"Sana nga po bago man lang pumasok at mahalal talaga, sana po nauunawaan ng lahat iyong bigat at nakaatang sa inyo pong mga balikat. At sana nga may pormal na training para maipaliwanag. Hindi naman basta-basta ka mag-establish ng Katarungang Pambarangay. Hindi ka naman basta-basta pwedeng pumasok sa Dispute Resolution na tinatawag, kung paano mo babalansehin. Therefore, dapat naiintindihan natin na nakadepende iyong mismong isang kaso na iyan kung hindi marunong iyong mismong nasa barangay. Iyan po ang requirement, may training, may karanasan po dapat sana bago makapanungkulan."
Sa pagsisimula ng election period para sa 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, ano nga ba ang mga pwede at bawal gawin sa kampanya? Ano rin ang mga responsibilidad at benepisyo ng mga mahahalal sa puwesto? Alamin iyan mula mismo kay COMELEC Chairman George Garcia sa #TheMangahasInterviews.
Sa pagsisimula ng election period para sa 2023 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, ano nga ba ang mga pwede at bawal gawin sa kampanya? Ano rin ang mga responsibilidad at benepisyo ng mga mahahalal sa puwesto? Alamin iyan mula mismo kay COMELEC Chairman George Garcia sa #TheMangahasInterviews.
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NewsTranscript
00:00 [Music]
00:05 [Governor Pizzo] Magandang araw po sa inyong lahat. Hala, nakapag-file na ba ng Certificate of Candidacy, Barangay at SK Elections?
00:13 Pag-usapan po natin, bakit pa napakadaming excited tumakbo? At ano ba yung mga tungkulin ng ating mga magiging barangay at SK officials?
00:24 Marapat po, nakausapin natin ngayon, ang Chairman ng Commission on Elections, si Chairman George Erwin M. Garcia. Magandang araw, Chair.
00:33 Magandang araw po, Ma'am Malu, at magandang araw po sa lahat ng mga kababayan natin.
00:37 Alright, abaelo. Lawyer po ito, no? Graduate po, ng AB Political Science at Bachelor of Laws ng Lyceum University of the Philippines, kung saan din po siya naging dekano.
00:52 Aba, kung talaga may batikang abogado ng mga politiko, partido, meron siyang mahabang history at maraming naging kliyente. Pero ngayon nagre-recuse siya o umiiwa siya at hindi siya nagpa-participate sa mga kasong ito. Marami din siyang reforma na gusto gawin sa Commission on Elections.
01:11 Chair, ilan na ho ang nag-file ng certificates of candidacy?
01:35 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pangpito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
01:59 Siguro nga po dahil yan ang isa sa nagiging dahilan kung bakit madami ng mga kababayan natin, mayroong mga kababayan natin. Mayroong mga kababayan natin.
02:24 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
02:29 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
02:42 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
02:55 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
03:08 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
03:33 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
03:38 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
03:43 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
03:45 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
04:10 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
04:20 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
04:45 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
04:50 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
04:52 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
04:54 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
04:56 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
04:58 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
05:00 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
05:02 So, ito daw po ang pinaka-pito na election para sa barangay at SK-San Diego?
05:30 their children, the captains. There is health insurance if there is a fund available. They could also receive retirement benefits for life, equivalent to their honorarium.
05:43 But for the SK president, I think this is the most memorable, over all SKs, his salary grade is 24, his compensation or salary.
05:54 Meaning, 90,000 to 97,000 pesos per month. I think there are a lot of funds if you are a halal, either in the barangay or SK.
06:02 And sometimes, if you are in the city or the municipality, you can get a separate allowance from them,
06:12 which is given to the barangay and SK.
06:15 On the one hand, there is a fund that is being used and at the same time, it is benefiting the halal in the SK barangay.
06:25 But remember, the halal in the SK barangay will serve only for two years.
06:31 The elections will come now because our next halal is in December of 2025.
06:38 Okay. So it means that it will be for two years. Tell me, it seems like the job, it seems like it's not being discussed,
06:45 many want to run, but what is the mandate and responsibility that they should accept if they are halal?
06:52 Everyone will remember that our fellow countrymen have an intention to court in every barangay,
07:01 that you will be the frontliners of our every bid.
07:05 It means that in all problems, from the pandemic, family fights, husband and wife fights, neighbors fighting,
07:11 theft, and the very courting of neighbors, fighting, all of that is in the barangay.
07:22 The barangay has a role and after that, the distribution of aid.
07:25 That's why when there's calamity, they are always there to save and at the same time, ensure that the neighbors and barangay are safe from calamity.
07:37 That's why that responsibility is so important.
07:40 It is in their hands. Before the national government comes, the local government, the barangay first,
07:47 our barangay officials are there to help them.
07:51 It means that the first step is public services, as per the law, maintenance of peace and order,
07:59 enforcement of ordinances and other laws, and of course, whatever concerns of the community, all general welfare issues.
08:07 Recently, the dispute resolution was added to other laws.
08:12 Before it was passed to the court, this is the fight that there's a debt that was not paid,
08:16 neighbors are fighting because of the noise, or there's also violence against women, gender and development.
08:24 It seems like there's a lot of work if the barangay is effective.
08:29 You're right, Ma'am Malu. I hope that before it is passed or passed and legalized,
08:36 I hope that everyone understands the weight and burden that is on your shoulders.
08:41 I hope that there's a formal training to explain that you cannot just establish a dispute in the barangay.
08:48 You cannot just enter a dispute resolution, how will you balance that.
08:54 Everyone should remember that the court will not accept cases if you don't go to the dispute in the barangay.
09:01 Therefore, we should understand that it depends on the case if the person in the barangay doesn't know.
09:10 That's the requirement. There should be training, formal training and experience before it is passed.
09:18 Let's go to SK. It seems like the youth are not that active in the dispute resolution.
09:25 According to the DILG and those who have been there, in Baguio, only six out of 128 barangays have SK as of 2018.
09:37 In Quezon City, there were special elections for 15 barangays because no one ran.
09:42 And these places where there are no SK candidates or SK chairman are halal.
09:48 It's like the middle class to upper middle class barangays.
09:52 What do you think about this?
09:53 Does our youth have any doubt that SK has a side, aside from organizing leagues?
10:00 I think it's just misinformation because the reason why the youth are there is not being explained.
10:08 The youth cannot be limited to placing streetlights, to run basketball or any competition.
10:18 The youth should know that they are part of the decision-making process, they are part of the policy-making process,
10:26 not just for the entire barangay, but specifically for their youth.
10:32 I hope everyone understands.
10:34 At the same time, we should remember, Malucaya, because there are people who are disappointed,
10:40 that there is a fund that can be given to SK.
10:44 Therefore, the question is how will it be spent?
10:47 Is there proper accounting and proper audit?
10:50 What did our countrymen and youth see when the fund was used?
10:55 Maybe some are not running or are disappointed, and maybe the attention of the youth is different.
11:04 It's sad if that's the reason because we are still participating in nation-building.
11:11 That's the purpose of our legal system and local government.
11:15 For us, for COMELEC, we will hold a memorandum on the reason why they are running or not.
11:22 Everyone should understand that even if there is no election or no one ran in one place, our expenses are still the same.
11:31 The amount of balota that we will print is still based on the number of registered youth.
11:40 The number of indelible inks and other election paraphernalia is based on the registered voters.
11:48 It means that if no one participates, as if there is no election,
11:52 the commission will spend a lot on elections only to find out that no one ran in that position.
12:01 It's a waste of the funds that can be used to help our poor countrymen.
12:08 Okay, let's do the numbers.
12:10 How many million registered voters are there in the election?
12:14 Twenty-three million in the S.K. and more or less 68 million in our regular barangay election.
12:22 Okay. Twenty-three of sixty-eight is a part of it. Is that so?
12:25 No. Almost 92 million of our voters are registered in the country.
12:30 Is that so?
12:31 Yes. Almost 23, 24 million. Almost 92 million.
12:35 That's a lot because we have 110, 112 million total population.
12:40 That's right.
12:42 Yes. That's a lot.
12:44 That's what's coming out of our data at the moment.
12:47 Our latest data for the regular voters is 68 million.
12:53 After that, we added 23,700,000 in the S.K.
12:59 If you combine it, we printed 92 million for the whole country.
13:04 But isn't that a statistical improbability, sir?
13:09 The only thing missing from your voters list is 20 million.
13:14 In short, those are the children aged 0 to 1 to 17.
13:19 That's why, ma'am Malu, that's how it is.
13:23 Maybe our data is wrong, which is impossible because that's our data, ma'am Malu.
13:27 In 2018, we added those who registered.
13:30 That's also our data for the regular voters in 2022.
13:34 Then we added those who registered from December 12 to January 30.
13:39 Maybe our population is wrong in our country.
13:43 Maybe it's not 110 million, maybe our population is bigger.
13:49 But our voters list, are the dead people purged or those who are not voting or those who are not registered?
13:59 Yes, ma'am Malu.
14:00 We removed 491,000 from the barangay in the S.K. elections.
14:06 That's what our automated fingerprint identification system shows.
14:10 It means that the fingerprint of a person matches 68 million and it will know if he has a similar fingerprint to know that he's a voter.
14:21 How much is the expected fund for this election?
14:26 For the part of the people who will vote, who will spend for everything?
14:28 The budget will be 8.441 billion pesos.
14:34 But the budget that was supposed to be in December 12 or December 5 for the barangay in the S.K. elections.
14:41 Okay. So if it's 8.5 billion pesos, let's look at it.
14:46 92 million voters, that's almost 800 pesos to 1,000 pesos.
14:51 The expenses for each voter.
14:53 Is that the unit cost?
14:55 Yes. It shows per capita, that's how much we are spending.
14:59 Your question is why are we spending that much if we are not voting?
15:04 We cannot predict or anticipate how many will vote and who will not vote.
15:08 The fact that our voter is 92 million, the ballot boxes are for 92 million and our teachers who will serve in each precinct are based on the number of precincts established based on 92 million voters.
15:25 Meaning, we should have 202,000 precincts in the country.
15:32 All right. Now let's go to the prohibitions and what can candidates do.
15:37 Because the barangay and S.K. elections have a campaign spending limit.
15:41 You have policies on the allocation of money. Please explain what the prohibitions are.
15:49 First, we have a spending limit of five pesos for each candidate, for each registered voter.
15:56 It may be small but we cannot do anything about it.
15:59 Until now, that's our law.
16:01 That's what we are fighting for.
16:03 We hope that it will be changed to reflect the truth and correct based on inflation.
16:06 It's been a long time, almost 30 years, that law.
16:09 But just the same, it's five pesos.
16:11 Therefore, to the candidates, you should remember that the basis of spending is based on filing a certificate of candidacy because there is no premature campaigning.
16:22 If you filed yesterday, therefore, all of your expenses from now on, you need to pay to our society.
16:28 Now what are the prohibitions that our candidates can and cannot do?
16:39 Everyone should know that when they file a candidacy, they are considered a candidate of the common law.
16:44 We have premature campaigning.
16:46 In section 80 of the omnibus election code, the so-called premature campaigning is prohibited.
16:52 One can be jailed up to six years and the other is grounded for disqualification.
16:57 That means if you haven't filed a candidacy and you want to file one until September 2,
17:02 it's okay for us that you have campaign materials or tarpaulin that will enlarge your face even if there's no vote form.
17:09 But once you file a certificate of candidacy, now or until September 2, you are a candidate that should be removed.
17:15 Posting is prohibited, waving is prohibited, turning around is prohibited, and giving of your signature is prohibited because you are a candidate that can be disqualified or will be charged with a criminal case.
17:25 At the same time, if you have social media posts, you should remove all of them.
17:30 We should not say that we will have a reason and those are old reasons that are not campaigning because there's no vote form.
17:40 You should remember that it's in the law that campaigning directly or indirectly means that even if you don't say you will vote,
17:48 your face is there, even on TikTok or any platform, that is campaigning.
17:55 Therefore, it's better for your opponents to monitor you.
18:00 File a disqualification and criminal case and the comic will act accordingly.
18:06 What you're saying to the other parties, you know that we will not allow our existing laws to be violated.
18:14 We have a law that will say that it will not be implemented.
18:17 The Commission and Bank approved the new guidance on our anti... or the contra-bigay.
18:24 That means we have presumptions that we think should be there.
18:31 Before, there was no such thing.
18:33 For example, if you have an indelible ink one day before the election, we will presume that you are involved in vote buying.
18:40 If you have a bag of original on the day of the election, we will presume that you are involved in vote buying.
18:46 Why do you have a bag?
18:48 If you get more than two watchers in every precinct, there are watchers there, 50 watchers in every precinct,
18:55 we will presume that you are involved in vote buying.
18:57 If you send three days before the election or five days before the election to GCash, Paymay, and other platforms,
19:04 that are the same, without any difference, and it's your first time sending that much, we will presume that you are involved in vote buying.
19:12 If you bring more than P500,000 three days before the election, we will not stop withdrawing even if you withdraw P1 billion.
19:20 But if you bring P500,000 plus, take note my word is wrong, plus other evidence, it's not prohibited to bring money.
19:28 But if you bring plus other evidence, we will presume that you are involved in vote buying.
19:38 You can say that our presumptions are too much, there is nothing in the law that prohibits the comment of presumption.
19:46 But if you read the gimmicks, let's be clear, in one barangay, what is the average number of voters?
19:55 You said five pesos per voter, let's say there are 20,000 voters in one barangay.
20:03 In one barangay, there are only 2,000 voters. There are as high as 60,000 in Kalookan, which is very big and that's why they want to divide it.
20:15 So if that's the case, our five pesos is only there, in 60,000 or 2,000.
20:22 Okay. It means it's a small amount, P5,000, if it's like P1,000, then the expense should be P5,000 only.
20:29 If it's 20,000, it means you will not exceed 100,000.
20:35 But the tickets are a bit expensive, including the T-shirts and campaign materials,
20:41 it's included in the report of their campaign expenditures.
20:46 I think you have a big job that you want to pass.
20:52 Can COMELEC enforce your presumptions?
20:55 You know we will need everyone's help, the opponents' help and the help of our barangay.
21:02 If no one will report to us, no one will complain. It's very difficult for us.
21:07 That's why we made another mistake in our new guidelines. Our committee on contra-bigay can be motu proprio.
21:14 It means if you get a video, technically there's no evidentiary value.
21:19 We will spread other evidence and we will disqualify the candidates.
21:25 The committee will be motu proprio and the criminal case will be filed to the law department.
21:28 The disqualification will be filed to the commission so there will be no league task.
21:32 But we will need all cost-oriented groups, all sectors, all our countrymen.
21:38 COMELEC cannot do it. How can we monitor the social media posting of the candidates?
21:45 We can say that there are 10 social media accounts and we will monitor 10 million.
21:52 We cannot do it. But if you will monitor the opponents, I believe that there will be two minds that will violate our election law.
22:04 That's why we are saying that it's wrong to raise the votes of our countrymen.
22:09 Those who do not follow the law, because they are not winning, they are violating the law. How can they win?
22:15 All right. Let's talk about what you said about motu proprio.
22:19 Because according to your rules and regulations, there should be an affidavit that is notarized.
22:25 If there is a vote buying incident or vote selling, both should be punished.
22:32 But in the barangay, will you do motu proprio on your own? The COMELEC will start to disqualify or initiate disqualification proceedings?
22:41 Yes ma'am. For example, since there are no guidelines, if we will wait for someone to file, what if they don't want to affidavit?
22:48 What if there is no formal complaint? There will be no account.
22:52 Then the COMELEC will blame us for complaining that nothing is happening.
22:56 That's why we put the motu proprio function or power of the committee to file a complaint.
23:04 For example, someone complained and posted it on our social media or our account.
23:09 What we will do is we will order our local COMELEC to gather other evidence other than what was sent.
23:15 So that we will determine if there is a probable cause. Is there a ground to disqualify?
23:21 If it is determined, we will initiate and do motu proprio. That's the same as our campaign finance office.
23:27 Our campaign finance office sends and submits our sources.
23:33 But if they see that you're overpriced by P5 or P10, you didn't file for two consecutive elections or perpetual disqualification,
23:42 they will file it in our law department and we will resolve their cases in the commission.
23:48 Our authorization to initiate complaints, criminal disqualification is the same as the one we give to law enforcement authorities.
24:00 Whether warrantless arrest or any kind of arrest, we will be the one to blame through our committee.
24:07 But chairman, it seems like you will be doing a big job.
24:12 COMELEC personnel is just a few thousand and the observation of the people is that you have a lot of backlog.
24:18 In fact, the cases of campaign finance pen are like issues that are becoming fake because they are lapsing and expiring.
24:26 The barangay elections and SK in 2018, do you have a lot of balance of work that is not yet finished?
24:34 The backlog might be the problem.
24:36 Our backlog is decreasing because it might not be obvious.
24:42 In the past, we dispatched a lot of cases.
24:46 It's not that much.
24:48 That's why we declared that we have a premature campaign.
24:52 It means that we are ready to face the many cases that we will file.
24:56 In fact, as a start and as a development, like Nuisance Candidacy,
25:03 we know that in the barangay, there are still people who are running.
25:06 It will be a problem.
25:08 Our commitment before the October 13 election is that all Nuisance cases will be resolved by the commission up to the en banc level
25:16 so that the problems will not run and we will not have a problem later.
25:20 At the same time, we will do our best to resolve all cases of disqualification and election offense.
25:28 That's why we promulgated new rules regarding that.
25:32 Okay. Now let's talk about the role or nature of barangay SK elections.
25:38 They should not be tied to political parties.
25:43 This is not different from local elections or legislative congressional elections.
25:48 But that's the story.
25:50 In practice, people know that the barangay captains are the young people, the congressmen, the mayors.
26:00 How can they be sure that the barangay SK candidates are independent or not partisan?
26:07 The second point that people are observing is that they are all from political families or families of the upper class.
26:14 Those who run and win in the barangay and SK.
26:17 Because this is the network that will ensure that the mayor, governor, and congressman will win.
26:24 What do you think? Can it be non-partisan or without political parties?
26:29 Actually, what I mean is that the barangay is a non-partisan nature.
26:33 They have no political party when they run.
26:36 But there are other politicians, especially from LGU and national, that is a gray area and loophole.
26:47 Because they can set up a defense of those people.
26:51 Even if I'm a politician, I'm not prohibited because as long as there's no party, I'm the candidate.
26:59 I admit that it's a gray area because our election code is still 1985.
27:06 It hasn't changed until now.
27:08 That's a big problem.
27:13 Of course, other politicians give financial support.
27:20 But everyone should remember that there's a conspiracy to commit the crime of vote buying.
27:28 If he's a head race and he speaks, it comes from the congressman or the mayor.
27:32 It means you're in the same boat when it comes to voting because you're the one who got the funds.
27:38 We should avoid that because we should respect the non-partisan nature.
27:45 Non-partisan shouldn't just be about having a political party or not.
27:49 But it should be something that no one can control or control.
27:56 Okay.
27:56 The observation is that the barangay is like a nursery, a kindergarten level.
28:02 And SK is the grandson, the nephew of our political clans.
28:07 Then how will they continue to rise?
28:11 Will they graduate until they become congressman or governor?
28:14 That's the reality in the politics in the Philippines.
28:18 Mam Maloo, just like the ones who are giving their children,
28:21 many of them are just the son of the mayor or the grandson of the mayor.
28:25 Or if you don't want to have a child, you can have an older one.
28:27 Although we have the SK Reform Act in Republic Act 10174,
28:33 which prohibits up to the fourth degree.
28:35 Until the grandson.
28:36 Until the grandson, it's prohibited.
28:38 The problem is that the local community that is accepting the certificates of candidates,
28:43 cannot refuse even if they know that they are the son of the mayor or the grandson of the mayor.
28:47 Because the filing of the candidacy is a ministerial duty that we will accept.
28:54 Unless someone files a case against those candidates
28:58 because of the violation of the anti-political dynasty provision in SK.
29:03 At least there's something like that in SK.
29:05 Our problem is that we don't have anti-political dynasty provision in the barangay
29:11 in relation to other positions in the national and local.
29:15 Let's just be clear, the fourth degree of consanguinity and affinity is the grandson or the grandson.
29:22 Until the grandson, you're right.
29:24 Okay.
29:24 So if there are such candidates and they are noticed in our barangays,
29:30 let's just say that they are disqualified or not running.
29:36 Now let's go to the point of the money.
29:39 The barangay has a lot of money.
29:41 Is that what the good people are using in the barangay projects?
29:44 Because what we often see is that the barangay has a court,
29:48 of course, they will distribute aid, sometimes the barangay will be zombed,
29:52 but there are still many crimes happening in the barangay.
29:57 There are still many barangays that have no activities for women, mothers, and youth.
30:05 Yes, Madam Maluho, I wish that we will have jurisdiction even outside or after the election
30:10 so that we can monitor our proclamations that they are doing the right thing,
30:17 especially in the spending of the Sambayanan Fund.
30:20 If the jurisdiction of the barangay is really going to be completed after we can proclaim,
30:25 and we are there, that is a call addressed to the DILG and especially to our Commission on Audit
30:33 to really look at whether the spending of the fund is correct.
30:37 Maybe your point is correct in what you mentioned,
30:41 but if that is being monitored correctly and at the same time,
30:45 is that also being spent correctly, that is really outside the jurisdiction of the Commission on Elections.
30:52 Now let's go to security, peace and order in the barangay elections.
30:58 Is the rivalry more intense and the possible incident of death?
31:04 There were four incidents, right?
31:07 Even on day one, the comelec was monitored, Albay and two other places.
31:12 But is the barangay SK elections more intense and more bloodshed?
31:17 Are there more hotspots that you will declare or are you trying to declare?
31:21 Yes, you're right. The barangay SK elections is very hot.
31:26 It's a rivalry between siblings, relatives, friends, and cousins.
31:30 That's what's fighting.
31:32 The Commission on Elections is preparing for this upcoming election because we know that it has already started,
31:39 as you mentioned, from Albay with the Migsayak in Potabato, the violence has already started.
31:45 Last week, the Commission on Elections was able to reach the PNP and AAP, along with the Philippine Coast Guard.
31:52 The PNP sent us 27 areas of concern that they are monitoring.
31:58 We haven't received the details of those 27 areas, but the Bangsamoro and Negros Oriental are included in the monitoring.
32:10 Hopefully, they will submit the list to us before Friday this week.
32:16 Are those 27 areas barangay? Because we have 42,000 barangays.
32:21 It's not just areas, it's areas, either municipality or province.
32:25 It's not just barangay. I'm sure that there are more barangays that are being monitored.
32:28 Okay. Now, Makati and Taguig are the MBO barangays.
32:33 Your decision is to include Taguig in the MBO barangays.
32:39 Congress is in charge of the administrative jurisdictions and territories.
32:45 Can the COMELEC declare Taguig as the barangay and Taguig as the account?
32:51 Yes, the COMELEC has the power to say where our citizens will vote.
32:56 The power of Congress is saying that's right, we know and respect that.
33:01 That is the power that the district prescribes.
33:04 For example, if a district is going to Taguig, that is the power of Congress.
33:12 For example, if we have three barangays and Congress abolishes them, that is also in the power of Congress.
33:20 But for us, if there is an increase in the number of members of the Assembly, we can decide that.
33:27 That is part of the power of the COMELEC.
33:30 What we did is based on the decision of the Supreme Court.
33:35 You know, Ma'am Malu, so that everyone can understand, and with all due respect to the two cities that are being divided.
33:43 The COMELEC is really put in a difficult situation.
33:47 A few days before the filing of the certificate of candidacy,
33:52 you know, one issue that came to our mind is where we will file the COC.
33:58 If we make a mistake here, we will be the ones to be punished.
34:02 Therefore, we decided we have to be consistent with the decision of the Supreme Court.
34:07 That is why we filed the filing of the candidacy in Taguig.
34:10 Number one. Number two, the residents are automatically registered voters.
34:16 They will not be allowed to register again because we will transfer their registration from Makati to Taguig.
34:25 At the same time, the voting will happen in the exact same schools where they used to vote.
34:34 You know, one good thing, our ex-Vice President issued a circular that all issues regarding those schools,
34:43 the Office of the Secretary made the decision, not Taguig or Makati.
34:49 We went to them so that there will be no problem.
34:55 What if we vote for this school and one of them says you cannot vote, we will accept that.
35:00 We will have a problem.
35:01 At least now, it is clear that Vice President Sara Duterte made a decision
35:06 if we will allow to use those schools or not.
35:10 Okay. But to be honest, the final and executive order is just a governance.
35:15 It is a function given by the 10 Embo barangays and Fort Bonifacio in Taguig.
35:21 It does not mean that those schools, if the property or proprietary claims of Makati is still contested, are settled.
35:30 It means that what the Comelec will do is to conduct the election in those schools.
35:36 Whether Makati has the property or Taguig, it will be clear eventually.
35:40 But the voters are now Taguig voters.
35:44 Yes, but our problem is if we did not anticipate the problems,
35:50 we will not be able to mention the city because it is difficult.
35:53 What if we vote for this school, our fellowmen in this barangay,
35:59 and the city itself tells us that you cannot use it, we will accept that.
36:03 Okay.
36:04 Where will our fellowmen vote?
36:06 We don't have an alternative place because there's no big space where you can vote for those barangay members.
36:13 It is clear to Makati and Taguig, our mayors, that the Comelec will use the same schools.
36:20 If anyone has the property, you two should settle that.
36:24 We are hoping that our outgoing vice president will have a final decision on this matter.
36:31 In the end, we have a definite jurisdiction when it comes to these schools.
36:36 Okay.
36:37 Chairman, there are other talks.
36:39 It seems like the story of General Eliseo Rio is not yet over.
36:46 It's about the IP addresses,
36:49 where there was only one and then suddenly there were millions of votes.
36:54 I know you explained this, but what is the truth?
36:57 Did you go against the law that private IP addresses cannot be used?
37:03 Is there an impossibility or improbability that so many votes were sent in in a short time after the voting proceeds were closed?
37:12 First of all, we are sending our highest respect to Secretary Rio's group.
37:20 It is our right as Filipinos to look for the truth and demand the truth from the government.
37:28 But there is one thing we are saying, the use of single IP is wrong.
37:34 It should be called single gateway.
37:37 The IT people who are watching us and are watching your program, they understand what single gateway is.
37:42 It's simple. Whether it goes through Globe, Smart, or any other telco, the question is if it was done illegally.
37:50 They also said that it might be illegal.
37:53 It's right that it's legal, but there is a technical problem, a technical issue.
37:57 For us, it's legal but there's a technical issue.
38:00 We will ask you one thing.
38:01 In every precinct, the machine prints 30 election returns.
38:07 All of them are given copies.
38:11 The first eight are original and then 22 are election returns.
38:16 Then the result of that precinct is sent to the city or town in Can Basing.
38:23 They are saying that before it reaches Can Basing, there is an intermediary.
38:28 It means that there is a neighbor who ordered to buy vinegar before it reaches Can Basing.
38:35 Before the vinegar arrives, it is already cooked.
38:38 So there is an intermediary.
38:40 The question is simple.
38:42 The result that came from the precinct that printed 30 e-returns, does it match where it was sent to the town?
38:49 All of them have copies.
38:51 Does it match?
38:53 For example, if a vote of A reaches the town or city, it becomes 50, it really passed.
39:00 Or it becomes 200, it really passed.
39:02 Does it match?
39:04 Until now, we cannot answer with all due respect because 99.97 percent of the accuracy is said by PPCRB and NAMFREL.
39:13 And it's not that.
39:15 The ballot boxes were opened.
39:19 We have a random manual audit.
39:21 It's in our law.
39:23 The findings, the ballot boxes were opened, the ballot was printed manually,
39:28 and the result matches 99.93 percent of the printed election returns and the transmitted result to the town or city.
39:39 That's the only question we're asking.
39:41 If what you sent is "I love you,"
39:43 will the recipient receive "I hate you"?
39:45 Is what you sent "I love you" not the same as what you received "I hate you"?
39:49 That's the simple explanation.
39:51 All right.
39:53 So it's easy to say, there's no defeat if there's no law that was violated.
39:59 It means the process is fine by law, but the technical issues are being discussed.
40:05 They are now trying to make it clear that Smartmatic should not be included in the automated election systems that you will consider.
40:17 And the integrity or accountability of the next automated election system.
40:23 I think that's where the story is going.
40:26 How can we ensure that they have no more doubts?
40:29 First, we are the ones in charge of the commission.
40:33 I'm sure that from the time we were appointed here, we have seen the integrity of the commission.
40:42 We are so transparent, accountable, and we are so inclusive.
40:45 We want everyone to know what's happening in the commission election.
40:49 Even though all of our procurement is live-streamed.
40:53 Ordinary people who bought paper and ballpoint pen are live-streamed.
40:57 That's what they're saying as a company that should not participate.
41:01 First, we will have a procurement.
41:04 I'm not guaranteeing anything. I'm not saying anything.
41:06 But we will have a procurement.
41:08 What's important is that it should be open to everyone.
41:10 Everyone should be able to see it so they can decide if the procurement is being manipulated.
41:14 It looks like it's being tailor-fit to this or that.
41:17 At least, we released our wish list on the machine.
41:21 It's been almost three months since it was leaked.
41:23 Until now, no one has commented that it's been tailor-fit.
41:26 It means that our TOR is good.
41:28 I guarantee you that whoever wins this,
41:32 what's important to the winner, to the one who will deliver to us,
41:37 or to the one who will release the new machines,
41:40 the machine should be transparent.
41:44 That's what I can guarantee.
41:46 But if I or a company will exclude you,
41:52 at this point, we haven't talked to you yet because there's no formal request.
41:57 Don't worry. I can guarantee you that everything will be fair, open, transparent, and just.
42:05 Okay. Chairman, since you became chairman,
42:08 aside from the fact that you have a lot of plans to reform and implement,
42:13 it seems like you're communicating.
42:16 I just noticed that you had a recent conference in Sao Fidel.
42:22 It was about empowering COMELEC managers and lawyers as influencers and for ethical leadership.
42:32 What is that? Why do you have those activities?
42:35 It's different from what used to happen.
42:38 Is this your professional continuing education program of COMELEC?
42:43 And your trainers, Francis Cong and Miss Toni Miranda, are they expensive?
42:50 No. First, Mr. Francis Cong himself endorsed the Civil Service Commission
42:58 because a lot of government agencies are getting them.
43:03 Number two, we have a regular budget for training.
43:07 Number three, we need training, not the traditional regular training modules that we do for them.
43:17 We need to bring back lawyers.
43:23 As lawyers, what is our mission?
43:25 Even though we are in the Commission of Elections, not in the private sector,
43:28 what is our obligation and responsibility based on our mission?
43:34 Our duty is heavier because we are protected by the vote of the people.
43:40 We need to bring back our lawyers to the Commission
43:44 because some people think that especially the new ones,
43:47 it's okay for COMELEC because it's good and it's according to the benefits.
43:50 It should not be like that.
43:51 What we said is that we will deny no man for money or malice.
43:55 That is what we asked for and therefore we should bring back that kind of ethical consideration.
44:02 More than anything else, it should always be ethical and moral consideration in governance.
44:07 Okay. But is there a marked improvement?
44:10 As influencers and communicators, you have every obligation, every right to communicate election matters, policies of COMELEC.
44:20 But is there a reduction in the capacity of COMELEC?
44:25 From the NBank, to the RED and COMELEC offices below,
44:31 are COMELEC lawyers better at explaining?
44:35 Yes, because before it was like they were afraid that they might make a mistake.
44:42 Now, what we are saying is that you have to explain.
44:45 You have to explain and when we explain, use the local dialect, use the Filipino.
44:51 When you explain, be very simple. Don't be legalistic or technical.
44:55 Our constituents and our clients will not understand.
45:01 You have to explain with a long and proper excuse because we are not like them, their educational attainment.
45:10 If you notice, even in the local, we have a lot of local COMELEC who are always in the media.
45:17 They are the ones who explain and try to influence the mindset of our people when it comes to how to appreciate our electoral process.
45:27 That is very important. Everyone has a say.
45:31 I am the only one who has a say. How many of us have a say?
45:35 If the governance is not successful, everyone should be involved. You call that inclusivity.
45:40 But you will not call this a rebranding of the COMELEC because the other government agencies are rebranding.
45:46 You don't have a change in your logo but there are rebranding initiatives.
45:50 Or maybe better communication for reaching out for bigger audience groups?
45:55 Yes, ma'am. In my opinion, it's not only to reach out better to a large number of groups and not just rebranding.
46:03 But it's really more of just realizing what is the root of the Commission on Election.
46:10 Why is it in the Constitution? Why is it an independent constitutional body?
46:15 What are the powers and purpose of the Commission on Election that is in the Constitution?
46:24 Once you realize the mandate of the Commission on Election, you will imbibe into yourself that indeed,
46:32 you deserve yourself, you deserve the attention of everyone just to clarify our process.
46:40 COMELEC cannot understand if we are not the ones who will clarify.
46:44 We should be the ones who go down, we should not expect them to initiate just to clarify.
46:54 We should be the ones, it should be our obligation.
46:57 All right. So Chairman, you have been chairman for almost a year and a half.
47:01 But before that, you have a brief stint as commissioner.
47:04 When you became chairman, I remember you listed a lot of reform initiatives.
47:10 Yes, around three decades ago. In the past and now, what do you think is the clear receipt or result?
47:19 And what did you want before you finish the term in 2027?
47:24 What do you think is realistic that you can do?
47:27 What kind of COMELEC will we have, 2025 or 2028?
47:32 From the start to the end, there are only three foundations of our government.
47:39 Transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness.
47:42 All the movements of the Commission on Election, from the time we are appointed until we are terminated,
47:46 that is the only foundation.
47:49 That is necessary because that is where the people will rely.
47:52 This should be the COMELEC of the Filipino people.
47:54 This should be the COMELEC that is trusted.
47:57 This is the COMELEC that explains.
47:59 To me, we can only explain ourselves whether our countrymen believe or not.
48:05 What's important is that our countrymen understand.
48:09 That's very important to me because people only participate in a democratic process
48:14 if they are there and if they know what they are participating of.
48:19 They will not join if they don't understand.
48:23 It's hard for us to lie when we don't understand because in the end, we will fail.
48:28 We will be blamed.
48:30 So it should always be a participatory, a greater participatory democracy within the Commission.
48:36 We should have transformative leadership here in the COMELEC.
48:40 If there is a stretch or scaling up, because I heard from Bangsamoro,
48:47 their electoral code has provisions that are better or more aggressive than our Omnibus Election Code.
48:55 For example, 30% quota of candidates and position for parliament for women,
49:02 regional party accreditation that should have proof of 10,000 members,
49:07 and there is an anti-political dynasty clause.
49:10 For us who are not clear about these things, what do you think?
49:14 I know they are talking about the COMELEC headquarters in the National.
49:18 What do you think? I think the electoral code of BARMM is a bit too much.
49:23 I am very happy that we were consulted before they passed their electoral code.
49:32 We were able to enter and at the same time, we were able to realize the good thing about having 10,000 members,
49:41 about women's participation especially in the parliament.
49:44 They are very open and they accepted all our suggestions.
49:49 Now, what we are planning now, including the participate and other groups,
49:56 is to make the implementing rules in the regulations.
50:00 As they say, the devil is on the details.
50:02 So we should fix it. How can you implement 10,000 membership per political party?
50:07 It should be well-organized. How can you divide the so-called sectoral representation?
50:12 You should not just put beautiful wordings and the implementation is bad.
50:16 How can we make sure that the higher percentage of women's participation,
50:21 not only in the election but in the Bangsamoro Parliament.
50:25 It should be well-organized and if the parliament itself, the women members of the parliament,
50:34 are the ones who will be the first to draft the implementing rules and regulations,
50:38 which later on the COMELEC will approve or adopt so we can implement it.
50:43 You said earlier that it's envious because they are more advanced now.
50:49 That's why we are really talking to our legislators.
50:54 I hope they will pay attention to the 1985 omnibus election.
50:58 It's very hard to implement if the reality is not the same as the time of 1985.
51:05 The laws of the country were different then.
51:09 Congress is not here anymore. I hope we will revise the omnibus election code.
51:15 I hope this is the biggest election law that our Congress will pass.
51:21 I hope before the end of the present administration, we will pass this because this is for our future,
51:28 a new election law for the country.
51:31 Do you have a priority list of at least minimum amendments that you hope to pass?
51:37 Number one, party list. Number two, campaign finance reform, which is very, very important to us.
51:47 And of course, filing of candidates. You know, substitutions.
51:51 All of these problems can be solved. And of course, prosecution when it comes to vote buying.
51:59 We will be blamed if we cannot prosecute. How will you prosecute?
52:04 This is the law that we have now. We cannot go beyond the law.
52:09 Otherwise, that is usurpation of the power of Congress.
52:13 There are a lot of things to be monitored and a lot of work to be done.
52:17 We are just in the barangay SK elections.
52:19 Until September 2, filing of certificates of candidacy, COC, and campaign period,
52:28 when you file, you will be a candidate.
52:31 You are right, it is still prohibited to campaign. Premature campaigning is prohibited.
52:37 Premature campaigning because the campaign period is not yet the period of filing, is that right?
52:44 It is still October 19. October 19 to 28 is when our campaign period will start.
52:51 Therefore, when September 15 comes, public works ban, social services ban will be implemented,
52:57 except if we have permission or exemption that we will give.
53:01 And the filing of SOCE or the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures, what is the deadline?
53:08 It is 30 days after our election that your SOCE will be submitted to us.
53:14 Remember, if you did not file SOCE in 2018 and you ran again, you will not file SOCE,
53:20 you are perpetually disqualified to hold public office.
53:23 Okay, so it means that during Christmas, you have a lot of work.
53:28 Ma'am Malu, I would like to announce to your program, for the time being,
53:33 that when December comes, we will have a special election for Negros Oriental,
53:38 to file the vacancy position of congressman there. That will happen on December 9, 2023.
53:45 Alright. Is that the only thing left, your special elections?
53:49 In the meantime, yes. But there are plebiscites.
53:53 The Barangay NSK election in the entire province of Bulacan,
53:56 there is a plebiscite on converting San Jose del Monte, Bulacan into a highly urbanized city.
54:02 And the whole province will vote there, not just San Jose del Monte.
54:06 That is what the Makati and Embo barangays are asking for.
54:10 They should have plebiscited on where they want to go, if they are Tagig or Makati.
54:15 They are not included in your work.
54:19 There is no such thing and there is no law.
54:21 And in the end, the Supreme Court's decision is a law that everyone should follow.
54:27 Alright. Okay. On that note, we thank you Chairman and also to the members of NBank.
54:33 It seems like you have a lot of work and you will have more work until Christmas.
54:39 It seems like there is no end.
54:41 Good luck to all of us, to the candidates in the barangay and SK elections.
54:45 And I hope you will know and follow the rumors.
54:49 Have a good day, Chairman.
54:50 Thank you very much, Ma'am Malu. Thank you very much to all our fellow countrymen.
54:55 [Music]