FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
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Senate B~II ~0.8g74 
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INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The democratic principle requires the broadest participation in electoral 
and similar exercises by persons who have all the qualifications and none of the 
disqualifications to vote. 
Under the electoral law now in force the rule is that a person has to be 
physically present in the polling place whereof he is a registered voter in order to 
be able to vote subject to several exceptions such as government officials and 
employees, members of the AFP and members of the PNP who are duly 
registered voters and temporarily assigned on election day in places where they 
are not registered to perform public functions and duties as well as the qualified 
Filipino citizens abroad. 
This bill seeks to grant the members of the media who are assigned to 
places other than their place of registration the privilege to participate in electoral 
exercises, under certain conditions. 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
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P X V  
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S E N A T E  
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Senate Bill No - 
INTRODUCED BY SEN. MANNY VILLAR 
AN ACT 
WHO ARE AWAY FROM THE PLACES OF THEIR REGISTRATION BY 
REASON OF OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS ON ELECTION DAY 
PROVIDING FOR ABSENTEE VOTING BY THE MEMBERS OF MEDIA 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Philippines in Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. Elections shall be free and equal. The 
State shall always ensure the free exercise of the right of suffrage by all citizens 
of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law. 
SECTION 2. Any person who by reason of hidher functions and duties as 
a'member of media, is not in hislher place of registration on election day, may 
vote in the citylmunicipality where he/she is assigned on election day; provided, 
that hekhe is a duly registered voter. 
SECTION 3. Thirty (30) days before the election, the appropriate head of 
office shall submit to the Commission on Elections a list of members of media 
who are registered voters, and who, by reason of their duties and functions, will 
be in places other than their place of registration, and who desire to exercise 
their right to vote, with the request that said members of media be provided with 
application forms to cast absentee ballots in their place of assignment. 
The list and the request shall be under oath. 
SECTION 4. Upon verification by the Commission on Elections that the 
persons included in the list are qualified voters, it shall transmit the exact number 
of application forms to the head of the office making the request. 
SECTION 5. Upon verification of the applications, the Commission shall 
transmit the exact number of absentee ballots to the Office of the City or 
Municipal Election Registrar. 
SECTION 6. The absentee voters shall vote one week before election 
day. They shall do so by casting votes in office of the City or Municipal Election 
Registrar of the place of their assignment. 
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SECTION 7. The special Commission on Elections absentee ballot shall 
be placed within two security envelopes, the one containing the absentee ballots 
indicating only that it is an envelope of the Commission on Elections, and the 
other envelope indicating the name of the absentee voter and hislher voter's 
registration record number. 
SECTION 8. The Commission on Elections official concerned to whom the 
absentee vote is delivered shall immediately transmit by the fastest means 
available to the Commission on Elections the special Commission on Elections 
absentee ballot within two security envelopes so that the same are in the central 
office of the Commission one day before the elections. 
The transmittal letter shall indicate the names of the persons who cast the 
absentee votes, their voter's registration record number and their certificates of 
eligibility to vote absentee. 
SECTION 9. The Commission on Elections shall canvass the votes cast 
by absentee voters and shall add the results of the same to the votes reported 
throughout the country. 
SECTION 10. The Commission shall promulgate the necessary rules and 
regulations to implement this Act. 
SECTION 11. Positions to be voted for. Only the positions for President, 
Vice-president, Senator and Party-list shall be voted for under the absentee 
voting. 
SECTION 12. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the 
provisions of this Act shall be provided in a supplemental budget or included in 
the General Appropriations Act of the year of its enactment into law. Thereafter, 
the expenses for its continued implementation shall be included in the 
subsequent General Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 13. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act shall 
be declared unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not 
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
SECTION 14. Repealing Clause. All laws, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, rules and regulations, other issuances, and parts thereof, which are 
inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified 
accordingly. 
SECTION 15. Effectivity. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
following its publication in three (3) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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