OPINION
Ed Javier
Comelec's P132 Million Blunder- A Shame Too Great To Ignore
In our weekly radio show Executive Session that I co-host with Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla, Senator JV Ejercito, Ambassador Teddy Boy Locsin, Representative Jonathan Dela Cruz, Atty. Dodo Dulay, and Paolo Capino, aired via DZRH last Saturday, we discussed the glaring blunder by the Commission on Elections (Comelec).
The decision to discard 6 million printed ballots worth ₱132 million, caused by poor legal foresight has sparked outrage among Filipinos—and rightfully so.
The Comelec, under Chairman George Erwin Garcia, scrapped these ballots after the Supreme Court issued Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) that reinstated five disqualified candidates.
This unprecedented mistake, driven by a rush to print ballots while disqualification cases were still pending, highlights a glaring failure in governance that taxpayers are now forced to shoulder.
We understand the necessity of adhering to election timelines and the need to print ballots before deadlines.
However, it’s only January, and the elections are still five months away. Why the rush? Was there truly no time to resolve pending legal issues before proceeding with printing?
This lack of foresight and apparent urgency has now led to the waste of ₱132 million, a sum that could have gone a long way in addressing the needs of millions of struggling Filipinos.
In fairness to the Comelec, no one can predict whether the Supreme Court will issue a TRO in such cases.
This is why Comelec must be exceedingly careful in making decisions to disqualify candidates.
If they fail to be circumspect and make haphazard decisions without solid grounds, they should not be surprised if the Supreme Court, as the last bastion of democracy, steps in to correct these mistakes.
We hail the Supreme Court for issuing the TRO in this instance, ensuring that justice is upheld and that the public’s confidence in the electoral process is preserved.
The ₱132 million wasted here isn’t just about paper and ink—it’s about the lost opportunities for Filipinos in dire need.
There is no sense of regret, no acknowledgment of wrongdoing, and certainly no indication that anyone is willing to take responsibility for this blunder.
That money could have been spent on thousands of dialysis patients, pneumonia and flu vaccines, vitamins for malnourished children, and even books for students who struggle to learn without adequate educational materials.
It could have funded computers for students who lack access to the technology necessary for their studies.
How many Filipino children go to school without the basic necessities of books, food, or a computer?
Have the Comelec officials ever seen the poor patients lining up very early in the morning at PCSO—desperate for financial help for life-saving treatments?
Does Garcia not have empathy or compassion for these poor Filipinos, who could have been helped by the ₱132 million?
This is money that could have made a difference in the lives of many people who are struggling just to survive.
While we often see Garcia surrounded by a coterie of assistants, including security personnel whose salaries we can be sure are charged to the government, in their coats and ties, comfortably seated in air-conditioned rooms, the burden of this mistake falls squarely on ordinary Filipinos.
We, the taxpayers, are the ones who will shoulder the cost of their recklessness, while they seem unaffected by the consequences of their actions.
Did we ever hear Garcia or any Comelec official offer a sincere apology for wasting ₱132 million? Their silence only adds insult to injury.
This costly mistake demands accountability. Who will be held responsible for this waste?
Can the public demand sanctions, resignations, or at the very least, a formal apology?
More importantly, what safeguards will be implemented to ensure this never happens again?
Adding to the outrage, Comelec commissioners enjoy substantial salaries and lifetime pensions equivalent to the pay of incumbent commissioners upon their retirement.
With such privileges, one would expect decisions that reflect prudence and diligence—not carelessness that drains the public coffers.
If these commissioners were made to personally shoulder the ₱132 million loss, would they have been more cautious?
At its core, this issue goes beyond logistics or money—it’s about the trust and well-being of the people.
Public officials, especially those paid handsomely, must be reminded that every peso they spend comes from the hard-earned taxes of ordinary Filipinos.
These are people who are already struggling to put food on their tables, pay for healthcare, and educate their children.
The Comelec’s negligence isn’t just a technical oversight—it’s a betrayal of the public’s trust.
Garcia and the commissioners must understand that their positions come with the heavy responsibility of protecting both the sanctity of elections and the public coffers.
If this happened in a country like Japan, where public officials hold themselves to the highest standards of accountability and honor, we could expect resignations from those involved.
They would be ashamed to have caused such a massive waste of public funds.
Here, however, we see and hear Garcia and other Comelec officials casually stating that 6 million ballots worth ₱132 million will be destroyed—as if nothing happened.
However, this cannot be the responsibility of one agency alone. Ordinary citizens must raise their voices.
If we do not speak out and let them hear our protests and disgust, they will only be further empowered to abuse us.
It’s time for the Filipino public—netizens, voters, and concerned citizens—to demand accountability.
We journalists can only do so much; it’s the people’s collective outrage that will push for change. Use your platforms, speak out on social media, and join the call for justice.
The power of the people should not be underestimated, especially when public officials like Garcia fail to honor their duty to the nation.
The Filipino people deserve leaders who are accountable and competent.
If the current Comelec leadership cannot rise to this standard, then they should step aside for those who can.
Enough of the excuses and indifference. The time for accountability is now.
The decision to discard 6 million printed ballots worth ₱132 million, caused by poor legal foresight has sparked outrage among Filipinos—and rightfully so.
The Comelec, under Chairman George Erwin Garcia, scrapped these ballots after the Supreme Court issued Temporary Restraining Orders (TROs) that reinstated five disqualified candidates.
This unprecedented mistake, driven by a rush to print ballots while disqualification cases were still pending, highlights a glaring failure in governance that taxpayers are now forced to shoulder.
We understand the necessity of adhering to election timelines and the need to print ballots before deadlines.
However, it’s only January, and the elections are still five months away. Why the rush? Was there truly no time to resolve pending legal issues before proceeding with printing?
This lack of foresight and apparent urgency has now led to the waste of ₱132 million, a sum that could have gone a long way in addressing the needs of millions of struggling Filipinos.
In fairness to the Comelec, no one can predict whether the Supreme Court will issue a TRO in such cases.
This is why Comelec must be exceedingly careful in making decisions to disqualify candidates.
If they fail to be circumspect and make haphazard decisions without solid grounds, they should not be surprised if the Supreme Court, as the last bastion of democracy, steps in to correct these mistakes.
We hail the Supreme Court for issuing the TRO in this instance, ensuring that justice is upheld and that the public’s confidence in the electoral process is preserved.
The ₱132 million wasted here isn’t just about paper and ink—it’s about the lost opportunities for Filipinos in dire need.
There is no sense of regret, no acknowledgment of wrongdoing, and certainly no indication that anyone is willing to take responsibility for this blunder.
That money could have been spent on thousands of dialysis patients, pneumonia and flu vaccines, vitamins for malnourished children, and even books for students who struggle to learn without adequate educational materials.
It could have funded computers for students who lack access to the technology necessary for their studies.
How many Filipino children go to school without the basic necessities of books, food, or a computer?
Have the Comelec officials ever seen the poor patients lining up very early in the morning at PCSO—desperate for financial help for life-saving treatments?
Does Garcia not have empathy or compassion for these poor Filipinos, who could have been helped by the ₱132 million?
This is money that could have made a difference in the lives of many people who are struggling just to survive.
While we often see Garcia surrounded by a coterie of assistants, including security personnel whose salaries we can be sure are charged to the government, in their coats and ties, comfortably seated in air-conditioned rooms, the burden of this mistake falls squarely on ordinary Filipinos.
We, the taxpayers, are the ones who will shoulder the cost of their recklessness, while they seem unaffected by the consequences of their actions.
Did we ever hear Garcia or any Comelec official offer a sincere apology for wasting ₱132 million? Their silence only adds insult to injury.
This costly mistake demands accountability. Who will be held responsible for this waste?
Can the public demand sanctions, resignations, or at the very least, a formal apology?
More importantly, what safeguards will be implemented to ensure this never happens again?
Adding to the outrage, Comelec commissioners enjoy substantial salaries and lifetime pensions equivalent to the pay of incumbent commissioners upon their retirement.
With such privileges, one would expect decisions that reflect prudence and diligence—not carelessness that drains the public coffers.
If these commissioners were made to personally shoulder the ₱132 million loss, would they have been more cautious?
At its core, this issue goes beyond logistics or money—it’s about the trust and well-being of the people.
Public officials, especially those paid handsomely, must be reminded that every peso they spend comes from the hard-earned taxes of ordinary Filipinos.
These are people who are already struggling to put food on their tables, pay for healthcare, and educate their children.
The Comelec’s negligence isn’t just a technical oversight—it’s a betrayal of the public’s trust.
Garcia and the commissioners must understand that their positions come with the heavy responsibility of protecting both the sanctity of elections and the public coffers.
If this happened in a country like Japan, where public officials hold themselves to the highest standards of accountability and honor, we could expect resignations from those involved.
They would be ashamed to have caused such a massive waste of public funds.
Here, however, we see and hear Garcia and other Comelec officials casually stating that 6 million ballots worth ₱132 million will be destroyed—as if nothing happened.
However, this cannot be the responsibility of one agency alone. Ordinary citizens must raise their voices.
If we do not speak out and let them hear our protests and disgust, they will only be further empowered to abuse us.
It’s time for the Filipino public—netizens, voters, and concerned citizens—to demand accountability.
We journalists can only do so much; it’s the people’s collective outrage that will push for change. Use your platforms, speak out on social media, and join the call for justice.
The power of the people should not be underestimated, especially when public officials like Garcia fail to honor their duty to the nation.
The Filipino people deserve leaders who are accountable and competent.
If the current Comelec leadership cannot rise to this standard, then they should step aside for those who can.
Enough of the excuses and indifference. The time for accountability is now.
Jan 20, 2025
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