The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has announced its adherence to the recent temporary restraining orders (TROs) issued by the Supreme Court, affecting the upcoming May 12 elections. The orders, which were issued on Friday, have prompted the Comelec to make significant adjustments to its election preparations.
In response to the TROs, the Comelec will now include the names of candidates Marie Grace David, Mary Dominique Oñate, and Aldrin Sta. Ana on the official ballots. David is a candidate for vice mayor of Limay, Bataan, while Oñate and Sta. Ana are running for mayor in Palompon, Leyte, and Bocaue, Bulacan, respectively. The reprinting of ballots to include these candidates is set to begin next week.
The Supreme Court’s orders come at a crucial time as the Comelec is currently updating various systems, including the Election Management System, Automated Election System (AES), Consolidated Canvassing System, and Online Voting and Counting System. The TROs follow an earlier directive that halted the printing of ballots at the National Printing Office in Quezon City and required the disposal of six million ballots printed since January 6.
The TROs address issues related to nuisance candidates, the disqualification of two senatorial candidates, and the rejection of another candidate’s Certificate of Candidacy. In response, the Comelec has implemented contingency plans, which include updating the candidate database and rescheduling the Trusted Build of the AES to January 20 at the Palacio del Gobernador in Intramuros, Manila.
New ballot templates will be generated and serialized at the Comelec warehouse in Laguna Technopark Annex, Biñan City, on January 21. Following these preparations, ballot production is expected to resume soon.