When the election return are delayed, lost, or destroyed.
Section 171
SEC. 171. When the election return are delayed, lost, or destroyed. —In case its copy of the election return is missing, the board of canvassers shall, by messenger or otherwise, obtain such missing election returns from the election committee concerned, or if said returns have been lost or destroyed, the boards, upon prior authority of the Commission, may use any of the authentic copies of said election returns or a certified copy of said election returns issued by the Commission, and forthwith direct the provincial election supervisor of the province concerned to investigate the case and immediately report the matter to the Commission. The Commission may, for justifiable causes, order the board of canvassers, notwithstanding the fact that not all the election returns have been received by it, to terminate the canvass and proclaim the candidates elected on the basis of the available election returns if the missing election returns will not affect the result of the election.