Section 8Sec./Art. 8

A new Section 9 of the same Act is hereby inserted to read as follows:

"SEC. 9. Petition for Exclusion, Motion for Reconsideration, Petition for Inclusion. -

"9.1. Petition for Exclusion. - If the application has been approved, any interested party may file a petition for exclusion not later than one hundred eighty (180) days before the start of the overseas voting period with the proper Municipal/Metropolitan Trial Court in the City of Manila or where the overseas voter resides in the Philippines, at the option of the petitioner.

"The petition shall be decided on the basis of the documents submitted within fifteen (15) days from its filing, but not later than one hundred twenty (120) days before the start of the overseas voting period. Should the Court fail to render a decision within the prescribed period, the ruling of the RERB shall be considered affirmed.

"9.2. Motion for Reconsideration. - If the application has been disapproved, the applicant or the authorized representative shall have the right to file a motion for reconsideration before the RERB within a period of five (5) days from receipt of the notice of disapproval. The motion shall be decided within five (5) days after its filing on the basis of documents submitted but not later than one hundred twenty (120) days before the start of the overseas voting period. The resolution of the RERB shall be immediately executory, unless reversed or set aside by the Court.

"9.3. Petition for Inclusion. - Within ten (10) days from receipt of notice denying the motion for reconsideration, the applicant may file a petition for inclusion with the proper Municipal/Metropolitan Trial Court in the City of Manila or where the overseas voter resides in the Philippines, at the option of the petitioner.

"The petition shall be decided on the basis of the documents submitted within fifteen (15) days from filing, but not later than one hundred twenty (120) days before the start of the overseas voting period. Should the Court fail to render a decision within the, prescribed period, the RERB ruling shall be considered affirmed.

"Qualified Philippine citizens abroad who have previously registered as voters pursuant to Republic Act No. 8189, otherwise known as the 'Voter's Registration Act of 1996′, shall apply for certification as overseas voters and for inclusion in the NROV. In case of approval, the Election Officer concerned shall annotate the fact of registration/certification as overseas voter before the voter's name as appearing in the certified voters' list and in the voter's registration records."