REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES,
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metero Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House BilNo. _ 6902

Introduced by Honorable EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO

EXPLANATORY NOTE

Executive Order No. 157 (E.0. 157) was the first piece of legislation that provided for a
system of local absentee voting. In Section 7 thereof, for the purpose of the 1987 Congressional
Election, absentee voting was only applied to the elections for Senator.

In 1991, Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7166 (R.A. 7166), otherwise known as the
“Synchronized National and Local Elections and Electoral Reforms Act”, expanded the coverage of
£.0. 157 by including the positions of President and Vice-President in the positions to be voted for
under the local absentee voting. Hence, under R.A. 7166, local absentee voting is specifically limited
to the elections for President, Vice-President, and Senators.

In 1995, Republic Act No. 7941 (R.A. 7941), otherwise known as the “Party-List System Act”,
was enacted into law, paving the way for the first Party-List Elections in 1998. Without any
amendment being made on Section 12 of R.A. 7166, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC)
included Party-List Representatives’ among the positions to be voted for under the local absentee
voting. While it is correct, in principle, to allow local absentee voters to elect for Party-List
Representatives since they are voted at large, itis submitted that the same should have been done
through an amendment of R.A. 7166 and not through a resolution of the COMELEC.

Therefore, as a remedial measure to provide a legal basis to include the elections for Party-
List Representatives in the system of local absentee voting, this bill seeks to amend Section 12 of
R.A. 7166 by including therein Party-List Representatives as one of the positions to be voted for
under the local absentee voting.

In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought.

Hon. EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO

“Resolution No, 3439 for the May 14, 2001 National and Local Elections; Resolution No. 6637 for the May 10,
2004 National and Local Elections; Resolution No. 7797 for the May 14, 2007 National and Local Elections; and
Resolution No, 8793 for the May 10, 2010 National and Local Elections.


REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
House of Representatives
Quezon City, Metero Manila

FIFTEENTH CONGRESS
Third Regular Session

House illNo. _ EG OP

Introduced by Honorable EMMANUEL D. PACQUIAO

AN ACT
AMENDING SECTION 12 OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 7166
BY INCLUDING PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE IN THE LIST OF PUBLIC OFFICERS TO BE ELECTED
UNDER THE LOCAL ABSENTEE VOTING

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress
assembled:
SECTION 1. Section 12 of Republic Act No. 7166 is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Section 12. Absentee Voting. - Absentee voting as provided for in Executive Order
No. 157 dated March 30, 1987 shall apply to the elections for President, Vice-
President, [and] Senators, AND PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE only and shall be
limited to members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine
National Police and other government officers and employees who are duly
registered voters and who, on election day, may temporarily be assigned in
connection with the performance of election duties to placeS where they are not
registered voters.”
SEC. 2. Separability Clause. ~ Should any provision of this Act be declared invalid or unconstitutional,
such declaration shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this Act.
SEC. 3. Repealing Clause. — All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, resolutions, rules and
regulations, or any part thereof contrary to or inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.
SEC. 4. Effectivity. — This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication in two (2)

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved, SS