Comelec accredits PPCRV, Namfrel as citizens’ arms

MANILA, Philippines — Election watchdogs Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) and the National Citizens’ Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL) have been accredited by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) as its citizens’ arms in all plebiscites this year and in future elections.

In separate resolutions, the Comelec said the respective petitions for accreditation of PPCRV and NAMFREL were granted on Wednesday, allowing them to assist the poll body in the Maguindanao plebiscite and in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan polls.

Comelec acting spokesman Rex Laudiangco told reporters it is the first time they have granted the petition for accreditation of citizens’ arms for a specific timeframe due to a change in policy. 

“This is the first time we’ve granted their petition to be an accredited citizens’ arm for a certain period of time. Before, they would file for specific elections, but due to a change of Comelec policy… because we have several plebiscites, they were given accreditation until the May 2025 elections,” he said in Filipino and English.

Laudiangco emphasized that other election watchdogs are also allowed to file their petitions for accreditation as official citizens’ arm of the Comelec in the upcoming plebiscite and in future elections to ensure clean and credible polls.