Comelec to use excess ballot papers for barangay, SK polls

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) will use excess ballot papers from the May elections for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls in October.

Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes said they were able to cut down the election expenses as a result of this.

“We initially set it to be bid out, but we learned that there were excess papers so we were able to save a bit in the cost of ballot paper,” he said.

The Comelec has previously approved a P148-million budget for the purchase of ballot papers for the

Barangay and SK elections.

A few weeks ago, the Comelec issued a resolution ordering the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) to leave out the bidding for the procurement of ballot papers for the Oct. 28 polls.

Meanwhile, Brillantes doubted allegations that ballots are being printed in Quezon City  long after the May elections.

Without preempting the results of the Comelec probe, Brillantes said the allegations of former Comelec official Melchor Magdamo is a highy unlikely occurrence.

Brillantes said all excess ballot paper reams have remained in the National Printing Office (NPO) after all official ballots in the May elections have been completely printed.

“We are really wondering what he (Magdamo) is saying, that the excess papers are being used to print more ballots,” he said. “All remaining paper reams are still with the NPO and we own them.”

Brillantes said the extra reams of paper will be used in the printing of official ballots for the Barangay and SK elections.

Last week, the Comelec created a fact-finding team to be headed by Law Department head Director Esmeralda Ladra to look into Magdamo’s allegations that Holy Family Printing Corp., the winning bidder in the printing of ballots in the May polls, continues to print ballots even after the elections.