By Ferdinand Patinio/PNA
MANILA — The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) will be serving anew as the citizens’ arm of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in the May 13, 2019 National and Local Elections (NLE).
This, after the poll body, in an 11-page decision promulgated on Jan. 11, 2019, approved the petition for accreditation filed by the Church-based poll watchdog group last October.
Incidentally, the organization was also accredited as the citizens’ arm of the commission in the Bangsamoro plebiscite held last January 21, 2019.
“Wherefore, premises considered, and pursuant to Section (5) of Article IX-C of the Constitution; Section 52 (k) of the Omnibus Election Code, as amended, and other pertinent election laws, the instant Petition is hereby Granted, Petitioner Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) is hereby Accredited as Citizens’ Arm of the Commission in the forthcoming January 21, 2019 Bangsamoro Plebiscite and in the National and Local Elections on May 13, 2019,” the decision said.
The Comelec noted that they approved the petition as the PPCRV was able to demonstrate its capacity to promote the public interest and assist them in the performance of its functions and activities.
“The petitioner having ably demonstrated its capacity to promote the public interest and assist the Commission in the performance of its functions and activities, and has played a vigilant role in overseeing matters relating to or in any way affecting the right and exercise of the right of suffrage. We do not see any cogent reason to deny the petition,” it added.
Among the duties and responsibilities of the citizens’ arm of the Comelec before election day include undertaking an information campaign and help in the dissemination of the orders, decisions, resolutions of the Commission, among others.
On election day, it is also part of their duties to exhort all registered voters in their respective areas to go to their polling places and cast their voters, nominate one watcher for accreditation in each polling place of canvass who shall have the same duties, functions and rights as other watchers of political parties and candidates.
The PPCRV was accredited as citizens’ arm of the Comelec in the May 14, 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.
The group was formed in October 1991 by the Archdiocese of Manila for the 1992 elections.
It has a mass based national constituency composed of individuals of voting age and registered voters, with operating chapters based in various parishes in provinces, cities and municipalities throughout the country, which carry out all orders, instruction and/or directives promulgated by a National Executive Board.
