Election best practices seminars

MANILA, Philippines - The Center for Global Best Practices is launching a series of three election best practices seminars.

The first seminar’s topic is “How to Prepare Your Statement of Contributions & Expenditures” on Jan. 21. With over 700 political candidates and public officials given disqualification warnings for compliance due to erroneous or non-filing of over 20 documents required of candidates to file, make sure you get these right because the strict penalty of perpetual disqualification from running for office for a second offense can be meted against a candidate. The seminar will walk you through how to accomplish the forms and this will also include a thorough discussion on campaign finance regulations and commonly encountered pitfalls in compliance with SOCE to be conducted by former head of Comelec Ferdinand Rafanan.

The second seminar is a special topic titled, “Winning the Election Battleground Legally & Wisely”, on Jan. 22. Victory or defeat hinges greatly on legal technicality. This will guide you in aligning your political campaign strategies with your legal tactics.  This program focuses on teaching you everything you need to know about election law to address all your legal issues and practical solutions to election law challenges in the political battleground to ensure that one is not disadvantaged or legally outmaneuvered in the election process. This will feature former DOJ secretary Alberto Agra who is a recognized expert on election law.

The third seminar is the “Revised General Instructions (GI) on Automated Election” on April 15. The GI – considered the bible for all candidates, poll watchers, lawyers and other practitioners in the campaign and election exercises – is expected to be released next month by the Comelec.

This seminar will feature former Comelec commissioner Rene Sarmiento, who will provide attendees a definitive interpretation of the GI Rules.

These seminars will be held at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City. For details and a complete list of seminars, you may log on to www.cgbp.org or call (02) 842-7148/ 59 and 556-8968/ 69, Cebu lines: (032) 512-3106 or 07 or Baguio line: (074) 423-5148. Register as a group of three or book early for your discounts. These are limited-seats-only events and pre-registration is required.