PPCRV: Importance of 4th ER copy

by Henry Aguda and Atty Francesca Montes-Del Rosario

The PPRCV, as a Catholic-church-based poll lay movement, is committed to a civic life grounded on honesty, service, and pursuit of the truth. These three foundational Christian values are significantly tested during election season. The greatest temptation during this democratic process is to manipulate election returns for partisan and individual gains, to produce a result undelegated by the Filipino people. Safeguarding this process has never been more relevant, especially in the recently concluded 2022 National Elections — an election year with the highest turnout of 65 million voters.

This is where PPCRV dramatically contributes to the transparency of the election process. It is mandated to monitor and flag mismatches in Election Returns and report these to the Commission on Elections. The PPCRV, driven by its duty to the Filipino people and empowered by law, is the arm of the ordinary citizen to combat the injustices waged against its democracy. 

Section 18 of R.A. 8436 enumerates selected groups to receive a copy of the Election Returns. However, of all the thirty copies to be distributed, only the fourth copy to the citizen’s arm carries a responsibility; all other documents are given primarily for receipt. Through the 4th copy, the citizen’s arm is duty-bound to conduct an unofficial count. From a pragmatic perspective, running an unofficial count does little to no effect on the outcome of the official ballot. However, democracies are not judged and operated at face value. With hindsight as our most excellent guide, elections and vote verification manifest our trust and confidence in a system that should reflect the will of all— both the privileged and unprivileged. 

Conducting an unofficial ballot count through the 4th ER copy is how PPCRV ensures Clean, Honest, Accurate, Meaningful, and Peaceful elections. When there are multiple efforts to safeguard election returns, this reduces the likelihood of inaccurate and misrepresented results. Admittedly, there is no mechanism for cases with a blatant difference in official and unofficial outcomes—and perhaps there shouldn’t be. More than hedging against altered and compromised counts, an empowered citizen’s arm represents the populace’s active participation and unwavering care for their single vote. This is the same intangible that builds on ordinary and extraordinary feats of democratic participation:  from consistent and daily efforts to educate voters to even people power revolutions. The Filipino’s confidence in the PPCRV reflects their trust that it is a party loyal to none other but ensuring an accurate election. 

Securing and documenting the 4th Election Return copy is both PPCRV’s responsibility and commitment to protecting the sanctity of the highest democratic process — our elections.

Links to Sources:
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174350
https://comelec.gov.ph/index.htmlr=VoterRegistration/Resolutions/mr150479
https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2022/5/12/PPCRV-first-encoded-election-returns.html
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1174257