Latest news with #Bulay
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec starts destruction of rejected Eleksyon 2025 ballots
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Friday started the destruction of 6.7 million unused official ballots and accountable forms printed for the conduct of the 2025 national and local elections (NLE). Commissioner Rey Bulay, commissioner-in-charge for the Committee on Ballot Printing, led the disposal of the rejected ballots at the National Printing Office in Quezon City . Comelec personnel will be tearing the rejected ballots before their transport to a disposal facility in Pampanga for direct melting. The process is expected to last for ten days. 'Ito ang pagpapatunay ng inyong commission…ng accountability, security, at transparency nitong election. Mula sa procurement ng printer, papel, pag-iimprenta, saksi kayong lahat,' said Bulay. (This shows the commission's commitment for accountability, security, and transparency this elections. From the procurement of the printer, paper, and printing, you witnessed it all.) 'Wala kaming itinagong proseso sa inyo. Mula doon hanggang ideploy ang mga balota at ngayon hanggang sunugin natin ang mga hindi valid na ballots para hindi magamit hanggang kailan,' he said. (We never hid any part of the process from the deployment to the destruction of the ballots.) Meanwhile, the number of invalid ballots increased from 3 million to 6.7 million for the 2025 polls, said Bulay. These included those with tear or smudges. 'Ngayong eleksyon, we doubled from the last one. 3 million lang ang invalid ballots from the last election, ngayon 6.7million. Mas maraming printing, mas maraming error, tapos may temporary restraining order pa tayo,' he added. (The number of rejected ballots doubled this year. From 3 million last elections, it is now at 6.7 million. That is because we printed more ballots and encountered more errors. We also faced a TRO.) The Comelec completed the printing of over 68 million ballots for the 2025 May polls after the process hit a snag in January following the Supreme Court's issuance of temporary restraining orders against the disqualification of some aspirants. The poll body deputized the National Printing Office in January, allowing the use of the latter's four printing machines and two machines procured by Miru Systems Inc. to ensure the "proper, satisfactory, and timely" completion of the reprinting of the official ballots for the elections. The Philippines held its midterm elections on May 12.—AOL, GMA Integrated News For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.
GMA Network
23-05-2025
- Politics
- GMA Network
Comelec launches KAISA project ahead of December barangay, SK polls
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched on Friday the KAISA Project to kick off the preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections in December. (Photo from NCIP) The Commission on Elections (Comelec) launched on Friday the KAISA Project to kick off the preparations for the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections (BSKE) in December. Comelec Commissioner Rey Bulay said that Project KAISA stands for 'Katapatan at Integridad para Sa Atin.' 'Project KAISA also officially launches the BSKE, Project KAISA was founded on a simple yet powerful premise: katapatan at integridad. Dahil ang ating eleksyon ay naguumpisa at nagtatapos sa pagtitiwala ng sambayanang Pilipino,' he said in a press conference. (Project KAISA also officially launches the BSKE. Project KAISA was founded on a simple yet powerful premise: honesty and integrity. Because our elections begin and end with the trust of the Filipino people.) The commissioner noted that it's very important to ensure an honest and truthful BSKE as barangays and SK are crucial to have an effective national government. 'The BSKE plays a critical role in the grassroots level of our local government. It is actually the cornerstone of our democracy [...] Thus, from the filing of candidacies, in the smallest and remotest barangay, to the casting of votes, and the proclamation of winners, every procedure must be anchored on katapatan at integridad,' said Bulay. 'It will remind us that effective governance starts actually at the barangay hall and transformative leadership starts with the youth at SK,' he added. Meanwhile, Comelec chairperson George Garcia said that the poll body is also aiming to encourage more voters from the vulnerable sector to cast their votes. 'Ang gusto kong ipahatid sa bawat isa na mapagtulung-tulungan natin na masigurado na, lalong lalo na ang vulnerable sector, yung miyembro ng indigenous peoples, yung nakatatanda, yung may kapansanan sila dapat ang binibigyan ng patungkol at tugon lalo na sa araw ng halalan,' he said. (What I want to convey to everyone is that we can work together to ensure that, especially the vulnerable sector, members of indigenous peoples, the elderly, and those with disabilities, are given consideration and a response, especially on election day.) The Comelec also signed a memorandum of agreement with various organizations, including the National Youth Commission, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, various election watchdogs, and academic institution to enhance the voting experience of the Filipinos in the December 1 polls. —Vince Angelo Ferreras/LDF, GMA Integrated News
