MANILA, Nov. 23, 2012— The Commission on Elections has accredited the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting as its citizen’s arm for the May 2013 national and local elections.
In accrediting the PPCRV, the poll body has cited the election watchdog’s “track record” as one of the Comelec’s “staunch allies in ensuring clean, orderly, peaceful and honest elections”.
“The Commission recognizes PPCRV as one of the organizations which has established its membership and structure all over the Philippines and has demonstrated its capacity to promote public interest,” it said.
The PPCRV was accredited for the same role during the 1992, 1995, 2001, 2004, 2007, and 2010 elections.
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez said that because of its accreditation, the PPCRV has the duty to conduct poll watching in various precincts and conduct massive voters’ education program in the country.
They are also tasked to assist the voters on election day especially the senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, detainees, indigenous peoples and other members of the vulnerable sectors.
On the other hand, the accreditation entitles the PPCRV to electronic copies of the computerized voters list as well as the fourth copy of the automated election returns.
In its petition for accreditation, the PPCRV stated that it has a “mass based constituency composed of individuals of voting age and registered voters, with operating chapters based in the various parishes in provinces, cities and municipalities throughout the country”.
Its membership has also grown in number as shown in the 2010 automated elections where 657,000 PPCRV members and volunteers from 3,333 parishes nationwide participated in poll watching and election related activities. (CBCPNews)
