Comelec recalls damaged ballots

MANILA, Philippines - The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has recalled the damaged ballots delivered to Dinagat Islands in northeast Mindanao, Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. said Friday. 

“We got a report that the ballots from three polling precincts in Dinagat were damaged.  We are validating this. We ordered the ballots be returned in Manila,” Brillantes said.

The Comelec is looking into some possible reasons for the cause of the damage but initial reports showed it was because of hot weather.

Brillantes gave an assurance that if the ballots were really damaged, they could have new ballots printed at the National Printing Office.  The poll body does not print extra ballots to avoid suspicion of fraud.

“We can reprint that easily. We have not seen the ballots. If they are OK, we will just repack them. If not, we will reprint it immediately in two days,” he said.