The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Tuesday that it had generated new ballot templates that include the names of candidates who were initially disqualified by the Comelec but later permitted by the Supreme Court.
Subair Mustapha is now listed with the number 47 in the senatorial candidate ballot.
Philip Salvador has been assigned number 58, previously allocated to Luis Singson, who withdrew due to health issues.
Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia stated that if the Supreme Court issues more temporary restraining orders, the printing of ballots will face further delays as they will need to accommodate changes.
“The Comelec will always comply at this point with the Supreme Court directive. Supreme Court po ‘yan, ginagalang natin at tayo rin ordinaryong mamamayan dapat tumatalima at sumusunod tayo sa Korte Suprema sapagkat part ‘yan ng legal process at part yan ng tinatawag na rule of law,” Garcia said.
“Kami ay naaapektuhan lang talaga nang mabigat kapag may national candidate sapagkat kailangan talagang baguhin lahat nang na-imprenta na balota kasi kung local, nakapag-imprenta ka na sa lugar na yun, yung lugar na lang yun ang pwede naming i-reprint,” he added.
Garcia assured that the two-week delay would not hinder the elections.
The poll body has deputized the National Printing Office and expedited the printing process.
“Basta dapat mga dalawang linggo bago mag-eleksyon na distribute na ng Comelec lahat ng election paraphernalia sa buong Pilipinas. Bakit? Dahil meron po tayong final testing and sealing isang linggo bago mag-eleksyon,” Garcia explained.
“Lahat ng makina na ipadadala sa buong bansa pati yung mga sampung balota sa bawat isang presinto ay susubukin, i-te-test sa bawat presinto ng mga electoral board members na maglilingkod kasama na rin po ang mga tunay na botante na boboto,” he added.
Garcia estimated that the printing would be completed by April 14.