With the start of overseas voting for Election 2022, the Philippine Embassy in Singapore denied that any ballots with writings had been distributed.
In a statement released by the embassy, they only confirmed that a “spoiled ballot” was inadvertently given to a voter.
“It has come to the attention of the Philippine embassy that some unverified sources allege that pre-shaded ballots have been given to voters who came to the embassy to cast their vote today. This is not true,” the embassy said in a post on its Facebook page on Monday.
The embassy issued a statement following a post by a Facebook user Cheryl Ab, who identified herself as a Filipino in Singapore. She allegedly received a pre-shaded ballot from the embassy.
But according to the embassy, the incident was just a spoiled ballot that was inadvertently given to the voter.
The incident was also recorded in the minutes of voting for AES Voting Posts.
The embassy insisted that it was only an “isolated incident.”
“The embassy assures the public that it is totally committed to provide a system of honest and orderly overseas absentee voting that upholds the integrity of the voting process,” it stated.
Philippine Embassy in Singapore denies distributing pre-shaded ballots
Ab said he reported the incident to the poll watcher in the update and marked “void” the said spoiled ballot.
In a news briefing, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) said they have not yet received a report on the incident.
“Wala po kaming natanggap na report kahit saan ating post sa kahit na kaninong opisyal doon sa Singapore. Therefore, fake news po iyon,” said Comelec Commissioner George Garcia.
“Sa ating mga kababayan, huwag na huwag ninyo pong paniniwalaan ‘yung mga pre-shading na sinasabi. Napakadali pong malaman ‘yan at makita. ‘Yung mismong nasa post, ‘yung lahat po ng watchers and observers na present sa lahat ng polling places kung nasaan ang ating pagboto madali pong i-report ‘yun,” the official added.
Garcia also said the commission’s Task Force Against Fake News would meet to discuss information about the alleged existence of pre-shaded ballots.
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