Comelec recalls 'damaged' ballots from 3 precincts in Dinagat Islands

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has recalled some ballots delivered to Dinagat Islands in northeast Mindanao for the upcoming May polls amid reports that they were damaged.

 

"Nirecall na namin [yung ballots]. Tatlong presinto lang naman," Elections chair Sixto Brillantes Jr. told reporters in an interview on Friday.

 

Brillantes said they recalled the ballots after receiving reports that the materials were damaged. The poll chief, however, said they have yet to confirm if the ballots were indeed damaged. The exact number of the supposedly damaged ballots was not immediately available.

 

"Mukhang uminit lang, natunaw yung plastic so pinababalik namin dito so we can reprint kung nagalaw yung balota," he said.

 

He said they can reprint these in just two days.

 

But if they weren't really damaged, he said they can just repack them and send them back. 

 

"Hinihintay namin bumalik ngayon. Kung ayos lang, ibabalik namin," he said.

 

Brillantes, however, said that they have not heard any similar reports in other parts of the country.

 

"Overall wala naman kami report na natatanggap na masama," he said. — Kimberly Jane Tan/RSJ, GMA News