EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 422
rrciir.te
• ' *■* ■ I'.?
15 A 9 -02
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND 
FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9369, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Democracy requires and protects a variety of voices. A system of checks and 
balances, especially in the electoral process, is essential for democratic institutions, such 
as ours, to flourish.
In this regard, election laws, such as the Omnibus Election Code, Republic Act No. 
7166, Republic Act No. 8436, and Republic Act No. 9369, have established a political 
party system, which aims to provide checks and balances during national and local 
elections. For example, the dominant majority and dominant minority parties are given 
preferential treatment as regards access to election returns, certificates of canvass, 
watchers, and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) transparency server, among 
others. Ideally, this system should contribute to the strengthening of our democracy. 
However, due to the current language of Republic Act No. 7166, as amended by 
Republic Act No. 9369, it is possible for the dominant majority party and the dominant 
minority party to come from the same side of the political coin. This happened in the 
2019 national and local elections.
This bill seeks to clarify the definition of the term "dominant minority party" in 
Republic Act No. 7166, as amended by Republic Act No. 9369, in order to prevent a 
situation where both the dominant majority party and the dominant minority party are 
allies - thereby destroying the system of checks and balances that these election laws 
sought to establish.
The definition proposed in this bill is similar to the definition of "dominant 
opposition party" in Section 274 of the Omnibus Election Code, which reads; "the 
dominant opposition party shall be that political party, group or organization or 
coalition of major national or regional political parties opposed to the majority party 
which has the capability to wage a bona fide nationwide campaign." In the proposed 
definition, parties are disqualified from being declared as the dominant minority party 
if it is not opposed to the dominant minority party, or if they have a coalition, 
partnership, alliance, or any similar arrangement.


This bill also proposes an amendment stating that the COMELEC should pay for 
the per diem of the official watchers of the dominant majority and dominant minority 
parties. Such proposed measure is in line with the constitutional mandate to provide 
equal opportunities to the candidates/political parties. With this proposed measure, 
availability of resources shall not affect the capacity of the parties to monitor and guard 
its candidates' votes in each and every precinct.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this bill is earnestly sought.
FRANCIS^TRANGILINAN


EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
)
First Regular Session 
)
S E N A T E  
Senate Bill No. 422
of tlif
•19 
JUL 15 A9 ^2
RECEIVE t..
Introduced by Senator FRANCIS N. PANGILINAN
AN ACT
AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166 OTHERWISE KNOWN AS AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR SYNCHRONIZED NATIONAL AND LOCAL ELECTIONS AND 
FOR ELECTORAL REFORMS, AS AMENDED BY REPUBLIC ACT NO. 9369, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Republic of the 
Philippmes in Congress assembled:
1 
SECTION 1. Section 26 of Republic Act No. 7166, as amended by Section 34 of
2 
Republic Act No. 9369, is hereby further amended to read as follows:
3 
"Section 26.0fficial Watchers. - Every registered political party or coalition of
4 
political parties, and every candidate shall each be entitled to one watcher in
5 
every polling place and canvassing center: Provided That, candidates for the
6 
Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlunsod, or Sangguniang Bayan
7 
belonging to the same slate or ticket shall collectively be entitled to only one
8 
watcher.
9 
The dominant majority party and dominant minority party, which the
10 
Commission shall determine in accordance with law, shall each be entitled to
11 
one official watcher who shall be paid a fixed per diem of five hxmdred pesos
12 
(P500.00) TO BE PAID BY THE COMMISSION.
13 
There shall also recognized six principal watchers, representing the six
14 
accredited major political parties excluding the dominant majority and
15 
minority parties, who shall be designated by the Commission upon
16 
nomination of the said parties. 
The[se] DOMINANT MAJORITY,


2
3
4
5
6
7
8 
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20 
21 
22
23
24
25
1
DOMINANT MINORITY, AND THE MAJOR political parties shall be 
determined by the Commission upon notice and hearing on the basis of the 
following circumstances:
a) 
The established record of the said parties, coalition of groups that now 
composed them, taking into account, among other things, their showing 
in past election;
b) 
The number of incumbent elective officials belonging to them ninety (90) 
days before the date of election;
c) 
Their identifiable political organizations and strengths as evidenced by 
their organized/chapters;
d) 
The ability to fill a complete slate of candidates from the municipal level 
to the position of President; and
e) 
Other analogous circumstances that may determine their relative 
organizations and strengths.
PROVIDED, THAT A POLITICAL PARTY, GROUP OR ORGANIZATION 
OR COALITION OF POLITICAL PARTIES CANNOT BE DECLARED AS 
THE DOMINANT MINORITY PARTY UNLESS SUCH POLITICAL 
PARTY, GROUP OR ORGANIZATION OR COALITION OF POLITICAL 
PARTIES IS OPPOSED TO THE DOMINANT MAJORITY PARTY. 
PARTIES WHO FORM COALITIONS, PARTNERSHIPS, ALLIANCES, OR 
OTHER 
SIMILAR 
FORMS 
OF 
ARRANGEMENTS 
WITH 
THE 
DOMINANT MAJORITY PARTY AT THE NATIONAL, REGIONAL, 
PROVINCIAL, 
OR 
CITY/MUNICIPAL 
LEVELS, 
SHALL 
BE 
DISQUALIFIED FROM BEING DECLARED AS THE DOMINANT 
MINORITY PARTY."


1 
SEC. 2. Repealing Clause. - All statutory laws, orders, issuances, rules and
2 
regulations, and/or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act
3 
are hereby repealed or modified accordingly.
4 
SEC. 3. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared
5 
invalid or unconstitutional, the portions or provisions which are not affected shall remain
6 
valid and effective.
7 
SEC. 4. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) days following its
8 
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,