Section 22December 22, 1997, Sec./Art. 22

Number of copies of Certificates of Canvass of Votes and their distribution. - (a) The certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president, senators, members of the House of Representatives, parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system and elective provincial officials shall be printed 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, members of the House of Representatives, parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system 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; and

(4) The fourth copy shall be given to the citizens' arm designated by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count. It shall be the duty of the citizens' arm to furnish independent candidates copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party.

The board of canvassers shall furnish all registered parties copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party.

(b) The certificate of canvass of votes for president, vice-president and senators, parties, organizations or coalitions participating under the party-list system shall be printed 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 other highly urbanized areas and distributed as follows:

(1) The first copy shall be sent to Congress, directed to the President of the Senate for use in the canvas 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; and

(4) The fourth copy shall be given to the citizens' arm designated by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count. It shall be the duty of the citizens' arm to furnish independent candidates copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party.

The board of canvassers shall furnish all registered parties copies of the certificate of canvass at the expense of the requesting party.

(c) The certificates of canvass printed by the provincial, district, city or municipal boards of canvassers shall be 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 all instances, where the Board of Canvassers has the duty to furnish registered political parties with copies of the certificate of canvass, the pertinent election returns shall be attached thereto, where appropriate.