‘Ballots switching’ delays polls in Antique, Romblon towns

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—Balloting could start only early afternoon in Bugasong town in Antique after hundreds of official ballots for the municipality was inadvertently switched with those of Odiongan town in Romblon.

Voting in Barangay Lacayon in Bugasong could start around 1 p.m. Monday when the ballots were expected to arrive from Romblon by helicopter, according to lawyer Ian Lee Ananoria, Antique election supervisor.

Ananoria said the ballots of clustered precincts 0032A, 0032B, 0033A, 0033B, 0033C and Gabawan with 819 registered voters of Odiongan, Romblon were inadvertently interchanged with the ballots intended for clustered precincts 005A, 005B, 0057A, 0057B, 0058A and 0058B with 664 registered voters of Barangay Lacayon, Bugasong.