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Voter #1 in Manila precinct dismayed after VCM rejects ballot


 

A man who is the first voter in a certain polling precinct in Manila City was dismayed after his ballot was not read and accepted by the vote-counting machine.

"Dismayado kasi pakiramdam ko nalugi ako at ang kandidato na binoto ko. Mga lima ata 'yun, five to six... Lahat na ng angle ginawan na namin..." Cyphir Panganiban said in a report by Mark Salazar on Eleksyon 2019: The GMA News and Public Affairs Special Coverage.

According to the board of election inspectors (BEI), Panganiban's ballot was already considered a "spoiled ballot."

"Ang sabi ng principal, bale siya 'yung tumatakbong election supervisor sa school, ipaparating na lang daw nila sa Comelec (Commission on Elections) 'yun. Pero as of now, ang susundin nila is 'yung guidelines ng Comelec na ang ratio ng ballot to voter is one is to one," Panganiban said.

The member of the BEI said the incident will be reported to the Comelec.

"Bale 'yun ang ano natin... Pero hindi po kasi namin naverify kung ano talaga. Pero dati po kasi pag nagbobotohan tayo, nagthuthumb mark. So ito po dahil may nakalagay na box doon sa ano, so supposedly po may thumbmark," she said.

"Ilalagay na lang po sa minutes na 'yun po ang naging error."

Meanwhile, Salazar also reported that there were instances in the same precinct in which voters who are already dead are still in the voter's list.

A certain Lea said her husband was already dead for four years but his name was still on the list.

"Pagboto ko po mamaya po, sasabihin ko po na patay na po siya... papabura ko baka kasi magamit pa ng iba," she said.

In a separate report, Salazar said Panganiban was given a chance to vote again as it was not his fault why his ballot was not read by the VCM. Panganiban was ordered by members of the BEI to put a thumbmark on his ballot.

Meanwhile, voter Dalisay Dela Chica was not able to cast her vote because the ballot given to her had a stain. Her ballot was likewise rejected by the VCM.

Unfortunately, members of the BEI did not give her a new ballot. Dalisay was just asked to write a letter of complaint following the incident. —Anna Felicia Bajo/KBK, GMA News

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