The regional office of the Commission on Elections in Davao said no major issues were encountered in Monday’s elections amid reports of some 400 to 600 Vote Counting Machines (VCM) across the country suffered malfunction.
“Problems are common. But we have contingency plans and constant monitoring para ma-address agad ang issues in case magkaroon”, acting city election officer and Comelec Region 11 spokesperson lawyer Krishna Samantha T. Caballero said in an exclusive interview with Edge Davao.
Police Regional Office (PRO) 11 regional director Police BGgen Marcelo Morales reported minor downtime in some vote counting machines (VCM) in the entire Davao Region.
“110 out of the 3,771 VCM yung nag malfunction pero mabilis na-address ng technicians and service provider o kaya nag shi-shift sila sa manual voting para di maantala yung pag boboto,” Morales said, adding that selected voting centers used their spare VCMs.
“Even if the VCM is broken, voting continues,” said Caballero.
Caballero said they experienced a glitch from the VRVM (Voter Registration Verification Machine) which they anticipated.
“Ang nagloko kanina is the VRVM (Voter Registration Verification Machine). Since Davao city is the pilot area hence issues were anticipated. So expected na magkakaproblema since it is the first time”, Caballero said.
On the issue of non-functioning VCMs, Caballero said that, in cases like this, even if the machines will be fixed, it will take time. “If it’s just troubleshooting, makaya. But in cases of short circuit, we really need to replace the machine.”
“VCM (Vote-counting Machines) problems more on minor. Slight technical issues. We have standby technicians to take care of that. We have contingency plans. We just have to follow protocol. May mga reportings na dapat sundin. But other than that, tolerable naman”, she added.
Asked regarding extended voting hours, Caballero said there is no such advisory for an extension.
“Voting ends at 6 pm. However, if after 6 pm, there will be voters within 30 meters from the polling precint na nakapila, their names will be gathered and then called for voting,” she said.
Other than the machines and voting hours, Caballero sees the transmission of reports to be an area of concern.
“Davao has a total of 1,139 clustered precints. We have expected areas na mahihirapan to transmit and submit their reports. ‘Yung mga mamalayong areas, we are anticipating such,” the Comelec spokesperson said. “Aantayin at babantayan naming lahat yan.”
Comelec convened at 3 pm yesterday, 13 May, for initialization purposes.
