MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Monday urged the Congress to amend the Omnibus Election Code to transfer the custody of official ballots from the city and municipal treasurers to the poll body.
Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia made this appeal after the poll body discovered that ballots from 36 out of 68 polling precincts in Maluso, Basilan were already pre-shaded.
“Ang sinusunod natin ay 1985 pa na election law so sana mabago na yun. Ipupush po natin na sana kay Comelec na lang ibigay ang possession ng mga balota,” Garcia told reporters in an interview.
(What we are following is the 1985 election law so we hope it will be amended. We will push for the Comelec to gain possession of the ballots.)
READ: Comelec flags pre-shaded, compromised ballots in 36 Basilan precincts
Under the Omnibus Election Code, the city and municipal treasurer are mandated to keep the ballot boxes under their responsibility for three months, which shall be stored “unopened in a secure place.”
Garcia noted that there must be impartiality in gaining possession of printed ballots.
“Hindi po sa pinagbibintangan natin ang kung sino, ang sinasabi natin talaga na ang batas ay baguhin at ang possession, custody ng mga balota na number one election document ay hindi sa partisan o yung maaaring maimpluwensyahan ng mga politiko,” he added.
(We are not blaming anyone, what we are pushing for is the amendment of the law and custody of the ballots. Ballots are the number one election document and their custody should not be partisan or influenced by politicians.)
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Garcia said that the ballots may arrive by 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday afternoon. He noted that the ballots will have to be flown from Manila to Zamboanga, and from Zamboanga to Basilan.
Meanwhile, Garcia shared that the poll body already determined the culprits behind the incident. The Comelec earlier ordered the reprinting of ballots in the National Printing Office in Quezon City. /jpv
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