Ched Rick Gatchalian

Article (news)

Comelec begins destruction of 6.7M unused ballots

Johnson Manabat

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — The Commission on Elections began the process of disposal and destruction of more than 6.7 million unused official ballots for the 2025 midterm polls.  </p><p>Commisisoner Rey Bulay, commissioner-in-charge of the Committee on Ballot Printing, said this is in compliance with the law that says all unused ballots and other accountable forms must be disposed properly.</p><p>“Wala po kaming itinagong proseso sa inyo….hanggang i-deploy ang mga balota - ngayon po hanggang sunugin natin yung mga hindi valid na ballots para po hindi magamit kahit kailan na eleksyon,” Bulay told reporters.</p><div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/19/npc-deputy-commissioner-addresses-election-privacy-concerns-0101">NPC deputy commissioner addresses election privacy concerns</a></div><p>According to Bulay, this process of ballot destruction should be done within 10 days.</p><p>“Saan nga dadalhin? Sa tunawan sa Pampanga. &#x27;Yun po yung last step,” Bulay explained.</p><p>Comelec data showed a total of 6,730,969 unused official ballots and 32,680 accountable forms slated for disposal and destruction.</p><p>Bulay explained the poll body did not spend a single centavo for the unused ballots and other accountable forms.</p><p>“We only pay for ballots that are valid, the good ones. Pero itong mga ito hindi binabayaran,” Bulay said.  </p><p>“It will be regarded as losses ng production, chargeable to the provider — ganon yung contract namin with the provider. We pay only for the good ones,” Bulay added.</p><div><strong>NO INTENTION TO DELAY CASE VS DUTERTE YOUTH</strong></div><p>Meantime, Commissioner Bulay confirmed he has already written the resolution on the pending case against the Duterte Youth party-list and it only needs the signatures of other commissioners of the second division.</p><p>Bulay clarified the case had been pending even before the previous commission and the present composition of the poll body has no intention to delay its decision.</p><div> <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/5/14/halalan-2025-comelec-begins-random-manual-audit-of-ballots-1615">Halalan 2025: Comelec begins random manual audit of ballots</a></div><p>“Nag-commit naman si Chairman na before July 1, dapat matapos namin majority ng mga issues. Kaya po sa tingin ko, kung natatagalan po yun, hindi naman po yun intentional. Madami ding kaso na nasa amin, nakabinbin,” Bulay added.</p>

<p>The Commission on Elections began the process of disposal and destruction of more than 6.7 million unused official ballots for the 2025 midterm polls.</p>

The Commission on Elections began the process of disposal and destruction of more than 6.7 million unused official ballots for the 2025 midterm polls.