The probe report on the botched P690 million procurement of the ballot secrecy folder may suffer some crucial gaps, with the apparent refusal of those involved in the controversy to cooperate with the investigating panel.

Commission Elections (Comelec) Law Department head Ferdinand Rafanan said the probe has hit a snag, pinning the blame on polls officials tagged in the case for ignoring his requests to provide the documents on the issue.

“Some documents have not been submitted by the BAC (Bids and Awards Committee), Executive Director Jose Tolentino and OTC paper supply (the winning supplier) despite repeated demands,” he said.

Rafanan issued the statement as the latest deadline to submit his report lapsed last Friday (June 18). He already had asked the Comelec en banc for several extensions to wrap up the probe.

Originally, he was given until April 20 to come up with extensive information on the controversial project, but was subsequently extended to April 30, then to June 4 and lastly, on June 18.

In earlier interviews, Rafanan, who heads a three-man investigating panel, had already lamented that the probe is in a slow phase as Comelec officials involved were uncooperative.

“We can complete our investigation (without these documents) but there’s something missing... These are major gaps," Rafanan had said. He did not elaborate how crucial were the needed documents in the investigation.

On the other hand, Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez said that they cannot force Rafanan to submit his report since the commission wants to have a thorough investigation on the controversy.

Jimenez, however, revealed that the Law department chief has signified that he is ready to submit his report to the commission en banc on Tuesday (June 22).

“Atty. Rafanan indicated that he will submit his report before the en banc hearing next week,” he said.

The issue of the ballot secrecy folder broke out a few weeks before the May 10 polls, after a member of the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting alerted Rafanan and the Comelec en banc that the procurement was overpriced.