The Commission on Elections (Comelec) considered the alleged pre-shading ballot incident in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, as “fake news.” However, they have not yet received an official report from the embassy.
“Wala pa pong pinapadala sa amin na reports ang atin pong embahada ng Dubai. Hinihintay nga po namin pero wala pong ganun. In the meantime, tine-treat din natin ‘yan as fake news,” Comelec commissioner George Garcia explained in an interview with Super Radyo dzBB on Tuesday.
Garcia made the statement following a social media post about the alleged pre-shaded ballot that voters saw on Sunday, April 10, the first day of overseas voting for Election 2022.
The Philippine Consulate General’s Office (PCGO) in Dubai has denied the allegation. He asserted that poll watchers from five different political parties monitored and watched the polls.
“Maganda rin po na makasama ‘yan sa aming i-imbestigahan,” said Garcia.
The Philippine Embassy in Singapore also denied the allegation of giving a pre-shaded ballot to Filipino voters there.
According to the embassy, there was just a “spoiled” ballot, and it was unintentional. The incident was called “isolated” and was recorded on their record.
Comelec considers alleged pre-shading ballot in Dubai ‘fake news’
Garcia explained that the spoiled ballots are placed in an envelope and marked so that they cannot be included on another ballot.
“‘Yung electoral board, kung hindi kasalanan ng botante ang pagkakasira o ‘yung insidente, bibigyan siya ng kapalit. Pero kung siya naman ang may kasalanan, hindi siya bibigyan ng kapalit,” he said.
Earlier, a Filipina in Italy revealed that Filipino voters in Rome allegedly shaded the ballot outside the Philippine Embassy due to the lack of seats right inside the embassy.
The Pinay announced the information in conjunction with the start of overseas voting in connection with Election 2022.
At a PDP-Laban news conference on Monday, Daisy Solomon, a leader of a non-government organization in Italy, showed video and photos of overseas Filipino voters casting their ballots on the sidewalk of the hospital opposite the Philippine Embassy.
According to Solomon, the Philippine Embassy does not have tables and chairs for Filipino voters.
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