BARMM ballots may be saved from destruction

MANILA, Philippines —  The Commission on Elections (Comelec) may exclude the 2.3 million ballots for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) parliamentary polls from the six million printed ballots set for destruction through shredding.

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said they are waiting for the recommendation of the poll body’s technical working group, which will determine if the ballots for the BARMM elections can be saved from disposal.

The destruction of the six million printed ballots came after the Supreme Court stopped the disqualification of senatorial aspirant Subair Guinthum Mustapha and four local candidates.

“All ballots contain serial numbers. There might be a recommendation not to destroy the ballots for the BARMM elections. That’s what we are waiting for,” Garcia said.

He said the Comelec is exerting efforts to complete the process of amending the election management system and ballot printing in the next few days.

Garcia expressed hope that the Comelec could complete all necessary changes in the ballots and resume printing by Monday.

The Comelec assured the public that the May elections would proceed as scheduled despite the delay in the printing of ballots.

Garcia said the Comelec would prioritize the resumption of the printing before disposing of the questionable ballots to prevent these from being used in the elections.

He said the Comelec would still prepare  for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections in December, despite the passage of a Senate proposal extending the term of village officials.

Garcia said the poll body welcomes the Senate proposal even as the House of Representatives has yet to pass a counterpart measure.