Rules for appreciation of ballots.
Section 40
SEC. 40. Rules for appreciation of ballots.—In addition to the rules for the appreciation of the ballots provided under Section 155 of the 1978 Election Code, the following rules shall be included: (1) Where only the first name of a candidate is written on the ballot, which when read, has a sound similar to the surname of another candidate, the vote shall be counted in favor of the candidate with such surname. If there are two or more candidates with the same full name, first name or surname and one of them is the incumbent, and on the ballot is written only such full name, first name or surname, the vote shall be counted in favor of the incumbent. (2) In case the candidate is a woman who uses her maiden or married surname or both and there is another candidate with the same surname, a ballot bearing only such surname shall be counted in favor of the candidate who is an incumbent. (3) When two or more words are written on the same line on the ballot, all of which are the surnames of two or more candidates, the same shall not be counted for any of them, unless one is a surname of an incumbent in which case it shall be counted in favor of the latter. The rules under Sections 140, 154, and 155 of the 1978 Election Code, as amended, referring to block voting, in-eluding the requirement on the printing of the names of candidates in the official ballot, shall not be applicable in the election of the regular Batasang Pambansa on May 14, 1984.