Commission on Election officials and workers check more ballot boxes. (PHOTOS BY LITO RULONA)
The Darimbangs said at least five ballot boxes were discovered to be unsealed or had defective seals when these were inspected over the weekend on orders of the House of Representatives’ Electoral Tribunal (HRET).
Darimbang’s husband Mandangan expressed dismay over the discovery.
He speculated: “Akong tan-aw ani gihilabtan gyud kini nga mga balota. Makita masulod gyud ang akong kamot kay wala og ang uban found with defective seals.”
The ballot boxes at city hall were inspected by a group composed of representatives from the Commission on Elections, National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), City Treasurer’s Office, and the groups of Darimbang and Uy.
Ruel Evangelista Basilan, assistant election officer in the city, said it was the first time for the Comelec to check the ballot since the Random Manual Audit Testing (RMA) last November.
“Maayo man ilang pagsulod sa bodega sa city hall gawas sa ginagmay nga reklamo,” said Basilan.
He said the barangay election inspectors were the ones who sealed the ballot boxes after last year’s elections.
Rep. Uy’s lawyer Alan Geñoso said the weekend inspection was part of the normal proceedings in connection with the protest of Darimbang.
“Kadtong nakita namo nga unsealed amo lang gi-document og insakto. Those found with defective seals were being recorded. Gina-tighten lang ang uban. Halos tanan naman kumpleto,” Geñoso said.
He said the ballot boxes were secured, and would be sent to Metro Manila for the manual counting.
The boxes in question contain ballots cast in election precincts in barangays Carmen, Bayabas and Patag.
This Jan. 6, the secretary of the Tribunal, Girlie Salarda, ordered the warring parties to be present during the checking and resealing of the ballot boxes.
Salarda also ordered city treasurer Glenn Bañez and Comelec officials, among others, to take immediate steps to safeguard the integrity of the ballot boxes and their contents, list of voters with voting records, books of voters, and other documents and paraphernalia.
Commission on Election officials and workers check more ballot boxes. (PHOTOS BY LITO RULONA)
The Darimbangs said at least five ballot boxes were discovered to be unsealed or had defective seals when these were inspected over the weekend on orders of the House of Representatives’ Electoral Tribunal (HRET).
Darimbang’s husband Mandangan expressed dismay over the discovery.
He speculated: “Akong tan-aw ani gihilabtan gyud kini nga mga balota. Makita masulod gyud ang akong kamot kay wala og ang uban found with defective seals.”
The ballot boxes at city hall were inspected by a group composed of representatives from the Commission on Elections, National Movement for Free Elections (Namfrel), City Treasurer’s Office, and the groups of Darimbang and Uy.
Ruel Evangelista Basilan, assistant election officer in the city, said it was the first time for the Comelec to check the ballot since the Random Manual Audit Testing (RMA) last November.
“Maayo man ilang pagsulod sa bodega sa city hall gawas sa ginagmay nga reklamo,” said Basilan.
He said the barangay election inspectors were the ones who sealed the ballot boxes after last year’s elections.
Rep. Uy’s lawyer Alan Geñoso said the weekend inspection was part of the normal proceedings in connection with the protest of Darimbang.
“Kadtong nakita namo nga unsealed amo lang gi-document og insakto. Those found with defective seals were being recorded. Gina-tighten lang ang uban. Halos tanan naman kumpleto,” Geñoso said.
He said the ballot boxes were secured, and would be sent to Metro Manila for the manual counting.
The boxes in question contain ballots cast in election precincts in barangays Carmen, Bayabas and Patag.
This Jan. 6, the secretary of the Tribunal, Girlie Salarda, ordered the warring parties to be present during the checking and resealing of the ballot boxes.
Salarda also ordered city treasurer Glenn Bañez and Comelec officials, among others, to take immediate steps to safeguard the integrity of the ballot boxes and their contents, list of voters with voting records, books of voters, and other documents and paraphernalia.
