NINETEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
)
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Third Regular Session 
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Kij 27
:r?
SENATE
S.B. No.
(In substitution of S.B. No. 172, taking into consideration H.B. No. 10178)
Prepared by the Committees on Electoral Reforms and People's Participation; and 
Finance with Senators Tolentino and Marcos as authors thereof
AN ACT
ALLOWING FOR ELECTRONIC REGISTRATION AND VOTING BY OVERSEAS 
FILIPINOS AND SEAFARERS, FURTHER AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 
9189, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS "THE OVERSEAS ABSENTEE VOTING ACT OF 
2003", AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10590, OR THE "OVERSEAS 
VOTING ACT OF 2013", APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Phiiippines in Congress assembled:
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SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9189, as amended by Republic Act
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No. 10590, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
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"SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as "The
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Overseas REGISTRATION AND Voting Act [of 2013]."
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SEC. 2. Section 3 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to
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read as follows:
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"SEC. 3. Definition of Terms. - For purposes of this Act:
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"(r) XXX
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"(S) POSTAL VOTING REFERS TO A MODE OF VOTING
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WHERE MAILING PACKETS CONTAINING OFFICIAL BALLOTS
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AND OTHER ELECTION PARAPHERNALIA ARE SENT TO THE
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VOTERS THROUGH THE MAIL, OR ARE PERSONALLY


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DELIVERED TO, OR PICKED-UP BY THE VOTERS AT THE POST 
OR SUCH OTHER VOTING AREAS DESIGNATED BY THE 
COMMISSION. THE VOTERS SHALL EITHER MAIL OR 
PERSONALLY DELIVER THEIR ACCOMPLISHED BALLOTS TO 
THE POST.
"(T) ELECTRONIC VOTING REFERS TO A MODE OF 
VOTING THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS, INCLUDING, BUT 
NOT LIMITED TO, ELECTRONIC MAIL, WEB-BASED PORTALS, 
AND OTHER INTERNET-BASED TECHNOLOGY, TO RECEIVE 
OFFICIAL BALLOTS FOR OVERSEAS VOTING, AND TO CAST 
VOTES THEREON.
"(U) SEAFARER VOTING REFERS TO A MODE OF VOTING 
WHERE SEAFARERS, WHO ARE REGISTERED OVERSEAS 
VOTERS, MAY CAST THEIR BALLOTS DURING THE VOTING 
PERIOD THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS."
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SEC. 3. Section 6 of the same Act, as amended, is further amended to read as
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follows:
"SEC. 6. [Pcrsonof\ Overseas Registration and/or Certification. 
- Registration and/or certification as an overseas voter shall be done 
EITHER in person at any post abroad or at designated registration 
centers outside the post or in the Philippines approved by the 
Commission OR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AS MAY BE 
DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION.
"Field and mobile registration [centers] ACTIVITIES shall be 
set up by the posts concerned to ensure accessibility by the overseas 
voters.
"[All applicants shall submit themselves for live capture of their 
biometrics.] THE COMMISSION, THROUGH THE OFOV, SHALL 
COORDINATE WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
(DFA), DEPARTMENT OF MIGRANT WORKERS (DMW),


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MARITIME INDUSTRY AUTHORITY (MARINA), PHILIPPINE
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STATISTICS AUTHORITY (PSA), COMMISSION ON FILIPINOS
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OVERSEAS (CFO), AND OTHER RELEVANT GOVERNMENT
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AGENCIES TO OBTAIN BIOMETRICS OF OVERSEAS VOTERS:
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PROVIDED, THAT THE BIOMETRICS DATA SHALL ONLY BE
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USED FOR OVERSEAS VOTING REGISTRATION PURPOSES:
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PROVIDED, FURTHER, THAT PROCESSING OF PERSONAL
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DATA SHALL COMPLY WITH THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC
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ACT NO. 10173, OR "THE DATA PRIVACY ACT OF 2012", ITS
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IMPLEMENTING RULES AND REGULATIONS, AND OTHER
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RELATED ISSUANCES OF THE NATIONAL PRIVACY
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COMMISSION.
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"The Commission shall issue an overseas voter identification
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card to those whose applications to vote, EITHER IN PERSON, BY
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MAIL, OR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, AS MAY BE DETERMINED
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BY THE COMMISSION, have been approved."
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SEC. 4. Section 10 of the same Act, as amended, is further amended to read
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as follows:
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"SEC. 10. Transfer of Registration Record. - In the event of
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change of voting venue, an application for transfer of registration
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record must be filed IN PERSON OR BY ELECTRONIC MEANS AS
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MAY BE DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION, by the overseas
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voter with the OFOV, through its Chairperson, at least one hundred
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eighty (180) days prior to the start of the overseas voting period:
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Provided, That those who would eventually vote in the Philippines
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should register within the time frame provided for local registration in
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the municipality, city or district where they intend to vote: Provided,
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further. That those who have registered in the municipality, city or
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district where they resided prior to their departure abroad need not
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register anew: Provided, finaiiy. That transferees shall notify the
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OFOV, through its Chairperson, of their transfer back to the Philippines


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at least one hundred eighty (180) days prior to the next national
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elections for purposes of cancelling their names from the CLOV and of
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removing their overseas voter's registration from the book of voters."
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SEC. 5. Section 13 of the same Act, as amended, is further amended to read
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as follows:
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"SEC. 13. National Registry of Overseas Voters (NROV). -The
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Commission shall maintain a National Registry of Overseas Voters or
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NROV containing the names of registered overseas voters and the
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posts where they are registered. THE LIST SHALL BE PUBLISHED:
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PROVIDED, THAT THE COMMISSION SHALL INSTITUTE
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SAFEGUARD TO PROTECT THE DATA PRIVACY RIGHTS OF
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OVERSEAS VOTERS.
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XXX."
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SEC. 6. Section 23 of the same Act, as amended, is further amended to read
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as follows:
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"SEC. 23. Voting. -Voting may be done [either] personally, by 
mail, or by ELECTRONIC OR any other means, as may be determined 
by the Commission. For this purpose, the Commission shall issue the 
necessary guidelines on the manner and procedure of voting.
XXX.
XXX."
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SEC. 7. Section 25 of the same Act, as amended, is further amended to read
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as follows:
"SEC. 25. Voting by mail. -
25.1. [For the Moy, 2001 elections, t]The Commission shall 
authorize voting by mail [in not more than three (3) countries, subject 
to the approval of the CongrcssionQl Oversight Committee]. Voting 
by mail may be allowed in countries that satisfy the following 
conditions:


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a. xxx;
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"b. xxx;
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"c. xxx;
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"[T-hcrcoftcr, voting by mail in any country shall be allowed only
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upon review and approval of the Joint Congressional Oversight
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€emmittcG.]
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"25.2. xxx.
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"25.3. xxx.
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"25.4. THE COMMISSION SHALL ISSUE GUIDELINES
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ON VOTING BY MAIL, INCLUDING THE PERIOD OF AND
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PROCESS FOR SENDING MAIL PACKETS TO OVERSEAS
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VOTERS, PROCEDURES FOR VOTING, VERIFICATION
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PROCEDURES, AND OTHER RULES NECESSARY AND
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SUFFICIENT TO FACILITATE THE VOTING PROCESS."
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"SEC. 8. Sections 25-A and 25-B are hereby inserted as new sections to read
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as follows:
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"SEC. 25-A. VOTING BY ELECTRONIC MEANS. -
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"25-A.l. FOR THE 2025 NATIONAL ELECTIONS AND
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SUCCEEDING ELECTIONS OVERSEAS, THE COMMISSION
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MAY AUTHORIZE VOTING BY ELECTRONIC MEANS THROUGH
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THE USE OF THE INTERNET IN ALL COUNTRIES THAT ALLOW
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INTERNET VOTING WITHIN THE JURISDICTIONS OF THE
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POSTS. INTERNET VOTING MAY BE ALLOWED IN COUNTRIES
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WITH STABLE INTERNET CONNECTION. THE SYSTEM OR
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APPLICATION TO BE USED FOR INTERNET VOTING MUST:
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"(A) UNDERGO RIGOROUS TESTING AND REQUIRED
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CERTIFICATIONS, AS DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION;
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AND


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"(B) HAVE STRINGENT SECURITY FEATURES BASED 
ON INDUSTRY STANDARDS AT THE TIME OF USE, AS 
DETERMINED BY THE COMMISSION, TO ENSURE THE 
SANCTITY OF THE VOTE AS WELL AS THE VOTER'S 
INFORMATION, INTEGRITY OF THE ELECTRONIC BALLOTS, 
AND TRANSPARENCY OF THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.
"25-A.2. ALL OVERSEAS VOTERS UNDER THE POSTS 
ADOPTING INTERNET VOTING SHALL BE ENTITLED TO CAST 
THEIR DIGITAL BALLOTS AT ANY TIME WITHIN THE 
COMMISSION'S IDENTIFIED VOTING PERIOD USING 
INTERNET-ENABLED DEVICE/S, SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE 
WITH THE RULES AND/OR GUIDELINES TO BE ISSUED BY 
THE COMMISSION.
"25-A.3. ONLY BALLOTS TRANSMITTED THROUGH 
ELECTRONIC MEANS AND RECEIVED BY THE SYSTEM 
BEFORE THE CLOSE OF VOTING ON THE DAY OF ELECTIONS 
SHALL BE COUNTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS ACT.
"25-A.4. THE COMMISSION SHALL ISSUE GUIDELINES 
PERTAINING TO THE CONDUCT OF INTERNET VOTING, 
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE PERIOD FOR PRE­
VOTING ENROLLMENT, VERIFICATION/ VALIDATION 
PROCEDURES, VOTING PROCEDURES, AND OTHER RULES 
NECESSARY AND SUFFICIENT TO FACILITATE THE VOTING 
PROCESS.
"SEC. 25-B. VOTING BY SEAFARERS. - SEAFARERS 
SITUATED OVERSEAS AT THE TIME OF THE ELECTIONS MAY 
VOTE BY ELECTRONIC MEANS, AS MAY BE DETERMINED BY 
THE COMMISSION.
"THE COMMISSION SHALL ADOPT GUIDELINES ON 
VOTING PROCEDURES FOR SEAFARERS AND OTHER SEA- 
BASED OVERSEAS FILIPINO WORKERS AND SECURE THEIR


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RIGHT TO VOTE, WITHOUT REQUIRING THEM TO GO TO THE
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DESIGNATED VOTING CENTER FROM THE NEAREST PORT."
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SEC. 9. Section 32 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended to
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read as follows:
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"SEC. 32. Information Campaign. - The Commission, in
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coordination with agencies concerned, shall undertake an information
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campaign to educate the public on the manner of overseas voting for
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qualified overseas voters. It may require the support and assistance
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of the DFA, through the posts, the DOLE, the Department of
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[Transportation and Communications (DOTC)] INFORMATION
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AND COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (DICT), THE DMW,
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THE NATIONAL PRIVACY COMMISSION (NPC), the Philippine
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Portal Corporation (PPC), [the POEA,] the OWWA, THE MARINA,
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and the Commission on Filipinos Overseas.
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XXX."
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SEC. 10. Section 34 of the same Act, as amended, is hereby further amended
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to read as follows:
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"SEC. 34. 
Assistance from Government 
Agencies. - All
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government officers, particularly from the DFA, the DOLE, the
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[©ere], the DMW, the DICT, the NPC, the PPC, [the POEA,]
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the OWWA, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas, THE MARINA,
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and other government offices concerned with the welfare of the
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Filipinos overseas shall, to the extent compatible with the primary
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responsibilities, assist the Commission in carrying out the provisions
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of this Act. All such agencies or officers thereof shall take reasonable
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measures to expedite all election activities, which the Commission
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shall require of them. When necessary, the Commission may send
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supervisory teams headed by career officers to assist the posts.
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XXX."
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SEC. 11. Section 36 of the same Act, as amended, is further amended to read
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as follows:


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"SEC. 36. Prohibited Acts. -In addition to the prohibited acts
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provided by law, it shall be unlawful:
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"36.1. xxx;
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"36.2. xxx;
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"36.3. xxx;
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"36.4. xxx;
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"36.5. xxx;
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"36.6. xxx;
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"36.7. xxx;
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"36.8. [Fe^r)ny person to engoge in partisan political activity
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abroad during the thirty (30) day overseas voting period;
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"36.Q.] For any person who is not a citizen of the Philippines
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to participate, by word or deed, directly or indirectly through qualified
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organizations/associations, in any manner and at any stage of the
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Philippine political process abroad, including participation in the
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campaign and elections.
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"xxx.
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"xxx."
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SEC. 12. Section 37 of the same Act, as amended, is further amended to read
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as follows:
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"SEC. 37. Joint Congressionai Oversight Committee. - A Joint
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Congressional Oversight Committee is hereby created, composed of
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the Chairperson of the Senate Committee on [Constitutional
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Amendments, Revision of Codes and Lows] ELECTORAL REFORMS
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AND PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION, and seven (7) other Senators
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designated by the Senate President, and the Chairperson of the House
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Committee on Suffrage and Electoral Reforms, and seven (7) other
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Members of the House of Representatives designated by the Speaker
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of the House of Representatives: Provided, That, of the seven (7)
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members to be designated by each House of Congress, four (4)
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should come from the majority to include the chair of the
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COMMITTEE ON FOREIGN RELATIONS FOR THE SENATE AND
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THE CHAIR OF THE Committee on Foreign Affairs FOR THE 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, and the remaining three (3) from 
the minority.
XXX."
SEC. 13. Section 41 of the same Act, as amended, is further amended to read 
as follows:
"SEC. 41. Appropriations. -The amount necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this Act shall be included in the budgets of the 
Commission on Elections, [and] the DFA, THE DMW, THE DOLE,
THE DICT, THE PPC, MARINA, CFO, AND THE OWWA in the 
annual General Appropriations Act."
SEC. 14. Implementing Rules andReguiations. -The Commission on Elections, 
in consultation with the DFA, the DMW, the DOLE, the DICT, the CFOR, MARINA, 
OWWA, and other relevant government agencies, civil society organizations, and 
accredited Filipino community organizations or associations abroad, shall promulgate 
rules and regulations for the implementation and enforcement of the provisions of this 
Act within sixty (60) days from the effectivity thereof.
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. -If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act not affected thereby shall remain in force 
and effect.
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
administrative orders, and rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby 
repealed, modified, or amended accordingly.
SEC. 17. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect upon publication in the Official 
Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,