22 boxes of poll ballots damaged by flood in Davao Sur town

INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

HAGONOY, Davao del Sur – The election officer here said she has sought an emergency replacement for at least 22 boxes of official ballots, which were damaged by a flood caused by a busted water pipe.

Susan Sansarona said the town — with a voting population of 29,313 based on the 2010 Philippine Statistics Authority data — had received 50 boxes of ballots earlier this week and these were immediately stored at the municipal treasurer’s office.

Unknown to many, Sansarona said a water pipe at the municipal budget office had leaked and the water inundated the treasurer’s office. She said they discovered the flooding on Tuesday.

Petronilo Pelletero Enerlan, a plumber, said he had repaired the leaking pipe at the budget office on Monday but did not know that another pipe was busted when he turned on the gate valve.

Sansarona said the water-soaked ballots could not be used anymore and she had asked the Commission on Elections to send replacements.  SFM