Pre-shaded ballots found beyond Maluso in BARMM polls – watchdog

MANILA, Philippines — Pre-shaded ballots were observed in three precincts outside the high-profile incident in Maluso, Basilan, during the first parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), an election watchdog said on Wednesday.

The findings suggest that the ballot irregularities were not confined to Maluso, where more than 16,000 ballots were found pre-shaded on election day on Sept. 14.

READ: Comelec flags pre-shaded, compromised ballots in 36 Basilan precincts

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The watchdog’s technical mission report documented three instances of pre-shaded ballots in precincts outside Maluso, Basilan, indicating that the practice was not confined to the municipality.

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The report identified Dangkalan Elementary School and Magsaysay Elementary School in Lamitan City, Basilan, and Camp Bagong Amai Pakpak Elementary School in Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, as locations where the irregularities were observed.

“The Maluso incident was not isolated; pre-shaded ballots, open vote buying and interference by poll watchers were also observed elsewhere, including in places with no recorded violence,” the report said.

The watchdog urged the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to investigate possible ballot tampering beyond Maluso, warning that the high-profile case should not overshadow other reported irregularities.

Maluso incident

On Sept. 14, the Comelec discovered more than 16,000 pre-shaded ballots in 36 precincts in Maluso, prompting the poll body to order replacement ballots and delay voting in the affected precincts until the following day.

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READ: Voting resumes in precincts in Maluso, Basilan after ballot issue

Comelec Chair George Erwin Garcia earlier said the commission was following the chain of custody to determine who was responsible for the incident.

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Although the poll body had leads on the people involved, Garcia said it would observe due process, including issuing subpoenas to possible persons involved.

“If you look at the ballot boxes, they are vacuum-sealed and are not ordinary boxes; they aren’t easily damaged. Therefore, removing the plastic wrapping and opening them would be a rather lengthy process,” Garcia said during the Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum on Sept. 30.

“That is why tampering with 16,000 ballots wouldn’t be the work of just one person—it would take around fifteen people.”

READ: Comelec to investigate pre-shaded ballots in BARMM polls

Those found responsible could face electoral sabotage charges, a special election offense that carries a penalty of life imprisonment when the number of votes involved exceeds 10,000.

Garcia has said the Comelec hopes to file charges against those responsible by the end of the year.

While recognizing the commission’s efforts to investigate the Maluso incident, the watchdog stressed that the probe should also cover other reported cases.

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“While the Maluso case is certainly the most high-profile, it should not overshadow possible instances of ballot tampering elsewhere,” the report said. /cb