No major problem detected as Comelec holds poll dry run

No major problems were detected as the Commission on Elections (Comelec) on Saturday morning started in several areas a dry run of the balloting process for the May 13 elections. At the University of the Philippines Integrated School (UPIS) in Quezon City, Comelec Chairman Sixto Brillantes Jr. led the dry run. "Our purpose is to just test ... the balloting process. Last week we held the field tests," Brillantes said in an interview over radio dzBB. On Twitter, Brillantes said, "Except for a glitch in one precinct, mock elections going on smoothly nationwide. No major problem reported so far," Brillantes added that the mock elections will also test the new streamlined voting procedure the Comelec will implement for the  May 13 polls. PCOS machines In the dzBB interview, Brillantes said they are testing the Precinct Count Optical Scan (PCOS) machines and how they will function. After the simulation of the voting, he said they expect to test the random manual audit by opening ballot boxes and comparing the ballot results with actual election results. Comelec spokesman James Arthur Jimenez said they also set up express lanes for persons with disabilities and senior citizens, and even for pregnant women. “Kaunti pa ang tao nakikita natin paano mag-operate ang procedures natin. Sa tingin ko medyo mabagal ang takbo kasi maraming nakabantay at minsan ang botante na-interview so nababagalan,” Jimenez added. Also at the UPIS was Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting chairperson Henrietta de Villa, according to a separate report by dzBB's Rodil Vega. The dzBB report said there are 757 registered voters at the UPIS area. UP President Alfredo Pascual and vice president for public affairs Prospero de Vera were also present, according to a photo posted on the UP Twitter account. Sample ballots In Manila, a dry run at a Tondo school featured sample ballots using the names of celebrities as senatorial bets. A report by dzBB's Mao dela Cruz said senatorial bets in the sample ballots included actors Hugh Grant and Tom Hanks, artist Jennifer Lopez, the late King of Pop Michael Jackson, and actress Jodie Foster. Party list candidates in the sample ballot included names of bands such as AfterImage, Aegis, Itchyworms, and even the Baywalk Bodies. The report also said there was a minor problem with tight thermal paper rolls but the problem appeared resolved before the start of the dry run at 8:00 a.m. - VVP, GMA News