Comelec warns candidates against ballots with alleged secret markings

The Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday warned against unscrupulous individuals allegedly offering official printed ballots with secret markings. 

In a media briefing, Comelec chairperson George Erwin Garcia said this is among the new fraudulent schemes for Eleksyon 2025. 

“Ngayon may bago. Hindi na machine kasi bumenta na ‘yung machine eh…Ngayon printing ng balota may secret na shade so that kung naka-shade na ang isang kandidato, ‘yung kandidato na hinihingan nila ng pera, pag shinade therefore ang boto para sa kalaban ng kandidato, walang boto na make-credit. Kasi technically dalawa ang shade — isang invisible shade at saka 'yung shade na nilagay ng botante,” said Garcia. 

(There’s a new modus wherein individuals are offering ballots with alleged secret markings. With the alleged invisible markings, the votes cast on the opposing bet will not be counted.)

“From the machine, pumunta sa papel, pumunta sa printing…’Yan ay hindi mangyayari. Impossible,” Garcia added. 

(From the machine, the modus operadi went to paper and now on printing.)

On Tuesday, the Philippine National Police - Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) reported the arrest of three suspects claiming to be IT specialists connected to the poll body.

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Comelec Commissioner Aimee Ferolino, who was present at the press conference of the PNP-CIDG,  called on the victims of the fraudulent scheme to report such incidents, saying these are likely to be occurring in other areas in the country. 

“With the apprehension of these people, we’re looking forward to more apprehensions at sana 'yung panawagan namin sa mga kandidato, kung sila man ay na-contact ng mga sindikatong ito, dapat lumabas sila kasi klaro na sila ay naloko lang,” said Ferolino.

(With the apprehension of these people, we’re looking forward to more apprehensions. We urge the candidates, if ever they were approached by these syndicates, to come out and report because it is clear that they were duped.)

“In an election, somebody will always win and somebody will always lose. Lahat sila lalapitan pagkatapos kung sino mananalo, aangkinin nila na accomplishment nila 'yun. Ang totoo, hindi nila success 'yun, it’s the candidate’s campaign, it’s the people’s choice that made him win,” she added. 

(In an election, somebody will always win and somebody will always lose. These individuals will approach the candidates will claim credit for the win. But that is not true. They did not make the winning candidate win. It’s the candidate’s campaign, it’s the people’s choice that made him win.)

In December 2024, Garcia said the poll body received reports of individuals allegedly offering a “win” in the upcoming elections in exchange for money.—AOL, GMA Integrated News

For more Eleksyon 2025 related content and updates, visit GMA News Online's Eleksyon 2025 microsite.