Comelec Spokesperson Rex Laudiangco

MANILA, Philippines – As early as 5 am Monday (May 12), election day, reports of ballot shade rigging in many parts of the country have been circulating but the Commission on Elections (Comelec) dismissed the scenario as highly unlikely. 

However if evidence would prove that there was indeed tampering, things will not go unpunished, according to the commission.

“As to the possibility po medyo malayo pero ganito po ang sitwasyon,” Comelec Spokesperson Rex Laudiangco said during their 1 pm election bulletin at the National Command Center. 

Despite this, Laudiangco said there are still certain factors that could cause confusion as to how the machine will read the ballots but still, these scenarios remain remote possibilities. 

“Marami po kasi pwede pagmulan, ink smear that’s correct dumikit sa scanner, pwede pong iba foreign object na dumikit kaya nga po importante talagang nililinis natin,” he said. 

“Paulit-ulit po natin sinasabi ang balot ay dapat tuyo na bago ipasok lalo na sa very humid na lugar dahil maarin kumapit po dun sa scanner yung tinta,” he said.

Ultimately, the sole entity who can validate whether there was alteration on the ballot is only the voter himself, according to Laudiangco.

“Wala naman pong nakakita nung kanyang balota, ‘yun po ang mabigat dito eh. Siya lang po ang makapag sasabi. Wala pong pinagkaiba ‘yan dun sa nagsabi na binigyan siya ng balota, pagkatapos niyang bumoto, i-claim niya pre-shaded na ‘yung balota ko, may boto,” he said. 

Collate evidence, file protest

Since precincts have been opened this morning, various instances of alleged electoral fraud have been been circulating. There have been reports about supposed dagdag-bawas reflected on election returns that’s different from the record cast on the actual ballot.

But even if the Comelec said the scenario is a remote possibility, they still encourage those who insist to collate their evidence and submit to the commission for proper investigation. 

“Kaya nga po sa ganitong pagkakataon kung talagang insistent po na mag-po-protesta, pina-no-note po ‘yan sa minutes under oath. At pinagbibigay alam din po sa watcher na itong botante na ay china-challenge ‘yan,” he said. 

According to Laudiangco, the contested records shall be separated to be used as evidence in case charges get filed in court. 

“Para saan po, kung talagang tutuluyan po nila na iprotesta ang laman ng presinto na ‘yan maghain po sila ng ebidensya at hindi naman po ipagkakait ng Comelec ‘yan. ‘Yung resibo po na kinocontest niya,” he said. 

“In fact ihihiwalay po ‘yun hindi ihuhulog sa receptacle. Ihihiwalay ng lagayanpara kung dumating sa puntong kekwestyunin sa korte makukuha ‘yun bilang ebidensya at malalaman natin,” he said.