Storm ruins poll documents in parts of Bicol

Photo shows a box full of drenched documents. (Photo courtesy of Regional Director for Region V Jane Valeza)

MANILA, Philippines — Some documents in Bicol region election offices were damaged due to the onslaught of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name: Trami), the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said on Thursday.

In a series of Viber messages  sent to members of the media,  Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia shared photos showing the different situation of election offices Iriga City, Albay, and Bato in Camarines Sur.

 When asked what the poll body will do with the documents, Garcia said that the poll body has a “backup” for them.

“May mga backup po kami. Sa Iriga po damaged lahat ng docs,” Garcia said in a Viber message. 

(We have a backup. Documents in Iriga  City were all damaged.)

Garcia on Wednesday said that Comelec has already sought assistance from different agencies.

“We already asked help from the DPWH [Department of Public Works and Highways] and PNP [Philippine National Police] to secure our materials in every Comelec office in different municipalities,” he said in Filipino i. an ambush interview.

Earlier, the Bicol regional police reported that 20 people have died in the region due to Kristine. The deaths, however, are still subject to validation.

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, in its 11:00 p.m. update said that Kristine was located over the waters of Bolinao, Pangasinan, slowly moving slowly southwest.

It was packing a maximum wind speed of 95 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 145 kph. 

Election documents with a ballot secrecy folder on top of them. (Photo courtesy of Regional Director for Region V Jane Valeza)

(Photo courtesy of Regional Director for Region V Jane Valeza)