5,075 ballot boxes arrive

Five vans containing at least 5,075 ballot boxes yesterday arrived at the office of the provincial treasurer from the Manila office of the Commission on Elections.

Cleofe Gonzaga, a staff of provincial treasurer Roy Salubre, said the ballot boxes would be distributed to the 47 municipalities of the province.

She said the Comelec provincial office previously requested over 11,786 ballot boxes, but only 5,075 have arrived, adding that those that are set to arrive will be directly forwarded to the component cities.

Acting Comelec provincial supervisor Lionel Marco Castillano, however, asked for another 2,000 ballot boxes since they needed new ones because most of those used in the 2004 elections are still at the Presidential Electoral Tribunal subject for counting over the election protest filed by former senator Loren Legarda.

Assistant provincial treasurer Emmanuel Guiñal told The FREEMAN that aside from the new ballot boxes, the Comelec provincial office is also in need of paraphernalia like tally sheets, ink and inkpads.

"Ang trabaho matingob gyud. Kay wap-a pa man gyud ang mga butang nga kinahanglan," he said.

Only boxes of bond and carbon papers have arrived at their office, Guiñal added.

In a text message, Castillano said most of the election paraphernalia would arrive before the elections.

Guiñal, however, said they would create a committee that will handle all the technical problems that may occur during the May 14 elections. - Jona B. Bering, CNU Masscom intern/LPM