Section 27Sec./Art. 27

Section 18 of the same Act is hereby renumbered as Section 27 and is amended to read as follows:

"SEC. 27. On-Site Counting and Canvassing. -

"27.1. x x x

"27.2. For these purposes, the Commission shall constitute as many SBEIs as may be necessary to conduct and supervise the counting of votes as provided in Section 27.2 hereof. The SBEIs to be constituted herein shall be composed of a Chairman and two (2) members, one (1) of whom shall be designated as poll clerk. The ambassador or consul-general, or any career public officer posted abroad designated by the Commission, as the case may be, shall act as the Chairman; in the absence of other government officers, the two (2) other members shall be citizens of the Philippines who are qualified to vote under this Act and deputized by the Commission not later than sixty (60) days before the day of elections.

All resolutions of the SBEIs on issues brought before it during the conduct of its proceedings shall be valid only when they carry the approval of the Chairman.

"Immediately upon the completion of the counting, the SBEIs shall transmit via facsimile and/or electronic mail the results to the Commission in Manila and the accredited major political parties.

"x x x

"27.3. x x x

"27.4. The SBOC composed of the highest ranking officer of the post as Chairperson, a senior career officer from any of the government agencies maintaining a post abroad and, in the absence of another government officer, a citizen of the Philippines qualified to vote under this Act and deputized by the Commission, as vice chairperson and member-secretary, respectively, shall be constituted to canvass the election returns submitted to it by the SBEIs.

Immediately upon the completion of the canvass, the chairperson of the SBOC shall transmit via facsimile, electronic mail, or any other means of transmission equally safe and reliable the Certificates of Canvass and the Statements of Votes to the Commission, and shall cause to preserve the same immediately after the conclusion of the canvass, and make it available upon instructions of the Commission. The SBOC shall also furnish the accredited major political parties and accredited citizens' arms with copies thereof via facsimile, electronic mail and any other means of transmission equally safe, secure and reliable.

"x x x

"27.5. x x x

"27.6. x x x. For purposes of this Act, the returns of every election for President and Vice-President prepared by the SBOCs shall be deemed a certificate of canvass of a city or a province.

"27.7. x x x."