People line up as Comelec launches its Register Anywhere and the Special Register Anywhere Program at the Comelec Headquarters in Intramuros, Manila on February 12, 2024. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File MANILA — Over six million official printed ballots for the 2025 national and local elections are set to be discarded, as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Tuesday halted its printing activities following the Supreme Court's issuance of temporary restraining orders against the poll body.

The high court decided earlier today to release TROs against the Comelec for preventing five candidates to participate in the upcoming elections. The latter, upon noticing the announcement, immediately held an emergency meeting and stopped the ballot printing process.

SC issues TROs vs Comelec decisions blocking candidates in 2025 polls

"Pinatigil na po ng lahat ng Comelec ang lahat ng activities sa pag-iimprenta ng mga balota d'yan sa National Printing Office o stop operation muna sila," said Comelec Spokesperson Atty. John Rex Laudiangco on Teleradyo Serbisyo.

"Ikalawa po, inaaral na po ng aming information technology department 'yung mga pagbabago — una, doon sa candidate database, kailangan po baguhin 'yan dahil natanggal na po sila. Pangalawa, 'yung election management system na na-trusted build din po natin ay kailangan nating baguhin," he continued.

Not only the printing was suspended, as even the mock elections scheduled for Saturday, January 18, is now cancelled.

The Supreme Court issued TROs against Comelec's declaration of Subair Guinthum Mustapha and Charles Savellano as nuisance candidates for Senator and Representative of Ilocos Sur’s First District; rejection of certificates of candidacy of Chito Bulatao Balintay as Zambales Governor and Florendo de Ramos Ritualo, Jr. as Sangguniang Panlungsod Member for San Juan City’s First District; and disqualification of Edgar Erice as Representative of Caloocan City’s Second District.

Lack of campaign funds does not make one a nuisance candidate, says Supreme Court

Comelec said it will first put the millions of printed ballots for inventory to determine their total cost, before storing them at their Santa Rosa Warehouse and eventually destroying them "to prevent any unauthorized use" in front of the public.

The six million ballots are also now officially "wastage", Laudiangco confirmed. The already printed ballots comprise final testing and sealing (FTS) ballots, overseas voting ballots, BARMM and CARAGA ballots, parliamentary election ballots, and mock election ballots.

Comelec will have to craft around 1,667 new ballot page templates, serialize them, and produce the same six million printed ballots. In total, Comelec said in September 2024 that 73 million ballots are needed for this year's midterm elections. 

On top of that, the poll body will study how much the system has to change as well.

"Pinapag-aral na rin po kung lahat ba ng pagbabago sa sistema ay kailangan natin mag-ulit ng trusted build," Laudiangco stressed.

Asked whether Comelec can deliver the job on time and how can they handle the whole reprinting process, the agency said it will try to "double time" and fasten their efforts without sacrificing the accuracy of ballots.

"Wala pong magagawa ang Comelec. Kami po ay tatalima sa Supreme Court. Kaya ang mangyayari po nito, 24 hours printing sa NPO. Malamang po ay gagamitin na namin extra makina ng NPO," Laudiangco said.

"Aside from a 24-hour shift, magdo-double time na po kami. 'Yung IT group po namin ngayong gabi ay hindi na po sila uuwi para po i-ayos 'yung mga sistema. Tingnan kung matatapos nang maaga," he added.

Comelec said it will shoulder all the expenses for the whole reprinting process through maximizing their savings from procurement activities.

As for the money it spent for the production of 6 million initial ballots, Laudiangco stressed they're now irreversible.

"Naging gastos na na hindi na mababawi ng Comelec. In fact ang gastos po jan hindi lang natapos sa balota, dahil may consummables na papel. 'Yung mga consummables na mga toners, kuryente, binayad sa National Printing Office, hindi na mababawi yan," he explained.

With all the hassle and financial costs that reprinting would take, some would ponder if it's necessary. Comelec explained it is for the sake of accuracy.

"Gumalaw po ang pangalan. Tandaan po natin na sa paggalaw po ng pangalan, guamalaw rin po 'yung software. Nagbago 'yung management. Nagbago 'yung pagbabasa ng automated counting machine," Laudiangco said.

'TIMEBOUND' DECISIONS

Comelec also explained why the poll body proceeded to print the official ballots even if some rejected or disqualified candidacies remain controversial.

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"Ayon po sa Comelec Rules and Procedures, pagkatapos pong mailabas at maipromulgate ng decision ang Comelec, ay mayroon pong limang araw ang mga partido rito na tumakbo sa SC at kumuha ng TRO. Otherwise walang TRO na lumabas, magiging final at executory ang decision," Laudiangco said.

He noted that in comparison to other agencies, Comelec's actions are timebound.

"Mayroon po kaming sinusunod na dates, otherwise mahuhuli po tayo. Kung mapansin ninyo overseas ballots, BARMM ballots, malalayo po ito na kailangan muna naming ideploy dahil sila po malalayo," he said.

More than just simple printing, he explained that the whole program of the Automated Counting Machine (ACM) will also have to be changed.

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