Lack of storage blamed on council

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama blamed the Cebu City Council that some 10,000 ballots stored in 10 ballot boxes got wet due to heavy downpour last week.

Rama said if the council approved his budget for the construction of a building for the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) and a warehouse at the South Road Properties (SRP), they could have stored the ballot boxes there and not under collapsible tents in front of the City Hall.

Rama said the ballot boxes were just stored in front of the City Hall because the city does not have a building where the election paraphernalia can be temporarily placed before transporting them to the city’s rented warehouse for safekeeping.

The mayor recalled that during his first year as mayor, he proposed a budget for the construction of buildings but this was slashed by the city council.

Rama added although the City Treasurers’ Office is the custodian of the election paraphernalia, City Treasurer Emma Villarete can do nothing because the city has no space to keep the 592 ballot boxes.

The ballot boxes were already transferred to a rented warehouse on M. C. Briones St. while the Commission on Elections (Comelec) waits for an order to transport the ballot boxes to Manila.  (FREEMAN)