Cortes now in official 2025 ballot template

CEBU, Philippines — As previously assured by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), the name of former Mandaue City mayor Jonas Cortes is now included in the updated 2025 ballot face template as the poll body resumed printing yesterday after weeks of delays.

A check by The Freeman on Comelec’s official website confirms that Cortes’ name is now reflected, addressing an earlier omission when ballot printing began earlier this month.

“If iya name naa na nagreflect sa official ballot template issued by Comelec Manila, then his name will appear in the official ballot,” assured Comelec-7 Regional Director, lawyer Fransisco Pobe.

The delays stemmed from a temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by the Supreme Court en banc on January 14, 2025, which affected several cases related to the upcoming elections, including the case of Cortes. In response, Comelec issued Resolution No. 11097-A, halting the printing of official ballots and mandating changes to the candidates’ database and ballot face templates.

The resolution specifically directed Comelec’s Law Department to update the Certified List of Candidates to include Jonas C. Cortes as a candidate for mayor of Mandaue City, Cebu.

Comelec uploaded the updated ballot faces on Sunday, January 26, 2025, as reported by the Philippine Star. These updates allow voters across all 18 regions to preview the latest version of their respective ballots, including changes from national to local positions. The updated ballot face template lists Cortes as candidate number two.

With the inclusion of Cortes, Mandaue City voters now have four mayoralty candidates to choose from---former mayor Jonas Cortes, Jo Cortes, Cebu Provincial Board Member Jonkie Ouano, and Gepind Requierme.

The initial suspension of ballot printing, which began on January 6, 2025, led to the discarding of six million printed ballots, resulting in government losses amounting to approximately P132 million.

Pobe could not confirm whether reprinting of official ballots in Mandaue City has commenced, as no announcements regarding specific areas have been made by the central office.

Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia, in an interview yesterday, stated that six printing machines will now be utilized to expedite the process—four from the National Printing Office (NPO) and two procured from South Korean firm Miru Systems Inc.

The commission aims to produce 1.5 million ballots daily to meet the goal of printing 73 million ballots by April 14, 2025.

Common poster areas

Meanwhile, the Comelec office in Mandaue City has officially designated common poster areas across the city’s 27 barangays ahead of the start of the campaign period.

Mandaue City election assistant Jacqueline Reuyan said this is to ensure an organized campaign period for the upcoming mid-term elections.

Reuyan told reporters yesterday that in addition to the designated areas used during the 2022 elections, each barangay in Mandaue City will now have its own Common Poster Area for the upcoming 2025 National and Local Elections.

The areas will be strategically located in the vicinity of barangay halls, public markets, barangay gyms, sports complexes or multi-purpose halls, as well as the main entrances and thoroughfares of each barangay.

Reuyan said that Comelec Mandaue City has identified these areas after conducting a survey of vacant lots in each barangay, ensuring they are government-owned properties suitable for the Common Poster Areas.

The campaign period for local positions will run from March 28 to May 10, 2025, while the campaign period for national positions will begin earlier, starting on February 11, 2025, and ending on May 10, 2025.

Comelec Mandaue also reminded candidates and their supporters that only lawful campaign materials will be permitted during the campaign period for the May 12, 2025, elections.

The campaign materials may only be displayed in the designated Common Poster Areas identified by Comelec Mandaue.

Candidates may set up campaign materials at their own expense during the campaign period, provided they secure authorization from the Comelec through the city election officer, in compliance with Comelec Resolution No. 11086.

Reuyan warned candidates that it is prohibited to affix campaign materials to electrical posts, trees, or directly on the walls of barangay halls, gyms, or chapels.

The Election Assistant emphasized that candidates must create a frame or structure to display their posters, ensuring they are properly mounted in the designated areas.

She added that since the city now has Common Poster Areas, it is prohibited to place campaign materials on private lots or areas unless the property owner has granted permission for the materials to be displayed.

Reuyan stated that if campaign materials are not placed within the designated areas provided by Comelec, candidates will be warned and may face election offenses. — (FREEMAN)