Presidential candidates and major political parties would only be allowed two watchers per polling place in the May 2010 national and local elections, the Commission on Elections said Friday.

The Comelec, in its Resolution No. 8739, said the appointed watchers of a presidential candidate, political party and citizens' arms would have to serve alternately to avoid congestion inside the poll precincts.

Lawyer Ferdinand Rafanan, Comelec law department head, said the two watchers rule particularly applies to candidates for president and vice president, whether running independently or under a particular political party, and their political parties.

“It’s different for senators because it’s per slate. They can only have one poll watcher plus one alternate,” he said.

Aside from candidates for senator, candidates for the House of Representatives, Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan belonging to the same ticket or slate will also be collectively entitled to one watcher only.

Duly accredited citizens’ arms of the Commission, on the other hand, shall be entitled to appoint a watcher in every polling place while other civil, professional, business, service, youth, and any other similar organizations, with prior authority of the Commission, shall be entitled one watcher collectively.

If, because of limited space, all watchers cannot be accommodated in the polling place, preference shall be given to the watchers of the dominant majority and dominant minority parties as determined by the Commission and the watcher of the citizens' arm, with the latter being given preferential position closest to the Board of Election Inspector, the Comelec resolution said.

The Comelec also enumerated the qualifications of watchers.

The Resolution said a watcher must be a registered voter of the city or municipality comprising the precinct where he is assigned; of good reputation; has not been convicted by final judgment of any election offense or of any other crime; knows how to read and write Filipino, English or the prevailing local dialect; and is not related within the fourth civil degree of consanguinity or affinity to the chairman or to any other member of the BEI in the polling place where he seeks appointment as watcher.

Based on the initial list of the Comelec, there are eight candidates for president, eight for vice president and 58 for senator. The poll body said last week it might consider up to two more presidential bets.

The Comelec is expected to release the final list of national candidates next week, including party list groups.