Section 29November 26, 1991, Sec./Art. 29

Number of Copies of Certificates of Canvass and their Distribution. -

(a) The certificate of canvass for President, Vice-President, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial officials shall be prepared in seven (7) copies by the city or municipal board of canvassers and distributed as follows:

(1) The first copy shall be delivered to the provincial board of canvassers for use in the canvass of election results for President, Vice-President, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives and elective provincial officials;

(2) The second copy shall be sent to the Commission;

(3) The third copy shall be kept by the chairman of the board;

(4) The fourth copy shall be given to the citizens arm designated by the Commission to conduct a media-based unofficial count; and

(5) The fifth, sixth and seventh copies shall be given to the representatives of three (3) of the six (6) major political parties in accordance with the voluntary agreement of the parties. If no such agreement is reached, the Commission shall decide which parties shall receive the copies of the certificate of canvass on the basis of the criteria provided in Section 26 hereof. The parties receiving the certificates shall have the obligation to furnish the other parties with authentic copies thereof with the least possible delay.

(b) The certificate of canvass for President, Vice-President, Senators shall be prepared in seven (7) copies by the city boards of canvassers of cities comprising one or more legislative districts, by provincial boards of canvassers and by district boards of canvassers in the Metro Manila Area, and distributed as follows:

(1) The first copy shall be sent to the Congress, directed to the President of the Senate for use in the canvass of election results for President and Vice-President;

(2) The second copy shall be sent to the Commission for use in the canvass of the election results for Senators;

(3) The third copy shall be kept by the chairman of the board;

(4) The fourth copy shall be given to the citizens arm designated by the Commission to conduct a media-based unofficial count; and

(5) The fifth, sixth and seventh copies of the certificate of canvass shall be given to any three (3) of the six (6) accredited major political parties in accordance with the voluntary agreement of the parties. If no such agreement is reached, the Commission shall decide which parties shall receive the copies of the certificate of canvass on the basis of the criteria provided in Section 26 hereof. The parties receiving the certificates shall have the obligation to furnish the other parties with authentic copies thereof with the least possible delay.

(c) The certificate of canvass prepared by the city of municipal boards of canvassers shall each be supported by a statement of votes by precinct, signed and thumbmarked by the chairman and members of the board, and the principal watchers if available. Thereafter, it shall be sealed and placed inside an envelope which shall likewise be properly sealed.

In the Metro Manila Area, the certificates of canvass prepared by a district board of canvassers of a legislative district comprising one (1) municipality shall be supported by a statement of votes by precinct. The certificate of canvass prepared by a district board of canvassers of a legislative district comprising two (2) municipalities shall be supported by a statement of votes by municipality.

The certificate of canvass prepared by the provincial board of canvassers shall be supported by a statement of votes by municipality, and the original copy thereof for the Congress shall, in addition, be supported by statement of votes by precinct as submitted to the provincial board of canvassers by the city or municipal boards of canvassers. The same requirement shall apply in the case of the certificate of canvass of a district board of canvassers of a legislative district comprising two (2) municipalities in Metro Manila Area.