Nearly one million defective ballots were destroyed while at least 790 vote-counting machines and 143 SD cards had to be repaired by the Commission on Elections two days before the May 9 national and elections day.
Commissioner George Garcia, who headed the destruction of the defective ballots, said these were the ones that had smudges, wrong color, or wrong size, or were improperly cut, among other defects.
The ballots were fed to the industrial cutting machines and will be disposed of after the May 9 elections.
The Comelec said the total number of ballots destroyed reached 933,311, including 346,323 roadshow ballots.
Meanwhile, the Philippine National Comelec…Police said Saturday that no serious threats have been monitored in connection with the upcoming polls.
“We haven’t monitored any serious threat,” said PNP officer-in-charge Lt. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr.
“But we cannot be complacent in our monitoring, especially in the aspect of security preparations,” he added.
Danao said the PNP will use the “full force of the law” against those who will attempt to sabotage the polls.
“The whole PNP is ready to secure the electoral process for the national and local elections,” he said.
Comelec earlier announced that a two-day liquor ban will be implemented across the country on the eve of May 8, (Sunday) until May 9.
Danao appealed to the public for discipline and strict compliance to avoid possible commotion or heated altercations during those crucial days.
“We just want to maintain our peace and order in every community. Let us exercise the freedom of expression and right to suffrage in a calm and sacred manner,” Danao said.
