Comelec eyes start of printing of ballots on February 2

The Commission on Elections is targeting to start the printing of ballots for the May 2019 elections this weekend.

At a press briefing, Comelec spokesperson James Jimenez said February 2 may be the earliest start of printing.

Jimenez said the names of candidates have been forwarded to the poll body's Information Technology Department for loading on the printers.

The list still includes those who filed their certificates of candidacy for senator with pending issues like Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel III and former Senator Sergio Osmeña III.

Pimentel is the subject of a petition questioning the number of terms that he has served in the Senate while Osmeña is facing a petition for disqualification for not submitting his Statement of Contributions and Expenditures for several elections.

The list also still includes the 13 who may be tagged later on as nuisance candidates.

Jimenez said if decisions on their cases become final before the start of the printing of ballots, their names will be taken off the list. Otherwise, they’ll stay on the ballot and votes for them will be considered stray.

As for AKO Bicol party-list, they have until midday of election day to name slain Rep Rodel Batocabe’s substitute.

Jimenez also clarified that voters in the to-be-constituted Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao will still vote in May for national and local candidates but no longer for ARMM officials.

The election for the BARMM parliament, meanwhile, will be in 2022. — RSJ, GMA News