Comelec verifying video of 'shaded' ballots being torn
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is now determining the veracity of a video circulating on social media which shows shaded ballots allegedly in favor of Vice President Leni Robredo being torn by unidentified individuals.
JUST IN: Comelec Comm. George Erwin Garcia says poll body now investigating the veracity of this video which apparently shows shaded ballots in favor of VP Leni Robredo being torn.
Garcia: Lahat ng videos, i-rerefer ko sa NBI per arrangement sa kanila. @manilabulletin pic.twitter.com/tVttRsYvti
— Martin Sadongdong (@MB_mrtnsdngdng) May 11, 2022
The 2:53-minute long video, which appears to be taken inside a polling precinct, showed at least four individuals – including two men who wore what looked like service uniforms, another man on standby, and an unseen individual taking the video – as they tore the shaded ballots.
Some netizens claimed the incident happened in Cotabato and the men in the videos were security forces but Comelec Commissioner George Erwin Garcia said he already tapped the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to verify the authenticity of the video.
“All of the videos will be referred to the NBI per our arrangement with them, with instruction to verify the truth and veracity of these videos,” said Garcia, who is also the commissioner-in-charge of the Comelec Task Force Kontra Fake News.
Meanwhile, Comelec acting spokesperson Director John Rex Laudiangco urged the public to be more circumspect in re-posting items on social media.
“We have yet to verify that, yes we receive sketchy reports. Alam niyo naman kapag ganyan (You know when incidents like these happen), the first move of the Comelec is to direct our security partners and those investigative agencies to take a look into ito,” Laudiangco told reporters.
He said the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) are expected to provide a report to them once the video is validated.
Among the angles being considered is whether the ballots being torn are spoiled or unused copies since only one ballot was shown in the video.
"Ang una pong (The first) indication, although these reports are yet to be vetted, parang and nangyari po yata (it appears that what happens is) they are tearing ballots. But perhaps parang spoiled ballots po yata kasi parang 'yung first part lang po ang may shade and 'yung succeeding parts po hindi na natin nakita (But it seems that these are spoiled ballots because only the first part was shaded and the succeeding parts were not shown)," Laudiangco said.
"But then again this will be investigated thoroughly. We will be very transparent about this," he added.
In a separate press briefing on Tuesday night, Laudiangco said the public should refrain from making speculations that the torn ballots would outright affect the outcome of the elections.
“I cannot speculate on that. To be prudent, let’s just wait for the report of our security partners and field officers,” he said.