(r'Cir* of:
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 JUL 15 All :14
)
SENATE 
S. No. ou7
RECEIVED av:
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COMMISSION ON 
ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF 
BATAS PAMBANSA 881, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "OMNIBUS 
ELECTIONS CODE," AS AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) is the primary constitutional body 
mandated to enforce and administer all laws and regulations governing the conduct 
of regular and special elections in the Philippines. Like other constitutional 
commissions, the COMELEC enjoys institutional independence and fiscal autonomy, 
thereby ensuring its operations are insulated from political influence and interference 
by the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. This structural 
independence is essential to safeguarding the integrity, fairness, and credibility of 
electoral processes.
Nevertheless, electoral exercises in the country have, at times, been tainted by 
allegations of fraud, irregularities, and misconduct. In certain instances, officials and 
employees of the Commission have been implicated—rightly or wrongly—in such 
accusations, casting doubt on the institution's impartiality and operational autonomy. 
One aspect that undermines the Commission's constitutional independence is found 
in Sections 53 and 55 of the Omnibus Election Code. These provisions provide about 
staffing patterns and required local government units (LGUs) to furnish suitable office 
space for provincial election supervisors, election registrars, and their respective staff.


respectively. While intended as an administrative support mechanism, this 
dependence on local governments may create situations that compromise, or are 
perceived to compromise, the neutrality and independence of election officials.
To uphold the full spirit and letter of the Constitution, it is imperative to revisit 
and amend Sections 53 and 55 of the Omnibus Election Code. The responsibility for 
providing office accommodations for election officials should be restored to the 
Commission on Elections itself, thereby reinforcing its institutional autonomy and 
removing any potential for undue influence at the local level.
The passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
ROBipmQ0b PADILLA
X Senator


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.Oifir'd: .
TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session
25 JUL 15 All :14
)
SENATE
s. No. 607
RLCEiVtO B ■
Introduced by Senator Robinhood Padilla
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COMMISSION ON 
ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PERTINENT PROVISIONS OF 
BATAS PAMBANSA 881, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "OMNIBUS 
ELECTIONS CODE," AS AMENDED, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled:
Section 1. Declaration of Policy. —The State hereby affirms and recognizes the 
independence of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) as guaranteed under Article 
IX, Part A, Section 1 of the 1987 Constitution. As such, the State shall ensure and 
preserve the integrity and independence of the COMELEC by providing suitable office 
spaces for its field offices with sufficient manpower complement.
Sec. 2. Section 53 of Batas Pambansa Big. 881 (B.P. 881), as amended, 
otherwise known as the Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines" is hereby amended 
to read as follows:
"Sec. 53. Field offices of the Commission. - The Commission shall have 
the following field offices:
(1) Regional Election Office, headed by the Regional Election Director 
and assisted by the Assistant Regional Director and such other 
subordinate officers or employees as the Commission may 
appoint.


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(2) Provincial Election Office, headed by the Provincial Election
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Supervisor and assisted by AT LEAST ONE ELECTION
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ASSISTANT AND such other subordinate officers or employees
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as the Commission may appoint: PROVIDED, THAT THE
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PROVINCIAL ELECTION SUPERVISOR SHALL HAVE THE
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SOLE AUTHORITY 
TO 
ENGAGE CONTRACTUAL
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PERSONNEL TO PERFORM ADMINISTRATIVE OR
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CLERICAL WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH CIVIL SERVICE
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LAWS.
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(3) City/Municipal Election Office, headed by the City/Municipal
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[Registrar] ELECTION OFFICER who shall be assisted by [aft]
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AT LEAST ONE (1) election [dark] ASSISTANT and such other
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SUBORDINATE OFFICERS OR employees as the Commission
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may appoint: PROVIDED, THAT THE ELECTION OFFICER
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SHALL HAVE THE 
SOLE AUTHORITY TO ENGAGE
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CONTRACTUAL PERSONNEL TO PERFORM
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ADMINISTRATIVE OR CLERICAL WORK IN ACCORDANCE
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WITH CIVIL SERVICE LAWS.
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The Commission may delegate its powers and functions or order the
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implementation or enforcement of its orders, rulings, or decisions through the heads
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of its field offices.
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Sec. 3. Section 53-A shall be inserted in B.P. 881 to read as follows:
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"SEC. 53-A. AUTOMATIC CREATION OF POSITIONS OF
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ELECTION OFFICERS. - WHENEVER NEW CITIES,
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MUNICIPALITIES, AND ELECTORAL DISTRICTS ARE CREATED,
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THERE SHALL BE AUTOMATICALLY CREATED POSITIONS OF
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ELECTION OFFICERS AND ELECTION ASSISTANTS IN SUCH
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NUMBER PURSUANT TO THE RATIO ESTABLISHED IN THE
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SUCCEEDING SECTION."
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Sec. 4. Section 53-B shall be inserted in B.P. 881 to read as follows:
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"SEC. 53-B. RATIO OF ELECTION ASSISTANTS TO REGISTERED
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VOTERS. - THERE SHALL BE A CORRESPONDING NUMBER OF


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ELECTION ASSISTANT POSITIONS AT THE RATIO OF ONE
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ELECTION ASSISTANT FOR EVERY TWENTY THOUSAND
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(20,000) REGISTERED VOTERS."
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Sec. 5. Section 53-C shall be inserted in B.P. 881 as follows:
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"SEC. 53-C. NO OTHER PERSONNEL, OTHER THAN THOSE
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MENTIONED IN SECTION 53 OF THIS ACT, OR EXPRESSLY
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AUTHORIZED BY LAW, SHALL BE ASSIGNED, DESIGNATED,
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ENGAGED, OR DETAILED AT THE FIELD OFFICES OF THE
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COMMISSION, OR SHALL BE ALLOWED TO PERFORM
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ADMINISTRATIVE OR CLERICAL WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH
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THE MANDATE OF THE FIELD OFFICES."
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Sec. 6. Section 55 of B.P. 881 is hereby amended to read as follows:
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"Sec. 55. Office space. - The [teeal—government—concerned]
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COMMISSION shall provide [a) AN ACCESSIBLE AND suitable place
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for [the office of the provincial-election supervisor and his staff and the
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election-registrar and his staff-:-ProvidedrThat in case of failure-oRhe
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local government concerned -te -provide such suitable place, the
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provincial election-supervisor or the election registrar, as the case may
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be, upon prior authority of the-Commission-and notice -to the-local
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government concerned, may -lease another place for-office and the
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rentals thereof shall be chargeable totheftinds-ef the-teeal gover-nment
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concerned] ITS FIELD OFFICERS AND THEIR STAFF CHARGEABLE
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TO THE YEARLY APPROPRIATIONS OF THE COMMISSION.
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Sec. 7. Transitory Provision. — The local government unit concerned shall
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continue to provide a suitable place for the office of the provincial election supervisor
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and his staff and the election officer and his staff until such time that the Commission
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on Elections has provided the field office concerned with its own office, which in no
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case shall exceed five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act.
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Sec. 8. Appropriations. — The initial funding to carry this Act into effect shall
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be charged against the current appropriations of the Commission on Elections.
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Thereafter, the amount necessary for the continued implementation and
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operationalization of this Act shall be included in the General Appropriations Act.


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Sec. 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act is declared invalid or
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unconstitutional, the other provisions not affected by such declaration shall remain in
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full force and effect.
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Sec. 10. Repealing Clause. — All laws, executive orders, administrative orders,
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and rules and regulations inconsistent with this Act are hereby repealed or amended
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accordingly.
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Sec. 18. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its
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publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,