Printing of ballots to resume Monday - Comelec

The resumption of the printing of ballots for the midterm elections in May will have to wait until Monday and not this weekend as announced earlier by the Commission on Elections (Comelec), following the withdrawal from the Senate race of a candidate surnamed Marcos whose disqualification was ordered stopped by the Supreme Court.

- By MAYEN JAYMALIN

Comelec Chairman George Garcia said they have to move the printing schedule from today to Monday due to the withdrawal from the Senate elections of one Francis Leo Marcos. He earlier claimed to be a son of the late president Ferdinand Marcos.

Garcia yesterday said that with Marcos' withdrawal, the Comelec would need another two to three days to amend its database, redo the serialization of ballots, and come out with new ballot faces.

"But at least, printing hasn't started yet, so no effect on expenses. If ever, we'll resume printing Monday morning," Garcia said.

He said other candidates entertaining thoughts of withdrawing should make a decision by noon today, or before the printing of the updated ballots on Monday. Garcia said votes for candidates who withdrew only after the printing of ballots would just be considered as strays.

After securing a temporary restraining order (TRO) from the Supreme Court on his previous disqualification by the Comelec for being a nuisance candidate, Marcos went yesterday to the poll body's main office in Intramuros to personally submit his notice of voluntary withdrawal from the senatorial race.

According to Marcos, he decided to withdraw after learning that the Comelec needs to spend an additional P132 million for the reprinting of the ballots.

"So if my candidacy were to cause heavy government spending, then I'd rather - there are more elections ahead - offer my formal withdrawal of candidacy," Marcos said, explaining his decision.

He added he hopes his decision to back out of the race would smoothen the reelection bid of Sen. Imee Marcos. He said he had asked his supporters to vote for the reelectionist senator. He also denied being prodded by anyone to withdraw from the race.