MANILA, Philippines — The Commission on Elections (Comelec) stood firm on the 25-percent shading threshold it used in the canvassing of votes cast during the May 2016 elections.
The 13-page comment was filed last Monday in compliance with an earlier order of the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, for the poll body to submit its position after Solicitor General Jose Calida opted to drop the poll body as a client and file his own position supporting the 50-percent threshold as a “tribune of the people.”
Comelec spokesman James Jimenez yesterday clarified that the poll body did not side with Vice President Leni Robredo when it submitted its comment.
He said the Comelec’s position predates the electoral protest filed by defeated vice presidential candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
“The threshold was set to help ensure that votes are not lost due simply to inadequate shading while at the same time ensuring that no accidental or unintendent marks are counted as votes,” Jimenez said.– Edu Punay