It's been weeks since the Commission on Elections (Comelec) was hounded by several criticisms amid issues on data breach and its decision to push through with printing albeit the absence of observers, yet on Thursday, March 24, the poll body took a different approach by allowing representatives to check the official ballots.

"A historic first. But a lot of things still need to be done to gain the trust of our people on the institution and the electoral process. We have to walk the talk so to speak," Commissioner George Irwin Garcia said.

A maximum of 15 participants were chosen from accredited citizens' arms, accredited political parties or coalitions, organizations participating in the party-list system of representation and accredited organizations.

According to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez, five participants were pre-determined who proceeded to the Comelec Pasig warehouse where they selected five boxes containing official ballots.

Another five boxes were also chosen from the NPO basement. Members of the media were also allowed to inspect the ballots. Phones were confiscated as these were not permitted inside the conference room where the inspection was done.

Among the participants were veteran election lawyer Romulo Macalintal.

Macalintal, who represents Vice President presidential candidate Leni Robredo earlier stated that the printing of the ballots without giving notice to the political parties and candidates is a violation of Section 187 of the Omnibus Election Code and related provisions thereof since they are entitled to send their watchers to witness the printing of these official ballots.

In a letter, he suggested that the Comelec should conduct a random sampling to test and examine the official ballots already printed in the presence of the representatives of the political parties and candidates who will be allowed to randomly select the official ballots to be tested at the rate of at least 3 to 5 ballots per city and municipality.

He also wanted the Comelec to allow the use of ultraviolet light or dark light or any such instrument to verify and insure that the official ballots shall bear the security features required by law such as, but not limited to, the invisible ultra-violet authentication.

Macalintal said that this will also dispel the wild impressions made by some alleged experts that some ballots are pre-shaded with invisible marks to favor certain candidates.

Both these suggestions were fulfilled during the inspection.

Garcia said that the next big thing to be done is to see to it that these ballots and other election paraphernalia are delivered on time, to the correct office and received by the right people.