Radaza: Sample ballots not illegal

CEBU, Philippines - Lapu-Lapu City mayoralty candidate Paz Radaza, wife of incumbent mayor and congressional candidate Arturo Radaza, yesterday insisted that there is nothing illegal or irregular in the sample ballots that bear the names of Lakas-Kampi-CMD candidates -- from congressman to councilors.

“That is our sample ballot. Wala man siguro illegal niana," Radaza said in an interview with The FREEMAN.

Mrs. Radaza was reacting to accusations made by the Liberal Party saying that the Radaza camp is behind a scheme to buy votes using sample ballots for the May 10 elections.

Mrs. Radaza is running against businessman Efrain Pelaez, who is the leader of the Liberal Party in Lapu-Lapu.

In the sample ballot are red circles that appear beside the names of administration party candidates which are believed to be indications which candidates voters would vote for.

There are instructions that read “itupong ang pangalan,” (match the names), “tauri ug paper clip” (place a paper clip) and “ituman kutob sa pula” (follow all those marked in red ink).

According to Liberal Party candidates, they see the sample ballot as a form of cheating, which Mrs. Radaza has denied.

Mrs. Radaza said her camp is making sample ballots so as to show supporters who to vote for and how to shade correctly.

"Kahago ra unya namo kung ang among vote maadto sa among kontra o di kaha, masayop nila pag-shade," Mrs. Radaza said.

Mrs. Radaza laughed off allegations that her group is spending millions of pesos for the printing of sample ballots.

“Maayo kay kahibalo sila sa among gasto," she said.

She urged other parties to follow her camp’s example.

"Sundon na lang nila kay basin masayop unya ilang supporters og shade unya mapunta na hinuon sa amoa," Mrs. Radaza said.

The Commision on Elections (Comelec) will send registered voters information sheets in the form of sample ballots which could be used as guide in voting.

The sample ballot will take the place of the regular voters’ information sheet (VIS), which is mainly a list of candidates.

The law provides that all registered voters be given a VIS prior to the elections.

For this election, the poll body has decided to print the VIS in the form of the 25-inch ballot that would be used on May 10. Unlike the official ballot, the instructions will be in Tagalog.

Comelec has allayed fears that the sample ballots may be used to cheat in the elections. Unlike the official ballots, the VIS will be in black and white, will not have a precinct identifier, will not be municipality-specific, and will be clearly marked as a sample ballot.

The Comelec however warned candidates not to print sample ballots that might be mistaken for the official ones.

The sample ballots can be printed in black and white and can be marked with the words “sample ballots." (FREEMAN NEWS)