stay only in the space reserved for them

(g) Watchers shall not enter the place reserved for the voters and the BEI, nor mingle and talk with the
voters

[see Sec. 17, 27, 28, Article II of COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 dated March 4, 2010]

Rights of Pollwatchers

The watchers shall have the right to:

(a) Witness and inform themselves of the proceedings of the BEI;

(b) Take note of what they may see or hear;

(c) Take photographs of the proceedings and incidents, if any, during the voting, counting of votes, as
well as of the generated election returns and of the ballot boxes;

(d) File a protest against any irregularity or violation of law which they believe may have been committed
by the BEI or any of its members or by any person; and

(e) Obtain from the BEI a certificate as to the filling such protest and the resolution thereof.

[see Sec. 17, Article II of COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 dated March 4, 2010]

Challenges that Pollwatchers are allowed to make against a Voter

(1) Challenge against illegal voter

| Page 3 of 4
Grounds:

(a) Not being registered;

(b) Using the name of another; or

(c) Suffering from an existing disqualification

[see Sec. 24, Article II of COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 dated March 4, 2010]

(2) Challenge based on certain illegal acts

Grounds:

(a) Received or expects to receive, paid, offered or promised to pay, contributed, offered or promised to
contribute money or anything of value as consideration for his 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

(c) 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 voter shall take on oath before the BEI that he 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 the voter shall not be allowed to vote.

[see Sec. 25, Article II of COMELEC Resolution No. 8786 dated March 4, 2010]

| Page 4 of 4