FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S. No.'! 9 75 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 21, lays down the basic 
premises for election rights, recognizing that the conduct of free and fair elections is an integral 
element of an established democracy. 
The Philippines is a democratic and republican State (Constitution, Article 2, Section 1). 
Its policy is to promote conditions conducive to the conduct of free and fair elections and a 
climate of democratic tolerance that maintains and develops public confidence in the democratic 
process as a mechanism for implementing representative government and effecting peaceful 
change. 
Unfortunately, our political process is marred by massive fraud and cheating. Through 
money and influence, parties and candidates in competition for political power always bend 
every rule, resort to unlawful means, arid seek every advantage in the pursuit of the vote. 
Schemes of this sort must be condemned for they constitute immoral acts which are 
harmful to the democratic process. 
Hence, this bill seeks to establish a code of conduct and ethical standards for the political 
process, to be adhered to by political parties, candidates, political members, sympathizers, voters, 
election officials, and media practitioners. 
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E SORS 
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
1 
First Regular Session 
1 
SENATE 
S.No.I 975 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
AN ACT 
ESTABLISHING A CODE OF CONDUCT AND ETHICAL STANDARDS FOR THE 
ELECTORAL. PROCESS, ENUMERATING PROHLBITED ACTS, AND PROVIDING FOR 
THEIR PENALTIES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress 
assembled: 
SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the “Code of Conduct for 
Elections.” 
SECTION 2. Declaration of Policies. - It is the policy of the State to promote conditions 
conducive to the conduct of free and fair elections and a climate of democratic tolerance in 
which political activity may take place without fear of coercion, intimidation, or reprisals. 
SECTION 3. Norms of Conduct of Political Parties, Party Members. Candidates. and 
their Sympathizers. - Every political party, party member, candidate, and sympathizer shall 
observe the following: 
(A)Existing election laws must be complied with by all registered political parties and 
candidates. All registered political parties and candidates must actively encourage their members 
and sympathizers to comply with the provisions of existing election laws and must discipline and 
restrain them from committing any violations thereof; 
(B) All registered political parties, political party members, candidates, and sympathizers 
shall commit themselves to - 
(1) promote free and fair elections; 
(2) publicly condemn violence and intimidation; 
(3) reject any form of discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, class, or religion 
in connection with the elections and political party activity; and 
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(4) promote accurate information on the electoral processes for these elections; 
(C) All registered political parties and candidates must promote an atmosphere in which 
elections be conducted in a manner that is fair, both during the campaign period and on polling 
day. They must cooperate with election officials to ensure peaceful and orderly polling and 
complete freedom for the voters to exercise their franchise without being subject to any 
annoyance, disturbance, or intimidation; 
(D)It is expected that criticism of opponents will occur during electioneering. However, 
indecorous and provocative speeches, statements, posters, taunting, ridiculing, and innuendos 
shall be avoided. All registered parties and candidates shall be careful so that behavior, 
statements, or comments do not cause unnecessary tension. They shall exercise restraint in 
speech, manner, and conduct, and show respect for the opinion of others so that electioneering 
does not turn into a war of words and confrontation. Speeches and slogans shall be dignified and 
based on principles of morality, decorum, and decency. 
(E) All registered political parties and candidates shall act with a sense of responsibility 
and dignity befitting their status. While propagating their own views and programs, they shall not 
interfere with the freedom of others to do the same, as that would be the negation of democracy. 
(F) The congenial and peaceful atmosphere for election must not be disturbed by 
spreading untrue and motivated rumor or by taking recourse to conspiracy; 
(G)On the declaration of a, free and fair election by the Commission on Elections to the 
satisfaction of the majority of the political parties, invited persons, and recognized observers, 
losing candidates shall honorably concede defeat; 
(H)AIl registered political parties and candidates shall establish effective communication 
with one another at the central, provincial, and district levels and shall appoint liaison personnel, 
to be available for this purpose at all times, to deal with any problem arising during the 
registration of voters, the campaign, or the polling; and 
(I) All registered parties and candidates shall ensure that the election will not be 
influenced bv monev. weauons. muscle Dower. or local influence. 
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SECTION 4. Prohibited Acts. - In addition to acts and omissions of registered political 
parties and candidates prescribed in the Constitution, the Omnibus Election Code of the 
Philippines, and other existing laws, the following shall constitute prohibited acts and are hereby 
declared to be unlawfiil: 
(A) All registered political parties and candidates, party members, and sympathizers shall 
not engage in practices that are corrupt or violate the integrity of the electoral processes, such as, 
but not limited to bribery of votes, intimidation of voters, and inducing a person to vote knowing 
that such person is not qualified to vote; 
(B) All registered political parties, candidates, party members, and sympathizers shall not 
create an atmosphere that leads to intimidation and harassment by b having in such a way that 
could incite violence. No party shall give indulgence to any kind of violent activity to 
demonstrate party strength or prove supremacy; 
(C) All registered political parties, candidates, party members, and sympathizers shall not 
publish or cause to be published false, inflammatory, or defamatory allegations about the 
personal conduct of another party or candidate; 
(D) All registered political parties, candidates, party members, and sympathizers shall not 
indulge in offering gifts or gratification or inducing another to stand, or not stand, as a candidate, 
or to withdraw, or not to withdraw, his candidacy; 
(E) All registered political parties and candidates, their members, and sympathizers shall 
not procure the assistance or support of any public servant or official of the Commission on 
Elections to promote or hinder the election of a candidate. 
(F) All registered parties shall not propagate any opinion or act in any manner prejudicial 
to the sovereignty, integrity, or security of the Philippines or morality and the maintenance of 
public order. 
(G) All registered political parties and candidates, their members, and sympathizers shall 
not use public funds, premises, vehicles, or other goods; 
(H) All registered political parties and candidates, their members, and sympathizers shall 
not disrupt or obstruct persons from attending the meetings, marches, or demonstrations of other 
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parties and candidates; 
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(I) All registered political parties and candidates, their members, and sympathizers shall 
not plagiarize the symbols of other parties, and shall not steal, destroy, or disfigure the political 
or other campaign materials of other parties and candidates; 
(J) All registered political parties and candidates, their members, and sympathizers shall 
not carry dangerous and lethal weapons or any instrument capable of being used as a weapon in 
any public meeting, political rally, march, or demonstration; 
(K) All registered political parties and candidates, their members, and sympathizers shall 
not influence voting through money or allurement and hire or use any kind of transport to carry 
voters other than for self and family. 
SECTION 5. Voters’ Norms OfConduct. - Every voter shall observe the following: 
(A)It is the individual’s fundamental right to vote. A voter shall not abstain from voting 
without good reason; 
(B)All persons eligible to register should seek at all times to be honest with the 
information they impart; 
(C)A voter must not sell his or her vote and not forfeit his freedom of choice and devalue 
his or her worth as a person; 
@)A voter must exercise his or her responsibility by voting for a candidate on the basis 
of ability, integrity, and competence, for integrity, good character, and sound judgment as 
manifested in his or her good behavior as a voter is important to the Political Process, and those 
whom he or she seeks to elect; 
(E) A voter shall vote after serious consideration of all candidates’ policies. Each person 
has a right to his or her views and to support the candidate he or she prefers. Respect must be 
maintained for the opinion of others; 
(F) Each voter has a responsibility to obey the law and to promote the maintenance of 
law and order throughout the country. 
SECTION 6. Norms of Conduct of Public’Officials and Employees of the Commission on 
Elections and other Election Oflcials. - Every election official or employee shall observe the 
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following: 
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(A)AII election officials must promote conditions conducive to the conduct of free and 
fair elections in which the secrecy and integrity of the ballot are respected. All election officials 
undertake to: 
(1) Refrain Erom politically influencing any voter; 
(2) Perfom all duties and functions with care, competence, and courtesy; 
(3) Maintain strict impartiality in carrying out duties and functions; 
(4) Reject and dissociate themselves from any intimidation, force, sexual 
harassment, hostility, injury, disadvantage, or threat of reprisal to any person or damage 
to any property that may disrupt or influence the process or result of the elections; 
(5) Reject and object to any form of discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, 
language, class, or religion in connection with the elections and political 
(B) All election officials shall not commit or attempt any act of corruption. Such activity; 
acts will include the commission or omission of an act in the performance of or in connection 
with one's duties in exchange for money, gift, or promise of reward from any party or candidate. 
Election officials shall make every effort to oppose or combat any act of corruption that is 
discovered in the course of their duties; 
(C)Election officials shall make every effort to attend meetings, training classes, or 
workshops that arc set up to facilitate the carrying out of their functions; 
(D) All elections officials must accept the role of duly appointed representatives of 
registered political parties and candidates and their right to object to irregular procedures; 
(E) During the election period, election officials are forbidden to stand as candidates or 
be included on a party list for the elections, work for or be paid by any party or candidate in 
connection with the elections, be the holder of an office in a party or wear any apparel or 
emblem likely to be associated with any party or candidate; 
(F) All election officials must not impede political parties from freely conducting their 
campaigns. All election officials must maintain the integrity and secrecy of the ballot at all times 
and must not interfere directly or indirectly with the exercise of the electoral right of a person. 
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SECTION 7. Norms of Conduct of Media Practitioners. - Freedom of expression by the 
media - radio, television, and print - is a symbol of democracy. The manner by which the media 
use their freedom carries an obligation to serve the society and public as a whole. Because of this 
need to serve the public, the media inherit a public trust. Hence - 
(A)The media have a responsibility to conduct their operations at all times in a 
professional manner and to exercise critical and discerning judgment which respects and 
advances the rights and dignity of all people and maintain standards of good taste as reflected by 
the society and public served. The media must enrich the daily life of the people they serve 
through information, education, and entertainment; they must provide for the fair discussion of 
matters of public concern; engage in works directed toward the common good; and vblunteer aid 
and comfort in times of stress and emergency. 
(B)News reporting should be factual, fair, and without bias. Professional care should be 
maintained in the use and selection of news sources. News analysis, commentary, and editorials 
should be clearly identified as such, distinguishing them from straight news reporting. 
(C) Expressions of responsible views on public issues of a controversial nature should 
give fair representation to opposing sides of the issues. Requests by individuals, groups, or 
organizations to present their views on controversial public issues should be considered on the 
basis of their individual merits and in the light of their contributions to public interest. 
(D)During the Campaign Period, the media have a special responsibility to the public to 
encourage participation by the electorate in the democratic process and to ensue they have the 
opportunity to be informed on the candidates and issues. 
(E) Broadcast orpubljcatjon errors beyond the control of the medium should be corrected 
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rejected by the media. 
in accordance with the standard broadcast or publication policies of procedures for the correction 
of mistakes. The media may not censor, change, or alter in any manner any of the materials 
presented by the parties or candidates for broadcast or publication by the media. 
(F) In the event any of the media believe a political message may not be in good taste, or 
contrary to public interest, security, peace, or morality, the questioned political message may be 
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SECTION 8. Commitment of parties and candidates. - No political party shall be 
registered and no candidate for any office shall be issued a certificate of candidacy unless such 
party or candidate, under oath, undertakes to abide by this Code of Conduct. 
SECTION 9. Penalties. - (1) Any registered political party which violates any of the 
prohibited acts enumerated in Section 4 of this Act shall be suspended from participating in two 
(2) consecutive elections or be banned from participating in any electoral process depending on 
the gravity o f  the offense after due notice and hearing by the appropriate body or agency; 
(2) Any person who violates any of the prohibited acts enumerated in Section 4 of this 
Act shall be punished with a fine not exceeding Five Hundred Thousand Pesos (P500,OOO.OO) 
after due notice and hearing of the appropriate body or agency, provided that if the offender is a 
candidate for public office, he shall also be disqualified from seeking such post. If the violation 
is punishable by a heavier penalty under another law, he shall be prosecuted under the latter 
statute. 
SECTION 10. Promulgation of Rules and Regulations, Administration, and Enforcement. 
- The Commission on Elections shall have the primary responsibility for the administration and 
enforcement of this Act. It shall transmit all cases of prosecution arising from violations of this 
Act to the proper authorities for appropriate action, provided, however, that it may institute such 
administrative actions and disciplinary measures as may be warranted in accordance with law. 
The Commission is also hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to carry 
out the provisions of this Act. 
SECTION 11, Appropriations. - The sum necessary for the effective implementation of 
this Act shall be taken from the appropriations of the Commission on Elections. 
SECTION 12. Separability Clause. - If m y  provision, or part hereof, is held invalid or 
unconstitutional, the remainder of the law or the provision not otherwise affected shall remain 
valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 13. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, executive 
order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to or inconsistent 
with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified, or amended accordingly. 
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Approved, 
SECTION 14. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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