The discovery of pre-shaded ballots in 36 polling precincts in Maluso, Basilan could lead to an electoral sabotage case, as the Commission on Elections moved to take control of the affected areas and ordered replacement ballots for voters in the historic Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.
The incident disrupted voting in one of the municipalities participating in the first-ever Bangsamoro Parliamentary Elections and raised serious concerns over an apparent attempt to interfere with the electoral process.
More than 16,000 ballots affected
The questionable ballots were discovered in 36 precincts in Maluso before voting could proceed.
The affected ballots had already been shaded, meaning voters could no longer safely use them because their choices had been marked before they were issued.
More than 16,000 ballots were reportedly affected.
Comelec immediately ordered the affected ballots replaced to prevent any possibility that pre-marked voting materials could influence the outcome.
The commission also placed Maluso under its control as authorities investigated how the ballots came to be pre-shaded.
Electoral sabotage charges possible
Comelec Chairman George Erwin Garcia said those responsible could face criminal charges for electoral sabotage.
The discovery is being treated as a serious election offense because the integrity of the ballot is fundamental to ensuring that voters can freely choose their candidates.
Authorities are expected to investigate where the ballots were shaded, who had access to them and whether the incident was part of a coordinated attempt to manipulate the election.
The investigation could also determine whether the incident was an isolated act or part of a broader effort to disrupt the parliamentary elections.
Replacement ballots sent to Maluso
Comelec moved quickly to produce replacement ballots for the affected precincts.
The replacement materials were transported to Basilan after being reprinted, with authorities working to ensure that voting could proceed despite the disruption.
The commission also considered extending voting hours to compensate for delays caused by the ballot problem.
The goal was to prevent voters from losing their opportunity to participate because of an incident beyond their control.
Maluso placed under Comelec control
The decision to place Maluso under Comelec control reflects the seriousness with which election officials are treating the incident.
Under Comelec control, the commission assumes greater authority over election-related operations in the affected area to protect the integrity of the vote.
The move came as the Bangsamoro region was already dealing with other election-related security concerns.
Cotabato City was also placed under Comelec control following violent incidents during the elections.
Incident adds to growing concerns over BARMM polls
The ballot controversy comes amid other reports of irregularities during the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections.
Election watchdogs have reported concerns involving assisted voting, ballot handling and partisan activity in some polling areas.
Violence also marred the historic vote, with several people killed and others injured in election-related incidents.
Despite those problems, Comelec has maintained that voting across most of the Bangsamoro region proceeded in an orderly manner.
The Maluso incident, however, represents a particularly serious challenge because it directly involves the integrity of voting materials.
A critical test for Bangsamoro democracy
The first parliamentary election is a major milestone for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, which was created as part of a peace process aimed at ending decades of armed conflict and establishing greater self-government in the region.
Nearly 2.4 million registered voters are eligible to choose members of the 80-seat Bangsamoro Parliament.
The new parliament will eventually choose the region’s chief minister and take responsibility for legislation and governance under the parliamentary system.
That makes the credibility of the election especially important.
The discovery of pre-shaded ballots in Maluso now places additional pressure on Comelec and law enforcement agencies to identify those responsible and determine whether the incident was an attempt to sabotage the vote.
For voters in Basilan, the immediate priority is ensuring that replacement ballots are available and that every legitimate vote can be cast freely.
For election authorities, the larger challenge is proving that the first Bangsamoro parliamentary elections can withstand attempts to disrupt the democratic process.
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