TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
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ci 1-.
25 AUG-7 P4 :16
SENATE
S.B. No.
rig.1?
RtTe:r
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COMMISSION 
ON ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PERTINENT 
PROVISIONS OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE", AS AMENDED, 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Constitution guarantees the independence of the Commission on 
Elections (COMELEC). As a constitutional body, the COMELEC is tasked with 
enforcing and administering all laws and regulations governing the conduct of 
elections, plebiscites, initiatives, referenda, and recall proceedings. In fulfilling this 
mandate, the Commission upholds the fundamental democratic principle that 
sovereignty resides in the people and that all government authority emanates from 
them. Nevertheless, elections are frequently tainted by allegations of widespread 
fraud and irregularities, with some COMELEC officials and personnel being suspected 
of either involvement in or tolerance of such unacceptable practices.
Section 55 of the Omnibus Election Code requires local government units to 
provide a suitable place for the office of the provincial election supervisor and his 
staff and the election officer and his staff. Generally, the COMELEC field officials and 
employees rely, to some extent, on the local government units to augment its 
manpower and other logistic requirements. While the purpose of such support is 
laudable, it provides an opportunity to some unscrupulous local government officials 
to compromise the function of the office of the provincial election supervisor or the 
office of the city or municipal election office. In fact, there was a reported incident 
that a field office was padlocked by the local chief executive because of the refusal 
of the election officer to follow an alleged illegal instruction from said local official. 
Furthermore, it cannot be denied that the dependence of the COMELEC on local 
government units for institutional support gives the impression to many voters that 
COMELEC field personnel are beholden to the officials thereof. Thus, the 
constitutional guarantee of the independence of the COMELEC is compromised.
Moreover, many local government units consider it burdensome to provide 
suitable office spaces for COMELEC field offices, as required by law. As a result, 
numerous COMELEC offices are situated in less secure locations and operate under


substandard conditions. This situation raises serious concerns regarding the safety 
and security of sensitive documents and information stored in these offices. In fact, 
there have been reported incidents of stolen computers, election paraphernalia, and 
official documents from the offices of the election officer in Tuguegarao City, 
Cagayan, and in the municipality of Wao, Lanao del Sur. These incidents prompted 
the National Privacy Commission to launch investigations for potential violations of 
the Data Privacy Act.
This bill seeks to strengthen the independence of the Commission on 
Elections by transferring the responsibility of providing a suitable place for its field 
offices from the concerned local government units to the COMELEC. It also aims to 
address the manpower shortage in field offices by mandating the appointment of 
one election assistant for every twenty thousand (20,000) registered voters. These 
proposed amendments are intended to reinforce our efforts to ensure the conduct 
of free, fair, and honest elections.
In view of the foregoing, the passage of this measure is earnestly requested.
t /i.
MEi^RTriARCOS/^


TWENTIETH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
)
i:...ijl' !i.
25 AUG-7 P4 -17
S.B. No.
SENATE1125
Ri'CLl 'lD !;V.
Introduced by SENATOR IMEE R. MARCOS
AN ACT
STRENGTHENING THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COMMISSION 
ON ELECTIONS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE PERTINENT 
PROVISIONS OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE "OMNIBUS ELECTION 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:
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Act"
SECTION 1. Short Title. -This Act shall be known as the "COMELECIntegrity
SEC. 2. Statement 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 its integrity and independence by providing suitable office space for its field 
offices and with sufficient manpower complement.
SEC. 3. Section 53, Article VII, of B.P. 881, otherwise known as the "Omnibus 
Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, 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.
(2) Provincial Election Office, headed by the Provincial Election Supervisor
FOR EACH PROVINCE and assisted by AT LEAST ONE ELECTION


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ASSISTANT AND SUCH NUMBER OF ASSISTANTS AND [syeh] other 
subordinate officers or employees as the Commission may appoint.
(3) City/Municipal Election Office, headed by the City/Municipal [Registrar]
ELECTION OFFICER FOR EACH CITY OR MUNICIPALITY. EACH 
ELECTION OFFICER [who] shall be assisted by AT LEAST ONE 
ELECTION ASSISTANT AND SUCH NUMBEROF ASSISTANTS AND 
SUBORDINATE OFFICERS OR [an election clerk and such other] 
employees as the Commission may appoint.
The Commission may delegate its powers and functions or order the 
implementation or enforcement of its orders, rulings, or decisions through 
the heads of its field offices."
SEC. 4. A new Section 53-A is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. 881, 
otherwise known as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, to 
read as follows:
"SECTION 53-A. AUTOMATIC CREATION OF POSITIONS OF 
ELECTION OFFICERS. - WHENEVER NEW CITIES OR 
MUNICIPALITIES ARE CREATED, THERE SHALL BE 
AUTOMATICALLY CREATED FOR THE CITY OR MUNICIPALITY, 
POSITIONS OF ELECTION OFFICERS AND ELECTION ASSISTANTS 
IN SUCH NUMBER AS DETERMINED PURSUANT TO THE RATIO 
ESTABLISHED IN THE SUCCEEDING SECTION."
SEC. 5. A new section 53-B is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. 881, 
otherwise known as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, to 
read as follows:
"SECTION 53-B. RATIO OF ELECTION ASSISTANTS TO 
REGISTERED VOTERS. - THERE SHALL BE A CORRESPONDING 
NUMBER OF ELECTION ASSISTANT POSITIONS AT THE RATIO OF 
ONE ELECTION ASSISTANT FOR EVERY TWENTY THOUSAND 30 
(20,000) REGISTERED VOTERS."
SEC. 6. A new section 53-C is hereby inserted in Article VII of B.P. 881, 
otherwise known as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, to 
read as follows:
"SECTION 53-C. NO PERSONNEL, EXCEPT THOSE MENTIONED IN 
SECTION 53 HEREOF OR OTHER COMELEC PERSONNEL 
EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY THE COMMISSION, SHALL BE 
ASSIGNED, DESIGNATED, ENGAGED, OR DETAILED AT THE


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COMMISSION S FIELD OFFICES. ANY PERSON WHO CAUSES THE 
ASSIGNMENT, DESIGNATION, ENGAGEMENT, OR DETAIL OF ANY 
PERSONNEL AT THE COMMISSION'S FIELD OFFICES IN 
VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN 
ELECTION OFFENSE AND SHALL BE PUNISHED UNDER SECTIONS 
263 AND 264 OF THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE."
SEC. 7. Section 55, Article VII, of Bates Pambansa Big. 881, otherwise known 
as the "Omnibus Election Code of the Philippines", as amended, is hereby amended to 
read as follows:
"SECTION 55. Office space. - [The local government concerned shall 
provide a suitable place for the offtc-e of the-provinciaI election-supervisor
and his staff and the election registrar and his staff: Provided, That in case
of failure of the local government concerned to provide such-suit-abte-plac-ej
the provincial election supervisor or the election registrar, as the casemay
be, upon prior authority of the Commission and notice to the local
government concerned, may lease another place for office and t-hefentals
thereef-shall- be chargeable to -tfie-funds of the local government
concerned] THE COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS SHALL PROVIDE AN 
ACCESSIBLE, SEPARATE, AND INDEPENDENT OFFICE FOR ITS 
FIELD OFFICERS AND THEIR STAFF."
SEC. 8. Transitory Provision. - Within one (1) year from the effectivity of this 
Act, the Commission shall formulate a plan for the transfer of all of its field offices from 
the facilities provided by local government units to the facilities owned or leased by 
the Commission. The local government unit concerned shall continue to provide an 
accessible place for the office of the provincial election supervisor and his staff and the 
election officer and his staff until such time that the Commission on Elections has 
provided the field office concerned with its own office, which in no case shall exceed 
five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act.
SEC. 9. Impiementing Ruies and Reguiations. - Within six (6) months from the 
effectivity of this Act, the Commission on Elections and the Department of Budget and 
Management shall adopt and issue the necessary rules and regulations for the effective 
implementation of this Act.
SEC. 10. Appropriation. - The amount necessary for the implementation of this 
Act shall be included in the annual General Appropriations Act.
SEC. 11. Repeaiing Ciause. - All other laws, acts, presidential decrees, executive 
orders, issuances, presidential proclamations, rules and regulations or parts thereof, 
which are contrary to and inconsistent with any provision of this Act, are hereby 
repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.


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SEC. 12. Separability Clause. - If any portion or provision of this Act is declared 
unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act or any provision not affected thereby shall 
remain in force and effect.
SEC. 13. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
publication in two (2) newspapers of general circulation.
Approved,