MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) is set to pursue cases over the tampering of 16,453 ballots in Maluso, Basilan, with Chairman George Erwin Garcia describing the incident as potentially constituting electoral sabotage.
Garcia said the Comelec was preserving as evidence all 36 boxes containing the tampered ballots.
“A total of 16,453 ballots in all. That is electoral sabotage, strictly speaking,” Garcia said during a media interview Tuesday at Camp General Gonzalo H. Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte.
He said the Comelec would issue the necessary orders and directives once the commission returned to Manila to begin the process of holding those responsible accountable.
Garcia said the offense could carry severe penalties, including life imprisonment and perpetual disqualification from holding public office, in addition to other possible charges under existing election laws.
