The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said it will conduct a random testing of printed ballots with the presence of candidates and political parties’ lawyers and representatives next week
This was announced by Comelec Comm. George Erwin M. Garcia, saying they are targeting to hold it on Thursday, March 24.
Garcia said that representatives of the political parties or candidates are the ones to select the printed ballots they want to test.
“Ang gagawin po natin by next week hopefully by Thursday ay we will have a random testing of ballots ipapasok sa machine. At the same time makikita niyo rin po ang mismong balota (What we will do next week, hopefully by Thursday, we will have a random testing of ballots and they will be inserted into the machine. At the same time, you’ll see the actual ballot),” he said.
“We are now drafting the guidelines. Perhaps, we invite lawyers mga apat o limang (four or five) lawyers or representatives of political parties and candidates sila ang bahalang pumili i-test natin for everyone to see (up to them to choose what ballot to test).”
Due to high number of Covid-19 cases in the past, Comelec did not allow observers of candidates and political parties at the National Printing Office (NPO).
But now, as the number of cases continue to decline, Comelec said the media and other observers have full access to monitor the ballots being currently printed at NPO.
“Iyon pong natitirang ballots for printing, full access po kayo. Ang observation room lagi na pong available yun (You will have full access to the remaining ballots being printed. The observation room will always be available). At the same time, you can now view sa Comelec website at sa Facebook ang printing of ballots, you can easily view,” said Garcia.
The commissioner called on all Comelec personnel to be “fully transparent” at all times.