Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman George Erwin Garcia said on Saturday, Sept. 24, that the change in the schedule of ballot printing is not in any way an indication of the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) postponement.
In a statement, Garcia clarified that the main reason for the change in schedule is for a window to amend Comelec'S Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the National Printing Office (NPO).
He explained that the reason why the ballot printing was moved by one week is that when they spoke with NPO, they offered that instead of bringing the ballots to a different location, they will take responsibility for warehousing it.
The Comelec is set to print more than 91 million ballots for BSKE.
Garcia expressed his confidence that before the end of September, the bicameral committee will be able to pass their version of the bill postponing the BSKE.
On the other hand, Chairman Garcia assured the public that if the circumstances lead them to push through with the BSKE on Dec. 5 this year, the poll body is ready to perform its duties in accordance with its mandate.
Meanwhile, Garcia said that they are currently looking at possible implications on the Notices of Award that the poll body has given to suppliers and service contractors, in the event that the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) get postponed.
"Pinag-aaralan po namin... kung ano ang implikasyon sa mga nabigyan namin ng Notices of Award... una, 'yan ba ay rerequirin ba namin na mag-deliver, 'yung mga kagamitan? Kasi po baka maya-maya... kung halimbawa hindi naman ipapatuloy 'yung pagde-deliver, 'yung meron nang Notice of Award, eh baka naman mademanda ang Comelec (We are studying the implications on those we have given Notices of Award. First, will we require them to deliver the materials? Because in case we won't make them deliver, those with a Notice of Award, might sue Comelec)," Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia explained said in a radio interview on DZBB.
"Baka po kasi maya-maya kasi bigla na lang ibalewala 'yung mga pagbili namin eh sasabihin iligal 'yung pagbili namin, medyo 'yun po ay kinakailangang pag-aralang mabuti (We are looking at the possibility that our purchases will be disregarded, and it will be labeled as illegal, that's what we are studying now)," he added.
Comelec has previously stated that it cannot stop its preparations for BSKE.
"Hindi kami pwede huminto sa paghahanda para sa BSKE. Unless may pirmadong batas na ilalabas...Kailangan kami magpatuloy sa paghahanda para pagdating ng December 5, naka-all systems go kami (We cannot stop preparing for BSKE. Unless there is a law signed that will be released...We need to proceed with our preparations so by December 5, we're all-systems-go)," Laudiangco explained.