Preservation of the ballot boxes, their keys and disposition of their contents.
Section 196
SEC. 196. Preservation of the ballot boxes, their keys and disposition of their contents.— The Commission, the provincial fiscal, city fiscal or the city attorney, and the provincial or city treasurer shall keep the envelope containing the keys in their possession intact during the period of three months following the election. Upon the lapse of this period, if before said date the courts or tribunals have not ordered otherwise, the Commission, the provincial fiscal, city fiscal or the city attorney shall deliver to the provincial treasurer or city treasurer the envelopes containing the keys under their custody. The city, municipal and municipal district treasurers shall keep the ballot boxes unopened in their possession in a secure place and under their responsibility for three months, unless said ballot boxes are the subject of an official investigation by proper authorities, or a competent court or tribunal shall demand them sooner, or the competent authority shall order their preservation for a longer time in connection with any pending contest or investigation. However, upon a showing by any registered candidate that the boxes will be in danger of being violated if kept in the possession of such officials, the Commission may order them kept by any other official it may designate. Upon the lapse of said time and if there should be no order to the contrary, the Commission may authorize the city, municipal and municipal district treasurers who shall, in the presence of a representative of the Commission, open the boxes and burn their contents except the copy of the minutes of the voting and of the statement of election returns deposited therein which they shall take and keep. In case of calamity or fortuitous event such as fire or inundation or storm, or other similar event which actually causes damage to the ballot boxes, and/or their contents, the Commission may authorize the opening of said ballot boxes to, salvage the ballots and other contents by placing them in another ballot box, if available, or by taking such other precautionary measures as may be necessary.