CamSur execs ordered to explain ‘irregularities’ in ballots from 2016 polls

Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice President Leni Robredo. (File photos from the Philippine Daily Inquirer)

The Supreme Court (SC) sitting as Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) has ordered officials of the Board of Election Inspectors in Camarines Sur to explain alleged irregularities in ballots from the 2016 polls.

The PET discovered alleged irregularities in precincts that are subject of the electoral protest of former senator and former Vice-Presidential candidate Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. against Vice President Leni Robredo.

In a nine-page notice of resolution dated June 19, the PET directed several officials of Tinambac town, Tigaon town and Iriga City to submit their respective explanations on irregularities found by revisors.

Specifically, the PET wants to explain the incident report dated May 25 on the clustered precinct No. 36 in Brgy. Lupi, Tinambac which stated that “4 black zip ties used to seal ballot box instead of Comelec red plastic seals; plastic seals found inside ballot box, cannot be found; election return envelope not inside ballot box, cannot be found; envelopes for MOV (minutes of voting) and torn ballots appear to have been previously opened; and Voter’s Receipt box is missing.”

The Tribunal also directed the BEI in Iriga City, also in Camarines Sur, to explain why there are two MOVs inside the ballot box.

The PET directed the revision committee in Brgy. San Francisco in Iriga City to explain the questionable use of two MOV forms with substantial discrepancies and the different signatures of the BEI chair in the election documents.

The Tribunal gave the local officials 10 days from receipt of notice to comply with the directive.

Ongoing recount

It was the second time the PET has acted and looked into irregularities found in the ongoing recount.

Last April, the Tribunal has required the local officials in Bato, Sagñay, Garchitorena and Ocampo towns to explain why the ballots form their precincts were either wet or damaged.

The PET explained that since the wet and damaged ballots were unreadable, revisors will have to refer to the decrypted ballot images in counting those votes. However, they will do so after the revision of all the ballot boxes from the province.

The PET has noted that there were re-opened ballots and re-sealed judging by a broken security seal.

Three pilot provinces

The recount covers three pilot provinces – Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental – covering a total of 5,418 clustered precincts.

Robredo won the vice presidential race in the May 2016 polls with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes.  /vvp