PPCRV ‘gravely concerned’ by widespread reports of VCM breakdowns

The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) has expressed alarm at the steady stream of reported vote counting machine (VCM) failures it has been receiving from across the country since early morning of Election Day.

Some areas in which VCMs have reportedly failed or jammed on Monday include areas of the National Capital Region, Cavite, Bataan, Quezon, Leyte, Camarines Sur, Zambales, Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao, and Misamis Occidental, among others.

However, the phenomenon seems to be more pronounced in Visayas and Mindanao, aggravated by reports of cheating and election-related violence.

In Cotabato City in Maguindanao alone, PPCRV volunteers have reportedly pulled out due to massive cheating and at least one person was shot dead in nearby Sultan sa Barongis.

"We've been seeing this trend since 8 a.m. this morning. Mukhang laganap na ang (VCM failures). It is actually becoming a real, live concern. Sana matugunan, especially kung ma-extend ang halalan sa Mindanao and Visayas," said PPCRV Communications Director Ana de Villa-Singson.

"This is a live situation of grave concern," she stressed.

However, Singson said it is still too early to call for a failure of elections. She pointed out that the Comelec is currently trying to repair or replace malfuctioning VCMs.

"There's a (temporary) stopping of voting, but no failure yet. Let's just wait and vote. May paparating naman daw na (VCM) machines," she said.

PPCRV chair Henrietta de Villa also called for calm, recommending that voters continue to vote manually, if needed, while awaiting the repair or replacement of the VCMs.

"The only one authorized to declare a failure of elections is Comelec, and the Board of Election Inspectors (BEI) can decide to continue to (allow people to) fill out ballots before the VCMs come," de Villa said.

"We don't want to make people nervous that we are on the brink of a failure of elections. But in some way, we need to sound the alarm in case this news hasn't reached Comelec yet," she added. — RSJ, GMA News