Comelec: Ballot printing pushed back anew after aspirant withdraws bid

The printing of ballots for Eleksyon 2025 was pushed back further following the withdrawal of senatorial aspirant Francis Leo Marcos, according to the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday.

Comelec Chairperson George Garcia said the printing of ballots was supposed to start on Friday, but this has been pushed back to Monday, January 27, due to Marcos' withdrawal.

"Magsisimula dapat kami tomorrow… dahil dito sa pagwi-withdraw niya, hihingi muli kami ng mga dalawa hanggang tatlong araw sapagkat muli naming babaguhin 'yung database ng Comelec, the same time se-serialize muli namin ang mga balota, the same time 'yung mga ballot faces muli namin babaguhin," Garcia said.

(We were supposed to start tomorrow but because of his withdrawal, Comelec will ask for two to three more days because we will update our database, and at the same time, we will serialize the ballots and change the ballot faces.)

Marcos withdrew his candidacy for the upcoming elections, saying he wanted to prevent wastage of government funds for the reprinting of ballots and to give way for the reelection bid of Senator Imee Marcos.

Garcia, however, said that his withdrawal did not affect the government's spending.

"'Yung araw lang naman, araw lang naman 'yung effect. At least walang effect sa gastos," Garcia said.

(Only the date was affected. There was no effect on the spending.)

He confirmed to GMA News Online that the 6 million ballots that were already printed will still be shredded and that the reprinting will still continue unless all candidates that were issued a TRO will withdraw.

Appeal to other aspirants

Meanwhile, Garcia called on other candidates who wish to withdraw to do so as soon as possible.

"Nananawagan po tayo sa lahat ng iba pang kandidato na gusto pang mag-withdraw, nagnanais na hindi na tumuloy, gawin niyo na kaagad 'yan. Habang hindi po kami nag-iimprenta ng balota, habang may panahon pa," Garcia said.

(I am calling on all candidates who wish to withdraw to do so while we still haven't printed the ballots, while there is still time.)

The poll body previously announced that some 6 million ballots printed for the May polls will be disposed. Each ballot costs P22, according to Garcia.

This means the 6 million ballots cost around P132 million in taxpayers' money. — VDV, GMA Integrated News

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