FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
'S,B, 1198 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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The democratic principle requires the broadest participation in electoral and 
similar exercises by persons who have all the qualifications and none of the 
disqualifications to vote, 
Under the electoral law now in force the rule is that a person has to be physically 
present in the polling place whereof he is a registered voter in order to be able to vote 
subject to several exceptions such as government officials and employees, members of 
the AFP and members of the PNP who are duly registered voters and temporarily 
assigned on election day in places where they are not registered to perform public 
functions and duties as well as the qualified Filipino citizens abroad. 
This bill seeks to grant the members of the media who are assigned to places 
other than their place of registration the privilege to participate in electoral exercises, 
under certain conditions, 
In view of the foregoing, the approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. 1198 
Introduced by Senator Manny Villar 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR ABSENTEE VOTING BY THE MEMBERS OF MEDIA WHO 
ARE AWAY FROM THE PLACES OF THEIR REGISTRATION BY REASON OF 
OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS ON ELECTION DAY 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
SECTION 1. Declaration of Policy. Elections shall be free and equal. The State 
shall always ensure the free exercise of the right of suffrage by all citizens of the 
Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law. 
SEC. 2. Any person who by reason of his/her functions and duties as a member 
of media, is not in his/her place of registration on election day, may vote in the 
city/municipality where he/she is as~igned on election day; Provided, That he/she is a 
duly registered voter. 
SEC. 3. Thirty (30) days before the election, the appropriate head of office shall 
submit to the Commission on Elections a list of members of media who are registered 
voters, and who, by reason of their' duties and functions, will be in places other than 
their place of registration, and who desire to exercise their right to vote, with the request 
that said members of media be provided with application forms to cast absentee ballots 
in their place of assignment. 
The list and the request shall be under oath. 
SEC. 4. Upon verification by the Commission on Elections that the persons 
included in the list are qualified voters, it shall transmit the exact number of application 
forms to the head of the office making the request. 
SEC. 5. Upon verification of the applications, the Commission shall transmit the 
exact number of absentee ballots to the Office of the City or Municipal Election 
Registrar. 
SEC. 6. The absentee voters shall vote one week before election day. They shall 
do so by casting votes in office of the City or Municipal Election Registrar of the place of 
their assignment. 
SEC. 7. The special Commission on Elections absentee ballot shall be placed 
within two security envelopes, the one containing the absentee ballots indicating only 
that it is an envelope of the Commission on Eleotions, and the other envelope indicating 
the name of the absentee voter and his/her voter's registration record number. 
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SEC. 8. The Commission on Elections official concerned to whom the absentee 
vote is delivered shall immediately'transmit by the fastest means available to the 
Commission on Elections the special Commission on Elections absentee ballot within 
two security envelopes so that the same are in the central office of the Commission one 
day before the elections. 
The transmittal letter shall indicate the names of the persons who cast the 
absentee votes, their voter's registration record number and their certificates of eligibility 
to vote absentee. 
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SEC. 9. The Commission on Elections shall canvass the votes cast by absentee 
voters and shall add the results of the same to the votes reported throughout the 
country. 
SEC. 10. The Commission shall promulgate the necessary rules and regulations 
to implement this Act. 
SEC. 11. Positions to be voted for. Only the positions for President, Vice-
President, Senator and Party-list shall be voted for under the absentee voting. 
SEC. 12. Appropriations. The amount necessary to carry out the provisions of 
this Act shall be provided in a supplemental budget or included in the General 
Appropriations Act of the year of its enactment into law. Thereafter, the expenses for its 
continued implementation shall be included in the subsequent General Appropriations 
Act. 
SEC. 13. Separability Clause. If any part or provision of this Act shall be declared 
unconstitutional or invalid, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 14. Repealing Clause.' All laws, presidential decrees, executive orders, 
rules and regulations, other issuances, and parts thereof, which are inconsistent with 
the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 15. Effectivity. This Ad shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in three (3) newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved, 
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