The Commission on Elections (Comelec) plans to file charges against those who dumped the training ballots at a site in Amadeo, Cavite.
Comelec Commissioner George Garcia explained that the training ballots were used during the training of teachers and the final testing and sealing process before the actual national elections. Training ballots during the preparation were not collected by the Comelec.
Garcia said that the trash had been mistakenly gathered by employees of logistics provider F2 Logistics after getting the vote-counting machines after the elections.
The poll body official added that they are currently investigating why the ballots were seen in Cavite, even if the vote-counting machines were headed for Sta. Rosa, Laguna.
“’Yan po yung hinihintay namin na report mula po sa F2 Logistics at kinakilangan nilang maipaliwanag sa amin. In fact po, may picture din kami ng mismong, yung mismong mga nagbuhat na taga-F2 atsaka yung guwardiya nung mismong kinukuha nila yan dyan sa Rizal Elementary School sa Tondo, Manila,” he said.
Garcia explained that they are now studying the chain of custody.
“Dito po yung chain of custody, kahit pa sinabi mong basura na ito…’yan po ay dapat i-account ng mga taong involved sa pagha-handle at paghahawak ng mga gamit na ‘yan,” he said in an interview over TeleRadyo.
“Kahit po yung mismong kumolekta at yung mismong nagdala doon sa Cavite titingnan po natin ang liability kasi po, yung mga ganyang klaseng mga pagkakataon, at pangyayari, ‘yan po’y magki-create na naman ng duda, na bakit may ganito, may ganyan,” he explained.
“Definitely po fa-file-an po namin ng kaso kung talagang may liability ang sinuman na in charge dyan sa tinatawag na chain of custody.”
Garcia assured the public that all ballots during the elections were accounted for.
“Lahat po ng mga balota na ginamit nung araw ng eleksyon, original ballots especially yung mga nahulog sa machine at nasa loob ng ballot box, fully accounted po, mula sa City Treasurer’s Office ng Maynila, wala pong nawawala, wala pong kulang, walang sobra whatsoever, eksakto pong nareceive ng City Treasurer’s Office ng Manila.”
— Ronald Espartinez