Boxes for official ballots, election paraphernalia found in vacant lot in Cavite

Boxes used for official ballots, election paraphernalia, and voting receipts were found discarded in a vacant lot in Amadeo, Cavite.

Photos provided Rodne Galicha showed the boxes piled together in the lot, according to a 24 Oras Weekend report by Vonne Aquino on Saturday.

One of the boxes contained a voter verifiable paper audit trail, or the receipt showing the candidate whom the voters shaded, as well as envelopes for election returns.

A label in one of the boxes showed Brgy. 51, City of Manila First District, the Jose Rizal Elementary School in Tayuman Pingkian Street polling center in Tondo, Manila, and the number of clustered precincts.

Galicha said the photos were taken after the elections and were sent to him by an acquaintance. His acquaintance however did not provide the exact date when the photos were taken.

"Nag-stay sila sa isang lugar doon katabi ng bakanteng lote. Nakita nila na mayroong nakatambak na black boxes doon sa may puno sa may bakanteng lote. Sila ay na-curious at pinuntahan nila, at dahil pamilyar ang hitsura ng black boxes at na-confirm nila at nakunan ng footages, ng pictures," Galicha said.

A photo also showed the truck which allegedly transported the boxes.

GMA News reached out to the owner of the photos and videos, but the owner was fearful and refused to give a statement.

Commission on Elections (Comelec) acting spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco said the commission had directed the regional election directors of Region IV-A and NCR, and the provincial election supervisor of Cavite to investigate the matter.

Laudiangco said the return of the ballot boxes to the city treasurer's office was an obligation of the electoral boards.

"'Yun pong ballot box na kung saan nandoon 'yung mga balota na na-accomplish ng mga botante at 'yung hinati po 'yung pinilas na mga balota, lahat po ito ay ibabalik ng teachers. Sila po dapat ang may custody nito," Laudiangco said.

"Kaya nga po tinitingnan namin 'yung anggulo na saan nanggaling ito, bakit nagkaroon ng ganiyan. Ang tanging obligasyon naman po ng aming logistics provider... ang kinuha naman po nila, 'yung makina. 'Yun lang po ang ibabalik sa amin sa Sta. Rosa, Laguna," said Laudiangco.

Laudiangco was confident that all vote-counting machines in 106,174 clustered precincts all over the country, except in Tubaran, Lanao del Sur, had been transmitted their data.

The Comelec further assured that charges would be filed against those responsible for the disposal of the election documents if their legitimacy would be proven. — DVM, GMA News