Poll chief Garcia warns vs individuals with fake Comelec IDs

Commission on Elections Chair George Erwin Garcia  (File photo by Noy Morcoso | INQUIRER.net)

MANILA, Philippines — Chairman George Erwin Garcia of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Thursday warned against individuals posing as its official, employee, or consultant with fake poll body IDs.

Garcia said that the poll body had been notified about a certain individual in Mindanao who introduced herself as a consultant of the executive director using a fake Comelec ID

In a press conference, Garcia warned that the Comelec could easily verify anyone claiming to be its official, employee, or consultant.

READ: Comelec chief: ‘Pre-shaded ballot’ scheme for 2025 polls is bogus

In a Facebook advisory, the Comelec released an urgent memorandum warning the public to avoid any transaction with the individual.

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“The public is advised NOT TO TRANSACT with MS. MA. KRISTINE EVELYN C. TABILIRAN, or anyone representing to be her, and to REPORT TO THE AUTHORITIES any information relative to the individual’s alleged transactions involving elections,” the post read.

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Meanwhile, Garcia recalled a recent report by the Crime Investigation and Detection Group that three individuals who offered an “advanced victory” scheme for the 2025 polls introduced themselves as IT specialists related to the poll body.

READ: CIDG: 3 nabbed for extorting P90-M to rig local poll in Cagayan

Garcia said that the Comelec was able to verify that the individuals were not affiliated with it.

He called on the candidates who were offered the scheme to report the incident to the poll body.

He also dismissed claims that individual shadings can be embedded in the ballots for the 2025 elections as part of the “pre-shaded ballots” scheme.

He noted that the ballots would be fed into the automated counting machines as part of the ballot verification to check if there would be other markings, aside from the time markings and the Comelec’s secret markings.