Comelec defers printing of ballots after SC TRO

SC reverses Comelec DQ of 5 local bets

- By MAYEN JAYMALIN and DAPHNE GALVEZ

The Commission on Elections has suspended the printing of ballots for the May elections to give way to the inclusion of names of five local candidates rejected earlier by the Comelec but ordered reinstated by the Supreme Court.

In an emergency full session yesterday, the Comelec ordered the printing of ballots and other related activities at the National Printing Office stopped, as part of compliance with the SC's issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) on the poll body's disqualification of the five candidates.

The Comelec said the re-printing of all affected ballots will resume after all necessary changes in the candidates' database and Election Management System (EMS) have been completed.

"While the Comelec has yet to receive copies of the TROs, we commit to do everything to comply with the said orders," the Comelec said in a statement.

Aside from suspending the ballot printing, the Comelec also ordered amendments to the candidates' database and changes in the numbering of candidates.

"While these actions are indeed time-consuming and very costly, the Comelec fully respects the decision of the Supreme Court and recognizes these orders as part of legal processes,” it added.

The poll body further assured the public that there is no cause for alarm despite the delay in the preparations for the coming elections.

The Comelec said it will conduct an inventory of ballots already printed and destroy them to prevent their unauthorized use.

SC order