THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
S. B. NO. 2 
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Introduced by SENATOR JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
Suffrage is on of the more potent means by which the sovereign will 
is expressed by the individual. As such, it is through the ballot that such 
will find its more concrete manifestation. 
Yet in modem Philippine political history, unscrupulous parties 
particularly those whose intention is to perpetuate themselves into power, 
by devious schemes and designs, violate the sanctity of the ballot. 
This bill provides for extra safeguards in the custody and 
distribution of said ballots prior to an electoral exercise. 
Premises considered, the early passage of this legislative measure is 
earnestly sought. 
JI W
J
G 
EJERCITOESTRAD 
W 
Senator 
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THIRTEENTH CONGRESS OF 
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THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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First Regular Session 
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S E N A T E  
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S.B. No. 
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Introduced by Senator JINGGOY EJERCITO ESTRADA 
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AN ACT 
AMENDING SECTION 186 OF BATAS PAMBANSA BLG. 881, OTHERWISE 
KNOWN AS THE OMNIBUS ELECTION CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS 
AMENDED, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Section 186 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881, otherwise known as 
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the Election Code of the Philippines, as amended, is hereby amended to read as 
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follows: 
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"SEC. 186. Distvibution of oficial ballots and election returns.- 
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[The official ballots and the election returns shall be distributed by 
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the Commission to each city and municipality at the rate of one and 
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one-fifth (1 1/5) ballots for every voter registered in each polling 


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place; and for election returns, at the rate of one set each for every 
polling place.] 
THE COMMISSION SHALL DISTRIBUTE TO EACH CITY 
AND MUNICIPALITY THE OFFICIAL BALLOTS AT THE RATE 
OF ONE (1) BALLOT FOR EVERY REGISTERED VOTER AND AN 
ADDITIONAL TEN (10) BALLOTS PER PRECINCT, AND 
ELECTION RETURNS AT THE RATE OF ONE (1) SET FOR 
EVERY PRECINCT. 
The provincial, city OR municipal treasurer, OR SUCH 
OTHER GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL WHO MAY BE TASKED 
WITH THE DUTY OF STORING AND DISTRIBUTING ELECTION 
FORMS AND MATERIALS, SHALL [respectively] keep a record of 
the quantity and serial numbers of official ballots and election 
returns 
[furnished 
the 
various] 
ALLOCATED 
TO 
THE 
RESPECTIVE provinces, cities and municipalities and [polling 
places] PRECINCTS. [, as the case may be, legible copies of which] 
COPIES OF SUCH record shall be furnished the COMMISSION 
AND THE duly authorized [provincial, city, or municipal] 
representatives of the [ruling party and the dominant opposition 
party, and the Commission immediately after the distribution is 
made of such official ballots and election returns.] ACCREDITED 


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POLITICAL PARTIES, ORGANIZATIONS, OR COALITIONS 
WHICH 
FIELDED 
CANDIDATES 
IN 
THE 
ELECTION 
IMMEDIATELY UPON DISTRIBUTION BUT NOT LATER THAN 
THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION. THE COMMISSION SHALL 
REQUIRE THE ISSUANCE OF OFFICIAL DELIVERY RECEIPTS 
FOR THE OFFICIAL BALLOTS, ELECTION RETURNS AND 
OTHER ELECTION FORMS AND PARAPHERNALIA. 
[The Commission shall prescribe the use of official delivery 
receipts to be signed by the election registrar and the chairman of 
the board of canvassers upon receipt of the election returns.] 
No official ballots or election returns shall be delivered to the 
board of election inspectors earlier than the first hour of election 
day [;I. 
[Pvovided, kowevev, that] the Commission L after written 
notice to the registered political parties and the candidates,] may, 
for justifiable reasons, 
AND AFTER NOTICE 
TO THE 
CANDIDATES AND THE ACCREDITED POLITICAL PARTIES, 
ORGANIZATIONS AND COALITIONS FIELDING CANDIDATES 
IN THE ELECTION, authorize the delivery of [said] official ballots 
and election returns to the board of [election] inspectors [of any 
particular polling place] at an earlier date.” 


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SEC. 2. 
Repealing Clause. - 
All laws, presidential decrees, 
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issuances, orders, rules and regulations or any part thereof inconsistent 
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herewith are hereby amended, repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 3. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect after fifteen (15) 
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days following the completion of its publication in the OfjCiciaZ Gazette or in 
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at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved,