Republic Act No. 8045

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled:

Section 1

Section 27 of Republic Act No. 7166 is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Section 27. Number of Copies of Election Returns and their Distribution. - The board of election inspectors shall prepare in handwriting the election returns in their respective polling places, in the number of copies herein provided and in the form to be prescribed and provided by the Commission.

"The copies of the election returns shall be as follows:

"a) In the election of President, Vice President, Senators and Members of the House of Representatives:

"1) The first copy shall be delivered to the city or municipal board of canvassers;

"2) The second copy, to the Congress, directed to the President of the Senate;

"3) The third copy, to the Commission;

"4) The fourth copy, to the dominant majority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law;

"5) The fifth copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law;

"6) The sixth copy, to a citizens' arm authorized by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count: Provided, however, That the accreditation of the citizens' arm shall be subject to the provisions of Section 52 (k) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881: Provided, further, That such citizens' arm previously authorized by the Commission before the effectivity of this Act shall not be qualified for accreditation; and

"7) The seventh copy shall be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots; and

"b) In the election of local officials:

"1) The first copy shall be delivered to the city or municipal board of canvassers;

"2) The second copy, to the Commission;

"3) The third copy, to the provincial board of canvassers;

"4) The fourth copy, dominant majority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law;

"5) The fifth copy, to the dominant minority party as determined by the Commission in accordance with law;

"6) The sixth copy, to a citizens' arm authorized by the Commission to conduct an unofficial count: Provided, however, That the accreditation of the citizens' arm shall be subject to the provisions of Section 52 (k) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 881: Provided, further, That such citizens' arm previously authorized by the Commission before the effectivity of this Act shall not be qualified for accreditation; and

"7) The seventh copy shall be deposited inside the compartment of the ballot box for valid ballots."

Section 2. Separability Clause

If any part of this Act is held invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining parts or provisions hereof shall remain valid and effective.

Section 3. Repealing Clause

All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and regulations, or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed.

Section 4. Effectivity

This Act shall take effect immediately upon its approval.

Approved,

(Sgd.) EDGARDO J. ANGARA President of the Senate	(Sgd.) JOSE DE VENECIA, JR. Speaker of the House of Representatives

This Act which is a consolidation of Senate Bill No. and House Bill No. 14601 was finally passed by the Senate and House of Representatives on June 2, 1995.

(Sgd.) EDGARDO E. TUMANGAN Secretary of the Senate	(Sgd.) CAMILO L. SABIO Secretary General House of Representatives

Approved: June 7, 1995

(Sgd.) FIDEL V. RAMOS President of the Philippines