Comelec flags pre-shaded, compromised ballots in 36 Basilan precincts

MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has determined that the ballots in 36 out of 68 precincts in Maluso, Basilan have already been preshaded for the first Bangsamoro Parliamentary elections. 

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia made this announcement at the start of the early voting hours on Monday. Garcia then announced that the Basilan town was placed under Comelec control.

“We determined, as of last night, compromised yung 36 out of 68 precincts na mga balota. Nalaman namin na lahat ng ito ay nagpre-shade. As to kung sino ang nagpreshade, alam na namin pati yung mga detalye,” Garcia told reports in an interview. 

(We determined, as of last night, ballots of 36 out of 68 precincts were compromised. We found out that these were already preshaded. We already knew the people behind this.)

READ: 3 killed, 15 wounded in shooting near polling center in Cotabato City

With this, Garcia said that the Comelec ordered the reprinting of ballots as they cannot be used anymore. 

He noted that the voting in these precincts will be delayed since the ballots will have to be shipped from Manila to Zamboanga and from Zamboanga to Basilan. However, he said that the Comelec has a protocol to fast track the shipping of the printed ballots. 

Despite this, Garcia said that there is no failure of elections and the much anticipated electoral exercise will push through despite the compromised ballots. 

Meanwhile, Garcia also shared that Cotabato City was also placed under Comelec control due to reported violence due to explosions and a shooting incident.

Police Regional Office Bangsamoro Autonomous Region said that two separate explosions were reported in Cotabato City on Sunday night, where one person was injured in the first incident while no casualties were reported in the second. 

READ: 2 explosions reported in Cotabato City on eve of BARMM polls

However, a shooting incident occurred near a polling center in Barangay Bagua around 11:45 p.m. on Sunday killed three people and left 15 others injured. 

“Nagdesisyon ang Commission en banc na ilagay ang Cotabato City under Comelec control at asahan nyo maya-maya lamang, magdedesignate ang Comelec ng administrator natin na siyang mamamahala ng halalan dito sa Cotabato City,” Garcia said. 

(The Commission en banc decided to place Cotabato City under Comelec control and the Comelec will designate [a Comelec official] to administer the conduct of elections.) /jpv