| by Sheila Crisostomo (The Philippine Star) |
MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has issued guidelines on the accreditation of foreign observers as well as local and foreign journalists who will cover the presidential elections in May.
The poll body said yesterday that foreign observers are welcome to monitor the conduct of the coming elections but must adhere to guidelines.
They have until April 15 to seek accreditation.
“Foreigners or groups of foreigners may be coming to observe the May 10, 2010 automated national and local elections... (but) there is a necessity to regulate the activities of foreign observers in the elections,” the Comelec said in Resolution 8763 released yesterday.
The poll body said yesterday that foreign observers are welcome to monitor the conduct of the coming elections but must adhere to guidelines.
They have until April 15 to seek accreditation.
“Foreigners or groups of foreigners may be coming to observe the May 10, 2010 automated national and local elections... (but) there is a necessity to regulate the activities of foreign observers in the elections,” the Comelec said in Resolution 8763 released yesterday.
The Comelec noted that on election day, foreign observers are allowed to conduct “brief interviews” with the chairman and members of the Board of Election Inspectors (BEIs) inside polling precincts.
They, however, can interview voters and other individuals only outside the voting centers.
Observers can also “keep track of the transport of the precinct count optical scan machines after the voting, counting and transmission.”
The Comelec requires observers to submit their observation report within 24 hours after releasing their report to the media or the public.
The agency, however, prohibits these observers from providing any “aid” to any candidate or political party “directly or indirectly” and from taking part in or influencing the polls in any manner.
The observers are also barred from making contributions or spending for election campaign or “partisan political activity.”
The resolution also stated that observers could not enter a polling place without the approval of the BEIs and “mingle and talk with voters inside any polling place or otherwise disrupt the proceedings in the polling place.”
The Comelec said violators will be subjected to jail and deportation.
“Any violation... shall be punishable with one to six years imprisonment and deportation which shall be enforced after the prison term has been served,” it further showed.
The Comelec also said that “duly accredited” local media “should be given free access to polling places, voting centers and canvassing centers for purposes of observing and reporting on election events and processes.”
“It is expected that the 2010 automated national and local elections will generate great media attention, both foreign and domestic... there is a need to increase the efficiency with which grants of accreditation are recorded and tracked so as to avoid the proliferation of spurious accreditation papers,” the resolution stated.
Local media also have until April 15 to file their application for accreditation.
But the Comelec warned that it would not tolerate “unprofessional activities” by the media like behavior that might disrupt the conduct of election while in the polling or canvassing places.
Comelec will also not condone partisan political activities by the media and “any behavior intended to unduly influence the choice of voters, such as, but not limited to, directly trying to sway the voter or speaking for or against a candidate.”
They, however, can interview voters and other individuals only outside the voting centers.
Observers can also “keep track of the transport of the precinct count optical scan machines after the voting, counting and transmission.”
The Comelec requires observers to submit their observation report within 24 hours after releasing their report to the media or the public.
The agency, however, prohibits these observers from providing any “aid” to any candidate or political party “directly or indirectly” and from taking part in or influencing the polls in any manner.
The observers are also barred from making contributions or spending for election campaign or “partisan political activity.”
The resolution also stated that observers could not enter a polling place without the approval of the BEIs and “mingle and talk with voters inside any polling place or otherwise disrupt the proceedings in the polling place.”
The Comelec said violators will be subjected to jail and deportation.
“Any violation... shall be punishable with one to six years imprisonment and deportation which shall be enforced after the prison term has been served,” it further showed.
The Comelec also said that “duly accredited” local media “should be given free access to polling places, voting centers and canvassing centers for purposes of observing and reporting on election events and processes.”
“It is expected that the 2010 automated national and local elections will generate great media attention, both foreign and domestic... there is a need to increase the efficiency with which grants of accreditation are recorded and tracked so as to avoid the proliferation of spurious accreditation papers,” the resolution stated.
Local media also have until April 15 to file their application for accreditation.
But the Comelec warned that it would not tolerate “unprofessional activities” by the media like behavior that might disrupt the conduct of election while in the polling or canvassing places.
Comelec will also not condone partisan political activities by the media and “any behavior intended to unduly influence the choice of voters, such as, but not limited to, directly trying to sway the voter or speaking for or against a candidate.”
No comments:
Post a Comment