The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has moved the resumption of the printing of ballots on Monday next week, January 27, revising its earlier target of January 25 (Saturday).
The poll body issued this statement in light of recent developments, prompting it to make necessary updates in the ballot faces, the serialization of ballots, and the inclusion of names that the Supreme Court (SC) ordered reinstated.
The Comelec also said the inventory of previously printed ballots and ballot paper trimmings wound down, while the trusted build of the automated elections system has been successfully conducted by international certification entity Pro V&V of Alabama, USA.
In a Viber message, Comelec chairman George Garcia said he would write SC Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo, informing him about the Commission’s move to proceed with the printing this weekend.
He assured Gesmundo that the names of nine national and local position aspirants, who were the subjects of temporary restraining orders (TRO) issued by the High Court recently, would be included in the official ballot.
The resumption of ballot printing was supposed to be carried out on Wednesday, Jan. 22, but the TRO issued by SC on Tuesday granting Norman Mangusin (also known as Francis Leo Marcos) deferred the printing anew.
“The Comelec respects the honorable Supreme Court. Allow TROs to be implemented by the Comelec,” said Garcia adding “that’s the parameters of the Comelec for the time being, and if there is a number 4, we will talk about it later.”
Mangusin, however, has withdrawn from the 2025 senatorial race, according to the Comelec.
The printing of over six million ballots already began on Jan. 6, but these would have to be discarded since it did not contain senatorial aspirant Subair Guinthum Mustapha’s name, who was earlier declared a nuisance candidate by the Comelec.
The SC reversed the poll body’s ruling and it cost the Comelec P132 million since it was compelled to reprint the ballots.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to include additional information from the Comelec. Originally posted with the headline “Comelec confident of January 25 date to resume ballot printing.”