The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting monitors the conduct of the 2016 elections from its command center in Manila. (Photo by Angie de Silva)
A parish-based organization in the Philippines is seeking accreditation from the Commission on Elections to become its official watchdog in this year's village and youth council elections.
The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting claimed that the group's "mass based national constituency" qualifies itself to be the poll body's "citizen's arm" during the May 14 elections.
As a "citizen arm" of the poll body, the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting would conduct the unofficial parallel count of votes in the election.
"[The organization] has a mass based national constituency composed of individuals of voting age and registered voters, with operating chapters based in the various parishes in provinces, cities and municipalities throughout the country," claimed the group.
It also cited its "unparalleled performance" in past elections as it "consistently worked and aspired for honest, clean, credible and peaceful elections."
"Its unparalleled performance over the years as an accredited national citizen's arm from various electoral exercises in the country has undoubtedly showed the strength of its mandate and its relevance in electoral exercises," read the group's petition.
The church group was established in 1991 after Catholic bishops called for reforms in the conduct of elections in the Philippines.
The group's poll-watching activities began with the 1992 presidential elections.