MANILA, Philippines – May idaragdag na tatlong lokal na kandidato ang Commission on Elections (Comelec) matapos makakuha ang mga ito ng temporary restraining orders (TROs) mula sa Korte Suprema.
“We have yet to resume our printing, so we have no problem complying with the Supreme Court injunctive writs at this point for local positions,” sinabi ni Comelec Chair George Garcia.
Kasalukuyang may mga binabago ang Comelec sa election management system (EMS) sakop ang automated counting machines, consolidated canvassing system at online voting at counting system para isama ang limang kandidato na nauna ring nakakuha ng kaparehong TRO.
Ani Comelec spokesperson John Rex Laudiangco, mabilis namang maisasagawa ang mga pagbabago na kailangan sa TRO, bago ang rescheduled trusted build at reprinting ng mga balota sa susunod na linggo.
Ang tatlong kandidato na pinakahuling nakakuha ng TRO mula sa SC ay sina Marie Grace David, na tumatakbong vice mayor ng Limay, Bataan; Marie Dominique Oñate, mayoral candidate ng Palompon, Leyte; at Aldrin Sta. Ana, mayoral candidate ng Bocaue, Bulacan.
Sinabi ni Laudiangco na inaasahang matatapos bukas, Enero 20, ang election systems changes.
“The Comelec intends to restart ballot production at the soonest possible time to mitigate and recoup lost ballot printing time,” aniya.
Samantala, hindi naman sinang-ayunan nina Garcia at Laudiangco ang panukala ni senatorial candidate Francis Kiko Pangilinan na ilagay ang pangalan ni senatorial candidate Subair Mustapha sa pinakailalim na listahan sa balota.
Wala ring mababago sa numbering ng senatorial candidates sa kabila ng pag-atras ni dating Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson sa pagtakbo sa senado.
“It might result in another TRO [petition] and we might be accused of violation of the equal protection clause of the Constitution. It appears that the TRO issued by the Supreme Court [for Mustapha’s case] not only orders the inclusion of his name in the list of candidates but to place him in the correct number based on the alphabetical arrangement. We understand their feelings about this incident, being the ones affected [by the TRO],” ani Garcia.
Aniya, ang alphabetical arrangement na ayon sa apelyido “is the most equitable and most objective order/sequence of candidates by which no particular person will be intentionally given premium and preference.”
“The reason for the high court’s issuance of a TRO is to have candidate Mustapha be included in the said list of candidates and official ballots, and therefore, he must be treated equally as with the other candidates, with the rules on said sequence/order being afforded also to him. To put his name last on the list would go against fair play and equality of treatment,” dagdag pa.
Ang nagpapatuloy na mga pagbabago o amyenda sa EMS ay “necessitates a corresponding regeneration of new ballot faces and reserialization of ballots, and the corresponding reprinting of ballots.” RNT/JGC