Local Absentee Voting Act

Section 1

Any political party, organization or coalition of political parties seeking registration pursuant to Section 2 (5), Subdivision C of Article IX of the Constitution shall file with the Law Department of the Commission a petition duly verified by its President and Secretary -General, or any official duly authorized to do so under its Constitution and By-laws;

Section 2

The petition for registration shall state the following: (1) Full name of the political party, organization or coalition of political parties; (2) The principal headquarters and post office address for election purposes, including its branches and divisions, if any; (3) The date and place of its organization; (4) The date and manner of election or selection of its officers; (5) The names and addresses of its organizers and officers, Executive Committee members, Directorate, or Party Convention delegates, if any; (6) The extent of its constituency; (7) Its program of government; (8) That it is not a religious sect or denomination; (9) That it shall not pursue its goals through violence or other unlawful means; (10) That it shall uphold and adhere to the Constitution and shall obey all laws and legal orders promulgated by duly constituted authorities; (11) That it is not supported by, nor does it accept financial contribution from any foreign government or their agencies; and (12) Other information that may be material and relevant to the petition.

Section 3

The petitioner shall attach to the petition for registration ten (10) copies of its constitution and by-laws, party platform, organizational papers, declarations of political creed or code of political ethics and such other documents of similar or equivalent character.

Section 4

Before taking action on the petition, the Commission shall first verify, through its filed offices, the status and capacity of the petitioner and the veracity of the allegations in the petition and its enclosures. Not later than fifteen (15) days from notice of the Commission's instruction, the field office concerned shall submit its written report, in ten (10) copies, together with supporting documents or records, if any.

Section 5

Upon receipt of the reports from its field offices, the Commission shall immediately set the petition for hearing and shall send notices to the petitioner and other parties concerned.

Section 6

On the day following the receipt of the notice of hearing, the petitioner shall cause the publication of the petition, together with the notice of hearing, in three (3) daily newspaper of general circulation, notifying in writing the Commission of such action.

Section 7

A certificate of registration shall be issued by the Commission upon approval of the petition, which shall be displayed in the main office and in all chapters of the petitioner.

Section 8

Upon verified complaint of any interested party, or motu proprio by the Commission, the registration of any political party, coalition of political parties or organization under the party-list system may be cancelled after due notice and hearing on the following grounds: a) Acceptance by the political party, coalition of political parties, or organizations or any of its candidates, of financial contributions from foreign governments and/or their agencies for activities related to elections; b) Violation of laws, rules or regulations relating to elections, plebiscites, referenda, or initiative; c) Untruthful statements in its petition for registration; d) The said political party, coalition of political parties or organization has become a religious sect or denomination, is pursuing its goals thru violence or other unlawful means, is refusing to adhere to or uphold the Constitution of the Philippines, or is receiving support from any foreign government, and e) Failure to comply with applicable laws, rules or regulations of the Commission. f) Failure to field official candidates in the last two proceeding elections or failure of their candidates to obtain at least five (5) per centum of the votes cast in the last two preceding elections.