Proliferation of indelible ink not alarming–Comelec
As far as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) is concerned, there’s no cause for alarm over the illegal proliferation of indelible ink.
“The fact is we don’t have an indelible ink for the May 10, 2010 elections,” said Comelec regional director Atty. Dennis Ausan.
Lately, a “concerned citizen” of Iloilo City forwarded samples of indelible ink with Comelec markings to a local television station.
The indelible ink is allegedly priced at P1,000 each.
Ausan said that the said indelible ink was used during the 2007 national polls.
“Kag kung diin na nila nakuha, wala ko kabalo,” he claimed.
But for the purpose of the May 10, 2010 elections, Ausan said that the bidding for the manufacturer of indelible ink was done last February 24, 2010.
“I don’t know kung na award na but kung na award na, that’s the only time that the manufacturing will start,” he added.
If not expired, an indelible ink could indeed be used for election fraud, Ausan said.
“This might be used for negative voting... ang voter para indi na makaboto sa kontra, butangan nila sang indelible ink,” he cited as example.
“And that’s what we’re trying to avoid. So, if there are people who would fall prey into buying this ink, that’s your discretion,” he added.
But if the indelible inks allegedly circulating in Iloilo City were the same inks used in the 2007 polls, it will take three months before it will expire.
Once the substance reached its expiry, it will dry up.
“But it could easily be rubbed out. Maski i-alcohol or acetone lang, makuha na,” he added.
Normally, after the use of indelible ink, the board of election inspectors (BEIs) will forward to the office of the election officer.
