MANILA, Philippines – Over four months before the May 12 National and Local Elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) has suspended the printing of official ballots following Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) issued by the Supreme Court 

The High Court issued the TROs om Tuesday but it said has yet to officially receive its copies of the subject TROs.

In a statement, the poll body said that it will observe its full compliance with the TROs, which involve five cases that question the poll body’s preparations for the elections, including the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) Parliamentary Elections.

The TROs apply to the following cases:

1. Subair Guintulun Mustapha vs. COMELEC (GR No. 277177)
2. Charles Savellano vs. Ronald Singson and COMELEC (GR No. 277514)
3. Clito Bulatao Balintay vs. COMELEC Provincial Election Supervisor of Zambales and COMELEC En Banc (GR No. 277540)
4. Edgar Erice vs. COMELEC and Raymound DC Salipot (GR No. 277608)
5. Florendo de Ramos Rithulo Jr. vs. COMELEC and Annaliza Ventura Telada (GR No. 277719)

Director John Rex C. Laudiangco, spokesperson for Comelec, outlined the poll body’s contingency measures to address the implications of the TROs while adhering to election timelines. Among the critical steps being taken are:

1. Suspension of ballot printing at the National Printing Office (NPO).
2. Amendments to the candidates’ database in the Election Management System (EMS) and other systems affected by the Trusted Build.
3. Regeneration of 1,667 ballot face templates to reflect updates in candidate numbering.
4. Inventory of printed ballots, covering more than six million pieces, including overseas, local absentee, and mock election ballots.
5. Assessment of database changes, determining whether another Trusted Build is necessary.
6. Reprinting of affected ballots after addressing database and system updates.
7. Cancellation and rescheduling of trusted build and mock elections, initially scheduled for January 15 and 18, respectively.

Comelec said that while these measures are time-consuming and costly, they are crucial to ensuring compliance with the Supreme Court’s orders and safeguarding the credibility of the electoral process.

“While these actions are indeed time consuming and very costly, Comelec fully respects the decision of the Supreme Court, and we recognize these Orders as part of legal processes,” Laudiangco said.

The poll body also announced that all previously printed ballots will be inventoried, transported to the Santa Rosa Warehouse for safekeeping, and destroyed to prevent unauthorized use. 

This process is set to begin today, January 15, 2025.