(Eagle News) — The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) has replaced at least 150 vote counting machines as of 2 p.m. on Monday, May 9 as reports of malfunctioning vote counting machines marred the controversial Philippine national elections.
In a tweet by Comelec commissioner Rowena Guanzon, he said that the 150 vote counting machines that were replaced were fewer compared to the VCMs which malfunctioned in 2013 which were 1,300.
Earlier, Guanson also tweeted that 70 vote counting machines were replaced as of noontime.
There had been several reports of malfunctioning VCMs which have delayed voting in precincts nationwide.
Voting precincts with defective VCM had to wait for a replacement, causing delays and long lines.
In Paco Manila, voters complained that the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) has asked them to leave their filled-up ballots so that they could go home. These filled-up ballots will be fed to the new VCMs when already available. Because of this, voters were not issued receipts. Eagle News also received similar complaints making many to view with suspicions the elections which had been a cause for concern.
In an earlier interview in with NET25’s Desisyon ng Bayan 2016 Special Coverage, Atty. Tonisito Umali, Assistant. Secretary for Legal and Legislative Affairs of the Department of Education said that ballots that were not accepted by the VCM due to malfunctions would be collected, stored securely, and would still be counted after the voting period when new VCMs become available.
Eagle News also received complaints about sample ballots allegedly confiscated by the Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV).
Complainants brought sample ballots or “kodigo” in the local parlance for their own personal guide when casting their vote.
But some PPCRV watchers allegedly confiscated these.
In a radio interview, COMELEC Chairperson Andres Bautista have already clarified that bringing of ‘kodigo’ in polling precinct is allowed, and even encouraged.