Procedure for Accreditation:

1. Accreditation of local and foreign media by the Commission shall be exercised through the Heads of Posts and who are hereby authorized to:

   1. Accept proper applications in writing; and,

   2. Grant or deny the said applications within five (5) days from date of said application.

   For this purpose, local mass media shall be defined as media coming from the Philippines while foreign media is defined as media which are based at the host countries.   Mass media shall include both print and broadcast. 

               Once approved for accreditation, the Post shall give the Committee on Overseas Absentee Voting (COAV) a list of those accredited.  

    Any denial for accreditation by the Heads of Posts shall likewise be in writing and which shall to be immediately endorsed to the COAV through facsimile stating the reason/s for such denial.

2. Denial of applications may be appealed through facsimile to the COAV by the media concerned within five (5) days from receipt of denial from the Post.  

   COAV shall decide the issue within three (3) days from receipt of said appeal and which decision shall be final and executory.

    

3. The application for accreditation shall be accompanied by:

   1. Duly accomplished information sheet to be provided by the Post identifying the personal and professional circumstances of the applicant;

   2. Two (2) ID-size photographs of the applicant; and

   3. Endorsement only from the newspaper, television on radio station or other mass media entity employing the applicant.  In no case shall an application endorsed by an entity other than the applicant’s direct employer be given due course.

4. From time to time, the Heads of Posts concerned shall furnish COAV a list of members of the local and foreign media which he has accredited to date.

5. Applications for accreditation may be filed no later than 14 April 2007 and shall remain effective until the end of canvassing at the Post, provided it was not revoked in the interim by the Head of the Post for just cause.

6. Upon accreditation, media representatives shall be issued the corresponding media pass or accreditation cards signed and authenticated by the Heads of the Posts.   This shall be worn at all times by the accredited media representatives when at the polling places, counting and canvassing centers.

Privileges Granted the Accredited Mass Media

Duly accredited local and foreign media shall have the following privileges:

1. Before Election Day

   1. Request any official of the Post concerned, representatives of registered political parties, organizations or coalitions, candidates or their representatives, private firms or organizations, any political party or candidate for interview or briefing on the coming electoral exercise, subject to the following condition:

      • That said interview or briefing shall be mainly for the purpose of gathering facts or information relative to the electoral process, namely, those covered by the General Instructions for SBRCG/SBEI and SBOC and the other supplemental guidelines in relation thereto.

   2. Observe all preparatory activities of the SBRCG and SBEI

2. During the Voting Period

   1. Observe the conduct of voting in any locality;

   2. Interview voters, political leaders and other individuals outside the polling place;

   3. Document the observations and interview by means of audio, visual or audio-visual recordings, subject to limitations provided herein.

3. During Counting and Canvassing

   1. Observe the counting of votes and the transmission of results;

   2. Observe all canvassing proceedings.

Limitations

All media men shall observe the following limitations:

1. Not more than three (3) representatives of mass media shall be allowed inside the polling place at any one time.

   The Heads of Post concerned shall see to it that if there are more than three (3) media representatives accredited, they shall have equal time and space spread among themselves.

2. Upon arrival at the polling places, counting or canvassing centers, they shall present to the SBRCG/SBEI or SBOC their accreditation cards for identification purposes.

3. They shall stay only in the space reserved for watchers and shall not be allowed to enter places/spots reserved for voters or the SBRCG/SBEI/SBOC.

4. They shall not in any manner whatsoever, interfere with or disrupt, the proceedings in the polling place, counting or canvassing center.   Should they interfere with or disrupt the proceedings in the polling place, counting or canvassing center, the concerned electoral body, through its Chairman, has the authority to ask the mass media representative to step out of said place.

5. They shall not engage in partisan political activities or conduct any interview inside the polling place nor shall they, in any manner whatsoever, induce, influence or persuade, any voter to vote for or against any candidate or, in any other manner, manifest a position for or against any candidate.

6. Commission of any acts specified in nos. 2 to 5 above shall be just causes for the revocation of the mass media accreditation, confiscation of the media pass and shall be considered an election offense.