MANILA – The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday suspended the printing of the official ballots for the May 2025 mid-term national and local elections.
This, after the Supreme Court (SC) issued temporary restraining orders (TROs) stopping the poll body from enforcing its rulings to disqualify or reject the certificates of candidacy (COCs) of five individuals seeking elective posts in the May 12 elections.
“While the Comelec has yet to officially receive its copies of the subject TROs, we commit to do everything to comply with said Orders,” the Comelec said in a statement.
“We have now taken the necessary steps (for the) immediate cessation of printing of official ballots and all attendant activities thereto at the National Printing Office,” it added.
Aside from stopping ballot printing at the National Printing Office, the Commission also ordered the changing of the Candidates’ Database, the Election Management System (EMS), the Automated Counting Machine (ACM), and the Consolidation and Canvassing System (CCS).
It also ordered the regeneration of 1,667 ballot face templates and all their serialization and implemented necessary changes to the numbering of the candidates.
An inventory will also be conducted of all the printed ballots, including Final Testing and Sealing (FTS) ballots, Local Absentee Voting (LAV) ballots, Overseas Voting (OV) ballots, Official Ballots (OB) for Bangsamoro and Caraga, BARMM Parliamentary Election ballots, and mock election ballots, numbering around 6 million.
A study will also be conducted on whether changing the EMS and Candidates’ Database would necessitate its subject to another Trusted Build.
The Comelec said there will also be a reprinting of all the affected ballots at the proper time when all the necessary changes in the Candidates’ Database and EMS had already been effected, as well as the accounting and auditing of the necessary costs and wastages, including the wages of personnel, supplies and materials inclusive of the ballot paper, toners, and others.
The poll body also rescheduled the Trusted Build of the Online Voting and Counting System (OVCS) and canceled and rescheduled the mock elections originally set for January 18.
“While these actions are indeed time consuming and very costly, Comelec fully respects the decision of the Supreme Court, and we recognize these Orders as part of legal processes,” it said.
At the same time, the Commission assured the public that such delays should not be a cause for alarm.
“We inform the public that while delay is also a necessary consequence, please note that there is no cause for alarm, concern, or panic, as the Comelec is fully in control of the situation and will effect the necessary contingency measures to mitigate such,” it said.
On Tuesday, the SC issued five TROs against the Comelec and its rulings involving two bets that have been declared as nuisance candidates, disqualifying two senatorial bets, and refusing to receive the COC of another candidate.
The High Court also directed the Commission to submit their comments on the cases.
The Comelec started the printing of close to 73 million ballots for the forthcoming polls on January 6. (PNA)