NSTP 101

The Right to Suffrage

This learning module will discuss the basic concepts about suffrage. It
will highlight the right to vote in the Philippines and latest innovations
on voting.

The Right of Suffrage

 It is found in Article V in 1987 Philippine Constitution.
 The term suffrage comes from the latin word “suffragium”
which is to vote.
 It is the right of the people to choose their officials as their
representatives, for definite and fixed periods, to whom they
entrust the exercise of the powers of government.
 we elect our officials directly
 officials serve for fixed terms
 officials are directly accountable to the people

What are the different types of electoral exercise?

Regular Elections

National
 Every six years – Presidents and Vice-Presidents
 Every three years – Senators

Local
 Every three years
- members of House of Representatives, Party list
representatives
- Provincial, City and Municipal officials
- Barangay, Sanguniang Kabataan (SK) and ARMM
Elections

How often are elections held?

 Every 2nd Monday of May for National and local electionsThe

term suffrage comes from the latin word “suffragium” which is
to vote.
1. President and Vice-President
2. Senators, Congressmen, Provincial, City and Municipal
Officials
 Every last Monday of October

The Right to Suffrage 1

X.X The Right to Suffrage

1. Barangay and SK official

2. Every 3 years from March 1993
3. ARMM elections

What is registration?

 Refers to the act of accomplishing and filing of a sworn

application for registration by a qualified voter

Why should I register?

 To have the opportunity to choose our leaders

What’s in it for me?

 Just like text voting, you get heard and counted

What are the requirements for registration?

 A Filipino Citizen
 At least 18 years old
 A resident of the Philippines for 1 year and of the city or
municipality wherein he process to
 vote for at least 6 months immediately preceding the election
 Not otherwise disqualified by the law

What is validation of registration?

 Just like text voting, you get heard and counted A process
wherein fingerprints of the voter would be captured
electronically at no expense to the voter

2
NSTP 101

The Right to Suffrage 3

X.X The Right to Suffrage

4
NSTP 101

Where should I register?

 Comelec Office

Where should I validate my registration?

 Barangay Office

How do I go about transferring my registration?

The Right to Suffrage 5

X.X The Right to Suffrage

 Just like text voting, you get heard and counted

What are the requirements for registration?

 You may apply with the election officer of new residence for
the transfer of your registration records
 You will be asked to accomplish six application forms.

History of Philippine Elections

Pre Spanish Era

 The government was called “Barangay System”, the head was

called datu.
 There was no election yet, although unity was prevalent that
time.
 If decisions are to be made, the meetings consist of the council
of elders.
 Once they arrive at a decision, people follow them. The council
of elders was known for their wisdom and therefore they were
respected by people.

Malolos Constitution

 The first elections were held.

 However, only the male members of the rich classes or
Ilustrado are eligible voters.
 Emilio Aguinaldo was chosen as the first president of the First
Republic on June 23, 1899 in Malolos, Bulacan.
 Therefore, Aguinaldo was chosen by the elites instead of the
masses.

American Era

 Filipinos have fought for freedom during Filipino-American

War.
 Without their knowledge, the Ilustrados of Aguinaldo
government surrendered and formed an alliance with the
Americans.
 It was 1907 when the Americans allowed Filipinos to form
their own assembly.
 Election was held for its 80 members. Only 1.4% were given a
chance to participate. People who were not allowed to join are

6
NSTP 101

women, citizens who don’t own their land and those who are
“no read, no write” in English and Spanish.
 Again, elected candidates of Philippine Assembly came from
rich families.

Commonwealth Era

 Manuel L. Quezon was elected president of Commonwealth

Government under 1935 Constitution approved by America.
 After 10 years, there is still a big gap between the rich and the
poor. Filipino farmers still experience poverty since the land
was owned by few.
 Philippine Economy and Politics were controlled by US
through agreements that were to their advantage.

Post American Era

 US eventually left the Philippines but Filipinos still struggled.

 Japanese occupied the Philippines and it was the Filipino
Guerillas who took undercover.

Post World War II

 After the Japanese occupation, Commonwealth Government

was revived under Pres. Sergio Osmeña.

Post Independence

 In 1946, the first elections as Independent Republic were held.

 It was the first time that positions were open for President,
Vice-President and Legislative.
 It was Pres. Manuel Roxas, supported by US Gen. Douglas
MacArthur, who won the said elections.
 Graft and corruption became a problem under his government.
Voters were harassed just to get their votes.
 During this time, Parity Amendment in Constitution was
approved that gave Americans opportunity to gain from us (the
story of colonial mentality).
 Only the members of the ruling elite were given the chance to
run for elections. Graft and corruption was still prevalent.

1949 Elections

The Right to Suffrage 7

X.X The Right to Suffrage

 Pres. Elpidio Quirino was elected as President of the

Philippines and triggered controversies due to massive fraud.

1953 Elections

 Pres. Ramon Magsaysay won the elections, dubbed as “Man of

the Masses”
 He destroyed rebel farmers and Huk members in Central
Luzon.
 He gave farmers land in Mindanao so they won’t rebel
anymore.

1957 Elections

 Pres. Carlos P. Garcia was elected

 His “Filipino First Policy” aimed to help Filipino industries.
 Filipino manufacturing and local brand flourished but graft and
corruption was still the main problem of society. This greatly
affected his good intentions as a president.

1961 Elections

 Pres. Diosdado Macapagal won the elections.

 He ensured land reform in favor of Filipino farmers.
 He approved foreign investors coming in, eventually Philippine
Peso struggled against US dollar.

Marcos Era

 Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos was the first president to be re-

elected in 1969, considered to be one of the “dirtiest” election
was had.
 He declared Martial Law in 1972 to prolong his term.
 He abolished the 1935 Constitution and changed to 1973
Constitution that prohibited democratic acts like assemblies,
rallies, freedom of speech and due process.
 Widespread cronyism, military abuses, graft and corruption
and embezzlement.
 During his time, he planned elections that didn’t follow
democratic procedure. His political party reigned, Kilusang
Bagong Lipunan.

1986 Snap Elections

8
NSTP 101

 Pres. Marcos declared snap elections with Cory Aquino as

opponent.
 This was a historic moment that proved the power of Filipino
Electorate.
 People regained their strength to vote according to their will.
 Marcos Administration did everything –vote buying, tampering
of voter’s list, tampering of election returns, used intimidation
and harassment and murder.
 According to COMELEC count, it was Marcos who won the
election. It was questioned by Catholic Church and National
Citizens' Movement for Free Elections or NAMFREL.
 People came to a revolution as well, forming the People’s
Power Revolution.

1987 Constitution

 The 1987 Constitution was established through popular voting

under Pres. Cory Aquino.
 Democracy in elections was brought back as elections for
senatorial and local position were held.
 Year 1992 was the first time to elect a president under 1987
Constitution, anti-trapo (traditional politicians) campaigns
become famous.
 Pres. Fidel V. Ramos won the elections, but Miriam Defensor-
Santiago protested with the results. She accused Ramos of
electoral fraud.
 Dagdag-bawas” was coined during 1995 Midterm Elections. It
means to add the vote of a candidate to an opponent.
 President Joseph Estrada, a former actor, became president in
1998.
 Corruption is still a major issue during his time. Once again,
people gathered in EDSA for the 2nd People Power that ousted
him in the position.
 Pres. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, his vice-president, replaced
him in the seat.
 She was re-elected in 2004 against the actor Fernando Poe Jr.,
using her power to manipulate the election.

The Right to Suffrage 9

X.X The Right to Suffrage

10
NSTP 101

Automated Election System

 Manual Elections – high percentage of human intervention

(took charge of the ballot box, vote counting etc) therefore; it is
easy to manipulate the results of elections. Not to mention
election violence and the “usad-pagong” canvassing of results.

The Right to Suffrage 11

X.X The Right to Suffrage

Republic Act 8436 – Election Modernization Act amended to

Republic Act 9369

 Elections in the Philippines should utilize modern technology

like computers and machines.
 “To encourage transparency, credibility, fairness, and accuracy
of elections.”
 The machine that will be used is called Precinct Count Optical
Scan (PCOS).

No-more yellow boxes

 No more long hours of waiting and watching.

 Despite criticisms and mounting fears that the PCOS machines
will not ensure credible election results, Comelec expressed
confidence the poll equipment would perform the task.
 Compared to past elections where the winners were known
after weeks or months, local winners were determined in a few
hours, while half of the national winners were known after a
day.
 Most people are satisfied with the election process and the
voting results.

What is going on during election time?

The Board of Election Inspectors will show to everyone and make sure
that the ballot box is empty.

 The PCOS machines have backup battery incase of power loss.

 The BEI will print initialization report as proof that nothing
was encoded.
 Every ballot is configured to a specific precinct and cannot be
used with other machines. It has a corresponding barcode that
is different from every voter.
 The names of the candidates are listed on the ballot. We voters
need to shade the oval space beside the candidate they wish to
vote.
 Using the marking pen provided, the voter should carefully fill
the whole oval space; nothing more, nothing less as it will be
nullified.
 Once a voter is done with his ballot, he will approach the
machine and enter the ballot by himself. The machine will read
the ballot even if it was entered on either side.

12
NSTP 101

 All the ballots will be places on a translucent box wherein no

one can have a look on the content.
 The BEI will put indelible ink on your index finger as proof
that you have exercised you right to suffrage.
 At 6pm, the polls will close and the machine will not allow any
ballots coming in. The BEI will print 8 copies of election
returns. One copy of local results will be posted elsewhere in
the area for public’s view.
 The results will be sent electronically to:
1. Municipal Board of Canvassers
2. Comelec Central database
3. Data Server of Accredited Groups (like KBP, Political
Parties and Citizen’s Arm)

PCOS Security Features

 Password/PIN
 Digital Signatures
 Multiple Data Source and Storage
 Back-up Battery
 Quick Electronic Transmission Speed
 Zero Report
 Transmission Reports
 Audit Log
 Copies of ERs and COCs for distribution
 Bar code, Watermark and UV features of the ballot

The Right to Suffrage 13

X.X The Right to Suffrage

References

Web links to further enhance knowledge about the topic:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suffrage

http://ldb.org/philcon/suffrage.htm

https://tamayaosbc.wordpress.com/2014/08/02/citizenship-and-
suffrage/

http://electionspinoy.blogspot.com/2009/09/nature-of-right-of-
suffrage.html

14