The officials ballots for use in Monday’s midterm polls were already received at the Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office earlier today, May 6. /Rosalie Abatayo
MANDAUE CITY, Philippines — The Mandaue City Treasurer’s Office now has custody of the official ballots that will be used in Monday’s midterm election.
Lawyer Regal Oliva, the Mandaue City treasurer, said that the ballots were properly sealed when delivered to their office this morning, May 6, from Comelec Manila. The ballots will be kept at their office until the official start of its distribution at midnight on May 13.
But Oliva expressed surprise why the camps of releectionist Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing and his opponent, incumbent 6th district Rep. Jonas Cortes, did not send representatives to observe the process of the ballot receipt and its safekeeping.
“I don’t know why walay representatives from both parties (during the delivery of the ballots) but we are duty bound to immediately secure the ballots and store it in a secured area,” Oliva said.
Oliva said they will start with the distribution of ballots that are intended for precincts in Mandaue’s hinterland barangays of Casili, Tawason and Cubacub. The distribution of ballots for precincts in the the other barangays will follow.
Mandaue City has a total of 27 polling places that consist of 244 clustered precincts.
But Oliva said that their election preparations will not be complete pending the receipt of election paraphernalia which includes the indelible ink and the voters registration list from the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
“On the side of the Treasurers Office, we are ready for the elections. Now that the ballots have arrived, I felt relieved kay anha man na ang concerns gyud kanang broken ang seal but upon inspection sealed man tanan,” Oliva said./dcb