Manila: The Commission on Elections (Comelec) announced on Saturday its compliance with the latest temporary restraining orders (TROs) issued by the Supreme Court (SC) involving local candidates for the May 12 elections.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Comelec stated that the names of Marie Grace David, Mary Dominique O±ate, and Aldrin Sta. Ana will now be included in the official ballots, as reprinting begins next week. David is running for vice mayor of Limay, Bataan; O±ate for mayor of Palompon, Leyte; and Sta. Ana for mayor of Bocaue, Bulacan.

The Comelec emphasized the timeliness of the issuance of the three TROs, as the Commission is currently implementing necessary changes in the Election Management System, Automated Election System (AES), Consolidated Canvassing System, and Online Voting and Counting System. On Friday, the SC issued three more TROs, following an earlier directive involving five candidates, which required the Comelec to halt printing at the National Printing Office in Quezon City and dispose of six million ballots already printed since Jan. 6.

The TROs address rulings on nuisance candidates, disqualification of two senatorial bets, and rejection of another bet’s Certificate of Candidacy. In response, the Comelec has implemented contingency measures, including amending the candidate database and rescheduling the Trusted Build of the AES, set to occur on Jan. 20 at the Palacio del Gobernador main office in Intramuros, Manila.

New ballot templates will be generated and serialized at the Comelec warehouse at Laguna Technopark Annex in Bi±an City on Jan. 21, with ballot production expected to resume shortly thereafter.