Manila, Sept. 14 -- Electoral sabotage charges may be filed against those behind the pre-shading of ballots in Maluso, Basilan, where over 16,000 official ballots have been compromised.

"That is an election offense. At the same time, we will look into the possibility of it being an electoral sabotage case as well. Cases will definitely come... we will not forgive you regardless of your position. We are not talking about who these people are. What's important is someone will be held accountable," Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said in an interview at the start of Monday's parliamentary elections in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Reports said some 16,653 official ballots in ...