Supreme Court Circular No. 076-97 outlines the provisions of Section 27 of Republic Act No. 8189, which pertains to the deactivation of voter registrations in the Philippines. It specifies that individuals sentenced to imprisonment for one year or more, or convicted of crimes against the government or national security, will have their voter registrations deactivated. However, these individuals may automatically regain their voting rights five years after serving their sentences, unless their rights have been restored earlier. Additionally, clerks of court are required to provide the local Election Officer with a certified list of disqualified individuals each month for proper record-keeping.
October 27, 1997
SUPREME COURT CIRCULAR NO. 076-97
| TO | : | All Clerks of Court of the Sandiganbayan, RTCs, MeTCs, MTCCs, MTCs and MCTCs |
| SUBJECT | : | Section 27 of R.A. No. 8189 (The Voter's Registration Act of 1996) |
Quoted hereunder for the information and guidance of all concerned are pertinent portions of Section 27 of Republic Act No. 8189 (The Voter's Registration Act of 1996), to wit: cSDHEC
"Section 27. Deactivation of Registration. — The board shall deactivate the registration and remove the registration records of the following persons from the corresponding precinct book of voters and place the same, properly marked and dated in indelible ink, in the inactive file after entering the cause or causes of deactivation:
a) Any person who has been sentenced by final judgment to suffer imprisonment for not less than one (1) year, such disability not having been removed by plenary pardon or amnesty: Provided, however, That any person disqualified to vote under this paragraph shall automatically reacquire the right to vote upon expiration of five (5) years after service of sentence as certified by the clerks of courts of the Municipal/Municipal Circuit/Metropolitan/Regional Trial Courts and the Sandiganbayan;
b) Any person who has been adjudged by final judgment by a competent court or tribunal of having caused/committed any crime involving disloyalty to the duly constituted government such as rebellion, sedition, violation of the anti-subversion and firearms laws, or any crime against national security, unless restored to his full civil and political rights in accordance with law: Provided, That he shall regain his right to vote automatically upon expiration of five (5) years after service of sentence;
c) . . .
d) . . .
e) . . .
f) . . .
For this purpose, the clerks of court of Municipal/Municipal Circuit/Metropolitan/Regional Trial Courts and the Sandiganbayan shall furnish the Election Officer of the city or municipality concerned at the end of each month, a certified list of persons who are disqualified under paragraph (a) hereof, with their addresses. . . ."
For strict compliance. ACcISa
(SGD.) ALFREDO L. BENIPAYOCourt Administrator